Josh's Blog
4/9/2010
I envision. I envision a drama free world. I envision a world where people celebrate each others victories. I envision a world where jealousy and envy are mere memories. I envision a world where people "gossip" about other peoples strengths. I envision a selfless world where people are not just focused on themselves. I envision a world where bad language is replaced with encouragement. I envision a world full of Christians who actually look and act like Christ. I envision God's original plan for mankind. I envision.
2/10/2010
I grew up in a Christian home. I fell away from all the principles I was taught. I grew further and further away from knowing God. I became focused on this life on earth and this life only, as if it were all there was to live for. I was selfish and fully consumed with the wrong things. I was on a path towards destruction. When it came to sinning, I was an expert.
I once thought all those things were valuable, but now I see them as worthless compared to what Christ has done. Yes, EVERYTHING else is worthless when compared to knowing Jesus. For His sake, I have discarded everything, counting it as garbage, that I may gain Christ and become one with Him. I want to know Christ and the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, that I may know the power of his resurrection.
Have I fully acheived this yet? Absolutely not! But I press on toward that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possesed me. I focus on one thing: Forgetting my past, that's right, forgetting my past, forgetting my past...and looking foward to what lies ahead. I press on to finish the race and receive that heavenly prize for which God, through Christ, has called me into.
1/10/10
Winter Retreat 2010! Tuscarora! How could we get back from a trip like that and I not blog? So, we had an incredible time together building our relationships with God and with each other. From giant snowballs being launched into rooms, to turning each others rooms "upside down", to delightful fragrant suprises, to makeovers, to sticks, to mysterious candy appearences, to "lost" keys, to the newest addition of Americas next top model (and I'm not talking about the girls' makeovers), to Dylans guyliner at breakfast (which Lizzy loves!), to Mitch's skinny jeans (which Lizzy loves!), to the girls entering the "boys only" section, to me leaving the lights on killing the battery on the bus, to Hannah and Dana's incredible paper cutting ability, to our group of seven getting 576 autographs from a band of four guys, to dylan's new found gem "Hawaiin Corn", to the maccaroni song, which is apparently the real song that never ends, to certain people leaving without saying goodbye, to the girls maintaining the stereotype that girls take too long, to Hannah's sultry voice, to our group treating the Tuscarora dining hall like an Olive Garden (unlimited breadsticks), to me and Jackie adding BK to our diet, to After Edmund, to the Nubiant Gents and Feminine Fire, to Jack Crabtree, to balloons, to yo-yo's, to friendships, to God and to everything else we experienced together! That was my salute. In all seriousness, God spoke to all of you on this trip at some point. Reflect this week on the different things you heard. Remember, despite all the fun and sillyness we encountered, remember all the incredible encounters and teachings from God. Reflect on those things above all else this week. I encourage you to keep going after God everyday as if you were still on retreat. Let God turn your world upside down! And watch as he empoweres you by His spirit to turn the world around you upside down. I am praying for everyone of you, including those of you who couldn't go with us. I love you guys! In His Grip - Josh
1/6/10
I can't believe it is 2010 already. Time is flying! It makes me wonder if all I am doing is bringing me in the right direction. One day I will be old and my hopes are that I don't have any regrets on how I spent my time. I don't want to say, "If only...". I want to spend every moment getting closer to God and knowing Him better. I have been constantly praying that God would download into my mind HIS way of thinking. I want to see people and situations through HIS eyes. I want my heart to break for what breaks His. I want to rejoice with what He rejoices over. I want to love like He loves! This comes through intentional time with God. Intentionally reading His word. Intentionally surrounding ourselves with the right people. Intentionally loving others. I feel like I'm tapping into new realms of God and all I am doing is inviting you guys to come with me. I have never met a person who dove into all the goodness of God and was dissappointed. I'm all in!! In His Grip - Josh-
p.s. I absolutely love Turning Point and each one of you. God is doing some AMAZING things and I'm so excited for 2010.
11/23/09
The concert in the city was amazing. Toby Mac and Reliant K were so sick live. B. Reith was good too. I had an awesome time with everyone and can't wait until the next one. Also, Taylor proposing to Lizzy on the big screen is one of the funniest things ever! Nice work bro. I was thinking about what Toby said in his little "preaching" he did. It is so cool that at some point we all fall away from God and walk away and make mistakes and fall into different sins. The beauty of God is that when we turn to Him we don't have to walk back through those mistakes, sins, bad decisions, etc...to find Him again. When we turn to face Him, he meets us right where we are. I walked away from God from about the age 17 until I was 21. I made a lot of mistakes and fell into a lot of sin, but the second I realized I need Him, I turned and immediately found Him. He is faithful! I encourage you guys to turn towards Him and trust that He is there. In His Grip - Josh
11/6/09
I was praying on my way to work this morning and felt God speaking to me. He made clear to me this idea of taking information and having it go from head knowledge to heart knowledge. We are overwhelmed with teaching and different truths, etc...but the goal is to have it change us. I am convinced that the way we get it from our head to our heart is application. When we do something with what we've heard or learned is when we really know it and the truth of it makes perfect sense to us and sets us free. My challenge is for you to apply everything you hear that is a truth because if we don't its like the parable of the sower that Jesus talks about where the seed (truth) falls on the side of the road where the enemy comes at once and takes it from us. I am so excited to help feed the homeless in Manhattan tomorrow. It's taking a truth we've all known about caring for the least of these and applying it. Tomorrow will be a freeing day! In His Grip - Josh
ps. We begin a new series at Turning Point tonight...Don't miss it!
10/16/09
Another crazy Friday night at youth group! A lot of violence tonight if you ask me...last week things seemed to be more peaceful...hmm...Taylor wasnt there last week but was there tonight....I don't know, you tell me. lol you know I love you man. I am super excited about our series "Plan Be". God is really challenging us as a group to actively pursue love by treating others like we want to be treated. Remember, be different! Choose plan Be. If only we could be like Joseph in his choice to treat his brothers the way he did. Be blessed guys! See you soon. In His Grip - Josh
10/5/09
We just got back from our retreat upstate. What an awesome time we had! I was really encouraged to see the kids engage in what we were doing. God showed up in real ways and is changing us as a group. The theme was "made to worship" and I believe that we really are beginning to understand that we were created to worship our creator. Looking foward to the next time we can all get away and connect! In His Grip - Josh
