Death's View: Tribute to Grandpa Jenkins

I’m going to end your life. Where ever you are or whatever you are doing, in time, I’ll be there. Whether you are busy or whether you are asleep, when I get the nod, you and I will go for a walk. There you and I will leave those ailments behind that caused you pain: sickness, disease, dehabilitation, injury, stress or even a broken heart. You will thank me you know. Many see me as an event they despise. Like it’s my fault or something! Yet I am but a chapter’s end to a life created by another. If the other is an unknown to your soul, I’m sure our walk will last awhile for I cannot stand the heat down there! All that bickering, moaning and gnashing of teeth just isn’t my cup of tea.
Ah, but for the soul that knew the Creator that brought me to you, that walk will be such a more joyous one to walk! Whatever you were dealing with, whatever physical ailment that brought us together is no more a thought. It is no more a part of the soul that met me. These are the ones that make my job worthwhile! They actually LOOK FORWARD to meeting me! They put their arms around me and smile as we walk. They care about my day and what my journey has been like up to their arrival and LISTEN to me! And oh boy, when they see their greeting party at those big golden gates….it actually brings a sense of WOW to even my darken existence.
The other day I met yet another soul in need of transport and this one topped them all. Not only did I get a smile and an arm around me, he asked me if I would do HIM the honor of escorting him to meet the Creator and his family. I must say that I’ve never been told it was an honor to escort anyone, but this soul seemed anxious; anxious to the point of walking faster than I had before. When we arrived at those giant golden gates, his eyes just sparkled in amazement. Then you should have seen the amount of greeters! Led by a small, but precious soul surrounded by butterflies, they greeted him in mass. It was the most confirming moment of the Creator’s plan I have witnessed to date….and believe me, there have been PLENTY!
What is my point to explaining to you my view of myself? Because the day will come when I will end your life on earth. But don’t worry, if you’re anything like this last guy….I’m sure we’ll enjoy our walk together, with no memory of your pain to reside.  (For Grandpa Jenkins, 8/26/10)

NACC 2011

Hey! If you haven't checked out anything with the North American Christian Convention....you are missing out! I went to the 2010 in Indy and it was an awesome experience. Right now if you haven't gotten to check it all out, the 2011 conference is in Cincinnati, OH and features people like, Francis Chan, Dave Stone and more!

Check out and sign up for their enews newsletter and get connected! :)

www.gotonacc.org

Please come quickly Lord....

I'm not quite sure the text, but in the end times it is described that many believers will turn on each other which represents the time is drawing closer of the Lord's return. Never in my life thus far have I began to believe this as true until recently. Many of you that read this blog may even think worse of me for writing my heart, but my heart has been beaten so badly by ones who are professed followers of Jesus.

For the last 13 1/2 months my family and I have poured our hearts into service for a community that, for the most part, gave the love back in return....or so it seemed. Then recently when a young couple decided to take our lives into their hands, proceeded to desecrate our name to all who have grown to have faith in a leader of God again. Now the aftermath is hurt, betrayal and Satan's glory for the church is severely wounded.

No matter what may come now of this body, I pray the Lord keeps those who love Him the most and truly chisels the ones who have hurt His name to the community. The Lord is the final judge and exhausting the truth to deaf ears anymore has left me empty.

Be in prayer for the family in this church and that God will truly have mercy on their selfish decisions of persecution. For those who love you Lord I pray for a fulfilling place of your love so that they will never lose sight of you. For those who have held tightly to their own desires to be met....may you show your love to them also in the most reconstructive of ways to save their souls before your return.

We love you Lord, and forgive us if our emotions have gotten the best of us, yet love us the same so that we may pass on this love lessen to others worse off.

In Jesus Name.....Amen!

Love your servant,

Pastor Chad

Flight #61!!

Its been 17 years since my walk on Chrysalis #2 in Merom, IN. This past weekend I had the opportunity to come back full circle to where my old self lays dead...this time, as a pastor! 17 wonderful young men attended and it was truly a GOD weekend! The Lord knows what walls people have it their lives...better than they do. When we are open to His calling on our lives and say "YES" to His love for us...lives take a 180!

I love all these guys like my own brothers and I am proud to now call them family. If you haven't been able to experience a life changing moment like Chrysalis (ages 15-21) or Emmaus (ages 22+) you need to experience Jesus in a whole new light!!

God Bless and Hoo-rah! :)

Emmaus-zing!

This past weekend my lovely wife Amber embarked on her first ever experience with the Walk to Emmaus. If you are reading this and have never had an opportunity to venture such an experience, you are missing the true meaning of what scripture says through the intimacy of Jesus' walk to Emmaus with the two travelers (Luke 24:13-29)!

When I was 16 years old, I experienced a Chrysalis Walk (Youth version of Emmaus) and that is where I accepted Christ as my personal Savior. The same place where I died and rose again in Christ is where my soul-mate re-found herself! The light of the Lord in her eyes and the peace she has shown in her heart is unlike I have seen since we first got married. It makes me continually wonder why we do it to ourselves so much.

What I mean is, why we must feel that we are able to handle it all without God? Why we continue to be Satan's punching bag when BY GOD its not our fight anymore!!!! Through His love given by many willing sisters in the Lord, my wife is a new person in Christ. It is up to us to keep that fire burning! Jesus likes to have the match lit and holding next to our spiritual fuel...but WE have to let Him light it!

I challenge everyone to take the TIME for Jesus Christ in your life and let Him LOVE you! You are in NO shape unconditional of His love and if you want peace and freedom in your life away from this crap Satan deals us daily....then get your heart cracked open for Jesus to fill it! Walk to Emmaus with Him and realize that He is with you EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!

Praise the Lord! :D

Deposits or Withdrawals??

Your bank statement just came in today. Unfortunately your account has an under-draft fee. Apparently you haven't made enough deposits into your account for the balance in your life to be positive and thus you have nothing saved up. How's your spiritual bank account today? Have you made enough deposits to God through prayer today....this week? Pray to save up your positive outlooks this week!

Ever wonder if you're being heard up in heaven? By God or by Jesus....or even maybe that guy who is standing at the pearly gates? So many times I hear younger Christians base their beliefs or lack there of on the fact that God doesn't make their "wishes" come NOW!! What about God's wishes for us? Do we ever stop and think about how much we attempt to "withdrawal" from God's grace account? How about the low balance of His mercy account? (Assuming there is a limit to mercy when there isn't)

Each time you pray, is it the same ol' same ol' way of talking to Him? Do you feel your eye lids start to heavy more as you think of the next creative word to use...thinking deep down you may stump God? Stop right now....STOP! Take a deep breath...and let it out SLOWLY.....and just LISTEN! Not for a second, ten seconds or even just one minute! LISTEN....for as long as God leads you to. Hear that still small voice....pay attention to the God deposits to your life all around you.

Once you take the time to check your balance of the deposits He gives, with NO withdrawals....you will realize how far behind you are in your deposits and you have just your lifetime to try and catch up!

Talk to Him. Talk to Him NOW and don't candy-coat it, don't fluff it up. Just say your peace, your hurts, your frustrations, your confusions, your sense of loss....He's listening and enjoying the deposits coming in!

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." -Matthew 6:5 (NIV)