Welcome to Mailblocks. The Mailblocks email service blocks spam email from your inbox and up to three other email accounts you choose

Welcome to Mailblocks. The Mailblocks email service blocks spam email from your inbox and up to three other email accounts you choose

I sent an e-mail today to somene who I have never sent an e-mail to. I received an e-mail back from this service asking me to use their authentication process to PROVE I was a human and not some e-mail script sending out spam. They provide a FREE service and their BASIC service seems reasonably priced. Only 9.95 per year to KEEP spam out of your inbox. Divide the number of spam emails you get by 10.00 and see how much you are paying to STOP spam. Anyway, you get the point... LOL...

On the lighter side of Duck Ditch USA

I am happy to report that our little kingdom at the bottom of the hill on Mapleridge drive is getting cleaner one trailer at a time. Last week I finished power washing two more trailers. Atleast it was not freezing outside when I worked on those two. I have one more trailer to do and then my power washing activities for 2004 should be complete. Spring is finally in the air and trees and flowers are beginning to bloom. I can not wait for WINTER to be FINISHED. I have had enough of this cold weather and the high electric bills. I hope that we can enjoy some moderate weather where we can throw open the windows and doors and let our homes air out and do some serious cleaning. GULP... Scratch the last thought, that is too much work. LOL... Airing out the houses though is a good idea.

In the last two weeks I have done much better with regards to my average. My league average is back up to 130 after bowling a 165 average last week and a 145 average last night. Wahooooo! Our team is in 9th place and after last night hopefully we have moved up to 8th place. I bowled 142 in both my first and second games last night and if I could have done that all three games I would have gotten a patch. Oh well.... What were the odds in that happening?

My job search for a BETTER job is still ongoing. I am sending out resumes and applications but nothing is happening for now. It appears that all doors are being shut with regards to better employment. I am thankful for the job I do have but I NEED to find something better. Something that pays more and has benefits. I told someone the other day that I would rather wear the uniform of a security OFFICER than of a jail trustee because of not paying my child support. Atleast in this situation I have the keys to the building and can come and go as I please. LOL... I found out the other day that in South Carolina that the maximum that they incarcerate someone for failure to pay child support is 1 year. It is a good thing for those inmates that they dont live in Texas. In Texas they throw you under the jail until you pay up. I heard the other day that a man was 4.00 short on his child support payment and the judge put him in jail. The man was working two jobs and trying to get caught up on his payments and he wound up in jail anyway. Now that is justice for you. Not only was he out of work and lost his jobs probably but now he is getting even further behind on his responsibility to pay. How is that justice? How does that solve the problem? I can tell that I need to stop this paragraph right here. LOL....

In memory of Marlin Maddoux & Larry Burkett

I found out yesterday that radio talk show host Marlin Maddoux passed away on March 4, 2004. You can view his memorial page on the Internet at the following link. In Memory of Marlin Maddoux

I was so sad to hear this news. In the bible the apostle Paul says to be absent with the body is to be present with the Lord. When we die in Christ we graduate from this life into life eternal where we will spend eternity with Christ and worship and praise him for eternity. That is our Hope in that our redemption will come full circle and we will enjoy fellowship with our God forever. Nevertheless when someone that passes away that has made an impact on our lives like Marlin Maddoux it is natural to grieve for a period of time. Point of View is a Christian Radio Talk Show that has touched the lives of many people through the centuries. The following paragraphs can be found on the Point of View website about Marlin Maddoux and the show he hosted.

Marlin Maddoux is founder and president of International Christian Media and host of Point of View Radio Talk Show, as well as a noted journalist and author.

Point of View is a two-hour, issues-oriented talk radio program heard daily via satellite on more than 360 radio stations nationwide and around the world by shortwave. Maddoux, founder and host of the program for more than twenty years, covers from a conservative Christian perspective the full spectrum of issues and current events that affect our homes, beliefs, schools, government, churches and basic freedoms. In 1986, Maddoux was given the National Religious Broadcasters Award of Merit. In 1994 Christianity Today magazine called Point of View America's "most popular live Christian call-in show."

In 1985, Maddoux founded USA Radio Network, a for-profit company, which today is one of the nation's fastest-growing news radio networks with more than 1,300 affiliated radio stations across the nation. USA radio news is also carried worldwide on the Armed Forces Radio Service. USA Radio Network's broadcast center is in northwest Dallas; the network also has news stringers in 45 countries of the world. In 1994, the National Religious Broadcasters awarded the USA Radio Network its "Program Producer of the Year" Award.

Maddoux has been a frequent guest on national television and radio broadcasts including, "CBS Morning News," ABC's "Nightline," ABC's "Good Morning America," "CNN," "Focus on the Family," and many others. He has been an invited guest at the White House on several occasions, having met with both President Ronald Reagan and President George Bush. He is the author of several books, including America Betrayed, What Worries Parents Most, Free Speech or Propaganda? and A Christian Agenda: Game Plan for a New Era. His latest book is a novel, Seal of Gaia, published by Word. He is currently working on the sequel to Seal of Gaia.

Maddoux and his wife, Mary, have four grown children and ten grandchildren and reside near Dallas, Texas


Have you heard of Larry Burkett and Crown Financial Concepts? You can learn more about the ministry and life of Larry Burkett at the following link. Crown Financial Concepts The following paragraphs can be found on this website as well.

Larry Burkett

Following a long and courageous battle with cancer and heart disease, Larry Burkett completed his journey of serving the Lord Jesus Christ on this earth. Having battled cancer and heart attacks for the past several years, God called Larry into His presence at 3 am on July 4th.

To say that he will be missed is a huge understatement. Larry was truly loved by all those whose lives he touched; his family, his friends and his ministry partners. He lived a life of Christian kindness and genuine humility. He was always extraordinarily generous.

Steve Moore, Crown’s radio co-host who spent so much time with Larry, related something that revealed a great deal about Larry. He said that while answering callers’ questions during Crown’s Money Matters program, Larry’s compassion was so evident. Listeners could not see, but could feel, his concern and even his tears for them.

One of the central principles Larry taught is that we don’t really own things; we are simply stewards and managers of what God has entrusted to us. In Larry’s case, that included the ministry he founded.

In 1971, Larry gave his life to Jesus Christ and committed to follow wherever the Lord would lead and to boldly teach the life-changing truths of Scripture. And he did this with all his might.

Needless to say both of these men have done their part to reach out and touch the body of Christ in a special way through the ministries that God entrusted to them. They have certainly touched my life on many occasions and I join the rest of the body of Christ in honoring their lives and their obedience to the calling of Christ on their lives.
Join me as we pray for the continuance of each ministry as well as their families that have been left behind here on earth. We all know that we will be reunited one day on that glorious day when we leave this earth and re join our loved ones when the roll is called up yonder and we SHALL be THERE.

God bless

Chapter 40- Life Purpose Statement

Chapter 40 - Living with purpose is really the only way to live

Verse - For David…. Served the purpose of God in his own generation. Acts 13:36

Question - When will I take the time to write down my answers to life's five great questions? When will I put my purpose on paper?
What is a Life Purpose Statement?


A statement that:

points the direction of your life
defines success for you
clarifies your roles
expresses your shape



Life's Five greatest questions:

What will be the center of my life?

The center of my life will be for me and my house to serve the Lord. To be doers of the word and not mere spectators in the game of life. In order to keep the Lord at the center of our lives I have to keep myself from being distracted by the things of this world. The things of this world bring temporary pleasure and happiness but no lasting peace or purpose.


What will be the character of my life?

The following is my perception of the character attributes in my life as I understand myself.

Love - to truly love others we must be willing to serve them above ourselves. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. In the same way we should show love one to another through service. I sometimes love myself more than others because I can be selfish.

Joy - (cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness)- I struggle with joy during times of trouble. I am not always glad about trials or tribulation. I sometimes worry about things that I have no control over.

Peace- (quietness, rest) - Externally I appear to have it together or under control. Sometimes I struggle with the unfairness of my circumstances which causes me to have inner turmoil. Ultimately I find peace when I release it to God.

Patience- (forbearance or fortitude, longsuffering)- I have been learning patience the hard way. My nature is to be spontaneous and make gut feeling decisions on the fly. Through the consequences of these decisions I have made some mistakes and through those mistakes I am learning patience.

Kindness- this is not my strongest character attribute. I struggle with compassion and mercy and kindness

Goodness- (virtue or beneficence, benign, soft winning, tender either in temper or behavior) this one does not come easy to me either. It is easier for me to be critical and harsh than to be soft or tender. Maybe this is reflected in the struggles I have with having a relationship with my children.

Faithfulness- (credence, moral conviction, reliance upon Christ for salvation) on many occasions I have thought that being a Christian was more difficult than I could handle. I have wanted to take the road of least resistance. God has given me the grace to be an over comer.

Gentleness- (usefulness, moral excellence in character or demeanor, good or kind) I am as gentle as an 800 lb gorilla by nature. I have to work at this attribute.

Self Control - (temperance, not only abstinence from harmful drinks or food but control of the temper, the tongue, the desires, the passions for money or power)
Through Gods grace I am able to engage this most of the time.


What will be the contribution of my life?

I have been blessed to have been allowed to do the following in service for the kingdom.

Street ministry
Children church pastor
Evangelism Team
Royal Ambassador leader
Mens Fellowship Director
Sunday School teacher
Lay Minister preacher
Audio/video/sound
Internet Ministry
Freelance writing - Christ and family oriented


What will be the communication of my life?

Street ministry
Peaceful demonstrator at Abortion clinic
Working with homeless people
Preaching and teaching God's word


What will be the community of my life?

I find myself being the one to pursue others and engage them in relationships that are beyond superficial day to day chit chat. I have been accused of getting too close to people to quickly. I am supposedly too up front and personal in my approach with others. How else can I get to know people other than to discover who they are beyond the surface? I believe that my life should be transparent and an open book so that Christ in me can be glorified. That also means letting people see the good and the ugly. That means that I need to be open, honest and vulnerable. Most people do not return that level of fellowship. Most people do not trust others where they are willing to be vulnerable.



The following statements will be a part of my life purpose statement.

To serve God with all my mind heart and soul
To love my neighbor as myself
To allow the Lord to be MY LORD
To study Gods word and be a workman that needs not be ashamed and allow His word to change me from the inside out
To be an exemplary husband to Katy
To be a father who does not invoke wrath in my children
To be a father to my son and daughter who lives Jesus in front of them so that they can learn the character of God
To bring up my children in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ
To serve the community God has placed me in and point them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ
To define and exercise my SHAPE for ministry every day


My life purpose is to glorify Jesus Christ in my thoughts, actions and motivations. I will be successful in God's eyes when I place my life in his hands and allow him to mold me and shape me into his image. My role is to serve God , church and family before myself. My goal is to exercise the spiritual gifts and talents God has given me both in personal ministry and my mission to the world.





James Moffitt
http://www.jesus-connect.net/jcmoffitt
moffittj@bellsouth.net

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PaypalWarning.com - Paypal Warning to Investors, Merchants, Customers and Users : fraud scam nightmare horror con lawsuit abuse steal theft

Gosh, this is scary.... I hope this never happens to you or me....

Day 40 of The 40 Days of Purpose Devotional book

I am on day 40 of the Order this book now and invest 40 days of your life 40 days of purpose devotional by Rick Warren

I can not tell you how blessed I am by having invested these last 40 days in this devotional study. I actually took a bit longer than 40 days to do this study. That is ok though, I believe that my doing it the way I did it did not take away from the message in the book. Now that I am finished I have some homework to do. There are some questions and/or drills in the book that I need to go investigate and spend time meditating and writing these things down. I am telling all of my friends and associates that I have contact with to get THE BOOK. Atleast one of my friends that I know DID actually get the book and is working through it. Praise God for that. I am so excited about it too. I am so convinced that this book is going to bless others that I am going to try and buy atleast one book per pay day to give away to someone that might need it or want it and can not afford it. Before I go any further with my thoughts below I want to say that I believe that this book is written to an audience of people that already know who Christ is and have embraced GRACE and are walking the walk of faith seeking Jesus Christ as Lord. That does not mean that a non believer could not SEE the character of God portrayed in this book. The book does not examine the consequences of NOT accepting Grace nor does it highlight the fact that we as believers were once sinners and that we are required to REPENT of our sins (change our minds and turn away from our old sin nature and life style) as an integral part of our salvation.

Where do I go with this now that I am done? I have been compelled to change things in my life. The question is WILL I CHANGE those things in my life that need to be changed? I will say that this book has certainly broadened my thinking with regards to my "views" on church tradition. There are biblical facts that we know because we have read, studied and meditated upon Gods word. Then there are traditional views that we hold because we were taught those things over the years without having investigated their validity for ourselves. These ideals or precepts have been engrained in us because of years of church practice and tradition. For instance the thought that we listen to Christian music at church and call it Worship music. The only way that we can tell that worship music is worship music is because of lyrics that give God praise , honor and glory. Without the words the music would be MUSIC. Another thing I learned is the difference between worship and ministry. I used to think that ministry equated to teaching bible studies , preaching or reaching out to the community. This book tells me that anything that I do that involves any type of spiritual fruit, spiritual gifts or natural talents for the betterment of the church and its people is ministry. Ministry is doing acts of service to the body of Christ. When I do those acts of service no matter what they are I am worshipping God through my deeds. This book has helped me to define and re discover my SHAPE for ministry.

Ok, that is all you are going to get from me on the "content" of this book for now. Now to switch gears for a bit with posing a question to meditate upon. How many bible studies, sermons or seminars do we need to attend to become more like Christ? Has our religion become the pursuit of knowledge or is it our acting out that which we already know to be truth? Is our religion and relationship with Christ emotionally driven where we must feel good in order to validate our faith and be obedient? We are ambassadors for Christ sent out into the world to preach the good news to the lost , sick and dying of this world. Jesus did not come into this world to save the religious people. Jesus came to this world to save the sick and dying people. Jesus knew that without him and his gift and ministry that we were doomed for eternal separation from God. Jesus Christ had a MISSION to fulfill and he fulfilled it when he died on the cross for the sins of mankind , past present and future. The bible clearly states that Gods mission should now be our mission. Instead of pursuing material wealth and being wealth builders we should be busy at being KINGDOM builders. I have been compelled to examine my purpose for living. It is NOT about me but it IS about God. It is not about the messenger it is about the MESSAGE. Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected to give us life. My purpose is not to just figure out HOW to pay the bills and live from one day at a time. Life is more than mere survival. God came that we might have ABUNDANT life and the only way we can have ABUNDANT LIFE is to fulfill Gods purposes in our lives.

I have to say that all of this is some what overwhelming to me. I look back at what I have read and am learning with regards to this book and I have to say that you should probably study and meditate on the book and its 1200 scripture references over a much longer time period than 40 days. I know people who are on their third reading and are still getting new nuggets of truth from it. Am I implying above that we should abandon our responsibilities of going to work and paying bills or take away quality time from our family responsibilities. No, I am certainly not saying that. One of the things that this book talks about at the very end is about prioritizing our lives in such a way that we remove the JUNK from our lives. Junk that has not eternal value and only momentary value for TODAY. We live in a feel good society and the world says if it FEELS good do it. As Christians we no longer do what FEELS good because we have been taught that our hearts are deceitfully wicked and that there are consequences for acting out to make our flesh happy when it wants to FEEL good. I am like you in that I have TIME that could be better prioritized and spent in ministry and worship. That means that I will need to change some habits and my thinking ABOUT those things.

You can follow my 40 Day journey as I discovered Gods Purpose for my life by reading my blog here. I published my devotional notes so that I could share what I am learning and now going to attempt to DO in my life. Please pray for me as I meditate and PURPOSE in my heart to CHANGE. Through the pain, onward to battle and victory!!!

God bless

HOW DIRTY IS IT?

I started to title this blog "Wet T Shirt Contest" but I did not want the server that this is sitting on to be overwhelmed to the point that my blog would no longer be available. Not only that but I was the only entry to the contest and quite naturally I did win. LOL....

Yes, I got wet but not for the sake of having a wet t shirt contest. I had a date witht he power washer thanks to yesterday being much warmer than the last time I did it. I almost froze off part of my rear end that day. It is amazing what one will do to fight off depression I guess....

Well, the OTHER side of the double wide is now clean. One side of my neighbors trailer is white again and not algae green. Wahooooo! I spent atleast 2 hours washing the deck between my place and "the other trailer". Did I tell you how horribly filthy it is? Every time it rains I kept slipping on something slick. That something is years and years of grime and dirt. I can actually see the original wood color now. I still need to figure out what chemical I will need to use to break the dirt up to make it EASIER to get it clean. You would think that the power washer would just knock it right off but alas it does not. I tried something my friend next door gave me and it just sat on top of the grime and did nothing other than make it wetter. I finally broke out the Clorox Bleach and that seemed to help a little bit.

Last night I out did myself on the bowling alley. Our team name is Four Play.... Alrighty then... How did we come up with that team name?? I will plead the fifth on that one folks... I bowled a 165 average last night. Wahooooo
My 180 game is the highest game yet for me at this bowling alley. Last week I bowled a whopping 121 average which is 7 pins BELOW my 128 average. Our team is in 10th place BEFORE last night but since we took three out of four games we should move up a notch or two.

Chapter 38 & 39

Chapter 38- The Great Commission is my commission


Verse to remember- Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind. Psalm 67:2

Question to consider - what steps can I take to prepare to go on a short term missions experience in the next year?

In reality that happening in the next year is slim to none. Once Katy and I have full time jobs with vacation time after one year of service then we could think about this.

Chapter 39- Blessed to be balanced

Verse to remember- life life with a due sense of responsibility, not as those that do not know the meaning of life but as those who do. Eph 5:15

Question to consider- Which of the 4 activities will I begin in order to stay on track and balance Gods five purposes in my life?

The 5 purposes were:

Practiced by the first Christians in Acts chapter 2
Explained by Paul in Ephesians 4
Modeled by Jesus in John 17
Summarized in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission by Jesus

Gods 5 purposes for your life are:

Love God with all your heart (worship)
Love your neighbor as yourself (ministry)
Go and make disciples (evangelism)
Baptize them into (fellowship)
Teach them to do all things (discipleship)


"A great commitment to the great commandment and the great commission will make you a great Christian"

Practice the following four habits

Talk it through with a spiritual partner or small group
Give yourself a regular spiritual check up
Write down your progress in a journal
Pass on what you learn to others


I need to start doing habits 1 and 3 on a regular basis. I already practice habits 2 and 4. I need to email Rick Warren at free@purposedrivenlife.com and ask for ALL of the free resources listed on page 324.

Chapter 37 - God wants to say something to the world through me

Verse to remember- be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15-16

Question – as I reflect on my personal story, who does God want me to share it with?

“God has given me a life message to Share” This message has four parts

Testimony
Life lessons
Godly passions
Good news

Our testimony should contain four parts

What my life was like before I met Jesus
How I realized I needed Jesus
How I committed my life to Jesus
The difference Jesus has made in my life

Life lessons are lessons and insights you have learned about God, relationships, problems, temptations, and other aspects of life. Here are some questions I should answer.

What has God taught me from failure?
What has God taught me from lack of money?
What has God taught me from pain, sorrow or depression?
What has God taught me from disappointment?
What have I learned from my family, my church, my relationships, my small groups and my critics?

“ A mans heart determines his speech”

“Your life message includes the good news. The good news is that when we trust Gods grace to save us through what Jesus did, our sins are forgiven, we get a purpose for living, and we are promised a future home in heaven.”

“I must learn to love lost people the way God does”






God made me to be

A member of His family
A model of his character
A magnifier of His glory
A minister of His grace
A messenger of His Good News to others

“That is why spreading the good news is so important; you only have a short time to share your life message and fulfill your mission.”

WOW and DOUBLE WOW!!!

To answer the question for this chapter God wants me to share my life story with everyone. I should share my personal story with both believers and non believers. Different people will relate to the different life stories and lessons and hopefully Christ will be glorified and others will experience a measure of HOPE and healing as they see Christ in the midst of my life experiences. I am motivated to buy some gospel tracts and copies of this book to pass on to everyone in my life.


James Moffitt
http://www.jesus-connect.net/jcmoffitt
moffittj@bellsouth.net

Chapter 36- I was made for a MISSION

Chapter 36- I was made for a mission

Verse to remember- Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matt 28:19,20

Question to consider- what fears have kept me from fulfilling the mission God gave me to accomplish? What keeps me from telling others the good news?

Give the right opportunity and timing I have no fears about sharing with others who Jesus is to me. On page 286 the book states “to fulfill your mission will require that you abandon your agenda and accept Gods agenda for your life”

So that brings me to this question. What is my agenda? I sometimes think that my agenda is to survive life from one day to the next. How much time is consumed by pursuing a paycheck so I can pay the never ending flow of bills. Bills are like washing clothes. Once you start the cycle you never seem to stop. You start out in this process by controlling the process but after awhile the process can take on a life of its own and begin to control you. I owe I owe off to work I go is my motto every time I head out the door to work. The pursuit of money so I can keep my head above water is a large portion of my agenda. The bible states that if my faith is the size of a mustard seed that I can move mountains. How much faith do I have for God to meet my needs when I spend most of my waking hours working for a paycheck. Instead of being a kingdom builder I am doing everything I can to maintain a certain level of existence. Poor financial decisions and unfortunate circumstances has me in this place. To be a good steward I must work so that through me with Gods provision I can provide for my family.

The second question that comes to mind is this. I have people in my neighborhood on my street that I do not know. Am I lazy? Perhaps I am just too wrapped up in my agenda. I need to figure out how to simplify the tasks in my life and free up more time to fulfill Gods agenda. What is God blessing in the community I live in? How will I ever know if I don’t take the time to look around and ask God to show me?

The other thing that might keep me from sharing the good news is my natural desire to hide the things in my life that would affect the integrity of the gospel. It is one thing to be an effective speaker or be able to present the facts. It is another thing to be able to speak Gods word with integrity and power and confidence. Paul could say “ Do as I do” with regards to being the example of a Godly man. I know that there are moments in my life that reflect my humanity and sinful nature. When those things come into the light it damages my testimony of who Jesus is to me. How can I share the good news to a non believer when I have moments when I am a bad ambassador for Christ? I know that in my weakness HE is strong. What about the times that I chose to willfully sin and deny the power of God in my life? How much integrity will my testimony be then?



James Moffitt
http://www.jesus-connect.net/jcmoffitt
moffittj@bellsouth.net

Job Search and Career Resources, Find a job and apply with one click

Job Search and Career Resources, Find a job and apply with one click

My friend Patty shared this with me the other day and I finally got around to checking it out. Very nice website for those of us looking for a job.

Thanks Patty

What's up with blogging, and why should you care? - TechUpdate - ZDNet

What's up with blogging, and why should you care? - TechUpdate - ZDNet

Occam Razor

I know, I know. Some of you are saying "ok, what the heck is a Occam Razor", never heard of dat bwand at Wallyworld.....

Pronunciation: 'ä-k&mz-
Function: noun
Etymology: William of Occam
: a scientific and philosophic rule that entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily which is interpreted as requiring that the simplest of competing theories be preferred to the more complex or that explanations of unknown phenomena be sought first in terms of known quantities

Define par si mo ny

I invited some folks to join my Tribe.net tribe and someone responded with this word in a sentence.

"You know the need for parsimony in my life" I thought to myself, people in Goose Creek SC do not use BIG words like dat. I dont even know whatz dat meanz.... Lucky for me Websters Online helped me wit it.


Main Entry: par si mo ny
Pronunciation: 'pär-s&-"mO-nE
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English parcimony, from Latin parsimonia, from parsus, past participle of parcere to spare
1 a : the quality of being careful with money or resources : THRIFT b : the quality or state of being stingy
2 : economy in the use of means to an end; especially : economy of explanation in conformity with Occam's razor

The Purpose Driven Life - Chapters 30 -35

Chapter 30- I was shaped for serving God

Verse to remember - God works through different men in different ways, but is the same God who achieves his purpose through them all. 1 Cor 12:6

Question to consider- In what way can I see myself passionately serving others and loving it?

How God shapes me for ministry:

Spiritual gifts
Heart
Abilities
Personality
Experience

“Your spiritual gifts were not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others”

I love people and I thrive on interacting with them in a real way. I am not a social butterfly and I do not care about small talk or superficial chit chat. I love to talk about matters of the heart. I am compelled to know people for who they are. I like to find ways to connect to others so I can share my faith. I love to tell people about who Jesus is to me. I would love to help lead new Christians into a deeper understanding of discipleship and how to walk the walk. I love to preach and teach Gods word and encourage others.


Chapter 31- Nobody can be like me

Verse to remember- God has given each of you some special abilities, be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others Gods many kinds of blessings 1 Peter 4:10

Question to consider- What God given ability or personal experience can I offer to my church?

According to the book I have been shaped by the following experiences

Family
Educational
Vocational
Spiritual
Ministry
Painful

I love to encourage people. I am an extrovert and I thrive on human contact. I love to communicate with people both in person as well as through the written word. I like to write short stories and articles about those things that are near and dear to my heart. I feel compelled to be transparent in my writing as I share the events of my life with others. I want people to know who Jesus is and how he is changing me from the inside. I want to teach others what I have learned through experiences and reading Gods word. I have a natural attraction towards computer technology and electronics. I love photography and capturing moments on film.


Chapter 32- God deserves my best

Verse to remember- do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth 2 Tim 2:15

Question to consider- How can I make the best use of what God has given me?

I need to prioritize my time more efficiently and find opportunities of service. I need to learn how to take what I already know and walk ti out in my life in practical ways. I need to ask God to open up doors of opportunity where I can use my spiritual gifts , abilities and experiences to minister to the needs of others. I need to stop comparing my life and ministry to other people and run the race that God has enabled me to run.

Chapter 33- I serve God by serving others

Verse to remember- If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers; you shall surely be rewarded Matt 10:42

Question to consider - which of the 6 characteristics of real servants offers the greatest challenge to me?


“We serve God by serving others”

“God shaped you for service, not for self centeredness”

“You can tell what they are by what they do”

The six characteristics of a servant are

Available to serve
Pay attention to needs
Do the best with what you have
Do every task with equal dedication
Faithful to ministry
Maintain a low profile

Being available to serve is probably the number one problem out of all 6 characteristics. If I were honest with myself I would admit that there are times that I struggle with each of these characteristics.

I live in a materialistic world that determines my value and identity by what I own and what I am able to do. You are someone if you live there, drive that and belong to this organization and have this amount of wealth. We are constantly bombarded by marketing of all types that tells us that we need all sorts of junk. Our wants have destroyed our perception of real needs and therefore we spend most of our time pursuing things, wealth and status. I can not serve God as much as I should because of bad financial decisions, debt, poor time management and the pursuit to be entertained during what little free time I do have.

On page 259 of this book there is a quote by John Wesley and it says the following

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can” John Wesley

OUCH and double OUCH… That hurts

That means that I should pursue opportunities to do good and serve others every opportunity I get. Serving others will never be convenient or fun until God changes our hearts and gives us the desire to serve others above our own needs and happiness. Instead of looking for one opportunity per day to be good to someone I should never stop looking to serve others.

Chapter 34- To be a servant I must think like a servant

Verse to remember- your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus Phillipians 2:5

Question to consider - Am I usually more concerned about being served or finding ways to serve others?

If a need crosses my path that I can meet I usually do what I can. Do I go out of my way or inconvenience myself to see or find needs? The answer to that is no. I need to be more sensitive to others needs and be more willing to make myself available to meet some of those needs.

“Service starts in your mind”

“servants think more about others than about themselves”

“servants think like stewards, not owners”

“servants think about their work, not what others are doing”

“servants base their identity in Christ”

“servants think of ministry as opportunity , not an obligation”


Chapter 35- God works best when I admit my weaknesses

Verse to remember- My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness 2 Cor 12:9a

Question to consider- Am I limiting Gods power in my life by trying to hide my weaknesses? What do I need to be honest about in order to help others?

Yes, I am sure that I sometimes limit Gods power in my life. I am proud and sometimes arrogant. At times in my life I have been told this and my defense was that I am not arrogant but self confident. I am just very confident in my abilities.
When does self confidence turn into pride and arrogance? Can one be self confident and humble at the same time? At a very early age I rebelled against my parents authority and excessive abusive behavior towards me . I went out into the world determined to escape the abuse and do things “my way”. Life taught me some very hard lessons and I quickly realized that my parents did posses a certain amount of worldly wisdom that I if I had followed it some of my lifes lessons might not have been so painful.

Thanks to the school of hard knocks I learned at a very young age to be a survivor.
My support system most of the time was me, I and myself. I did not have a close relationship with a parent figure, mentor or friend who could speak truth into my life , give me guidance or allow me to be vulnerable to them. My nature was and still is to some degree to just “handle it” myself. I want people to think that “everything is under control”. I sometimes think that if I were to be vulnerable to people that I would be viewed as a “whiner”, “weakling” or “cry baby” that needs to just “suck it up”. It is easier for me to communicate my true feelings and struggles in writing than it is for me to be vulnerable to the fellowship of believers I go to church with.

I suppose that because I do not share with others the things that go on in my heart that they assume all is well and therefore they do not need to pursue me in an effort to connect with me. I am task and results oriented and when the feedback level is low or non existent I become discouraged and find it difficult to pursue moments of connectivity with other people. I wonder how many people feel the same way as I do? Ships passing in the night with no apparent problems or needs…..


James Moffitt
http://www.jesus-connect.net/jcmoffitt
moffittj@bellsouth.net

The Purpose Driven Life Chatpers 27,28 & 29

Chapter 27- There is always a way out

Verse to remember- God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can not stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give into it. 1 Cor 10:13

Question to consider- who could I ask to be a spiritual partner to help me defeat a persistent temptation by praying for me?

According to this chapter defeating temptation takes these steps:

Refocus your attention on something else
Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group
Resist the devil
Realize your vulnerability

I have several people in my life who I am accountable to and who are willing to pray for any needs in my life. My wife is the first and foremost accountability partner since she is the closest to me and knows me better than most people.

Chapter 28- There are no shortcuts to maturity

Verse to remember- God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again. Phillipians 1:6

Question to consider- In what area of my spiritual growth do I need to be more patient and persistent?

I need to be less fearful of loss. In this chapter it states “ There is no growth without change; there is no change without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain. “ This reminds me of one of my favorite sayings. “Through the pain onward to battle and victory.” I need to start a notebook or journal of lessons learned. I love to write anyway so this should not be difficult for me to start.

I need to be more patient with myself. I am my worst judge.


Chapter 29- Service is not optional

Verse to remember - For we are Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Question to consider- What is holding me back from accepting Gods call to serve him?


This chapter tells us the following truths

You were created to serve God
You were saved to serve God
You were called to serve God
You are commanded to serve God

“Impression without expression causes depression”

The only thing that is hindering me with regards to service is the amount of time I would like spend doing it. With regards to my local congregation I wish I were in a position to do more than I am able to do. I wish I had more avenues of ministry. It seems that the larger the congregation the more opportunities to serve.



James Moffitt
http://www.jesus-connect.net/jcmoffitt
moffittj@bellsouth.net

The Purpose Driven Life Devotional Chapters 24-26

The Purpose Drive Life - Day 24,25 &26

Chapter 24 -The truth transforms us


Verse to remember - If you continue in my word, then are you disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32

Question to consider- what has God already told me in his word that I have not started yet?


The following quotes in this chapter stand out to me.

"The truth transforms us"

"Gods word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being, and guarantees our future forever"

"We cannot live without the word of God"

"Never take the word of God for granted"


Abiding in Gods word includes these activities



I must ACCEPT its authority
I must ASSIMILATE its truth
I must APPLY its principles



"Memorizing Bible verses helps resist temptation, make wise decisions, reduce stress, build confidence, offer good advice and enables me to share my faith with others."

"The truth will set you free, but first it may make you miserable! Gods word exposes our motives, points out our faults, rebukes our sin, and expects us to change"

"The bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives"

To answer the question for this chapter will require brutal honesty. I have spent most of my time after spiritual rebirth gaining knowledge about God and his word. I have spent countless hours on intense bible study and preparation to teach what I have learned about Gods word to others. However I have not applied everything learned in practical ways to my life.

I guess that if I were honest I would have to say that I have practiced "sporadic obedience." Perhaps I could further define it as periods of being on a spiritual rollercoaster. On page 187 it says "many of our troubles occur because we base our choices on unreliable authorities: culture, tradition, reason and emotion." Our sin nature automatically engages all of these authorities if we are not careful. I have fallen victim to all four of these at different times in my life. Here are some action items I need to take.

I will read Gods word every day and not when I feel like it or when it is convenient

I will practice better self control with regards to being a good steward with my finances.

I will actively pursue opportunities to serve my immediate family, my church body and the community God placed me in.

I will purpose in my heart to find the good in people I meet and leave their problems and faults with God.

I will purpose to connect with other men in my community for the purpose of developing relationships so that we can grow in grace and spiritual maturity together.

I will purpose in my heart to renew my mind and heart through Gods word instead of trying to find multiple ways to be entertained and just burn empty time.

Chapter 25- There is a purpose behind every problem

Verse to remember- And we know that in all things God works for the good of those that love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Question to consider- What problem in my life has caused the greatest growth in me?


The following quotes in this chapter stood out for me.

"If you look at the world, you will be distressed. If you look at within, you will be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you will be at rest! Your focus will determine your feelings"

"Character building is a slow process"


I have had 3 major events in my life that have caused the most spiritual growth.


Event one happened when I was just 3 or 4 months old in Christ. I was a fire insurance Christian and I only called upon God when I was in trouble. I called Jesus savior but he was not the Lord of all. I lived life with me being in the center of the throne room of my heart and not God. I spent 45 days in a street rescue mission called The Star of Hope Mission where God got my undivided attention.

Event TWO happened when I experienced a divorce from my first wife and separation from the family I loved. I was devastated, angry, bitter and resentful towards my ex wife, her family and God. One of the things that I learned was that it takes 2 people to experience divorce and I had to recognize my participation in both conscious and unconscious sin that helped to destroy the relationship. I also experienced the pain and anxiety of separation from the two people that I loved with every fiber of my being. I learned during this time that God is always there and is able to comfort, strengthen and heal when no one else is.

Event 3 is when we lost our daughter Jessica to cancer. The most difficult part of this loss was to realize that Jessica was not ours. Jessica is Gods child. God allows us to experience the lives of children and to manage their day to day details. We are able to enjoy the many joys and trails that they face. We are reminded of our parent child relationship with God as we attempt to be Godly parents to our children. Our humanity is reflected back to us from our children as constant reminders of our need for humility and a real connection with our creator.

Chapter 26- Every temptation is an opportunity to do good.

Verse to remember- God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterwards they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him James 1:12

Question to consider - What Christ like character quality can I develop by defeating the most common temptation I face?


The following quotes stood out for me in this chapter.

"God develops real peace within us, not by making things go the way we planned, but by allowing times of chaos and confusion"

"We learn real peace by choosing to trust God in circumstances in which we are tempted to worry or be afraid."

"We learn real peace by choosing to trust God in circumstances in which we are tempted to worry or be afraid"

I keep coming back to the theme with regards to my response to tests in my life. I always want for life to be smooth sailing. Why me Lord and what have I done to deserve this situation or these circumstances are questions I always seem to ask. I believe that ultimately I tend to do what is right with regards to being faithful and enduring hardship. My problem is I start out acting surprised at the circumstances of a situation and spend my initial moments mentally reacting to it as if the situation is not fair. Nothing in life is fair. We live in a fallen world and bad things happen to good people just as good things happen to bad people.

Sometimes I react wrong emotionally to circumstances and make poor choices. I can truly say that I am learning what it means to have peace and joy in the midst of trials in my life.




James Moffitt
http://www.jesus-connect.net/jcmoffitt
moffittj@bellsouth.net

Living in the shadow of a stupid ground hog....

Who started listening to ground hogs with regards to predicting our weather anyway? The ground hog saw his shadow the other day and I guess that means 6 more weeks of winter weather. Did anyone think about relocating the ground hog to another part of the globe where the sun would be directly on top of his little noggin and therefore would be NO shadow? Sheesh... Yes, I did think about taking OUT the ground hog but resisted any excessive excitement about that option just in case our friends from PETA were reading my drivel.... LOL. Like they would be reading MY blog.... NOT....

This weekend downtown Charleston was in full swing with visitors from who knows where. I have not seen that many umbrellas this side of Niagra Falls. I am wondering IF these people who visited our fine city decided to visit BECAUSE of the 2 day rain storms or IF they were locked into the visit because of having planned their weekend jaunt to our fine city months ago? Either way, I hope that they re think their planning strategies for next year and NOT visit us in the midst of the winter months. Dont get me wrong, Charleston certainly has its fair share of tourist trap goodies to visit and remove your disposable income from your possesion. I am hoping that because they are able to do this so effectively (like most tourist traps) that someone in city hall will think about fixing some of the pot holes and streets in our fine city. GASP.... Imagine that thought...

Luckily for me I was able to observe the happenings all around me at work from the vantage point of my favorite parking garage. Cough.... It is amazing to me how many people look at things from a horizontal view point. It seems as if no one ever looks up past the second story of any dwelling. Well, at least they don't until the passing pigeon deposits a prize on their noggins. If that happens DO NOT look up because the pigeons fly in numbers and if they are all on the same schedule you may get more than you bargained for.

It is Presidents Day and most Government Employees are enjoying a day AWAY from their cubicle prisons. Wahoooo! What a deal. If you are lucky you are getting paid for being off today as well. This is my regular day off so I am off regardless of what President we are honoring or what ground hogs see when they look at the ground. The kids just got back from the Dentist in Mt Pleasant and got their teeth cleaned. I guess I will need sun glasses now to see their beautiful smiles. I am on Day 29 of my 40 days of purpose (porpoise) devotional study by Rick Warren.

The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church are two indespensible books for your library so if you don't have them rush right over to your nearest Christian Bookstore URL and get them. Experiencing God Day by Day is another book that has the same theme. Both authors , Blackaby and Warren have Southern Baptist Convention backgrounds if you are interested in that type of trivia. I have encouraged several friends to get this book and engage in working through the 40 days. One friend told me that she has had the book in her posession but has not chosen to do anything other than collect dust with it. Another friend is just starting the book and is beginning to work through the contents. Did I say that this book is not intended to make your comfortable or help you to stay wrapped up in your current security blanket? This book is not light reading either. You will either love this book or you will hate it. The book will challenge you to examine your views about a lot of different things with regards to your faith. Are you ready for that? Are you ready for change? Change means sacrifice and loss and therefore sometimes pain. Do you have some extra Excedrin in the medicine closet? If you do, it wont help. The Holy Spirit will be the only one that can administer healing with regards to the change and pain I am talking about. I wish you Jesus should you undertake this study. Get a pen, journal notepad and a nice cup of coffee and get started.

I am currently working on growing the membership of Jesus Connect Ministries BBS Jesus Connect Ministries BBS We have gone from 5 members to 16 members in the last 4 to 6 weeks. I can not tell you how excited about that I am. Well, yes, actually I can tell you. I am absolutely happy about it. We are paying an ISP to Co-host our server on their Internet backbone so we need to start using it for the glory of God.... If we are not then we are not being good stewards of what God has given us. Click on over to this location and see what is going on. Jump right in and tell us who you are and how you found us. You will be able to READ as a guest but you will need to sign up for an account to post a message so as soon as I see you requesting access I will process your account.

I hope you have a wonderful week! Keep Jesus Christ number ONE in your life. Its all about God, not about me...

God bless

How bad can my bowling get ??

My AVERAGE is going backwards instead of FORWARD. Sigh.... Yes, I NEED, I WANT a wha whaa whaaambulance....
I am seriously thinking about doing something else on Monday nights. I can barely break a score of 100 for the last two weeks. My last game was the BEST game tonight and it was a whopping 112! Cough..... GAG.... I am feeling ill....

What can I do that does not require hand eye coordination ? I need to take a cannon with me next week OR a broom stick handle so I can lash two bowling balls together. I might hit the head pin that way. LOL....

40 Days of Purpose Chapters 20 -23

Day 20- Relationships are always worth restoring

Verse to remember-Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Romans 12:18

Question to consider- Who do I need to restore a broken relationship with today?


Regarding the true definition of a broken relationship I can think of several.

Mother- unable to reconcile, tried several years and failed
Sister- lifestyle justification issues
Jeremy - time
Creditors - need to pay off debt



My father died in 1990 of cancer. Shortly before his death I attempted to make some type of amends with our shattered relationship. I wont go into all the gory details but I will say that we were never close to one another. As for my mother I spent between 2 to 3 years trying to reconcile our relationship. My mother and father adopted my sister and I. Both parents were strict disciplinarians and my sister and I both rebelled. As young adults our parents chose to disown us. We did not meet their standards of perfection. I spent a lot of time in the late 90's trying to reconcile my relationship with my mother. All my mother was willing to do was to regurgitate every single mistake that I have ever made and reinforce in her mind why I was not worthy of her time nor was she interested in knowing her grandchildren.

My sister Tanya who is 2 years older than me has her fair share of broken relationships, emotional baggage and problems. My sister moved to Canton Ohio many years ago and because of that we have not been very close. My sister revealed to me that she has been engaged in a homosexual lifestyle and expected me to affirm her and encourage her choices. Because I did not do that our relationship was strained to the point that we did not talk for several years. In the last couple of years I have managed to make a trip to Canton Ohio and spend some time with my sister trying to encourage her to make some tough decisions.

My son Jeremy who lives near Houston Texas will be 18 years old this year. We are not as close as I would like to be and part of that reason is because I have failed to stay close to him. In August of 1997 my family and I moved from Houston Texas to Atlanta Georgia. My moving made any type of close relationship almost impossible for us to maintain. Before our move our relationship was not the closest in the world but it was easier and more convenient for Jeremy and I to spend time together when I lived in the same city as him. I have been told that my moving away and taking contract jobs that kept me away from him reflected my lack of concern for his feelings. So, I guess that I have done some damage. I hope that it is not permanent and when Jeremy becomes an adult that he will be able to choose to reach out to me more than he has in the last 17 years.

My creditors would love for me to reconcile my relationships with them. We owe, we owe, off to work we go. How many of us sing that song because we are up to our eyeballs in debt. I am not stranger to debt and thanks to bankruptcy and a divorce my credit has been screwed up for years. I have also made some bad decisions after the bankruptcy that has not helped me either with regards to credit.

Chapter 21- It is my responsibility to protect the unity of the church

Verse to remember - Let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony and the growth of our fellowship together. Romans 14:19

Question to consider- what am I personally doing to protect unity in my church family right now?



I am remaining faithful and committed to the church body and the ministry that goes on within the body of Christ there. On page 161 we are instructed to "focus on what we have in common, not our differences". "We should value and enjoy those differences, not merely tolerate them."

On page 162 we see the following principle. "Be realistic in your expectations". "once you discover what God intends real fellowship to be it is easy to become discouraged by the gap between the IDEAL and the REAL in your church". "Yet we must passionately love the church in spite of its imperfections."

Having read this chapter I am reminded of two things. If I ever want the "ideal" fellowship to happen I will need to exemplify what "real" fellowship is through my actions. The second thing I have learned is that I need to constantly remind myself that everyone is on a unique path of their own and for me to expect them to understand and grasp the things I do is unrealistic. I wonder how many of my brothers or sisters in the Lord think the same thing of me? Gosh, why doesn't James get it?? Instead of focusing on the future of "real" fellowship at Grace Fellowship I need to find a way to focus on those things that we as a body of Christ DO have in common now and build on that. The following commands are excellent suggestions to protect unity in our church. " Choose to encourage rather than criticize". "Refuse to listen to gossip". "Practice Gods method for conflict resolution" "Support your pastor and leaders".


Chapter 22 - I was created to become like Christ

Verse to remember - As the spirit of the Lord works within us , we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. 2 Corinthians 3:18b

Question to consider - In what area of my life do I need to ask for the spirits power to be like Christ today?


The following statements are important to me in this chapter.

"every time you forget that character is one of Gods purposes for your ulife, you will become frustrated by your circumstances"


"life is supposed to be difficult ! It is what enables us to grow"


I need to learn how to welcome and embrace difficult circumstances in my life. I am like most people in that I do not cherish conflicts but would rather life to be hassle free and smooth sailing. I want my needs met but I also desire to have those things that I see others have. Lately I have found myself envious of people who appear to have extremely stable lives. That is my perception from where I am standing. Those people are those who have been able to keep a job for longer than 2 years, have a home they are purchasing, drive new cars etc. I realize that jealousy and envy is sin and I also acknowledge that some folks have made wise choices in their life that enables them to have certain things and enjoy certain activities and social status. I am reminded today that perhaps I do not see what goes on behind the perception I have with regards to stability in the lives of others. Maybe those people struggle in other areas of their lives that I can not see. Maybe their struggles in the areas of life that they are in are those character building blocks that Christ is using to bring them into likeness with him.

I need to take my eyes off of other people and their circumstances and outward appearances and stop comparing my life with theirs. I need to focus on my own life struggles and learn those lessons and character building that I can receive as I am going through them. I need to quit asking "Why me Lord" and "why cant I have a break just for a little bit" and "why do I have to go through long periods of intense battle and struggle". I need to learn to be thankful for God placing his grace and mercy on my life and caring enough about me to lead me through the trials and tribulations of daily sanctification. I am reminded of Christ praying in the garden knowing what was ahead of him. He asked God to remove the cup from him if at all possible but nevertheless that His will be done on earth and not his own. As I whine and moan and complain that life is so tough I am sinning against God. I need the Holy Spirit to give me the strength to perceive life as a character building and as a challenge to be obedient and make the right choices.

I also need assistance in the area of being servant. I need to learn how to seek out the needs of others and do whatever I am able to do to minister to them. I need to be more selfless and self seeking.