Archive - May, 2008

God will remind you of past victories

May 21, 2008 in Lead 2

Have you ever been at a place where you are fearful? Where you feel like their is no escaping the circumstances that you are in. Has there been a time in your life where trouble seems to be everywhere and you can’t get past any of it?

 

I love the time that I am able to spend in God’s word everyday. Yesterday as I was reading, David was running for his life. Saul was really angry and wanted to kill David. The funny thing is that David had done nothing to be killed except honor Saul and win many victories for the people of God. 

David not knowing where to go turns to Ahimelech a friend that has prayed for David on numerous occasions as we found out later. He needs a weapon and some guidance. Ahimelech prays for God’s guidance in David’s life which number one is awesome to have someone do. But secondly, an amazing thing happens. 

David tells him of his need of a sword. Ahimelech lets him know that he has one. It was the sword of Goliath the Philistine! Talk about some encouragement from God. David is running for his life and is scared to death and God reminds him of that miracle that happened that day! The miracle that David not only experienced, but the one whom God had chosen to work through to accomplish it.

There have been lots of times like this in my life where God has encouraged me in this area. Through a random check when bills come around. Or money I found in a shoe. Or the time where I found the cd of the first sermon I ever preached when I was going through a tough time in my life and the message was exactly what I needed to hear. God is always involved in our life and wants us to be encouraged to do the work that is set before us. I am so thankful for God’ consistent work in my life. Praise God for his wondrous ways!

It’s Adventure Week Prep Time

May 20, 2008 in Family Ministry 0

Well Adventure Week (VBS) for those of you that don’t know, is almost here. I can’t wait to see how much fun the kids have doing all of the stuff that we have planned for them. We are doing a science lab theme. Which is like heaven on earth for a boy because you get to think of ways to make things melt, catch on fire, spew, or explode!!! Needless to say we plan to do all of these things. 

 

Diet Coke and Mentos that’s all I’m gonna say!

 

I can’t wait til Adventure Week gets here. It is going to be so much fun you aren’t gonna want to miss it.

Finally did some editing

May 19, 2008 in Family Ministry 0

I had an extremely busy day editing video and making an intro for our next series at Brookwood. I think that the kids will love it! I am enjoying making things that make everything so much more seamless for the tech people but at the same time am just as excited to see them grow in their abilities. I love my job and only got a 2 minute video done today which isn’t bad for my first official Final Cut Pro 2 day. I am so excited!

 

Let me know about some projects that you have been a part of in your church that you were especially excited about or really thrilled to be a part or.

Back to Work

May 19, 2008 in Family Ministry 0

Today is the first day back at work from the honeymoon/wedding. I am pumped to get an incredibly fast start. I can’t wait to get started we have so much on our plate right now. From weekly stuff, to Adventure Week, and camp I can’t believe that we have so much going on!

 

I am excited to be involved in alot of my firsts in Children’s ministry here at Brookwood. I am thankful for where God has placed me and the opportunity to worship him through my job and ministry each and every day. I love this feeling!!!

Went to Newspring

May 18, 2008 in Family Ministry 0

Ned, Page, Kristen and I went to check out Newspring tonight to look at how they do they’re children’s ministry. It’s called “The Majestic”. It was pretty awesome.

Pudge showed us so much stuff and all of the people were extremely hospitable. I was very impressed with the direction they are heading and came back with a few new ideas of my own. I really enjoy hearing and seeing what other people are doing. It helps to further identify yourself, help create an opportunity for new ideas, and most importantly allows plenty of room for humility.

Seeing other people’s efforts really help you to understand how God is using us to reach so many people in so many different places. I thoroughly enjoyed our time together with the great folks out at Newspring and can’t wait to hang out with Pudge some more when he gets into Greenville. We’ll be waiting on ya buddy!!!
 

 

The “P” Word ugh

May 17, 2008 in Family Ministry, Lead 0

I know what you are thinking. I can’t believe he is gonna write a blog about that. You’re right, I never thought I would either but today God spoke about my state in life more clearly than He ever has, or at least I heard it this time so I had to write about it.

 

I’ve been in 1 Samuel and some of you are thinking goodness this boy is a slow reader which is partially true. I’m more of a slow listener. I want to hear something not just read something. Plus I’m young so you can always blame it on that too. Anyway, David has defeated Goliath and now the citizens know of him and his accomplishments. He continues to be victorious in battle Saul is beginning to get infuriated. There was a verse that stuck out to me that said: 

Now Saul feared David. It was clear that God was with David and had left Saul. So, Saul got David out of his sight by making him an officer in the army. David was in combat frequently. Everything David did turned out well. Yes, God was with him. As Saul saw David becoming more successful, he himself grew more fearful. He could see the handwriting on the wall. But everyone else in Israel and Judah loved David. They loved watching him in action.

 

I have heard the p-word from so many people in my life. I dare even say how many. I have often been upset but now I am beginning to understand why. I am not cocky or prideful when it comes to this subject, but I continually ask myself why do these people say that? What do they see? What are my abilities that give me that p-word?

But this time I heard it differently. What if this time God is saying… “J.C. its time to transition. Your opportunity is now. You’ve heard it from Me, you’ve heard it from people I’ve put into your life on a consistent basis, its time to make a move.” This is where I am at. I am more humbled and challenged by the word that I received today than I have ever been before. Thank you Jesus for speaking to your people and for always growing and changing us more and more into your image. I love you so much.

DECLINED

May 17, 2008 in Life 0

Today was an extremely busy day for me. We came back from Columbia, my in laws house, to get some gifts for the wedding. That was an semi-awkward occasion in its own right. But we also started to exchange and buy new things. 

 

Its that wonderful time in your life where the budget is considered but only because you are so in the black its nuts!!! So we had our hearts set on a HDTV! We had most of our stuff, Praise Jesus! We took care of the necessities at first and then we headed to a store to check out some TV’s. We picked out a 720p 42″ plasma TV! It has a 1 million: 1 contrast ratio. My techies will feel me on that one! So we wanted to put a large majority of the money down and then since they had a no interest for 12 months thing going on, pay the rest off in a few months. 

 

We sit down to fill out an application for the card in order to put that amount on it and it came back “DECLINED!”

Please remember that I have only been married for a total of 7 days at this point, and in my head with my wife sitting next to me I’m thinking “She thinks I’m worthless right now” Which isn’t true but I felt a larger blow to my ego than I have had in my entire life. I just don’t get it sometimes ya know. I have made very very intelligent financial decisions and the only reasonable explanation that I could come up with that I couldn’t fill out the application was because I just recently started my job after 2 months of unemployment. 

 

I was crushed. One of my first real purchases with my brand new wife and I can’t cut it. But there she was at my side. Thanks sir have a nice day. That’s ok baby we’ll just pick it up later. Not questioning or criticizing. She just loved me. Don’t get me wrong I was still bummed but I was ready to take on an army in those few priceless minutes of my seemingly minute life. I was entranced. 

Moral of the story: Pay in cash and love your wife :)

The Wedding

May 17, 2008 in Life 0

Let me just tell you first of all that I am not a wedding guy. I don’t like to go to weddings for the most part. I think that they are mostly dull and unoriginal. I wanted so bad for our wedding to make waves but not with the people that just attend. I wanted the people involved to feel like they were having fun and not just being a part of another ceremony.

 

Now as a precursor to this blog I would like to mention that most of the ideas were not mine. They were the creation of Kristen, my beautiful wifey, and my mother in law Beth Barfield. 

Originally we were wanting something very laid back: summer dresses, sandals or no shoes at all, and linen pants for the guys!! Things changed and we modified ideas and changed some things around the wedding ( remember the precursor when I say “we”). But what we wound up with was absolutely astounding!!

 

I would show you all of the wonderful pictures and describe all of the intricate details like her dress, and how she entered (imagine Cinderella ;) ), and the setting. Maybe one day you will see them. That day is not today… sorry. I guess you should have been there.

 

But from a guy who is not a big fan of weddings. If I would have missed this one, I would have shot myself in the foot. It was awesome.

We’re back from the honeymoon!!!

May 16, 2008 in Life 0

Well I have been away from the blogging world for a week now and I can’t say that I am too upset about it all. I got married on Saturday and have been on a cruise from Sunday to yesterday. It was incredible. At some point I hope to get some pictures up of the landscape and just of the trip in general. 

 

A few highlights include:

  • some intimate time with my wifey of course!!
  • This wonderful place and yes we rode the slides… both of us!!!
  • incredible scenery
  • a nice new purse for my wife which she thoroughly enjoys and is hand washing right now.
  • good food
  • worst sunburn of my entire life on day 3 of the cruise (kinda put a hindrance on some things…)
But it really was an incredible time. More than anything I have seen this time as Kristen and I becoming more and more in tune to each other and with God. It is amazing how God creates us and how God uses marriage to bring glory to Himself. I understand that my primary ministry is to my wife and I pray that I can follow through with that.
Let me know about your honeymoon trips. I would love to hear about them.

Sabroso’s talk

May 8, 2008 in Family Ministry, Lead 1

After an amazing night at Varsity with incredible music: thanks josh and band, and message, we all went to Sabroso’s afterwards. I think its weird how I bond so well with the music guys for the students. It doesn’t matter who they are I always seem to have an instant connection with them.

Anyway, back to Sabroso’s. I didn’t eat anything but the food there is always good but I have my own place now so I get to make and eat my own food. But afterwards I got to talk with some awesome men about my marriage and about their past. Tim Mackey, who by the way is putting on the reception dinner for our wedding on Friday, loves people man. But he was telling me about just a few things in his past. 

 

Let me just say that I am thankful to have two parents who have loved me unconditionally throughout my life. They knew how to push me towards my goals and they knew how to back up a little and let me do some things wrong. They are incredible. I was telling Tim that even though my dad wasn’t a Christian at first he was a better dad than probably 75% of the “Christian” dads out there.

 

Here’s some advice I can give you parents from a 21 year old kid with great ‘rents:

  1. Show up: You will hear me say this over and over and over, but its always true. Your kids need to feel your support so show up when they do something. If you work alot, then make time. I remember a few times my dad came to my ballgame after working over 55 hours in a week. Never complaining just there.
  2. Not all of your kids are the same, so don’t treat them like they are. Understand first that you need to have rules in your household that if disobeyed should result in discipline. I am not saying that you should punish one kid and not the other. What I am saying is this: Do some reading on the birth order and get to know your kid personally. Don’t play catch with your kid if he wants to cook or don’t paint with your kid, if she wants to play softball. My sister and I would get upset because our parents treated us differently on some things… looking back they were right.
  3. Unconditionally love your kids. Your kids are gonna screw up and make mistakes. Love them anyway. Discipline with love. I can’t tell you how many times I would tell my parents mistakes I have made because I knew they would respond with love. I would also get the discipline and a lecture but always the love.
I’m definitely not an expert on parenting. But I hope to be a great dad and I have not only my two wonderful parents to look up to but also my in-laws as well. Show up, know your kids and understand their differences, and love them unconditionally and more than likely you will grow up having a great relationship with your kids. I have a great one with my parents.
out
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