UPDATE: Below is my original post but Kaine just turned me on to a very touching video that I want to share. It’s real short but very encouraging. 11 year olds can teach us some very powerful lessons.

I bet you didn’t know that Thanksgiving originated with a more important purpose than marking the start of a month-long shopping extravaganza did you?

I bet you also did not know that we can thank one woman for her personal campaign to make Thanksgiving a holiday. Early American settlers, each fall, would hold a feast and day of prayers thanking God for a bountiful harvest. This was a long standing tradition but was not a recognized holiday. Sarah Hale, who also wrote the nursery rhyme “Mary had a little lamb”, believed that this was of such importance that the government should make it a holiday. This eventually came to pass, all by the efforts of one woman driven by her convictions.

Hope you enjoyed that little nugget. So what does Thanksgiving mean to you this year? It seems like every year I have a different perception of Thanksgiving. A couple of years ago I don’t think I felt like it was my holiday. Last year was none too exciting, but the news early that morning that some Pastors in India I worked closely with were dragged out of their church and murdered in the streets made me appreciate just how lucky I was to be born an American. The only survivor had his hands crushed and was badly beaten. When I checked on him a few days later I learned he was back in the mission field, sharing the Gospel with an assistant to turn pages in his bible since his hands were crushed. Do you think I found something to be thankful for? You betcha.

I hope that this Thanksgiving will not just be a reminder of how much Christmas shopping you have to do. Don’t you even worry about that. Just enjoy the day off and spend some time with your family if you have them and get back to what the day is meant to be about; giving thanks to the Lord for our bountiful harvest – and yes we all have one. Maybe we don’t have a lot of money this year. Maybe our family situation is not what we would like it to be. Hey, this Thanksgiving I will probably be sitting right here in front of this computer eating some leftovers since the boys are gone to grandma’s with their mom. WHATEVER! One thing I will be doing this year is just focussing on God and thanking him for my harvest. I have 3 incredible boys who love me back. I have a roof over my head and my bills are not far behind, lol. I have been led to an amazing church family and all my old friends have been multiplied with new ones who are for real with none of that fake huggin and smiling just to backstab you when you turn around. I’m very grateful for our freedom to worship anywhere or anytime we want to. Nobody has ever ran in the door at FCC to drag the preachers outside and beat them to death. PRAISE GOD! We are so fortunate. Every last one of us.

I pray everyone who reads this has a great day of Thanks to God. If you stop and count your blessing, the other stuff won’t seem nearly as significant.

John

Posted under FROM THE HEART

Hi everybody. Seems like time to blog has been non-existent lately. I’ve been working on a lot of stuff lately to get some other sites online and working for some good folks. I am just finishing up on a project for some really awesome new friends that have such a good heart for ministry.

I encourage you to check out christsongministry.org the next chance you get. I have really enjoyed working on ChristSong’s web site. I have been listening to their music too. They are working on a new CD which is really awesome. I’ve had the insider’s privalege to listen to the new stuff and I am gonna go ahead and give it an enthusiastic 5 stars! Keep a watch out for the new album next year.

As you’re checking out their new MOJO website (that’s called a shameless plug y’all) consider supporting them in some way. One good way would be to buy up a bunch of those CDs and give them as gifts this year. But at least pray for these fine peeps.

Bobby, Nancy & Caroline are so talented. Today I was on the phone with Bobby and he said he just didn’t understand how I could do the things I do on the computer. I put things into perspective and explained to him that I felt the same way when I listened to them sing and play. I just don’t comprehend how anyone can do that. I’m a lover of music so these projects are special to me but I’m certainly not blessed to sing or play AT ALL.

I’m getting started on another small project for Life Challenge of Western North Carolina. Their current site is located at lifechallengewnc.com. We’ll be converting them to the MOJO platform and doing a total redesign.

I’m about to open up my own hearth shop here in Black Mountain (huge news). I’ve been in the business for over 15 years. I got out in June of this year but the economy has really had an effect on my ability to stay out of it. Alternative energy is sort of a reverse economy industry. I miss it too. I guess you can’t do something you like for that long and not miss it when you get out of it. So, Jack’s Stove Shop will be opening early 2009. Check out the MOJO for jack’s stove shop at FireByJack.com although it is a work in progress. Don’t ya know you can’t have a store without a web site?

Well, there’s a little wassssuuuuup to let you know where I’m at. I sure intended to blog a lot more lately but it’s all good. Most of my friends know but I might as well add it for those that wonder why the calendar is empty. No, we didn’t quit ministry. My buddy Russ over at HellFire Ministries is keeping the calendar up. We’ve been doing a lot. Russ is ON FIRE! Jump on over to hellfireministries.org and watch him burn on his MOJO (have I no shame?)

I love y’all. Be good and drop me an e once in a stinkin while ok? Wassup don’t people talk anymore? Do I have cyber B-O or something?

Take care peeps. Talk to you again soon.

John

Posted under WASSSUP!

A few days ago I was running a little early to pick up Kaine at School. What a blessing that turned out to be!

Kaine is such a good kid. He’s creative, ambitious, talented, smart, all that stuff. Just one thing, Kaine does not like school a whole lot. Sitting still is not Kaine’s forte and we learned that way back in first grade.

Through working with his school counselor, we decided to try an alternative school in our district that is more hands-on. The class incorporates projects into their cirriculum. That sounded like a good environment for Kaine so we have given it a try. Kaine says, “it’s still school” but his grades are improving and he likes it better. I like that the teacher to student ratio is 1:6! That is amazing.

Anyway, with about 15 minutes to kill before school dismissed I just sat in the burb listening to some tunes and admiring the vintage building that reminded me of my old school. As I sat there with just a few more minutes to go, I kept seeing young girls walking into a little facility with a playground behind the High School. Then the girls would come back out carrying their babies! As I sat there watching all these little girls leaving school and picking up their babies from the school’s own daycare center, I got a little emotional to be honest. I wanted to cry a little and then again I wanted to get out of the burb and cheer!

You know, we have all made irresponsible choices in life. We’ve all messed up. Heck, my mom messed up! Right there in my car I decided to pray. I thanked God for this school and for whomever pushed this through the system. What if this school were not here? How many young girls in high school can afford to pay day care so they can continue school? Typically, the girl would be forced to quit school and take care of the baby or get a job. Thanks to Buncombe East High School thse girls have been given a fighting chance of success and a normal life even though they have made a mistake.

I have heard that some officials in the county want to terminate the school. I am sure this facility is more expensive in some ways with what they offer but what are these students’ futures worth? Would you mind joining me in prayer for Buncombe East High School? Also pray that more of these schools would open in our region. I am convinced that this is a good thing. It only took 15 minutes of watching to see that.

Thank you very much. Blessings & Peace

John

Posted under FROM THE HEART

That’s what my little sticker says so I thought that was a cool headline.

This morning I got up and 5:45 so I could throw on some shorts, brush my teeth and go the 3 blocks to Noah’s school to cast my ballot.

I’ve voted many, times but this year was different. I could not wait to vote! I even tried to vote early but was just way too busy. I have never followed a campaign like I have this Presidential campaign between McCain & Obama. Besides all that, I felt so privaleged to be there free to choose our Government officials. I think of all the fighting and all the men and women who have lost their lives to guarantee Iraq the same freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis. The same was done for us. Our freedom wasn’t free. There was a cost to pay and I am so thankful to our Veterans who have guaranteed us this freedom.

Please vote today. When you do, think of our veterans and say a prayer for them. All gave some, and some gave all for us to have this great opportunity to choose.

God Bless You.

John

Posted under Uncategorized