Matter of Fact...

Monterrey Mexico Entry 5

2008-06-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

This is Teressa, and I am sending an update on behalf of Jean and the team.

Today the group attended another church because the church is not ready to launch sunday morning services yet.

In addition, the church is doing weekly meetings on the campuses to discuss subjects in a forum setting. About 12 college students attended the BBQ they had yesterday, so praise God for that.

Tonight, the team is going to have a baptism and worhsip service and then pack as they prepare to head back tomorrow. Please pray for the group as they return to the states tomorrow.

The teens are doing great. They have been a blessing to the church here and to all those around them. Jean and Nadya have truly enjoyed leading them and being in Mexico.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support.

Love you all

Teressa and Jean

Monterrey Mexico Entry 4

2008-06-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

We are in our third day in Mexico and so far we have had our best day so far. The only thing is that we are so busy I don't have much time to explain much. However I've included a short unedited video clip for you all to see. Everyone is fine though the weather has been abusive at times. The high schools have been a fruitful harvest up to this point. The video shows the outside of the high school and some of the students.

Thanks for your prayers.

Love you all

Monterrey Mexico Entry 3

2008-06-26T15:45:00.001-07:00

These are just a few more pics taken as we were coming into Mexico.

Love

Jean

Monterrey Mexico Entry 2

2008-06-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

Hola Todos,

Oh nevermind, I don't need to use my spanish with you all.

We are in Mexico. We pulled in last night and so far we've had a long hard day on our feet today meeting lots of students on the college and high school campuses. They have been so open and we look forward to seeing most of them tonight at the Mall as we invited them to join us.

As expected the weather is hot. But don't worry we are making proper hydration and nutrition a priority. We will have a similar schedule tomorrow and then a barbeque outreach on Satruday before we pull off the first ever church service here in Monterrey.

All the teens and participants are doing great and are being a great asset on this mission effort. Thank you for you prayers and love you all. Enjoy the pictures I've uploaded so far.

Jean

Monterrey Mexico Entry 1

2008-06-25T05:50:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone.

It is Tuesday morning and we are about to pull out of Houston to head into Laredo Texas. There we will park our current van, rent another van and finish the ride into Monterrey Mexico. The total time should be about 8-9 hours. Hopefully I will find internet access again to be able to keep you all posted.

Yesterday's 12 hour trip was a safe one all the way the teens were great in the van. The beds at the Holiday Inn were so soft and comfortable. We just did not want to get up.

Keep you updated later.

Love you all

Jean

He who (part 1)

2008-01-09T07:27:00.000-08:00

There are certain things in the Bible that always catch my attention. One of those things is when I find a portion of scripture that promises if you do a certain something, then a certain blessing will always follow. I'll be sharing some scriptures like this that I find and title each one "He who".

The first 'He who' I'll share comes from Psalm 1.

He who...

1) Does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers
2) Delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on God's Law day in night

Is promised...

1) to be like a tree planted by streams of water and whose leaves will not wither
2) to yield their fruit in season and everything they do will prosper

How do we do these things. When I think about it, a few examples come to mind. Not walking in the counsel of the wicked means not choosing foolishness over sound wisdom. Sometime we are just sitting and waiting for a good reason that appears intellectually sound to give us an excuse not to abide by aged old wisdom, and we choose things that are plain foolishness because we feel that we have found an excuse.

Not standing in the way of sinners means not loudly or quietly supporting the deeds of wickedness. How often do we stand for things that we say we can't stand. Watching shows that you say you are just watching and analyzing isn't helping in getting it off the air, in fact it helps to keep it on because you are adding to it's viewer rating. When you go watch that bad movie, your dollars support it.

Not sitting in the seat of mockers means not accepting the praise of men for things that break the heart of God. It may sound good when someone says good about you, but I would hesitate to receive it when it comes out of comparison and a mocking or putting down of someone else, especially if it is a leader. David was a great example of this, when the crowd cheered 'Saul has slain his thousands but David his tens of thousands', David never used that as a reason to set himself up as king. David did not exalt himself because of those comments, in fact he esteemed Saul higher than himself, saying that Saul was God's anointed and shouldn't be touched. Be weary when someone is giving a compliment in this way, do not endorse the mocking of God's chosen leader, disguised in a compliment to you.

These are just examples and are not meant to entirely explain what this verse means by walking in the counsel of the wicked, standing in the way of sinners, or sitting in the seat of mockers. But what the Bible tells us is that if we want the blessings then we must avoid these traps.

In my next blog, i will talk more about meditating on God's word day and night and the blessings that follow, because that deserves it's very own section.

Until then

Love you all

Salvation and Strength

2008-01-02T08:54:00.000-08:00

2008 is here and the hope of New beginnings has captivated just about everyone. I am excited about 2008, and I'm believing for great things to happen, not only in my life but the lives of friends and family around me. When Pastor Ron read from 2 Peter 1 in church last week, I was provoked to keep from being ineffective and unproductive in my knowledge of Jesus. I don't want those loved ones around me to be this way either.

In that scripture, Peter encourages us to possess faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love in increasing measure so that we don't fall to that fate. That tells me that we can not be satisfied with the measure we had yesterday. Rather we must desire and hotly pursue increase in each of these areas in our lives.

I pray in 2008, each of us will make a decision to be filled with God's spirit in increasing measure. Identify the main area of your life that hinders you from pursuing God wholeheartedly and find scripture and accountability to wage war against those things.

The Bible tells us blessed is the man who meditates on God's word day and night. Many times, myself, I will try to effort my way into righteousness or try to do good works to make up for areas where I mess up. But in Isaiah chapter 30, I read that in repentance and rest is my salvation and in quietness and trust is my strength. When I mess up I should repent and stop doing that thing not try to find something else to make up for it. So that is my new year commitment, to do my best to do it God's way... meditate on and live according to his word, and repent to realign myself according to it.

If this encourages you, then I hope you too will make a commitment to grow in the Lord this year.

Love you all

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-20T03:36:00.000-08:00

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. Remember to be thankful for all your blessings and be overflowing with thanks in all situations. Enjoy the video.

New Chapters

2007-11-05T06:06:00.000-08:00

Sometimes in life you have to look back to see when new chapters began, others you know right at the moment. Without a doubt a new chapter has started in the life of Teressa and I. Little Keenen Eilijah is a gift from Heaven. I spend a lot of time with him on my chest just pondering the greatest of God to birth miracles through his people. It's amazing to think that we are the only ones that can ever fill the role as natural parents. Whenever he talks about his dad, he'll be talking about me.

Other things just don't seem as important and urgent when I stare into those little brown eyes that are depending on me at this moment help him make it in Life. I'm glad that now I can share in the same joy that many of you have from being blessed with your own children.

Here are some pics of the little cutie.

God sees it all

2007-10-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

This encouragement was given to me today by a dear friend whose initials are P.M. I was a bit frustrated and feeling tired, but God sent this friend to me to remind me that God sees everything and he doesn't let even the smallest work done for his kingdom to go unrewarded.

Now this may seem very simple and that we all should know that, but I saw how easy it is to forget that and get overwhelmed by the day to day. But I learned that what I really need to know is that God sees all things and he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

I wanted to pass this encouragement on to you all, especially those who labor continually in prayer & good works.

God bless you all

I was... He did.... I am

2007-09-24T05:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterdays message on the power of story was one that encouraged me a lot because I love telling stories and making analogies and illustrating points. Yet the best point made was a person with an experience will never be at mercy to one with an argument. The word of our tesitmony is one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal that we have to combat the attacks of the enemy.

When the enemy tries to lie to us about a present situation, we can always testify about what God has done in our lives. I will agree that does get hard at times, especially when it can seem that a past blessing is no factor to a present burden. However it is remembering what God has done in the past that helps us keep the faith for God to do something new in the present.

So my encouragment is to remember what you were...what he did.. and who you are now.

love you all

Building a Future

2007-09-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I've been spending a lot of time working on the renovating of our new youth area. This is the second time I've been in this process. Some people think I'm crazy for all the time that I put in, but I hardly remember any of it because I am so driven by how it will benefit the youth that God has brought among us.

I take great joy in doing all this because I believe I am part of building something great. Whether it is physically renovating a space, assisting in devoloping leaders, or investing time or money into the the lives of our young people, it's all joy for me to be a part of building this great family.

Furthermore, I've been very honored to work alongside all of you all who are now participating in the same work. Thank you very much and I love you all.

Are you hungry enough?

2007-09-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

I had this thought the other day; I imagined that I opened a fridge and saw some potato salad from Sams. I've had some really good potato salad, but I do not really care for the type sold at Sams. I said to myself 'I really don't like that potato salad', and soon after I heard a voice say, 'no, you're not HUNGRY enough for this potato salad.'
I pondered this to myself. If I was hungry enough, I would kill for that potato salad. A proverb says "He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry, even what is bitter tastes sweet.' I was convicted on the basis of gratefulness. When I have too much I began to lose gratefulness for all the little things.
Have you ever had this happen to you. Maybe you can remember a time in your life where God had to take you to a place of hunger 'in a sense' to appreciate all the many 'little' things that He has blessed you with.
Lete remember to show gratitude today for every little thing that God has given us. Read your word, pray and listen for God today.

Love you all

nj

2007-08-28T10:11:00.001-07:00

Pray it up

2007-08-21T05:15:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, the IHOP had its grand reopening in it's new location. The room was packed and you could surely sense the presence of God in the room. Of course, what excited me the most, was the fact that on the eve weekend of school starting, we had 15 middle & high school teenagers there praying. We even had a time to lay hands on them and pray for them believing for God to use them this year to do something amazing on their campus. Mark this date, so that at the end of the year, when we see what God has done, we will remember that it all began in prayer.

Pray it up. Have your quiet time.

Love you all

Jean

Sudden Growth

2007-08-12T14:43:00.000-07:00

Overwhelmed. That is the word I would use to describe me right now with the sudden growth God is bringing to our youth group. Have I seamed more out of it to you lately? Well, that is why. You would think that after praying for something for so long that I would be ready, yet I prayed over 7 years for my wife and still wasn't ready, and afer five years of believing of growth, this thing is knocking upside the head.

Praise the Lord for all the amazing leaders, parents, and student leaders he raised up, I couldn't see this thing being sustained without you all. I hope you are encouraged as God is using you to reach our young people. I believe more are coming as our hearts remain open wide, and our spirits remain humble and teachable.

I love all, and remember, stay in your word and persevere in prayer.

In Christ

Jean

Whats On Your Plate?

2007-08-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

Why Quiet Time,

Now, less than three months away from the birth of our first child, I’m contemplating how busy and hectic life is about to get. As if I didn’t already feel that I lacked enough time to get what I needed done, done in the first place, God inconsiderably adds a new person and responsibility into the mix. He couldn’t even wait for me to get into a rhythm.
As more things and responsibilities compete for my thoughts, and my time, I find it increasingly harder to remain faithful to my quiet time, in the word, in prayer and hearing from God. Sometimes it seems that God is more gracious than man and will understand if I didn’t get my quiet time in, also the quiet time seem less urgent.
It goes back to the old, phrase ‘my plate is too full’, however I’m learning that it is real easy to make a plate full of different things, but when it gets down to it, to have the right dish it’s about having the right thing on it, not many different things.
Quiet times are for my protection also. As I guard it, understanding that the main entrée on my dish is my relationship with God, it keeps me from adding unnecessary busy work to my life.
I encourage each of you to get back and/or stick to this basic practice of the Christian life of spending time with God in the word, in prayer and hearing from him.

Love you all

Back to the Basics

2007-07-31T05:43:00.000-07:00

When I was playing football at Florida State, Coach Bowden would always give us a speech on Friday night. This was the speech that we would sleep and meditate on before the game the next day. If any of you ever wondered what Coach Bowden would say to his players before even the most important games here you go.

The Speech would go something like this:
- Now men to win tomorrow we must play our best. We're not going to be able to win unless we give it our best. Everyone must know their role and play it so as a team we do our job. Everyone must know their plays. Receivers you need to catch the ball. Running backs you need to run the ball. O-line you need to block. Quarterbacks you need to make good passes and handoffs. D-line you need to push the line of scrimmage back. Linebackers you need to get off your blocks. Defensive backs you need to cover. And all defense needs to make tackles. -

Now you think the speech would be a little more complicated than that, yet that is what Coach Bowden always said. He never spent time to focus on a fumble rooskie, double reverse, statue of liberty, or any other trick play. He talked about what was most important and vital to us winning the game. Running, passing, catching, and tackling.

The same is true in our Christian life. Sometimes we can over complicate things with theology classes, 3 step plans, rituals, and other stuff. Yet what is important is continuing to focus on the basic and elementary areas of the faith. IE. Reading the word (daily), praying, repentance, baptism, and faith.

So here is my question. Have you read your word today? If not take time right now to read your word and pray it will a great difference in your day and Christian walk.

Love you all

Where Is My Brother?

2007-07-23T06:16:00.000-07:00

In Nehemiah chapter four, Nehemiah is leading the Isrealites in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was able to rally his people to enter into this task in spite of knowing that it would take lots of time to finish and opposition was sure to come. We see in verse 12, opposition came and the Jews were terrified. What I find interesting is Nehemiah's response:

verse 13 'Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

First thing I see is that he posted them by families, second he charged them not to be afraid but to remember the Lord, and finally to fight for their family members and their homes.

Many times we believe that we are busy doing the work of the Lord, but, at the same time, we are neglecting our families. You wonder if family is a random institution by God seperate from his call on our life to build his Kingdom. Nehemiah didn't think so. He didn't seperate the family to do the work of Lord. That would have been counterproductive to tear the walls of the family to build the physical wall the city.

Nehemiah was also carefull to remind them what they were really fighting for, their family and their home. We often pray for revival, which, in our mind, can look like millions of people raising their hands to the heavens. While that is a good start, we have yet to see an awakening of people to love one another, especially their family.

We can so easily miss it. As soon as we think 'serving the Lord', it can be an immediate thought to be on the campus, do a service project, go on the mission field, etc. While these can indeed be a good service to the Lord, we can't miss what is most important to God. When Cain thought he could just offer sacrifices to the Lord, God came to him and first asked "Where is your brother?"

I would like to encourage all of us to ask ourselves that question daily. "Where is our brother?" Not just in a physical location sense, but also in the sense of where is our brother in relation to us. Are we in good relationship? Do I need to forgive or do I need to repent to him/her for something? How can I encourage by brother, sister, wife, husband, son, daughter, today to spur him/her on to do great things.

This brings pleasure to the Lord and is the very work of God.

I love you all.

learning young

2007-07-16T04:32:00.000-07:00

Our niece has been with us for the past seven days. It has been a joy to have her around the house. She is thirteen years old and loves to cook and be around young children. She has the sweetest heart and is very loveable. It was a great time for me because I spent so much time asking God to help me be a good male role model in her life. This experience was also helpful in giving me insight in the responsibility I will soon have as a parent. God is showing me that it is going to take work to be FIT as a family. Over the seven days I learned how easy it is to make the oversight of my niece nothing more than keeping her busy with activity. While keeping young teens involved in constructive activity is very important because they have so much energy, it will never supplement the important role I have as a parent to shepherd their heart. I had to work and overcome the laziness and selfishness of my own flesh to make time to engage with her and ask her about life, dialogue about her walk with Lord, and teach her how to have quiet time and how to hear from the Lord. Teressa felt the same way. She did a very good job making time and debriefing our niece about a movie she had watched. It's amazing when you have these times to realize how many different messages your child receives in one day through various billboards, shows, movies, things at restaurant, etc. These messages are constantly, and subconsciously, interpreted by our young teens and impacts their worldview and most importantly their heart. If we don't make the time to get involved in this process of our teens life we will not understand the changes that are going on thier minds and hearts and ti will be very difficult to fulfill our responsibility to shepherd their hearts to the Lord.

In short, I learned... Don't just keep them busy with activity, include activities that incorporate the family and those that train them for life. Make the time for family time, constantly test their spiritual temperature and encourage them to have intimacy with God, finally teach them the word of God. We'll keep a lot of influence over them if we are their main teacher in this area.

Love you all

Jean

The Power Of Parents

2007-07-09T05:44:00.000-07:00

I've heard it said before that overall parents are losing influence on their children and are unable to guide them in the way they prefer. Yet, I still believe that parents are the number one influential people in the lives of young people. Parents make a huge impact. When a father is absent there tends to be dysfunction in the child. If parents didn't make an impact on their children then the absence of a parent wouldn't have an impact either. But we see that it does.
This is especially true when it comes to the spiritual development of our children. our children will tend to follow your passion and heartbeat after Jesus. If Jesus consumes our life, in so that the reality of it manifests in our actions, our speech, our attitude, and motives then that power will impact our children. However, if we only try to guide them in word and our lives are void of power, passion, and holy pursuit, then that too will impact our children.
Malachi 4:6 shows us what must happen before we can expect the youth to change: the fathers must repent. That will be the most impact thing towards getting a young person to turn to Jesus with a passion. That is to see their father repent. To see his/her dad lay down his own personal agenda and ambitions and live to serve God and guide his children's heart in the same way.
Our influence as parents is not gone. It's only that our influence is not in our words, but rather our actions, our thoughts, our motives, and attitude. That is what is impacting our children.

Love you all

Time To Shine!

2007-07-02T10:43:00.000-07:00

Coming to year 7 of serving this youth ministry and being in our Shine Series, I am convinced that it is time for our youth to shine. I believe God can rock this city with this young generation. We as parents and ministers of God's word have a mandate to raise and train our youth to shine for God's purpose. Here are three practical things to focus on in getting our youth trained up to Shine for Jesus.

1) Have them read their word daily.
2) Make sure they are praying to God Daily
3) Ask them what they are hearing from God to make sure that they are learning to hear from God for themselves.

All these are very important, however not as a legalistic ritual that we'll hang our hats on by any means. Jesus needs to be the passion of our students. As parents we need to taste test this constantly and guide them as needed. Great things are waiting to happen on the other side of those inconvenient, uncomfortable, and confronting conversations we will have with our teens.

Love you all

Jean

Heroes Are Wise Investors

2007-06-25T05:12:00.000-07:00

We ended our Heroes series with a very powerful and moving Youth Sunday. Tears were brought to my eyes each time I watched that skit played with "The last night" from the group Skillet. It's amazing what God can do through the little we offer up to him. His returns are so much greater than what we ever give in the first place.
God gives opportunities to invest into his Kingdom and that is what we do when we invest into the younger generation. It takes the three P's of a wise investor to keep us focused and motivated in doing the work of the Kingdom.

The first is maintaining the right perspective. Our view is an eternal one and we sow into what is to come.
The second is that we invest with a purpose keeping our priorities in order.
The Third is that we invest into people. That is the most worthwhile investment.

I believe we all can be heroes that will make a difference for the generations to come.

Love you all

Jean.

Sounding the Battlecry!

2007-06-03T14:14:00.000-07:00

Youth Sunday is only three weeks away. This year’s theme is battlecry. We want to sound the battlecry to go after a generation of youth that is heavily harrassed and under attack by the enemy. I really feel that the term battlecry is an appropriate term to use when referring to going after to win our young people. If you've read Ron Luce's book "Battlycry For A Generation" he describe the heavy artillery that is delivered from the media. The media is out to raise our teens to brand them and make them disciples of the cultures corrupt message. However, I do not limit the warfare against out teens to just the attacks from the media. There is a curse of fatherlessness, parental absenteeism, homosexual agenda, witchcraft, substance abuse, depression, pornography, humanism, relativism, idol worship, and the it's like that wage war against the call for our teenagers to know God and serve Him whole heartedly. Our goal is not to raise emotion. When you send soldiers onto the battlefield they can not go on emotions, in fact, emotions will work against you on the battlefield because it wont allow you to think clearly and respond correctly in the midst of heavy battle. No rather our goal is to enlist people in the battle to fight for our young people on a daily basis. To understand that it is nothing short of warfare and they should expect just that.
Our young people need us. We can make a big difference. God is ultimately in control but he chooses to fight through us. Are we willing to enlist in the battle?

Love you all

The Power of Agreement

2007-05-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

With a baby on the way and decisions to be made regarding our family, working situations and all that my wife and I found ourselves in a place of disagreement regarding what would be the best scenario for our family. Of course for a while I thought that I had the best answer and she just needed to submit to that. However, I realized that while the two of us were in disagreement we were not going to be able to support the other in whatever we were doing because this issue was in the way. I learned that we are more effective when we actually agree because our energy is working with each other instead of against each other. Together we can make any decision the best decision, but otherwise disagreement will make any decision the worst.

Let that be my encouragement for everyone today. Find a place of agreement (according to God's word) in your family and get your energy working together.

Love you all

Jean

Happy Mothers Day Every Day

2007-05-14T04:20:00.000-07:00

Even though the nation only makes one day to celebrate the hard work and effort of our moms, we should remember that moms should be celebrated everyday. I want to say thank you to all you moms for your commitment, dedication, and love. It does go unnoticed a lot and not appreciated as much as it needs to, but the fruits of your labor is all around us.

Top Ten things to thank a mom for:

There is a mom to thank for every:
1) Diapor changed
2) Clothe washed
3) Food on the table
4) Appointment rembered
5) Wound that is bandaged
6) Ear that hears I love
7) Husband that became a better man
8) Son that learned how to treat a woman
9) Youth event attended
10) Person walking the earth

I want to say that I love my mom. She is an extraordinary person and that is why I am extraordinary. I love you mom you are the best.

Love you all.

Jean

Blessed to be a blessing

2007-04-30T05:38:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a revelation from Gen 12:1-3 when God called Abram to follow him. As I looked into this verse I saw three levels of how God draws us in and matures us in our Christian Walk.
I verse two he says that I will make you in a great nation and I will bless you. What I saw here was the "I will bless you" part. Generally that is how most people are drawn to following God: to get God's blessing. We want God to bless us so we live in such a way to get God to bless us.
In the second half of verse two he says: I will make your name great and you will be a blessing." Here the key part is "you will be a blessing." This a sign of maturity when we no longer solely live to have God bless us but we see others around us and we want to be a blessing to them. We are ok losing some rights and privileges of our own to make things better for others around us.
Finally in verse three he says, "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you". When God said "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you he even meant those that would live on the earth in the future (i.e. me an you). This I believe is the ultimate sign of maturity and dying to self. When you have your eyes set on that which is to come and is not visible yet, and live for it. When you are ok with the fact that the people who will benefit from your sacrifice in this life will never even see or know your name.

I am challenged to go from the second level to the third level in every area of my life. That's not easy. There are so many people who live at the first level that living in second level can make us feel like giants in the faith, which we are because God is growing us, yet it's not where he wants us to stop. We have to keep pressing on because the foundation we are laying is not only for our kids but multiple generations our own kids and others to come.

Let's not grow weary.

Love you all

What to look for.

2007-04-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

Ok. First, thank you to all who gave us advise to make it through the first trimester of our pregnancy. We are about to step into the second trimester. I am open to hear from you experienced parents as far as what we need to be looking for and what do we need to be doing now to continue to prepare for our baby coming.

You can respond by posting a comment.

Thanks

Not Alone

2007-04-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

I mentioned this last week at our volunteer's meeting and amazingly it was echoed yesterday at church during the baby dedication; that we as parents can not raise our kids alone.

I am so honored to be around a great group of parents who fight for their family and kids and do not abidicate responsibility, yet at the same time keep tight community due to the realization that training up our children is too impossible a task to do alone. I feel great about this community of parents and confident about Teressa and I soon to give birth of a child into it.

Thank you all for being there. We know that we will not be alone.

SIgnificance, acceptance, security

2007-04-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

This week we are talking to the teens about finding significance, acceptance, & security in the Lord as opposed to striving for it in the the world. I believe this is the very heart issue when it comes to identity that our teens struggle with the most. I am convinced that it is the role of parents in the home to lay this foundation in their children, however this is no easy task by any means, even the most God-fearing couples. We choose what we say, BUT THEY CHOOSE WHAT THEY BELIEVE.

My encouragement this week is for us as parents and caring adults to continue to find our security, signficance, and acceptance in the Lord and not by world standards, ie our jobs, career, social group, associations, etc.,

EYE TO EYE & HEART TO HEART- Have eye to eye and heart to heart conversations with your teen this week on the topic of identity. Nothing speaks volume like a testimony. BE A WITNESS and share your story with your growing adult this week.

Love you all

Jean

As Good As Dead!

2007-04-08T18:34:00.000-07:00

I was pondering on Sunday morning during Easter service of the sacrifice of His own life that Jesus gave for us, and how through his dying many were made alive. As I entetained this thought, it spoke to me in a way to help make sense of the trials i seem to be going through this season. That I am only as good as I am dead. The Bible says 'husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up as an offering for it'. The picture of Christ loving the church is one of Jesus hanging on the cross, his life layed down completely, doing nothing to defend himself. That is what I hear when I think of the love of Jesus, that I am only as good as I am dead. I can only love right if I am dead, I can only serve right if I am dead, I can only lead right if I am dead. If Jean Jeune lives nothing goes right. Christ has to live in me, and in order for that to happen I must die. I don't want to die sometimes, actually many times, especially knowing when this baby comes I'll have to die somemore.

i know many of you parents are probably asking, 'what happened to my life?' You lost it long time ago, because you couldn't give life and hold on to yours at the same time it was one or the other. Now the verse "unless a seed falls to the ground and dies it remains only a seed," has new meaning for me. My days like I know them are over. It's time to pick up my cross to go nail this life on it, die, and pick a new life God is bringing me into. If any of you dads can remember going through what I'm going through now your prayers and words of encouragement are welcomed.

But as parents we really are only as good as we are dead. We must live for a future generation. But what an honor that God can allow our dying to bring new life. I'm glad I can be in this fight with you all.

Love you.

We're Waiting!!

2007-04-05T06:42:00.000-07:00

Teressa & I have decided that we are going to wait until the delivery to find out whether the Lord has given us a boy or a girl. I already know it has to be one of the two. We'll be happy with whatever he gives us. I did however try to look deep into the ultrasound picture to see if I could tell. With this zoomed up image you can see that the baby already has my face and Teressa's hair.

Joy Peace Love!

2007-04-02T07:25:00.000-07:00

If you heard Pastor Jim’s message yesterday you probably felt as challenged as I did to remain in the vine and have these fruits bearing in your life and home continually. Standing months away from the birth of our first child I am confronted with the truth and reality that it doesn’t matter how much Bible I preach to my children, the fruit that comes out of my life will preach a louder message.
Why does God bring two imperfect people together and allow their relationship to be the first revelation of His Kingdom to a young child. Has God lost his mind? Yet I’m sure that it is through this that reveals his glory even more. I know his grace is sufficient for all of us and that is what we can rest on. However I must admit that it puts the fear of God in me when I heard that question, “Will my kids want to live for God based on what they experience in the home?”
I encourage us all to remain in the vine. Though it is hard, especially for me, as I tend to abide in the fruit sometimes. Pray for me as I continue to pray for you.

Love you all

The Rock that is higher than I.

2007-03-26T06:01:00.000-07:00

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. -Psalm 61:2

I have been meditating on this verse for a while and especially now, it helps me more & more. As we step into a new season of life I'm confronted with the fact that what I relied on in the past will not be enough. my weakness is that I will look to draw what I have to make it through, but I know that I can't do it. So I repeat this verse to myself. "lead me to the rock that is higher than I".

I hope that you will do the same. God is our refuge and our strength. When we have done all that we can to lead our teens in the right the direction and yet they still buck against the rod and the staff meant to comfort them, we have the rock "Jesus" that is higher than us to encourage and refresh us. And in his strength & power we will not only make it but see the promise fulfilled.

Love you all.

Jean

It's Simple WE ARE PREGNANT!!!!

2007-03-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

Well the news is big enough in itself. I don't need to say much. Teressa and I are pregnant and here are the ultrasound pictures. Thank you for your prayers and Teressa and I are excited to start the most important youth ministy that we will have stewardship over.

Love you all

Jean

wazzup homey!!!

2006-11-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

Here are kids chillin. Ready to bring down the devil.

No Shortcuts

2006-11-15T08:24:00.000-08:00

Many of you may not know already, but Teressa and I have been going through the Dave Ramsey 'Total Money Makeover'. We have a strong conviction to be wise stewards of our money and to leave an inheritance for our children's children.

One thing that I've really noticed while reading books on other people's success and failure is that there is no shortcut to becoming prosperous in any area. Not finacially, physically, relationally, or spiritually. Our lives are the make up of our habits and habits take time to form. Habits, once they are formed, needs to be continually repeated to augment its results.

There is no get rich quick plan, they only perputuate poverty. Quick weight loss plans are only someone else's get rich quick plan (making money off you), the weight will be waiting to return. The honeymoon will end on every relationship, and a quick trip to the pulpit will only set you and others up for embarrasment when the light shines on your character.

Little by little brings massive growth. Don't try to build quickly, learn to build habitually.

Time To Retake The High Places

2006-11-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

I have been meditating on the message that Pastor Ron delivered on Sunday. There is a point that has stuck to me. The fact that our state leaders (who handle law) should be great church leaders that have studied God's Law, and great church leaders (who lead God's family) should be great family leaders, and family leaders (who lead individuals in the family) should be those who lead themselves well according to God's word. That was the point Pastor Ron hammered well.

How often, especially, during times like these, when we are going to vote for new state leaders, do we cry for God to raise up Godly leaders and or change the hearts of our current leaders. The thought hit me. Aren't we the ones (atleast we should be) who have submitted our lives to Jesus. Aren't we the ones who have learned to be great family leaders, and church leaders. It's already in us.

Why then shouldn't we believe to take those high places. Perhaps it's not from someone else. Perhaps we are who God can use to rule justly in these seats.

Just a litte for you to think about now. I should talk about this more in later blogs. Love you all.

OCTOBER Barbeque

2006-10-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

Youth Barbeque

2006-10-11T06:45:00.001-07:00

Ok October 22 is our final Youth Barbeque for 2006. We want to make this one the biggest one yet. check out how fun they are.

AND A SLIDE SHOW!!

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

Would You Rather?

2006-09-19T05:47:00.000-07:00

I bought this cool new book that we will be using on some Wednesday nights to spark conversations. The book is loaded with "would you rather" questions that make you decide between extreme choices to see what you really value and or how you process your thoughts. Here are a couple I wanted to ask and see if I would get any responses for.

1) Would you rather fail while trying to do something great or never try to do anything great?

2) Would you rather say sorry for something that wasn't your fault or stay angry at someone forever?

Habits

2006-09-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

Remember the National Health Associations campaign some years back where they used the character "Bad Habit Rabbit" to show what bad eating habits could produce in you. It was evident that if you wanted a great end product you had to focus on the habits you were developing now.

For the next two months we will be looking at our spiritual habits to see what we can expect ourselves to look like in a few years if we keep building on our current habits. Sure enough if we want to be spirtitual champions a lot of our current habits (yes including mine) has to change.

By the way happy labor day, especially to all our parents who labor tirelessly day in and day out.

The power of unity

2006-08-28T06:13:00.000-07:00

Our Church just finished the power of unity series and I hope that this is only the beginning of a time in seeing the local and global body of Christ unified.

My heart for us as a youth ministry is that we would be unified. Youth pastors, volunteers, parents, and teens all working together to see a generation of young people touched and changed for the glory of God.

We all have our differences and can see things different. My hope is that we would give God glory in submitting our differences to his Lordship that we might be used to do something extraordinary in our lifetime.

Love you all.

I said yeah.

2006-08-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

Thought I might show this for kicks.

Go youth go.

Defiled or Irrelevant?

2006-08-13T18:02:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be great to post a question from our message board regarding an issue that many people wonder about. I'll leave the name of the person anonymous.

"...I have been asked by a few people, and Christians at that, if by limiting my kids exposure to media, I am keeping them from knowing culture and being able to minister those who are lost and submerged in that culture."

This was my response to it.

"...that is an absolute wonderful point. Let's look into it a little more. The dilemma looks a little like this: Either let my child watch BET, or MTV, or whatever movie or what not so they can stay in touch with the culture (yet they get defiled) or take it away from them (but then they are irrelevant).

What if I told you that was a lie the enemy put out there. Culture does not live in T.V., or magazines, or the Internet, or movies. Culture is real it's around us.

Point #1- we do not learn about real culture watching these shows.

The lie is that we learn about the culture through these forms of media. The truth is we don't because the media has a different agenda. The media is in business to make business, it exist to keep itself existing-- in other words MAKE A PROFIT- at our expense and our kids expense. The media does not reflect the culture we live in. They go into small pockets of areas where extreme attitudes of rebellion, sexual immorality, violence, lust & passion, materialism, hedonism and like natures exist. Then they choose to package that and display it on T.V. as being cool. Though these small pockets of extremities represent less than 5% of real cultures they saturate over 95% of the air time, thus giving a false image about what the real culture around us is. Then our kids start mimicking what they see on T.V. and spend what they have and do what they can to look like it, including rebelling against parents and other authorities.

Recap- 1) media reflects small pockets of extremities, 2) They package it to cover nearly all of air time 3) the majority of people see it and think it's normal 4) The companies that own these broadcasting stations and magazines make a lot of money because they are partnered or associated with the makers of the products that can make the general public look like what they saw on T.V.

Point #2 We do not need media to stay in touch with culture.

How long has culture existed and how long has the media existed? Whoever needed media to understand the culture that THEY THEMSELVES live in.

Culture is not found in media. Culture is in flesh. The only way you will get out of touch with culture is when you get out of touch with people.

Here is the fact: if you want to understand people you have to listen, ask questions, and build relationships.

If you think about it, the best that watching most of these shows will do for you is build stereotypes, and who likes to be stereotyped? People want you to know them for who they are?

So here is the option- raise our own kids and teach them real culture or let the media force on them false images so that the media and it's associates can make money.

Stolen Virginity....Family

2006-08-09T05:32:00.000-07:00

Nothing tears up relationships quite like have sex out of wedlock. It's not just the two that are involved that is affected but others close to them as well. Many parents feel helpless and believe there is nothing they can do to keep their child from having sex before they get married. Some believe it's not even possible.

What a feeling of powerlessness, it's like arthritis in your authority, paralysis; complete numbness unable to make a move that would cause a difference.

Sex out of wedlock affects parent child relationships. The child has lost their purity and innocence, yet they are still living under their parents roof. Their soul is bonded to someone else, they feel like they should be somewhere else. The parent tends to remain silent regarding the issue they have no idea what to say. Their sense of authority has been stripped. It wasn't just virginity that was stolen it was also family.

How can these types of issues be reconciled? Let's start with communication. It's hard, and we always wished we did a better job of it. Yet it is still the answer. Communicate. Even if it is in tears. Virginity may not come back but family doesn't have to go also.

Steward Those Relationships.

2006-08-06T19:49:00.000-07:00

Todays service was just awesome. I must admit that I was torn to pieces inside during worhip. The message that echoed in my heart was the need to steward well our relationships. The enemy is so adament about seperating our relationships. Whether through offense, or pride, misunderstandings, miscommunication, etc; How quickly he wants to come in and make us untrusting of one another. However there is a great power when you walk in right relationships.

Don't be afraid to shed some tears, in fact it's probably impossible to walk in long relationship without doing so because we inevitably hurt one another. The beauty and the power in the word of God is that through forgiveness we can overcome, and seperation is not the only option.

Is there someone whom you've been meaning to make things right with for a long time? Either you hurt them or they hurt you. The time is now. The power is in your hand to change the state of that relationship.

Ahead Of The Game!

2006-08-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

The state of our youth can be striking and the task of reaching them at times can be very overwhelming. However, I wanted to take a little time to encourage you with some great news about how we are doing.

The average youth group size in america is 12. Our list of students adds up to just under 30. Also, a healthy youth group size to church membership ratio should be 1:10. We are nearly 30:250. Above average.

We are doing really good especially with what we have. Our parents are great, I feel like I learn so much from them. Thank you.

Just imagine where God is going to take us next.

Check out some of these cool pics of all that God is doing among us

Who Wants Them More Part II

2006-07-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

The world sees the urgency to relate to the youth.

"If you don't understand and recognize what they are thinking and what they are feeling and then be able to take that in and come up with a really precise message that you are trying to reach these kids with you're going to lose. You are absolutely going to lose." -Rob Stone Teen Marketing Executive.

They have done their homework really nice. BUT WAIT! before you go on with preconceived ideas that "this is just how young people are", lets look at the real behind the scene tactic.

MTV says that this is what the kids want, so this is what they give them; or that they are only reflecting the state of the youth. However check out these comments

"But MTV came along and saw in gangsta rap something that made great television, which was rage and also a violent attitude toward power, which, of course, is a core value and rebellion for young people. It was the most visually and musically expressive form of rebellion available at a time when rock 'n roll, which used to provide that rebellious feeling, had become very big, very 1980s. We all know what that was like.

So gangsta rap was used by MTV to connect to kids at that very rebellious stage, and they've continued in that tradition."

furthermore

"In American culture, rebellion is such a very important core value for teenagers, even if you don't have anything to rebel about. You could be totally set as far as having the television in your room and the phone and the computer and you're like getting laid and you're smoking dope and everything is groovy. But you still need to feel that you're oppressed in some way, because that's part of how we form our individuality in this culture. And so gangsta rap and its variants come in to fill that void and is used for that purpose." Seabrook Interview

So MTV takes one thing that our teens struggle with (rebellion)and markets their products to feed into that.
Teens don't understand their sexuality- so what does Brittany Spears and company say to them "FLAUNT IT EVEN IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT".

So our kids end up imitating what they see on T.V. not really T.V. mirroring what our kids are doing.

Are these the answers kids are looking for? No! So why do follow in this way? Well who else is taking as much time and spending as much money to understand our teens and get into who they are, and get into their pockets.

It's time we responded with the same sense of urgency if we want to get into the battle and save this generation.

Who Wants Them More?

2006-07-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

Who wants the youth more? The world or the church?

Check out these startling quotes from an interview John Seabrook a writer of the New Yorker and some other quotes from "The Merchant of Cool" A report on the creators and marketers of popular culture for teenagers.

MTV says, "We listen to the kids and give them what they want." (John Seabrook interview) ["It is true that MTV has created a relationship with its audience that is more intimate than network relationships. People do watch MTV with a sense that it's their MTV, and that was, of course, the original marketing strategy. "My MTV. I want my MTV." And they've been very successful at creating an intimacy in the relationship of the audience to the programming. "]

MTV along with top marketers in the world call teenagers their "demo" meaning their primary target for advertising.
"...if you get the young person at that age when their minds are still unformed commercially, you can brand them, as it were, and then have their allegiance for the rest of their consuming lifetimes." (John Seabrook interview)
Seems like the strategy to go after young people isn't a big secret after all.

WAKE UP CHURCH!

THE WORLD WANTS TO BRAND OUR KIDS. BRANDING IS PERMENANT.

Who Is Really Raising Our Kids?

2006-07-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen or heard things come out of your children that you know was not placed there by you?

You may be saying "I never wanted my child to grow up to be this way."

This picture should explain what the closest voices to our kids are and who is really having the most influence on them.

1) The average teen will watch nearly four hours of T.V. a day.
2) The average teen will spend 17 hours or more a week on the internet.
3) Male teens average over an hour a day playing video games and girls nearly 45 minutes a day.
4) The Average teens spends 12 or more hours a week listening to music.
5) 33% of 13- to- 17-year-olds reported that their parents or guardians know “very little” or “nothing” about what they do on the Internet.

Check it out: http://medialit.med.sc.edu/mediause.htm and http://www.kidsnewsroom.org/newsissues/072503/index.asp?page=Science2

Now how much time do we spend engaged with our children a week/ a day?. Our message will have a hard time getting through when it pales in comparision to the amount of time our kids are spending hearing the message coming from the Media.

Our influence should help teens interpret the media, instead the media tell ours kids how to interpret what we say...and it's not in our favor.

We need to make a stand to not seek out the convenience of letting T.V., computer, video games, and radio raise our kids so we can do other things, because they will surely be shaped in THEIR image and not ours.

Your partner to reach this generation.

Jean

What it takes to be a hero! Finale.

2006-07-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

In the comics, heroes are identifiable by their exterior atributes; big muscles, special suit, and/or fancy gadgets. In the real world special heroic powers are contained in the interior...the heart. In fact heroic acts don't often make loud audibles noises or make a scene that draws in crowds. However for the one(s) that was saved, that one act is eternally imprinted on their hearts and mind.

Who's hero are you? Did you ever think that you could be one for somebody. All it takes is courage. You can make a huge difference in someone's life.

So here is the final part to becoming a Hero.

#3) Overcoming your Kryptonite. Oh yeah, those radiated particles from Superman's home planet that bring him to his knees and could eventually kill him. Can you beieive that?! He is constantly saving the world yet little bits and parts of his past weaken him to next to nothing.

It is that the same way with us. We want to do great but we succomb to words, worries and fears from our past that lead us to believe that we will never mount up to anything.

I like the part in the movie where Superman had to overcome many chunks of kryptonite imbeded in the huge object he was trying to throw out of the earth. If he had quit the world would have been destroyed. Yet Superman pushed through the impact it was having on him to complete the task. Thus he saved the world in spite of it nearly costing him his very life.

It is going to have to be the same way with us. We have to overcome hurtful words that were spoken over us or past, as well as those worries and failures to be able to step out and make great things happen for God in this world. Then we will be a hero.

So let's go it's time to make a decision to be a hero.

Jean

What it takes to be a hero. Part II

2006-07-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

Hero (noun): A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.

Who wouldn't want to have their name associated with feats of courage or nobility of purpose. God has designed us that way to get us in the battle.

We all have a strong desire to be a hero to save the day. The only difference between a hero snd someone who is not is that a hero moves past just dreaming about it.

This takes us to our second requirement to being a hero.

2) Be sensitive to the needs of others.

The best quote from Superman Returns is stated when superman himself take Lois outerspace and asks her to listen.

Superman: What do you hear
Lois: I don't hear anything
Superman: I hear everything. You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior but everyday I hear people crying for one.

Wow. So the question is what do you hear. Are the concerns of your own life so loud in your ear that you can't hear what concerns others have.

Hero's are sensitive to the needs of others. They can't stand to see them hurt.

Matther 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

We see here that Jesus is moved to action because of his sensitivity to the needs of others.

In order for us to be a hero. We have to train ourselves to hear and see the needs of others and move to action.

What it takes to be a hero.

2006-07-13T16:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's youth meeting was tremendous. I decided to blog about the message Title. Have you ever dreamed about being a hero. Anytime I see a film like superman I just get a strong desire to save world. I remember jumping off my roof at the age of 12 with bed sheet tied around my neck just thinking for sure that I would fly. Well of course that didn't work.

I learned that it takes more than looking like superhero on the outside to actually be a hero. I will note three things that I feel are vital to being someone that can make a difference in the world.

1) Know where you come from. Origin defines who you are and where you are supposed to be heading. Throughout the movie Superman Returns, you saw moments where superman himself retreated to meditate on words spoken by his father Jor-el. Those words reminded Superman who he was and why he was sent to planet earth.

To be a hero in Christ you must know where came from. You are not random dust. You are God's forethought. Psalm 139:13 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." and God has sent us with a mission. Matthew 10:16 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Have you settled the issue of origin and God's purpose for your life in your own heart. That is the first step to becoming a hero.

Stay tuned for the other two points. And if you like this post a comment.

Answering the Call

2006-07-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome 'brave' partner. I want to thank you for responding to what God is doing. Our teenagers are hurting and lost. I look in theirs eyes and see hurt, pain, confusion, despair, hopelessness, fear, and insecurity. The fighting is most fierce here, and the devil is not playing fair.
We are called to turn our hearts to them and reach out to them and save them from the lies of the enemy that have so many of them turning to rebellion, drugs, fighting, sex, homosexuality & lesbianism, cutting, pornography, gang violence, stealing, cheating, disobedience, drunkenness, tattooing, piercing, witchcraft, lying, rage & anger, anorexia & bulemia, self-hatred, etc., the list goes on. If you want to know how close to home this is, of all the above specifically mentioned habits, there is only one that I have not come across in the past year in dealing with our own Every Nation Tallahassee youth group. Our own (your own) kids are dealing with these tough issues. It is time for us to get in the game.
This vision is not only to reach our own kids but to save thousands of young people from destruction. If your heart is for business or politics or schools or whatever we cannot neglect the ones that will take it over after our time is past. THEY ARE THE FUTURE AND OUR GREATEST INVESTMENT.

What It Will Cost:
Re-prioritizing your schedule to make room. I know some of you are saying "I'm already too busy." That is exactly why I am asking you because you give your best to what you feel is important. I am convinced that God's mission to redeem the hearts of young people is crucial enough that I can ask you to reprioritize to give some of your energy to this work. Our teens (and your teens) are too important to drag in people who are just laying around, doing nothing to work with them.

How do I join?
I'm glad you asked. I have been fasting and praying for over a month asking God to reveal his plan, strategy, and key leaders. He has shown me how my role will change to facilitate the carrying out of this vision. He has also laid many of you 'busy' people on my heart as leaders in areas crucial to success. I want to talk to you more about it. Simply comment to this blog, 'I want to know more' and I will respond to you with a call. And continue to pray as God properly places people for this task.

Thank you very much and God Bless you

Jean

Much Love.

2006-06-18T18:31:00.000-07:00

Todays bar-b-Q was a blast. Much Thanks to Valeisha Ellis and the whole gang from Above and Beyond. It was a joy to have you. Hope to do it again soon. I saw a great deal of team sportsmanship as well as love and charity.
Being developmentally challenge doesn't stop people from learning how to groove neither have a sense of humor. Blessed are those who have learned this. The only difference with them is that we can't get away with the shallow habits we have built. To communicate with them you have to stop and give all your focus. If you do that you find the real person behind the stutter and the slurs; and they are precious.
I think I'm getting a little emotional, so I'll stop. Thanks again to everyone who helped make today a wonderful get to gether.

Taking It To Another Level!

2006-06-05T17:58:00.000-07:00

Wow! Youth Sunday was wonderful. I am totally excited about our teenagers and really enjoy watching what God is doing in them. It seems that everyone was challenged to take their commitment to serving the youth to another level, including myself. I see so many others out there and I wonder how can we reach those we are not reaching to now.
But there is one thing I didn't get to say yesterday but that I meant to. Our current parents are some of the "brave"est parents that I've been around. I love you all and I am your greatest fan. You are in middle of a fierce battle and I really enjoy watching how you all team up, help, and encourage one another. I hope to be as great a parent when my kids are here. Thank you for being a great example for me, because your model is for future parents like me.
I only hope that what I can do will help produce the champions in your children that you have labored so many years for.

I love you all.
Lets take it to another level together.'

Ok my pic is finally up

2006-05-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

Alright, finally got my picture up. Thanks Clayton

Many hats, one heart.

2006-05-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

The love of my life.

To some I am Jean a friend or
Coach Jeune (current or former football/basketball Coach)
Mr. Jeune (teacher)
Jean a mentor
Pastor Jean (youth pastor)
Mr. Jean (former foster home team parent, or camp leader)
Jeune (former team mate)

The list goes on and on. However, it's my three "s" roles that define my my heart in all that I do.
Servant (I am Christ's servant)
Sweetie (husband to the best woman in the world)
Son (My mom dad hope for nothing but the best for me, I want to make them proud)

A lot of things in my day to day make me cry. I, at times, feel the same discouragment most people feel when it comes to trying to make difference in the lives of people and in this world. I can only continue when I remember to look at the faces that give me strength and encouragement. God, my wife, parents and then family & friends.
Kevin & Simone
The Fisher Groove
The Dills
Miss Christie Runs things.

Kevin & Simone The fisher groove The Dills Miss Christie runs it.

Congrats to the grads!

2006-05-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. Another batch of high school students are about to dress in gowns, walk across the stage, and get that paper they've longed to get in their hands for the longest...Their diploma. It's a time of joy not only for each prospective graduate, but also their parents, family, and friends that have made huge contributions in their lives.
One of the celebratory ceremonies that some students take part in is the Baccalaureate service. My wife and I attended two separate services this evening. Each message was good, but the second one caught our attention the most. It was a charge for the grads not to exclude Jesus from their college or working experience. It reminded me of the comment made by Josh McDowell that well under 50% of youth group attendees continue to walk with God after graduating high school.
As I looked each one in the eye on their way out, my prayer was that they would not be on the wrong side of the statistic. Each one has a choice to make. However, the impact of each individual's decision is not limited to that respective person. Multitudes will be affected.
Therefore, I remind us all that we continue to share the responsibility of working with and helping our young students to become the best can be.

No Easy Way Out.

2006-04-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

Gray hair is a sign of age and wisdom.
Loss of hair is a sign of child rearing

Our children are a true gift and miracle from God. We have been given the distinct honor and duty of raising them to be godly people in the Kingdom of God. Though our culture thrives on finding shortcuts and more efficient ways of performing certain tasks, there is no offer for this one. The mission of raising our kids is not about efficiency, and there are no shortcuts. It’s minimum 18-year commitment of praying, guiding, persevering, listening, disciplining, and seeing them trained to be heroes in the faith.
The cost is huge, decades of time, thousands of dollars, personal time and opportunities, and of course some hair. However, the cost of the alternative is greater. We are mandated to multiply and fill the earth with righteous seeds. The great news is we are all in it together. I’m glad I can help you who have teens. I know when my time comes that I will not stand-alone. God bless you all.

Let Your Light Shine!

2006-04-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

There is a popular saying that goes "The light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home." If you have heard that saying you probably have also heard it's intended meaning: if you want to make a huge difference in the world first take good care of the people and the things that are around you.

That is a very catchy saying and it conveys a message essential for all leaders: Great leadership begins at the home. You have a greater chance of posing a false image of who you really to those who are far from your personal life. However, if you want to really test the depth of your character, value the opinions of those who are always around you.

I am a leader of great character when those who are closest to me love me the most.

My First Blog

2006-04-11T15:46:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

This blog site should prove to be a hot one. I hope that through it both my readers and myself will learn a lot. My blog will seek to look into the culture and what goes on, and hopefully shed some light into what is going on in the unseen. Apologetics is one of my strong areas so at times I will attempt to tear down some of the hard questions that are thrown at us as Christians I invite you to read through some of these thoughts that I will put up, and I am open to any questions.

Thank you very much fellow fan.

Jean