That Six Letter Word

This tractor caught my eye last year. It sits along side a really goofy antique shop on the outskirts of Galena, IL. At one point...it must have been proud and strong. A true workhorse for the owner. Now...forgotten and neglected. A pile of rust.
space
How does one go from proud and strong to a pile of rust? How about your church? How about your family? How about you? Proud and strong or a pile of rust?
space
Change. Am I allowed to type that? That dreaded six letter word. Change may be bad or good. But...as the phrase goes...change is constant. As such, the question quickly becomes how to adapt to or implement change.
space
This tractor may run. If so...is it effective or useful? Let's look at your church. Your church may run. But...what's the substance? What's the focus? Is there life or is there death?
space
Here are eight signs of death...
space
- Have lost their sense of mission to those who have not heard about Jesus Christ and do not pant after the Great Commission;
- Exist primarily to provide fellowship for the “members of the club;”
- Expect their pastors to focus primarily on ministering to the members’ personal spiritual needs;
- Design ministry to meet the needs of their members;
- Have no idea about the needs of the “stranger outside the gates;”
- Are focused more on the past than the future;
- Often experience major forms of conflict;
- And watch the bottom line of the financial statement more than the number of confessions of faith.
space
Huh. How about your church? How about your family? How about you? Proud and strong or a pile of rust? How does your church adapt to or implement change? We want to do more than run. We want to reach. Reach a hurting and lost world. Stop looking in and cast your gaze out!
space

On a separate note...Come and enjoy...watch the crazy youth pastor risk limb and life. Now...I'm all about being relevant. But...let's try and not run anyone over. Until next time. Jed.

How Can This Be?

Time flies when you’re having fun. Everyone has heard this phrase. However, I tend to believe...time flies regardless of fun.
space
Solomon wrote, "There is a time for everything." But...we often wonder how to fit our everything into time. After all...didn't you...
space
- change the oil?
- charge the battery?
- check the email?
- do the laundry?
- drink the coffee?
- empty the garbage?
- feed the dog?
- file the report?
- make the lunch?
- pay the bill?
- sign the card?
- take the vitamin?
- wash the pot?
space
Oh...the things we juggle. The things that comprise our everything. Our everything that must fit into time. And before you blink...days turn into weeks and weeks into months and months into years.
space
My oldest starts kindergarten on Monday. How can this be? Were we not just learning to crawl and then learning to talk and walk. Time flies...
space
Yes. I agree with Solomon. There is a time for everything. A time to love. A time to witness. A time to proclaim the wonders of God. We fit in the reports, emails, coffees, and bills. Do we fit in God?
space
God has called each of us to take up our cross and follow Him...day by day. Don't miss your ministry. Perhaps your child, coworker, neighbor, or spouse. Somewhere within the day by day your ministry is there.
space

Gods says it best ---- "Be still and know that I am God." Until next time. Jed.

Do You Have A That?

All that remains from the tree that started it all is a few logs and some saw dust. Death has prevailed and overtaken life. However, this tree raises another question. With death…was there truly life? Sounds kind of philosophical and we’ll discuss some other time…
space
Regardless, it’s our prayer for victory. Instead of logs and saw dust…we want buds and flowers. We want life and rebirth. More importantly…Christ wants life and rebirth. So much so that He died for it. He died for you to have it. For Christ said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” How cool is that! Not just life…but, an abundant life.
space
Sign me up. How about you?
space
So, we have started the task of writing a curriculum and calculating the unwrapping of this curriculum within group settings. A curriculum to tackle sin…and specifically a silent sin or perhaps a suffocating sin…a sin that deals with the dirty little secrets of life that the church so often ignores. That pornography addiction. That eating disorder. That fear of depression or perfectionism. That…
space
We almost all have a that…we keep it close to our chest and wrestle alone. What did Christ mean by an abundant life? After all…I can’t shake my that. Have you ever been there? I have.
space
So, please be praying for the development of this curriculum. I trust it will be a process of several months. Also, our application for the status of a 501(c)(3) will be submitted within a few weeks.
space
On a separate note...
space
These flowers caught my eye. Someone or something has devastated these flowers. A few days ago they were beautiful and elegant. Now…not so much. Man…there’s all kinds of possibilities.
space
- The whole enemy comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy angle…
- Or…starting fresh and new. There’s still life. It’s time to rebuild.
- The whole acquaintances verses friends. Note the two pots with the same devastation. Be careful who you hang out with…
space

Sometimes…I think I’m a little goofy. I trust my wife will agree. I look at pots and instantly go to sermon illustrations. Some are a stretch and some are pretty cool. But…God has created each of us with our own uniqueness. Our own imprint from the Creator. Praise God! Until next time. Jed.

The Tree That Started It All

Not too far from my office window is a tree. This tree has dual personalities. One half has life. There are birds chirping and leaves rustling. One half has death...barren and desolate. All the same tree…yet life and death clearly represent themselves within the same.
space
Sound familiar? After all…you attend church, help your neighbor, love your family, pray every so often, and work hard. You have life! People admire you. People like you. People trust you. But, what if they knew? What if they knew the truth about you?
space
You have death! Death that knows you and knows you well. Death that keeps secrets. Death that gently and quietly whispers your name. Death that continually pops up although you try and squelch it over and over again. What is it? What is your death? An addiction, lies, lust, perfectionism, pornography…the potential candidates go on.
space
And so the walk continues. The live half trying to outpace the dead half. No matter how hard or how long you try…every time you turn around the dead half remains. You fear the day and believe me the day is coming. The day where the dead half overtakes the live half.
space
In a few weeks…this tree will be cut down. The live half will pay the ultimate price due to the dead half…death will have overtaken life.
space
And so…832 Ministries has ideas and thoughts of possible ministries…thanks to the tree that started it all.
space

“And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) Freedom from death. Until next time. Jed.

Here We Go

Well...we're starting out with baby steps holding the hand of Christ. One of these items will never change...holding the hand of Christ. The other...is up to God.
space
We are a ministry founded upon John 8:32 - "And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." Following the leading of God...we are incorporated and in the process of applying for the status of a 501(c)(3). Ultimately, we want to reach a hurting people who struggle with the often overlooked or unspoken...such as pornography.
space
One may expect an absolute clear vision from God before walking down such a road. But...often God only shows the step directly in front...if you follow God step by step, you will ultimately find the path miles down the road. This "category" would be us...we see the step directly in front and cannot even begin to contemplate the path miles down the road. The only constant we know and the only constant we need is that this ministry is God's and God's alone. We will follow God step by step and God will lead...how cool is that!
space
We've started this blog so that you may walk along side and partner with us through prayer. Speaking of prayer...don't forget us as we remain several months away from reaching the status of a 501(c)(3) and conversely being fully operational. Prayer is a must...thanks in advance.
space
We do have a logo as shown above. Let us know your thoughts as I think it's pretty cool...but, my mother-in-law seems to think it looks like a duck that was just shot. To each their own...
space
We are ever thankful that God uses sinful people to further Him. What an honor and may God receive all the glory.
space

Check back often! Jed.