JC's Expository

States I've been in.

2009-12-05T20:43:00.001-08:00

visited 18 states (36%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

I'm not counting four corners or airports.

Things I've been doing

2009-11-24T20:33:00.000-08:00

Well, I have a draft of a review of a book I just finished, but I have been uninspired to f inish that review. So, I'm just going to write and see what comes out.

The nice thing is that now I have Saturdays and Sundays off. This allows me to do things with my father. For example: I had a pallet from work with decent enough wood on it. Dad tutored me on crosscutting and ripping and gluing three pieces together. I'm working on making a table to put in the corner of my room for early morning coffee. It's not going to be a fine piece of furniture by any means, but it'll be functional and that's what I need for this room of mine.

I am definitely trying to revitalize my brain and read more non-fiction. It's hard to get back into the learning curve. I understand why the teachers at EBC kept talking about keeping involved in study. My brain is MUSH, I tell you, MUSH!!

That said, I'm currently reading The Second Reformation by William Beckham. Very interesting book and I would urge you to look at it. He is writing about cell groups and renewing today's church. It's a good call to change.

I also have several other books I started long ago that I'm trying to get back to. Jesus as Pastor is one of those, Mere Christianity is another.

One of the things I've been doing to pass the time (and broaden my horizon) is uploading and viewing pictures on flickr. I've met some cool people and have learned a lot about pictures just by viewing them. I have a lot of good pictures and am uploading from that stash. It is also inspiring me to get back to taking pictures. I've been running into the roadblocks of low light and having to work all day. I must remember to take pictures on Thanksgiving and on Saturday.

Well, I think that was a good post. Now to head to bed and sleep.

The Crazy Things God Asks

2009-11-09T20:09:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about obedience a lot lately. It's something that is so vital to our walk with God, but something that can be an intense struggle. In this life journey, walking with God, we are asked to obey Him, and obey even when our flesh and mind don't want to.

I've had several experiences in the last year where obeying God meant doing things that I wasn't comfortable doing; where I had to step out on a limb and jump. I still look at those decisions and shake my head, yet, I know I obeyed Him.

Think about Joshua. This guy was the leader of the Israelites and one of the first things God does is have him lead them through a river. Then he's commanded to march around a city like an idiot. Kind of a weird and odd thing for a warrior to do, yet he obeys. And look, they walk through the Jordan on dry land. Oh, and the city falls to the ground. Obeying God produces results.

What does obedience mean to you? What is God asking you to do?

For me right now it's trusting that He has a plan for Living Water Fellowship. In obedience we're starting meetings, even though all church planting paradigms urge a different strategy. This doesn't make a lot of sense to the mind, but this is what the Holy Spirit is telling us, so we go ahead.

Be willing to do the weird and crazy things that God asks! You never know what will happen.

Report on meeting

2009-11-09T09:17:00.000-08:00

The following is the report letter Mom sent to the prayer support team regarding our meeting:

We want to report on the first meeting for Living Water Fellowship we had Oct. 29th. We had put fliers up around town and had advertised in the newspaper. Only one person showed up. However, she was needing ministry and John and JC and I were able to listen to her, minister to her, and pray for her. So we are satisfied that God had us there for her and that ministry may not have happened if there had been more people there that night.

We have been praying about whether to continue with meetings such as this and believe that God wants us to be faithful and obedient. So we have reserved the same room at Montana Tech for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 10th. We'll continue to do this monthly until we get a different leading from the Lord.

Thank you for your continued prayer support for our ministry in Butte.

In His Service and Love,
John, Ruth, and JC

What to do? What to do...

2009-10-28T06:40:00.000-07:00

I've been struggling with what to do with this blog. One of my desires has been that it be a place for those who know me to come and read about my adventures in life. I also have desired that it be a place to share lessons and thoughts that God has given me.

Lately I have been uninspired in those areas and every time I go to sit down to write a blog, either nothing comes or I start to complain. Complaining does no one any good and since I really try to live my life by the adage "If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all," this blog has been silent.

Words have power; power to do good, power to do evil. With words I can build up my friends, or tear them down. With word I can show the innermost struggles of my life, or I can just show the surface "fine." I can speak light into a dark place, or I can join into the complaints and misery. These words, these expressions, need to be realized as important and possibly life changing.

Thus I come to my dilemma - what to do with this blog? I want my posts to show God's love for the readers. I want my words to uplift and to challenge. I want to write encouragement. This blog has to become an outlet for the Holy Spirit. Something that He inspires, not me.

Stay tuned as I figure out what all that means!!!

How God Loves Us!!

2009-09-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

Guys, I just watched this video and I was completely overwhelmed by the LOVE my Father, my God, has for us.

You can be distant, not connected at all, and yet, God loves you! You can stab someone in the back, yet God loves you! You can be a good christian, going to church and participating in everything and God loves you. You can be a drug addict, addicted to all sorts of things, and guess what? God LOVES you!!! I don't care where you are, what you are doing, what has happened in your life - GOD LOVES YOU!!

Rest in that unfailing, ever present love! Don't let circumstance drive you away from Him. Throw away that pack of lies and turn to the loving embrace of Daddy God. He's there with arms wide open to receive you.

2009-08-13T20:57:00.001-07:00

feeling a bit distant

2009-08-12T14:13:00.001-07:00

on lunch and ready to go home. 4 hours to go.

040of365take2

2009-08-11T21:58:00.001-07:00

040of365take2
Originally uploaded by jcforgod

2009-06-30T09:46:00.001-07:00

takes back what he said. They have a flickr app!! Whoohooo!!

2009-06-30T09:43:00.001-07:00

is wishing ping had a flickr application....

What's happening now in the life of JC?

2009-06-29T10:17:00.001-07:00

Some of you know that I took my dad's pickup truck to Eugene a few weeks ago to get my stuff. I was considering just going for a couple days, loading up and then heading back, but after thinking about it, I decided that I needed to say a good goodbye to Eugene. Thus I ended up staying for 9 days. I'm really glad I did, because I was able to say goodbye and hang out with some really good friends.

Unfortunately I didn't get to see some of you and know that I wish I had been able to meet and talk with you. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and I do care about you.

When I got back to Butte by way of Vancouver (Thanks to Josh and Brittany for letting me stay the night at their place!), I started getting settled in. I'm staying in the basement of my Grandma's with my parents and they were kind enough to transfer the office to the other room by their room. That gives me some privacy and a room to myself. Now, not all my stuff will fit, but as I sold most of my furniture, giving the rest to my brother, and keeping only a few things, I don't have to deal with furniture. I'm using a desk that my parents have and got some shelves put up for about half my books. Once I had my books out I felt like I was settled in.

So what's happening now is that I'm looking for a job and helping out around the house. Butte is similar to the rest of the country in that it's fairly devoid of jobs, but I know there's one out there that God has for me. This, of course, is the tough part of my following God and going on the road trip. Now the real test of faith comes through.

What about the church, you ask. I'm glad you asked, even though I don't know who you are...

Living Water Fellowship is now incorporated and an actual entity. God had given Dad the go ahead to do that this spring and we're now official in the eyes of God and the government. Heh. Dad put together a barebone website at www.livingwater4butte.org that has a good description of what this church is about and our vision for Butte.

By me following God and joining Dad and Mom here in Butte, it has started an awakening in Dad and my hearts for this city. We really want to see the strongholds come down here and see the people come to the freedom of Christ. This town is full of hurt and greed and needs the reality and love of Christ to revitalize each and every person here.

Our needs right now are people to join our plant. We need a team before we can really get going. That's the biggest prayer request we have right now. If, by chance you are hearing from God and want to join us, talk to me and I'll get you hooked up with Pastor John (yes, my father and it's really weird referring to him that way). Also, please spread the word and tell anyone and everyone that could be interested in praying for us and in possibly joining us. Again, the website is www.livingwater4butte.org and you'll find a larger list of prayer needs there.

I love you all and pray that God's blessings will flow upon you and that you will follow Him into every nook and cranny he leads you to!!!

2009-06-18T10:47:00.001-07:00

unpacking and getting settled. Interesting how much stuff I still have...

2009-06-17T18:03:00.001-07:00

I have my own bed!! So happy!

2009-06-16T20:35:00.001-07:00

I have made it to butte! Now to sleep and then unload my stuff tomorrow.

2009-06-16T13:11:00.001-07:00

spokane!

2009-06-16T06:18:00.001-07:00

on the road to butte!!

2009-06-15T20:49:00.001-07:00

is enjoying hanging at Josh and Brit's

2009-06-15T08:07:00.001-07:00

today is my last day in Eugene! I'll miss this crazy town and the people here, but I am definitely looking forward to this next adventure!

2009-06-13T08:18:00.001-07:00

busy day.. help jack, load stuff from david's apt, go to lcc grad, go to sharis to hang out with friends.

2009-06-12T13:46:00.001-07:00

sitting at skinner butte park for a couple hours. anyone available to hang out?

2009-06-05T17:51:00.001-07:00

so on this trip I am driving my dad's truck, which actually has a radio. in listening to various stations I found Adventures in Odyessy! Oh the memories!

The last part of the journey

2009-06-04T12:30:00.001-07:00

I made it to St. Louis area where Ryan and Kristine live with their 18mo son, David. I was looking forward to spending time with them and doing some regrouping and prayer.

Some of you know I have had a pull towards church planting and after I felt the release from Eugene, I was trying to decide what to do. This road trip was in part, a way to learn what God wanted. I had a couple choices: Some really good friends of mine are planting a church in WA and my dad is planting a church in Butte, Montana. I really wasn't sure about either one and did a lot of thinking and praying about what God wanted. Guess what, He showed me that it was an either/or situation. I could get involved in WA and He would bless it, or I could join my father in Butte, and He'd bless it. I really love it when God gives us those choices to make.

One thing I learned in this journey is to have confidence in what God is showing me and to not be afraid to step forward.

Thus, while at Ryan and Kristine's I made the decision to move to Butte and to help plant in this troubled town. After a good four days with them (at leaset I thought it was four), I felt like the road trip was basically over and I needed to get to Butte and do some serious talking with my parents.

It took two and a half days to make it to Butte, but I did it! Definitely tired of driving by the end of it.

So that's basically the end of the road trip. I really wanted to go further east and visit a lot of friends, but that wasn't the purpose of the trip and God wouldn't let me. I don't know when I'll be able to do this again, but I definitely need to visit the east coast and all my friends out there.

Now the tough part of my journey begins: Saying goodbye to Eugene where I truly put down roots and made lifelong friends; moving all my stuff into one room at my parents; and finding a job in a place where there really aren't a lot of jobs to be found; and living without close friends around to start off with.

So, I would ask you, my friends, to keep me in your prayers. Call me every so often (means a lot to me if someone calls me, and I don't have to call them). And know you're welcome to come to Butte to visit!

2009-06-04T11:56:00.001-07:00

I'll be in Eugene from the 6th through the 14th. I have a few plans but not too many. Hit me up so that I can say goodbye to Eugene!

2009-06-02T08:37:00.001-07:00

woke up this morning and decided I wasn't feeling well enough to drive a 14hr drive. Taking it easy today. Pray for health 'cause I'd like to get my stuff by the end of the week.