crave

So yeah I am totally slack...

2007-01-31T08:41:00.000-05:00

HEY....BYE...~WHEN THE FANTASY HAS ENDED AND ALL THE CHILDREN ARE GONE SOMETHING GOOD INSIDE ME HELPS ME TO CARRY ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ATE SOME BUGS I ATE SOME GRASS I USED MY HAND TO WIPE MY.......... TEARS AWAY! FOR YOU I WILL BREAK MY VOWS NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NOO WAY JOSE. UNLESS YOU WANT TO AND THEN WE WILL BREAK OUR VOWS TOGETHER.......

okay....I'm slack

2006-02-15T10:54:00.000-05:00

Sorry everybody......I have been really slack in keeping the blog up. There is no excuse.....but I'm going to try and keep it up a couple times a week.

Couple of reminders........LIVE CRAVE IDOL THIS SUNDAY NIGHT!!!!!! DONT MISS IT

WinterJam this friday.....will leave church at 4:45......Its going to be a blast!!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

REMINDERS

2006-01-27T14:13:00.000-05:00

Hey just wanted to remind you of a few things.....

CREATION is tomorrow night...Saturday.....its going to be AWESOME. It starts at 6 SO DON"T MISS IT!! Oh....and did i mention there is FREE PIZZA!!!!!!!! HORAAY!

Also week two of crave idol is this sunday night.......This one is hilarious!! Trust me you don't want to miss it. So bring ALL your friends!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!!!

Mixed up

2006-01-24T11:30:00.000-05:00

I heard a story the other day about a pastor who told his congregation one sunday morning that they had a very special guest in the building. To make a long story short....he said that Tim Magraw and Faith Hill were in the building and wanted to greet the people. Now this is a very large and contemporary church so this was something that could very well happen. People started freaking out!! They were getting out cameras and running to the front so they could see. When the pastor said, "Lets give them a warm welcome" The place went CRAZY!! The pastor walked off stage........people cheered for a solid minute.....until the pastor walked back on stage and said he was just kidding.........

You wouldn't believe how mad people got. People actually got up and left.......his point was that we get so pumped and passionate about people that we have never met, when the God of all creation (Jesus) was there all along. Why can't they get that passionate about Him? TALK ABOUT STEPPING ON TOES!!

But this made me think.......Why do we do that? we freak out and go crazy over people who don't even know we exist. They could care less if we lived or died...... yet we neglect and mistreat the people who are there and love us every day. Something is messed up!! We have our priorties all mixed up....

Stop wasting your time on things and people who don't care about you. Begin to focus on relationships that are meaningful....ones that build you up instead of tearing you down. Thank God everyday for the people who LOVE you. People you know would be there no matter what. And here is the key....TREAT THEM RIGHT! It is so easy sometimes to take advantage of people who love unconditionally, because we know that no matter what we do, they will be there.

Lets get back to the way that we were told to live....IN LOVE. Not fake conditional love......but unconditional, passionate, no strings attached love. And when you find people who love you like that.........HOLD ON TO THEM!!!!

Just my thoughts
Josh

2006-01-24T08:53:00.000-05:00

Last night at FCA we talked about John 13:1-17. It's the the story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. I know that sounds a little odd, but think about it...the God of all creation washed someone's feet! Now they didn't have regular showering time way back when so their feet had to be pretty disgusting...but Jesus was willing to serve them. He knew that Judas would betray him soon....but he served him just like the others. Now if the the creator of the whole universe can get down on his knees and wash the feet of a man who would soon cause his death on the cross...can we not give a simple hug, a "thank you", or a"is there anything you need?"Just get rid of your pride long enough to do something for someone else....and you'll be that much closer to being just like Jesus!

-Nora

CRAVE IDOL!!!!!!

2006-01-20T16:15:00.000-05:00

We did the filming of the very first crave idol last night and I have to say.......IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! Crave idol is going to be DA BOMB....so i PROMISE that you do not want to miss it.....so go ahead and start calling all your friends, pick people up off the street, kidnap people, whatever you have to do......GET THEM TO CRAVE SUNDAY NIGHT!!!!

Wes is going to be our special guest....so if you don't know who he is COME AND SEE!!!!!!

See-ya at crave!!

josh

Life

2006-01-18T10:21:00.000-05:00

this may be long so bare with me

In his book "Dangerous Wonders", (which i highly recommend), Mike Yaconelli tells a story about his 4 year old son......

He talks about how when his son was 4 they had their first big snow of the year. It covered the entire yard. They began to get excited because it was going to be his son's first time experiencing snow.......So they got the video camera ready, his son was so excited that he could hardly stand it. Mike went ahead and went outside so that he could catch the first reaction......Then they opened the door and his son came out......first it was a shock as the cold air hit his body....and then the tingling sensation of the snow flakes falling on his face, it was breathtaking........soon though the excitement set in and the joy on his sons face was unexplainable............I wish that this could be the end of the story, a story of excitement & passion....but soon the son would grow up and lose the awe and wonder of that moment. God's creation was no longer breathtaking......

He also gives another illustration that really relates to my life. When I was a kid I loved Superman. I would actually get my moms towels and tie them around my neck. Then I would run around looking for things to jump off of because I thought I could fly! I take that back....I knew I could fly! Even though my mom and other people keep telling me, "YOU CAN'T FLY", I didn't believe them...I KNEW i could........but then a sad thing happened...I grew up. Soon "logic" and "reason" set in and i realized that no matter how hard i tried.. I couldn't fly.............

Doesn't this sound like life? Remember being a kid, how much you enjoyed life, how much fun you had......then we "grow up".......all of the sudden stress sets in, responsibilty sets in, we began to work, we become busy, all of the dreams we had as a child people began to tell us aren't realistic.............we stop believing that we can fly......

But this isn't the life that Jesus wants for us! John 10:10 says that God wants to give us a BETTER life than we ever imagined. God wants us to know that we can fly............
I don't know who is reading this but i do know that God wants you to have a better life than you ever imagined! What are you passionate about? if you had no limits, what would you do?......
DO IT! Don't let people, culture, the world, the church, or whoever tell you that you can't do it! YOU CAN! Follow your dreams and don't stop until you achieve them....

Maybe your reading this and you feel like nothing is happening in life...your not sure what your dream is. I want to encourage you to look down deep. Think like a child. What are you passionate about? What gets you excited? God works out of the desires of our heart....Maybe thats why Jesus said to become like little children....to rediscover your passion, and have the faith to know you can do it..........

Don't settle. Don't settle for a mediocre life, don't settle for mediocre relationships, DON'T SETTLE!! Pursue a life of passion and a life that is....Better than you ever imagined!

Josh

Rain, Rain, Rain

2006-01-13T15:11:00.000-05:00

Man it just started pouring here in Seneca! it came out of nowhere..........I don't know about you but I don't like rain, it kind of gets me in a depressing mood.........but guess what?....there is nothing that I can do about it. Nothing that I do can prevent it from raining.

Since I am on that...here are some thoughts from DEEPER........

For those of you that weren't there, we talked about Matthew chapter 11. Where John the baptist is in prison and sends some of his disciples to ask Jesus if He is the One or should he be looking for someone else. Isn't this an odd question? John had already seen Jesus perform miricales....he even baptised Jesus, and heard the AUDIBLE voice of God! This would be enough to erase all doubts about Jesus being the Son of God. I mean Johns ENTIRE purpose was to pave the way for Christ!......So why did he ask that question?.........................
Because he was in prison! And it didn't seem like Jesus was coming to do anything about it!

Even more puzzling is the response that Jesus gives......He bascially tells him about all the miricales going on. (blind people are seeing, dead being raised, etc) Things that John ALREADY KNEW!!!! I'm sure this wasn't comforting to him......I can hear him saying..But what about me! Those things are great but I need You to come through for me!............

But listen to what Jesus says, Blessed is the man who doesn't fall away on accout of ME.....
That is a puzzling statement.......Basically Jesus said I'm not coming through for you this time, but your still going to be blessed if you hold on................you see John died in that prison.

What does this mean? You see Jesus had a kingdom mind set...He understood that to win a war you had to have some casualties.....

How does this apply to us? Maybe.. just maybe. Being a christian is not all about you. Maybe its more about US. And maybe we, as individuals, have to lose some personal battles sometimes in order for the overall war to be won......

Maybe you fell like God hasn't come through for you in some situations, but maybe there is a bigger picture going on. Even though we can't see it God knows what is going on..........remember God is in CONTROL!!...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this....whether you agree or disagree........

Josh

It stinks being sick!!!!

2006-01-11T10:49:00.000-05:00

Don't you just hate being sick? I DO......... Last night I went to bed feeling fine...and about 3:30 a.m. I woke up with the worst stomach ache I think I have ever had...I will spare the details about the events that followed, but it was awful!!!! It ruined my perfect night of sleep. It actually made me mad!!!! I had no idea that it was coming..........

Doesn't this kind of remind you of life. Things are going great, everything is going smooth and then BAM!! Something happens thats ruines the harmony.....Things come unexpected and alot of times they are painful. They are things that we don't want to deal with....but the reality is that we HAVE to deal with them. As much as I wanted that stomach ache to go away, it didn't. I had to fight through it. I had to ALLOW it to disrupt my perfect night of sleep.....

We are going to talk about some of this tonight at DEEPER.....So dont miss it!!

If you are not able to be there I will post later on what we discuss....SEE-YA

Josh

Happy Monday!!

2006-01-09T14:17:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody!!!!! I hope you are having a great day......last night was AWESOME!! I really believe that this time next year we are going to look back and see that last night was the beginning of something GREAT!!!!!! Just remember that we have to stay focused on what God has called us to do this year. If you don't know or if you weren't there read the post under this.... Anyway just wanted to express some random thoughts today......here goes....

1. This FAST is EXTREMELY hard- this is one of the hardest things that I have ever done. It is amazing how much food rules our lives.....I can just hear cheeseburgers calling my name!

2. My foot really itches............no it really does

3. i can't believe that football season is really over!.....Clemson finished 21st in the nation...GO TIGERS

4. Crave idol is going to be the BOMB!!...... DO NOT MISS IT!!! it starts January 22nd

5. LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006!

2006-01-02T10:36:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!! I can't believe that it is already 2006......Time is flying by!

Anyway, I have spent a lot of time lately thinking about the new year. Asking God to direct me where Crave student ministries is supposed to go. And I felt like God wasn't telling me anything!......I was starting to get frustrated, when God began to deal with some stuff in my life.
Thats when I realized that the stuff I was going to go through in 2006 and the direction that God was taking me.....is exactly where he wants the youth ministry to go! God will take me first so I can lead you guys..... So I will give you a preview of what we are going to talk about on Sunday night. These are the 3 things that we are going to be about in 2006......

1. Salvation--- Crave is going to be a place where hurting people can find the Saviour that they have been looking for. I'm not saying that we haven't done this, but this year we will put forth way more effort in providing an atmosphere that people can fell comfortable coming to. A place where they can find Jesus.......

2. Growth---- We are going to grow not only numerically but spiritually, financially, and in every other area of our lives. Let me make one thing very clear. GOD IS CONCERNED WITH NUMBERS and so should we! Not so that we can be the biggest, but so that we can enlarge the kingdom of God......people that say it's not about numbers feel that way until somebody close to them becomes one of those numbers.

3. LIFE---- That right we are going to be about life in 2006. What do I mean? I mean that we are going to enjoy life and show people that being a follower of Christ is the most AWESOME thing in the world!! We are going to have the joy that Christ instructed us to have.... To have life and have it more abundantly!!!

This is just a quick preview of what we are going to talk about Sunday night!....So don't miss it!!

2006 is going to be the BOMB!!!!!

Josh

Did you have a good Christmas?

2005-12-30T13:56:00.000-05:00

I hope that everyone had an AWESOME christmas! I know I did......... I got an ipod nano, which is the BOMB!!! Then on Monday I left to go to Orlando to watch the TIGERS play!!.....WHICH THEY WON 19 to 10! GO TIGERS!!

Anyway I probably won't be post anymore until next week. (i know you are going into depression right now) but everybody have a HAPPY NEW YEAR and be safe!

Dont forget we are not having crave on the 1st, but we will start back on January 8th

CRAVE IDOL IS COMING SOON!!!!!! you don't want to miss it!!!!

Love you guys

Josh

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

2005-12-23T10:29:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!!! Just wanted to say.......

Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome!

2005-12-20T14:54:00.000-05:00

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of Fall to the fragrance of Spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings, all exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing, God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing, God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the Sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night, none can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing, God
All powerful, untameable,

Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing, God You are amazing, God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing, God
Incomparable, unchangeable,
You see the depths of my heart and you love me the same
You are amazing God

What a AWESOME song by Chris Tomlin!....... How do you explain God?..... You can't!....He's indescribable......This song really makes me think about what an awesome God we serve.....
I love HIM so much.....Be thankful everyday for Jesus!!

Love you guys

Josh

Getting some HOT CIDER!

2005-12-20T09:57:00.000-05:00

Good morning!! I am sitting here at Amici's coffe bar in Seneca, waiting on my hot baked apple pie cider!! Its going to be the bomb!.......I just discovered this place and I will be here all the time...I highly recommend it....
Anyway will be posting some thoughts a little later today....See-ya

Josh

THANKS!!!

2005-12-18T22:20:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting here at my computer after the church banquet, just thinking about how lucky I am to be at Tri- County...... I love you guys with all my heart............... this youth ministry is the BOMB......and it has nothing to do with me, YOU guys make it what it is..you're the heart and soul......I'm so proud of each and every one of you, and if there is anything that I can ever do for any of you....please don't hesitate to let me know...................

Anyway..... have a great night....

Josh

What if?!

2005-12-12T14:58:00.000-05:00

I was thinking today about the controversy surrounding the issue of some churches not having a christmas service on christmas day......while my opinion doesn't matter, it amazed me how all of the controversy was between CHURCHES!! Not the world! we are arguing amongst ourselves!!

So I began to think about what would happen if churches united about issues like we fight about them......could you imagine what would happen to this world. What if we as the body of Christ came together (like He says we should) to help reach a lost and dying world?

Which brings me to my point....I believe the greatest hinderance to the church is...well.....the church. We are so divided. I don't mean denominations, I think denominations are good. It adds diversity to the body of Christ. But i am talking about being united in our purpose, not method. There is no force on earth that could stop us if we only realized that there is no one true method to doing church. That is what most of the arguing is about......we never argue that Jesus came and died, but we argue about what music should we play, traditional or contemporary, videos or no videos, etc....... THOSE THINGS DON'T MATTER! As long as your method is not contrary to the Word of God.....GO FOR IT! Reach people how ever you can!

So don't criticize churches who do things different than you think they should....they are going to reach people you never will. Instead unite with them, knowing that your purpose is the same... reaching a lost and dying world...but your method of doing it is just a little different

Just my thoughts

Josh

SORRY!!

2005-12-06T11:32:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!!! I have been really slack about our blogspot, and I want to apoligize with ALL MY HEART!! I'm going to do a better job.......

anyway..... I have been sick the past two days, and i hate it! Being sick is no fun.....but I feel a little better today, so thats good.......

anyway.....clemson is going to Orlando to play in their bowl game, against colorado.. we are going to kill them, i already have my tickets.. GO TIGERS!!

anyway.....crave was awesome sunday night, we did a missions emphasis and 16 students signed up to go! Thats doulble last year........hopefully they all get to go!

anyway.....this has been random comments

anyway.... I'm glad its not raining any more

anyway..... I love corndogs!

anyway...... bye

see-ya
josh

anyway..........................................

Disturbing!

2005-11-30T16:16:00.000-05:00

I just read an article that really distured me.....its about a policeman who found his 14 year old old son dead in his room........let me explain
This guy was a drug officer and thought that he knew everything about drugs, he even had a drug dog that lived with him.....he thought there was no way that drugs could ever get into his house. Well he had just bought a new computer and got some of this stuff called DUST OFF, it is compressed air that cleans dust off your computer and anything else you want to clean. the guy had bought a couple of cans and came home one day to find all them empty. He asked his son and his son said that he was just playing with it and that he was sorry for using it all. The dad went back the next day and bought a jumbo size can. The next morning the guys wife went into the son's room and found him slumped over dead with the straw hanging out of his nose.......
WHAT IS GOING ON!!

This really confused me so i did some research.... i found out that this has become a popular thing amongst teenagers, it is called DUSTING. They put the straw from the can into their nose and pull the trigger....it gives them a high for about 10 seconds. They think it is harmless. What they don't realize is that there is a chemical in the can that prevents oxygen getting to your brain....which can kill you instantly. You can't overdose, it's like russian roullette.....you never know when it could happen. If you know of anyone who does this or if you do this.....
STOP NOW!! It is very dangerous and is not worth dying over.................

But what really disturbs me is where is the church body in this kids life? It tells me that people are searching for something. And they are willing to look for it in any shape or form.....Even a DUST OFF can........What if we as the church began to really give people the drug that can save their life and not kill them? Stories like this tell me that we are not doing our job.... we have to constantly be on the lookout for hurting people.....people who need CHRIST!!

Maybe its time that we lived out God's command... (love God, love OTHERS) ..... or simply.. put others before yourself.........then, maybe we will save a life.......like that 14 year kids.....

Love you guys
Josh

What a dreary day!

2005-11-28T13:20:00.000-05:00

I hate rainy days like this....I know that is being negative but you will have to forgive me. i feel like i could have slept all day today. I hope that everyone had an AWESOME thanksgiving! i did but I ate way to much!.... i still have enough food to last until next thanksgiving!!

Last night was the bomb at crave! Especially the worship! i love it when we do more of the acoustic sound.....its so easy to worship to. We had a lot of people pledge to get their priorities right with 1. Christ 2. Family 3. Church.........

On a different note I want to know who got my password to post on this site?...THATS NOT COOL! And look what you have done to Willie..what did he do to you?
ITS ON NOW!! I will find out who you are! You have forced me to unleash the CPD (crave police department)......and there will be severe punishment for the criminal (thats right your a criminal!!)

If you have any information on the case please post or come to me in private....there will be a reward for the person who helps the CPD find these criminals!!!!

WHERE'S WILLIE?

2005-11-27T19:30:00.000-05:00

WHERE IS HE I DON'T KNOW

Happy TURKEY DAY!!

2005-11-22T11:53:00.000-05:00

Hey eveyone!!! this may be one of the last times I get to blog before Thankgiving so I just wanted to say........
HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!! I would like for everyone to eat as much as they possibily can!.......
I know I will.....

Also we will have crave sunday night the 27th so make
sure you don't miss it!!

I love all you guys and make sure you eat ALOT!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Josh

Tigers WIN!!!!

2005-11-21T11:24:00.000-05:00

What can I say the Tigers win AGAIN!! But this year was a lot different.... The last couple of years we have dominated Carolina and while I think it was obvious that we still have the best talent(for right now) usc was still in teh game at the end. I have to say that spurrier is a great coach,........ but clemson is still the BOMB!! and we are still usc's DADDY!!!!!

13-9
GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really hope that we go to the peach bowl, it's a really fun bowl to go to!

Have a great day
Josh

Go TIGERS!!

2005-11-18T11:30:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow night is the big game!! Clemson vs usc!!!... even though Carolina has a much better team then last year, I still don't think they have the talent to beat us this year...but I 've been wrong before.............All I can say is....... C....L.....E....M....S....O.....N!!!!!!!!!
Fight Tigers, Fight Tigers, Fight Tigers,
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!
GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More thoughts on last night

2005-11-17T11:03:00.000-05:00

James 1:5-8
If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. 6Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. 7Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, 8adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

I have been thinking a lot about what we talked about last night in Deeper, and I think all of you had some great questions..... but one of the main ones that really stuck with me is what Heather asked.. Basically how do you change that mind set, how do you pray to God for things like a healing, and really not have any doubt in your heart? It is easy to pray for something but it is extremely hard to actually know and believe, with out a shadow of doubt, that God is going to take care of it. So how do you not doubt?

The more I thought about it the more Micheal Jordan came to mind. Micheal Jordan is the greatest basketball player that ever lived. Every time the bulls need a game winning shot, Jordan begged to have the ball in his hands. He knew that he could make the shot, there was no doubt in his mind........whats the point? The point is that Jordan didn't start out that way. Early in his carreer he had to take a lot of shots, make a lot of shots, and miss a lot of shots, before he ever had that kind of confidence. But the more shots he made, the more games he won, his confidence grew and he began to EXPECT the ball to go in. Even if he missed a game winning shot in a particular game...it didn't faze him. The next game he still wanted the ball.

My point is that our faith is that way.......the more times we trust God, and more times that God comes through for us, the more we began to expect things when we pray. But we have to get to a point to where if we miss a shot occassionally the next time things come we still EXPECT God to come through! Our faith is a process, just like our relationship...but if we never but our faith into pratice then it will never grow, just like our relationship! What I'm trying to say is begin to expect things when you pray. It may be tough at first, but God IS going to come through for you...and the more He does the more your faith grows!!!

Have a great day!
Josh