You Down with ICC? Yeah You Know Me!

To MyTOGs,

Usually when I hear the letters I-C-C in sucession I refer to my medical school world and think about Introduction of Clinical Cases where we discuss medical cases that intigrate what we are learning in other med classes into a real situation. This is usually a fun, somewhat tedious, time where we get great insight into future problems we might face in a hospital setting.

However, I want to give a shout out to another ICC, as in Impact Community Church in Oswego, Illinois with the Head Pastors Jamin and Olga Becker. I have known Pastor Jamin for roughly 8 years when he was youth pastor @ Faith Tabernacle Church in Aurora, Illinois, while his youth group, my youth group @ Family Worship Center in Kokomo, Indiana under then youth pastor Lucien Madding, another youth group @ Christian Faith Centre in Indianapolis under youth pastor Jordan Troutman and finally the youth group form Eagle's Nest Ministires in Omaha Nebraska (Gotta keep it Midwest I guess) would all meet for summer camps and spring retreats. As the years grew many people from each of the groups grew together and formed lifelong friendships and brotherhoods.

On January 11, 2009, Pastor Jamin and his wife, Olga, along with many other former and current members of Firepower (the youth group from Aurora) opened there doors to the first time to Impact Community Church in the conference room of Oswego East High School. I want to take time to acknowledge them for their willingness to listen to God and spread out and step in faith and start this church. Knowing the kind of people of everybody that has some part to do with this expansion for His Kingdom (because it is for God alone), I know they aim to break down all the barriers that religion and the lazy mentality of Christianity that many people struggle with and do what their title proclaims- Make an impact to the community. While watching a facebook video clip of the first service, Pastor Jamin made, in my opinion, a profound statement. While acknowledging the breakthrough that they made in opening the church he also stated that "the easy part is over". At first, I was thinking about all the hard-- work, the praying, the fasting, and the planning-- that the founders have done to get to this point, and yet that was the easy part.

Then it dawned on me, actually I think God talked to me (it's a pretty amazing thing when you allow God to have His way). Do they want to be seen? Or do they want to make an impact?
There is a lot of "dirty work" in actually piercing the lives of people and the community. The mentality I usually get is that Sundays in church are stress free days and everybody puts on their best and covers up their dirt. Well if you are only opening your doors on Sunday, chances are you are not gonna get any dirt. In my opinion there is minimal life changing done on sundays. Usually the impact is done outside the four wall, while being the light in the community, and not being ashamed to get a little dirty and shine Christ's light.

So yes Pastor Jamin, the easy part is done. The hard work is coming as you know, but I'm gonna spit some words of encouragement towards you and all the members of ICC via Matthew.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light"- Matthew 11:30

Praying for you guys up in ICC. Be an impact.

Till next time.

H. Jones

Rom. 8:37

RESOLVTION MMIX (2009 Resolution)

MyTOGs,


"I don’t know.
Only God knows where the story ends for me
But I know where the story begins
It’s up to us to choose
Whether we win or lose
And I choose to win"

- Mary J. Blige (No More Drama)

So I'm probably going to place quotes in the beginning of my entry because it will usually be the "thesis", if you will, of the post.

So 2009 is here! Man, I have to take some time and reflect on 2008. A lot of stuff went down both personally (Moved to Louisville for medical school, have had many episodes in medical school, etc.) and nationally (President Elect Obama, and gas actually coming down a little bit). And I think it was a good year, a BREAKTRHOUGH YEAR (remember that word ladies and gents) but it's 2009 now. Well, I suppose I should drop a resolution, right?

I only have one resolution this year:

Don't let past distractions (drama, disappointments, successes) deter you from potential breakthroughs.

So I'm not sure if Mary J. Blige was channeling her inner Apostle Paul when she sang this song circa 2001, but I am for 2009. As I ponder my resolution and Miss Blige's lyrics. I hear Paul resonating to the churches in Phillipi (Greece), Corinth (Greece), and (supposedly) to the Hebrews directly.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. - Phil. 3:12-15

I really believe this verse is such a strong verse for practical purposes of life let alone spiritual purpsoes. As I recall 2008 after the jubilation of getting into medical school had subsided I found myself having a sense of entitlement since I have "arrived" that I could coast on some things in grad school. Now in 2009 the mentality of attaining anything has a whole new meaning... as i struggle to "press on" and learn and master many medical concepts that I have heard and studied before. Spiritually, for those who follow and live for Christ, when have we ever stopped growing and reached our final destination? You're lying if you said that you have. You may have mastered one aspect of the Christian walk (prayer, worship, integrity etc.), but still may struggle in other "hidden" weaknesses (lust, gossip, lack of faith, not trustworthy, unforgiving, etc.). Then you gotta keep pressing on, Saints!!! My high school friend, Parke, on his blog has a couple of entries titled Tweak For The Weak, more entitled for business oriented people, but I really think it implies to Christians in the fact that we alway have to be tweaking ourselves to press on further to Christ Jesus

Secondly, with Paul writing to the Corinthians he urges them to discipline their walk with God by explaining an analogy of how athletes train their bodies:

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

In order to not let distractions to get the best of you, you have to discipline your mind not to give into self pity or depression when you are disappointed. I have a huge problem with that! I know I need to grow tougher skin and buckle down when things are tough. And train myself to find JOY in all situations. That's why it is good to seek God and his goodness and get into a daily habit of reaching out to Him.

Now I'm gonna tell you right now, I don't always do that.... in fact I really struggle staying disciplined in a lot of areas.... but I keep on trying regardless of the setbacks.

Finally the author of Hebrews basically sums up my resolution one verse.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. - Hebrews 12:1

Once you train your body to be mentally strong and you let go of every weight and distraction and drama that keeps you bogged down by" pressing on" towards the mark. Then you are "choosing to win" while you are running the race of life.

Honestly I needed to hear that myself. The race of life is such a marathon and if I'm any type of runner I'm a short distance runner in most aspects of my life. Full enthusiasm for a couple of minutes then fade out then burst on and fade out.... honestly I want to breakthrough in 2009. I hope you do. Till next time.


H. Jones
Rom. 8:37

Welcome to the Party

"Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends We're so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside" - Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
(Karn Evil 9: First
Impression)

This is your boy, H. Jones trying to do big things...only by God's grace!

So this is obviously the initial post of My Theo of Our Generation (lovably abbreviated MyTOG). The inspiration of this blog comes from the fact that I'm going through what Apostle Luke went through with adding the spiritual while living in a practical and scientific world.

Luke's profession was a physician, while I'm striving for the same profession (sometimes I don't think I deserve to be one). I thank God for the opportunity to achieve this goal by opening up a door for me in culturally charming city of Louisville, Kentucky while I am currently in U of L School of Med.

Luke's letters (Luke and Acts) were written to his boy, Theophilus. So I'm writing to my "Theo(s)", the people who read this blog willingly. It's all good!! I'm stepping out on faith on this one cuz I need to express the things of God while I'm living the life of a regular guy yet called to make an impact.

So I'm not perfect, I'm don't have all the answers, but I know a Source that does. And while this blog is favored for how this Christian struggles to press on. I will also drop my opinions about other things in life, so enjoy this post and God willing there will be many more entries.

Be Blessed.

Rom. 8:37