Jeff Jackson Live

You always have to ask is your organization, project, cause, etc is answering a problem. If it is not, then you need to regroup and try again. Well, www.helpendmalaria.com is our answer for fighting malaria. Although we are not going to conquer this deadly decease on our own we feel we are doing our part to make a difference. Big things are already happening through helpendmalaria.com. We are doing some cool things with World Vision coming up so stayed tune. And when I say huge…its huge!!

Every shirt you purchase at www.helpendmalaria.com we will send a treated mosquito net to Mozambique a county in Southeastern Africa. Buy your shirt now and start saving lives.

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I was recently challenged with a new idea for spiritual formation in the church. Most commonly, the church will do there best to “assimilate” their members into the church. This commonly happens when we connect people to small groups or a bible study. Churches have full time pastors on staff just working to assimilate or orientate their people into the fold. Lets just pause for a moment and consider we might have been doing this in the wrong direction….?? Yes, possibly we have been doing church wrong for years. The purpose of assimilation is to connect your people and for discipleship. What we we started asking people, “What talents has God given you that can serve the body?” or “What are you passionate about?” “What makes you move?” You see, maybe, if we started identifying peoples God given talents and passions and equipped them to live and operate within God’s structure instead of the church’s structure we might see more participation and more assimilation than ever in the history of church. I don’t know, I’m just a nobody in this mix but its time to start looking at how we do church and ask the tough questions. What do you think?

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I recently was reminded that in our culture men have become wimps. I for one am fed up with this and challenge all men to start acting like one. Our grandpas wouldn’t walk around without a pocket knife and now we can’t walk around without a latte. Something is wrong with this picture. I am not saying there is anything wrong with lattes but we have let culture ruin our perception of the man. TV will tell us that men are spineless, incompetent and unimportant. I know we are not perfect and we have definitely brought some of this misconception on ourselves but we have to be done acting like boys. MEN…grow up, man up, put a pocket knife in your pocket and eat some red meat. Just some randomness from my scattered thoughts. What do you think?

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Just finished our video for “Simply Christmas” offering on December 19th.  Check it out…

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I love this time of year – Holiday parties, Christmas trees, hot chocolate and the spirit of generosity that seems to swell up in our society. There’s something about peace on earth and goodwill towards men that makes me think about other people a little more than usual.  This year as you begin to purchase presents for friends and family I want you to consider others.

On December 19h we are going to take a special offering that will go directly to three ministry areas called Simply Christmas:

1. Our benevolence ministry – We have had so many opportunities to share the love of Jesus through helping others in need.  This ministry will bless many and we will see people give their lives to Jesus through this ministry.
2. Choices for Women – Each year there are 100s of ab0rtions in our community alone.  By supporting this ministry we will help educate individuals on the effects of abortions and they will have an opportunity to see their baby through the ministries ultra sound technology.
3. Local and National Church Planting – we have said from the beginning that we are going to be a church planting church.  So lets put our money where our mouth is and help plant others churches.  We have some exciting opportunities in 2011

This one day special offering will prove to be a very exciting day at Journey Church.  I want you to start praying now as to what God is asking you to give.  Please don’t give out of guilt or pressure but honestly take time, pray and ask the Lord to guide you through this special time of giving as we seek to celebrate through giving in the “Simply Christmas” season.  Learn more and give online if you are unable to attend our December 19th service.

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My friend Michael from Oak Leaf Church in Cartersville, GA recently wrote a post about submitting to someone else vision before promoting your vision.  I have never thought about this concept but it make lots of since.  He talked about youth pastors venturing out and planting churches because they don’t want a boss telling them what do to.  He suggest to his readers that they should submit to someone else vision first.

This shows lots of wisdom because when we submit to someone’s vision we learn first hand how to lead the people that will follow the vision that God has given us.  If your thinking about planting a church, attach yourself to a church plant a sell out to the vision and learn.  If you are looking for a team to join hit me up and we can learn how to plant churches together.

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I am down in Memphis, TN and Little Rock, AR this week meeting with potential partners for our church plant.  These churches are looking at helping us financially and bringing mission teams to our area.  With this said here are some random thoughts reflecting on this last week and the weeks ahead:

• Our church rocks!!
• Last Sunday was probably the most moving series I have experienced at Journey
• I am so pumped for our new marriage series starting next week.  www.canihaveanewmarriage.com (bring your friends)
• I love pastoring journey church!!
• I truly believe we are on the verge on a major breakout of the Spirit in our church and our community.
• The BEST is yet to COME!
• Can you believe there are already Christmas decorations up??!!
• I believe Sunday will rock your world when we study the foundation of marriage!!!!

That’s all for now…pray for me as I travel and meet with pastors and PRAY for SUNDAY we WILL see lives transformed by the Gospel!!

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No matter where your marriage is or was we have all been challenged in our marriage.  Some of you reading this today are ready to call it quits in your marriage.  On November 14th at Journey Church, we are starting a new series called “Can I Have a New Marriage.”  This series will take a look at what the Bible has to say about marriage.  We will find that most marriages that are struggling have a JESUS problem and not a MARRIAGE problem.  Join us on November 4th that will change your life and give you the best marriage on the face of this planet.

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I will have been married for 7 years this January so for some people I may not have enough “real life” experience to blog about marriage.  They are probably right…if I were just giving you my opinion.  The Bible gives us some core essentials that every marriage should have.  Here is part 1:

1. Unconditional Love – Ephesians 5:25 tells husbands to love their wife as Christ loves the church.  I know lots of men who will take a bullet for their wife but complain about spending time together watching a chick flick…does this make since?  Jesus Christ DIED for the Church.  He gave ALL so that we may have LIFE.  He DIED knowing people would REJECT Him.  He PROVIDED when we didn’t even know we had a NEED.  Are you seeing the sacrificial side of Jesus and how unconditional love should be in our marriages?  Unconditional loves says, “I will love you not matter what you do!”  Men, it starts with you and your wife will follow.
2. Respect – I have seen lots of husbands and wives that don’t even respect each other.  You can tell by the way they talk to one another and treat each other in public.  Philippians 2:3 says it all…view others more significant than yourself.  If we could do this then we would respect our spouses and we would see affinity in our marriages.  I believe that if we understood what respect is and how we use respect in marriage we would dramatically change the amount of divorce in America.

Work on these cornerstones in your marriage and we will discuss part 2 soon.

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God is making some amazing moves in our church.  He is going to use us for His greatness and glory.  However, as we continue to grow we will experience growing pains.  Here are 3 thoughts that will kill our growth:

1. “My old church never did that!” – If you are saying this because there is something that you don’t like then this is a thought that can kill growth.  Think about it this way, 3500-4000 are closing their doors permanently this year so if we did everything like we use to then we will close our doors!  Our methods might be different but our theology will not change.
2. “There are too many people here, I just don’t know anyone anymore!” – There will be a day when you don’t know everyone at church…(you might already be that person) we should be excited about this.  We should also still go out of our way to make people feel welcome and attempt to get to know them.  This is why small groups are so important at journey.  Small groups is the glue that holds it all together and a great place to experience biblical community.
3. “The worship is too loud and I don’t know the songs!” – Did you know that the music we play on Sundays is not for YOU?  I know, probably not what you wanted to hear.  If we think that the music is for us and to make us feel all good and gooey inside then we are destined to kill growth.  Our worship is for God and God alone and we should be praying that God ACTUALLY hears our worship.

Church,  God is at work and we need to make sure we don’t allow our human nature to mess it all up.  I am excited for what is to come because I do believe we still have the best to experience.  Lets just make sure we stay on track and in tune with God.

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