Woo-hoo!

In the words of U2 [the greatest rock band of all time!] “It’s a  beautiful day.” I love the Fall and I am so excited that we are getting closer and closer to cooler weather.

Here’s a question for everybody:

What is your favorite season?

Have a “Beautiful Day“,

josh

The weekend review…

Happy Monday! Can those two words even be put together?

I hope everyone had a great weekend. To be honest, it was a whirlwind…and I only wish it would have lasted longer.

Here are a few highlights:

• Friday was my birthday. I spent the day relaxing and reading at home.
• Friday night Carla and I went to Russellville with some friends to watch Butler Co. play. Before the game we went to Roy’s BBQ. I love Roy’s! They have the best fried pickles I have ever tasted.
• The football game was a nail-biter. We were tied with Russelville 7-7 at the end of regulation. The game went into three over-time periods before it was decided. Unfortunately, we lost 28-21. The Bears take on Edmonson Co. next week at home.
• Saturday we went to breakfast at Bob Evans. I ate way too much. You should try their crapes…very good.
• Saturday afternoon our church had a flag football tournament. I played QB, and did ok in spite of my bum ankle, which is doing well. My team lost both games to last second touchdowns.
• Sunday we had a guest teacher, Rick Roepke. It was great to get to hang out with him, and to have a Sunday off from teaching. But I am so ready to get back into it next week!
• Last night we got to spend some time with some friends who were in town for a visit. They are in a band and the BG was on their tour stop. Check out more about HuDost here.

All in all, it was a pretty great weekend! How did you spend your weekend?

Hope all is well.

josh

David and Goliath…

I could not believe my eyes last night. It was a classic David vs Goliath match-up. The undefeated, number one ranked Trojans of USC and the 1-2 Oregon State Beavers.  Nobody gave Oregon State a chance in this one. Well, nobody but Oregon State. The final score [27-21] gave Oregon State one of this biggest upsets in school history, not to mention throwing this seasons rankings for a loop.

This teaches us an important lesson in life…never count anyone out. They may be an underdog, but anything is possible!

Paul even says something similar in 1 Corinthians 1:

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let those who boast boast in the Lord.” [TNIV]

Now, I am not saying that God was rooting for Oregon State…I don’t think God cares about who wins a football game. But how often do we feel like we have nothing to offer? How often do we assume we can’t do something, or that we just aren’t good enough? God has always used the weak, the foolish, the “not good enough’s” to change history!

How do you respond when the odds are stacked against you? Do you count yourself out? Do you dig in and give it your best? How do you respond when you are the David in the story, not the Goliath?

Have a great weekend!

josh

This Sunday @ MCC…

I am so pumped about this Sunday for two reasons.

Reason #1: We have a guest teacher this week…which means that I get to listen and learn from someone else. An occasional break from teaching helps recharge my batteries and gives me a chance to refocus. Also, a week off reminds me of how much I love what I do.

Reason #2: That someone else is Rick Roepke!

Rick is a great person, with a big heart. Every time I am around him I learn something and I am challenged to go deeper in my faith. I can’t wait to hear what he has to share with us this week! You do not want to miss this, so invite a friend and join us.

What are you looking forward to?

josh

Mine is U2….who is yours?

Today has been incredibly busy and it shows no signs of slowing down. My friend Pete Wilson often asks, what he calls, “all-skate” questions. The goal is just to get to know one another a bit better. So, I thought today would be a good day at Intersections for an “all-skate” question. I would love to hear from all of you!

Here goes: Who is your favorite band/singer of all time and why?

Mine is U2. I love their sound and their lyrics are so inspiring.

Your turn…

josh

The power of a rumor

My good friend Randy Cook, pastor of Crossroads Community Church in Lebanon, TN recently wrote a post about “The Power of a Rumor.” Click here to read the post, then come back here and share your thoughts.

Can you believe that a rumor actually caused a gas shortage? Can you believe that people were actually buying more than four times as much fuel as they needed?

Can you imagine a world that takes Paul’s challenge in Philippians seriously?

^“3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” [Philippians 2v3-4 TNIV]

The weekend in review…

Last weekend flew by before I had time to know it was even here! Here are a few highlights:

• Friday night we watched Butler Co. win another game…the Bears are off to a great start at 4-0. Their first real challenge comes this week @Russellville.
• Saturday we went on a parade of homes in the BG. You would not believe some of these houses!
• Sunday was a great day at MCC. We talked about the effect that the love of money [materialism] can have on us. The challenge for us is to gain our identity from Christ, and not from comparing ourselves to others and trying to out do them.
• Yesterday afternoon we went to a reception for a couple in our church that is celebrating 60 years of marriage. That is so cool!
• The rest of the evening was spent in relax mode, trying to get ready for a busy week.

So, how did you spend the weekend? Do you have any good stories you would like to share?

Hope you have a great Monday.

josh

This morning @ MCC…

Here’s a sneak peek at this mornings message for all of you who visit the blog before coming to a service. This morning we are talking about “Where do God and money meet?”

Here’s the passage we will be focusing on:

” ⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6v6-10 [TNIV]

Have you ever experienced “the trap” Paul talks about here?

Hope to see you this morning,

josh

Where has this day gone?

Today has been packed full of stuff to do and it seems to have passed very quickly. I am finishing up a few odds and ends for the week [today is my Friday!!!], and then it’s game time. My West Virginia Mountaineers play at Colorado tonight on ESPN. I am hoping the ‘neers blow them out….we’ll see.

Hope all of you have a great evening!

josh

Who needs Jesus?

Last night Carla and I were picking up a few odds and ends at one of those large grocery store/department store/service station/fast food restaurant places. As we were walking toward the check out we passed a t-shirt rack, and one of the shirts really grabbed my attention.

I laughed [loudly] at first glance. It is a bit funny. I love the cross-hairs in the letter “o”. But as I thought more about it, I started to get a bit tweaked over it. Look at the finger that is pointing at everyone who passes by. This message suggests that everyone needs Jesus, except the wearer of this shirt. It is a bit self-righteous.

Honestly, I started wondering…who doesn’t need Jesus? We all do. We are all in desperate need of the healing and forgiveness that only he can bring to us.

So, let me be the first to say…I do need Jesus. And I am okay with that. It’s a good thing.

Do you ever find yourself thinking way too much about a message on a t-shirt?

josh