The CCJ Blog

I don’t know about you but for my taste I think Lost is one of the best television shows on TV today. There is such an element of mystery, action, drama and humor that is rare all in one show. What I really like is the story telling. The flashbacks and playing with time in the storytelling is second to none. It is reminiscent of Aaron Sorkin in his TV writing. While the show is not without its bad stuff it seems to also have a whole lot less of the trash that is on network TV these days.

I guess what I am saying is there is something in it for everyone. The casual watcher can be thrilled with the story and action. The TV geek can try to figure out all of the hidden messages which I usually miss until the second time around. There is something for us all.

Why do people make things so complicated? Have you ever noticed that sometimes we people can take the simplest things and make them incredible complicated? Is that human nature or just the society we live in? The bad thing is that it robs people of their joy. Maybe I am just too simplistic but I sure do feel happy most of the time so it must work.

I love Luke 16:16-17. It says, “But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Jesus is not talking about acting childish. He is talking about putting your trust in God like a child puts his trust in his parents. Liva does not worry about what she is going to eat. She does not worry about the stock market. She does not worry about work or church challenges. She just trusts that Mom and Dad will be there and take care of her.

Now granted that is not easy for us adults but we can do better. This is not to minimize our real life problems and challenges. Ignoring things isn’t what I am talking about. We will always have concerns and we should but we should also not dwell on our concerns. They should not rule over our lives. Troubleshooting should not be our first thought on every issue and thinking the worst is not just being a realist. If we really want to live like Jesus then we just need to put the Kingdom first and trust that the King will see us through and sometimes see the cup as not only half full but running over.

I’m blown away by how a secular bands lyrics can be more honest a real in the christian sense then a “Christian band” here is one from a band called COLD

IT’S LIKE A TIDAL WAVE THAT ROSE TO TAKE THE STARS
A HURRICANE THAT WRAPPED AROUND MY HEART
IF I COULD FIND A WAY I’D MAKE A BRAND NEW START
I CANT BELIEVE IT WAS THE CALM THAT
KILLED THE STORM

in this crazy messed up world of fast paced everything sometimes you need to unplug from the same ol’ thing and plug into God for true peace
just a thought

Just an update on how the messages given every week at CCJ are spreading throughout the World Wide Web via streaming audio, downloads and the podcast:

- For the last six days an average of 16 people PER DAY are hitting the podcast via iTunes or other methods.

- Sunday’s message “Be Credible” has already been downloaded or streamed 26 times since Sunday.

- Stats for the other sermons in “Doing Life By the Book series are as follows since their origination date:
- Be An Encourager - 41 downloads, 12 streams
- Be a Model (the most popular sermon so far) - 63 downloads, 10 streams
- Be Holy - 57 downloads, 10 streams
- Be Ready - 48 downloads, 6 streams

I’m not posting these numbers as any sort of bragging or ‘hey, look at us’ kinda thing, I just think it’s pretty cool that this technology is reaching beyond the four walls and garage door of CCJ. I hope that some of these downloads, stream hits and podcast listens are from people who are unchurched in this county.

Peace.

Outside of Jesus who is your favorite Bible Character? Why?

Who are you most like from the Bible? Why?

Who from the Bible makes you mad? Why?

If you could go back in time and witness one biblical event, what would it be?

Our last post got me thinking that I have not asked for prayer concerns and praises in a while. So what are some of your concerns and what are the good praises you have?

my job at Home depot has got to go! I’m looking for steady hours so I can be with my family and got to church. If anyone can help i’d love you forever! here is what I can do….
wireing
truck driving, 24 ft box
light graphic work
light woodworking
sound installs
home design and deco
forktruck-orderpicker
i’m good at getting people to work together and getting the job done
I can do just about anything with proper training
thanks
kurt neighbors 812-582-1178 the bass guy

I got to thinking about my evangelism post and how the word brings so many meanings. So I thought let’s try a little word/name association. I will list a name/word and you can tell me what pops in your mind.

Billy Graham
Pizza
Dallas Cowboys
Cars
Hulk Hogan
Rick Warren
REO Speedwagen
Martha Stewart
Donald Trump
Tim McGraw
Oprah
NBC
Church

The CCJ Audio page looks to be a pretty big hit, relatively speaking.

Just an update on the total stats of each sermon as of Friday, September 16:

— 09/04/05 - Be Holy: 51 listens
— 08/21/05 - Be A Model: 48 listens
— 09/11/05 - Be Ready: 34 listens
— 08/28/05 - Be An Encourager: 31 liistens

In addition, we seem to have about 10-15 Podcast subscribers.

Technology is allowing CCJ to do things to spread the Gospel that weren’t available even 10 years ago.

Thanks for listening and tell your friends about it. It’s a very simple way to spread the Word.

My favorite lines (so far) from Switchfoot’s new (awesome) album Nothing Is Sound.

Stars looking at a planet watching entropy and pain
And maybe start to wonder how the chaos in our lives
could pass as sane
I’ve been thinking about the meaning of resistance
of a hope beyond my own
And suddenly the infinite and penitent begin to look like home
I’ve been thinking about everyone
Everyone you look so empty
Everyone, everyone, we feel so lonely
Everyone, everyone, we feel so empty
When I look at the stars I see someone

I think many times the word evangelism scares people. It just sounds scary. We are going to be starting sermon series titled “For the Love of the Lost” in two weeks focusing on evangelism or sharing your faith. So I have a few questions.

What comes to your mind when you hear the word evangelism?

What/who led you to Christ?

What led you to CCJ and was it a form of evangelism?

Those are just some starting questions I would like some help with?

From Lark “News”:

Bassist convinced he’s the best musician in the worship band

Lark News is hilarious, check it out at the beginning of each month.

We talked in the last post about what it means to be Credible. There were some great responses. I think we often think of it as being a respectable person who does not have bad behavior. I think however it is more then that. It also means loving our neighbors as Jesus taught. I totally stole this idea from another post so I want to give credit to Jared from the Thinklings.

He asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

– Luke 10:29-37

In two weeks the message is about being credible. What exactly does that mean to you? I would like to hear your thoughts. The passage for that message is Thess. 5:12-28.

Stan and Alisa Stewart from the CCJ family are in Texas on a visit near LA and are making an effort to get involved with the relief effort. Below is the latest update we have from them.

Hello from Texas! Alisa and I arrived in Shreveport LA yesterday - safe and sound. The Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport has a few thousand refugees from New Orleans. My mom’s church is helping out with a few hundred (in Carthage TX). We were going to help out by cooking food for dinner this evening but have been requested NOT to do this! The support for the refugees that are here has been outstanding and right now, they have more than they need. The newspapers and TV news have different coverage than you see on CNN(both bad AND good). Money is a good way to show support and your prayers for everyone touched by this are very much needed!

Stan