Conflict- I love it and I hate it!

So when a difficult situation comes, I hate it. Naturally I run from conflict. I don't really like any of it. Thinking of how you are going to handle everything, what are you going to say, how will it end? All of this drives me crazy. I can't really let go of it when I go home, it stays on my mind. So it can be really difficult.

However,

Some of the times in my life when I have seen the most growth has been during times of conflict and confrontation. I have someone in my life that almost weekly says, "A leader always does what is right." Sometimes that involves face to face conversations where emotions are high. When I do what I don't want to do and stand up for what I believe is right, God has always grown me. I know that every time I have to have a difficult conversation, or confront someone about something that is wrong, God strengthens and builds me into the man and leader that I need to become.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

Going to HSLT

Please be praying, we leave today with 19 HIgh school students for Myrtle Beach. Pray that God would move in a mighty way in all of our hearts.

I will try and send updates.

I Believe

I Just started doing something recently that I thought I would share. As I am on my way to work, or during my quiet times, I start listing out the things that I believe about God. You can also incorporate something that you just learned from your time in the Word. I have heard a ton lately about unbelief, I seem to resonate with the man in Mark 9:14-25 who brings his son to Jesus and asks Him to heal him. He says, "If you can..." Jesus catches this and says, "If I can?" Then the father says, "I believe, help me with my unbelief." I have started a war with my unbelief, I want to totally believe God in HUGE things. So one of the ways to believe God more is to immerse yourself with His Word. And I have started to verbalize all of the things that I believe God can do, has the power to do, who He is, etc.
It has really helped me.

Time at the zoo

Spent the morning at the zoo, hanging out on the rocks praising the Lord. Had a great time. Next week we are going to High School Leadership Training and I am teaching a break out session. I am going to be teaching on spending time with God and who God wants to make you into.
I am really excited about it, but I want to make sure that I am spending time with God before I teach on it. I have been consistently meeting God at CIU and now the zoo (since the railroad guy at CIU said he was going to charge me $500 if he catches me again on the RR tracks, so I changed locations.)
So please pray for next week, thanks for reading this
J

A couple of things on my mind:

• Church Planting- Who is responsible for the vision needed? God or us? I think that it has to come from God and then leadership is needed to pas that on to others in a way that people will be motivated and follow what God is calling them to do. That is really a hard thing to do. I know of churches that have a hard time casting vision. Without it, we all lose sight of the goal-what God has called us to. This may seem like gibberish, sorry if this is scatterbrained.
  
• Matthew 23- Jesus lays into the pharisees. No apoligies at all. But He is hammering one thing- Humility. Don't be a hypocrite, live a true life. The first will be last and the last will be first. How are we making ourselves last so that we can serve others today?
• My family- Man I live Becky! Don't anyone tell her that she could have done soooo much better. Thank You God. And my children. There was a day that we didn't think that we would even have children, and then they are perfect!
  
• Chickens- that's right I am thinking about chicken! I am selling chicken with Becky's uncle in Ridge Spring tomorrow and thurs. it awful good, we will be a t Cones meats, $7 for a half.