Derek Webb in Concert in Birmingham at the University Christian Fellowship house.
We had a great trip over and the concert was awesome.

Some MUCH BETTER pictures are on the way.

John

This is a picture of the guys as we skied together on the first day.  The girls were in ski school.



This is a picture of the town of Breckenridge from on top of one of the peaks.
Notice the incredible mountains on the other side!

I apologize for the poor picture quality, but these pics came from my phone.  I took these last night when about 16 guys came over for just a good time of food and video games.  We had the PS2's from church and an X-Box 360 hooked up to my HD tv.  That was totally awesome!  We also used the projector to play on of the games on the wall.  It was fun!

On Sunday evening, February 18, 2007, Claire, my seven year old daughter, came to me just before the evening church service started and said, "I want to go down there tonight". The "down there" was accompanied with a point to the alter. She meant she wanted to go down during the invitation at the end of the service. I asked her why she wanted to go down and she responded, "Because I'm a Christian."

As you can imagine, that was very exciting to hear, but I wanted to spend time with her and ask her questions to make sure she understood what she was saying.

After we got home and ready for bed, I asked Claire if we could discuss what she meant by saying, "I'm a Christian." She proceeded to tell me that she knew she had to believe in Jesus if she wanted to go to heaven when she died. She said she understood that she was a sinner and could not be saved on her own. She said she believed that Jesus was God's Son and that He died on the cross to save her from her sins and that He rose from the grave and would come back again for her one day.

Now, all of the above did not come out of her mouth all at one time. But through Melanie and I asking her what she meant and who Jesus was and what He did for her, those were the things that were covered. I was very careful to not put words into her mouth. I do not want her to have the testimony one day that she didn't understand who Jesus was and that she only went forward because someone wanted her to. We specifically told her that this was not something mommy and daddy were pushing her to do, but if she wanted to, she could?

I don't want to push her into this, but don't want to discourage her either. Please pray that this is something Claire is doing because the Holy Spirit is drawing her to Him.

What IF God opened the door for our church to go overseas on missions?

Would you go?

I read some very disturbing headlines today.
All over the internet were reports of death.
Most likely, you are thinking about Anna Nicole Smith.
But the one that really rocked my world was the article about little Nyia Page.

Here is her picture.

The father of a young girl who died of exposure had knocked her unconscious because he was angry she wouldn't go to bed, then took her outside in freezing temperatures and left her there, police said before the man's arraignment Thursday.

 

Nyia Miangel Page, who was about to turn 2, was found dead Sunday on a wooded knoll about a 10 minute walk from the family's home. Tiny footprints in the snow suggested she had gotten up and wandered around before she died, police said. Her father, William Lorenzo Page, 23, of Braddock, was arrested on charges of criminal homicide, kidnapping, false reports and simple assault.

 

Page told police he woke up early Saturday and found the girl awake and playing near a mirror in the hallway, according to the criminal complaint. He said he got mad when the girl wouldn't go back to bed so he hit her so hard she hit her head and was unconscious, the complaint said. Page then took her outside wrapped in a blanket and left her, police said.

 

An autopsy determined Nyia died of hypothermia, but the Allegheny County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide because investigators said it was unreasonable to assume the child got to the wooded location alone. Her small body was found about a 10-minute walk from her home, a trek that would have included climbing 17 snowy steps up to a wooded knoll.

 

A witness had seen Page enter his house Saturday morning from the direction where his daughter was found, police said. He was back out on the street about an hour later, saying he was looking for the girl and telling the witness, "Somebody took my daughter," according to a criminal complaint.

 

Nyia's mother told police she last saw the girl after Nyia tried to crawl into bed with her parents about 12:30 a.m. Saturday. The mother told police she put the youngster back into her own bed in an upstairs room. Police, emergency crews and bloodhounds searched in 20-degree temperatures for most of two days before finding the little girl's body. Page, who did not have an attorney in court Thursday morning, was jailed without bond.*

 

*Foxnews.com

It's around 12 midnight.  In a few hours, I will be heading south on 45 to go to Mobile, AL and spend a few days with my family.  Then on Sunday, my brother Jeff, and the band he plays with will head to Miami, FL to board a cruise ship on Monday and cruise to Gand Turks Island and then return to Miami on Friday.

I am really looking forward to this time with Jeff.  I do wish that Melanie could go with me, but she doesn't have the time available nor do we have someone who could keep the kids for that long.

I am also looking forward to meeting some of the other artists.  I hope to have a conversation with David Crowder.  That would be great!

I know everyone here will be fine and things will carry on as normal while I am gone.  Things have a funny way of doing that.

It will be strange to be unable to check email or make a phone call whenever I desire.  But, it will be interesting to be in that type of an environment.  I do have my video iPod.  I will have it going a lot of the time, I do suspect.  Lots of good videos and new songs.

733, our college worship service, went great tonight!  Jim Hamilton, my very good friend, and the College Minister at Fairview B.C. is speaking for me... 3 weeks in a row!  I am so glad he was able to help like this.  He has done a great job!

Hope all is well...

John

Asleep In The Night
Click Here for the MP3

Do you see, do you see,
All the people sinking down?
Don't you care, don't you care,
Are you gonna let them drown?
How can you be so numb,
Not to care if they come?
You close your eyes
And pretend the job's done.

Oh bless me Lord, bless me Lord,
You know it's all I ever hear.
No one aches, no one hurts,
No one even sheds one tear.
But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds,
And He cares for your needs.
And you just lay back
And keep soaking it in.

Oh can't you see it's such sin?
'Cause He brings people to your door
And you turn them away
As you smile and say,
"God bless you be at peace."
And all heaven just weeps
'Cause Jesus came to your door
You've left Him out on the streets

Open up, open up,
And give yourself away.
You see the need, you hear the cries,
So how can you delay?
God's calling, and you're the one,
But like Jonah, you run.
He's told you to speak,
But you keep holding it in.

Oh can't you see it's such a sin?
The world is sleeping in the dark,
That the church just can't fight,
'Cause it's asleep, in the light.
How can you be so dead
When you've been so well fed?
Jesus rose from the grave,
And you you can't even get out of bed!
Oh, Jesus rose from the dead,
Come on get out of your bed!

How can you be so numb,
Not to care if they come?
You close your eyes,
And pretend the job's done.
You close your eyes,
And pretend the job's done.
Don't close your eyes,
Don't pretend the job's done.

Come away, come away, come away,
With Me my love.
Come away, from this mess,
Come away, with Me my love.

By:  Keith Green

Click Here for the MP3

The Calling

 

I saw my Bible laying close beside me on the stand,

I leaned over, picked it up, and held it in my hand.

I pondered what it meant to me, as I stretched out on the bed,

I thought about the many verses, stuck inside my head.

I’ve studied this old book of mine, for many, many years,

And I remember how it helped me, through my many tears.

These Words of Life, I long for more, to know them as I do,

I pray the Lord would send someone, I’ll pray so hard for you.

 

“Lord, you know that I would go, and tell them if I could,

But I am much too busy, so I don’t believe I should.

I just don’t think, that Jesus called me to that type of thing,

So I’ll just sit here in my pew, and join in when they sing.

I’ll write a check to missions, and I’ll pray for those You call,
I'll give a box to Franklin, that I bought tham at the mall.

But when it comes to going, to all nations on the earth,

And telling them of Jesus, and of His noble birth,

Out of my box I do not go, for that I can not do,

Oh, surely there’ll be someone else, to tell them about You.

 

I hear about their countries, on the TV in my room,

They do not know of Jesus, and are only full of doom.

Oh please send one to tell them of Your love and of Your Son,

But I can’t go, I have my life, I’m surly not the one.”

 

Oh, I think it’s time to read, I’ll thumb through in God’s Word,

But what could I read, that I’ve never ever heard.

What a verse! I can’t believe His Spirit spoke to me,

I opened up and there it was, just staring up at me.

Matthew 28:19, I’ve read it all before,

But today was different, and I heard Him at the door.

“Go and makes Disciples,” is the verse I read today,

I believe the Lord is speaking to me, in some quiet way.

If I claim Him as my God, and serve Him from the heart,

I will answer when He calls, and I will do my part.

 

“Thank you, Lord, for speaking in that still and quiet voice,

Your call to selfless living, is a hard and narrow choice.

So many years I’ve served myself, and said I followed You,

But life was all about ME, and no service did I do.

But now I know that You have called me to a greater thing,

And I will look to Jesus and I will serve Him as my King.

I am not worthy of the grace that You have shown to me,

But since you have, I’ve made a choice, to live my life for Thee.”

 

By John Jones
Monday,  December 11, 2006
12:35 AM

After reading over this entry... I must say, it is not for the faint of heart. 

Tonight, I read the book of Titus.  This is another short but great book from Paul, the Apostle.  I have been reading Paul's writings to Timothy, but wanted to just spend some time reading without the "Bible Study Blog on 2nd Timothy" being part of my reading.

Paul begins chapter three with this statement:  "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men."

Paul says "do whatever is good."  WOW!  You may think, "Yeah, so what.  We always do what is 'good'." But what "good" is he talking about?  And "how much" good are we supposed to do?  In what part of our life is this "good" supposed to be?

Usually, if we are honest, we "do whatever is good" when it is convenient for us, when it will get us attention, or when we can't get around it.  If we really thought about what it means to "do whatever is good", it would totally change how we see things, people, and our surroundings in general.

Paul closes chapter three, and his letter, with this thought:  "Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives."

How are we to devote ourselves to doing what is good?  How will providing for someone's daily necessities help us to live productive lives?  What does God consider "living a productive life"?  How will "doing whatever is good" and "providing for daily necessities" benefit us in sharing the gospel of Christ?

This is totally my opinion... and God is obviously working on me in this area... but I believe that if we were really concerned with spreading the Gospel of Jesus and living our life in a way that would benefit the Gospel, then the way we live life would change drastically!  If we were truly burdened with leading people to Jesus, the way we live, act, speak, and think would look totally different that our current life of self indulgence.  And be honest... We are all about us.  It is a daily struggle to not focus on my three favorite people... me, myself, and I.

Share your thoughts/comments/complaints... Just put your name...

John

We arrived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Monday night.  We left Asheville on Monday morning and drove straight through stopping off for lunch in Atlanta.  We had lunch in a Thai restaurant and really enjoyed it.  Melanie didn't care too much for the Indian restaurant in Asheville on Sunday afternoon though.  While we were in Asheville, Melanie and I went to see the new James Bond movie.  It was pretty awesome.  Tonight, Jeff, my brother, and I went to see the new Denzel Washington movie.  It was great!  Very much "on the edge of your seat" stuff!

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

John

This past weekend, Melanie and I were in Asheville, NC on a little vacation. Since it had been four years since we have taken off like this without the kids, we figured we better take time while we could.

While there, God taught me several things. I am going to share a few things with you if you don’t mind. As we walked around the area, we began to notice a definite presence of people living an "un-Godly" lifestyle. This is not the type of environment we are familiar with or comfortable with. As you can imagine, everywhere we went, this lifestyle being lived out in front of me caught my eye. It was very hard not to notice what was going on.

What God taught me on vacation:

1. Everyone needs God. Now, I haven't been called to move to the mountains and lead a ministry to this group of people, but what I did learn is this: No matter who we are; no matter where we are; no matter what our sin is… we all need God. I sat on a bench waiting for Melanie and a young man walked by and said, “Hello.” As I returned the greeting, I looked down the street and noticed a storefront sign that read, “Divine Connection.” I do not know what was in the store, but God used it to speak to me. People everywhere are looking for a “divine connection”. The question for me was this: “John, what are YOU doing to connect people with Jesus who do not already know Him?” And I continued to think.

2. Don’t live a sheltered life! The second thing I learned was that as Christians, we often shelter ourselves from the world and what is really out there. I walked into a “Christian” coffee shop while on vacation. It was a great place! Christian music, Christian books, Christian coffee! Well, not quite… but you get my point. Oh yeah… they had one more thing… A Christian!… There was a girl in the corner on her laptop drinking her coffee. But she was the only one in the store, besides the employee. Then a little while later, I walked into the other coffee shop a few blocks down. When I walked in, I heard secular music, saw people chatting, people on laptops, people in line, people drinking coffee. The place was packed! I asked myself, “Why are there so many people in this coffee shop and only one person in the “Christian” coffee shop?” The coffee was similar, both environments were cozy. I think there is a very basic answer. The Christian coffee shop was exclusive. If someone walked in and was NOT a Christian, right away, they would feel uncomfortable. My question was this: “How were the owners and employees of the Christian coffee shop going to witness and share their faith with nonbelievers if they would never come into their shop?” I think we, as Christians, are very guilty of hanging out in the “Christians Only” clubs and we will NEVER be an effective witness because we don’t know anyone who isn’t a Christian OR we think they are SO horrible because of their sin, that we don’t want to be around them.

I have a confession to make. I am a sinner. If a young man had not taken time of out his busy schedule one day to ask me, “John, are you a Christian?”, where would I be today? Do you remember who shared Jesus with you? Now, go and do likewise. Remember: 1. Everyone needs God! 2. Don’t live a sheltered life away from nonbelievers!

Here are some photos we took today, after church.

First... I broke my toe... just wanted to start off on the "right foot".  haha


This is the view from the church we attended this morning.
This church's website: Click Here


This is a statue of Diana... NOT the princess.


This was an incredible sight!  Just to see a house THAT big,
and to know that it all belonged to one man!


Incredible design features!


Imagine this for your back yard!
The biltmore was originally on 125,000 acres.
Now, it's down so just a few.  8,000 to be exact!


Many statues like this line the gardens.

What an incredible place!
I think I will build one.  haha

I hope you have enjoyed our little recap.

John

What a DAY!  We got up around 9:30 AM and our first outing was to the top of the mountain at the Ridgecrest Conference center.  Then we headed to a small town called Black Mountain.  It's a very neat place.  The entire downtown is very walkable and has some awesome shops.  It has one coffee house on one end and another on the other end.  That worked out great for me because no matter where we were, coffee was never far off.  I am uploading some photos for you.

Pic taken on the platform at the top...


Same place, wider shot.


This was from the top of the mountain in Ridgecrest.


This was the sign next to the lookout platform at the top.


Melanie under a beautiful tree on one of the main streets in Black Mountain.


Coffee Shop # 1.


An inside look at Coffee Shop # 1.


Steet Pic and Mountain...


Steet Pic and Mountain...


Steet Pic and Mountain...


Track and Mountain...


Track and Mountain... the other direction.


Train pic for Corbin... He LOVES Trains.


Montreat College, just down the road.


Same building, but up close.


The chapel at Montreat... a suprise awaits inside.


Ready to go in?


Guess what this is from...


Up close...


The Veranda, a GREAT place.  We ate lunch there.


Inside Coffee shop # 2.  This was actually a Christian bookstore and coffee shop.
Not very many people were there... But at the other coffee shop... Tons of people.
Very interesting.  I began thinking... Which one would you go to in order to meet Non-Christians?
Think on that one for a while.


In the woods by a brook.


Well, it's NOT GQ, but...


The hard part was finding a way to prop up the camera, set the timer, and RUN into position.

WOW!  What a Day!

Now, it's almost 2:00 AM NC time.
Time for bed!

More tomorrow!

John

Thursday Night in Asheville:
We went to Carrabba's.  It was incredible!  They also own Outback Steak House, so, you KNOW it's good!

The two menu selections for tonight were:

Melanie had the PRM and I had the CM.

ALSO... I had a side order of scallops.  But check out how they are fixed, minus the shrimp...


Then, of course... a stop at one of the three downtown coffee shops, "World Coffee".
Tonight's origin coffee was Sumatra.

Now... what should we do tomorrow?

John