The CCJ Blog

Just as an FYI to you Podcast subscribers:

At the end of the month (today) several of the older sermons will no longer be available on the podcast to new subscribers. If you have downloaded them already, they will not go away, they just won’t show up when someone new subscribes. There will be an exception or two (Vision Sunday will remain, for example). The Christmas stuff will also no longer be available on the Podcast to new subscribers since it is, in fact, almost February.
The reasons:
– It is intimidating when someone subscribes to a Podcast and sees 20+ episodes for download. Shortening it to about 10 or less isn’t as bad.
– I’m not getting good, accurate stats as to use because of people partially downloading many sermons from, like, August.

The sermons will still be available for on the Audio section of the CCJ web site for you, or anyone else, to download or stream.

Brag time on CCJ: The CCJ Podcast seems to be doing a lot better than I had anticipated. I hope that this will only help it along. We are the only church in the area who has one and we do ours better (consistency-wise, at least) than many other VERY large churches in the country.

Thanks for listening!

Almost every week we have a “hug & howdy” time where people go around and shake hands and whatnot for approximately 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. I’ve seen this done my whole life and I don’t really understand the point other than to get people out of their seats for a minute and (most importantly?) giving the band a minute to rest after the first song.
This week’s Christian Standard article on introverts brought this back up in my mind. Is this a tradition that needs to be re-examined or should I quit worrying about the trivial?

So, consider this an informal poll. There is no right and wrong here and your opinions are welcome. This designated time isn’t in the Bible as far as I know (”Thou shalt hug and, verily, go forth and howdy”) Maybe it’s in the back of the book somewhere.

(I’m being kinda sarcastic, please don’t take any of this the wrong way.)

Things are getting pretty exciting with the building project. This Tuesday we meet with our contractor and get the final bid numbers on the new ministry center. I think this whole project and the vision from it is generating extra excitement that if evident in our services these last few weeks. Just keep it all lifted up in prayer every day.

We are getting ready to have a sign constructed for the new property saying “Future Home of the Christian Church of Jasper.” Randy wanted me to post asking for suggestions for what if anythng else the sign should say.

Daniel’s post has prompted me to look up some additional words of inspiration I have heard that stuck with me. One person whose words I always listen to is John Wooden. Here are some things he shared in his book. Coach John Wooden, writes about a card his father gave him upon graduation from grade school. On one side was a poetic verse, but on the other was his fathers handwritten creed, Seven Things to Do. After 95 years, John Wooden still keeps that card with him and lives by its creed Â? it reads:
“Be true to yourself. Help others. Make each day your masterpiece. Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day. Pray for guidance and count and give thanks for your blessings every day. “

… Hit home with me Sunday night. She was telling me about being thankful that my daughter were so happy to be at church that she didn’t want to leave. I’m trying to let the little things my kids do stay with me. Isabella is almost three and time has just flown by with her. Her expressions, her relentless energy, the way she just kinda sacks out rather than gradually getting tired. I’m trying to remember all of that. But I think that what Cathy was saying to me will stick with me.

What was something (maybe a small thing) someone said to you that has stuck with you over time?

I am studying for next months family sermon series and would like some input as to some of the things you would like to hear. I believe the family is under attack and I believe the church is the hope for building up families. Please pray for this series and help me out as well.

The Church Report magazine and its publisher announced that Bishop T.D. Jakes of the Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas has been chosen the Most Influential Christian for 2005 in a three-month survey of its readers. The survey asked each Web visitor and magazine subscriber to nominate their top 10 choices. Survey participants were encouraged to choose not just pastors, but all types of Christian leaders. After totaling over 150,000 nominations, Bishop Jakes became this year’s honoree.The entire 50 Most Influential Christians in America special issue can be found in print and online at www.thechurchreport.com.

This report was about ministries that have had influence to other churches in my opinion. My question is what makes a church truly influential to its city, region and world? How can the church best make an impact of its world?

You know how Darrel says that first-time visitors to the church make a judgment about the church in 30 seconds?

Here’s why I get so obsessive about the CCJ web site and all the intricacies that are on it and why I am constantly tinkering with it.

Either this or I’m just a big geek. I know, I know. Many of you already know the answer to that one.

Many times in life I hate many parts of my personality. I tend to be an annoying know it all and very undisciplined in many ways. I say all that to say that I believe if I allowed Jesus to be Lord he can improve the parts of my personality I like, and transform the parts I don’t. It takes practicing a lot of what I preached this past Sunday. So starting this week (starting now) I am planning on giving spiritual growth my best effort. Who’s in?

Over at The Thinklings (a blog that includes a college friend of mine), there is a poll on what is good about small groups. Go tell them what you think if you wish. The blogger, Bill - aka De, has been very good about trying to keep everything constructive and not let these posts about the church get bogged down in childishness (as tends to happen on God-blogs).

Hey, what’s everyone up to? There’s so much going on with the youth that I’ve lost track, and most of what I know is Jasper Middle School news. Please comment or email me with activities/events that you know young people in our church are involved in.

From youth groups and skating to fasting, the youth and teens at CCJ are a bunch of enthusiastic go-getters! They’re watching Dora the Explorer, making the honor roll (watch for the HR lists in THE HERALD), and working on projects for the science fair…(Yes, Kurt, now if we could just get more of them to Ignite and SPLASH.)

Tonight you can catch the JHS Dance Team in action at Coach Land’s freshman boys basketball game, 6:30 at JHS. ( http://www.jhs.gjcs.k12.in.us/newbbsite/index.html That’s our beloved Pastor Darrel assistant coaching!) Some CCJ youth and/or members of The Loft 24/7 group who are on the dance team…Elizabeth F, Sarah F, Alisa S, and Caroline K.

Girl Scout, Hannah H, is selling cookies, and Nicholas H and Nick H are gearing up for spring soccer.

Kyle H and Ellen S are playing basketball at Dubois Middle School and Casey A at Pine Ridge.

Taylor H and Regen F (as well as several others, I’m sure) will present their projects in the annual JMS Science Fair tomorrow. Awards/public show next week.

Cassie N, Drew B, Cade M, Cody M, Alisa, Jon K (and, who else…help me out with names!) are practicing for upcoming concert band events including Solo and Ensemble Contests and the People’s Concert in February.

Charlotte O and Maranda H are cheering for the 7th grade Wildcats and will perform in the JMS Variety Show this Friday, January 20, 7:00 at JMS auditorium. (Hey, Maranda, how ’bout those Steelers!)

Regen F performs with the JMS Dance Team and helps fire up the crowd and the basketball teams at home games. You can also catch Regen and the dance team in the Friday night JMS Variety Show.

Nicholas H is working hard to keep JMS sports fans supplied with snacks and soft drinks at home athletic events. Stop by the concession stand and let Nicholas and his supervisor, Alisa, serve you up some popcorn!

I know there are many more out there doing all kinds of fun things. Let us hear about it!

Here are my NFL playoff picks for the weekend:
Seattle
Denver
Indianapolis
Chicago

Our web host, iPowerWeb, offers us a few applications in addition to hosting the main ccjasper.com site. For instance, a blog (which can be found here) is one thing they offer. Message boards and chatrooms are other things they offer. With the offered blog, the address would be more in line with the rest of the main ccjasper.com site (i.e. it would be ccjasper.com/blog - much like ccjasper.com/aboutus.html, ccjasper.com/contact.html, etc.).

My questions to you, dear ccjasper blog user, is:

1.) Do you have any problems with our current blog that would make you want to switch to the ccjasper.com/blog?
2.) After you’ve looked at the other blog, do you find it any easier to use than this one?
3.) Does the change of addresses matter to you at all since this blog is linked from the main ccjasper.com site and I’ve tried to make this blogspot site look as much like the main site as possible?

Your input is appreciated.

Â? Your humble webmaster.

as many of you know i’ve been without a car for about a month. We were going to use going to use our tax check to buy a new one. then last week my dad said he’d give us his, but we’d have to put a new trasmision, a $2000 fix but still cool. This was blessing #1—then yesterday my dad calls with news from the machanic……there is nothing wrong with the car it just had a bad vacume line!!! so GOD gave us a car for 75 bucks!!! blessing#2 THANKS TO BOTH MY DADS!!!!!