The Grove Church

Well, I feel like I have not written in quite some time.  I thought I should let you know what has been going on with me.  Lately I have been thinking about how I need to love people better.  The thought that keeps coming back to me is that I know a lot of stuff, but who cares?  Sure, I have an advantage in that if someone wanted to know something about my faith, I could answer them – but why would anyone want to know anything about my faith?  It is often repeated, but I am coming to know that this phrase is true: “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”

As I’ve been thinking about this and all the implications of this concept, I heard about a new church being planted right in the hub of my city (Hattiesburg, Mississippi).  This southern baptist church, called The Grove Church was going to meet in a shut down movie theatre which is located in a very much active mall.  A friend of mine and I decided to check it out.  I knew I would likely be back within the first few minutes of arriving.  Everyone was so loving.  I felt like an honored guest.  When you know someone special is coming over, you prepare.  How often in our churches do we not prepare or care for our guests?

Then I heard the sermon and it was rock solid theologically.  I have since met and talked with the pastor, and know for a fact that he will love and care for the people of Hattiesburg.  I began to feel excitement.  I had been in a state of feeling helpless.  I felt like nobody was fighting for the souls of my town in a strategic way.  I felt a pull toward this church.  Calvary Baptist Church had been my home and spiritual family, but I prayed about whether I should join this new effort.  I believe The Grove Church is where God wants me to be, so I’m holding on for an exciting ride.

Work Bible Study

I am considering starting a Bible study at my work (a Walmart Supercenter).  Do any of you have advice on things such as what to study, logistics, how to get people to come, etc.?  I really am wanting to know if this is of God or not, so also pray for God to give me wisdom.

- Justin

Holy Club

hcmemberJacob and I are now both contributors for a new site called Holy Club.  There are some contributors far better than me on here, so make sure to check it out and comment!  I just wrote a post called Show and Tell isn’t Just for Kids and Jacob wrote A Brief Post on Worshipping Rightly that you may want to read.

- Justin

Just a little quote

“Bring me a God all mercy but not just, bring me a God all love but not righteous, and I will have no scruples in calling Him an idiot of your imagination.”

Something to think about…

- Jacob

Haha

Boo! Bet ya’ll forgot I was a contributor on this blog, huh? Well summer’s here and my hectic school schedule is done with until next year (I’m a senior now! Yay!) so I have time to come back and hopefully post some articles. Nice to be back, and I’d like just to share a video with ya’ll.

Well that’s it for right now. :-)
A bondslave of Christ,
Jacob

Books I am Reading

  • Why I am a Baptist by Tom J. Nettles (edit0r)
  • 101 Ways to Reach Your Community by Steve Sjogren
  • 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Lane Jones, and Reggie Joiner
  • Sharing Your Faith with Friends and Family by Michael Green
  • Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication by Andy Stanley and Lane Jones

- Justin

My Car

UGH!  I just had to take out a loan to help fix my car (which isn’t worth much in the first place).  It cost a little over $2,000.  Not happy…

- Justin

Plant your Gospel Seeds with Fertilizer

Want your gospel tracts to have more of an impact?  Add some fertilizer!  Just a suggestion, but consider handing out a dollar bill when giving out gospel tracts.  It immediately gets the attention of the person you give it to.  When going to a drive through, give money (seperate from your purchase money) with a gospel tract.  Just wrap the bill around the gospel booklet and hand it to them.  Make sure to be very kind and have a warm presense.  When you give out gospel tracts, you are also adding fertilizer to your prayer life.  You will always have something to pray about when you have planted seeds of the gospel!

- Justin

Contest Winner!

The winner in the contest for the three books is Luis G.!   Thanks to all who participated.

- Justin

My Christian Blogs

After you have been in the blogging world, it is easy to get lost.  Suddenly the URLs become AWOL and you don’t know Internet Monk from Pyromaniacs.  Houston, we have a problem.  Well now MyChristianBlogs.com is bringing the quality meat from across the Christian blogosphese together.  Isn’t is so much easier when you just have to bookmark one site?

- Justin