Who's Reading My HyperActive thoughts?

Well, since I have been blogging I have discovered that I have had several hundered people regularly reading my blog.  And not just locally, but internationally as well.

I have a report that says I have had visitors from 27 different states and 14 different countries.  Hello to all the Canadians reading my blog eh!!  And to my friends in Jamaica.  Hello India, Egypt, England, Italy, Iran, Germany, Switzerland, and everyone else around the world reading.

I would really like to know who you are and where you are from (all of you, from all around the world and here in the US!)  So leave a comment, letting me know who you are and where you are from (city, state or city, Country).  Andy there is no need for you to leave a comment...i know you :)

Merry Christmas

I love Christmas!  

I especially love that I can wear shorts and a t-shirt on Christmas day.  

And taking walks on the beach!

Here is Cyndi and I on the beach!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I Am Blown Away...

Wow, today has been an amazing day!
Really, this has been a great weekend. Cyndi and I opened presents yesterday...I know it isn't Christmas, but we couldn't wait. And besides, we are going to her parents for Christmas. She got me some really awesome things! Probably some of the best things ever...here is a quick run down:

• LOST season 3 (I love this show)
• Rockin' 80s (a 3cd set of great 80's music)
• Body Wash
• Candy
• 2 books "Controvesy Create's Cash" by Eric Bischoff a biography of the former WCW president. & "Save Me from Myself" by Brian "Head" Welch former Lead Guitarist of Korn.
• Guitar Hero Encore Rocks the 80's (do you see a pattern with my 80's obsession)
• Clothes, Underwear, & Socks

Cyndi really did a great job on some awesome gifts! We also had our Coastal Community Church Christmas Party the other night, in which Cyndi and I got the best gifts of the night!! A Chia Home pet & A Leg Lamp (from A Christmas Story).

Here is Melissa holding the leg lamp before it got stolen from her.

Probably the biggest shock of the weekend was today after our Morning Worship Gathering at Coastal. One of my student's parents said, "Hey Jeremiah can I talk with you in your office real quick." I said sure. Well, we go into my office and there are a lot of my high school students and they bring in this box, beautifully wrapped. They handed it to me and it was heavy. Inside was a Playstation 3...my very own PS3.



I feel like Perry Noble, pastor of Newspring Church when he received a PS3 from his congregation. I was and still am in shock and awe! I love our students and we have some great parents. Thank you all for a great Christmas! The only thing that will make it better if some how I could give away tickets to the Chic-Fil-A bowl in Atlanta, where Clemson will be playing Auburn...hint, hint.

See you tomorrow night! It's gonna be awesome!!

Christmas Crapp

I found this video on You Tube and I like it...it's not sacreligious, its funny!  

God has a sense of humor!

Ssshhhhhh, I've got a secret!

That's right I've got a big huge secret that I can barely keep in.

It's about our Christmas Eve service at Coastal Community Church.  This I can say, everyone will be walking out the door with a really great gift.  You will want to bring as many friends as you can!  Because some of the other things that we have that we are going to give away are amazing!  

Let's just say I kinda wish I wasn't on staff so I could try and get these things :)

Seriously, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS SERVICE!!

It starts at 7pm!

See you there.

I've given in too, and have become Elf'd

That's right, my family and I have been Elf'd...including Monicea and Randy.  Check it out here.

The Brown Family Got ELF'd

Only a few days left...

I have to admit, I AM DONE!!  I'm done Christmas shopping, my gifts are bought and wrapped and under the tree.  Whhewwwwww am I glad its over.  My wife is one of the most difficult people to shop for.  But I did get some pretty awesome things...the one that I like the most I think will make her cry, but I also think the rest of our friends & family will get to enjoy on Christmas day with us.

Okay, so I've been thinking about "The Christmas Story."  Not the one with Ralphie, but the actual Christmas story from the Bible.  You know a lot of people have some misconceptions about what actually happened and who was involved.  

For instance how many wise men came to see Jesus?  The typical answer is 3 right?  Well, that is actually wrong, we don't know how many wise men actually visited Jesus, the Bible never tells us. Also, another thing that some people forget is why Mary and Joseph actually went to Bethlehem in the first place.  Well, obviously Jesus had to be born there to fulfill Scripture, but what sent them there?   Well a census was being taken by the Roman government and everyone had to return to the city of their families...it just so happens that Joseph's family is from the city of David, Bethlehem.   

Anyway, all that to say, we have got to dig into the Word of God and see for ourselves what really is going on.  Not just with the Christmas story but with all of Scripture.  It's not enough to just rely on what the Pastor says, or what traditions say, or even what you heard at a Christmas play.  We have to seek for ourselves what the Bible says, plus God wants time with us!

Merry Christmas

Introducing...

Aubree Faith Caston
December 11, 2007
6lbs 9oz
18 1/4" long






Aubree's parents are Jennifer & Tim Caston. This couple is a part of Cyndi and my small group! She is a gorgeous baby as you can see.

Anyway, Congratulations Jennifer & Tim & Big Sister Ashlee!

By the way, I don't want anyone getting any ideas and asking, "When are you and Cyndi going to have a baby?" NO BABIES, not any time soon at least. We are still seeking guardianship and adoption opportunites for Monicea (our little girl in Jamaica). Hopefully, we will be able to go and see her in May (and maybe start paper work).

It's NOT Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Here it is December 11th, and that means exactly two weeks until Christmas. I'm still a little freaked about about how warm it is.

This was taken in the car yesterday at 5pm. Being from Indiana, I am used to freezing your butt off, can't ever warm up, school closed, roads full of ice, and non stop rain/snow/sleet type of winters.

I really am loving this weather!!

The Challenge

This past Sunday, our Pastor, Chris Rollins, issued a challenge to our church.

He issued this challenge: For the month of December, all of us should take the 1-1-1 challenge.
What in the world is the 1-1-1 challenge? It's simple. At 1 o'clock pray for 1 person for 1 minute. And the prayer isn't just any prayer for anyone. The prayer is for 1 person that you know has no relationship with Jesus. 1 person that you need to invite to attend church. 1 person that needs a life change.

So far this week I have been hearing awesome stories from people in our church who have accepted the challenge. My friend, Andy Gill, and I have even been holding each other accountable by texting each other a bit after 1pm to see if the other had prayed yet.

I love this challenge and I have issued it to our students but with a different name. Same challenge different name. We're calling it InFILTration. Why? Simple. We want to infiltrate this world, and see the life changing power of God move in a way like never before! So we will be infiltrating hearts by praying for 1 person for 1 minute at 1 o'clock.

Will you accept our InFILTration challenge? Who will you pray for? Post names of your friends/family/co-workers/etc. on this blog and I will commit to pray with you!

The challenge has been issued, will you accept?

"I Hate When People Don't Blog..."

I tend to read a ton of blogs, mainly for encouragement, ideas, and just for sheer enjoyment. I do actually have list of blogs that I tend to read weekly, and sometimes almost daily. I do get really annoyed when I go to read one of those blogs (typically youth pastor's) and they haven't posted anything in awhile. Seriously, I get so annoyed that I sometimes even delete them from my blog roll.

Well, I guess I should probably delete myself from my blog roll. I know I haven't blogged since Thanksgiving Day, which seems so long ago. But here I am tonight saying I am back! My commitment is at least two blogs a week! Hopefully more, if life doesn't get to outrageously crazy!

Things have been great the last few weeks! Especially at church! We have updated our welcome center, and it has crazy cool new colors, new tables, and just a very cool relaxing and yet very welcoming atmosphere. Someone asked me are we trying to create a church or a Starbucks! My answer is this...STARBUCKS has the best evangelism and is on its way to being the largest church in the world! By the way its just paint, people is what really matters. If a cool welcome room gets people excited about being a church...WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!

Anywho, I love the new welcome center (I may post pics later) and I'm back to blogging! Tomorrow I am going to be talking about a challenge that has been issued that I want to pass along...its called the 1-1-1 challenge, but I am going to be calling it INFILTRATION...be prepared its deep!

Happy Thanksgiving

Well, Cyndi and I have made it home to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Actually we got here Tuesday and have been running around like crazy since we have gotten here. But, I have gotten to spend quite a bit of time with friends and family.



Tuesday we went to our alumna mater, Taylor Univeristy. We stopped in to see some of our friends that work there as well as mentors, professors, and anyone else we can hunt down on a quiet campus. And then off to dinner with friends of ours Tim and Beth. Which I was so happy that Cyndi's sister, Crysta, and my brother, Zach, joined us. After dinner we caught a Taylor men's basketball game.



Last night, I got to watch my baby brother start for his freshman basketball team. He is a great ball player! I will post a couple of pics at the bottom of this post.



Well, today is turkey day and I can't wait to eat! May go see a movie later tonight too. Oh well, I may post more later. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Guess What I Did Last Night

Last night Cyndi and I spent the evening babysitting our friends' 2 year old, Andy :) We had a great time, I now think he is hooked on a mac. SMART BOY!

Quick Shout Out

Hey I wanted to say to all of you out there reading my blog!

I did notice I have frequent visitors from about 28 different states and from about 4 different countries.

I would love to know who you all are, where you are from and what brought you to my blog. So be sure to leave that stuff at the comment section.

Talk to you all later.

Road Trip

I love traveling! And no, I'm not being sarcastic, I really do love going to new and exciting places.

As many people know I love traveling to Jamaica...it's one of my favorite places in the world. I have been to several other places: Mexico, Cayman Islands, Honduras, Belize, Canada, and I have even visited many of our 50 states (not all 50, but one day I will).

Cyndi and I are even taking off on a Road Trip next week as we head home to Fort Wayne, IN for Thanksgiving. We will be spending at least 12 hours (each way) together in a car. I really can't wait to spend that much time with her. I know she isn't looking forward to it. She hates traveling, she loves just getting there.

All that said, I have currently been in a Road Trip. You see I want my Spiritual Journey to be an Adventure, sorta like a Road Trip. So I want to share with you my Road Trip from the Book of Acts. Why the Book of Acts? Well, recently I have felt like I need to gain an idea on church growth, because our church is experiencing some major growth right now.

Acts 1-
verse 9-11: Jesus just left earth, in a not so typical fashion. (Isn't just like Jesus to do things totally different?) And the disciples are just standing there, staring up to the clouds, were Jesus just was. He isn't there anymore. Kinda like Criss Angel, there one minute gone the next. I too, would probably be in awe, standing there with my mouth wide open, totally shocked!
But there the disciples are just staring up in the sky (like many Christians, just standing there waiting for something to happen, instead of doing something). But these two angels appear and I can totally imagine them making fun of the 11 disciples, okay its not anywhere in the Bible but I can see it in my own head.
I imagine the angels telling the disciples, "Hey guys, ummmm, stop looking up there. He's gone! Remember, He told you this world isn't your home, nor is it His. Remember, He's gone to prepare a place for you. He told you all of this, so why are you so shocked? Stop staring up there, He promised you that He will return one day so go! Go spread the news about what just happened, to make other disciples! GO!"

*One thing this first chapter really points out to me is that the disciples had a strong desire and a commitment to reach everyone! They didn't care who it was they wanted to share that Jesus is the One they all had been waiting for. And then when they would reach one, they built that person up, they trained them so that they too would reach. They weren't going to stand still, so that the world will stand by. They got out there BOLDLY, COMPASSIONATELY, FAITHFULLY, and most of all LOVINGLY, and shared the grace and love of Jesus. They reach out, and then built up so that more can be brought in.

Sunday Night Thoughts...

Today was such a great day, here are a few of my thoughts:

• We seemed to have a packed house in our Sunday Morning Experience (there were a ton of kids)
• Everyone seemed to be shocked by the major project we've been working on this week...we completely demo'd our current welcome room. We busted down a ton of cement walls, my old office, and an old storage room to make one big ginormous welcome center. It really is going to be great!
• Tonight was our annual shoe box wrapping party for Operation Christmas Child for Samaritan's Purse. I have to say, Teresa Spell really does a great job organizing this event. There were tons of volunteers and a ton of shoe boxes were packed and wrapped. I really enjoy having Teresa and her husband Ricky in our church. Their son, Ryan, is in my youth group and Ricky and Teresa always chaperone, volunteer, lead...they are great servants!!
• Pastor Chris rocked my face off with his message today...we are still in our SiMPLE church series and today was GiVE iT. The message was all about serving and reaching out to people. It was a good reminder that we don't do church for us, its all about people who don't know God.
• Splitting the Middle School and High School has been the best thing we have ever done! In one week we have already grown 75%!
• Andy, one of our student ministry volunteers/intern, spoke tonight in our Jonah series. He did a great job! Really related how he is very much like Jonah.
• I'm sitting here watching some stupid commercials on TV and the new mac ad came on, I LOVE IT. You can watch it here. It's so true. I hate the new Vista on the PC. Cyndi and I had to get a new PC (for her school stuff) and it came with Vista...it sucks! As soon as we have the money I'm buying her a mac (or maybe getting me a new mac and giver her my current one-she hates when I do that)
• This seemed to be a losing weekend for all of my teams (except Clemson!), Lions lost, Michigan lost. On a plus, Ohio State loss and so did South Carolina (I'm still trying to figure out why in the world would you want a Chicken as your mascot?)

Well, Cyndi has the day off tomorrow and so we are going to hang out, but for now I'm off to bed.

Sometimes I just need to SCREAM!!!

Okay, this has to be one of the busiest weeks in my life!

Last week began Cyndi's birthday celebration...her birthday was Thursday Nov. 1.

Normally in my family we celebrate birthday's one day...on your birthday! Oh no, not Cyndi. We had to celebrate her birthday Thurs-Sun. :) It was great! We ate way too much with our friends.

Friday, I spoke 3 times at C.E.Williams middle school...I was about to lose my voice.

Saturday, our church rented out some space at the local paintball place. A bunch of us got together and had a great time...I realized my need to get back into my exercise routine because I am still sore! I got shot a couple of times but no bad war wounds.

Sunday, was a busy day! It started out with a lower number in church...

But, we finally split our high school and middle school. Overall it went pretty well, I think the student are really going to reap the benefits.

We did issue a challenge to all of our students as far as numbers go...if our middle schoolers can have 25 students for at least 3 consecutive weeks I will dye my hair any color they wish! And by the sounds of it, they want pink hair with green highlights...oh yeah I have to keep it that way for one month. For the high schoolers, we issued a similar challenge 20 students for 3 consecutive weeks. Their reward will be that Mr. Andy and I will do anything they wish. Josh Beam said I will have to wax my chest hair...lol.

Overall, it has been a great few days! This week I should have some time to post my thoughts on the book of ACTS and hopefully more from my upcoming books I want to write.

The Weekend UPDATE (part 2)

So here is part two of this awesome weekend...

Cameron (One of the students who went to Florida with me) and I got into a heated discussion about Football...mostly college football but we did discuss the NFL a bit. He seems to think that his team (Miami Dolphins) is a much better team than my Detroit Lions. Maybe I would agree with this, BUT NOT THIS YEAR. I am so stoked about how well my Lions are doing. Granted they may not win the Super Bowl this year, but at least they have a winning season.

Cameron also seems to think that someone South Carolina is a better team than Michigan. Okay, people...yes, they lost to App State at the start of the season! However, that was months ago! AND App State were Division II champs... The only reason they are Div II is school size, so people please!

Okay, quick run down of highlights from the weekend.

-Universal Studios rocked!
-NBA city is a great restraunt
-I have recently become a Tennessee Volunteers fan, just because the played them dumb Fighting Chickens (South Carolina)
-Michigan won...
-Clemson won...
-South Carolina lost and is no longer ranked!! Cameron I told you Michigan would be higher ranked!
-Florida lost
-Detroit Lions beat Chicago Bears
-Cameron gave an awesome message last night to our youth group..."How to Honor Your Parents"
-We had a great crowd of students and parents for our "Parents Just Don't Understand" series
-I am excited to we are going to two services at church real soon...WE NEED THE SPACE, we are growing!
-We are kicking off two student services this sunday...Middle School will be meeting at 5pm and High School will be meeting at 6:30...whoooooo hooooo!
-We had a great crowd in our morning worship experience-I know, because I had to count!
-I am still in need of several volunteers for student ministry, and I know Janet, our children's director, needs a bit of help too!

Wow, that's a lot! It's been a busy weekend and this week is going to be even better.

Check back later this week to see what God has been saying to me through the book of Acts.

The Weekend UPDATE (part 1)

I must say it has been an incredible weekend.

My weekend actually started out on Thursday afternoon. I picked up three of the guys from my youth group and kidnapped them (okay with their parents permission). We headed down to my in-laws house in DeLand, FL. It's about a 4.5 hour - 5hour drive from Charleston. It was a great trip, a little rainy, but good.

On Friday we headed to Orlando to spend the day at Universal Studios Florida! This has to be one of my favorite places in the States. I love movies, and an entire theme park dedicated to some awesome stimulating visual effects and great rides is my idea of fun! Plus an added bonus, there were hardly any lines! I seriously think the longest line we stood in was only about 12 minutes.

We headed back to Charleston on Saturday and had a great conversation about church and youth group. One of my jobs as a youth pastor is to develop fully devoted followers of Jesus. And part of that means getting these guys to think outside of the box when it comes to church. My question for them was if you weren't a Christian and never have stepped in a church what would draw you? Tough question huh? Well what would your answer be? Send a comment and lets get some discussion on that.

I really want to do our youth group totally different and want it to draw teenagers every week...so how do we do that? Any ideas?

Mickey Mouse...here I come!

Today I am heading down to Florida, actually to Orlando by the way of DeLand. I'm taking a couple of my Sr. High guys (who are great leaders) down to hang out for a couple days. Although we aren't going to see Mickey we are going to spend tomorrow at Universal Studios/Island of Adventures.

I'm pretty pumped about hanging out and I love Universal! One thing that I will be doing is challenging thise guys to step up! Step up on whom they are bringing to church, and step up their serve! I believe we a group of students in our youth group that could change everything we do...they could totally set our group on fire!

Anywho, I need to go pack!

More later on this weekend.

My wife is a FAT HOT woman!

My wife is a FAT & HOT woman!
Seriously! I wake up in the morning and I am just in awe of this beautiful woman next me, so why in the world would I call her FAT?

Well, you see as a teenager my pastor told me, "Jeremiah," in his thick Mississippi accent, "Ya, need to merry you a FAT woman!"

I was like, "Dwyndl (aka Bro. D), what in the world are you talkin bout? Why in the world would I marry a fat girl? I want a fine, skinny, hazel eyed, brown haired hottie!"

He just laughed and explained that he was not talking about weight, but he was talking about a Faithful and Available and Teachable woman.

Almost 5 years ago, I was introduced to this really awesome young lady who played basketball for Taylor University Fort Wayne. She was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, very attractive woman, but not really my type. However, there was something about her that really made me weak in my knees and so we struck up a friendship. She really did become one of my best friends. And through our friendship I realized what Dwyndl meant by Faithful Available and Teachable. Cyndi was all of these. I always knew I wanted a HOT girl, meaning that she was Holy Outrageous and Trustworthy. With Cyndi, I got this too.

We started dating January 6, 2004. I knew I couldn't live without this woman.

This past May, I married my best friend, the love of my life, my FAT HOT girl!

They say that the first year of your marriage is the toughest, but let me tell you that these last five months have been the greatest months of my life! I think I have not only grown more as a man, but as a man of God, a friend, and just a better youth pastor.

Here are a few of the top reasons why Cyndi is essential to me:

She encourages me like no one ever has, or could for that matter
She is one of the few people that I can actually lose myself in talking to.
I can just sit and stare at her all night long
She challenges me every day! In many ways you will never know, but she even challenges me spiritually.
She makes me laugh uncontrollably (like tickle me Elmo uncontrollable.)
I could never imagine life without her
She backs me up, even when I'm wrong
She corrects me with love
She smiles at my stupid hyperactivity
She is patient, even when I'm not
She completes me
She is God fearing, God honoring, God focused, HOLY, OUTRAGEOUS, and most of all trustworthy.

Cyndi, your the best friend I could ever have. Thank you for sharing my secrets, and being the love of my life, but most of all for being Jesus to me!

I Love You...

You know as a kid I never really understood what it meant to love.

I heard the word I love you all the time in my house. My parents said it to me, my parents said it to each other, and I even said it back to them and my sister and brother. I love you, I heard it all the time, but I never knew what it meant.

I never really knew what love was until I was about 12 years old. I was 12 when my life, was literally saved. You see I was sick,I had this disease that was killing me. Not many people knew about it. But, I was given a gift. At 12 years old, I discovered that someone else decided to give me life. Why? Because He loved me!

The disease that I was infected with was sin, and Romans 3:23 tells us that all of us have it. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Because of this disease called sin, I was heading for a place of death, a place called Hell. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death,"

Well, I didn't want this disease anymore and so I searched for a cure, and I found one. Actually, I found the only cure for this disease that there is, His name is Jesus. The rest of Romans 6:23 states, "but the gift of God is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our Lord."

You see, Jesus died so that I may have life, so that you may have life, and I discovered this at 12. Without this love I would still be heading towards death, but now I have a hope of eternal life.

Love is a word that describes an action, a verb. I love you actually means I would die for you, not matter what. No matter who you are, no matter what you did, and if you were the only one in the world, I would still do it! I LOVE YOU, these were Jesus' non-verbal words as He died on the cross, and rose from the dead! He loves you, will you accept it?

What Do You think?

I posted a blog a few days ago about one of my chapters in a book I would like to write.

Here's where you come in.

I need your help with a title of it. It's meant as an insider view to the struggles, frustrations, enjoyments, etc. to youth ministry.

So post your title, and I just may end up using it!

Sunday Night Mind Dump

Okay, I have a lot on my mind tonight, so bare with me and excuse my hyperactiveness.

• We had an awesome day in our Morning Worship Experience. We joined hundreds of other churches for the National Porn Sunday. Where we tackled the tough subject of pornography. Pastor Craig Gross delivered a very impacting message! Check out his ministry: XXXChurch.
  
• I am very proud of our band at Coastal. They really are doing a great job, and are adapting to change very well! They are so awesome and committed to serving and leading us in worship.
  
• We had an awesome fundraiser today to help out with our ski retreat. The students did a great job selling tickets for our pancake breakfast and did an even better job serving. I really appreciate Ryan and Twila Sabin, Janie Nave, and Ricky and Teresa Spell for helping out and cook the pancakes.
  
• We had a decent crowd for UnderCurrent tonight as we finished our series, “It’s Not About Me.” The whole jist of this series is to get our students thinking outside of themselves. Especially if we are a Christians, life isn’t about us any way. Everything we do, everything we say, how we act and everything else should be to glorify God. We should be making Him known and introducing our friends to Him. I have really liked this series, but I am already pumped about our next one.
  
• Our next series is all about Parents (and their kids). We’re calling it, “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” It kicks off on October 21. And it will be awesome. We are inviting our parents to come and participate with the students. Then, on the 28th we have a student speaker, who is speaking about Parents. Come and be a part of this awesome series.
  
• I am really excited about our LIFEgroups (student small groups) starting on Oct. 17. This is a Wed. night and we will be beginning with our High Schoolers. They will be meeting at Ryan Spell’s House!
  
• I’m really happy that Michigan won this weekend! Kinda hoping that Detroit would have one today, but not too disappointed.
  
• Cyndi’s really happy that Notre Dame FINALLY won.
  
• I love Grey’s Anatomy and hopefully will have a few clips for my message next Sunday.
  
• I am really ticked that LOST isn’t coming back on TV till Jan. BUT at least their won’t be any reruns when it finally starts.
  
• A church I’ve been paying attention to is getting some flack on CNN. I think this church (The Gathering Church) is really trying to do some awesome things, and reaching their community in Tennessee. Check out the CNN video and the drama that its sparking here.
  
• I wish people would STOP PLAYING CHURCH! I really wish people would realize that the church should be influencing the media and our world. We’ve got to grab the attention of people because look who we are competing with...

Well, that’s about all in my head tonight, off to bed I go!

Some PARENTS Really Tick Me Off.

I know I've been away from the blogging world for a little more than a week. But I have a confession to make... I've been going nuts!

Okay, for those of you who know me you already know I've been going nuts since the day I was born but the last few weeks have been really crazy for Cyndi and I.

We've really been trying to improve how we do student ministry and let me tell you, it takes a ton of work!

But it's been great. I am in the process of hopefully writing my first book. And I'm thinking about starting it out as some of my blog postings. I thought about calling it "Confessions of a Hyper Active Youth Pastor" but I would love all of your input on a title for it.

Basically, the whole thing is my thoughts on the ins and outs of being a youth pastor.

Tonight, will be my first entry for my book. So here we go:

Tonight, I want to share with you what has been on my heart the last few days. Let me beforehand say I am not going to apologize for what I am about to say. I believe it to be true in many churches, and it frustrates the living poo out of me. If you have a problem with what I am going to say or the fact that I just said poo, let me introduce you to a couple of my friends who happen to be Pastor's and they will punch you in the throat.

Some parent's really irritate me! WHOA! I know it's a bold statement but here is why.
I have been in student ministry for many years now and I have heard it time and time again from many parents: "We are committed to do whatever it takes to get our kids involved in church, and for them to bring their friends too." Wow, how awesome it is to hear this! I really do get excited when parents tell me this. However, I have come to discover that many times this statement from parents is a load of bull!

Many times its the same parents who say this, that ground their kids from church. Wow, do parent really ground their kids from not going to church? Absolutely and its STUPID! Why in the world would you ground a kid from going to church? I've been told it's because, "My kid has a lot of fun and really wants to go, and it's the only way to punish them" Imagine that, a kid wanting to go to church? I wonder if Jesus would want that. I'm not going to lie, I want church to be so fun that it is every students favorite place to go, their favorite night of the week, and an attractive place that they will want to bring their friends. But one thing is for sure, they get to hear about Jesus every week.

So really, when parents ground their kids from going to church (or retreats, or camp, etc.) their really saying you know what, I don't want you to hear about Jesus. I don't want you to develop a meaningful relationship with Him, or with His followers. I love you son or daughter, but you should just go to HELL!

The other thing that irritates me is when parents don't encourage their kids to go to church, or they won't encourage them to bring their friends. You know what if 75% of kids in a Christian homes don't have a relationship with Jesus, don't you think we ought to be doing something different? Don't you think maybe (especially if you're a Christian) you should really push your kid to go to youth group? If 75% of kids in a CHRISTIAN home don't have a relationship with Jesus don't you think it's time for you to say enough is enough! Don't you think its time to say church and youth group will be a priority! What, you want to play xbox? Well, your going to go do it at church! What, you want to go hang out with your friends? Well, your going to do it at church and your going to bring your friends with you! We're going to stop having family fun night during youth group because youth group is a PRIORITY and we will make our family fun night another night. YOUTH GROUP and CHURCH SHOULD BE A PRIORITY, not just something to do when it's convenient for me and my kid!

I know what some parents are thinking, well I don't want to force my kid to go to church because they will hate it later! BOLOGNA! Parents you force your kids to do a lot of other things, like clean their rooms, play sports, eat their vegetables, etc. WHy not force them? I promise you this, when it comes to our youth group if you force them to come they will love it. If they don't love it, we will do what ever it takes to make them love it!

Parents, if you are serious about your relationship with God, and you want your student to be serious: MAKE not only church a priority, but YOUTH GROUP as well! Let's not be satisfied the 6% of teens that graduate high school that will have a relationship with Jesus. Let's not be satisfied with 25% of kids that come from Christian homes who have a relationship with God. Let's not be satisfied with the 1 out of 3 students who will stay in church after they graduate high school! NO MORE! Let's Step it up and make this a priority people. WHO AND WHERE IS YOUR PRIORITIES?

Happy Birthday

Today is a very special day!

On this day back in 1963, Mary Renee Cimini was born.

Who is the Mary Renee Cimini, you may ask? She is only one of the coolest people who has ever walked this planet!

She's my mom! That's right, today is my Mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!

I do have to say she and I have become a lot closer now that I am grown and away. I never realized how cool she is and how much she loves Mallory, Zachary, Me and now Cyndi. Seriously, my Mom is one of the most active people I know. She plays softball on like 3 or 4 different teams, and bowls in like 2 or 3 different leagues...she even goes to Nationals every year!

Anywho, one day I will write a really long post about my momma...I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to her (I doubt she even reads my blog. I doubt that she even knows what a blog is).

Sunday Night Mind Dump

Tonight was definitely one of the toughest messages I have ever delivered to students.

Earlier in the week I was really struggling with the message I was working on and by Wed. I was finished or so I thought. Wed. Night as I was practicing it God laid on my heart it was not what needed to be said.

So last night I delivered a message about Heaven and Hell. The title was Living NOW with an Eye on then. Basically in a nutshell a lot of people today PLAY CHURCH. And quite frankly I’m sick of it! I’m tired of people coming to church because its what they have always done, I’m tired of people acting like a follower of Jesus on Sunday but every other day of the week they live for themselves!

Seriously, how can you say I am a whole hearted follower of Jesus but then turn around and say I don’t have time to serve Him. Are you really a whole hearted follower?

As a Pastor, and specifically a pastor to students, I hate having to go up to people and ask them to volunteer to help out with students. The reason being is that people know student ministry is a lot of work, and there are always to help. SO HELP OUT ALREADY! People should be jumping at any opportunity to serve, if you call yourself a disciple of Jesus. Ok, enough with my little rant and rave, back to my message last night.

The message last night was a bit tense, and yes I did begin my message from a coffin (thanks for the idea Perry). But the ever present reality is that we all die and will face a choice of eternity. We only have two choices, Heaven or Hell. And that choice is decided now and its decided by your relationship with God. Did you read that right? Yes, your relationship with God. It’s not based on whether you go to church or not. It’s not based on whether you’ve been baptized or not. It’s not based on your parents, grandparents, friends, or even your youth pastor. IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS!

I do have to say last night rocked. I think our kids were really receptive and understood my heart and some even realized that eternity is too important to not be thinking about it today. No one is guaranteed tomorrow.

I can’t wait until next Sunday. I’m hoping we have at least 30 kids show up! Wouldn’t it be awesome if we didn’t have enough space to hold all the studentz?

Sometimes I feel so inadequte

NO LIE! Sometimes I really feel as though I am not good enough.

I'm not good enough to be a Pastor, I'm not good enough to be a husband, I'm not good enough to be an adoptive Daddy. I just feel like BLAH!

Have you ever felt that way.

Right now I am feeling that way about my message for our students on Sunday night. I have been working my butt off and it just seemed like it wasn't coming together. Seriously, I had this whole message wrote and I just was struggling through it and I got home tonight and began to pray over it, as I was preparing and I just felt like it wasn't right. So I scratched the whole thing. And the cool thing is God has such a better message for Sunday...same topic just a better way of presenting it!

That’s the great thing about God...when you aren’t able to accomplish something, He is. When you feel so small and not worthy, He is so BIG and totally worthy! He loves us so much that He willingly helps us if we let Him. I’m reminded of the story of Moses when Moses argues with God about not being a good speaker, and God just laughs. He says to Moses, “Moses, I will go with you, My Words will be your Words. But you know what I will send a little bit of support with you, take your brother Aaron. But my Words are enough.” HIS WORDS are enough!

I am really pumped up about this Sunday night, its going to be like no other delivery of the Word that our kids have ever experienced before. I have to admit some of the idea came from one of the churches that I really follow. However, its gonna rock.

By the way, I am preaching in our main Sunday Morning Worship Experience on October 14. I am really pumped...I think I know what God is leading me to speak on. I think God is leading me to share with our church that we have got to make our children and youth a priority! They aren't the church of tomorrow they are the church of RIGHT NOW!! My main text is going to come from Matthew, where Jesus tells the Pharisees that healthy people don't need a doctor, it's the sick that do!

Anyway, just some rambling thoughts for this evening.

A House Divided...

Okay so beginning tonight at Midnight, my wife, Cyndi, and I are no longer talking until tomorrow evening. Tomorrow is the day our two favorite teams play each other.

You see, I am a University of Michigan fan (no matter how terrible they are doing this year) and Cyndi is a Notre Dame fan. So tomorrow its on!!!

Hopefully, my Wolverines will win their first game this season. If they don't I'm done watching them for the rest of the season, I am going to be a die hard Clemson fan (However, I will still be a Michigan fan).

Pray for Cyndi, hopefully I won't gloat to much.

Are You Satisfied with Who You are Reaching?

This morning I heard a mind blowing, unbelievable, made me almost poop my pants, scary statistic. Brace yourselves because if you have any heart for people you will be absolutely shocked! Are you ready?

-75% of children that grow up in Christians homes will leave their home at 18 NOT knowing Jesus Christ.
-6% of High School Teenagers will graduate knowing Jesus in a personal way.
-70% of the State of South Carolina does not go to church.

Are you sick yet? I am! Does this make you want to throw up? I do! As a disciple of Jesus Christ, these statistics really scare me, but they don’t just scare me, they literally make me angry and extremely ticked off!

75% of kids (in Christian Homes) will not know Jesus...I know what some of you may be thinking, well praise God for the 25% that do. I agree praise God, but we can’t be satisfied with just 25%. Parents, I may say something that may totally shock you, but I as a youth pastor am not responsible for your child’s salvation. I am not responsible for your child’s spiritual growth, and neither is the Sr. Pastor, or your kids’ small group leaders. Especially in a Christian home, kids should be seeing Christ in their parents! I will take responsibility for those kids who don’t come from a Christian home. But for those who come from a Christian home, parents it is time to step up and no longer allow 75% of our kids to not know Jesus in a personal way!

The next statistic really hits home to me as a Youth Pastor. 6% of High Schoolers, when they graduate, will have a relationship with Jesus. OUCH!! This stat tells me it’s time to step up our game. What could be more important than reaching out to 94% of students who will die and go to hell? We are going to reach these kids! It’s time to be more creative, it’s time to be more passionate, and it’s time to be more intentional about everything we do. Teenagers are way to important, they aren’t the church of tomorrow, they are the church of RIGHT NOW!

Finally, what are we as Coastal Community Church going to do to reach those 70% of people in this state that don’t go to church anywhere? Is your comfort, your happiness, and even your pride more important than these people? If it is, then don’t invite them, don’t talk with them, don’t share the life changing love that Jesus gave to you with them. It’s okay, the 70% will keep talking about how hypocritical Christians are, and how church people suck. And I will agree with them because of people like you. However, if you care more about others, than you do yourself, let’s commit to becoming more aggressive, more intentional, and not satisfied with where we are. Let’s reach Charleston, SC like no group of people ever has, let’s pull out all the stops, and make no excuses!

People are too important. Lives are at stake! Who will you be reaching today?

What in the world is going on?

I have to say it, my team is sucking it up! I have been silent long enough and now I must speak up!

MICHIGAN GET IT TOGETHER!

Week one, we lose at home against Appalachian State. A team that isn't even in the same division as us! However, App State is very under rated...they know how to play football and were the champs in their division. Okay so we lost, we underestimated the opponent and lost! We had a bad day!

I am no less a University of Michigan fan because of this.

HOWEVER, today has proven to be an embarassing day! Guys of the U of M football team stop embarassing me! I have kids down here in South Carolina I have to answer too. They claim that the Gamecocks are a much better team then Michigan and its starting to look like it. Although, have no fear, I am and will always be a Michigan fan, through thick and thin! Let's just get it together guys!

And prove to Cameron that the Big 10 is way better than the SEC!!

I have faith that we can still pull this season out! Let's go Wolverines!

Totally Amazed!

All I can say is WOW!!!

Yesterday, Cyndi and I did something that a lot of church staffers don't do. We went to another church. Actually, we left right after our church's morning worship service and took two of our students with us and drove three hours to Anderson, SC.

We arrived a little after 4pm and so I drove them to the church just to see the facilities. Well after driving we decided to go to the Youth Facility called the 2seven. This is really a cool facility and it pumps me up to get our youth center up and running.

Well we arrived to the 6pm service at Newspring and immediately my wife, and our students were blown away, just by their facilities. They spared no expense on their kids and students. As far as the worship service went let me just say WOW...WOW...WOW!!!! Incredible worship! Creative!

During the service, the goalie for Clemson's soccer team got baptized!! Whoooo hoooo! It was really awesome to see a lot of the team their supporting her, and they had signs! How awesome is that! Newspring is holding a baptism service this Saturday but what I think is really cool, is that they are having a tailgating party before hand. How awesome is that! Why not hold a tailgate party? I mean seriously if we do it for football (which no longer matters until my Wolverines win again) why not for Baptism!! Christians should throw the biggest and best parties in the world!

Perry Noble, the senior pastor at Newspring Church, spoke on Baptism. He said what it is, what it isn't, and really made it applicable. Perry also revolutionized Chrisitanity...by that I mean this, he stated that today many Christians try to make being a Christian to hard. Jesus made it eaasy, and he made it easy by saying FOLLOW ME. Christianity is responding to Jesus's command to FOLLOW ME! It's not about rules, do this, do that, etc... FOLLOW ME!

Well, the service rocked and I love what Newspring is doing. No, I don't want to copy them, but definately use them as a resource. And for all of you bloggers out there that have been knocking Perry and Newspring get over yourselves!! It's not about you. It's all about Jesus, and if you have ever been to one of their services you would realize that! Stop criticising because people are coming to a saving relationship with Jesus...Lives are being changed!

Check back here for more notes and thoughts later this week!!

So EXCITED!!!

So I've been listening to, reading about, and watching this church up in Anderson, SC for about a year now. They are doing some really amazing stuff and I've become kind of one of their internet church attenders. However, tomorrow will be a totally different day!

I've been to Newspring Church once before for their Unleash conference. But tomorrow Cyndi and I (and a couple of our students) are going to drive up to Anderson for their 6pm service. I am really excited to experience a typical Sunday for them. This is not because I'm looking for a new church, or because we want to copy what they do. Newspring, I believe, is a great resource for any growing church to connect with. Why? Well, one reason is they are one of the most influential churches in the U.S. And also, they are reaching lost people!

Yes, they've got a ton of criticism for the things they do, but THEY ARE REACHING PEOPLE WHO NEED JESUS! So Cyn, and I are going to go as visitors and see how we can better serve our community!

I can't wait!

It seems like forever...

Wow, it has been almost 15 days since I last posted a blog... I know I am slacking.

But hey life gets busy. You know what I mean, things to do, people to see, LIFE to live.

Well, have no fear I am back!

So much has happened in the last few weeks so let me just give you a quick rundown:
-Our students are all back in school
-Cyndi is working on her finals for her first semester of Master's classes
-we are trying to get some really new and cool things going on at the church
-we are going through an awesome series that shows us that evangelism is just as simple as walking across the room.
-Hurrican Dean didn't hit Jamaica as bad as it could have. Dwight and Shanda (my missionary friends) are good. We haven't heard from our baby, Monicea, or Randy yet...but no news is good news.
-Please pray for one of my Jamaican friends Adrien he was in an accident Sat. night and is in critical condition.
-I am so excited to go to church tomorrow and get some things done!!!!
-I moved offices!
-I am totally tired and very random tonight

Well hi ho hi ho, off to bed I go!

More later!

I'm A Prostitute!

That's right I am a prostitute and its Biblical.

Last night as I began my quiet time I felt as thought I should begin to read the Book of Hosea. It hit me last night that I have never read the enter book, I've only refrenced it and took bits and pieces of it.

As I am reading Hosea chapter 1, God tells Hosea to go and marry a prostitute...I WAS LIKE WHAT? God seriously, you want this guy to marry a prostitute, somethings not right here. This is a woman who is unfaithful, unloveable, and just not the best choice of a woman. Definately not a Proverbs 31 woman.

I must admit I was a little confused at this instruction from God but I read on. And as I read on I discovered that God wanted Hosea to marry this woman to show the nation of Israel that they are living in Prostitution. You see I too am a prostitute. According to one dictionary's definition prostitution is the act or an instance of offering or devoting one's talent to an unworthy use or cause.

Israel was being unfaithful to God, they weren't living up to His standards. I can honestly say me too. Especially in the area of devoting my entire life, my entire talents, and everything I do to Him. I get busy with the busyness of life, I get caught up in watching tv, listening to my iPod, Blogging, working on stuff, etc.

I am so blessed that God has brought me to where I am right now. Even when your not living up to the standards God has for us, we can still come to Him. Jesus loves us as we are...that's not saying that we don't need to change. Change is a must, but He loves us as we are but loves us more as to what we are becoming in HIM!

God is sending a downpour in Atlanta, GA

Interesting title for a blog huh?

But its true! God is throwing down an amazing downpour here in Atlanta. No, I'm not talking about a physical rain, but I am talking about a SPIRITUAL FLOOD, a fresh new awakening among our students.

We've been doing some fun stuff, like going to the World of Coke (which by the way everyone should visit, even if you are a Pepsi fan like I am), going to Six Flags, and Six Flags' White Water. However, our personal one on one time and our large group time has taken an incredible influence on our students.

Their challenge this week is to let God send a downpour of His Spirit on their lives...and they are responding. I believe personal revival begins with one person at a time, and this week I can see its going to take place with 16 people!

downpour on us!

It's Been Awhile

So, it definately has been a few days since my last post. BUT HEY!! Cyndi and I have been busy!

Right now we are in the middle of VBS, which is totally rockin'! Cyndi is the official photographer and I am leading the kids in some really fun and outrageous worship! We have a ton of volunteers which is awesome to see so many people give up their evenings to come and spend time with kids. I am really proud of our youth, who are really doing a great job serving. I especially want to point out Sarah and Lydia who are teaching a class by themselves!! Way to go ladies!

Well, on a different note...MY PARENTS ARE HERE!!!

You have no idea how excited I am! I knew they were coming into town but they came a few days earlier and totally suprised Cyndi and I. REALLY SUPRISED! My sister left Sat. and we thought we had about 4 days before my folks were coming in. So the apartment was a mess, and we weren't ready for visitors again.

But they're here and I am so glad! I missed them...yeah, I know it was just May the last time we visited with them but that's tough for me. I am a big Momma's boy...and being 12 hours away from Momma is difficult.

Well, anyway gotta go finish uploading some stuff to our new student ministry web site...take a look at it sometime.

www.coastalcommunitychurch.org/waves

LATER!

Tomorrow is going to be AWESOME!

Here it is Saturday night and I am just thinking through our Church worship service tomorrow as well as our student gathering for tomorrow night.

Tomorrow morning is going to be so awesome! We are trying some new things throughout our service. I believe this will enhance our worship gatherings, as well as create a more welcoming, more relevant, more outreached focus environment. Also, our missions team will be reporting on their trip to Jamaica. I know Cameron and Twila are a little nervous about speaking but they will do great.

You can check out the highlight video on You Tube- either do a search for PastorJeremiahJB or type in Jamaica...it will come up eventually.

I hope we have over 20 new people! Honestly, I hope at least 10 of them are students. I love visitors, and I love when they see that we are committed to Jesus and His people!

Alright, enough randomness in my head for the night.

By the way check out my friend Andy's blog...he makes me laugh!

fun day at Carowinds...

What a fun and crazy day yesterday! Imagine this...
6am-students showing up ready for a day filled with Roller Coasters, Water Rides, and so many awesome thrill rides.
We drove to the North Carolina/South Carolina state line to hang out for the day at Carowinds Amusement Park.

I enjoy the rush, excitement, and times the fearful adventure of Roller Coasters. Well our students were awesome, well behaved, kind, and really showed Jesus in all of their actions. Their youth pastor on the other hand was a little frustrated and pulled a really stupid thing. I lost the van key. I don't know how it happened, I had it one minute and the next it was gone.

However, not to worry. I called Enterprise (they pick you up) and they took care of it! They called a local locksmith got a new key made...no worries. I did get a call this morning from Carowinds saying they found our key! A day late and a dollar short.

The ride how was filled with excitement of the day and excitement about our next event...The Summer Retreat.

I love our students, they are so filled with energy, compassion, and kindness. Carowinds was great but our summer retreat is going to be so much better!!

so pumped...

Well, tonight was my first night back with all of our youth in a couple of weeks. I am pumped! We have so much going on in the next few weeks and I am just so excited because we will be spending a ton of time with our youth group! I really do love these awesome young people! They energize me!

This Wednesday we head to Charlotte, NC for a fun filled day at Carowinds Amusement park! I cannot wait, I love roller coasters. It's hard not to love them when you grow up going to the Roller Coaster Capital of the World...Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH.

I am really excited about August coming here in just a week. I know a lot of our students aren't too happy because that means back to school. However, I am excited for our Summer Retreat to Atlanta, GA. This year's theme is "downpour." In which we are asking God to downpour Himself on us. I desire to see revival to much, and I especially think it will start with our students.

I am so excited for some of the things our student ministry team is planning for the fall... So be on the lookout for some exciting series, events, and other stuff.

Remember to invite your friends!

The Last few Days...

Well, I am actually sitting in my office here in Charleston and realized I have alot of catching up to do.

However, I need to feel you all in on what has happened the last few days in Jamaica. So let me start with Sunday.

We woke up ate breakfast and rushed off to Generations Church, which is located right across from the best Chinese restraunt in all of Mandeville. Seems like a typical Sunday to me. As we arrive we started setting everything up for the morning and next thing we know, we have a dozen or so people there and we just begin to pray. What an amazing experience just to see and be a part of a church just starting out and to hear their prayers.

So at 10am people begin to come in for the service and what an incredible time of worship we experienced. Louinel, the worship leader, did a great job. He shared a lot that was on his heart. He and his wife had a baby just a few weeks ago...which was a very exciting time in Generations Church, he was the first baby born into the church. However, he only lived for six days. Their was nothing physically wrong with him but somehow fluid got into his lungs. Upon finding their baby in a state of barely breathing, Louinel litterally ran to the hospital with his child in his arms. The baby died in Louinel's arms.

While, Louinel was telling this story I was reminded of King David when his child with Bathsheba died. What did King David do? He fell to the ground and worshipped God. Here Louinel was worshipping, and it was powerful. After we were led in worship, Dwight stood up and gave the Word of God. The more I hear Dwight speak, the more I am so impressed. He truly spends a lot of time praying, focusing, studying, and just communing with God. And God blesses that! The Word was powerful.

After lunch, we drove to Kingston. I have never been to Kingston for several reasons: 1. Never had anyone to drive me there. 2. I was always told not to go there because it is supposedly the murder capital in the world. 3. I have been to scared to go.

I WAS WRONG! Kingston was such a humbling experience. Dwight and his twin brother Dwayne grew up in Kingston, and I have been friends with these guys for a few years and they really wanted us to see their roots. So off we went. The road to Kingston is very nice, there is even a toll booth that you have to go through. However, in Kingston I got a little worried. The streets were filthy. The town made the ghetto of Detroit look like a place were millionaire's live.

Going to Dwight and Dwayne's child hood home left me speechless. To see a place where they live so close together, where children play in the street, no running water, no privacy, community bathrooms, and the smell isn't that great, it was an experience I believe everyone should encounter. I was moved to tears because knowing how much Dwight and Dwayne love the Lord was not hindered by living conditions. Wow!

We also, went to church in Kingston! What an uplifting service, we danced, we sung, we heard God's Word...WHAT A DAY! We ended the day by driving back to Mandeville, but not before stopping and eating at Wendy's...THAT'S Right, AMERICAN FOOD! Monicea loved it!

Monday, we drove to Whitehouse to take Monicea home and then off to Montego Bay for the day. Nothing to unique about that except that I rode my first Jamaican taxi in MoBay, going to pick up food at Pizza Hut for the team.

Great experiences, good fun, better ministry...Twila and Cameron were so awesome and this trip had to be one of the best trips I have ever been a part of!

Jamaica ~Day 5 - THE YARD IS ON FIRE

That's right you read it correctly...the yard was litterally on fire and guess who set it.
Our Team did it! Don't worry we were in control the whole time.

Well, after several days of mowing and weed wacking, we decided because of all the rocks, and rubbish that we needed to do a control fire on it. What a site to see! It was a great experience, and now the yard is going to be able to be nourished and farmed.

This evening we went to Generations Church to clean and run practice. I was just in awe of the worship. It's so great that we serve such an awesome God and that worship is just not an American movement but an intimate experience, an encounter with the Creator. It just amazes me that we serve such a BIG GOD!!!

Anyway, tomorrow after church we have a great experience in store. Dwight and his twin brother Dwayne are from Kingston, Jamaica's capital. And we have an opportunity to travel there tomorrow, and so we are going to go for about an hour or so to see where Dwight grew up and check out another church plant there! We are so excited!

Cameron says hi to everyone and he can't wait to see everyone. And Miss Twila wants everyone to know this has been a great experience and she has lots of stories to share when we arrive back.

Until next time...
Many prayers and blessings to you all... CYNDI I LOVE YOU!!

Jamaica ~Day 3 & 4

Wow, what a busy couple of days we have had.

Yesterday, we woke up and their was no water! Which is not always good, especially when you are planning on having a hard day working outside. We went back to the young men's home to finish up some work to prepare their new area for farming and discovered that we could not cut the rest of the area with a lawn mower or a weed wacker. So here was John and my solution...BURN IT! Dwight laughed and said that was our solution to everything but we were serious. So we sprayed some extremely toxic weed killer and Saturday we are planning on going back to burn the yard. So we actually mowed the lawn and made their yard very nice.

As we arrived back to the house I was praying that water would be back on so we could shower...and praise God it was!

In the evening, we visited Generations Church as their worship team was practicing. It's very interesting and exciting to see a church plant taking off. Quickly, Twila, Cameron and I went to work...adjusting sound, audio, and anything else we could help with. Twila is actually going to train a few Jamaicans how to run keynote and propresenter...and I will be training some Jamaicans how to run sound.

Today, we drove down to Whitehouse to visit McAlpine, and to visit My Father's House, a local foster home. Our day started off a little late, but eventually we made it to the Westmoreland parish. On the way, we noticed a huge fire that seemed out of control, which was an interesting site to see.

After a great day of ministry building relationships, listening to stories, talking to people in Whitehouse, we headed back to Mandeville.

For dinner, Dwight and Shanda took us to this seafood restaurant next to the sea called, Little Ochee. I must say, it was some of the best seafood I have ever had! Jerk shrimp, garlic buttered lobster, fish, and curried conch were all on the menu. After dinner we came back to Mandeville...a very exhausting but yet very awesome day!

By the way, we have a very special guest...Cyndi and my Jamaican daughter Monicea. We have had on our heart to adopt this little girl for the past two years and have been working on it. It is very difficult to adopt in Jamaica and we aren't quite old enough to adopt in the states, but as they say in Jamaica...Soon Come.

She is having a great time, and she absolutely love Cameron and Twila. Cameron actually played Barbie's with her :)

Until next time America, Brown signing off.

Jamaica ~Day 2 ...off to work we go.

Here we are in Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica...and it is so much cooler here in the mountains. I believe it feels even cooler than it is in Charleston.

Well today was a great day!!! We traveled to a young men's home to assist in some lawn care. So I was thinking okay, no big deal...a little lawn mowing, a little weed pulling. Boy, were we suprised!

The yard had completely overgrown and was thick...so we went at it. Now, you may be wondering why did ya'll go all the way to Jamaica just to take care of lawns. Well, this home is for young men whom have just come out of an orphanage and they are being trained to survive as a Christian man, here in Jamaica.

We spent all day on the lawn. As some of us were using lawn mowers, weed wackers, and whatever we could use...Cameron went to town on the weeds with a maschette. It was a great day and much work got done.

This evening we went into Mandeville to see Generations Church. What a cool experience. As Dwight and Shanda were showing us around all I could think of is wow...they are doing things so much different than the typical Jamaican churches.

We ended the evening by visiting a local ice cream shop, were Shanda got a bad case of the hiccups, that had us laughin hysterically for a good thirty minutes.

Tomorrow, we are heading back to the young men's home to finish up the yard.

Until next time.

Jamaica ~Day 1

From Montego Bay to Mandeville, it seems as though we have been all over the island of Jamaica.

Twila, Cameron, and I flew into MoBay where we encountered customs and immigration. Actually, we didn't have to bad of a time, the lines were just extremely long. After hassling with Jamaica car rentals we drove to Whitehouse, Westmoreland. Where we met a lot of great people.

Twila and Cameron were introduced to Monicea, the four year old girl that Cyndi and I are in the process of adopting. They also got walk through Randy's (a little boy Cyndi and I sponsor) house and see how Jamaican's truly live. Randy and his father live in a two room house. A house that is litterally falling apart.

Next we met Miss Sadie, an incredible prayer warrior. This woman prays daily for the island of Jamaica but also Coastal, Taylor Univeristy, and several other ministries that feed into the island.

After leaving Whitehouse we headed to Mandeville to meet with Dwight and Shanda. On the way, God definately protected us. As we were driving a young man rode his bike down a hill and almost pulled out in front of us. For some reason John (who was driving us), started being pulled toward the center of the rode. GOD WAS WORKING...we would have hit this young man, praise God we didn't.

SO we are sitting here in Mandeville, tired but encourage and ready to serve. Tomorrow we are heading to a young men's home. We will be ministering by delivering clothes, and doing yard work. Cutting lawn, pouring cement, and even cleaning some chicken coups! What a great day ahead!

Good night!

sitting in the airport...

Well, here I am along with Cameron and his mom, Twila. Sitting in Charlotte, NC at the airport.

We are on our way to Jamaica and the excitement is contagious. This morning at 4:45am est, I hear a knock on my front door. And if you know me at all you know that I HATE mornings...seriously I do not believe 4 o'clock should come twice a day. Okay back to the knock on the door.

It was Cameron and Twila, both looking as though they have been up and ready to go for hours and hear I am just barely out of the shower. They were pumped. Well we made it to Charleston International Airport (thank you Miss Janie) with no problems. Which is very unusual for me, especially flying US Airways aka US SCAREWAYS.

Our flight was delayed a bit but no problems.

We are pumped and excited about ministering to the Jamaican people, as well as the missionaries we will be working with. I asked Cameron what he has thought about the trip so far and he can just say, "Cool." Twila, on the other hand, is definately ready for the new experience. Already this morning she has ministered to several people. She knew a few people at the airport and was so pumped about telling them that we are going to Jamaica on a missions trip.

It's going to be a great week!

Keep checking out the blog for more updates throughout the week!

Undercurrent update 7/08/07

Well, tonight was our weekly student ministry program we call UNDERCURRENT.

You could definately tell it is the summer time and people are on vacation...Seems like when summer hits people tend to check out of church too.

But we had a great group of students and their passion to worship, learn, and hang out together is absolutely incredible! I love our students! They are so encouraging and have such a great attitude about everything.

Tonight we continued our series entitled, "Divine Obsession." We continued to seek out what or whom our obsession is. As we know, God is obsessed with us, but did you know that His love is so immense and He desires just for us to know Him. Not just the hi God how's it going, type of know Him. NO! He wants the I KNOW GOD, type of relationship. Meaning, He wants to truly hang out with us, be there at all times, share His name with us!

Wow, what a great night!

I'm Going Nuts

So many thoughts are going through my mind right now and I don't even know where to begin.

-Why has God blessed me with an amazing life? Seriously, I have a great wife, great friends, a loving church, an awesome family, a home to live in, and so much more.

-I leave in three days for Jamaica, along side Cameron and Twila...I am really excited! I get to see my friends Dwight and Shanda, John, and Emily. I will also get to reconnect with some of the other relationships that I have built in Jamaica...including Monicea (Cyndi and my soon to be adopted daughter) and Randy (Cyndi and my little boy, whom we sponsor).

-Church on Sunday is going to Rock! Undercurrent Sunday night is going to be even better!

-My apartment is a mess and I'm not freaking out about it.

- Jesus loves me!!

Okay, that is enough random stuff that is in my head right now... By the way go see Evan Almighty, it's a great flick!

great students...great message...great night

What a great night!

Sunday July 1, 2007 - 6pm

Hillsong's new cd blasting away, students pouring in, ping pong balls flying, and the foosball table going crazy...
What's going on?

WAVES student ministry's Sunday Night event known as UNDERCURRENT.

We started a brand new series entitled, "Divine Obsession." Last night we talked about God's inseperable love for you! He is obsessed with you and he loves you so much that no matter what happens, he will always love you. Check out Luke 15:11-32 or copy and paste this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:11-32;&version=51

Students were challenged to leave their doubts, insecurities, and anything else that hinders them from being obsessed with God.

I am just so pumped about what God is doing and can't wait for next week!!

divine obsession-WAVES student ministry's new series

This Sunday we begin a brand new series during Undercurrent (Sunday nights 6-7:30pm).

Let me ask you, What are you obsessed with? A Covertable Camero Z28? A girl? A guy? How about a xbox 360, PS2 or PS3, or any other gaming system? Chocolate?

Do you know what God is obsessed with? YOU! That's right God is obsessed with You...he has an absolutely crazy LOVE for you and me. He created us in His image. Think about it...HE died for us, that's LOVE!

This new series totally talks about that, God's obsession with us.

Are you obsessed with Him?

I love this series...

Last Sunday we began a brand new series on Sunday Mornings at Coastal...It ROCKED! We are using some of the great summer blockbusters as a hook to get people in the doors to hear God's Word.

The things is that many people in our world today get a lot of their theology/religion/values/beliefs from the movies...SO WHY NOT USE THE MOVIES to get God's message out there?

This week we are using Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Join us at 10:30am

Coastal Community Church
460 Arlington Drive
Charleston, SC 29414
www.CoastalCommunityChurch.org