Unite 2K11 Recap

Unite is always incredible. This is the third year we have taken a group of students down to the beach for a week, for what we call, "Unite." However, something was different about this year, and I still am struggling to put my finger on what was so different. I am not sure if it was the weight of the Holy Spirit that was there from the very beginning, the desire of our students to truly know Christ more, or what, but never the less, something was different about this year. From the very beginning, God began to do work, and change lives...it was truly incredible. I have never been a part of something that was so life changing.

On Sunday night, Eric Samuel Timm (www.nooneunderground.com) kicked off our week and challenged our students to restore relationships among themselves, and allow Jesus to be repainted to them throughout the week. That is exactly what happened. Our students restored relationships with one another, as did our adults, and the floodgates were open for Jesus to begin to do some incredible things, and He didn't leave us hanging. It was the perfect way to begin our week, Thank you Eric for allowing the spirit to use you!

Monday morning we began our day with a Sand Castle Competition, and I must say, I was impressed with some of the castles, and rather impressed with some of the groups creativity in creating, well the Empty Tomb, and a plane crash! :) Whatever our students created, they all did a great job of working together to accomplish a goal!

Monday night was an incredible time of worship with the Starlit Drive, as they did an amazing job of leading us to the throne, and Shawn Spickler brought the Word about remembering our God is mighty to save, and He is bigger than all your doubts, fears, and struggles! Late night Monday night was amazing! We brought in PK from Atlanta, and they put on a show! It was incredible! They are so talented, and their lyrics are amazing! Thank you Marlon, and LaSonna for sharing your gift with us! (www.pkallday.com)

Tuesday morning we had our first morning session to recap what we did the night before, and Sarah D'Attoma, and Michael Allen did an awesome job leading us into throne! We dove a little deeper into Zephaniah 3:17 and really saw just how mighty our God actually is!

Tuesday afternoon at Unite means one thing: PAINT. This year, we decided to do paint dodgeball, and what a time it was. Despite the balls being incredibly difficult to throw, our students had a great attitude about it, and were rather surprised when I threw out noodles for them to use, and the free for all paint war of Unite 2K11 began! It was a spectacle to see!

Tuesday night, we worshipped, dug into the word, talked about renewing our minds, and controlling our thoughts. Shonn Keels from Team Impact joined us to bring the Word, and did an amazing job. It was so cool to see students hearts being changed by worship, and by the Word! We settled in late night Tuesday night for an outdoor movie night, as some healing, and growing took place in some lives, while others enjoyed "Despicable Me."

Wednesday was the pinnacle of Unite 2K11. It started off with a morning session that the presence of God, and Spirit were so evident, it was so thick in the room that I knew God was going to do incredible things on this day, and He did. We talked about dominated our thought life, and keeping as far away from sin as possible. Wednesday afternoon, we took our group picture, and then served the retreat center! I have never been more proud of our students, and the efforts they gave in that heat.

Now, if you told me before hand that Wednesday night session would be the pinnacle of this week, I would have called you crazy, and I would have been dead wrong, because it definitely was. There are no words to describe what Wednesday night was like. It was filled with the Spirit of God more than ever before. Students were surrendering everything they had to Jesus Christ. It was so evident that God was working in everyone's lives in that room that night. Students had the opportunity to nail to the cross a "Hello, my name is _____ label" and claim off of the cross a "Cursed but redeemed" label, which they are to keep with them at all times to help them realize that is where we are to live. In the state that we are cursed, so cursed, but we are redeemed not by what we did, but by what Jesus did! And if evening session wasn't amazing enough, Late night got even better. We had planned to do the late night slip n slide, but with the spirit being so evident, and GOd doing so much work, the Spirit led me to make a decision and change it to late night worship, and I am so grateful God led me to do that, because the late night worship session, was beyond words. Students were throwing everything they had in worship to Jesus Christ. It was incredible to see!

By Thursday morning, students had started to think about going home, and sadness began to sit in, however, we had one day left, and God was going to make it clear that He was not done yet, and that is exactly what He did! Anita did an incredible job bringing the Word during morning session on Thursday, Paige and James led our students in worship as some of us others made our way down to the beach for our senior session! We Challenged our graduates, worshipped with them, and prayed with them. It was a special time!

Thursday afternoon came around, and it was time for our beach baptisms...and it was a powerful testimony as we baptized 21 students in the ocean, with hundreds of people standing around watching the Holy Spirit literally change lives before their eyes! We had one student, Hunter, who was not even on our trip or with one of groups, but was just watching our students be baptized, and He felt the Spirit leading him to make that decision as well, since He just accepted Christ a few weeks earlier. It was so neat to be a part of. I was so proud of our students.

Thursday night was where everything came to a head. It was again, passionate, exciting, incredible time in Worship and the Word, and we finished out the week on the beach, praying together, worshipping together, and thinking about who we really need to REpaint Jesus too when we arrived home. It was an incredible way to end, and incredible week.

I need to take some time and thank some people:

First, my Jesus, I love you so much. Just over 10 years ago, when you came into my life, I never thought you could be so incredible, and you continue to amaze me more and more. Thank you for your grace, and your neverending love that never fails. I do this for you, and only so that YOU receive the glory.

My wife, Sarah. You are an incredible wife. You are the most amazing women of God in the world, and you bring me so much joy, and our home so much life! You are a women of prayer, and support. I am so thankful, and blessed to call you my wife, and to serve with you. I love you so much.

My youth pastor, Kennon Vaughan. KV, you inspired me to allow God to use me to change lives, and you made such an impact in my life, I am doing everything in His power to allow Him to change me and use me daily!

My best friend, and Discipler, Danny. DH, you taught me everything I know about the Word, and the importance of discipleship. You taught me most of what I know about Student Ministry. You are my best friend man, and I am so thankful for you in my life!

My Assistant, Anita. NEEDS!!! STUART!!! :) You are amazing! I am so blessed to serve with you, and so thankful you put up with me! Thank you for all you do, and the support you give me behind the scenes of our ministry.

My Student Ministry Leadership Team! Y'all are incredible. Enough said. You make this ministry go. You pour into students, and love on students like I've never seen before. You sacrifice your time and energy to see students lives changed. You partner with me in living out the vision that God has given us for this ministry. You keep me accountable, and support me. You teach me so much as I continue to learn and grow. You trust me as I am trusting Christ, and that means the world to me. You always have my back, and I know that, and please know, I always have yours. I love y'all so so much, and am so honored to serve with you.

Our Student's Parents: Simply put, Thank you. Thank you for allowing us to assist you as you lead your students towards the cross! Thank you for trusting us as we attempt to love on your students, and help them grow and mature in their walk with Christ. Thank you for providing snacks on Sunday mornings, and reading my sometimes pointless monday morning emails! Thank you for raising some amazing teenagers who we love so much!

And Finally, our STUDENTS. I love y'all so much! I am so proud of each of you! I am so proud to be your youth pastor, and watch Christ transform you daily! Thank you for your openness this past week at Unite, and I know you were blessed because of it! I am so excited to see God transform our church, this city, this state, and this world through y'all! It is an honor to serve you on a daily basis! You truly are the best students in the world, and I sincerely love each of you, and am so proud of you.

Well, Unite 2K11 is in the books. That's a wrap. It was incredible, and it will never be forgotten. But with the end of Unite 2K11 means one thing: Time to start planning for Unite 2012! See you there!

Be Blessed,
Toes.





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Monday Morning Recap

Well, Yesterday, and on Wednesday night we started a new series that we will be doing in Youth Worship all throughout the summer on the book of Habakkuk! The series came out of the Village Church, which is the church that Matt Chandler leads. It was incredibly eye opening to me as I was listening to it each week, and I knew the Lord wanted me to take our students through this often overlooked book!

Yesterday, we looked at how dangerous it can be when we are silent with God, and with one another. What I love most about Habakkuk is that he was honest with God. What would your life be like if you were just honest with God, and with one another? Truth is, our lives would be radically different!

The truth is that God wants us to be honest with Him, even in the times when we are frustrated and upset with Him, He would rather we tell Him, and be honest, than try to hide and cover up something that is impossible to cover up before the Creator. He sees all, knows all, and is in all...that's just who He is.

So just a simple blog post about being honest with God, and one another. So a simple question to end this post...are you honest with God? Are you honest with people? Focus on the Cross, and honesty with God will be one of your favorite things to do!

Be Blessed,
Toes


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Monday Morning Recap

Well, it's Monday...it came again. It's like once every seven days, it happens again, and let me tell you, I am not a fan of Monday's. However, after a great Sunday, and an awesome dinner with my wife, and two of our students last night, it was easy to hop into the bed early, and get some seriously needed shut eye. It felt good to wake up this morning early, and head to the gym...trying to get myself back on track! It's going to happen!

Anyways, to recap yesterday, it was an incredible day with our graduates. The class of 2011...a very special class in our church. They will be truly missed. They're not the most outspoken group, well with the exception of one or two, but they were incredibly influential in so many ways. They will be greatly missed.

I challenged them from the book of Colossians on what to do now, now that they have graduated, what is next? Colossians 2:6-7 provides great insight on this question! If you'd like to hear the message, you can listen to it on iTunes, or at this website: www.northsidebaptist.org/belong/students. To briefly sum it up, I challenged them to walk in Him. It is now their time to make their faith their own. They can only live off of their parents faith for so long, and it is now time for Jesus to become real to them. For all of His mercy, His grace, His goodness, His glory to be revealed to them, and become real to them. I challenged them to know that God is enough, and He is always with them. Then we challenged them to continue to build off the foundation that has already been laid...we have done our best to lay the foundation of the scriptures in their lives, and its our prayer that they would build off of that daily. Read the Word. The Word can only change you if you read it! Study it! Memorize it! Live it! Love it! Nothing has changed my life more than an active love relationship with the word of God. Think about a love relationship in your life...how do you handle it? You pursue it. You think about it. You spend time trying to be with him/her. You are constantly doing anything you can to love that relationship- and that should be our attitude not only towards Jesus, but towards His Word as well. We should always be in a love relationship with His Word.

You want to see Jesus radically change your life, and your world? Read the Bible! It will change you!

Graduates, you are amazing. We are proud of you and we love you! Praying for you that God would do great things in and through you!

Be Blessed,
Toes

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Location:Professional Dr,West Columbia,United States

Class of 2011

Each year, in a youth pastor's life, comes a time when they have to say goodbye, good luck, and thanks for being apart of our ministry to several students. That time has arrived for myself, and our ministry. This Sunday, we will be honoring our graduates of the class of 2011. I wanted to dedicate this post to them, and let them know how proud I am of them, and how excited I am to see what God is going to do in their lives over the course of the next several years, and many years to come.

This is going to be short and sweet, but please understand, and know: I am very proud of you, it has been an honor to serve you, and do life together with you for the past two years. You have been a blessing to have around our ministry, and each of you has added so much to our ministry. I am so excited to see what YOU are going to do for the Kingdom.

My encouragement to you is this: Stay strong, hold the faith, and lean on Christ in all things. Never trust yourself more than you trust Him. Never allow your pride to overshadow what Christ, and His grace is doing in your life. Never neglect your Bible reading time, always get in that Word, consistently. Pray, pray, pray, and when you think you've prayed enough, pray some more. Allow the power of His Word to change you, daily. Become more like Him, and less like the world. In the good times, praise Him, seek Him, and love Him. In the crappy times, praise Him, seek Him, and love Him. In all things, HE IS ENOUGH AND HE IS WORTHY. NEVER FORGET THAT!

Thanks for all you've done for me, and for our ministry, you will be missed.

Love you guys, and Congrats!
Be Blessed,
Toes.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith

Well, my first wedding as the officiant is officially in the books! It was an incredible time of worship, commitment, and celebration of two people's love for one another, and for our creator. It was in a beautiful setting, with beautiful families and friends, and I was honored to be apart of it. I will be honest, I was incredibly nervous. I usually do not get nervous speaking in front of people, ever, no matter who, or how many people...however, someone's wedding day is a completely different idea than preaching! If I screw up while preaching, or really blow it, I get to try it again next weekend, however, with a wedding, for these people, it's their only shot! Therefore, the pressure was on! Prior to the wedding, I found myself making joke after joke, I guess to keep the mood loose, and my mind off the magnitude of the opportunity that God has provided me with, and my friends had entrusted to me!

Well, the time came, and the door opened, and it was time to make our way to the banquet hall where people were waiting, and expecting a beautiful ceremony! And you know what, that is exactly what we gave them! Michael and Megan, and their families, and friends, did amazing! It was beautiful!

To one of my best friends, Michael (not sure you'll ever read this) but it was an honor to be apart of your special day. I am incredibly proud of you, and proud to be your friend bro. Megan, (who probably will read this), you looked beautiful, and Michael is incredibly blessed to call you his wife! \

To the both of you, we are praying for you, always here for you, and remember- never lose that joy of your first date! :) Proud of y'all! Thanks again for allowing me to share in your day! Love ya'll!

Be blessed,
Toes


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A friends wedding !

Well, as I sit in the airport today waiting for a flight to Columbus, OH, I am reminded of the grace and mercy God continually shows me in my life! I am heading home to perform the wedding of one of my best friends from high school, Mike Smith. It is a completely humbling experience to be asked to perform their special day as they enter into their marriage. As I sit here with my lovely wife, it reminds me of our wedding day just under two years ago! I remember the nerves, the anxiety, the stress, the joy, the laughter, and the love that was celebrated at our wedding! I cannot wait to see what God has in store for Mike and Megan, but to y'all, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing me to be apart of your special day! See you in Ohio peeps!



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DownLine Mens Summit Recap 4

Loved this final session by Chandler!

DownLine Summit Final Session
Biblical Pragmatism
Matt Chandler
Matthew 5:13-16

- One of the problems we find in evangelical circles is an over emphasis of ONE thing at the expense of everything else.

Matthew 5:13-16- Most certainly is a passage on discipleship
- People do not like salt- they like what salt flavors
- Salt doesn't make people do crazy things- they want salt on something
- Salt on earth- what occurs when we hear the word of God and are transformed by the Word of God so that we live in such a way that we become light to the World
- Salt comes before light
- In our culture there is an obsession with acquiring more and more information that we have no intention of applying
- Christianity in the west has become a joke- "muslims are serious- talk about them, get yourself killed."
- We have information, but we do not have transformed lives-
- Anyone can spout information, but they have no life to point to
- If you have information, but not transformation- it is worthless- throw it out to be trampled on by men

How did we get here? (a place where we have information but not transformation)
1. A unnecessary emphasis on width over depth
- When people do not apply what they know, its hardening to the truth
- Can't teach people who can't add to multiply
2. Absolute lack of authentic community
- Two things we always need: 1) encouragement and 2) Rebuke
3. Lack of submission to and understanding of Biblical Authority
4. Overemphasis on light
- proclamation without transformed lives ends up being trampled on by men
5. We have no idea how people change because we live in a culture of speed
- Spiritual growth is not a super highway
- "It's climbing everest in your underwear"
- People grow like children- you can't see it, but you can measure it

If all we did here is get information, then we are guilty of the very problem that is eroding away what we want to see happen in the lives of the men we pour into!

When all said and done, WE WIN! The glory of God covers all the earth!




Be Blessed,
Toes

DownLine Summit Recap 3

One of my favorite lessons to teach and to listen to! This was one of my favorite sessions because it was taught by a layperson! A layperson is making disciples...what a concept! We have lowered the standards of a layperson, and this is an example of what should be the norm! Way to go, JB!

DownLine Summit- Session 6
JB Selecman
Multiplication- The Genius of Jesus' Strategy

The World: 7 billion people on planet earth
2.5 billion people have never heard the gospel
1 billion people do not know Jesus
95% of people are in the 10/40 Window
Every second 3 people die on planet earth without know Jesus Christ.

What's the difference between what they are doing and what we are doing today?
- Is Jesus the same: Yes
- Is The Holy Spirit the same: Yes
- Is the Bible the same: No, we have a completed NT.

Whats the difference? The Strategy

- See the masses through the man, and build the man to reach the masses.

The strategy was centered around one phrase: Disciple of Jesus Christ

Disciple:
Mathetes (Greek) (269 times in NT)
World visionary, world impacting, radically committed, learner, and follower, and reproducer of Jesus Christ.

Snapshot of the Early Church:
- Acts 2:41, Acts 2:47, Acts 5:14- ADDITION
- Acts 6:1, Acts 6:7, Acts 9:31- MULTIPLICATION

2 Timothy 2:2

4 Generations- Paul, Timothy, Faithful Men, Others

Strategic and Intentional Relationships

4 Concepts from 2 Tim 2:2
1. Heard- 2 Tim 3:10-11
- Doctrine: 2 Tim 1:13
- Conduct: Philippians 3:8
- Purpose: Philippians 1:21/ Galatians 2:20
- Faith: 2 Timothy 4
- Patience: 1 Thess. 2:18/ Acts 16:6
- Love: 2 Timothy 1:2, and 2 Timothy 2:1
- Persecution, Perseverance, and Sufferings : 2 Corinthians 11
Timothy did not just hear audibly from Paul, he experienced life on mission with Paul

2. Entrust

3. Faithful Men
- You cannot carve rotten wood
- Faithful Available Teachable

4. OTHERS


Be blessed,
Toes.

DownLine Men's Summit Recap 2

This post is a workshop that was led by Matt Chandler- he was talking about the processes of discipleship- Mechanical vs Organic! I found it very interesting, and I hope you do as well!

DownLine Summit Workshop #2
Matt Chandler
Matthew 28:16 cross reference with Luke 24:50 (ascension)

"I need to tell you about Jesus, when do you wanna do that?"

Matthew 28:16-20

- You are not the pinnacle of Christian existence

- People in groups does not equate discipleship- people get in groups to watch sports, the grammy's and what not..

- Darren Patrick's book CHURCH PLANTER

Mechanical Liner Discipleship Model: A liner approach to discipleship that has at its heart a transfer of knowledge
Pros:
1. No better way to transfer information and get people to learn bible and theology
2. Historical success
3. Tons of curriculum
4. Easy to measure
5. Easy to motivate
6. Lends itself to great theology

Cons:
1. Hard to sustain- starts big, grows small
2. Lead to coldness- people who know what's right but have no idea on how to apply it to their lives, therefore they judge others who cannot apply it their lives
3. Might create the theology police
3. Lends itself primary to the mechanical, linear and mathematical types
4. Programs become very sacred

"Honor Older Saints"- Matt Chandler

Organic Model- Connect people relationally and it'll happen
Pros:
1. Seems to yield the best results, and people stick because of the authentic community- relational connection
2. Appeal to a broader group of personality types

Cons:
1. We are all sinners- if we are not intentionally maturing, we won't mature
2. It's nearly impossible to measure
3. Nearly impossible to control

What they do at the Village Church: The Greenhouse (use both of the pro sections, and avoid the cons)
1. Creating an air that celebrates life transformation and change (sanctification is progressive)
- It's okay to be okay, its just not okay to stay there. - the cross is evidence that God knew how messed up we were going to be
2. We want to create a lot of on ramps, and off ramps-
3. Keep it flexible- the mission (the holy scriptures, and the redemption of his people) of God is sacred, nothing else is.
4. A relational aspect to everything you do
5. Discipleship takes time

DownLine Men's Conference Recap #1

INCREDIBLE!

This weekend we made a lengthy trip from Columbia to Memphis, TN with some of our HS guys for the DownLine Men's Summit. It was incredible. I was overwhelmed with the incredible wealth of knowledge that was poured into me, and our guys. We had such a great time- over the next few blog posts, I want to just share with you some of what I learned. These are literally my notes that I typed out- Hopefully they will be of some value to you! By the way, if you do not know what DownLine Ministries is...please check it out- it's an incredible ministry: www.downlineministries.com

The first night we were there, Matt Chandler, pastor at The Village Church, spoke on making disciples not converts! Here is what stuck out to me:


Disciples Not Converts
Matt Chandler
Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Discipleship is not a NT idea- it traces all the way back to creation- Adam was not to be alone- Eve is made a help mate-

Discipleship takes place best in community and at its best in the family (home) community!

Three Components of discipleship in OT:
1. Communal Piece 2. Proclamation Piece 3. Study Piece (scribes)

We water down the word, and the sharpness of the Word out of fear that we might not get conversions.

No one is worried about the seeker sensitive message in the BIble- "Peter's first message...Jesus, who YOU killed."

Refuse to give time to a brother who is not ready to work at discipleship

Jesus is a loving rebuker

The tool that must be used to create mature disciples is the Gospel

1. Teach people to use the weapons of grace against sin
- The Blood of Jesus- Eph 2:13
- The Word of God - 2 Tim 3:16
- Promise of the New Covenant- Hebrews 9:14

2. Teach people to attack the roots, not just the branches
- Get into the hearts of each other- communal aspect

3. Teach people when they sin, they sin against God.
- Difference between worldly sorrow and Godly repentance
- Worldly sorrow is "i did that and my wife is angry"
- Godly repentance is "I did that and God is angry...i sinned against God."
- Have a healthy fear of God and a healthy respect for His presence

4. Teach people not to forsake sin, but understand they're dead to sin.
- Colossians 3: press into the Lord, know the Lord, walk with the Lord, serve the Lord, and then put to death sin...
- Nothing makes you seriously look at your heart like understanding your mortality. You're gonna die.
- What stirs your affection for Jesus Christ?

5. Teach men to be violent about sin
- God has made man aggressive- use that violence and aggression towards your SIN!
- There is a cost to a man's rebellion against God
- Christianity is the weak version it is in the west because men are not violent enough! (against sin)

Lengthy Project

It is finished...


This was the last piece I laid today of our hardwood floors! It was a lengthy project, and in all honesty, there is still more to do but it's all minor! The major work has been completed!

We started this project in the middle of December, and finally, we are nearly completed. I so wanted to finish earlier, but life happens. Christmas vacation, church services, retreats, and basically just life in general had to go on, so finding time to do floors was few and far between, and the result was a several month project.

My point in all of this is to tell you that I feel like we do this a lot in our walk with Christ! We commit to doing something such as reading the bible in a year, or praying more each day, or giving more of our time...and all of a sudden what was supposed to be a quick project turns into an unfinished commitment. What commitments have you made to Christ lately that have been left undone? Whatever they are, I challenge you to finish those commitments. Why? Well, simply put, Christ finished his commitment to us on the cross and said, "it is finished."

Be blessed,
Toes.

James, James, and more James!

I know it has been forever since I have blogged, and by forever, I mean well over a year...but as I have been doing my personal devotionals, and studying God's Word, and praying lately, God has directed me back here...an outlet to share what God is doing in my life, and my prayer is that you will be challenged, and encouraged by it.

For the last several months, with our HS and MS students we have been studying the book of James, and this Sunday morning we will close out our 3 month study on James, and it has been incredibly challenging to me as I have studied James nearly everyday for 90+ days. The common theme God has shown me from this text is simply this: Faith without works is dead. True saving faith will be accompanied by works. Am I saying that we are saved by works? No, not at all. We are saved by grace alone, and its only through what Christ did on the cross that I am able to claim victory over Satan...however, once I claim that victory, there ought to be evidence of that victory in our lives!

We are not saved by our works...they are simply our response to our salvation. When we truly know what God has done for us, and understand the fullness of grace that is represented in the Gospel, our response ought to be to worship Him. We ought to want to produce fruit, to be like Christ, to love one another, to encourage one another, to pray for one another, and to lead others into that same relationship with Christ that we have entered into!

So let me ask you a question that God has asked me daily through my studying of the book of James...is your faith accompanied by works? Is there physical evidence of a saving relationship of Jesus Christ in your life? I challenge you to search your heart, search the scriptures, and truthfully answer that question!

If you haven't ever studied the book of James, I encourage you to do so. Read James everyday for 3 months, and see how God turns your relationship with Him upside down!

Be Blessed,
Toes.

Ahhhh The Long Awaited Gautemala Post....

Ahh, its the long anticipated response to my trip to Gautemala- The reason it has taken me so long to collect my thoughts is because it is so hard to describe what God did through us, and in my own personal life on our trip. I still struggle to put the things I saw, and the things God did into words. There are some things that just can't be described. It was an incredible trip; God did some unbelievable things; and I saw some things I didn't even know existed in this world. There are some things you just have to see.

There were two things that really spoke to me- one was the night with the homeless on Thursday night, and the time we spent at the national cemetary overlooking the City Dump.

First of all, the night with the homeless- what an incredible opportunity to share the love of Christ with the broken, who so desperatly need to be loved. I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with the whole group-- it was an experience. I have never shared through an interperter, or to a bunch of people who were high on glue. However, I have never felt the Spirit of God more. He was so alive in the midst of the junk these people live through. I know 100% that God was in the midst of these men as they were loved as Christ loved them.

Second of all, the city dump- We drove into the Guatemala City cemetary which was a scene in itself- these people create temples for their family memebers who have passed away- one resemebles a tomb in Egypt! However, as we made our way to the edge of the cliff that the cememtary sits on...we looked over the edge and witnessed the most unbelievable thing I have ever seen in my life. As we looked over down into the city dump, we saw a community where 11,000 people call home. 11,000 people call most of the cities trash, their home. They work there, they look for trash they can grab and re-sell. They raise their families there- you hear the boys saying "I want to grow up and be like my daddy who is a scavenger." There biggest aspirations is to grow up and live in the city dump. It was insane. I saw Jesus down there though. I saw people who are loved by our creator, searching for their Savior. I knew, as I stood far up high on a mountain, and looked over- that if my Jesus were there, He would be in the midst of all those lost souls. It was incredible. I saw people store up their trash to watch bulldozers come by and knock it over and clear it out. Everything they had worked for all day, gone in an instant. It was incredible. But through it all, I saw Jesus.

As I was on my way home, I was listening to the new Leeland CD, "Love is on the Move" and the second song is called Follow You. The lyrics sum up my trip:

You lived among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.

All my needs you have supplied.
When I was dead you gave me life.
How could I not give it away so freely?

And i'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.

Use my hands, use my feet
To make your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth
Until your work is done
'cause Faith without works is dead
And on the cross your blood was shed
So how could I not give it away so freely?

And i'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
(x2)

I give all myself.
I give all myself
I give all myself?.to you.

And I give all myself.
Yes, I give all myself.
And I give all myself?.to you.

And i'll follow you into the homes that are broken
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.

:) What an amazing Song. My Jesus, I will follow you wherever you call.

Will you follow Him?

Love yall,
Toes :)

Test!

Trying this out from my phone...working? Hope so!

Numbers 13- Will you love God more tomorrow than today?

This is where we are seeing the leaders of Israel take off and begin to spy out the land of Canaan to see what was going to be given to them.  They scouted for 40 days, and in Numbers 13:25, we see this: 

"²⁵ At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.

Report on the Exploration

 ²⁶ They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. ²⁷ They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. ²⁸ But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. ²⁹ The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan."

 ³⁰ Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

 ³¹ But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." ³²And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. ³³ We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

So these spies come back, and there are two of them that say "we can do this. Let's go." Joshua and Caleb, but the other 10 look around and say, wow these guys are huge. We cannot take them- lets be responsible, we cannot win this thing.  And all of the people followed these 10.  So everyone is discouraged, everyone stopped believing, and in chapter 14 God responds in verse 26. 

"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: ²⁷ "How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. ²⁸ So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: ²⁹ In this desert your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. ³⁰ Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. ³¹ As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. ³² But you—your bodies will fall in this desert. ³³ Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. ³⁴ For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.' ³⁵ I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this desert; here they will die.So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it- ³⁷ these men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD. ³⁸ Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived."

Clearly, the Lord was not pleased. He has never been pleased with us who are cowards. He has never been pleased with people who believe He can't do what He says He can.  

As you read this story, my question to you is, who are you? Are you one of the 10? or Are you Joshua or Caleb? Are one who believes God is so mighty and you are 100% confident that He can do anything He says? Or do you often find yourself struggling to believe in the power of God? Remember when you first accepted Christ, and you knew how powerful God was.  You knew that God was so big, He could do anything.  You were so confident that God could use you.  You were Joshua, you were Caleb.  However, as you've gotten older, and more mature, you've become one of the 10.  You've lost hope. You've become more logical, and less spiritual.  You've become comfortable.  You've become calm, mellow about your faith.  But I believe scripture calls us to be bold, to be courageous, to be INSANE about the Gospel.  I believe too much is at stake for us to be calm, and be scared.  Ya see, my favorite part about this story is that it doesn't end in Numbers. My favorite part comes 45 years later...in Joshua 14. 45 years later and Caleb is still alive just like God said. 

"⁷ I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, ⁸ but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. ⁹ So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.' ^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]}

 ¹⁰ "Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! ¹¹ I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. ¹² Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."

How amazing is that? This man is 85 years old, and he is more passionate about the Lord today than when he was 40.  He is just as strong, if not stronger than when he is 40.  He stands on the PROMISE of God. It's never been about us. It's always about the PROMISE of God. He will always be with us.  He will always lead us. I want to be one of the two.  I want to be the 85 year old who believes, and loves God more then than now.  I want to be closer to Christ then than now. 

Where are you? Will you love God more when you're 85 than you do today? I hope and pray you do! 

Be Blessed,

Toe's

One life to live.

Today was a crazy day, but I wouldn't have spent it doing anything else.  A wise man once told me, "I've got one life to live, and I'm going to give it all to God." 

The simplicity of that statement amazes me.  It is so simple, yet so life changing.  We do only have one life to live.  For some of us, we are extremely lucky to literally get a second chance at life, but most of us have one life to live, and one life to give.  Ya see, I feel like we get so caught up in the day to day drag of everyday life that we forget to focus on the things in life that truly matter.  We almost treat each day as a "trial run" of life, and then when it starts to count, then I'll start to give everything to God, but for now- I am too busy...how many have said that? We say, for now, I'm going to do it my way...and eventually we will get around to God's way.  

I want to encourage you, as you read this, remember, no one is promised tomorrow, no one is promised their next breath, and so do not take it for granted! Remember, we truly do only have ONE life to live...and ONE life to give to God. What is holding you back from giving everything you have to God? The Bible says in John 10:10, "the Devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus says, "I have come to give YOU LIFE, and life to the FULL."  Jesus wants you to take the one life you have been given and return it back to Him as an offering to Him, and He promises us that in return, He will give us life to the FULL.  It's the promise of God. 

The next breath you are about to take is sacred, treat it that way.  The next day you are about to live is precious, treat it that way.  The ONLY life you have is precious and sacred, treat it that way. Praying for you. 

Be Blessed,

Toe's 

Wherever He leads...I'll Go!

Today is a strange day...but I know God is in total control- This past weekend we took 11 junior high students to CIY'S Believe Conference in Anderson. It was amazing- God showed up and in the lives of many- One of the songs that they sang, I had never heard before, and it hit me right where I am. Isn't it awesome how God always seems to meet us right where we are at! I wanted to share the song, and lyrics with you because they are so powerful. The Song is Wherever He Leads...

"Take up thy cross and follow Me," I heard my Master say;"I gave My life to ransom thee, Surrender your all today."Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.He drew me closer to His side, I sought His will to know,And in that will I now abide, Wherever He leads I'll go.Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.It may be thru' the shadows dim, Or o'er the stormy sea,I take my cross and follow Him, Wherever He leadeth me.Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.My heart, my life, my all I bring To Christ who loves me so;he is my Master, Lord, and King, Wherever He leads I'll go.Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.

They added a bridge to the song that says, "Take up my cross and follow Me"

Will you take up HIS cross today?

Be Blessed,
Toe's

God is so good.

It is such a simple sentence with magnitudes of power.  God is so good. How often have you said that just because it was the "nice, or right" thing to say.  What a sentence that unfortinately, we, as His children throw around like its no big deal.  But the truth of that statement holds an unbelievable amount of power and truth.  

I am probably going through one of the hardest things I have ever faced in my life and it has never hit me more at how good God is.  He gives us strength that we do not deserve.  In our biggest hurts, Christ shows up the most.  In our biggest fears, Christ shows up the most.  A song that has really hit me lately is by Chris Tomlin, it is called "This is Our God" check out these lyrics... 

This is the One we have waited for
This is the One we have waited for
This is the One we have waited for
Oh mmm this is our God

A refuge for the poor
A shelter from the storm
This is our God
He will wipe away your tears
And return your wasted years
This is our God
Oh mmm this is our God
Oh mmm this is our God

A Father to the orphan
A healer to the broken
This is our God
He brings peace to our madness
And comfort in our sadness
This is our God
Oh mmm this is our God
Oh mmm this is our God

A fountain for the thirsty
A lover for the lonely
This our God
He brings glory to the humble
And crowns for the faithful
This is our God
Oh mmm this is our God
Oh mmm this is our God

THIS IS OUR GOD. WHAT A GOOD GOD HE IS!! :) Praying for you. 

Be Blessed,

Toe's 

Passion Week...

This week, in the church is more formally known as Holy Week. However, recently I heard something that made so much more sense to me and that was "Passion Week." It's not that I do not believe this week isn't Holy, it is just that I believe that this week was all about the Passion Jesus had for us. Ya know, we as followers of Jesus, want others to characterize us as passionate. Well during this week, we see an amazing example of Jesus' passion for us. This week is characterized by a few major events, if you do not already know this. Maundy Thursday is the night before Jesus' crucifixion, and He provides the Last Supper for His disciples. Obviously, on Friday, Jesus carries His cross and is crucified and three days later, He defeated the grave and rose into His rightful place in Heaven.

Now these events are all good and well, but do you really understand the passion that Jesus showed for us through these events? Jesus did not want to lose all of His friends, He did not want to be beaten and bruised. He did not want to be crucified. I mean really, who would want to be crucified? This was an amazingly hard time at the end of His life, however He knew it was the will of His father. The tricky part in all of this is we often miscontrue this and believe Jesus was only thinking of God and Himself. Y'all, if He was thinking of Himself, He would have taken Himself out of all this pain before it even started. He was 100% divine, He could have gotten Himself out of this, and logically, if it was one of us, that is probably what we have done. Indeed, He was thinking of His father, and God's will, but it is clear, in all of this Jesu's passion for US came through. HE THOUGHT OF YOU.

Let me ask you this, when you go through a tough time, when you have to ENDURE something, who do you think of? Do you think of yourself? Do you think of God? Usually we think, aw crap, why is this happening to me? Where are you in this God? Some of us might even curse God, turn away, forget Him. Let me share with you a verse that describes how Jesus felt during this Passion Week...and especially on Passion Friday...

Hebrews 12:2 says, Hebrews 12:2 “ Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him ENDURED the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Okay, so follow me here...Jesus ENDURED...he didn't enjoy the pain or the crucifixion, obviously, who would? He despised the shame. This was not an easy situation for Jesus!! He was in a really tough spot, and what we need to remember is that HE THOUGHT OF US.

And then what a glorious thing to know the power of the Resurrection of Jesus CHrist!! Without the resurrection, the cross is dead but thanks be to GOD for the SAVING power through the RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST!!!

This is an amazing weekend of events in the life of our Savior...events that radically transformed time, and our life. As you attend services this upcoming weekend remember that this week was about how passionate Jesus is about YOU. :)

Be Blessed,
Toes