Friday Favs: New Blog Launching SOON!

My new weblog, TOLIVEISCHRIST.CC, is launching SOON! Be on the lookout. Hopefully, everyone will like the new digs. Thanks Heath for hooking me up with the new site.

Most Effective Form of Disciplining Your Kids

OK parents, I have a question for you in regards to our PARENTHOOD series at graystone and my message last Sunday, How to Prevent Spoiled Rotten Kids.

What has been your most effective form of disciplining your kids? When you answer, please include the age of your child at the time of the discipline. Also, I would be curious to know..."Do/did you spank your kids?".

Let's hear it.

Prayer for Haiti Team

My cousin, Matthew Porter, who is a family practice doctor in Waco, Texas is serving in Haiti this week as part of an 11 person medical team from his church, Antioch. Here is an update from his team:

They arrived safely last night to the Dominican Republic and he said everyone is doing well and in good spirits. They worked for several hours today in the Good Samaritan Hospital in Jimani, DR treating puncture wounds, broken limbs, and performing some amputations. Tomorrow they are planning on all sticking together and heading in as a team to Haiti to continue serving the need. They have had great favor with the people there and have several options for how to proceed in Haiti.

Please pray with me this week for Matt and his fellow teammates. Pray for their strength and safety. Pray that they can share the love of Jesus and give beyond measure to these people in great need. Thanks for your prayers!

One Thing

I hope you are taking the B90X challenge. Yesterday, I read this classic passage of Scripture:

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

Two questions for application:

1. What are the "many things" that you are worried and upset about? Write them down and turn then over to the Lord.

2. What is the one thing that you need to focus on today?

You never know how God will use you.

I received the below facebook message yesterday. It is from a fellow JSU alumni who interviewed me in the Fall of 1990 for an article in the school newspaper, The Chanticleer. If you are interested, you can read the article here. The article is in the Sports section on pages 15 and 17. You never know how God will use you to impact others for Christ. We can plant seeds and water them. But God causes the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

Theresa, thanks for the encouraging words and sending me this old article. Two side notes: I look really young in the picture (not sure what kind of haircut I had going on?) and it bothers me that Pi Kap won the flag football championship in the Fall of 1990.

Here's the facebook message:

Hi Jonathan!

In looking at the archives of Chanticleer's that are online at JSU, I found an old article where I interviewed you. I just want you to know that I thought you were a little crazy when I wrote this story, but I dedicated my life to Christ in March of 1991 after a co-worker invited me to church. I then married that co-worker in Aug. 1991! It hard to believe that has been almost 19 years!

Sometimes we never know the seeds that we lay out in people's lives, but I remembered everything you told me in your interview and God used it in my life. I don't think I've ever had the chance to tell you that, so thanks to FB, I can.

In Christ,
Theresa Maskew Shadrix

http://lib-www.jsu.edu/archives/chanticleer/1990/Chanticleer-November-8-1990.pdf

Monday Morning Download

"Kyle and the Band" were "Bad to the Bone"

Speaking of "BTTB"....20-3, 34-3, 45-14, 13-2....beat downs

Can't wait for the NFC Championship Game...Who dat! Pulling for a Saints vs Colts Superbowl.

Speaking of wins, Julia's bball team got their 2nd w Saturday...Coach Johnny got a little "too competitive". I'm not perfect.

Using the phrase "bat out of Hell" (9:15 service only) is technically not cussing. Is it? Someone joked with me about being like "the cussing pastor". Please don't go there. I don't even use the words "k-rap" or "suc-cess".

Speaking of success, the parking team impresses me every week. I think it has either rained or been freezing cold every single Sunday that we've been in the new building.

Love the new "g" sign on the building...not sure if anyone noticed it.

Unfortunately, we do not notice a lot of things happening around us. Do you believe in angels?

Echoing Angels is playing at Graystone on February 6-7.

February 7 is Jenn last "official" birthday. Don't think she will get a birthday spanking.

Wow, I didn't realize so many parents don't spank their kids.

I guess that's why there are so many spoiled kids in America today. (Proverbs 13:24)

Times sure have changed. I think Andy has a good old fashioned woodshed out back.

Well, my parents were old school and I love them for it.

Friday Favs: new blog name

I shared at the end of 2009 that we were looking to give Johnny's Blog a major facelift/redesign. And we are not doing this because Josh Whitehead called my blog "ghetto". He is just jealous because I have more readers than him...not that it's a competition or anything. Well, we (the brain trust) are not ready to launch the new site and new design, but we have landed on a new name and secured the domain rights. I am not ready to reveal the new name, but I wanted you to see some of the names that we were brainstorming. Can you guess which one of these is the new name for my weblog? Which is your favorite?

unfiltered

uncensored pastor

in it to win it

mississippi mullets and more

lagniappe

beyond the walls

to live is christ

homerun jesus

the big boned pastor

big dawg's blawg

go beyond

more than sundays

jesus wears a sweatband

gather grow give go

howes' life

life on life

know god blog