Servanthood

Just getting started with a great week... late nights, working all day with middle schoolers, lots of laughs. This is one of the hardest weeks ever, but also one of the greatest! This will be my last Servanthood, kinda sad, kinda exciting about what God is doing now in Batesburg-Leesville

stuff happening...

• first of all sorry that I haven't updated in a while
• there is so much craziness happening in our lives right now and it's all good!
• We have our house on the market. Last week someone narrowed it down to our house and another- they went with the other! oh well. Tomorrow we have someone coming to look at 3pm. please pray!
• Batesburg-Leesville is really moving quick. We picked a name for the church there- River's Edge. God is opening up so many opportunities. Several weeks ago I was able to meet the faculty and staff at BL Elementary and pray for the sick teachers and pray that God would provide. This past week I met with the head football coach at the high school, he is a great guy. I am excited to see what God does there. We are doing backyard bible clubs this summer, a soccer camp, and helping at the school this summer, it is going to rock! I know that in a couple of years, BL is going to be different because of the power of Christ working through our church! Praise God
• Thomas turns 1 this thursday. He is wide open! I love having a boy.

see yall later

Snapshot

I don't know if I have said this before but I got a camera for Christmas. I love it!

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures taken recently...

Youth Ministry and Church Planting

What other youth ministry is involved in a church plant? I was asked this question today. I think it is a great question. I don't know of any (that doesn't really mean anything, but I don't know of any). What if the students here are Riverbend adopted the plant as their own? What if they decided to do all that they could to see it as a success? I have spent 6 years with some of these Sr and Jr's, why wouldn't I want them involved with what God is doing in Batesburg-Leesville? It's an interesting question. If the vision is set before them, what would happen if they decided to act? It would help to further our vision of changing the city.

Also, some of our 11-12th graders could inspire adults in B-L. I know that they inspire me to seek God in a more profound way!

Seeing the Inside

None of us like to deal with hard times...maybe we have a difficult conversation at work, something has come up with family. These times are really stressful. I have had to learn, force myself, to deal with whatever is happening. It hasn't been easy. However, those times give you a unique opportunity to see inside someones heart.

It's during those tense moments that the real person comes out. All of the usual guards that help us to contain our real self is let down when we get angry or lash out. It reveals the heart. So next time you are in one of those situations, what comes out? Take note, where does God want you to grow? When you can peak into the yuckiness of our deepest self, we can see how much we really need God.

Man's Best Friend

Today I buried my dog. It was hard. We found out about a year ago that his heart was on the fritz and he only had about 6mths left. He did pretty well. But today he got out of the front door and we didn't realize it. He spent his last moments in total freedom running through our neighborhood. He was a great dog. He protected us one time when someone tried to mug us in Finley Park, he did great with our kids.

So farewell Ty...you were a great dog and we will miss you.

Moses

You know, Moses was just a normal guy. You can forget this as you read about him standing in front of Pharaoh demanding "let my people go" or as he touches the Red Sea with his staff and the sea splits right in front of him- amazing! But if you look at the beginning of Moses journey back to Egypt, you find a normal guy who is scared to death to return to the place where at one time there was a price on his head.
In Exodus 3 & 4, God meets Moses at the burning bush. His life would never be the same after that day, although he fought it with all of the objections he could think of. But God says that I will be with you. This is HUGE!

I have been sitting at Moses feet, trying to gain some wisdom from his life. I know this possibly sounds prideful, but I feel like Moses in some ways. Yesterday I saw a burning bush- just kidding. Recently with the decision to answer God's call to be a part of a church plant, I have been looking for a mentor. Moses had a mission from God that was impossible- without God. I feel like that. For all of the parts to line up just right, and a church plant to actually take off will, without a doubt, take a move of God. I can't do it, like Moses, I am not an eloquent speaker, I'm not a theologian, I'm not the guy that can do this. I'm more quiet, my leadership skills aren't there. These are just the beginning of my objections to God and yet in the midst of that He whispers I will be with you. I have no other option, I must move forward and obey. Thank You God for calling me to walk with you into this unknown. I will lay it all down for You because I know You will be there, waiting.

Youth Workers Conference

Tonight was a great night, the youth ministry department at CIU is putting on a conference for youth workers. There are about 35 people from all around the country. I am excited to meet with the Lord during some quiet time and just be refreshed. Part of that is not staying on the computer. Pray for our time!

Twitter

I'm trying to be up to date- I now have this blog (which I am not sure if anyone reads), and I am trying to set up a twitter account (which I don't know if anyone cares to follow me on twitter) but I figured I would give it a try. I am jbwilliams273 on twitter.com, if you would like to follow me- cool. If not- cool.

Technology is getting harder and harder, or ... Am I getting older and older?

The Common Cold

I realized today that the sweet kisses that Anna Grace has been giving me are tainted! Last night when I laid down to go to sleep, I could feel it coming- the cold. It's a terrible disease...brings you to the brink of death, your nose is about to fall off, and you always have to sneeze. But... I will survive. And those sweet kisses are so worth it.

Wisdom...

How many times have we asked for patience or wisdom or courage? I have recently been asking God for wisdom to know how to handle all of life's stuff. As I am asking, I am realizing something. I know as we spend time in the Bible, God gives us wisdom. But when we ask God for these things, in my mind I kinda see God pulling an old box off of the shelf that has wisdom on the side and as I pray He opens the box and gives me some wisdom, or courage, etc. And that is how you are given wisdom from God. I am not saying that this is right, it's just how my crazy mind works sometimes. James 1.5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." I guess I have never thought about the way that God gives it to us.

So recently, my idea has changed a little. I think that when we pray for wisdom God puts us in situations that require wisdom. Then we have two options- the first is to try and figure this out on my own. The second is to ask God and after we have searched His Word, trust the Holy Spirit to guide you. I think God puts you in situations that require wisdom so we will ask him to provide it in those times. And He will.

A good day

yep, so far so good. it's about 11:30am, finishing up some studying, going to pick up AG, and we are headed to San Jose for some lunch with a dad in the youth ministry. Then headed to the Ridge. Gonna go for a run with my bro- Dan.

Side note- yesterday, I didn't have my Ipod and went for a run on the treadmill. Do you know when ou first get married and you are sleeping and you hear your wife breathing and then you start thinking about your breathing, trying not to breathe in the same rhythm as her, but then breathing is weird. There was a girl running behind me and I could hear her stride. It totally messed me up, we kept stepping/ running together. It was the worst day of running so far.

Then we are eating with some friends in B-L, I'm fixing his brakes. Then hanging out in the
ridge. Good stuff. Oh yeah, I am driving my moms car this week while they are on a cruise- WOW! I am going to be totally sad when I have to get back in my truck



This is how I have looked all week---I look Good!!

The Bird is out of the cage!

Well, this past Saturday night we held a vision dinner at RCC. We talked about several new initiatives, one being the new church plant in Batesburg-Leesville. With that announcement, everyone found out that Jay and I will be partnering in the leadership there. That means that I will be transitioning in the next 6 mths- 1 yr to the pastor of the church plant. I am really excited, God has done so much! It was hard at youth group this past week. At the end, we talked about the transition and what that means. Some of the kids were shell shocked. But I tried to encourage them that I am doing what we have been talking about almost ever week- listen to God and step out and move, obey.

So from here on out, I will share what is happening in the youth ministry and church planting world. God is good, I am so excited to see what He is planning for B-L and RCC

I got a new camera

Simple Things

Today Anna Grace and I were on the way to her school. As we were stopped at a light she said, "Look daddy, trees!" I just said, "yep." And she looked across me to some trees on the other side and said, "You have trees too." I smiled and gave the same response, thinking of the things that I need to do today. Then I thought/ God said, I don't know, "You overlook so much of the great things, the simple things in life, take time and stop, look at the trees."

We do get to busy and we take so much for granted. Stop look at the trees, tell your spouse you love them, hold your little girls hand.

enjoy the simple

Time with God

Just some thoughts from my time with the Lord lately.

Romans 1:1 "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God"

What does it mean to be a servant of God? Let's think about what a servant is. A servant is someone who performs duties for others. Another definition is a devoted or helpful follower. I thought about the life of a servant. I have never been a servant formally but I have seen one on TV. :) A servant has laid aside thier wants and desires to serve another. Sometimes it's to repay a debt, sometimes it's because its a job. But either way, a servant has laid down thier life for someone else.

Do we live lives that show that we are servants of Jesus Christ? What would that look like? Our lives should be about what Jesus was about- loving God and loving people. I am convinced that when we live our lives for God, He will change us. He will make us different than those around that don't have Christ in their lives. There will be an extra something that will draw curiosity from others. as we spend time with God in His Word and in prayer, we will change, and be filled, and experience joy. Then we will do things like sacrifice, and love undeservingly, and give and show mercy and rejoiced in trials, and desire to see God. Then something will be different. We will be able to live and love others like Christ. How did he love Judas while he knew that Judas was betraying him? How did he coninue to love the disciples when they were such bone heads sometimes? We will love with a love that is not from us, but from God.

Next we will think about what it means to be set apart

A New Goal

The other day I was flipping through channels when I came across the Documentary Channel. It was showing a doc on the Boston Marathon. I thought that it would be cool to run that race. The buildings, the city, not to mention the finish line after running a marathon. I just kept it in the back of my mind. The next day, I was talking with my brother in law. He had just bought a new pair of running shoes, so we were talking about running. I hate to run. It does nothing but hurt. But I began to feel inspired to run.

So Daniel and I decided that we would train and run a half marathon this year. I'm pretty excited and have been training for the last two weeks. It really hasn't hurt as bad as I thought. We are planning to run the Cooper River Bridge run in April, it's a 10k. So anyway, it's been pretty cool to be serious about the exercise. I have already run more in the last week than I have in the last year!

Life's Joy

I absolutely, without a doubt, holding tears back right now, love to hear my daughter, Anna Grace sing. When we are riding in the car, and a song comes on that she knows, it is wonderful. She loves Toby Mac and Laura Story, but now she is catching on to most songs on WMHK.

I think I am going to get her some earphones, just so it can be quiet in the car and she will sing. It is really a beautiful thing!

The other day, as I was listening to her, God spoke and said this is how I feel when you sing praise to me. I thank God that he has allowed me to be a father to experience just a small slice of what it is like for Him. Becky and I didn't think we would be able to have children after we struggled through three miscarriages in one year. It was hard. i think about that often as I love on my children, they are wonderful.

So this morning, as I was running on the treadmill, I was singing along worshipping God, it was great. Pumped out 2.5 miles this morning. I know it's not too much but its a start. My brother in law, Daniel and I are training to run a half marathon this year!

So anyway, I can hear AG now, "Sabior, he can move the mountums, My God is mighty to save..."

Great Quote

I didn't know how to write all of this neat and eloquent so I just left it like it came out.

"God didn't call us to just do church...but to be a catalyst for change in our community" I came across this in Perry Noble's blog today. It really got me thinking. Most people in the church are happy just do church. It's sad, because we are missing out on so much more that God has for the church, not to mention has for someone's life.



We are called to make a difference in circles. We are not called to go to church and just sit waiting patiently for the last song so that we can move on to lunch and football. Where have we lost it? How do you teach this or pass this on? Is it God's responsibility to do this or have we dropped the ball so far away from what we have (the way that we do church) that we don't even know what we are playing anymore? (Sorry if that's confusing) So much of Christianity isn't passed on just by passing along knowledge, it's rubbed off in real life. With all of the joys and pains of life as people live together. So how does that apply to making an impact in our communities? We can show others what it looks like and tell about our passion and purpose. We usually use guilt to motivate. "Your a christian so you should be doing this." But what if it were done, we made an impact in our communities not because of guilt but because of love and passion?

What would be our communities anyway. I don't want to sound like the pharisee who asked Jesus, "who is your neighbor?" But I think it is good to ask. I have a hard time with the dry evangelism stuff. I know that makes me unspiritual and shows my lack of faith especially is you grew up baptist like I did. But I just don't like it. What I do enjoy is really getting to know my lost neighbors and sharing Christ as we live together in our community. Situations arise where sharing the gospel isn't forced but flows easily as I share what God has done in my life. So to answer my question- it seems that our community would be just that. The people that we are near, the people that we see regularly, the people that we will meet as we are intentional as we are out doing life. Those are the people that we are supposed to impact. Maybe we have already earned the right through loving others to share what God has done in our lives.

What is just doing church anyway...that sounds so boring. Why not just stay home and sleep or hang out in pajamas! If the options are come out of obligation and do nothing but listen or stay home for some good family time, then stay home. BUT...if it's more than just doing church, if there is a reason ans a passion and a purpose then that changes everything. That means that we don't have much time to fulfill this mission that God himself has given us. And not only are we on mission but we have the Spirit of God empowering us to complete that mission. This is sounding pretty exciting! Now it's an adventure, with the Creator and Savior of the universe. Now what can we not do? That's what church should be like, not just doing church

New Year-New Passion

I hate new years resolutions. They only bring guilt and failure, I guess unless you keep them. So I don't call my "decisions" a resolution. Instead, I tell my wonderful wife what I would like to change. I'm sure that mine are similar to millions of other peoples but...

• Become an amatuer photographer (I am below a beginner right now)
• Have fun more- with my family, just my wife, and with close friends
• eat healthier
• Memorize scripture
• Be a man that delights in the law of God- Ps 1 inspired me!
• Learn how to juggle!

so that's it. Good look keeping your resolutions. I mean decisions :)