by Josh Monda | Jun 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
May 26
My Ordination, Where God is leading, and so forth.
Posted by Josh
It was a long time coming. I still remember the early days in my ministry after I had been ministering at First Baptist Church in Atlanta MO and right before I went to Exeter Bible Church in PA I was going to be ordained. However Exeter wanted to ordain me so I held off. The problem came when 9 months after I arrived at Exeter the pastor left and we began a rather long search for a pastor. We did find a Pastor and a few years after that I thought it might be a good time to go through the ordination process. Once again it was halted by my resignation and my subsequent move back to Missouri.
This all leads me up to where God may possibly be leading me. After moving back to Missouri I began to try to find a church to minister in as a youth pastor with little success. During this this time of looking for a youth pastorate I had many friends and family ask me if I had ever considered beign a Sr. Pastor. To be honest that has never even really been on my radar. So often my response has simply been no and God has called me to youth ministry. However that began to change for me over time.
I became a member at FBC macon nearly a year ago. I needed a place where my wife and myself could find healing and a place that we could call home. We found it at FBC macon. I have had the priviledge t osit under some great teachign while being there and have had the awesome privledge to have to pastors I consider friends. I know these men love me and I feel the same way about them. It was at this church that God began to change my though process. It was here that God let minister. It was a few months ago that I had a conversation with Pastor Tim and we began to talk and he said “i believe God may be calling you to be Sr. Pastor” and htough I had heard this many times before this time it was sinking in.
After that conversation I began to pray even harder and seek what God could be saying to me. Though I did not feel I had a clear answer from God I did feel that if God wanted this He would reveal it to me. So I decided to pursue it a little farther and I submitted my resume to a couple pf church that I felt would be a good fit for me. I really did not expect to get a call. One of those churches called me within minutes after receiveing my resume, in addition I have been contacted by other church that received my resume from others. Could htis be the Lord’s leading? Right now I believe it is indeed God’s direction. God has given me a peace about this which I never though I would have. I pray for god to lead me to the right place.
To top all of this off I had a wonderful ordination service this past Sunday night. The encouragement I recieved form the deacons and other pastors was overwhelming to me. I am honored the FBC Macon has seen qualities in me worthy of Ordination. I want to be where God wants me and nowhere else and if that mean I am a Sr. Pastor that is what I want. Please pray for God’s direction.
Uncategorized
May 19
God’s Miracle to us
Posted by Josh
One year ago today my son was born. Micah John Monda was a surprise to both my wife and I. After nearly 8 years of trying to have a second child Micah came along. What miracle he was then and still is. He brings joy to our lives on an everyday basis with our daughter Sarai. There is nothing quite like seeing a baby develop and begin to smile and in some cases to see their daddy in them. I hope people see my daddy in me I hope my life point to my heavenly father. I will write more later on some amazing things God is doing in my life right now. Here are some pics of my son.
Uncategorized
May 13
Clayton’s Story
Posted by Josh
This is a powerful video that not only all teens should see but all people. It is worth a few moments of your time
Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application
May 04
So Bizarre – Bizarre Foods Sneak Peak
Posted by Josh
One show I like to watch around my house is Bizarre foods. Now I know that this show may gross some people out but for me the culinary appetite of Andrew Zimmern is mind boggling. He often seems to have a way of taking some food that you may think sounds like the grossest things in the world abd make it sound good and even seem good when he tries it.
If you have not watched Bizarre foods it is on the Travel Channel on Tuesdays at 10pm eastern. On the show Andrew tries everything that you could possible imagine. From bats, to intestines, to everything in between. many times I wish I could be in the countries that he travels too and try some of the food he tries. Though I may never experience it I sometimes feel as though I get to experience it through him. Here is a sneak peak of tomorrows episode. I encourage you to stop by and watch it remember Tuesdays at 10pm on the travel channel.
My Thoughts
by Josh Monda | Jun 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
I was reading this blog post tonight and it really spoke to me because this is where I am currently at in my life.
Thanks to http://timschmoyer.com
Last week in a conversation with my mentee, he asked, “How do you know if you’re called to ministry?” If we’re all honest, there have been times when each of us has questioned our calling to ministry, particularly during the difficult times. My mentee is not currently in that situation, but the issue of feeling “called out” of ministry is still a difficult one. When we go into vocational ministry, we often use language like, “God is calling me to serve at this church.” Or, when we leave one ministry position and go to another, we say, “God called me away from that ministry to this new one.” Sometimes we’re clearly over-spiritualizing a situation, sometimes not. But when we start to question the calling, let’s not confuse those emotions with ones of discouragement or insecurity. For example, if you had a lot of people encouraging and supporting you, would you still feel “called out” of ministry? If you felt affirmed by key people in your ministry, would your calling change? Remember, our calling into ministry does not come from people, nor should it be retracted by people. It comes solely from the Lord. If you’re doubting your call to ministry, don’t confuse it with feeling discouraged or insecure. Deep down, we all feel that in ministry.
Affirmation and encouragement are absolutely healthy and necessary things to have in your ministry, but never should we base a calling to ministry on the praise or opinions of others. Base your calling on the Lord’s direction in your life.
by Josh Monda | Jun 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
It has been along time since I have posted primarily because I have been so busy. I know that is hard to believe that I have been busy without a job but I sure I have been. Rather than update about Mike Erre’s book (I will do that later) I thought I would just give some things that have been going on in my life.
I’ll start with the crusade we recently had. I meet with one of our Pastors pretty regularly and I really enjoy the time I get to spend with him. Leading up to the crusade he asked me if I would like to help with train the counselors I of course jumped at the opportunity because this is the very thing I love to do. So I spent a few nights getting things ready and going over the training and then we trained the counselors for two evenings, to be ready for the response we were expecting during the crusade. The Impact Macon Crusade was February 22-25 and I was there every night. We saw God move in a remarkable way during that week we saw over 100 decisions for Christ and over 90 0n one night. I must say I was not ready for over 90 people to respond to the gospel that night but it was wonderful. Hey they were all counseled to.
Secondly I was asked if I could teach a book of the Bible to the youth what book would it be. I replied I would go through the book of James and the response was “why don’t you teach it” of course I jumped at that any time I get a chance to teach some teens I am going to do it. So on Sunday nights I am taking our Student Overflow through James. I pray and hope they are enjoying it. I have already taught through James so I already have the messages done, but if you know me you know I spend a great deal of time with message prep even if I have already done it before and making sure I am saying what the Lord wants me to say.
Thirdly the first week in March I started taking over the Wednesday evening teaching to the Youth. This has been going great once again I love teaching the teens. On Wednesdays I typically play a game with them and then we go over prayer requests and then I teach. I desire to see both these ministries grow tremendously and I have seen God definitely working on the hearts of some of the teens that come.
Fourthly I received a call from the principal here at Atlanta school and was asked if I could come in and teach Science while the current teacher is away on maternity leave. I accepted the position. Which if you are a teacher you know the work that gos into lessons and so forth. So for the next few weeks I am now a Science teacher. I must say that teaching in the public school is a lot different then teaching in Christian School, or teaching at church, however the kids seem to like me as a teacher and some even thanked me for teaching.
Finally all of this has been happening while still sending out resumes (required for state aid) and while going through an interview process with a church that is interested me. So yeah I have been busy but hey I like being busy. Please pray I will be directed to the church God wants me at and that I will know it and so will the church.
by Josh Monda | Jun 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
Oct 31
Don’t Waste Your Vote
Posted by Josh
Though I do not support Barak Obama I can’t say that I buy into the whole ideals that everything I am is wrapped up in the political process.  I remeber my Sunday School class discussin politics briefly and many people say they fear what will happen if Obama is elected.  My question was and still is why?  When i notion the fact that if Obama is president it is because God has allowed him to be people some how can not fathom such a thing.  I would challenge those who believe in Jesus Christ to let their vote count but also let their life count.  As usual I think John Piper has said it well in this short clip.
Uncategorized
Oct 30
This is Powerful
Posted by Josh
Russell Moore’s sermon manuscript, Joseph Is a Single-Issue Evangelical: The Father of Jesus, the Cries of the Helpless, and Change You Can Believe In, is now online. Here’s how it closes:
The question for us, then, of whether we are truly pro-life or not, has very little to do with how many signs are in our yards or what bumper stickers we put on our cars. Indeed, it may be the case that after this election the abortion debate will be over in this country politically.Â
But even if that’s the case, it’s not over. Our churches are to follow in the walk of faith, which means that–like Joseph walking away from stability and comfort–our churches must be different, they must be counter-cultural, the kind of place where the teenage mother is welcomed and loved, where abandoned children are received, and where a culture that is in love with death can come and hear a message saying that life is better than death because there is a man, an ex-corpse, a former-fetus, who is standing as the ruler over all the nations and the universe. And he is not dead anymore.Â
 What we must have is a church in which the gospel we give is the kind of gospel that leads people out of death and despair and toward the kind of life that is found in confessing a name–a name that was first spoken by human lips by a day-laborer in Nazareth, “Jesus is Lord.”
 If we follow this kind of pure and undefiled religion, it doesn’t mean we will be shrill. It doesn’t mean we will be culture-warriors. It doesn’t mean we’ll be belligerent. It will mean that we will have churches that are so strikingly different, that maybe in ten or fifteen years the most odd and counter-cultural thing a lost person may hear in your church is not, “Amen,” but is instead the sounds of babies crying in the nursery.
 And hearing the oddness of that sound, when they look around at the place in which all of the Lord Jesus’ brothers and sisters are welcomed, protected, and loved, the place in which the lies of a murderous and appetite-driven dragon are denied, the lost person might say, “What is the sound of all these cries?” And maybe we’ll be able to say with our forefather Joseph, “that’s the sound of life. That’s the sound of hope. That’s the sound of change.”
 You might even say, it’s “change you can believe in.”
You can also listen to the MP3 online.
Uncategorized
Oct 20
Do You Have Real Friends
Posted by Josh
This Sunday we were looking at the life of Jonathan a little bit in our small groups. Â As we talked about Jonathan and David’s relationship we all agreed that indeed Jonathan was real friend and we discussed a little bit about what is a real friend.
I know that in my life I have had many people that have said they were my friend but when push came to shove in reality instead of showing me friendship I was shown a boot in my seat.  It comes easy to tell people we are their friend but unfortunately words mean little and actions mean so much.  When adversity strikes and troublesome times come you begin to see who really is your friend and who in reality may have pretended to be your friend for whatever reason.
When we looked at the life of Jonathan and we saw loyalty, trust, love, and Jonathan’s unswerving ability to stand with David no matter what the cost.  I see in Jonathan what I would love to have in any friend.  Unfortunately a friend like Jonathan seems rare.  What causes people to look you in the face and tell you they love you but then to give you the boot and forget all about you.  Unfortunately I had to go through some of the most difficult times of my life without some that said they were my friends.  I am unsure what causes people to say they are your friend and yet during those times when you need a friend the most they do not call, they do not email, they do not really do anything.  How unfortunate it is when our friendships are based on feeling instead of on God.  How unfortunate it is when instead of loving our friends we disown them, as if they are some piece of garbage that we really know longer need.
I am so thankful for those that have been just like a Jonathan to me, they know who they are and I am also thankful for those that I have had the opportunity to be a Jonathan to. Â So do you have real friends? Â You know the ones that are like Jonathan who will stay by your side through it all.
Uncategorized
Oct 14
Is Abortion an Issue
Posted by Josh
Theologian Dr. John Frame:
“…in some cultures (like the ancient Roman, in which the New Testament was written) there is not much that Christians can do, other than pray, to influence political structures and policies. But when they can influence them, they should. In modern democracies, all citizens are ‘lesser magistrates’ by virtue of the ballot box. Christians have an obligation to vote according to God’s standards. And, as they are gifted and called, they should influence others to vote in the same way.
This is not to say that political choices are always obvious. Often we must choose the lesser of two evils. Candidate Mershon may have a better view of one issue than Candidate Beates, while Beates has a better view on a different issue. It is an art to weigh the importance of different issues and to come to a godly conclusion. Each of us should have a large amount of tolerance for other Christians who come to conclusions that are different from ours. Rarely will one issue trump all others, though I must say that I will never vote for a candidate who advocates or facilitates the killing of unborn children.” [The Doctrine of the Christian Life (P&R 2008). p. 617.]
Preacher/author Dr. John Piper:
“…When we bought our dog at the Humane Society, I picked up a brochure on the laws of Minnesota concerning animals. Statute 343.2, subdivision 1 says, ‘No person shall . . . unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate or kill any animal.’ Subdivision 7 says, ‘No person shall willfully instigate or in any way further any act of cruelty to any animal.’ The penalty: ‘A person who fails to comply with any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.’
Now this set me to pondering the rights of the unborn. An eight-week-old human fetus has a beating heart, an EKG, brain waves, thumb-sucking, pain sensitivity, finger-grasping, and genetic humanity, but under our present laws is not a human person with rights under the 14th Amendment, which says that ‘no state shall deprive any person of life . . . without due process of law.’ Well, I wondered, if the unborn do not qualify as persons, it seems that they could at least qualify as animals, say a dog, or at least a cat. Could we not at least charge abortion clinics with cruelty to animals under Statute 343.2, subdivision 7? Why is it legal to ’maim, mutilate and kill’ a pain-sensitive unborn human being but not an animal?
These reflections have confirmed my conviction never to vote for a person who endorses such an evil—even if he could balance the budget tomorrow and end all taxation.”
Princeton prof Dr. Robert George on 10/14/08:
“Barack Obama is the most extreme pro-abortion candidate ever to seek the office of President of the United States. He is the most extreme pro-abortion member of the United States Senate. Indeed, he is the most extreme pro-abortion legislator ever to serve in either house of the United States Congress…”
This was snagged from a blog I read here
Uncategorized
Oct 14
Why I can’t vote for Obama and neither should you
Posted by Josh
I recently read this article online and wanted to share it with my readers.  I have heard many argument from Christians for reasons to vote for Obama and have not heard one yet that holds water.  One argument states we simply can not impose morality on people.  This has to be on of the most absurd things I have ever heard.  We do this very thing every day.  Secondly I have heard people say that abortion should not be an issue because the laws will not change once again how absurd.  I am sure many thought the same way over slavery.  Come one.
In this article Dr. Robert P. George dealing with the arguments that Christians are giving in favor of voting for Obama. Please read the whole article here.   Dr. George’s conclusion:
Â
What kind of America do we want our beloved nation to be? Barack Obama’s America is one in which being human just isn’t enough to warrant care and protection. It is an America where the unborn may legitimately be killed without legal restriction, even by the grisly practice of partial-birth abortion. It is an America where a baby who survives abortion is not even entitled to comfort care as she dies on a stainless steel table or in a soiled linen bin. It is a nation in which some members of the human family are regarded as inferior and others superior in fundamental dignity and rights. In Obama’s America, public policy would make a mockery of the great constitutional principle of the equal protection of the law. In perhaps the most telling comment made by any candidate in either party in this election year, Senator Obama, when asked by Rick Warren when a baby gets human rights, replied: ”that question is above my pay grade.” It was a profoundly disingenuous answer: For even at a state senator’s pay grade, Obama presumed to answer that question with blind certainty. His unspoken answer then, as now, is chilling: human beings have no rights until infancy – and if they are unwanted survivors of attempted abortions, not even then.Â
In the end, the efforts of Obama’s apologists to depict their man as the true pro-life candidate that Catholics and Evangelicals may and even should vote for, doesn’t even amount to a nice try. Voting for the most extreme pro-abortion political candidate in American history is not the way to save unborn babies.
Uncategorized
Oct 13
This Moved Me
Posted by Josh
After watching this video I was deeply moved. Â Man how often do we just play the game and put on the face. Â How many in our churches may be doing this every sunday.
Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application
Oct 10
Farrakhan Calls Obama the Messiah
Posted by Josh
Have you seen this video yet. Â In it the Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan calls Obama the Messiah. Â There is one Messiah and he has come and will come again and it is not Barak Obama.
Uncategorized
Oct 07
The Adolescent Church
Posted by Josh
I recently read thisÂ
Adolescence is achieved after the long and painful season of doing the hard work it takes to get a church functioning with healthy systems, competent leaders, and clear expectations of people.  This season is marked by a number of critical beginnings, such as getting the wrong people out of the church and getting the right people to commit to the church and to doing whatever it takes to accomplish the mission.  Getting to this phase is exhausting, and if the leaders’ plans fail, they lose credibility and the church settles into a lethargic state of decline.
The emphasis has been added by me this quote is from Mark Driscoll’s book “Confessions of A Reformission Rev.” Â I read this quote over and over again. Â Many times churches struggle with both competent leaders and clear expectations of the people. Â Some churches will have competent leaders but the people have no clue what is going on. Â Others may communicate well and the people may know expectations but the leaders are not competent. Â There are also cases where neither is true the leaders are not competent and the people really know nothing of the expectations. Â
Sadly many churches go with the warm body mentality when it comes to leadership and as long as a person is willing they are cast into a leadership role with very little discipleship.  I feel strongly it would be far better to not have leaders then to have leaders that are not competent to perform the task.  Why do we get so caught up into this idea that we need an Elder or a deacon that really is not qualified to do the job.  Why do we not disciple them first and I am not talking about taking them through a book.  Though there is nothing wrong with book studies but what is wrong with the pastor or another leader inviting someone to be a part of their life,  and discipling similar to how Christ discipled and therefore qualifying someone for a leadership position.  Many churches today are failing to have competent leaders.
In addition many churches are not giving clear communication to their people.  They muddy the water with unnecessary detail or they fail to communicate clear vision.  For that matter some churches even fail to tell the whole truth of what goes on behind closed doors and in essence lie to their people.  The people dont know what to expect and dont know what they are supposed to do and have no common vision, mission, or values.  Because of this many churches are floundering, and instead of the people being informed of expectations the people begin to gossip and they substitute their own expectations in place of expectation that should already have been stated by the leadership.  Instead of trying to please everyone leadership needs to give clear expectations and you know what some people may leave but is that wrong?  Which leads into whats next.
Sometimes people need to leave the church.  Some people enter the church and they want the church to only please them and if you dont do it their way they get upset and they want to manipulate others and in many cases they want to manipulate the leadership.  Why are those with the narcissistic personalties never confronted.  Why are those that complain the most and find the most problems never confronted, why does the squeaky wheel always get the grease.  Is there anything wrong with telling these people straighten up or leave.  To often people are allowed to destroy the church for their own selfish desires.  I am afraid we may need to be tough with those that want it their way.
Finally I am afraid many leaders have lost credibility. Â Not only because their plans have failed but because they have failed to have a plan. Â Sadly I have been in a church where I watched this very thing happen. Â Where I sat and watched as the leaders of the church lost credibility with people in the church. Â Many people left because of this very issue. Â Without credibility the church will indeed fall into a lethargic state of decline.
I am thankful that right now I am in a church where I have seen none of this. Â Is the church perfect? No but I have seen God do some great things here and I pray He continues to do so. Â I am rarely impressed with a business meeting and though I thought it was somewhat long I was impressed with a Church that saw God’s vision and was willing to move forward with that vision even without knowing how it would be accomplished.
Uncategorized
Oct 03
The New Barak Obama
Posted by Josh
After lastnights VP debate Obama decided he had to change his tactics because of Sarah Palin so this is what he came up with.
This is satire.
Life, My Thoughts
by Josh Monda | Jun 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
Yesterday I focussed on some statistics that I had learned. Â Some of these stats were very discouraging to myself and we were left with the question then “what do we do?” Â Today I will begin to answer that question.
Thom Rainer in Effective Evangelistic Churches tells us that the most effective methodologies are.
1. Â Biblical Preaching
2. Â Intentional Prayer Ministries
3.  Evangelistically Oriented Sunday School
The sad part is that many our churches are not doing these. Â Maybe they have one or two but rarely three. Â In fact is seems rare to see a church that has and evangelistically oriented sunday school. Â The truth is most of our sunday schools are failing and out of touch.
If we were to take the first one Biblical Preaching or teaching. Â Some would think that we have to compromise the teaching to reach the lost but this is simply not true. Â You can have an outwardly focussed small group or Sunday School without compromising high quality Bible study.
Well this will raise the question how do you do Bible study.  The first thing you must do to have a quality Bible study is pray.  The second thing you must do is enter into the Observation phase.
I. Â Observation
You must ask “what does the passage say.”
The more time you spend in observation the more accurate you interpretation will be.
Yogi Berra once said “You can see a lot just by looking”. Â
When you find your observations take some time to write them down. Â During your observation phase you must read either the entire passage, chapter, or maybe even book to have it in context. Â Now you might ask the question what do I observe. Â Tis is not through six basic quesitons.
1. Â Who?
2. Â What?
3. Â When?
4. Â Where?
5. Â Why?
6. Â How?
You also need to write down in any key terms that you find.
Then you must identify the structure.
Howard Hendricks defines five different kinds of literary structures in Living by the Book.  They areÂ
1. Â Biological structure
2. Â Geographical structure
3. Â Historical structure
4. Â Chronological structure
5. Â Ideological structure
finally during this observation phase you must identify the literary form.
1.  Poetry      5.  Prophecy
2.  Narrative    6.  Idioms
3.  Law        7.  Parable
4.  Proverb     8.  Epistles
After all of the observations have been made we must move onto the Interpretation Phase.
II. Â Interpretation
The key question we must ask here is “What does it mean”Â
How would have the original recipients understood this passage.
There is a difference between hermeneutics and homiletics.  Hermeneutics is that art of Biblical interpretation.  Where Homiletics is the art of the delivery.
There is also a difference between exegesis and isegesis.  In exegesis you let the scripture speaks for itself where as in isegesis you go to the scripture with an already preconceived idea.
Augustine once said “If you believe what you like in the Gospel and reject what you do not like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.”
A text can never mean what it never meant.
There are barriers to understanding the text they are as follows. Â
1.  Language      5.  Prejudice
2.  Time         6.  View of Scripture
3.  Culture        7.  Sin
4. Â Geography
During Bible study preparation you must search forÂ
1.  The immediate context      4.  The testamental context
2.  The chapter Context        5.  The Biblical context
3. Â The Book context
You must also search for the Historical cultural Background, word meaning, and Grammar.
Now that we have competed the interpretation phase we move on the the organization phase.
III. Â Organization
The key question we must ask here is how will you present the material you have learned? Â
You must organize your knowledge. Â Many times we are guilty of teaching curriculum and are fail to teach the Bible. Â
Finally you move to application.
IV. Â Application
The key question you must ask here is What does it mean to me?
Howard Hendricks said “The Bible was not given to make us more intelligent sinners but to change our lives.”
Gypsy Smith said “What makes a difference is not how many times you have been through the Bible, but how many time and thoroughly the Bible has been through you.”
Here are the application questions to ask.
1. Â How should my life change as a result of the truths in this particular passage?
2. What must I do?
3. Â What must I believe?
4. Â Is there and example to follow?
5. Â A sin to avoid?
6. Â A promise to claim?
7. Â A prayer to reapeat?
8. Â A command to obey?
9. Â A condition to meet?
10. Â A challenge to face?
Well that is where I am going to stop for today. Â With this information you can lead more effective Bible Studies and can make sure they are Biblically focussed an still dynamic.. Â I would challenge you to print this off and use it. Â Tomorrow we will get to Intention Praying and Open Small groups. Â Come back everyday to get more information.
