Back To The Basics

walkwjc · 11-10-2004, 05:27 PM

OK all my many, many blog fans. I am back at the rig and have been posting in full force. Yes I am bored.
Good news this week!!!
We have finally hired a new Pastor. Yaaaaahooooooo!!!!! Man it has been a long hard look, but God finally showed us who to hire. We (i am on the search commitee) were handed a stack of folders and have spent months having guest pastors try out. We narrowed it down to two choices and I really liked both. One was a really energetic black Naval Chaplain who gave really great sermons and great sunday schools. He was awesome and never let you get comfortable in your seat. The other was a pretty low key, newbie preacher who is licsensed but not ordained. He is still working a regular job and going to school to get ordained. We could tell he was new, but has a lot of potential. A lot of meat and potatoes in his sermons and sunday school lessons. I really liked him too.

Man I have been praying for God to lead the way, and show us a the good choice.

Well last month we met and learned that the Naval Chaplain, had been recalled to Duty. He is now the Chaplain at Arlington cemetary and will be the Chaplain present President Bush's Inaguration. So good news for him, and a sure sign from God for us.

Ladies and Gentlmen, we have a Pastor. Whooooohoooooooo!!!!

I thank God for his guidance.

-d

walkwjc · 11-11-2004, 03:50 PM

Well a stressfull time here at CGR yesterday. Had a rape/suicide threat against one of our sisters in Christ. I think everyone here handled that pretty well, including the girl involved. Prayers were said, police were called, parents acted, and threat was removed. Good going guys.

Just goes to show, the power of prayer and community.

Everything is going pretty good for me this week. I will get to go home tomorro, 5 days early, so I get 12 days off!! Almost like a vacation. Almost. Got lots of plans. Getting started on Laneys playground is tops on the list. Gotta have it ready before Christmas. Deadlines you know.

Talk later, gotta go
-d

walkwjc · 11-12-2004, 11:49 AM

Why do friends hurt and not tell me? Why bear that burden all on your own when you can have my broad shoulders to help carry the load? Two together pulling the same rope, praying the same prayer. I am here for my brothers and sisters in Christ, and this is my announcement to you. Come to me with your burdens, I will pray, worry, and seek God with you, to help unburden you from that heavy pack you carry. Your past, your future, the present, what ever problems plagues you. I am here. I am always here.

Part of being the body of Christ, is reaching out to those in need and placing a reconciling hand on their shoulder and saying, I am here for you my brother. In your time of need. Even though it may be inconvienient or not really something I wish to get involved in, for your sake I will involve myself, give myself, and apply my self to your problems. That is my pledge to my brothers and sisters in Christ.

God didn't place me on this earth for my sheer enjoyment of living. He placed me here to help others enjoy the same joy that has enriched my life since I found Christ. It is not about ME. It is not about ME. It is about reaching out to others in this world, "pushing your hands through dirt and pulling them out of the grave they have buried themselves in" (to paraphrase a quote from Guitarfan). That is what life is all about.

Not about cars, and houses and what you eat, or drin k. Helping people attain the spiritual freedom and joy that you have obtained. The body of Christ is dead if it is not moving. Dead if it is not teaching and helping and spreading the joy of the everlasing Gospel. But alive in Christ if the good of the Gospel is being shared and proliferated aroung the world.

So friends of mine, when you dispair, lay your burdens on me and I will bear that load, not for you, but with you.

God Bless You

-donnie

bigpirate · 11-12-2004, 05:01 PM

Good word, friend... I can only hope whoever that was to will take heed to your advice and that you can actually help them

Have fun at home, and congrats on the new pastor!

walkwjc · 11-12-2004, 05:21 PM

That was to everybody and nobody, brother. Just a wide open invitation. Though I do have some people who are holding back on me and I wish they would take that invitation.

Yeah, the new pastor will help my life tremendously. Lots of pressure will be lifted.

Peace
-d

Mattlock · 11-12-2004, 08:21 PM

Hey, you're officially dubbed cool.

Congrats!
My name's Matt, what's yours? What bands do you like? Favorite CD? Why? What songs describe you? Why?
BTW, I'm a loser!

walkwjc · 11-12-2004, 08:39 PM

Finally, somebody realizes my coolness. I always new I was cool.

Donnie is my name
Bands: Third Day, Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, Among Thorns, Mercy Me um..in know there are others.
Fav: Casting Crowns right now. Jeremy Camp runs close second.
Song that describes me right now: Casting Crowns/Here I Go again, if you don't know it, it is a song about witnessing to a friend, and how hard that is. Great song, and really describes me right now. A really good friend is in need of Christ, and I have trouble getting my point accross.

I like Casting Crowns because they have a sort of in your face kind of style. Yet I can play thier songs in church and not offend anyone.

I play a Seagull Acoustic guitar 6 string, and a Alvarez Acoustic 6 string. Love playing and singing. I am a singing goober.

BTW, you have posted in my Blog, so you are no longer a loser.

>

All right, same questions for you.

Later
-d

Mattlock · 11-12-2004, 09:12 PM

I'm not the biggest fan of any of those bands. They are alright.

Let's see...
Fave bands are Project 86, Switchfoot, U2, Nirvana, Jimmy Eat World, and Coldplay.
Fave CD is Learning To Breathe, by Switchfoot. Everything about this CD is great. The production, the way the songs flowed, the lyrics, the music, ect. I love this CD.

Right now, Hollow Again by Project 86. I just feel hollow inside, and I feel I've lost my way in this dark, cold world.

walkwjc · 11-12-2004, 09:28 PM

Just got my first Switchfoot CD and havent listened to it all yet. Coldplay has been one of my favorites.

Mattlock · 11-12-2004, 09:30 PM

Which one?

walkwjc · 11-13-2004, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skilletswitch

Which one?

Not sure, a friend gave it to me and it is at home. Will get back to ya next week.

WOOHOO. going home peeps. Later, see ya in about 11 days.

And the Agrarian movement against the mighty ernst will live on this week, our benefactor Aaron Adams and his loyal brothers and sisters will prevail.

God Bless
-d

walkwjc · 11-24-2004, 08:56 PM

You know, I really love serving God and working within and without our church. I do a lot of stuff for my church and the people who attend and I feel led there. I also feel that God has been leading me in a new direcition lately. I have been feeling like I should be searching for more in my role in ministry(if that makes sense). I don't really know what to make of my new urgings, but God has put people in my way, that make me question my goals in life.
I love my music, and the sort of impersonal ministry it allows me but I feel moved to do more.
"So do more" you say?
I am trying, I just got alot of things to figure out. This is a whole new path I have discovered and I am waiting at the fork in the road.

That brings me to my next delima. The senior elder took me aside sunday after church and said, that he was going to present me to the board to become an elder of our church. Whoa. Big step. I think I need a ladder. I didn't/don't think I am ready for this responsibility. But after our discussion, he assured me that I was, and that I wouldn't have much more to do than I do right now. With a little faith, a lotta prayer, and immersion in God's word, I could do it. I have the desire to help people and further God's kingdom. But I lack the knowledge and experience of the elders that I know.

So all of this tied in with my conviction to forward my role in the church. WHew.

So should I decline the appointment?
I trust in God. But I stand at a fork in the road where both paths will glorify God and He has not yet shown me the way.

Your guidance is welcome
-d

walkwjc · 11-24-2004, 09:40 PM

And then I read a post in Kara's Blog. Inspiring.

-d

walkwjc · 11-25-2004, 08:27 PM

Quote:

skilletswitch said:
Which one?

yeah, learning to breath by switchfoot is the one I have. It is steadily becoming one of my favorite CD's.

I just let my self be introduced to Christian music and have been totaly infatuated with it. I still havent heard project 86, cadmeons call or about 30 other highly recomended bands. So I'll get there.

So Later dude
-d

walkwjc · 11-26-2004, 03:59 PM

Picture life as a walk and step with me. Do not walk the path of the wicked, but the path of rightousness. I once walked the wide road of the world, but no longer. I walk the narrow path, the road less traveled, the road to pure love and grace. Yet I am not perfect. No man is. I take the wrong branch in the road sometimes, but accute study of the map given to me and you by our Creator will eventualy lead back to the close walk I had with Him. Lessons learned.

Why do we sometimes wade through the thorns to get to the wrong path? We often fight God and His way for us, many times until we are at the bottom of our existince. Realizing that there is no longer another way, we turn to Him and ask for His help. Our Lord takes our hand and leads us back to where He intended for us to be. Turning blind eye to all we did to put ourselves in such dire straights. And not holding anger for our reluctance to turn to Him until all other options were exhausted.

This exemplifies my walk with Christ, but as I grow stronger, and surround myself with good Christian friends, and immerse myself in Gods word, I find it is easier to see the path God has placed in front of me. And for this I thank God.

-d