12 Days…

I’m down to my last twelve days in Antioch until I head back to Portland, OR. To be honest, it’s gonna be really hard to leave again, but I’m also very grateful I had the chance to come home for the summer. Between helping out in the office and spending time with friends and family, my schedule is pretty much booked until the day I leave. Let the countdown begin…

Summer Camp 08

I recently had the privilege of attending our church’s summer camp. It was also the second time I went as a youth leader. To be honest, it was quite an emotional week for me. I say that because it’s been six years since I myself attended the same camp as a sixteen year old boy. It was as this camp where I found a purpose. Everything started to make sense. Not only did I go as a youth leader but I also had the wonderful honor of being the drummer for the worship team. I’ve been a part of a lot of worship teams and I’ve played through countless amounts of worship sets, but playing at this years camp will go down as one of my favorites. I say that because the rest of the worship team were guys that I met at my first camp. We were all teenagers at the time, but here we were six years later, coming together for one week to lead God’s children into His presence. I was so encouraged to watch us come together in unity after all these years and minister to the next generation. The four of us have all traveled down the different paths of life, we’ve all matured in different ways, and it had easily been a couple of years since most of us had talked with each other, yet by the grace of God we were able to stay on the right path. Then it hit me. On the very last day the mic was open to anyone who wanted to give a testimony of what the Lord had done in their life. Watching those students share their testimony with the rest of the camp was a reminder of why I’m living the way I am. 

It’s really not about us. We truly are a part of something so much bigger than ourselves! One of the most beautiful things about the the Body of Christ is that we can’t accomplish anything unless we (1) abide in christ and (2) work together. It takes a lot of unselfish people to build great churches. Most of us won’t outlive the dream that sits in the deepest part of our soul. If it’s truly a dream from the Lord, I’d like to believe it’s something that will outlive us. But it takes an unselfish person to dream like this because they realize that one day they’ll have to step aside and let another person take over. I live the way I do because I realize there’s a younger generation desperately searching for someone to look up to, and who knows, maybe one of them will be the one who takes my spot when my time is up. It’s just a matter of time before we pass the baton to the next generation of leaders. 

Living Generously

It took a while but I’ve finally come to the realization that I’m blessed to be a blessing to those around me.  When it’s all done and said, it all belongs to the Lord anyway. I’m nothing but a steward of what He’s given me. I recently had the privilege of blessing another person with some money. (Please see my heart. I’m not trying to brag.) But I can’t even describe the amount of joy that fell upon me when I took the money out of my wallet knowing that one of my sisters in the Lord would be blessed because of it! As soon as we realize that were nothing but stewards of what the Lord has blessed us with, giving becomes that much easier. It’ll turn from a ‘have to’ to a ‘want to!’

I realize that as a single young man I have the wonderful opportunity to get my financial life in order before it’s too late. The Lord’s granted me a short amount of time to get my life in order before I take on all of the major responsibilities of life. (marriage, family, ministry, ect.) I don’t want to take that for granted. I don’t make a lot of money, but my income shouldn’t be the deciding factor of how generous I am. I want to be faithful with the few things so that the Lord will trust me with the many things. I have the opportunity to take the small amount of money I have and show the Lord that He can trust me with it. I want to be a prosperous man, but I want to experience prosperity with a purpose. 

“Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

Matthew 25:21 – “His mater replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

I gotta get this off my chest…

The Dark Knight is overrated! Yes, it’s a good movie, but it didn’t live up to all of the hype. Heath Ledger was amazing and in my opinion, he’ll go down in history as one of the best villains ever. The Joker was the only cool thing about the movie. If Hollywood is going to hype up a movie as much as they did for The Dark Knight, it better be unbelievable! I wasn’t impressed. There, I said it…

Waiting and Dating II

I’ve been single for over two years now. Having already been in two relationships, I learned the hard way of how to do it right. Personally, I’m having the time of my life, and I’m single too! Is that even possible in today’s culture? I believe it is. Although it took a while, I finally came to the point in my life where I realized I’m not a whole person. (Talk about a humbling experience) I realized that God wants to bless me with an amazing woman of God, but He’s not going to do that until I take the time to prepare myself for her. Why should I expect God to give me the best when I won’t even take the time to make sure I’m at my best? I have a friend (who shall remain nameless) but she is always giving me advice about who I should date. After ignoring all of her advice, she finally asked me why I’m not interested in any of them. This is what I said; “It’s not that I don’t have the desire to be in a relationship and it’s not that I’m not interested in any of the girls you’ve mentioned to me, but I realize that if I start a relationship with any of them right now, they’re not going to get the ‘best Joe’, they’re gonna get the Joe who is still in the preparation season of his life and that’s not fair to her.”

If you think I don’t want to be in a relationship right now then you’re crazy! Of course I want to be in one, but I also realize the importance of doing things right, and if I want to do things right it’s gonna take time. It’s going to require a lot of patience! I believe every girl deserves to be a with a boy who is complete in the Lord, knows what he wants in life, and knows how he’s gonna get there. I want to be faithful with what the Lord’s blessed me with now so that when it comes time for Him to bless me with a wife, He’ll trust me.  

I’m completely content with where the Lord has me and I couldn’t be happier. I also know that I’m on the right path of becoming a whole person. How do I know that? I know I’m on the right path because of the peace in my spirit. There’s truly no greater feeling than to wake up every day and know that you’re in the will of God. As for now, I need to forget what’s behind me and keep moving forward. The Lord has put so many things on my plate and my job now is to remain humble, work hard, and continue to be His servant. I’ll let Him take care of my relationships status. 

“You are ready to date when you don’t need to. If you feel that you “need” a date in order to be complete or fulfilled personally, you are not ready for dating. Need involves demand and implies that there is something lacking in life. The opposite of need is choice, which allows for a decision. When you regard dating as a matter of choice rather than necessity, you are ready. It is a matter of your ability to be happy and content whether you are with someone else or not.” – Myles Munroe

Waiting and Dating

I recently finished a book entitled Waiting and Dating: A Sensible Guide to a Fulfilling Love Relationship by Dr. Myles Munroe. In my opinion, it’s one of the best books on dating I’ve read by far! With that being said, I’m in the mood to write about the wonderful topic of romantic relationships. Oh yes, the ‘R’ word! I’ll have it up soon…

WOW JAM Los Angeles 2008

Our church recently sent a team from our youth group down to Los Angeles for a short term missions trip. This is a highlight video of everything that took place during that week. Be blessed as you watch it and know that the Lord is truly doing a great work through His people all across the world!

Good Grief…

I never thought the day would come where I would literally be tired of traveling. I’ve been home for two days now and I am still exhausted. No fun…

Abby’s To Do List

Enjoy! : )

1. Drive 180 mph down Highway 5.
2. Make a stomp video inside of Fred Meyer. 
3. Don’t drink water until January 1st 2009. 
4. Eat McDonald’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 
5. Read 15 books by the end of the year. 
6. Run 25 miles every day for the next five years. 
7. Wash my car until you graduate from PBC
8. Give Matt free breadsticks from Olive Garden. 
9. Buy all of your Dorm Leaders a Starbucks gift card. 
10. Buy every Israel & New Breed CD and listen to them every day. 

Abby, let me know when this is complete. I will have more waiting! : )

- Joe

NOTE TO READER: THIS IS AN INSIDE JOKE! 

Back in Antioch

I know I said I would post an update last night but I ended up falling asleep. Sorry! This past week has been so much fun but I’m officially tired of traveling! I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to travel to Idaho this past weekend. I’m learning that every ministry trip has its own uniqueness. When I get the chance to experience the presence of God in other churches, it’s a reminder of how we’re all a part of something so much bigger than ourselves. Regardless of the size, style of preaching, style of worship, every church has its own style, but the Lord’s definitely moving across the world through His people. Another thing, and this is geared towards any PBC student that comes across this post. We truly have no idea how blessed we are to be students at PBC. There are people all over the world that would give anything to learn from the people we sit under in the classroom! We are tremendously blessed to be bible college students at PBC. My flight landed in Oakland this morning and now I’m back in the offices for work. I’m assuming the next couple of weeks will be busy as we prepare for summer camp but it’s gonna be great. To everyone I saw on campus, it was great seeing you! I can’t wait for next semester.