Total Forgiveness

 By R.T. Kendall

Published by Charisma House, 2001

Have you ever asked yourself the following questions?

How do I know when I have truly totally forgiven?  

How long does it take to forgive someone?

Does total forgiveness change that relationship?  

What are my responsibilities to the those I have totally forgiven?

What part does reconciliation play?  

What about my rights?

How do I know when another has totally forgiven me?  

How does unforgiveness affect me spiritually, emotionally, and physically? 

What are the emotional symptoms of unforgiveness?  

Do I need to forgive myself?

It is possible that the only teaching you heard was to say, “I’m sorry” for a wrong you did to another and then told to forgive those who have hurt you.  That was the nice and polite thing to do.  But, were the biblical blessings of forgiveness and the consequences of unforgiveness really taught?  Are you able to explain them to your children, spouse, family, friends or coworkers?

These questions plus many more are answered by Dr. Kendall all by using biblical truths with practical application

Perhaps there is no one to forgive.  You have already gone through a mental check list of people in your life and decided they are all forgiven.   Through Dr. Kendall’s teaching, the Holy Spirit may just shine His light on a person that you have not totally forgiven or may be experiencing difficulty in forgiving.

This book deeply impacted me, so much so, I gave a copy just about everyone I knew for a Christmas gift one year.  

Linda Reidenbaugh

Peace Child by Don Richardson

Imagine sharing the gospel with cannibals who admire Judas' betrayal more than Jesus' sacrifice. This book tells the story of a family who traveled down to Irian Jaya to bring the message of the gospel to the headhunting Sawi tribe. It was amazing to hear them tell their story, and to see God at work through everything that happened. It was inspiring to see their joy and excitement (yes, excitement!) to actually go in with their 5 month old baby and live among a cannibalistic tribe that had never been contacted by the modern world. And by the end I was rejoicing and worshiping God in seeing these people who were once in chains meet their Savior and Redeemer. 

It was affected me in many ways: It increased my faith and trust in God to see this family surrender everything they knew, including their own lives, to possibly save these unreached people from the hold of Satan and eternity in hell. It helped me to get a glimpse of God's love for those who are lost and separated from Him, and how he works to reveal Himself to people and prepare them for the message of the gospel. And most importantly it got my eyes off of myself and my trivial "worries" and onto eternity and the things that really matter, allowing me to surrender more of those places I hold onto tightly and instead count everything as loss compared to the greatness of knowing Christ. I couldn't put the book down once I started reading it, and I would challenge anyone to read it. 

Candis Avalos

Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People's Hearts the Way Jesus Did by Randy Newman

One of the greatest privileges our Lord gives us is that, as the Church, we get to communicate His plan of salvation to a lost world.  Oftentimes, though, I feel so ill-prepared to communicate the good news about Jesus Christ, and it doesn't help that many people have some difficult reasons for why they don't believe.  I desire to give answers that will draw them closer to Jesus, but I feel that the majority of the time I end up making myself (and by association, Jesus) look like a weirdo and/or irrelevant.  Questioning Evangelism has encouraged me to be unafraid to answer people's objections with questions that will challenge them to think about their flawed world view, in order to then open their hearts and minds to be able to hear why I believe what I believe and why it's relevant and significant to our lives.  It's especially helpful that in every chapter Newman addresses different questions people are asking to challenge Christianity.  Questions like, "Why does a good God allow evil and suffering?",  "Why should we believe the Bible?" and "How can Christians believe they are the only true way to God?".  He even gives sample dialogues of what skeptics or seekers can say and how we can respond.  Newman also does a fantastic job of keeping the book very interesting by including plenty of interesting accounts of his own interactions with non-believers.  If you're looking to take your calling to spread the gospel to the next level, this book is for you.

Oscar Avalos

Campus Crusade for Christ

Leadership Gold by John C. Maxwell

One of the books which I have read in the last 6 months is called “Leadership Gold” by John C. Maxwell.  There is so much good stuff in here that I am not sure where to begin! This is definitely a must read for anyone in leadership of any kind.  Actually it’s a great read for anyone!  So let me give you a few nuggets from the book, along with my own personal notes on how it helped me grow. 

Keep learning to keep leading.  Read daily to grow in my personal life. Listen daily to broaden my perspective. Think daily to apply what I learn. File daily to preserve what I learn. I want to avoid “destination disease” at all costs! I constantly need to be growing so that I never reach the spot where I feel “I have arrived”. 

“The greatest detriment to tomorrows success, is today’s success.” – Rick Warren

Wow, this spoke to me.  I left a ten year career twelve months ago to go into ministry full time. I pray that I will always be willing to give up all I have to get to a new level of growth!  This really applies both in leadership and spiritually. I can’t imagine my life any other way now, and I look forward to trading off security for significance, trading the acceptable for the excellent. Pay now, play later. Trade up.

Ask questions, don’t pretend to know. Don’t allow your ego to get in the way of asking.  I struggle with the fact that I don’t know everything pertaining to my job. It is so refreshing to hear that it’s ok not to know everything. Play to your strengths, do what you love to do, invest in others relationally, and people will fill in your deficiencies. “He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask is a fool forever.

Well  there ya go, these are only three of the many, many lessons  that Maxwell shares. So pick up the book, dive in, you won’t be the same if you apply even one of these principles!

Have a great day!  

Jarrod

Beautiful Boy by David Sheff.  
 
The book is a well written non-Christian, non-fiction New York Times Bestseller about a father's journey through his son's addiction to methamphetamine.  Anyone who has ever been addicted or known a person addicted to crystal meth shares many of the questions that haunt David: where did things go wrong?  How did this happen to his son, an intelligent honor student, caring brother and varsity athlete?  Not that theses are questions unique to methamphetamine.  Any addiction has the power to leave us lifelessly wondering, "how?"  But methamphetamine is especially powerful.  There is a poem on the streets titled "Crystal Meth."  One of the lines reads, "Just try me once, and I might let you go.  But if you try me twice, then I'll own your soul."  Another line, "You'll give up everything, your family your home.  Your money, your friends, you'll be all alone.  I'll take them and I'll take until you've no more to give.  When I'm finished with you, you'll be lucky to live."  It ends, "Now that you met me, what will you do?  Will you try me or not, it's all up to you.  I can show you more misery than words can tell; come take my hands, let me lead you to hell!"
 
To the many heart wrenching pages in this book I offer three basic reflections: first, the author identifies and admits, at least partially, one of the roots of his son's behavior is connected to the divorce between he and his wife when his son was a young boy.  Life is hard enough in a loving family with two parents faithful to each other and committed to the children.  Lethal damage occurs in a family when a husband and wife break a lifelong covenant before God to each other.  There is no easy way to divorce.  It's not part of God's program for any family.  Second, when we choose to disobey God, we absolutely lose our authority to tell our children not to make the same choice.  "Son, I used drugs, but believe me, trust me, you don't want to try them."  Think about it.  A son respects his dad and wants to be like him.  "Dad used drugs...and he turned out successful...I can too."  Other moral choices are no different.  I have to make the choices I want my children to make!  Finally, we are stewards of our children.  They are not ours, but Gods.  David's son's addiction becomes an addiction for him.  He is obsessed by it.  Love is almost portrayed as control.  I strive to be the best parent I can, but my greatest confidence my children will turn out to be God followers is not my exceptional parenting or control over my children, but God's place in their lives.  I take great hope in God's grace, especially after a day when I feel like I've failed as a parent.  When our children engage in self-destructive behavior, the loving answer is not control, but an infusion of God's grace, which begins with a reality check: God is ultimately responsible for His children.  And He alone is capable of performing the necessary heart surgery that will keep them from crystal meth or any other lethal drug or addiction.  "God, please make my children Yours.  Amen."    

Ps.  If you're interested in this book, you may be intersted in the son's follow-up book, another New York Times Bestseller, Tweak: Growing up on Crystal Methby Nic Sheff.

Joel Thurston

Girl Meets God by Lauren F. Winner

This easy to read memoir is written by a young woman as she navigates her own spiritual journey.  She is Jewish although she is not raised in an Orthodox home.  As she enters her teens and young adulthood she decides to convert to Judaism.  And then God begins drawing her to Himself.  She is an open minded student who thrives on reading and learning.  And as she enters her college years begins to investigate Christianity. 

This book is a great read for anyone, whether Jewish, Christian or unchurched.  This book is not written to be understood by only those who have grown up in the Church.  Lauren herself is a very “real” young lady who is not afraid to speak her true thoughts and feelings.  I love the correlations between Judaism and Christianity.  I am convinced both the Old and New Testaments would be so much more meaningful if we understood the traditions of Judaism.  As the author allows you access to her spiritual journey she encourages you to better understand your own faith.

Jennifer Stratman

Today in the message we were challenged to gain wisdom by reading more in 2009.  One of the hardest things is to find good books to read in the haystack of books out there!  All this week we will be posting book reviews by some of the folks at Journey.  Our hope is that it will inspire and inform you.

If you would like a list of books I have read it will cost you $19.95.  Simply email me and I will send you a link to my paypal account... just kidding.  Just email me and I will shoot you a few books to read free of charge!

See you soon,

Joe Darago

Lead Pastor

So I am reading a book about M.L.K Jr. and found this great quote.  Hope you enjoy it!

Joe

"In order to love your enemies, you must begin by analyzing yourself."

Martin Luther King, Jr.,

Novermber 17, 1957

I picked this up from our friends at LifeChurch.TV and had to share it with you.  I laughed out loud!  Enjoy it and please don't ever do this...

Joe

Voice Mail Message by lifechurchtv

Wow! Twenty-five years! It is hard to believe that twenty-five years ago this summer at VBS a women whose name I cannot remember took the time and sat down with a shy 7-year-old so that she could ask Jesus into her heart. Growing up in a Christian home, I was given the opportunity to understand God’s grace at a very early age for which I am forever grateful. After accepting Jesus into my heart, on Easter Sunday at the age of 11, I just knew I had to be baptized.

As a young girl, I have to admit all I ever dreamed about was that I wanted to grow up so that I could become a wife and mother. While half of that equation was realized in 2001 when I married my wonderful husband, Jason, the other half has just recently come to fruition with the adoption of our baby girl, Taylor Faith, born on October 19, 2008.  She is a constant reminder to us both that God loves us and will use us according to His plan if we let Him by submitting ourselves to His will.  If there is anything that the process of adoption has taught us, it is that we have zero control over our lives, and things go much smoother when we are able to put our faith in our Father who loves us and knows what is best.

Professionally, I have worked in various administrative positions over the years, but really never knew how God could use my gifts in the church. I mean I am a behind-the-scenes, introverted type of person. Where was God going to use me? It seemed from all of my experience at churches you really had to be outgoing to be used. However, when Joe approached me about working for Journey in the spring of 2006, I knew it was God answering my prayers giving me an opportunity to be used by Him. While there are many challenges, I know they make me stronger and I am so blessed to see God working in people’s lives on a daily basis.  I have a gift for organization and an attention to detail and I love being able to use my natural talents and previous work experiences to help Journey make a difference in the lives of people in our community and around the world.  

I am a Phoenix native, and Jason and I have been living in our home in Peoria for the past 5 years.  Both of our families live nearby and we love to hang out with them and play with our 5 rambunctious nephews. In our spare time we enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, camping, going for Jeep rides, or just taking our chocolate lab, Riley, for a walk. Jason and I like going on dates to movies, concerts, or the occasional Broadway musical.  I also like to read, scrapbook, shop with friends, and travel when I can find the time.

While I have never understood God’s timing, I have always known that He is working in my life.  I have only to look around at my husband, my daughter, my friends, my family, and my church to know that I am truly blessed. 

Joy Herring

Have you ever had a time in your life where you circumstances so interrupted your life that even getting a meal ready for dinner was a huge challenge? Maybe you or a family member ended up in the hospital. Maybe you got sick and had to be laid up in your bed. Or maybe it was good news that came your way... like a baby!

Each one of these events can be frustrating to you and to your family! That is why we have a team of people that helps provide meals for people in need and we are looking for cooks. Would you be willing to be part of the team? If so, please contact Christie Darago at jcdarago@cox.net and she will get you on the roster.

Thanks!

Joe Darago
Lead Pastor

This week at Journey we dedicated a few children!  It is always great to celebrate with families as they go through this.  

New for us this year we have added a Child Dedication Class in which we go over the purpose of dedication and help provide some next steps for parents as they seek to raise their child in God's ways.

Also new this year is a tool for parents.  One of the next steps that we provide is a subscription to ParentLife Magazine.  However, knowing that many of you have gone through the dedication process and would be missing out on this we wanted to let you see what we are providing.  You can view a sample of this magazine here or order it by going to ParentLife Magazine's Website.

Magazine or not, thanks for seeking to raise your kids in God's way.  If there is anything we can do to help you on your journey let us know!

Joe Darago

Lead Pastor

Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.

In 1954, Martin Luther King accepted the pastorale of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He was ready, then, early in December, 1955, to accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.

In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity; its operational techniques from Gandhi. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. and inspiring his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", a manifesto of the Negro revolution; he planned the drives in Alabama for the registration of Negroes as voters; he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, "l Have a Dream", he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson; he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.

At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.

I know, I know... I normally reserve the quotes for Saturday, but I wanted to follow up with another John Calvin quote.  I am reading The Institutes of Christian Religion and it is a slow read because so much is packed into each sentence.  Take these for example and meditate on them:

The one who leads the best and holiest life is the one who thinks of himself least.  No one leads such a bad and sinful life as the one who looks only to his own interests.

Have a great Sunday!

Joe Darago

Lead Pastor

"The human mind love nothing better than flattery, and so when told that its gifts are considerable, it is inclined to believe it wholeheartedly!"

John Calvin

The Institutes Of Christian Religion

For those of you who are counting you know that yesterday was the end of the first two weeks of the year.  Of course that means that we only have 50 weeks left to go!

Why am I pointing this out?  Well, if you are like most people, when the calendar turns we feel a shot of adrenaline in our lives.  At the turn of the calendar we make big promises to our selves (health clubs bank on it), we make big promises to our spouses, and we often make big promises to God.  However, about 2 weeks in we begin to slow in our discipline to see these things through and it is as if our adrenaline is all used up.

Experts tell us it takes 21 days to make a habit stick.  So don't give up yet!  Keep going!  You can do it!  Continue to seek God with great fervor, turn down the 5th cookie for desert (and the 4th...maybe the 3rd too), and keep your promise to your spouse as well!  If you continue to discipline yourself a habit will be formed.  And if that habit can be formed it will help you greatly in these next 50 weeks.

See you tomorrow,

Joe Darago

Fifteen years ago today, I married my best friend.  It was around ten degrees outside but the sun was shining.  It didn’t matter what the temperature was.  I was beginning my life with the person that God had chosen to be my husband!

Jason and I met in high school in Norfolk, Nebraska.  The short version of the story is that I called to invite him to homecoming (I had to since we attended two different schools).  We were both seniors and despite my Mother’s disappointment that I would actually call a boy, I went to homecoming with the guy that, yes, I asked out on a date.  Jason would embellish the story much more than that but he’s not writing this blog so that’s all you get!  From the beginning, we were determined to make it work.

Our dating lasted through our senior year in high school and four years of college.  It wasn’t easy.  At one point, Jason was in college in South Dakota and I was in Omaha, Nebraska at Creighton University.  My Christmas present that year was his transfer letter to the University of Nebraska in Omaha.  I can remember it like it was yesterday—it was only a couple of years ago, right?!  We would attend church every once in a while at the church on the campus of Creighton University.  However, as I look back I know God had his hand in our relationship from the very beginning, but we were reluctant to let Him to be in the driver’s seat.

So back to that cold day in January in 1994--I wouldn’t have changed a thing about our wedding (okay, maybe the puffy sleeves on my wedding dress were a little much!).  As I think through all that has happened in these fifteen years, I am overwhelmed.  In fifteen years we have been through several job changes including a corporate bankruptcy.  We have become parents, homeowners, and christians.  We witnessed nieces and nephews being born and my parents dying.  Throughout all of it, my husband has been my rock.  He has always been there to hold me up, hold me accountable, and hold my hand.  I can’t possibly thank God enough for bringing Jason into my life when I was 17!

I don’t know what God has in store for us over these next fifteen years.  It is hard to imagine what our lives will look like (Halle would be 20 years old!).  I would never have guessed we would be celebrating our 15^th wedding anniversary in our home in Peoria, Arizona and that I would be the mom of 3 kids working part-time in our church office but really wonderful things do happen when God is in control.

From time to time people ask me about various bible translations.  Because most of us do not read Greek and Hebrew, we need to have the text translated into English.  If you have ever translated anything into English (or tried) you know that it is not an easy task.  Sentence structure rarely carries over word for word and idioms from one culture are not familiar in another.  Therefore, when you translate you have to interpret.... and there in lies the variation in Bible translations.

Some Bibles lean more towards capturing the ideas and thoughts of the text while others attempt a more literal translation.  To see the difference in the wide variety of translations out there check out this chart that describes the differences.  If you need any help figuring out which one will be best for you just drop me an email (joe@lifeisajourney.org)

See you tomorrow,

Joe Darago

Some of you have asked about the song the worship team played on Sunday... "you know the one about the rock and with the bullhorn rap thingy?"

Well the song came off of Delirious' album called The Mission Bell  and it is simply titled Solid Rock.

Did you know each week we post the songs that we played on our website?  We do!  Check that out here and bookmark it for future reference.  We even put a link on there where you can go and buy the album or song.  Cool huh?

See you tomorrow,

Joe Darago

Lead Pastor

In July we took the Youth group to Mexico on a Mission with the New Birth Mexican Mission and Pastor Phil. Originally I wanted to go because I felt God was telling me that OUR kids need me to go encase someone gets hurt. The group was younger this year than last and many felt better knowing medical would be there, just in case. I left the kids and Shane and went to Rocky Point for 3 days. In that short time I quickly realized that the people in Mexico needed me to help them. And in a way I needed them. Sure, we did have our fair share of injuries but I realized God brought me there to learn from them.

 

 

During the Mission we laughed with the locals and cried when we had to leave, we were sad for the people who are forced to live in those conditions and grateful for how we live. The kids will be forever changed by the experience. They learned how to be a team, how to love on a child who despritly wants it, how to build a home that 8 people will live in, how to speak spanish and how they can make a difference and try to change the world. But what did I learn?

Last Sunday Joel spoke about being like the Ant. Doing the best at what gifts God gave you. God gave me the gift of healing hands, compassion, patience (ALOT of patience) and medical knowledge. I need to be the best Nurse Practitioner I can. Ofcourse Ive always STRIVED to keep up on the lastest medical treatments but never shared my gift for free until that trip. I was able to treat a young girl, the families Aunt and Pastor Taylor without having to worry about insurance companies, charting or getting sued. I could use my gift to the fullest extent... the way God intended. I vowed I would go back and told Phil to keep me updated on the Medical Missions he organizes. On January 23rd I will join Pastor Phil and the New Birth Mexican Mission on a medical mission to the clinic they made in a Rocky Point. With me I am bringing Amanda Kolb who God has also blessed with the gift of healing hands, kindness, patience and love of people. Amanda plans on going to Nursing school after graduation this year and Im gloing to help to teach her how to use her gift, starting in Mexico......wish us luck!!!

On the journey,

Shelli Brian

In the early church we see two types of groups emerge right out of the gate in Acts 2.  We see the whole church meeting together in a large worship gathering in the Temple.  There they would be instructed by the apostles and would worship together.  We also see in rhythm with this large gathering, small groups meeting in houses and in the area to gather around their connection to the Lord Jesus.  

Both of these types of gatherings continue to be a big deal to us as well at Journey.  For the rest of the month we are offering small group sign-ups on our website or through the program on Sunday.  

Check them out here and join one today!

See you tomorrow,

Joe Darago

Lead Pastor

I read a great quote in an email this week from a good friend Rl Brown.  Recently they had experienced a fire and lost some items to it.  I hope some day I grow up to be like him!

"As we sorted thru the debris over the last several days we laughed as we realized how really little value this stuff had, how meaningless it was when compared with what we really cherish, and how poor we would be if this stuff was all that matter to us.

We cherish each of you, Journey, our families, and our relationship with our God.  The rest is really just meaningless stuff that is available at Walmart."

We are all blessed to have Rl as one of our elders (the eldest I might add!)

Joe Darago

Lead Pastor

A friend from Omaha is starting a new church in a few weeks and he has been inspired by Journey Church.  Please pray for Phil and his team as they seek to make a difference in the lives of others in the Midwest.

Check out his site here.

This makes me wonder... if Journey AZ were to plant a church in the Northwest Valley where would it be?  Leave me a comment with your thoughts.

See you tomorrow,

Joe Darago

Today the leadership of Journey is fasting and we invite you to join us.  Each month we pick a day and fast for God to move mightily in our lives, to guide us in all that we do, and to make a difference through us in the world.

If you want to learn more about fasting you can listen to a previous message from our Energy series here.

See you tomorrow,

Joe Darago

Lead Pastor

Today, I enjoyed the first day of back to school for the kids and spent some time in Scottsdale with some friends. After a pleasurable afternoon, I returned to pick Michael up from school at 2pm and 3pm for Chris. I picked up Chris at 3pm, dropped some neighbor kids off at home and headed straight out for Chris to get his weekly allergy shot at the doctor's office.   As I am heading down 107th to hit Deer Valley – chatting with the boys about my exciting day in Scottsdale, I saw something in the road and swerved (according to my husband, I swerved to hit it and ruin his day as well as others in chain of things he had to do). I hit some sort of rock and knew instantly I had a flat tire. I pulled over to the side and could just HEAR the hissing.  The front tire I thought looked a little flat but my son said “Mom LOOK at the back tire!” I called Cornell and explained my dilemma that I had a flat tire in the back! He was on his way to Cave Creek for physical therapy and was getting ready to leave, so he said he would be right there. He arrived on the scene (during the waiting time, two very nice teens stopped as well as three people who were together, they looked like road construction people – they were wearing bright vests and all offered very nicely to help, I told them my husband was on his way). Cornell changed the tire (The kids made jokes about “A Christmas Story” and the scene when they had a flat), as he was changing the tire; he was not pleased to find that rim was bent. Cornell tossed the old tire and we were all underway – in our opposite directions. My car was wiggling and shaking; I called him back and told him I had another flat. Sure enough the front was flat.   Cornell came back to change the second tire – found that this rim was bent as well. As he was he was in his husbandly way, explaining to me how this was going to cost about $500. to fix. I have been out of work since the beginning of November, Chris and I are getting ready to leave on a belated birthday trip and I am starting to stress a little because the funds I “planned” on using are not here. Cornell was additionally annoyed because he was now late for PT Jason Paladino. When I called the office, they did push his appointment back (hopefully not at the expense of family time!).   As he was putting the spare from the mini-van from his car onto my car an unmarked, white moving truck stopped. Out hopped two men with tattoos in black t-shirts probably in their early to mid 20’s. They offered to help and Cornell nicely said that we were all done and he was just finishing with the lug nuts but done. One of them took the tire off the side of the road, threw open the back of the truck and explained they could really help and fix the tire for free, the other guy took the first tire out of my open trunk and took it to the truck. I literally started to cry! They started some sort of generator; they had a COMPLETE tire/wheel repair center including a computerized spin balancer, tire changing jig, air compressor, the whole nine yards! I could not stop crying.     Cornell asked them for a card, they offered to help fix the one tire that was just too far damaged. They were able to completely fix one tire and rim, the rim of the second but that tire needs some further work and could not be fixed on the spot.   I can not even begin to explain the miracle and how I felt when they pulled up and opened that door on the truck. They said they saw him taking the other tire out of the van to put on my car and said that could have been dangerous so that is why they turned around and came back. Even though both are Dodge/Chryslers products and look the same size, the rims are different and five or ten miles down the road it could be a problem. They reluctantly each did take a tip but did not want to.   These two really were angles today and I can not begin to explain how grateful I am to them. I also thankful that my kids were able to see this first hand and see what a Good Samaritan is! We will be calling them to fix the other tire. Christine Eyde

The ant is small, but has huge wisdom! Joel did a great job Sunday kicking off the series. If you missed his message you can listen to it here.

Funny thing is when I got home that afternoon I flipped on the Animal Planet and watch a special on ants in Africa that are so into storing up food for the future they have been known to kill every living thing in their path - insects, rats, pets, and even people!  Yikes!

In 2008 I was fortunate enough to get my hands on some pretty good books.  Maybe someday I will write a post on the top 10 reads of 2008, but who knows.  One of the books I read in 08 that helped me in my "work" is called Getting Things Done  by David Allen.  You can read about it here.  More than any other organizational book this one really helped me get things dialed in.  I have never been more efficient and effective in my life.  And the really cool thing is I have managed to stick with it for quite some time.

So as you consider the ant and your new year ahead of you maybe you could benefit from this resource.  

See you tomorrow,

Joe Darago

Lead Pastor

We put the Journey Christmas Program online.  Feel free to share it.

Enjoy,

Joe

Get to know me…..

            Having to write a blog talking about yourself doesn’t seem like a very hard thing to but trying to hit the hot spots or your life so people can read it and know you a little better has been, for some reason, hard for me to do.  But here we go.  I started my walk with God the summer of 2003 right before my Sophomore year at Lubbock Christian University.  My walk with Christ has been a very challenging and rocky one and sometimes it has seemed more of a game or mother may I or Red Light Green Light as God has taught me many life lessons in the process of finally trusting him with what the finish line holds. 

            I have a heart for youth ministry and for Junior High and High School students for several reasons but the main on is because, unlike the John Mayer song, “Waiting on the world to change,” I believe that Christ has called them and given the gift of acceptance, love, and strength to not wait but to run towards and change it themselves and being a part of that and allowing to use the gifts and the life experiences that Christ has put me through to help guide and lead them toward a discipleship heart is why I love this challenging and rewarding job called youth ministry. 

            I moved to Phoenix Arizona about 8 months ago right after graduating college and have loved every minute of being a part of the Journey that Christ has put me on.  I am dating the most beautiful person on the globe and am excited about getting engaged in the very near future…….ssshhhhh…she doesn’t know its coming.  I love excitement, new things, new experiences, and am an extreme sports fanatic.  I like to surf, skate, snowboard, hiking, etc.  Being outside is where I find peace and God and if the Dallas Cowboys would just stop disappointing me and breaking my heart then everything would be peachy.