04.17.08 - 08:05:32AM WHY COME ON APRIL 23 TO YOUTH RALLY?
Hey CrossFire Youth,
I just found these youtubes on Craig Tackett & his band Jonathan Project for you to check out and learn more about him!!!
Here's a look @ his summer camp!
This video shows he's more cooler than your youth pastor!
YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO SHOW UP NEXT WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 @ SOUTHVIEW HIGH SCHOOL! GOD'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING AMAZING!!!
JON
From: Taylor on 04.30.08 - 01:24:07PM
This happened to be really cool! At first i thought tht it wasnt going to be good at all. But the pastor ended up really connecting to us teenagers and was REALLY funny. He talked about his childhood and stuff and praise god...some people got saved!!=)
I had breakfast @ IHOP (I love Viva La French Toast. And the first teens to e-mail a response to this blog I'll take out to IHOP.)with a youth pastor friend yesterday. He served as a missionary to Haiti. He told me of this one man who had 3 toes cut off by a machete knife and was told it was so infected he would die.
My friend and others prayed over the man that God would heal him. A month or so later they came back and not only was he alive but he had begun growing back the toes.
Now that brings up some questions. Was my friend full of it and just made up this cool story? Do things like this just happen in other places other than the United States? Can the CrossFire Student Ministry see people healed physically, emotionally, spiritually? And if we can, why don't we see it?
Check out this video that shows revival in a student ministry. I'm not saying that this is how God needs to move in CrossFire, but as you watch it what does it make you think?
As Toby Mac says in this video, maybe it's time we started to BURN FOR JESUS!!!
03.07.08 - 05:51:23PM A Great Weekend Is Coming!!!
I just want to say in advance I can't wait to see what God's going to do this weekend. With my friend Jeremy coming in on Sat. night it's going to be amazing. I sense we'll see Him move among the teens on Sat. night and then among the adults as Jeremy speaks to the whole church during the morning worship services. I wonder what it was like in the book Acts right before the Holy Spirit showed up. They were praying and getting ready for something they could not comprehend. I'm praying in faith that this weekend we experience things in the church beyond anything we've ever experienced. Most churches just don't seem to expect great things because they've never seen them before. Hope you come to Southview this weekend to experience great things.
JON
GOD'S GOING TO SEND HIS HEALING RAIN THIS WEEKEND!!!
Some may or may not know that this past 8 months or so have been tough for me. God is showing me things spiritually that I have never seen before even though I've been a Christian for 29 years. Through it all, I just knew that God was faithful and powerful and would be me through it. It's like the saying a light at the end of the tunnel. I started seeing that light on Monday and over the past couple of days it's shining brighter than ever.
Maybe now or in the future, you'll face some struggle that seems impossible. Maybe someone you know is doing something that it seems like they won't make it. Remember that we serve a powerful God. Ephesians 6:10 says,"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." The key is that we look to God's power and remember that He's the light we need to focus on. The moment we take our eyes off of Him and look at the darkness that surrounds us, that's when our problems get worse.
I close by praying that God will lead you to the light. And that whatever problem you're facing, He will help you see that light even if it's at a distance and bring you into His brightness as soon as possible.
Check out this video of how powerful God is and how His light can shine into your life.
From: Adrianne on 03.07.08 - 11:32:13AM
I'm so glad that things are getting better. It's always nice to know someone as powerful and awesome as God is there for you no matter how bad you screw up. It's an amazing and comforting thing I'd say. When you struggle is really sux but He knows what He's doing even though most of the time we don't get it and are apprehensive as to whether we are able trust Him or not. You can't really trust people on earth b/c no one's perfect but you can always trust Him b/c He is perfect. Cool huh?
03.04.08 - 10:56:23AM What's Cooler Than This Video?
Now if you're a Duke or UNC or whatever fan, you will say a lot of things are cooler than this . But you're not the Clemson graduate writing this blog, sorry. Clemson was down 20 points with just over 11 minutes to go @ Maryland and came back to win. Against all odds, they pulled out this victory which probably assures them a spot in the NCAA Big Dance Tournament.
God also likes big odds and seeing people come back from near impossible circumstances. Think about Job in the Bible or Moses and all those grumbling people or Joseph and all his problems. This weekend on Saturday, March 8 from 5-7 PM a speaker is coming to CrossFire who God used to beat the odds. An alcohol and drug abuser from an alcohol and drug family, Jeremy Ellis gave his life to Christ and now serves Jesus by speaking to teens and adults about how God can overcome any odds.
Maybe you or someone you know has really been struggling recently, why not bring them to Southview on Sat. night for food and fun and let them hear Jeremy. It will be cooler than a game winning 3 pointer after a 20 point comeback victory.
JON
From: kelsey on 03.05.08 - 01:32:02PM
booooooo clemson stinks N.C State is better!!!!!!!!! # 1
I heard a famous baseball player on the radio today talked about he liked interacting with fans because many times he could look at kids and turn frowns into smiles. I got to thinking that as Christians we should do the same thing. Think about Jesus giving sight to the blind, helping the crippled to walk again, feeding 500 hungry people, or just holding a little child in their lap. Don't you think the frowns of Mary & Martha turned to smiles after Jesus raised their brother from the dead (at least after they got up from probably passing out seeing a dead person living). I said last night in youth that we want to be a spiritual hospital for teenagers. I want teens who have frowns to come to CrossFire and allow Jesus to turn them into smiles.
Look at Job 9:27 "I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile." As Christians we face the daily attack of satan and his demons, but we can find joy in the midst of that. And as we find joy in the midst of our struggles and problems, let's make it a habit each day to turn people's frowns into smiles.
JON
Check out this video that will surely make you smile!
From: Adrianne on 03.07.08 - 11:46:03AM
I didn't watch the video but the blog was amazing. It's amazing how Jesus just healed people. He touched them, rubbed spit and dirt(mud)in their eyes lol, or fed hundreds of hungry people, of course the list goes on and on, but it's so awesome how he serve such a great God. I really want Crossfire to be a place to turn frowns into smiles. I know it can be. I can be have THE CRAPPIEST day ever and I come and I'm still in a "mood" for a bit but it's impossible to stay comepletely angry. There's so much love and acceptance in our ministry. I think about it when I think about Adam. The two times he went he always said that his favorite part of our church was how accepted he felt. He said that he didn't feel intimidated or like an outsider. He said he was comfortable with our church. For anyone let alone a person that hadn't been to church in over a year to say that was extremely powerful to me. If our youth ministry would've been probably any other way, as far as comfort level, it could've potentially made him shy away from church. After all, if you don't feel accepted in church(where we are to not judge and accept people as they are and lead them to Christ so they can be like Him, where in the world can you be??
From: TJ on 03.03.08 - 06:49:24AM
Comment here.LOVE IT LOL.
From: sarah utley on 03.01.08 - 05:15:48AM
thats a funny video and a cool blog
02.27.08 - 11:16:27AM When Life Doesn't Make Sense
Crazy week for me. I get back from skiing and vacation which means a ton of stuff to catch up on. Then I get this stomach/headache virus from Monday till today. Leia may have some problems with her pregancy. And just some other junk that I'm dealing with. You wonder where's God in the midst of this. I love Him and love serving my family and love serving teens. Why do I have to go through all this stuff? Maybe because I love God, family, and teens is the reason I have to go through all this junk. I've talked a lot recently about spiritual warfare and Satan's attacks. Maybe the more we love God and others, the more Satan attacks and the more God allows His attacks. In the book of Job, God tells Satan how godly Job is and can take whatever Satan throws at him. Maybe God's telling Satan that Jon loves Me and others so he can take whatever you throw at him. My question for you. Would God tell Satan you can take his attacks? Or does God know you're not ready to face Satan and all that he wants to throw at you.
JON
REMEMBER AS YOU WATCH THIS VIDEO THAT WHEN LIFE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE GOD IS OUR STRONG TOWER!!!
From: Adrianne on 03.07.08 - 11:23:29AM
Oh my goodness! I love Kutless!! This song rocks! They rock in concert too!
From: Taylor McDonald on 03.05.08 - 04:51:07PM
God is a Strongtower! He can do anything if u just u trust in him. He can help u through anything
From: Robyn Regenhardt on 02.27.08 - 02:23:06PM
hey jon.sorry to hear about your struggles.i know God is there for you though and i will also be praying for you! God is always going to be our strong tower :)
Hey guys.
I'll be back later for more. But Keegan talked to me about this cool video on God Tube. So here it is!!!
From: TJ FORTNER on 03.03.08 - 06:29:39AM
Comment here.LOL chew it UP AND TRANSFORM IT. THE FORD PARTS MY FAVORITE.
From: Taylor McDonald on 02.27.08 - 03:25:26AM
LOL! This video is so funny. The song is Great. I love how he takes the worship songs and make funny chores to them!! :)
From: Keegan on 02.25.08 - 03:12:24PM
gotta love it its so FUNNY
The ski trip was awesome. I had a great time with y'all. God did some amazing things as well. Remember, have mountain faith- expect God to do BIG things because He will. Get out there and pray for people. The more you pray the more you'll see God move.
The gallery is up and running so check out some of what's been going on at CrossFire.
Also, check out Jon and Brannon skiing:
-Micah
From: Taylor McDonald on 03.05.08 - 04:52:45PM
hey! for the guys who said this was weird...I agree!
From: TJ Fortner on 03.03.08 - 06:25:47AM
Comment here.LOL weird
From: kelsey on 02.26.08 - 02:59:51PM
lol this is kinda weird i still don't get it
From: sarah utley on 02.23.08 - 07:45:27AM
i remember watching this on branon's phone its funny
sarah
From: Taylor McDonald on 02.20.08 - 02:50:10PM
O and one more thing. I love that picture of Brannon stuffing a hotdog down his throat. That was pretty entertaining. So people dont forget to check out the Gallery of all the people sking. And just wanting to no when tht picture of Brannon and Kyle falling sleep on each other shoulders is goin to come up cuz I got to show that one to mom and dad.
From: Taylor McDonald on 02.20.08 - 02:33:37PM
Well ya'll were ok I guess. LOL (joking) But Brannon was a little out of control. Anyways all of ya'll missed a great time. Wish all of ya'll could have been there. Just keep in mind for next year. Its will be loads of FUN!
From: Brannon McDonald on 02.19.08 - 05:36:44PM
I really did do a good job of video taping, lol. I couldn't keep up with jon's pace so i just had to fly by him.
Hey guys,
I don't have a lot of time. With the ski trip tomorrow, I took today off to hang out with my family since I want see them for a couple of days. I hope you're having a Happy Valentine's Day. I'll be gone next week also on vacation, so the blog may be down for a couple of days. But it'll be up and running when I get back. I'll miss you guys!!! Here's a cool video till I get back!!!
02.13.08 - 07:41:25AM Satan wants to kick your butt!
Leia's out of town, so after putting the kids down, I watched Saving Private Ryan for the first time. As a watched it, what a picture of our spiritual lives. Every day satan and his demons attack us just like the fighting at the beginning of the movie with all of that shooting, death, and bloodshed. Every day we lose someone in the battle through Christians killed by drunk drivers, suicide, murder, etc.
Well, I'm tired of it. I'm ready to start attacking the gates of Hell (see Matthew 16:18). When we're attacking gates we're on the offensive. Here's a quote from a blog of Seth Barnes who started the missions organization that will take us to Jamaica, "Where I've been complacent, I will start putting on the Ephesians 6 armor. Where I've been passive, I will start praying warfare prayers. Instead of sleeping in, I'm going to start getting up early and praising God. I've had it - I'm not going to sit still any longer! I know there's a warrior's spirit in me somewhere, and I intend to summon it up!"
I think the biggest wave of new Jesus recruits are teenagers. Many adults have been wounded and refuse to continue in battle. It's time for the next generation to attack satan and kick his butt!!!
JON
From: Taylor McDonald on 03.05.08 - 04:56:43PM
WoW! really cool video....i can imagine me doing something like tht...LOL
From: kelsey on 02.15.08 - 04:06:17AM
this video is so cool love it.
From: Taylor Powell on 02.13.08 - 05:30:27PM
The video was pretty cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Time to get real. Over the past couple of weeks and especially this weekend I was some kind of spiritual funk. Leia & I were struggling in our marriage (praise God we talked some of this out last night) and even some things at church just had me upset. What do you do when life sucks?
Last night in small groups we talked about Shadrach, Mechach, and Abednego in Dan. 3 how they wouldn't bow down to King Nebbie's idol. And even when faced with a fiery furnace they knew, really knew that their God was big enough to rescue them. God began to speak to me and say Jon I'm bigger than any problem you have.
And this morning I read in Joshua 1 where God keeps telling Joshua "be strong and courageous." Why could Joshua be strong? Because he was a smart or strong guy? No, he could be strong because he served a big God.
So how do I know that my God is big? I look back on the past and how he helped me through past problems. Also, I'm noticing God more in everyday life. When I see the sun, "My big God did that!" When I see the trees, "My big God created those!" When I see my wife & kids, "My big God made them!"
Let's start spending more time looking at how big God is instead of how big we think our problems are. I know in the end your big God will win every time.
From: kelsey on 02.15.08 - 04:12:20AM
I love this video because it is so true
From: allie hauser on 02.12.08 - 05:06:21PM
Comment here.
the video is sooo cool!! i got a message out of it! i just cant explain it
From: kaitlyn on 02.12.08 - 02:47:23PM
this is rele kewl. and its tru. i do get a shrinking feeling wen we talk bout how big and powerful he is
kaitlyn
From: kaitlyn on 02.12.08 - 02:47:23PM
this is rele kewl. and its tru. i do get a shrinking feeling wen we talk bout how big and powerful he is
kaitlyn
From: Keegan on 02.11.08 - 06:55:26PM
shows just how insignificant we are and how awesome God is
From: allie hauser on 02.11.08 - 02:19:11PM
Comment here.
Ephesians 5:18 says, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." The key to walking in the daily power of the Spirit is being filled by the Holy Spirit. I feel teens can grasp this so much easier than adults. Too many adults have replaced the Holy Spirit with religion and church. Look at this quote from some young ladies of a leader of a mission organization, "Our generation sees that their parents' way of doing religion is broken. They don't want to turn out that way. It's very important for us to be authentic." The most real thing that we can be full of is the Holy Spirit. Who controls you? Is it what you selfishly want to do? What your parents want? What your friends want? What all other teens want? Teens are only 10 years away from being boring adults who are more full of church or religion than the Holy Spirit. Let's start living radical for the Holy Spirit and seeing a generation of teens full of Him!!!
SINCE WE'RE LIVING IN EXTREME DAYS, LET'S FIND SOME EXTREME TEENS & ADULTS
From: TJ on 03.03.08 - 06:48:54AM
Comment here.THIS IS MY FAV SONG
From: kelsey on 02.15.08 - 04:14:24AM
i love this video
From: Keegan Rice on 02.11.08 - 06:54:37PM
good stuff
From: Robyn Regenhardt on 02.11.08 - 02:24:23PM
I love how the video goes right along with what you were saying and that is so true. We do need to live EXTEME lives showing the difference God has made in our lives!!
From: allie hauser on 02.11.08 - 02:20:52PM
Comment here.
the music is cool=) so is the verse and video!!!
this is all kol(cool) lol
From: Taylor McDonald on 02.11.08 - 01:08:06PM
Hey I love this song! And its really cool. It really Cool!
From: Kelsey Lassiter on 02.10.08 - 09:48:51AM
hey! i love this song!! i really like the message too..it's true we need to be more full in the Holy Spirit instead of church and religion. Yeah. church and religion are a great thing that helps us learn more about God but really the Holy Spirit is the only thing that will completely fill our hearts.
From: Samantha on 02.09.08 - 01:21:40PM
I love the verse. and the video.
What is a miracle? Is it something that only happened in the Bible. Are miracles just we pray a lot for something and then God happens to heal someone? I think that the miracles Jesus did can also happen Look at what Jesus says in John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." We can pray for someone and right there see God do a miracle. See someone instantly healed of cancer, blindness, depression, etc. When Jesus went to the Father, what did He leave us: the Holy Spirit. So the key is receive more of the Holy Spirit. More on that later!!!
From: kelsey on 02.15.08 - 04:18:33AM
this video is one of my favorites miricals do happen.
From: allie hauser on 02.11.08 - 02:23:44PM
Comment here.
yea! i do beleive i miracles! cool video=) well bye=( luv jesus 4ever!!
From: Kelsey Lassiter on 02.10.08 - 09:44:48AM
pretty cool video!!! i get through the video that those hockey players had to practice and work hard to win the game and we have to practice in God's word and pray so God can do a miracle. I can kinda see how this video could go with this. even if you weren't intentionally putting it that way..i still opened my eyes and saw that. Thanks!
From: Adrianne on 02.09.08 - 02:02:44PM
I'm lovin' the music video. I'm lovin' the new version of our logo too. The color scheme is awesome. Keep in prayer about Rayvin and her gallbladder problems(which can be life-threatening) and Adam(who is actively seeking the Lord while in Basic, a very lonely place, so my dad has told me.
From: Taylor McDonald on 02.07.08 - 01:07:13PM
Please pray for me peoples! Im not feelin good and pictures are tomorrow. By the way, AWESOME VIDEO!
Hey CrossFire Teens,
I'm so excited about this. Most days I'll be sending out a blog telling you about some things that God is doing in my life and/or the CrossFire Student Ministry. I hope you guys come here regularly. There will also be a place for comments where you can tell me if you think what I said is cool or really stupid. Hopefully this will get you a glimpse into my heart and also start some cool conversations between us.
On Fire for Christ,
JON
Check out this cool video of some young people in Peru who are doing mission for Jesus and having fun. Check out this website for more details (www.theworldrace.org).
Send to a friend
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