Jon Andrews

Hillside Missionary

2012-01-27T12:00:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night, it was an honor and a privilege to share Tiny Hands International with 30 students and leaders at Hillside Missionary Church. I was blessed by the response by the these students had answer the call that God placed in their hearts to "Do Something" about the injustice of Human trafficking. They are wanting to raise awareness about Human Trafficking in their schools. It is always great to be able to share with friends and teammates in the fight. If you want to see what is right with this generation, check them out Bought at a Price

A brand "new" thing

2012-01-24T12:17:00.000-08:00

Welcome back, it has indeed been awhile. I am aiming to rectify that. I know you all are wanting to know what "new" thing is happening. Well, as of January 1, the Andrews family has stepped out in faith and answered Gods call on our lives to serve as full time missionaries with Tiny Hands international. Tiny Hands is a ministry who is "particularly called to orphans, street children, women’s empowerment and those threatened by, or victims of the sex-trafficking industry." Tiny Hands work is based in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.

My title is that of Director of Midwest Development, which means I have the honor of raising awareness of this great ministry as well as raising funds to assist the ministry. One of Tiny Hands core values is "doing much with little." All of the stateside staff need raise their own support.I am in process of finding those that are willing to stand with us in an effort to minister to the "least of these."

Here is a quote from on of our ministry partners Pastor Earl Smith of Granger Missionary Church:

"Twice now Jon has left the people of Granger Missionary Church in tears. Jon's first hand accounts of injustice in the world leaves us crying in deperation for the Lord to do something, and Jon's passion for the oppressed, abused and enslaved causes us to ask how we can help. In a world where the stories of "the least of these " often go unheard, Jon's voice must be heard, and the work of Tiny Hands International must be shared. If you desire your people to catch a vision for helping the least, the lost and the hurting, then investing in Jon and Tiny Hands is a great move."

Friends we need your help. We have to have a minimum of 50 people stand with us for at least $25 a month by June 1 to continue the call that God has placed before us, to serve as a "Voice for the Voiceless."

Will you stand with us? Will you standing in the gap for "the least of these?" Then simply click Here go to choose a charity scroll down and click on "Jon and Alison Andrews." Then fill in the blanks, simple as that.

Thank You!
Jon

Questions?

2011-06-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

Lately I seem to have more questions than answers. I would like a little help finding the answers.

Where if anywhere, in the bible does it say that we need to pray a prayer to be "saved."

If you are "saved" should't your life look different?

Is it me or does it seem that we are more concerned with our kids making the "A" team than their relationship with the Lord?

Lord, I know that you don't give us more than we can handle. My friend seems to be "handling" an awful lot. Could you please lighten her load?

Can we expect a move of God if our lives aren't displaying a move of God?

Do you have any homeless friends? Why not?

When we pray the Lords prayer, do we really mean it? "Thy kingdom come," if that would happen how many of our friends would be spending eternity in hell?

Why in worship songs when we sing about putting our hands in the air, do we do that? And when it says "bow down" we don't do that?

Who will Go?

2011-05-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently sent me a link to this song. I have found it to be very convicting. After watching this I would like to know if you will go?

Simple thoughts from a simple guy

2011-04-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

I must admit that as I have sat back and thought/prayed about what is going on in the world around sometimes I have more questions than answers. I last month or so I have discovered a lot of things some I will share with you today. I am open for feed back regarding any of the questions or answers posed here.

I was reminded this week while filling up our van with gas this week and complaining about how much it cost. that, I am one of the wealthiest 9% in the world because I have a vehicle to put gas in.
   I suddenly became very grateful for that blessing.

My 5 year old son asked me this week to "tweet" Trevor Bayne, the nascar driver, and" tell him about Tiny Hands International because if you love Jesus then you should help the boys and girls that people are trying to hurt." I am waiting on a response from Mr. Bayne.

I realized that Joseph was the first trafficking victim mentioned in the bible.
   He was sold into slavery by his family.

Are we effectively tying one hand behind Gods back by not allowing the Holy Spirit, and all the gifts that entails, to move freely in our lives?

Sunday's coming!

2.87% of regular church attenders tithe.

$70 from every person in the US would provide clean water for everyone in the world.
   HMMM that would be a tax I would gladly pay.

The average cost for a slave in 1760, $15,000 to $450,00 (2011 dollars)
   The average cost of a slave today $100.

Now that I am running again I am reminded of what Paul meant when he said we need to "beat our bodies."
  What does that mean for you?

SUNDAY IS COMING!

Like I stated earlier these are some thoughts that have been running around inside of me.

Nepal

2011-03-26T05:10:00.000-07:00

This is day 2 in Kathmandu Nepal. I have found it beautiful and gut wrenching. In part because I didn't bring the correct adaptor to charge all of my technology. Of course I didn't realize that until the weekend and the shop was closed, fortunately the Nepali weekend is only one day. We have visited two of Tiny Hands children's homes, Peace Home and Cyrene boys home. It is truly amazing to see Jesus in the eyes of these young boys and girls. When you look at them you see, Jesus Joy, hope and a future. It was completely different than other children you see along the streets of Kathmandu. The difference is Jesus.

The gut wrenching part is coming to the realization that I/we cant help each and everyone of these precious children. That what we can do is attempt to help one, if we help one then all that we do is worth it. I have played chase, peek a boo, and served as a jungle gym to 26 children that have been impacted, that have had their lives changed that will grow up to be difference makers in their sphere of influence. I have seen what despair looks like, what hopelessness is, I have looked it in the face. I have however seen, joy, peace, and hope for a future, I found it in the Tiny Hands children's homes.

Thank You for all of your love and support.

Frankfort

2011-03-24T00:36:00.000-07:00

Tiny Hands Trip

Good Morning I am writing to you at about 3:30 am on Thursday morning.

Really looking for God to do some amazing things. He already has, on the flight to on the almost 7 hour flight to Frankfort, it was way cool realizing that he were going about 500 miles an hour, or for my son about 3 times faster then Jeff Gordon went last week at Bristol. God is so traveling with me; he and I had an entire row of 4 seats to our selves stretch out on, during the flight to Germany. Who says He doesn’t carry about the little stuff.

On a side note thing are about to get interesting for my travel companions. My “germ juice” was taken in Indy; my deodorant was taken in Frankfort. Someone around here is beginning to get a little “fresh.”

Continue to be praying for my wife and family,

That God to do all that He wants to on this trip

That I would remain open to all that He has for me.

Just seemed to fit.

2011-03-20T04:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on my run/walk my ipod took me to this song. It really seemed appropriate. Be careful it should come with a warning don't sing/say it if you don't mean it.

Song of the day

2011-03-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

It was a terrific time with God this morning on the walk into work, listening to this song with raindrops falling around me. I hope this blesses you today

Child of the King

2011-03-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

A week or so ago I received an email from Barry McCormick, in Scotland. He had stumbled across this website and felt led to share this poem that he wrote with me. Gods timing is great, it was a blessing to me, and now with his permission I share it with you. Be Blessed

Child of The King

You are a royal child, a heavenly heir.

Do you not know it? Aren’t you aware?

That in you, your Father delights.

And watches over you each moment of the day and night
And every day and night, over you He sings,
because you are a child, A child of the King

You are His son or daughter, a prince or princess,
You are significant, you have an inheritance
Before the world was made, you were on His heart
His love for you is faultless and has been from the start
He will forever comfort you in the shadow of His wing
Because you are a child. A child of the King.

You are a part of a Strong, large family
You are a soldier in a vast and mighty army
He has plans to prosper you, and not to harm
He will secure you safe in His loving arm
And countless blessings to you each day he will bring
Because you are a child, a child of the king

You have authority and you have power
In His name, your safe strong tower
Put your confidence in Him, who created all
Put your trust in the One who picks you up when you fall
Confide in Your father who is interested in everything
Because you are a child, a child of the King

You are cared for by the one who named the stars
You are beautiful, just the way you are.
And just the way you are is the way He made you
You were designed perfectly to fulfil the task He has for you
He knows what the future for You will bring.
Because you are a child. A child of the king

The One who holds creation, wants to hold your hand
He wants to lead and guide, as you seek His plan
He wants you to ask, because he wants to give
And bless you, as for Him, each day you live
Can you hear the cry of Heaven? The sound of Great rejoicing
Because you are a child. A child of the King

37 Years

2011-03-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

Last Friday I had the opportunity to meet a friend of mine for coffee. This was supposed to be an opportunity for us to catch up with what is going in in our lives. This dear friend is an amazing woman to whom I am grateful to for many things. One of which is the opportunity I had to coach her son in football years ago and his friendship that has developed since. She is also the one responsible for introducing me to Michele Perry. Folks if you aren't reading her blog on a daily basis you are really missing something. Sorry, I degrease.

As we sat I sipped a venti Pike sharing about what God is taking us, what we is stirring inside of us. She shared a story, that I am I going to share with you. The names have been changed to protect the Innocent, sorry I always wanted to use that phrase.

She shared a story about a ministry, to children in a third world country, close to her heart that was in need of a bus. God layed that burden on her heart. She prayed for a bus for that ministry. She investigated used 16 passenger buses to send to this country. In fact she negotiated a the price down for one. However it didn't seem that it was the "right" bus in her spirit. So she kept praying. Until one day when she was driving down a road she had driven many times before, when she noticed a whole field of buses. The Spirit prompted her to turn around and ask for a stop and ask for a bus for this ministry. So she did. Long story short. this was a Christian bus business. She spoke with the owner. A week later the Lord prompted her to return to this bus business. the owner said come with me "I have a bus for you." It was an amazing bus 67 passenger low miles, diesel. More than what she could have ever imagined. She said "WOW! if we took out the last for seats there would be room for wheel chairs." The man responded "this isn't your bus, I forgot that you have children with different needs, come with me." The man took her to a 56 passenger, handicap accessible, hydraulic lift, bus with even lower miles, where he said "This is your bus!"

The title is signed and somewhere in Northern Indiana there is a bus belonging to this ministry. When my friend called the ministry to where was being donated, she spoke with the director. It was then that my friend learned that the ministry had been praying for a bus for 37 years. I find myself in awe.

Thank you friend for reminding me that God hears my prayers, answers them, sometime it takes 37 years.

Bought at a Price

2011-02-14T13:01:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the honor of being part of something really awesome. Six students from Grabill Missionary Church felt God tugging at them to do something about Sex Trafficking. I was blessed to meet these students at Converge 2011. They asked me if I would be willing to attend an event the were hosting to raise funds and awareness about Human Trafficking. The Youth Pastor in me said that I needed to encourage these students, that they were on the verge of something much larger than themselves. Well last night was the culmination of all there efforts. The band Disciple played, Clinton Faupel brought a thought provoking and challenging message, and remedy.fm represented.

I wondered in, found out were I was supposed to set up the Tiny Hands International booth when they approached me and said that all the proceeds of the evening would be going to Tiny Hands. Those students sure know how to make an old man cry. At the end of the night the event had raised OVER $1,500 for Tiny Hands.

This is yet another example of that can be done when God lights a fire in the bellies of students. They honestly believe that they can change the world. Thanks for allowing me to come alongside.

What are you going to do about Human Trafficking?

Lessons learned riding my bike to work in the Winter

2011-02-09T10:20:00.000-08:00

No, the picture above is not me, but sure could be. You see our family is a one car family thus I am usually the one getting to drive the "2 wheel car.' God told us to give our second car away and that He was going to bless us with a different second car. For now that is a bicycle. More on that later. I want to share with you all some of the lessons that I have learned riding my bike to work in the winter.

One of the first lesson that God has used biking to work to teach me is:

If we are to be good stewards of the gifts God has giving us, I believe we are, then that includes this beautiful, blue ball floating in space called Earth. I find myself in awe of the number of vehicles that pass me and they have only one person riding in them. Often time I will see them all going to on place, just a different times. I know I am guilty of that too. But, what a difference it could make in our own gas budgets, our dependence of foreign oil, if we could look for ways to become more efficient in our travel. Could we start our own "health care" if we would just walk or ride our bikes for our excursions

Snow is a way to remember that God created each of us uniquely, and still we can partner together to make something beautiful. Have you taken the time to watch the sun rise, or sit, as its rays hit the snow just right and cause a sparkle? It reminds me of the "sparkle" that His kids bring to His eye, as they draw closer to Him. It is also a pleasant reminder of how "His blood washes, us white as snow." I am forever grateful for that blood.

As the cold hits my face and it begins to tingle, I can't help but think of how wonderfully and creatively we are made. That when we are cold our body lets us know. On a side note I always laugh because we are "colored" people. When we are embarrassed we turn "pink," when we are cold we turn "blue," hot "red," out in the sun too long "brown," not out in the sun enough "pasty white," not enough iron "yellow," and just for fun jealous "green."

The last one for today is to slow down. Enjoy what God has for us. Too often we whiz right by something, or someone God wants to show and we don't take the time to investigate what it is He has for us. How many of us have noticed the "neighbor" on the way to our next item on our to do list. It is hard to do at 50 miles an hour. Think about it next time you drive down your road, try and say a prayer for each house you pass. Kinda difficult. Know do it on your bike or while walking, it is easier to spend a little more time on each one.

My name is Jon and I love Jesus.

Prayer

2011-02-08T07:59:00.000-08:00

I was sitting in my nice warm, safe, dry house sipping a cup of Cafe Estima from Starbucks this morning when I get an email. It was an update from my friend Michele Perry who serves as a missionary in the Sudan, oh wait that is incorrect she serves Jesus in the new Republic of South Sudan. You see this dear friend and many others have been praying a country into existence. They have been praying for 5 years.

Last night at 9:48 the announcement was given that a new country was birthed. A country which boarders are not defined. One where the country has few paved roads (less than 30 miles), infrastructure issues. The awesome part of this is just to think about the fact that God "heard the prayers of His people." You see in the blink of an eye God just made every world map, every social studies book obsolete. He created something that wasn't there before.

Yet so many of us don't ask (pray), or don't take the time for the things we need.Is it that we think that He can't do those things? Is that we doubt God? Is it that we really don't believe? I mean in the last month He made a country. Yet we doubt that he can move the mountains in our lives.

The birth of The Republic of South Sudan has already caused me to pray differently, to really look at God in a different way. Thank You Michele Perry and the citizens of The republic of South Sudan for impacting this man on the other side of the world.

Please join me in continuing to pray for this newly, mostly Christian nation.

Welcome

2011-02-01T09:47:00.000-08:00

Sorry, its the face God blessed me with

What is happening after Converge 2011

2011-01-25T12:32:00.000-08:00

Some of my new friends from converge share their experiences from the weekend. I received an e-mail from one of these young ladies, she and her High school swim team are going to do a swim-a-thon to raise funds and awareness about human trafficking With The proceeds going to benefit Tiny Hands International . I love youth that are motivated to make a difference and change the world. I update as more informations available

Awesome Weekend

2011-01-19T07:01:00.000-08:00

This past weekend i was blessed to have the opportunity to be at converge2011 It was the first in what I believe will be many more. This will quickly become one of the foremost student leadership conferences in the nation. I loved the fact that I was able to be there with the outstanding student leaders from my youth group and with Tiny Hands International the students were challenged to make a difference in there world. This innovative conference utilized modern technology to enhance the overall experience.

I was inspired by what two different youth groups were already doing to fight injustices around the world. Check out this website Bought at a price. This is a group of young men and women from the Graybill Missionary Church . They are hosting an anti human trafficking conference February 13 to raise funds and awareness.

Nappanee Missionary Church's Student Ministries has also launched a campaign to fight injustice Stop Red Lights . They are involving students from 5-12 grade to use prayer as a weapon to fight.

Thank you to all the students and leaders who took the time to invest in converge and their world. You are not the church of tomorrow you are the church of TODAY.

Check this out.

2011-01-11T07:35:00.000-08:00

I know this video is long (54 minutes) and I encourage you to watch it. It is worth the investment you your time. This video is shown to intercepted victims of human trafficking in Nepal.

Its a new look and feel

2011-01-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

I want to welcome you to the "new" website. It is morphing into more than just a blog, so bear with it has it becomes all that we think it will be. There is a new flavor to it. As most of you know my family and I are transitioning into a role with ,
Tiny Hands International . Tiny Hands is a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the church in the developing world to help the poor overcome poverty and become lights of the world. We are committed to finding the greatest injustices in the world, and working towards relieving them however possible. We are particularly called to orphans, street children, and the victims of the sex-trafficking industry. We want to find those who are already doing the work, who are called and faithful, and help them do it in greater ways and with more efficiency. We do it all in obedience to, and for the glory of Jesus Christ.

So you will be able to track what is going on with the Andrews and Tiny Hands. Please feel free to browse around, leave us a comment, prayer request, and even sign up for our newsletter (You can do that by clicking on the newsletter tab to your right and following the prompts.) Please stay tuned and see what is coming up next.

The last of the firsts

2010-12-13T13:08:00.000-08:00

My mom on the left.

This past Saturday I celebrated the last of the firsts. You see it was a year ago on December 11, 2009 that I sat with my mom as she faded in to the arms of her Saviour. I can hardly believe that it has been a year. I was able to spend Saturday experiencing some of the things that she left as her legacy.

The first was her grandchildren, my kids. I love spending time with them but, on Saturday I seemed to be almost removed from myself as we spent time together. I could see us playing and laughing. My mom loved spending time with too, although I am sure it wasn't as much as she would have liked while she was her on earth. I can still see a little of "Grammi" in each of them. A couple of things that I "saw" on Saturday was the time that Grammi and Preston spent putting together puzzles, Preston said "Grammi and I are really good at puzzles, just ask us." Another was when she went to Columbus for her bone marrow transplant Preston gave her a "Fillmore" from the cars movie. That was special because in the movie fillmore says "I love you man." Preston wanted her to look at Fillmore and think of him saying "I love you grammi" he has inherited a bit of her heart on caring for others. He loves to 'make a difference." Just like mom. My daughter, Presley is 2 1/2 and I saw her Grammi in her Saturday as she loves to help, any way she can and has to have the last word. Palyn only got to know her Grammi for a couple of months, yet I see Grammi in her smile and love of people.

Then I was blessed to be able to go to "Christmas Jubilee." This is an event that mom helped to start, it comes alongside those in our community that can use a hand over the holidays. Parents are allowed to come and shop for gifts for their family. The gifts are provided by the community for the community. I was able to see over 100 families come and shop, with more to come. It was an awesome experience as I was able to have people share their own "remembrances," of mom. That warmed my heart. Then to find out that they prayed for our family that morning. To know that even after the last of the first people were still thinking of mom.

It was an exciting day for me to "celebrate" my mom. You see she lived her life for others. She knew that it was NOT about us at all, rather it is all about her Jesus. I have been thinking about the line from the song that goes something like this "better is one day in your courts than 1000's elsewhere." If one day in heaven is like a 1000 here then for her prospective she has only been there for less than a minute.

So thanks mom for living life the way you did. In such a way that it was about others first, making life about them. Not getting caught up with making every issue about you, in fact doing your best to keep you out of it. I will continue to do my best to pass your legacy done to those within my sphere of influence.

My name is Jon and I love jesus

Dreaming with God

2010-12-08T12:44:00.000-08:00

A good friend of mine recently gave me a book and said that it would wreck me. Well, I finished that book and she was right. The book is titled "The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind." She was right, it did speak directly to me. I want share some snippets from the book with you. Here are some from the chapter "Dreaming with God."

"What do you desire when you are praying? What do you desire in that place of communion with the Lord? Once we come into the kingdom, the straight and narrow road Jesus talks about becomes broad and big. The Kingdom is bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside. There is room for our desires, our creativity, our ideas. We don't think or dream independent of God, but because of Him. He essentially said " I am gong to give you one huge idea, and I want it to shape every breathe of your life, every bit of your ministry, every prayer. The idea is 'on Earth as it is in Heaven.' Now, GO! Run with it. Make it happen."

What is the one huge idea that God is giving you that He wants you to run after? I believe that I have I know what mine is. In fact it has been almost a year since I was with my mom died her physical death. I looked at my notes from around that time and I want to share some of those with you.

"The author of Hebrews defines faith this way in verse 1 : “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” That describes my mom to a “T”. You see her hope was in Jesus and not in man, she believed that Jesus is who he says He is and does what He says He can do. Her faith was so emeshed with who she was that it allowed her to “believe” that with God all things are possible. It was impossible to differentiate her from her faith. I am one of those “things” that she had the faith to believe God would work out and be ok, even when I didn’t make it easy on her. She still hung on to that faith in Jesus and that He would make sure I turned out ok."

I didn't now then what I now, know. That seems to fit a lot of the past year for me. I want to place my hope in Jesus and not man. God continues to show me that with Him all things are possible. I want to live a life fully emeshed with my Jesus, His dad, and the Holy Spirit that you could not differentiate them from me. That I would walk in unison the path laid out before me.

Its game Time!

2010-12-06T12:17:00.000-08:00

I came across this video from a friends recommendation, and was truly inspired. There are currently some issues and places in my life that I am/was ready to yell uncle, and after some, ok a lot, of consultation with God and my wife. I am going to flip the script and compete, all bets are off. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OURSELVES A BALLGAME!

I will NOT to give up, I will NOT quit! I will NOT hide behind my fears. I will NOT play scared. I will compete, I will run the race. I will run TOWARDS and NOT away from the uncomfortable, the awkward and the scary. Play time is over! IT IS GAME TIME FOLKS! Ready or not here we come.

Thanks for reading!
My name is Jon and I love Jesus

I double dog dare you to pray this prayer!

2010-12-05T04:33:00.000-08:00

I came across this video blog a year or so ago. It challenged me then for a while then I kinda of forgot about it. Until recently when a friend of mine sent it to me. God has really used it to press me into an uncomfortable place, yet I am continuing to be comfortable in HIm.

So I double dog dare you to pray this prayer. WARNING: Only pray it if you really mean it.

Thoughts of the day..

2010-12-01T07:11:00.000-08:00

Is the will of God right under our noses?

The Lord's prayer says it " Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven."

Is Gods will to have heaven on Earth?

Hmm. joy, peace, wisdom, health, wholeness and all of the good promises of the bible free to operate here on earth.

Are we living a life to destroy the works of the devil? 1 John 3:8b says this "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work."

Are we willing to put the will of God on display?

I love this... "There is no CO-mission, without SUB-mission to Gods primary mission." - Johnson

Our assignment as Christ followers has never been about what we can do for God, its instead about what God can do through us.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-22T17:56:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving, I think it should have been named Giving Thanks Day, right around the corner what a better time than now to give “props.” So here is some of the 2010 version of Jon’s Giving thanks day.

1. I am thankful for those God has put in my path over the last year.

Reflecting back, I can see how God strategically placed people along the journey He laid out for me this year. There have been people at the fork in road to assist me in choosing a path. Some of them I didn’t know or recognize what they were doing at that fork, until I was already headed down the road.
I am giving thanks to God who has brought people to walk alongside me on this journey, people who love me, in spite of myself. People who that for a season God allows to speak truth into my life, to invest a little, sometimes a lot themselves into the man God is desiring me to be.

2. I am giving thanks for the people that God has allowed to be taken out of my life this past year.

It doesn’t seem like it, but we are coming up on the one-year anniversary of my mother’s physical death. During this past year I have been reminded a lot of my mom. In fact I often find my self-thinking, “what would mom think” as I have traveled this journey to passionately pursue after Christ. I know that she is dancing with Jesus as I write this. I want to live a life that demonstrates Jesus to those that matter to Jesus, not those that only matter to men. It seems to me that of the last year an inordantant of people of paid me a great compliment by saying “I see more and more of your mom in you.” My eyes begin to leak every time I hear that.
My last living grandparent passed away this year as well. Grandma Thank you for ingraining into me the importance of family, food and fellowship.

Random Thoughts

2010-11-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

God is pretty cool! I love it when He shows up and shows off

Why are we surprised when God surprises us? He is God after all.

Is mental/health as important as physical health? If so why are we hesitant to get and stay healthy?

Is where we have been an indication of where we will go?

I am really blessed.

The Church is mentioned 4 times in the first 3 Gospels. Three of those times are to do with conflict.

Why does the Holy Spirit scare us?

When can we begin to see people as people and not projects?

If they matter to Jesus, and they all matter to Jesus, then shouldn't they matter to me?

I need to run some more to get/stay mentally/emotionally/physically/spiritually health.

When are we going to stop watering the sidewalk?

Is it hard for anyone else to cheer against Army, Navy or the Air Force when your college team plays them?

It is all about Jesus and not about us.

MY name is Jon and I love Jesus

last nights Journey

2010-11-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had one of those days when it seems like more and more is being dumped on you. Like you are a kid walking to school and a snow plow comes along and just covers you in snow? Then turns around and does it again? And again? While that was my day yesterday. Snow drift after snow drift.

Some of you have been asking about my running, and if I am doing it as much. To answer your question, No. Until last night, my wife could sense that something wasn't right and "suggested" that I go for a run. Well I ran, no not the country. I was reminded of how I am always mentally refreshed after a run, not only that the stress was gone mentally but physically as well. Then the snow plow came back, all it took was 1 text and IT was back. Then for no apparent reason God took me to Psalms 12.

Psalms 12:
1 Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing!
The faithful have vanished from the earth!
2 Neighbors lie to each other,
speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.
3 May the Lord cut off their flattering lips
and silence their boastful tongues.
4 They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content.
Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”
5 The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless,
and I have heard the groans of the poor.
Now I will rise up to rescue them,
as they have longed for me to do.”
6 The Lord’s promises are pure,
like silver refined in a furnace,
purified seven times over.
7 Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed,
preserving them forever from this lying generation,
8 even though the wicked strut about,
and evil is praised throughout the land.

I am still not sure why, it was like to drift was lifted. I have had to release to people causing the snow drifts in my life. And for now I am going to camp out in Psalms 12.

My name is Jon and I love Jesus

So how is your marriage?

2010-11-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

Ephesians 25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."

2 Corinthians 11:2 "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ..."

I was spending a little time yesterday just doing some thinking, I know it scares me too. When this came in my head. There are many marriages in my sphere of influence that are either in "trouble" or are past the breaking point. It breaks my heart to see my friends go through this emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically. I see how it literally tears up your insides. And if kids are involved this aching pain is multiplied. Satan has found an area where his attacks are being successfully. No simple way of saying it DIVORCE SUCKS!

So, all that being said brings me to this:

I find it pretty symbolic of what is happening in the church today. Satan is attacking marriages! Scripture refers to Jesus as the bridegroom and the "Church," people not a building, as His bride. Satan wants to enter, and has entered into this marriage relationship. The devil has done this with "busyness" and also really pity things like music, the color of the carpet, the pastors teaching style, etc.. As I read the scripture, I am just a guy, and no theologian but once we (the church) enter into the covenant of marriage with Jesus it becomes less about us, as individuals, and more about emeshing ourselves with each other. You see the groom, gave Himself up to die on the cross for His bride. What is the bride doing for her groom. The bride is allowing Satan to creep in and create division, and separate us from the groom. In a sense divorcing us. And leaving us with all the pain and anguish that divorce is.

Church, how is your marriage? Are you communicating with your spouse on a regular basis? Are you speaking your spouses love language? Are you eliminating 'distractions" to your marriage? Are you handling marital conflict biblically? Where are areas in your marriage that you are allowing the devil to creep in?

So with this thoughts how is your marriage? Are we as a bride willing to spend time renewing our marriage vows today?

My name is Jon and I love Jesus.

Interesting week.

2010-11-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

It has been a really interesting week. I spent Monday and part of Tuesday at Taylor University's WOW (World Opportunities Week). I was serving as a volunteer with an anti-trafficking organization
Tiny Hands International. During the 2 days I was there I was blessed to have the opportunities to interact with the terrific students at Taylor. Many of the students that I connected with have a passion to serve God in what ever way He calls them to. It was interesting to listen to students who were pursuing Gods calling on their lives, not just looking for a job.

They were searching for ways to be used by God. I found my self wondering how many of us "grown ups" do that? You know what I mean? Really searching for the ways God wants to use us, not settling for left overs, or table scrapes from the kings table. But, really searching for God's best for our lives. It was refreshing and challenging at the same time.

While I was there I was blessed to meet Al and Andi Tauber of Emmaus Ministries Chicago. "For 20 years, Emmaus has worked on the streets of Chicago reaching out to men in prostitution. Through nightly outreach teams and a daytime Ministry Center, Emmaus staff and volunteers build relationships of trust with these men, working together to help them get off the streets and to cultivate a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ." Al and Andi are amazing. On Monday night the shared "real life stories" of the men that they minister too, in their own words. I was moved to tears. They are doing great work with an often forgotten people group. If you have the chance stop by there website, check it out. If you feeling God giving you that gentle tug, to pray for this ministry, please pray. If the tug is at your wallet, please give your biggest, if the tug is to volunteer then please contact them.

Wednesday night I was blessed to be at Crystal Valley Missionary Church speaking to their senior high students. I love getting to watch other Youth Pastors do their thing. Adam Sharp is a good one, you all are very blessed. Adam is challenging his students to be a part of something bigger than themselves, to make difference in the world, and to leave a fingerprint on something that says God used us here. I am excited to have the chance to walk along side them, at least through the twitterverse, on their journey.

It is an exciting time to be one of the Kings Kids.I have been reminded a lot that prayer and fasting are what we should do as first things , not as a last line of defense.

My name is Jon and I Live Jesus

Lets get it together!

2010-10-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

I must admit this is a hard blog post to write. I believe however this is one that need to be written.

It is about now that I usually receive requests for a list of families for classes or families asking for a “suggestion of some families in need” so that they could take them on a project for Christmas. I find it hard to believe that we in the church are so far removed from those around us that we don't know of people that the church could bless. Are we so disconnected from even those in our own "church" that we aren't aware of needs around us?

Really? Is that the way we really see people? Is that the way Jesus sees people? HELLO these are PEOPLE not projects. People that Jesus died for are now nothing more than a class project? Only to be concerned with at the holidays? Where are you/we the other 364 days a year? I guess it doesn’t it matter that people aren’t eating for days at a time so that their kids can at least have a little something to eat? Except at the holidays.

Are we as a church so out of it that we don’t know that 1 out 8 people in Elkhart County are in danger of going hungry everyday and we don’t know one? The stats would show that in our community of 1,600 there would be 200 people on the verge of hunger. And why are we waiting until the holidays come alongside the families or indivuals that Jesus himself called us to help. Didn’t he say “feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, provide shelter to the homeless, and visit those in prison?” Or is that just something we are called to do on the Holidays, so that we can all “feel” better at our own gluttony, materialism and pride issues. Something we can use to cope and sooth our own grieving spirits.

This indeed provides us even more conformation that Satan has the church right where he wants it. We are more concerned about the depth of the Sunday message, if worship is what we want. Instead of being concerned about if our worship is what He wants, after all we are worshipping Him, not us! If it is a Christian rock concert to worship him then ROCK ON! If it is dance then dance as David danced, if painting then paint.

This must just break the heart of our Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit, it should break ours too. Satan has the church right where he wants us. Safe and comfortable in our holy huddle. When will we ever learn? We need to stop doing church and be the church, He has called us to be. As long as we allow Satan keep this tight grasp on our spirit of pride and religiosity we will continue to be prideful and religious. Aren’t those exactly the ones Jesus came against, the religious and prideful? How long will we continue to miss out on what God truly has intended for us. Just because it might cause us to become uncomfortable, scared or anxious?

Once I am able to give them a list, more often than not I will get a repose similar to this “I am not sure that we want to help this family or that family because some members of the class didn’t want to “enable” them.

We ask for people/families that could use a little “Jesus” and a hand up, only to attach strings to who/where and what they are. I am so glad that the Jesus I serve didn’t and doesn’t do that. He didn’t say love your neighbor only if … He said love your neighbor as you love yourself. By love I believe he meant feed, them cloth them, give them something to drink and visit those in prisons… only if you aren’t enabling them, only if they vote Republican, only if they are you know “like us.” And only do it at the holidays, because that is the only time of the year people need a hand. Hog wash, Hogwash all of it I say!

No that is not the God I read about in the Bible, NO that is not what Jesus said.

I for one am glad that Jesus love doesn’t come with strings attached. I am so unworthy of what He died and of who He is I could never live up to those expectations.

God is not a respecter of persons, positions, political parties, position, or social stature. He loves EVERYONE.

This religious spirit, this holier than thou mentality has come to embody our church has to be combated! We cannot continue down this path. Please hold me accountable in this area, if you ever catch me putting "projects" ahead of people, or seeing people as projects. Please call me on it.

God simply ROCKS!

2010-10-25T13:11:00.001-07:00

I am so amazed by what God is doing that if I wasn't living it and personally experiencing it I wouldn't believe it. My son, who is almost 5, loves puzzles, in fact one of my favorite sayings of his is "Grammi and I are very good at puzzles, just ask us."

In the last 24 hours I have seen a group of senior high guys beg me for an overnight this weekend. Not to hangout, eat, make loud bodily noises and have contest requiring testosterone. But, get this to pray. Our church is in the middle of the 24/7 prayer. They looked at the sign up sheet at church yesterday and saw that there were openings from midnight Friday till 5 am Saturday and wanted to fill those prayer slots. A group of guys coming to together for the simple reason of praying together with and for the church, each other and those the Holy Spirit lays on their hearts. Thank you guys for being the Church of RIGHT NOW.

At lunch today I was honored to eat with a group of 13 eighth grade students, who when they finished lunch gathered in a circle in the middle of the playground. They then proceeded to join pinky fingers, don't want any of that P.D.A. and asked for prayer requests. They then went around the circle and prayed for each other and those in their sphere of influence. I was a bit distracted, i kept anticipating getting hit with a ball of some sort. When I asked them about that they said "usually, some kids will throw a ball in their direction, or someone, or bunches of someones will run/jump in the circle. My heart broke as they said that sometimes as the pray other students will run around their prayer circle and play duck, duck, goose while the students are praying." Yet through all of this the continue to meet and pray, every day. It didn't matter to this group of prayer warriors, that they don't go to the same "church," or from the same domination or that some of them don't even attend church. They just continue to meet and pray. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your "Circle of Prayer" today you all blessed my socks off!

In my own life God just keeps challenging me to get more and more "uncomfortable." The more uncomfortable I get the more conformation I get that He has me right where He wants me. Have you ever felt like God was asking something of you that makes absolutely no earthly sense? Yet makes all the sense in the world. It seems to me that I am continuously being placed in the position. I hear God say go here, do this, say that. And it isn't till later that God put the puzzle together enough for me to see what He is doing. More this to come.

My name is Jon and I love Jesus

The Cost of Distraction

2010-10-20T11:36:00.000-07:00

The Cost of Distraction

"Being unable to cure death, wretchedness, and ignorance men have
decided, in order to be happy, not to think about such things."(1)

Though writing hundreds of years ago, Blaise Pascal captured the spirit
of our present age prophetically and profoundly. With the reality of
suffering and the specter of death facing us all, most seek lives of
distraction. Whether or not we recognize that the fear of death is an
underlying, albeit unconscious, motivation, we nevertheless recognize
that our lives are filled with distractions. Whether it is in the
juggling of priorities, the relentless busyness of our age, or perpetual
media noise, our lives are so full that we rarely give ourselves space
or time to reflect. Particularly in Western societies, we fill our
lives with mindless consumption that numbs us to the eventuality of our
mortal condition and our finitude. The advertising industry is not
unaware of our propensity to consumptive distraction. Marketers spent
over 295 billion dollars in total media advertising in 2007.(2) Perhaps
we mistakenly assume that our vitality is inextricably bound up in our
ability to consume.

It is easy to understand how our fear of death and suffering would
compel human beings to live lives of distraction. Yet, the cost of that
distraction is a pervasive and deadening apathy-apathy not simply as the
inability to care about anything deeply, but the diminishment for
engagement that comes from caring about the wrong things. Kathleen
Norris laments:

"It is indeed apathy's world when we have so many choices that we grow
indifferent to them even as we hunger for still more novelty. We
discard real relationships in favor of virtual ones and scarcely notice
that being overly concerned with the thread count of cotton sheets and
the exotic ingredients of gourmet meals can render us less able to care
about those who scrounge for food and have no bed but the streets."(3)

Sadly, our inability to recognize our own mortality and to live our
lives in light of the fact that we will die leads to the diminishment of
our ability to genuinely care for others-because our care, by its very
nature, will demand our willingness to suffer, and to lose our lives for
someone else. The more we love, the more we open ourselves up to
vulnerability and the possibility of pain. And yet, if we choose
against loving engagement, we are left with a diminished and distracted
life.

The ancient Hebrew poets, while meditating on the brevity of life,
prayed, "So teach us to number our days that we may present to you a
heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). It was the inevitability of death that
motivated this prayer for wisdom for living. This was a wisdom that
didn't try to hide from the realities of life-be they joys or
sorrows-but rather sought to keep finitude ever before it. Indeed the
poem ends with a cry for God to "confirm the work of our hands."
Numbering life's days led to meaningful
engagement in work-and this was the mark of wisdom.

Being mindful of our own deaths sadly leads some to distraction; yet it
can lead others to wise engagement. Jesus, himself, faced his own death
with intention and purpose as he walked the way of the cross, not only
up the hill to Golgotha, but also as he offered his life in loving
service to those around him. "I am the Good Shepherd and I lay down my
life for the sheep... No one has taken it away from me, but I lay it
down on my own initiative." The way of wisdom demonstrated by the life
of Jesus calls us to engage our mortality as a catalyst for purposeful
living. While following Jesus insists on our laying down our lives in
his service, it can be done in the hope that abundant life is truly
possible even in the darkest of places. For the one who laid his life
down is the one who was raised. He is the one who declared, "I am the
resurrection and the life; the one who believes in me will live even
though he dies."

Margaret Manning is a member of the writing and speaking team at Ravi
Zacharias International Ministries in Seattle, Washington.

--

The Church of Acts verse The American Church

2010-10-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

God has been challenging me lately to consider looking at the "Church" today and the church of Acts. I am going to share some of the observations that He has shown me on my Journey.

Acts 1:14 " They joined together CONSTANTLY in prayer.." I my years of being around the church I find that most times I can't find a volunteer to pray for anything, out loud most of the time someone must be drafted. Where and when was it that we became so guarded in our relationship with the Father that we can't talk with Him in public? When was the last time that we asked a totally stranger how we could pray for them? When was the last time that your wife caught you praying? When was the last time that you modeled to your family prayer? I am guessing that like most people we are more comfortable talking to complete strangers that we are Abba father- God the Father.

As a big "C" church we have set hours for people to come to us. We are here from 7-8 on Wednesdays, and 8-noon on Sunday. Sorry if you can't make it. I am not really sure that was the way Jesus intended his church to be. When I read Acts I can't find that anywhere. I find that believers gathered together and prayed.It was at a church but rather 'The Church" joining together to pray. I don't know about you, I have never been invite to a friends home for a prayer meeting. In the same respect i have never asked people to my home to pray either. Ouch that one hurt God!

I love how we, that means me too. come to a meeting or a gathering with our own agenda then ask God to bless our time together. When we haven't earnestly spent time in prayer and fasting before it. Or even better yet, making a decision then asking God to bless it

We will fill our heads full of talking heads, not the 80's band, more the likes of Sean, Glenn and Rush or how about sports talk radio, than we will God. because you know what God loves the Democrats too. In fact I think He could really care less about the "labels" we put on people. Why is that? After all He already knows everything and wants to give us the desires of our hearts, He should He put them there. Yet, we continue to block him out.

Thats all for now.

My name is Jon and I love Jesus

Unofficial Study

2010-10-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

For the last couple of months I have made an attempt to either walk or ride my bike to the office. I kinda made that decision because our second vehicle, God told us to give away. It has been given away, but just not picked up. Oh, by the way God has also told us that He will provide us with another vehicle. So I wait and pray with anticipation the blessing that God told Alison and I He had for us. In the mean time I walk and ride my bike.

I have noticed lately that as I walk/run/bike around our small town that there are a lot of vehicles that pass me bye that only have on occupant in them. I am not sure what God is doing in my life, I am confident of this though, He is doing it. So today I did an unofficial study on my .7 mile walk to the office. There were only 3 vehicles out of 43 that had multiple passengers in them. I wonder if that is what God had intended for us to be doing when He made us stewards of His resources.

Now, please don't get me wrong, I drive sometimes with only me in our van sometimes. So I am speaking to myself here too. Think of the money that could be used to feed, cloth and provide clean drinking water to those that He loves if we would just car pool. Or even dare I say exercise by walking/biking those couple of miles. Do we really want to become a nation that is not dependent on foreign oil? Or is it like most thing where we are all talk. Is it really necessary to have our own vehicle. Did you know that if you own 2 cars you are among the wealthiest 5% in the world?

Matthew 19:24 says this "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Thanks for stopping bye today.

My name is Jon and I LOVE Jesus!

What in the world am I thinkin'

2010-10-11T13:33:00.000-07:00

It has been an amazing journey that God has placed before me the last 2 years. I am deciding to play a bigger and bigger role in what He has in store for me.

I will be sharing some of what God has and is continuing to do. here are a couple of snipit's

1. God , Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They are one, yet they are three. We are severally limiting what He wants to do if we ignore any part of Him.

2. Acts Church or American Church

3. Doing things different.

4. Climbing the Poll

5. Thriving verses surviving in the face of opposition.

I am looking forward to having you all traveling this journey with me. Keep in mind these are the thoughts that God has given me.

My name is Jon and I love Jesus

A great reminder of who I am and who I want to be

2010-10-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."
The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made. I am a disciple of
Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down,
back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present
makes sense, and my future is secure.
I am finished and done with low living, sight walking,
small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams,
chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position,
promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I now live by
presence, lean by faith, love by patience,
lift by prayer, and labor by power. My pace
is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my
road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few,
my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought,
compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back,
diluted, or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the
presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy,
ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander
in the maze of mediocrity.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until
Heaven returns, give until I drop, preach until all know,
and work until He comes. And when He comes to get
His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.
My colors will be clear.

ARE YOU WITH ME?

My name is Jon and I love Jesus.

Hope in the church of Today

2010-09-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

It was interesting morning at my desk today.

I was honored to meet with Brea Persing. Brea is a young woman who is passionately pursuing after God. She has made a 5 year commitment to serve with Avant Ministries. As part of a church planting team. I found Brea to have a heart for the people of the country in which she will be serving. This is a very cool thing for me as I went on my first mission trip to St. Petersburg, Russia with Brea's mom. I have been able to observe Brea in a variety of settings, and found her to be top notch, in all that she does. I fully anticipate God continuing to use her in awesome ways. I would strongly encourage you to coming alongside Brea with a prayer covering and possibly financially.

My morning came to a close with a Skype visit from a former classmate of mine in High School's son Travis. Travis is a college student that is feeling the call to the mission field in Ecuador. It is amazing the number of conformations he has received on doing this that all seem to be independent of each other. From his college advisor, to his parents, they are coming out in agreement. I was honored to be asked to write a recommendation for the young Christ Follower. I am eagerly anticipating a move of God from this young man, I can't wait to see what God has in mind for this young man.

I love seeing young people answer the call of "whom shall I send?" with HERE I AM SEND ME! They are Not the church of tomorrow but rather the church of today.

My name is Jon and I love Jesus.

I have been released and so have you.

2010-09-28T10:08:00.001-07:00

It has been an amazing last couple of days. I have had opportunities to really see God move. On Sunday we celebrated my youngest daughter's first birthday. It was great to have all of those people who love my daughter surround her and celebrate her. I love my daughters the continue to amaze me, they love their dad unconditionally. Even when I mess up.

A couple of weeks ago was I snapped at me daughter, that is very out of character for me, you see Presley is a lot like her dad and vis versa. It brought me to a point of knowing that I needed to get some stuff of my chest, I needed to find someone to listen, not fix-solve and make better. just listen. I found that man and I believe that I am a better, man for having the courage to "be different."

I have had a lot of things to "work" through. Some of them I needed to "release." They have been released. I can not control or be responsible for others. Some adults in my life are adults and need to act that way. i can't make you "get it." If you are not ready to get, If your not ready to "do work" then I will not continue to take on your stuff. So, I will pray for God to move in your life, and I release you.

I also have been released from self-doubt, and the bondage of wondering about "when the shoe will drop." I have decided to follow Jesus and in the end I know He loves me, my wife loves me and my children love me. As long as I feel comfortable in being able to answer for who I am and what His book dictates.

My name is Jon and I love Jesus

Salad

2010-09-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

When I order supper I am not usually not concerned about the salad. I notice the steak, maybe i notice the potato, only because its next to the steak. But not the salad. Lately it seems as if God taking all the different facets of my life placing them in a huge salad bowl and tossing them around for while popping open the lid seeing how things land, then shake them up a little more.

There is a stirring that is taking place deep within my inner most being. I saw Jesus last weekend, through a person that give up total control, no easy thing for this person. So that Jesus could be total control. A glimpse of the Church that I am learning, Jesus wanted showed through. A real, raw and authentic type of "church" and Christ follower. A glimpse of strength through brokenness, confidence through humbleness, and confidence in Him.

I saw Jesus in a dad who's heart was breaking for a hurting child, while at the same time bursting because he was never prouder of that same child. He unashamedly stood strong and proud, just like the child's heavenly father did. Thanks!

I celebrated Jesus with a family that lost it's matriarch, all the while celebrating the lessons learned and the legacies that will long out live her.

I saw God in a little girl in Nepal that asked Jesus into her life, then vowed to prayer for other Nepali girls too. Thanks!

I am witnessing Jesus in a family that believes so much in what "Daddy" is doing that they allowed their earthy dad to leave for 2 weeks to make a difference. Thanks!

I have read of a man being quiet enough in his spirit, to notice when God spoke to him, telling him do something way out of his comfort zone, then being obedient enough to follow through with what God told him to do, even if he might look stupid. Thanks!

God wants us, the real us not the us with the hard shell but the real us. And i have held back to long.

I am ready to get REAL, get RAW, and be AUTHENTIC.

I am an idolater

I covet.

I am a murderer

I don't keep my sabbath Holy.

I am a thief

I have not loved my neighbors as much as I love myself

I am a glutton

I am a lier

How can light be light in the light. Light is only good in the dark. Light ruts out darkness. Jesus you are the light, I am asking that you shine in the dark corners of my being rutting out any darkness. Holy Spirit envelop me. God don't let me go to battle with one hand tied behind my back, unleash your power.

I sensing the Spirit desiring to move in new and fresh ways, yet wanting us to notice what He is currently doing. Are you ready?

Looks Like I am going to give it another go.

2010-08-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

I am back and I am vowing to give this blog thing one last chance. I have found that i am using facebook and twitter more as communication sources.

Some really cool thing coming down the path so stay tuned and be ready.

Tomorrow is the Day

2010-06-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

I am so excited, nervous and scared for tomorrow. You see tomorrow all 297 pounds of me will be running in the Sunburst Mini-Marathon. I am excited because this is something I want to do for several reasons. The first one is because no one ever believed that I could/would run 13.1 miles, and that includes me until a few short months ago. I love having God use me to do things just so he can get the credit for it. Honestly, this has to be Him, cause if you know me, then you know its not me. I am also excited to be running for a great organization Tiny Hands International who is working to build a "Dream Center" that will house, feed educate women and children of Nepal and Bangladesh that have been rescued from Human Trafficking.
Check out the plan
here

I am excited because several people have gotten behind this project, and me. By sponsoring me a dollar a mile for the race tomorrow. With every dollar we are closer to rescuing a child/woman from a "hell" on earth. There is a since of urgency on my part to see that this gets done.

I am nervous and a bit scared for all the right reason. I have never done anything like this before. As my dentist told me "Did you ever notice, there are not a lot of people that look like you running half marathons?" I have noticed. There are reasons that there are not a lot of almost 300 pound half-marathon runners.

So I am asking that you be praying tomorrow the race begins at 7:30 am and I should crossing the 50 yard line at Notre Dame Stadium about 10:00 am. I am not to proud to ask one last time that you support me financially. I am asking for a dollar a mile, thats $13.10. I have heard many of you say what can I do a half a world away, well here is something.

A little know fact, it costs Tiny Hands $20 to rescue a trafficking victim.

Chasing a Dream "Center"

2010-05-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

One year ago in June I began a journey. After watching the biggest loser and doing a little creative math. I made a decision, a decision that I had made before, I was going to lose some weight. I figures that I could lose 100 pounds by the end of 2009 if I would lose 3 pounds a week for the rest of the year.

Sounds easy enough, right? Not so fast I was weighing in at a whooping 342 pounds. I wasn't a big fan of exercise, duh! But, I was competitive enough to know that I could lose 3 pounds a week how hard could that be? I started exercising. What exercise could a guy do at 342? I thought I would start walking. I would walk, then one day I decided I would go "running." That consisted of running from one telephone poll to the next, a couple hundred feet, then walking the rest of the mile.

Why talk about this, well I will be celebrating a year of excrise at 7:30 am June 5th I will be running the Sunburst mini-marathon, 13.1 miles and ends at the 50 yard line of Notre Dame Stadium, sorry Husker fans. As I have been training I have found it an awesome tile with God. Running has been an emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental blessing. Those of you who know me, know that I haven't last that 100 pounds yet, and that I am continuing the journey.

Why am I telling you this, well I am asking for something again, I am asking that 1,000 of my friends and family donate 1 dollar a mile for my mini-marathon, that's on $13.10. I am asking, ok, pleading with you to this for Tiny Hands International. They have recently purchased land
read the blog post here to build a Dream Center. What is a Dream Center, I am glad that you asked. Below is information gleaned from Tiny Hands website:

For years many of us at Tiny Hands have envisioned forming a Tiny Hands community. Our idea, which we have been calling the "Dream Center", is a community of children's homes, a school, a medical outreach center, and a vision center, where volunteers and friends of Tiny Hands could come and participate in an active, thriving community of believers who live and learn together as followers of Christ.

And for years this has been only an idea - but finally, we are taking steps to make this a reality. Land has been identified outside of Pokhara, Nepal, where we will begin building the first homes and the initial stages of a school.

The principles and practical considerations are:

Community: We plan to build 6 or more children's homes, similar to our current homes, on this land. Each will be separate and discreet family units who will live as friends and neighbors.

Education: An on-site school will be built for the children of Tiny Hands that will also be open for children in the greater community. Our goal will be to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders in Nepal through novel educational methods rarely found in Nepal. The teachers and administrators will be a combination of Nepalis and expatriates who desire excellence in education that goes beyond the rote memorization that plagues many schools in South Asia.

Outreach: Our goal is not to create a community insulated from its surroundings, but rather one that seeks to serve its neighbors. As a an organization of Christians, our goal is to exemplify the humble and sacrificial love of Christ to the suffering and broken. Our plans include building a center for medical and dental outreach on the site that will partner with rural churches throughout Nepal to coordinate clinics in areas with limited or no access to such services.

Vision and Beauty: Beauty inspires vision, and we hope that the Dream Center will be a place not only of rest and reflection, but one that stimulates discussions and helps children and visitors alike find their calling. The Vision Center will be a building that will have housing for volunteers, a small chapel, a center for outreach, and most importantly a space where passionate people can share ideas, music, and art.

Sustainability: While we are raising money for the land and buildings, our hope is that the center will someday be self-sustaining through the use of income-generation projects including the school, which will be open to area children. If such a center could achieve self-sustainability it could be replicated across the region. Other income-generation projects may include aquaponics (the symbiotic cultivation of plants and fish for the purpose of increasing land production), and livestock.

Ok, friends this is where you can help. They have the land, they need to raise $15,000 for improvements to be made so that they can begin building. If 1,000 of you can send $13.10, They will be able to begin work.

Please pray for Tiny Hands, and for me as I try and beat all the other 300 pound mini-marathoners, and chase a "Dream Center."

Please make donations to:
Tiny Hands International
Attn. Jon
P.O. Box 534
Wakarusa, Indiana 46573

I leave you with the words of John Wesley
"Do all the Good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as you ever can."

I saw God last night.

2010-05-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

First, sorry for the lapse in post. I think that this one will make up for it though,. I will do better.

Last night I went for a run later than usual, in fact if Alison hadn't almost made me I most likely wouldn't have went out. Boy, am I glad for a wife who loves me enough to "urge" me to do things I don't want to do. I need to get 5 miles in yesterday as part of my training for a mini marathon June 5th.

So here is where I met God. I felt led to run a route that I have never run, at a time of day I don't run. I ran into God at the Walking path in Wakarusa. I began running the loop when I came up on a couple who were walking as I passed them I noticed that it was Joanne and Elmer. Two people from our church. Joanne was walking with a set of crutches, Elmer at her side the whole time, ready to help if called upon, encourage if needed. Joanne was moving cautiously and steadily.

As I passed them Joanne became an encouragement to me. She was out there "plugging away" doing what she needed to do. Suddenly, I felt like running. Where as when I started I wasn't very motivated. I was looking to do the minimum maybe even a little less than what was expected/required of me. As I passed them the first time I was encouraged by her "want to." I was convicted about thinking of myself, some other "stinkin' thinkin'" that had seemed to permeate in me the last few days. It was here that God used Joanne without here even knowing it. She inspired me, to do better, to try harder, to just run, too let go and let God do His thing. I felt God speaking directly into my soul, saying "run tell their done, there is more I want to teach you."

So I ran, I ran fast and it felt good, I felt the funk that I had been under starting to dissipate. First one lap, then another, then another, then another each time running past Joanne and Elmer. Taking the ear bud out, to say Hi or offer an encouraging word. It was between the fourth and final lap that I saw God, I was reminded of the footprints poem.

Elmer was right there beside Joanne the whole time carefully walking alongside Joanne, watching each step, Elmer was standing at the "ready" just like Jesus. " Ready" to guide if necessary, "ready" to encourage, "ready" to catch us if we fall, "ready" to carry us when if we co can't go anymore. I know that it was Elmer standing there, but I saw God standing beside Joanne, last night too. Thank you Elmer for allowing God to show himself to me last night through you.

Thank You Elmer and Joanne for inspiring me, for reminding me what is really important. And for modeling Jesus to me.

The Least of These

2010-03-02T10:27:00.000-08:00

This message today has been in the works for over a year. As God has layed the plight of His people on my heart. As I have reflected , and looked back through my journal from the past year. God has taken me to some Uncomfortable, Scary, places. Places that up until now were way out of my comfort zone.
As Christians we have been taught to believe that we must become born again, because Jesus says so in the following scripture:
John 3
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.["4 " How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[ gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Why do we believe that we must be born again. We believe it because it is in scripture and because Jesus declared it, right?

Now lets journey to Matthew 19
16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17 " Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
18 " Which ones?" the man inquired.
Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother, and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"
20 " All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

It is simple if we believe that we must be born again, because scripture is the infallible word of God and because Jesus said so the we must believe this passage of scripture too:
"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.", right?

I love verse 21 “"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Jesus says give to the poor, He assumes that we now the poor. he doesn’t say give to your favorite charity, your favorite not-for-profit, but “give to the poor” How many of us know the poor in our community? It is hard to point them out. Stores like “New To You”, and the “Children’s resale” make it very hard to tell just by dress. Often we don’t know the hungry, we aren’t in there home to see their bare cupboards and their empty refrigerators. Do you know those in need? I was amazed when helping with the “Feed the Children” food drop here last year, 5 churches that I contacted in this area said they didn’t have anyone in their church, or know anyone that could use the food boxes. So imagine my astonishment when in January I discovered that 757 households from Wakarusa, alone, and over 3,700 households in the Wa-Nee community used the food pantry at FCDC in 2009? Do we in the church know the hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless or imprisoned?

The plight of the “least of these” came to life for me last August when a friend of mine who reads my blog and facebook challenged me. She said this, “ Jon, I appreciate you advocating for the poor both here and around the world. But, you have no idea what it is to be actually living it. You know that there is a check coming. You don’t have to decide whether to feed your your family or pay your rent. You can’t truly understand, until you experience” Those few sentences hit me in smack in the face.

She was right, I didn’t understand what that was like, I have never experienced what it was like to fall asleep to the sound of my stomach growling, or have to look into the eyes of my children and say there is no more. It is by God’s grace that I was born into the family I was born into, that I was born the color that I was, the gender that I was, that I was born where I was born, and have accumulated the skills, experiences and education that I have, to “provide” for my family.

Rarely do we see that the sickness of the world has infected each of us, and that the healing of our world not only begins within us, but does not end with us.

So after a lot of prayer and conversations with God and my family. We decided that one of the best ways we could attempt to experience what is like to know that there is more month than money, was to cut our income in half for a month and giving the other half away. I share this not to be braggadious, rather to share our journey and the experiences as well as what God has shown us and continues to show me. Indeed we are blessed and “Yes” there are things that were changed from needs to wants.

Here are a couple of nuggets for you to chew on:

Half of the world lives on the United States equalivant of less than $2 a day.
80% of the world lives on the United States equalivant of less than $10 per day.
The average family income on the US is $40,100 per year. About 12 times 80% of the world.
The poorest 48 countries in the World (1/4 of all countries) have less money than the richest 3 individuals combined.
If your family has 2 cars that automatically puts you into the wealthiest 5% in the world.
There are 2.2 billion children in the world, 1 billion of them live in poverty. Thats 1 out of every 2.
1, 2, 3, Dead 1, 2, 3, DEAD Every 3.6 seconds some one dies of hunger. Thats over 1,000 men, women and children during this service.
Why is it that we have no problem tipping a good waiter or waitress a minimum of 20% of our bill, and can’t seem to come up with 10% for someone who PAID our bill?

Now let’s go back and read verse 24 again, this time through the eyes of a rich man. Because compared to the majority of the world we ARE that “rich man.”

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

I am one of those guys that visuals help to understand so here you go. Here is a needle, since Pastor Paul and Laressa are in Florida, vacationing I did think of trying to bring a really camel in for this visual, but instead I will use this plastic animal. I think you will get me point, even without the real camel. I have tried for 2 days to get this “little” plastic animal through the eye of the needle. I can’t do it.

“Have we, the “Church” amputated the hands and feet of Jesus and have we become nothing more a big mouth, known more for what we are against, than what we are for. My prayer is “God use us, the “Church” to re-attach the hands and feet to the body of Christ, so that the whole church. cares about the whole gospel, in a new way-through the local church.

“Jesus never says to the poor, ‘come find the church,’ we are here from 7-8 Wednesday night and from 8-11:30 on Sunday, but he says to those of us in the church, ‘go and find the poor, hungry, homeless,’ Have we even begun to be Christians? As I read Matthew 25;31-46, where Jesus tells us ultimately that we will be separated into two groups of people, sheep and goats, and the criteria will be how we cared for the poor, hungry and imprisoned, naked masses. when it is all said and done with Christians gathered around the throne, will we be with the sheep?

Matthew 25:31-46 (New International Version)
31 " When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 " The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. 44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did NOT do for one of the least of these, you did NOT do for me.'

How can we worship a homeless man on Sunday then walk right past one Monday through Saturday?

By Jesus saying what ever you do for the least of these, we do for Him is He saying that he is one of the least of these? If He is saying that and we are to strive to become more like Jesus then we are supposed to become more like the least of these.
You see God has laid the “least of these” on my heart. In fact he has shown me the “least of these.” God has spoke to my heart and said “Now you know, you have two choices, you can either sit back and say ‘thats terrible, someone should do something, or you can say that’s terrible I have to do something. Which will it be?” What will it be Sheep or Goats? He has kept me awake nights, he had me run 6 miles one morning to raise money and awareness for the least of these.
I’m sure that by now your minds are wondering to why is Jon wearing those shackles? I am doing it because God told me too and to raise awareness. You see I didn’t know about modern day slavery until God grabbed my hand and my heart and started me on this journey. You see by conservative estimates there are 27 million people enslaved today. That is the entire population of Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. It’s more than during slavery in the United states. Over half of them are women and children. 98% of all sex trafficking is women and children. Children have been bought for as little as $3. I recently read a true account, that a young girl, 5 or 6 was sold for a color television. To hear the stories of orphaned children in Haiti after the earthquake being trafficked out the back doors of hospitals, grips my heart. The average age of a female trafficking victim is 14. Girls are trafficked as young as 3. For me there is not any people more qualified to be “the least of these” than these women and children. Thats why I am wearing these shackles.
I am so proud of our students and volunteers for all the work that they did on Wednesday night at the Chili supper. Thanks to their efforts, and your generiousity, they raised almost $700 towards their goal of $4,000. That night for 3 hours of work they saved a little girl from Hell on earth, they allowed a child her childhood, they granted a “pardon” from a sure death sentence. We don’t know what God will use these girls for, maybe one will grow up and become the next Beth Moore, the next Mother Tersea, the next great eveangelist. One thing is certain we are raising up some sheep.

Some Random thoughts:

2010-02-17T11:41:00.000-08:00

Every have one of those days when it seems that you are the only one who gets it?

Did you know that there is a Spiritual gift of poverty?

If Christians in the New and Old testament were persecuted for their faith, why aren't we?

If Jesus called us to "Come, follow me," today would you drop everything and do it?

Does that mean we have Americanized our Faith too much.

Have you prayed that your life would reflect Jesus so much that you would be persecuted for Him?

Ever sit and wonder what we need to do to reach people?

Is our Faith too comfortable?

80% of the world lives on less than the American equivalent of less than $10 a day, could you?

What would happen if we all tithed and then gave another 15%?

Do you realize that most people tip a waiter or waitress a higher percentage than they give to God?

If Jesus would come back today would He recognize the church?

Whats coming up?

2010-02-01T13:39:00.000-08:00

i want to give you a little taste of what to expect the next few at Youth on Wednesday Night. The series is entitled Say Something...Do Something. This week we will be camping out in Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Talking about the responsibility of we have once we "receive power." Imagine with me if you can, an entire group of people with "one heartbeat." A heartbeat to share Jesus, to be Jesus with all those we come in contact with throughout our day. Is your heart beating for the those around you who need Jesus?

Sorry you will have to be at youth at WMC for the rest of the story!

2010 Monthly Update

2010-01-29T11:15:00.000-08:00

I shared earlier this month about some goals that God and I set for 2010.

One was to read 20 books in 2010 I finished the second one last night. I would recommend A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis for anyone struggling with grief. This book is one of those books that you need to read when you are alone and have your head quiet. I tried multi-tasking as I read and became lost very fast. I then took some time away, turned off the TV, took out the ear phones and just read. It has helped me through some dark times the last 6 weeks.

I finished "The Long Snapper" by jeffrey Marx last night. Amazingly 2 other people finished reading my copy before I did. It is a great story of Brian Kinchen, and how he went from 7th grade bible teacher to being the long-snapper for the world champion New England Patriots in 48 days. This is a must read for someone with a passing interest in football and the human spirit.

Running 750 miles in 2010. Well it's January in Indiana so its been a little slower than I would have wanted. I have run 51 miles so far and will be running my first 5k of the season tomorrow (Saturday) in Syracuse. It should be about 13-16 degrees with a wind chill of about 2 while I am running. The W.M.C. running club will be running its first race in Ligioner February 27.

Still haven't bought any new clothes for 2010. This has been pretty easy so far, in fact i am looking at giving some of my clothes away.

And trying to give away a certain percentage of our income and volunteer 100 hours. We are a little ahead with our giving and I have volunteered 12 hours.

Still working through some of the others that I am not able to share, yet.

How are you coming with the goals you and God have laid out for where you are going in 2010, I would love to hear.

I am still work on the Paul, Barnabus and Timothy's in my life. Any volunteers

What are we doing?

2010-01-24T04:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday on my run God dealt me a couple of "body blows." Sometimes he does that to me to get my attention, well He's got it. Now I am going to share it.

Over the next two weeks there will be an epidemic of "football fever" that will cover or nation and may others as we prepare for the Super bowl. Even if you don't care about the game there are the commercials, and the parties This "fever" will reach epic proportions. Especially in the cities and states that will be represented.

We will rearrange our schedules, we will eat way too much, we will make cause a quiet a raucous for "our" team. We will spend money on jerseys, shirts, hats and even in some cases face paint. I know this was me not so long ago.

I want to make it clear that I don't believe that any of these are wrong on there own! It is when our support for football and other things becomes more important than the things that are truly important like family and our relationship with Jesus that it becomes a problem. What is interfering with your relationships?

I want to pose this question: "When was the last time you treated Jesus with the same passion and fervor that you do your favorite NFL team?"

When was the last time that you literally cheered for someone ones salvation?

The last time that you watched something that Jesus has done in your life over and over?
The last time that you that you were so excited about serving and seeing your Jesus that you couldn't sleep?
When was the last time that you prepared in advance for Him to show up and show off?

I am encouraging you to pursue your relationship with Jesus with the same passion that you prepare for a football game.

The Greatest Injustice!

2010-01-19T09:02:00.000-08:00

I received this from Tiny Hands International and wanted to share.

Start with a little girl. Choose anyone you deem precious. There is an innocence and a gentleness in her, a quiet hope for her life and wonder at the world. Picture her face when you think about this and while you read the following lines. That is the only way to think true thoughts about trafficking-to really understand it- because each girl is really unfathomably precious. They ought to be blessed by every means possible, just as fathers want for daughters and God wants for all little girls.

Imagine that this little girl is poor and uncertain for her life. she is easily deceived because she is filled with hope. She wants to be beautiful and happy, find someone who will love her and treat her lie a princess, as God wants her to be treated. Picture her at home-her friends, her little bed, walking the paths that she loves and wondering what her life will be like.

Now imagine that someone comes along and offers her a great opportunity. Maybe its a job, a marriage, or a chance for education. These are the means that traffickers use to deceive little girls into coming to India. they arrive in the villages of these poor girls wearing smart western clothing, and promising jobs, education or marriage. The average age of girls trafficked from Nepal is 15 years old.

So she leaves behind everything that she has known: the dirty walls of her house that she has seen from a thousand angles, the paths of her village that she has loved, the face of her mother and father, her sisters and brothers. She says goodbye to her friends. she is excited and scared, but she is brave, so she sets out with the hopeful expectation of a better life.

She is innocent, and so she is trusting. She follows the instruction of her benefactor because she hopes for , and so believes in what he has promised her. they travel sometimes by bus, sometimes by foot (when they are crossing the border) and sometimes by train, stopping at hotels along the way to eat, and trying to keep out of sight. She looks out the window of the bus and wonders what her new life will be like, hopeful. She doesn’t ask why the must be so secret., why they seem to be sneaking across the border, and swallows whatever explanation her benefactor happens to give.

They arrive, and she is told to wait someplace for her benefactor to return. Hours later, she is told that she has been sold. She tries to leave but the way is barred. She is told that she is no longer free, and that she must have sex with old men. That is her job now. This is her new home. She has a debt now, and she must pay it back. she doesn’t understand. she never agreed to this. She never signed up for it. She doesn’t want to do it. She wants to go home. but, she cannot leave, because she now owes the brothel-owner a great deal of money. For what? What service has the brothel-owner given her that is so valuable that it will take more than 10 years to pay back? it is the price of herself. She has to pay back the price to have her trafficked.
she is indignant, angry, still feeling that her benefactor will return, and absolutely determined that she will not do this kind of work. She is still a little girl. She has not yet been broken; she soon will be.

When she refuses, she is subject to the most horrible forms of tortures. Typically, trafficked girls will be beaten and gang-raped to be initiated into there new life. They are sometimes locked in a dark room, unable to see the light of the sun for days until they will consent. They are beaten with pipes, chords, burned with cigarettes, and have chili powder rubbed in their genitals. They are told that if they refuse, their mothers and sisters will be trafficked in their place. Day after day, if they continue to refuse, the tortures grow worse. The other girls will tell her what is inevitable: she cannot hold out, she has no choice in the matter, she must accept her fate.

She will break. her dream of meeting someone who will love and cherish her will die. She will give up to stop the pain, to see the sun, to save her sister, to save her life. From this day forward she is a prostitute.

she is not free to refuse customers. She cannot leave the brothel without an escort. she cannot contact her family or loved ones in any way. she cannot call or write a letter to her family. she can have no contact with the outside word, except for the men she is forced to have sex with everyday, and in many cases she is not even allowed to speak with them. She is a prisoner. She maybe kept in a cage or a locked windowless room.

She may try and escape, but she doesn’t speak the language, and will almost certainly will be hunted down by agents of the brothel. And when she returns she will be severely beaten. when the police come, she is hidden away, and even if she manages to get to the police, it is likely they will send her back to the brothel for a bribe. Even if she is rescued, she will be put in “protective custody” of the police for months, a virtual prison. Indian law require that she stay for as long as two years in a government facility before she be allowed to return to her country.

Day after day she must engage in every speakable form of sex, with the most ravenous kind of men. She is violate din every possible way, from every possible angle. She has no say in any of it. She has no choice. She is beaten if she refuses.

One day one of the men she is forced to have sex with will pass her a disease that will kill her. At first, she will not realize it, and will probably pass it one to others for several months. eventually she will be tested, her heart beating fast with fear of the results, and then dropping when she hears the words: “HIV positive.” She is forced to leave the brothel and go back to Nepal. She left a virgin; she is returning with HIV. She wonders back to her village, heartsick and alone. She does not love paths anymore. Her friends are all one, and her family will reject her. She is unclean now, not a suitable person for good people to be around. She cannot possibly find a job, she cannot possibly find a husband; she cannot possibly find a friend. She is no longer welcome in the house who’s dirty walls she used to know well.

ramblings

2010-01-15T08:26:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday night at youth I challenged our students to to try "looking at others, the way God looks at them, with different eyes, and seeing them as people who matter to Him, and that he wants to bring hope too."

Then I made this statement " In a week we will be back hearing about Tiger Woods and his issues, because the people of Haiti are of color, they have no military, No oil and don't matter to most Americans." I know this statement may, cause a stir, and soon we will see if it is true or not.

Does God care any less about the Haitian people than he does about Tiger, NO! Yet, those that seek to determine what is important for us will deem something else of more importance.

This is just a little something to think about.

A guy that I follow on twitter Carlos Whittaker, tweeted this yesterday and I think it brings a lot of truth with it.

"Many Americans R unable 2 help Haiti b/c they R stuck helping Visa & MC. Cut up yr cards, live on cash, & B ready next time"

I know that many of us would like to help financially but instead will be sending or donation to McC and visa. Will you be ready

I have been praying about the earthquake in Haiti the last few days as many of you have I am sure. I have asked God what is it that we can do. Will you join my in continuing to pray for the country of Haiti and the Haitian people?

5 of 10 for 2010

2010-01-11T08:39:00.000-08:00

I choose to share this goal today for 2010 because it is Human Trafficking Awareness day. If you have spent some time around me the last six month you know that this has become a passion of of the Andrews family. We believe that Jesus gave us a mandate to at the very least care for the "least of these" as described in Matt.25:35-46

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

As we became aware of the issue if Human Trafficking, we could not fathom some of the things we found out. I want to list some of those. They are not for the faint of heart so read on at your own risk.

1) There are more people being forced to work as slaves in the world today than there were at the height of the transatlantic slave triangle. Trafficking is over taking weaponry to become the 2nd largest illegal industry after drugs. It’s taking place in every single country in the world*.

2) It can be expected that 1 in 40 girls in Cambodia will be sold into sex slavery. As in other countries, poverty, the hope of finding a better paid job by moving to towns and cities and the market for sex on demand are all root causes of this horrifying statistic.

3) 1.2million children are trafficked each year (low estimation). The point of each sale is for someone else to make profit from that child. People will pay $1000 to rape a virgin for a week particularly in the East where there is a common myth that it will cure the man of Aids and give him strength against illness. In Cambodia, that child (as young as 3)will often be restitched without anaesthetic and resold to increase profit^.

4) 70% of adult sex workers entered prostitution when they were children or as young as 6 years old.

5) The millions of girls and children who’ve been trafficked are so traumatised and ashamed by what has been done to them that are not in a position to speak up about this crime. They need help but feel worthless. That is how the traffickers and pimps remain doing what they are doing and why we hardly hear this subject talked about.

We were shocked/ surprised/ horrified when we started to become more aware. God almost audibly said this to me "You can either sit around and say that is really to bad, or you can actually do something about it." "What's it going to be?" We are choosing to do something. We are choosing to live sacrificially this year so that we can support a border monitoring station on the Nepal/Bangledesh border. A border monitoring station. What is a border monitoring station?

"Border monitoring is an effective way to intercept girls being trafficked across a national border. Trained employees watch for suspicious activity in order to identify possible trafficking. Along with local police, the border guards question the girls and suspected traffickers looking for conflicting stories or dubious behavior. As the situation warrants, traffickers can be prosecuted. The girls are then either returned to their villages or, in certain cases, placed into a home."

The cost of a Border Monitoring station that may save one young girl from this living hell? A mere $4,000 for a year or $10.96 a day. Now you know Pastors aren't rich. And I am not sure how God is going to work this out, I just know that He will. That is that was my daughter being Trafficked I would want someone to do something.

Will you join me?

Day 4 of 10 for 10

2010-01-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

This one maybe one the hardest for me to accomplish in the coming year. It is my goal to read a minimum of 20 books from start to finish. This is interesting because 20 some years ago in all 4 years of High school I remember reading a total of 2 books (cliff notes don't count.)

Over the years my reading has increased, I am a believer of the old adage that "when you stop reading you stop living." I love digging into a good (especially THE good) book and losing my self for awhile. Over the years I seem to have accumulated a number of books, I try and read each one. Somewhere I have gotten behind.

As I said I love to read, and with most things when you have a family your desires get put on the back burner. Well, my reading has been on the back burner for awhile. So 20 books here I come.

I am about to finish book #1 Follow me to Freedom, Leading and Following as an Ordinary Radical by Shane Claiborne and John Perkins. I highly recommend this book to any one who leads or follows.

Book #2 is a book that EVERY Mom, daughter and Dad should read called "Odd Girl Out" the hidden Culture of Aggresion in Girls by
Rachel Simmons. If you aren't aware of female bullying, ask your junior/senior school daughter, they will tell you.

I am open to what books should follow these. I would love to hear your suggestions. tell Monday and #5 of 10 for 2010.

Day 3 of 10 for 10

2010-01-06T08:30:00.000-08:00

If you have been following the last couple of days you know that God has placed a burden on my heart to "Do More" for and with HIM. He has also challenged me in ways that are way outside of my box. Today is one of the things that I have talked about for many years, and for some reason never have set out to accomplish.

A good friend and fellow youth pastor Derry Prenkert had 3 people speak at his ordination. He said that he had a Paul, a Timothy, and a Barnabus in his life. So I am begin a quest for each on of these my self.

The Paul served as an "older, wiser, more experienced" mentor of sorts in his life. Someone that had been there and done that before. That was willing to pray, talk and work through life, both personally and spiritually. As I have gotten older I have begun to find out that I don't know it all, to the contrary I might not know anything. Almost like I am traveling to an unknown destination what a map (I haven't broken down and bought a GPS), or sometimes even a road. So in 2010 I will be praying a Paul into my life.

Derry, and Paul, had a Timothy in his life. Someone a little younger, a little less experienced in life then he was. That he could pour into, that would do life together. Through the thick and thin, good and bad, Timothy would always know Paul would be there for him. So 2010 I am praying a Timothy into my life.

The last person to speak was Derry's Barnabus (which means son of encouragement). Someone that traveled Derry's journey with him that was always there for that bit of encouragement. they were always there to offer the kind word or to let him know that he didn't stink. To build him up and encourage him to travel the journey that God was taking him on. So if you know of a extra Barnabus let me know. I will be praying a Barnabus in my life in 2010.

More 10 for 10

2010-01-05T10:08:00.000-08:00

I am ready to share another place God is taking me in 2010. This one will a stretch, I think God likes to take us places that aren't easily attained. I have been on a journey for a little over a year, going places within myself that haven't been comfortable places. In fact often times I have found this USA (uncomfortable, scary, and awkward).

The next step in this journey will be this... "I will not purchase any new clothes for myself during 2010." With these exceptions undergarments, socks and shoes. The money that I will save, by buying second hand will be given away.

When I was on a mission trip to Russia almost 10 years ago I was amazed that the men I worked with had only 2 pair of jeans. One was for work Monday through Saturday the other was for church. Here I was sporting $100 Tommy Hilfiger jeans that I had just bought for the trip. In fact I bought new jeans to work in. I traveled with 7 pair of jeans, that was just what I brought not what I had at home or including shorts, dress pants, sweats. I began to feel guilty. I then made a pledge to myself that I would never again spend more that $30 on jeans. To this day I have never broken that pledge.

What if? A group of us took this pledge, and gave the difference to someone that wasn't as blessed as we are. What if? students did this for there school shopping and took the difference and bought gift cards to their favorite stores and gave them to there peers who could never even think of shopping at such stores because they couldn't afford it.

I have spent part of the last year reading books by Shane Claiborne, The Irresistable Revolution, Jesus for President, Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers, and Follow me to Freedom. Shane is the founder of the
Simple Way in Philadelphia. Shane describes himself as a recovering sinner, author, speaker. One of the things that has stuck me the most as I have read about him is that he makes his own clothes so that he can give more to the needy around him.

So if you see me at the mall ask to check my bags and see if there are any "new" clothes. Mine will be the XXl's (or bigger).

2010

2010-01-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

I must admit that I am excited for this new year. First because we get to eliminate a syllable it is now Twenty-Ten. It may seem like a small thing but, it does make me smile.

Over the last three weeks I have been blessed to hear from many of you and I know that many of you have been praying for my family with our loss and heavens gain of my mom. Words can't express the gratefulness I feel for all of you. Thank You!

It has been a time of reflection for me as well. I came across a verse John 9:4 that says this:

"Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. "

For me it screamed " Do More" and do it energetically. Thus I spent sometime alone with God and asked him what this meant for me, for my family, and for my sphere of influence. It was on a running on snowy Northern Indiana county road that I heard God say that I needed a 10 for 10 list that would finish this sentence..."With God's help I will ______ in 2010" Over the next few days/weeks I will b sharing one of my 10 for 10's. I do this to challenge you to spend time with God to see what he has in store for you in 2010 and for you to hold me accountable through out the year.

Today's 10 for 10 is...

With God's help in 2010 I will strive to become more physically fit.

To do this there are a few goals that will help me along this journey. They include running 750 miles in 2010, running 3 mini-marathons (13.1 miles each). Also to run with students and volunteers from our Youth ministry. I will have more to share on the WMC running club to come.

The days after

2009-11-16T09:17:00.000-08:00

The pictures above are of me in June and one of me running the second 5k Saturday. (Thanks Robert Overton of Running Hoosier Magazine)

It has been a couple of days since the task God sent me to, was accomplished. For those of you who haven't been following me on this journey God has had me running after. God choose the most unlikely candidate to do one unlikely thing. That is to run 2 5k races within 20 minutes of each other on the same day. God did what he said he could do and helped me complete the mission that he had set out before me.

The first 5k was run at 7:50 am and completed 36 minutes 7 seconds later. It felt really god running it. God spent some time in my head during that run. I would to share some of those insights with you all. he kept whispering in my ear with every step every stride this question "if not you then who?" to be honest I wasn't sure what He meant, I was trying to focus on simply breathing. Stride after stride it was the same "if not you then who?" Somewhere after the second mile it became clear. If I don't do something then who will?

Let's face it, how many times have we felt like we should do something, then make the choice to do nothing? When we make that choice do you know what gets done? Nothing! And when we make the choice to do something what gets accomplished... Something. When God is in the middle of it more than we as mere mortals can even imagine gets done.

At 9:00 am the second one began. I know from the start this would be the challenging one. It was! Thank goodness for all of my friends who were running it was a blessing to be running with them. Mindi is a fellow runner who is a huge encouragement for me, then one of my boyhood hero's was running the race as well and was I was reminded of his football prowess. You see Todd once sacked a quarterback one handed, because his other hand was broken and in a cast.

The cast of characters from W.M.C. kept me going, first Mark then Jordon, Sara, my wife, Becky, Erica, Kristy, Kylee and of course my favorite 2 mile marker Chloe. You all were such blessing. I have never been at a race where there so many people being encourager's to each other. I couldn't have done it with out you all. I need to give a shout out to my dad and my son Preston who were waiting on the the hill with about 1 tenth of a mile to go cheering. Alison God sent you to me at just the right time again. With out your encouragement and verbal prodding that last 1/2 mile I still might be there. I really believe that God was there with me picking up and putting down my feet for the last 1/2 mile, so in a sense God really moved me. The time for the second one 33:58. Over 2 minutes faster than the first.

I want to thank those of you who prayed I know you did! To those of you who have sent, dropped off and handed donations to the charities I ran for, the kids (and me too) say THANK YOU!

There is still time for you to donate the information is in the post below.

What was God thinking!

2009-11-13T09:25:00.000-08:00

I am spending some time the last few days wondering why?

Why would God pick a guy who in his 41 years of life had never run more than a mile at one time in his life, to sign up and train to run 6.2 miles in one morning and when this all started in July could only run from one phone poll to next then walk for the next 1/2 mile. Let alone a guy that weighed 347 pounds.

Why did God place a passion for those that are hungry in his community in someone who has never truly been hungry? A little known fact 1 out of 8 people in Elkhart County are in danger of going hungry today.

Why place a burden in the belly of a guy from small town Indiana for victims of sex-trafficking? Did you know that more people are enslaved today then when slavery was legal in the U.S. ?

The fact that really is etched into my inner most being is that of the 3 year old little girl who is trafficed because some cultures believe that sex with a virgin will cure aids and s.t.d.'s. The little girls are then stitched up and sold over and over again. Until they themselves are infected with one of the death sentences themselves.

Here is why!

Because if God chooses the most unlikely candidate to do something and it gets done only He can get the glory. I was reminded specifically of Moses. Who God chose to do His speaking despite the fact the he had speech problem. So tomorrow if I can run 6.2 miles without walking it is and can only be a God thing and he will get and deserve all the credit. I have never run more than 4 miles, and had never done that until Tuesday.

Why a passion for the hungry of my community? Maybe it precisely because I have never been "hungry." I was blessed to have been born in a family that was born in a country that has never felt hunger pains that have kept me from sleeping. I have never had to not eat so that my kids would have something. I have never had to tell me kids that there was nothing to eat as I listen to the stomachs growl. I know this that if had ever been hungry and God had called some unlikely person to go for a little run and collect pledges so that my family could eat, I would won't him too follow God's call.

Why sex trafficing? Why not? I remember the night I first was burdened by trafficing. I could sleep! I spent time with God that night. he said this to me in an almost audible voice "Jon, you have 2 choices. You can either go on with life as usual thinking that is too bad or you can actually do something about?" The thought of any of my children having to endure that death sentence made me realize that "I was going to do something about it! If we can save just ONE child from this HELL then l can state everything that my body will go through for a couple of days will be worth it.

With your help we can do something.

Many of you have asked me the question "What can I do? I am just one person" There is a famous quote that goes something like this.."All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to stand by and do nothing." This is the time will you stand by and do NOTHING or will you stand with me and do SOMETHING?

The goal is to raise a $1,000 per mile, or $3100 per cause per race.

Your prayer support is always appreciated I will be running the first one at 7:50 am and hope to finish at about 8:30 the second one will begin at 9:00 and finish about 9:45 am, Saturday. The temperature this morning at 7:50 am 35 degrees.

Please make out your checks to either:
Family Christian Development Center
or
Tiny Hands International

send them to:
Wakarusa Missionary Church
Attn. Jon
P.O. Box 534
Wakarusa, Indiana 46573

Thoughts...

2009-11-04T10:49:00.000-08:00

Last night while I was on my run ( 4 miles for the first time ever) I had some time to reflect. And think about how grateful I am and how bad I am at expressing it so here is a blog post that was put together some where during miles 2-4.

I am grateful that I live in a country where I can do what I am called to do without fearing for my life our my families.

I am grateful for Dave Ramsey and financial Peace University. 4 years ago it changed our lives and continues to allow us to do things to impact the kingdom.

I am grateful to God for who He is and doing what he says He can do. God, you never cease to amaze me, and please don't ever.

I am grateful that I don't get what I deserve, Thanks Jesus.

I am grateful for a wife and family that loves and trusts me enough to lead them to scary places.

I am grateful for the passions and desires God has placed in my path, and the Holy Spirit that won't allow me to sit and watch.

I am thankful for a Jesus that teaches Love, even tough love.

That nut is me.

2009-10-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

Thats right, on Saturday November 14th, I will be running 2 5k's (thats 6.2 miles) on the same day to raise money for 2 great organizations, Tiny Hands International and Family Christian Development Center.

I am asking for your support, financially and prayerfully, as I have never run that far before and I am 300# after all.

I am trying to raise $1,000 per mile, for a total of $6,200.

make your checks payable to either Family Christian Development Center or Tiny Hands International.

Send your checks to:
Wakarusa Missionary Church
attention: Jon Andrews
P.O. Box 534
Wakarusa, In. 46573

The first ones!

2009-10-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

I am proud to announce that I have received my first 2 commitments for the 2 5k's in 1 day. We now have over $250 pledged will you join in? Every bit helps.

I am currently in contact with the Guiness Book of World records to try and find out what the record number of miles run by a 300#er is. Wouldn't this be awesome if this would be an attempt at a world record. Remember that this will be done on November 14.

Please make your checks out to either Tiny hands International Family Christian Development Center ( so you can get the tax deduction) and send them to

Wakarusa Missionary Church
attn. Jon
P.O. Bow 534
Wakarusa, Indiana
46573

The big announcement

2009-10-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

Today October 19th I am announcing that I will be attempting to run 2 5k races on the same day to raise money for 2 causes near to my heart. many of you all have been watching and asking what can we do to stop Slavery/traffiking and hunger. here's your chance to do something.

Thats right this morning I weighed in at a whopping 302#'s. The goal in doing this is to raise a at least $1,000 per mile for these causes. Thats correct I need your help to raise $6,200.

I have never attempted to do anything like this before. I don't think that I ever will again, either.

The first cause that God has laid on my heart are these
Tiny Hands International.
Tiny Hands is fighting slavery and Traffiking. This money will go towards setting up border monitoring stations. I will run to "Stomp Out Slavery and Traffiking"

I will also be running to "Stomp Out Hunger" in the community of Wakarusa and Nappanee. All the funds raised will go to Family Christian Development Center

You can make your check's payable to Either on of these organizations, but, please send them to

Wakarusa Missionary Church
Atten: Jon
P.O.box 534
Wakarusa Indiana 46573

Check this out.

2009-08-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Friday before the Presidents visit to Wakarusa, I never thought I would say that, 5 marine helicopters flew over the church and the church literally shook. It brought me to thinking about this;

Each one of the helicopters that flew over the church. Each of these helicopters costs about $400 million. So in the soccer fields of NorthWood Middle School sat 2 billion dollars worth of helicopters.

While it was an awesome sight to see it saddened me to know that some of my friends that live less than a block away from that Soccer field were going to have decide to eat or pay rent this month, others were trying how to figure out to send there son to college, he has a scholarship that will cover all but $1,000 per semester at Bethel, but it might as well be a $1,000,000 because mom and dad are out of work. These families are trying to make it. In fact the continue to tithe off of there unemployment checks. trusting God to provide.

There sat 2 billion dollars of helicopters and an estimated $1 million more for security and to bring the President to Wakarusa and a check for $39 million. And my friends are on the verge of being hungry and/or homeless. Folks that is just not right. We the church need to step up! We need to know the needy in our community, We need to “feed the hungry,” “cloth the naked,” “give the thirsty something to drink, “ “look after the sick and visit those in prison. "Church" we are doing a terrible job. How many of us even know a "needy person?" Are we even looking or are we too busy and look past them?

Mr. President

2009-07-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

As you make your way to Elkhart County again this coming Wednesday I would like to invite you to a "Root Beer" Summit at my house in Wakarusa. There are a few questions I would like to ask you, and I can't think of a better way to do it than over a root beer I look forward to your response.

Psalm 103

2009-07-24T13:37:00.001-07:00

I came across these verses in Psalm 103 while doing my devotions:

1-2 O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I'll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
don't forget a single blessing!

3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.

They made me sit back and take some time to count my blessings. Thank you Lord for picking me!

What do you think?

2009-07-20T13:35:00.000-07:00

We need to be born again, since Jesus said that to a guy named Nicodemus. But if you tell me I have to born again to enter the kingdom of God, I can tell you to sell everything you have and give it to the poor, because Jesus said that to one guy too.

Thoughts?

Something to preach on?

2009-07-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

Who is Rich?

This past Sunday Pastor Paul taught on the rich young ruler, this lead me to spend some time this week reflecting on this passage. Luke 18: 22 says this “ ..sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, then come follow me.” As I studied this passage some things popped into my head:

The first one is “What is the definition of RICH?”

Francis Chan in his book Crazy Love states that “53% of the worlds population lives on less than $2 a day,” and “if you make more than $4,000 per month, you automatically make one hundred times more than the average person on the planet.” Yet, until I read that I never thought of myself as rich. Now, I realize that in the world view I am rich. I feel very convicted as I read that passage this time through the eyes of a rich” man. In Mark Jesus says to his disciples “How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” This lead me to William Wilberforce’s quote of “Prosperity hardens the heart.” And I wonder if that has happened to us? Or Robert Murray M’Cheyne who was a Scottish pastor in the early nineteenth century who pinned these words that fit so well today.

“ I am concerned for the poor but more for you. I know not what Christ will say to you in the great day… I fear there are many hearing me who may know well that they are not Christians because they do not love to give. To give largely and liberally, not grudgingly at all, requires a new heart; an old heart would rather part with its life blood than it’s money. Oh, my friends! Enjoy your money; make the most of it, give none away; enjoy it quickly for I can tell you, you will be beggars throughout eternity.”

The second thought was: Do I know the poor?”

I asked this because Jesus said “…and give it to the poor.” Not, “give to your favorite non-profit.” Was Jesus assuming that the rich young ruler knew the poor, that he was doing community with them. In Luke 10:25-28 a teacher of the law confronts Jesus with question on how to obtain eternal life. Jesus tested the man and asked him what he thought the law said. The expert replied, “Love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’; and ‘love your neighbor as yourself,’’ Our love for God can be seen in our love for our neighbor.
When we see a child in need, begging on the streets, do we automatically want the best education, clothes, food and housing for that child? Do we see our own child and want the best for them? Do we love the child who begs as we love ourselves and as we love our own children? How can we love God and not love his children? If they matter to Jesus shouldn’t they matter to us? Those who are poor are “Gods people” (Isaiah 3:15), but do we treat them like that? Or do we show a love based on partiality?
Until we learn to love our neighbor as ourselves, a lack of love and compassion will allow us to neglect the needs of our neighbors who are going without.

Wakarusa Missionary Church at Joni and Friends

2009-06-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

Check out the video here

A little lite reading.

2009-06-19T12:57:00.001-07:00

I am so looking forward to doing some lite reading this weekend. My friends Justin and Kelly gave me some suggestions of reading material. But, where to start? Simple Spirituality-learning to see God in a broken world, Disposable People-New slavery in the Global Economy, Jesus for President-by shane Claiborne, Not For sale-The return of the Global slave Trade-and How we can Fight It.

Now what are you going do?

2009-05-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

27,000,000 Twenty Seven million

That number alone gets your attention, 27,000,000 anything is a lot. Did you know that there are currently 27,000,000 people in modern slavery around the world today? About half of those are children 126 million children working in the worst formsof child labor ( 1 in 12 children ages 5-17).

How many of us have have ever thought that if we ever lived during slavery we would have fought for equality and against slavery? I know I thought I would have.

Modern day slaves take a variety of UGLY forms. It can be anything from whole families getting into medical debt and having to work in the brick yard until they die.; to little girls (ages 2 and up) working on brothels servicing 8-22 clients a night; to kids being forced to roll cigarettes all day long.

How do people become slaves? In a variety of different ways, some it all starts with a kidnapping. Usually it has more to do with money, specifically the lack of it. Sometimes the family allows a child to go with a trusted friend who promises a good job. Soon the child realizes that the family friend has sold them into slavery. Sometimes a deperate parent will sell there own child into slavery. The parents often believe that their child will have better living conditions and a chance for a better education. Instead the child becomes a slave.

If you were like me and several of our senior high youth you didn’t have any idea this was going on. Well, know you now and you have 2 options:

1. Say that is too bad someone must do something about:
Or
2. You could actually do something about it.

Did you know there is an estimated $10,500,000,000 in loose change laying in drawers and piggy banks across America. Youth came up with a plan. They are going to bring in a watering tank (thanks Jake) for us to all dump our loose chains into. We would then use this change do some of the following :

-Rescue Victims of Slavery
-Support aftercare and restoration services for people coming out of slavery.
-Provide legal advocacy that leads to prosecution of slave holders and traffikers.

Thanks for joining us as modern day abolitionist. I have more resources on this if you would like to investigate on your own.

What in the World is Going on?

2009-05-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

For those of you that are wondering about the posts on Human Trafficking lately, here is an update. About a week ago I was flipping through the channels as Alison was getting ready for bed and "stumbled" upon a PBS Frontline special on sex slave. You can check it out here That for some reason caught my attention. An hour later Alison and I were both drawn and impacted by it.

More coming later!

Did you know?

2009-05-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

Jenni Smith Taggard sent this to me. After seeing that I watched the Frontline special last night. I challenge you to watch the video then go to here 12 minute short film.

Now I want to know what you are going to do about it?

Found this today and thought you might enjoy it.

2009-04-29T12:44:00.001-07:00

First Loser is a real winner

2009-04-21T12:17:00.001-07:00

I am not a big pageant fan. I do however know I admire this young woman, willing to sacrifice "everything" for being true to herself and her beliefs.

Carrie Prejean you are an American Hero!

Thank You for a breathe fresh air!

THis is one of my favorites

2009-04-12T06:58:00.000-07:00

I saw this on the side of the road.

2009-04-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

If i am not mistaken Derryber is what Janelle calls Derry Prenkert. So get out there and vote for Derryberry

You can check out his blog by clicking on his name on the right beside this post.

Town Hall for Hope

2009-04-01T17:39:00.000-07:00

Wakarusa Missionary Church will be hosting Dave Ramsey's Town hall for hope on Thursday April 23 at 8:00pm.

Follow this blog for more details.

April Fools or Not?

2009-04-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

As many of you would have expected I enjoy April fools day a lot. Is this an April Fools day prank?

Jesse's starting in Tampa

2009-04-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

I just was on the Tampa Yankees web site and found out that will be where Jesse is starting the season. Check out his bio here

Check out Our 30 famine video

2009-03-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

I am working on the audio. There is some copy right issues.

Thanks to Ben Hahn and Hahn media productions for putting this together

Courage

2009-03-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

I came across this today. It was written by a Danish pastor Kaj Munk. he uttered these words before he was killed in 1944 by the Geastpo, with his bible next to him.

"What is, therefore, our task today? shall I answer: "faith, hope, and Love"? That sounds beautiful. But I would say - courage. No, even that is not challenging enough to be the whole truth. Our task today is recklessness. For what we Christians lack is not psychology or literature... we lack a holy rage-the recklessness which comes from the knowledge of God and humanity. The ability to rage when justice lies prostrate on the streets and when the rages across the face of the earth... a holy anger about things that are wrong with the world. To rage against the ravaging of God's earth, and the destruction of God's world. To rage when little children must die of hunger, when the tables of the rich are sagging with food. To rage at the senseless killing of so many. To rage against complacency. To restlessly seek to change human history until it conforms to the norms of the kingdom of God. And remember the signs of the Christian Church have been the Lion, the Lamb, The Dove and the Fish... but NEVER the chameleon."

I an interested to hear what this stirs in you? Are you praying for recklessness, today?

30 hour famine

2009-03-16T13:09:00.000-07:00

i ma in awe of our students and Wakarusa Missionary Church. I just got off of the phone with the 30 hour famine folks and they said that since 2002 our students had raised $23,616.75 for hungry children across the world. That is just amazing!

This Friday and Saturday our students will again be participating in the 30 hour famine. This where our students and some leaders will be fasting for 30 hours, to raise money for hungry children world wide. Our students will have only water and juice during that time.

I am looking forward to an awesome experience! Great Job!

I wonder How this would work in Northern Indiana

2009-03-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

I saw this on the news and wondered out loud "I wonder how this would work at our Church?" Maybe we will find out in May when I preach... I would love to hear your thoughts.

Here is more on what we did yesterday

2009-03-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

To see what actually happened at our church check this out

A time of refelction.

2009-03-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to be part of a massive effort for the people Elkhart County and especially Wakarusa. Our Church helped to reach almost 400 families. I once heard a pastor who has the face for radio, say this "If the Matter to Jesus, then they matter to me!" Yesterday they matter to a lot of us. Watch..

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Interesting idea

2009-03-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

Which one(s) is the Congressman and woman. Which one took Finicial Peace with dave Ramsey?

"F"

2009-03-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

The letter F is next in our series of family prayer. I want to challenge you to try this one.
Focus on one need. There is no reason give a complete run down of all the problems you want Him to solve ... He already knows them. if your mind gets over crowded with the issues of the day, you will feel stressed. Just for today think of what need is causing you the most stress. Then let God give you peace about that ONE issue.

"E"

2009-03-03T12:07:00.000-08:00

E

Express a need for God. With humility seek the truth of John 15:5:

"Apart from me, you can do nothing." Talk with your family about why you need God. Then spend time asking them why they need God. Then spend time thanking God for always being with all of you.

Family Prayer

2009-02-27T12:04:00.000-08:00

If you hadn't guessed the letter D is today.

Delight in the Lord and all of His creation. look up Romans 1:20. It teaches us that when we look at what God made we can learn a little bit more about Him. As the weather gets warmer get outside and notice His creation. then stop and thank Him making it.

Randomness

2009-02-25T17:52:00.000-08:00

How do you clearly communicate passion?
I am at a point in life where I am craving a more intimate relationship with Jesus. The words of scripture are jumping off the page they are real. I want so bad for others to get it. It is matter of Heaven and hell. It is more important than how good you are at soccer, at basketball. That really doesn't matter. What matters is our relationship with Jesus. Where we stand, and what we stand for.

Jesus didn't sit in the office waiting for people to come to Him, I find myself doing this, He went to the people. He went where they were. Why am I not doing more of this. I had an opportunity to enter into what Bill Hybells calls the "zone of the unknown" with a couple from our church. I did a terrible job! I was more concerned about what time it was and what my responsibilities were in the service, than I was about this couple. Upon reflection my heart aches because of the missed opportunity. It is my prayer that I will have another opportunity.

These are just the thoughts of a guy after church, who wonders if you wonder similiar things?

"C"

2009-02-25T11:19:00.000-08:00

Up next in the series the ABC's of family prayer: You guessed it C.

C - confess. get your hands dirty, then wash them. Spend time talking with your family abut how God washes our hearts when we confess our sins. Then have each person around the table "Confess" something they did to hurt someone else around the table. Then ask them for forgiveness.

This is something I learned at a Youth Overnighter.

2009-02-25T07:36:00.000-08:00

This is a little something I learned during our last Youth Group overnighter watch and enjoy.
click here

ABC's of family Prayer

2009-02-24T11:57:00.000-08:00

B- believe in God's abilities. Before we ask for God's help, we must believe he can do what he says he can do. At breakfast talk about God's abilities to be a problem solver. In your prayer tell God that you believe he can do what he says he can do. Everything!

An Amazing opportunity.

2009-02-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

Last week we discovered that the national organization Feed the Children" was wanting to make a difference in Elkhart County, Indiana. They had heard of the tough economic times, We have faced an almost 16% unemployment. That's about 1 in 6.

Larry Jones the founder of Feed the Children wanted to "help." He is sending 16 semi-trucks to Elkhart County. Each, semi will have enough food to feed 400 families of 4 for a week, and each of those 400 families will receive a box of personal care items. what all this means is that 6,000 families will each receive a blessing.

The students of Wakarusa MIssionary Church had the opportunity to pack the first 640 personal care boxes that will be distributed to our friends and neighbors.

Stay Tuned for more information

An interesting Way to Make a Difference"

2009-02-23T12:28:00.000-08:00

I came across this in the last couple of days. I am always looking for a way to "make a difference" You can check it out Blood water mission

I wonder if I did this could I get people to do it with me?
What about match my donation? Starbucks and Mt. Dew would be ticked!

Been a while!

2009-02-23T12:05:00.001-08:00

I wanted to share with you all a couple of things.,

1. The ABC's of prayer for families:

A-adore God. Start the day by showing God love and Honor. Greet God with words that show Him that you love Him and know He is wonderful. Talk about words that describe God, such as powerful, loving, creative, then use those words in adoration.

Missions Conference started of with a bang yesterday. Jeremy Tice shared about the ministry God has called his family to in Guinea West Africa. I thank God for families like Jeremy's that are willing to literally follow God to the ends of the Earth. I am sure that I am not the man Jeremy is. Imagine no blog, no face book, no cell phone. Imagining that is hard not sure I could actually do it.

13 men from Travis Hunsbergers unit in Afghanistan were worshiping with us during our second service. It was tearful as Pastor Paul called these men to the front, one by one the congregation rose to their feet with applause for the selfless dedication of these men and their families Without them defending our Country and its freedoms I could not have the freedom I have to do my job. These men are the true heroes! Thank You!

And oh,yea God has blessed our church by allowing it to be a distrubution site for Feed the Children. 400 hundred families will be feed for a week out of our parking lot.

I am back

How could they tell?

2009-01-21T15:35:00.001-08:00

I would like to know three ways that the people that came across your path today could tell your a Christian.

And three ways that they couldn't tell you are in a relationship with Jesus.

WOW am i thankful for all of my toil

2009-01-16T16:37:00.000-08:00

one of my favorite sophmores, Courtney, asked me a question today and it was about some stuff in Ecclesiastes chapter 9 when I ran across verse 9

" Live happy with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your REWARD for your earthly toil."

My wife is truly a reward, I love her so much. I fell so undeserving of her love. She a great lady, wife and mom to our kids. M ost of all she is one of the most Godly women I have ever met.

I don't believe that I have toiled near enough to deserve Alison.

I love you!

5th quarter

2009-01-09T12:03:00.000-08:00

for tonite has been canceled.

What can we take?

2009-01-07T12:31:00.001-08:00

I have been pondering what we as the American church can take. If you leave churches because of the communicators, the colors of the carpet, and don't get me started on worship.

What if we didn't have nice comfortable chairs to sit in, heat and air conditioning, nice lighting, four walls and a ceiling to keep the elements out. Would that still be our church? I can't find anywhere in scripture that describes church as anything material. It all has to do with HIM! Not us, and our comforts.

When did falling in love with the Savior, mean it would be easy? Was falling in love with your spouse easy? Of course not, just ask me wife, it take lots of time, practice, and patience. It doesn't magically happen.

God wants you, all of you, not just when you have time for Him.

What are you Obsessed with?

2009-01-06T12:42:00.001-08:00

I am currently working on an up coming message, thats right I will be preaching. I need your help! What are you obsessed with? Leave me a comment letting me know the answers.