by Josh Monda | Dec 12, 2013 | random thoughts, Uncategorized
I have been thinking alot about knowledge lately. Sometime it seems we try to use knowledge as a weapon or as something to hold over someone else. I know people that can’t seem to wait to get the inside scoop on a situation just so they can say they know about it. Or to act as if somehow they know more about it than anyone else. Some people even seek out to know more then others to the point of gossip because they have to know what is going on in a situation. Interestingly enough these people never gain complete knowledge of a situation they merely gain what they want to know and hurl and cast their judgments from ignorance rathe than knowledge which seems odd when knowledge was apparently what they were seeking in the first place. Not sure if this makes sense to anyone.
This has become especially true over my circumstances in the recent weeks. Though I have been through alot as well as my family I am amazed about what people think they know about my situation only because they heard something from someone else. In reality these people know very little because they are acting on limited knowledge or in many cases ignorance. Some even casting judgments or having preconceived thoughts without really knowing all of what has happened.
Tonight I read
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
These verse are primarily dealing with christian liberty. The Corinthians were faced with a huge dilemma and in reality they needed help. Not much different then us they lived in the middle of a sinful and pleasure filled society so how were they to act.  The Corinthians needed guidance from the Apostle Paul could they eat meat offered to idol and what about social function what were they to do? What restraints were put on the Christians liberty or freedom? Could the Christian do whatever they wanted to do? Is there a difference between the Christians behavior and the worlds? It is with that backdrop that Paul is writing here in 1 Corinthians 8.  What I wan to talk about is this knowledge that Paul is talking about in the first 3 verses.
It seems to me what Paul is saying is to judge according to love not according to knowledge. This strikes me as different because we usually do the opposite. Paul states in the very first verse that “we all have knowledge”. I am sure that some of the Corinthian believers were stressing the importance of using the intellect to determine right from wrong. There are three very important points Paul gives us concerning knowledge in these verses.
1. Â Knowledge makes arrogant but love edifies.
I think the point is clear. Just because one can reason through the facts and clearly see something gives them no right to be arrogant about it. Yet our quest for knowledge about circumstances and the like often is done so we can know more than another believer or so we can set someone straight.  The root of this is arrogance. This is the very thing Paul is coming against.
Paul is making it clear that the rule of all Christians is to be love not knowledge. It is love that builds others up and helps them to grow not knowledge. The Christian is not to run around stressing their superiority because they know more than someone else. We are to love and control our lives from love.
2. Paul tells us that knowledge is only partial.
Here is the kicker no matter what someone thinks they know it is always incomplete. We are totally incapable of knowing anything in its fullness or its totality. Of course we like to think we know things but in reality we do not. We often like to try to think rationally but the truth of the matter is to be rational is often weak especially when compared to thinking through things with love instead of rationally. So the next time we think we know something or we think we know the whole story I would encourage you to stop and think again and react and be motivated from love rather than knowledge.
3. Love unites us to God.
If someone loves God then that person is known by Him. Did you notice that we are not known by God because we are always thinking rationally. It also does not say that we are known by God based on our knowledge. It is based on one thing and that is our love. God know us because we love Him. The person that decides to base their life on love rather than knowledge that person is loved by God.
“But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him” (1 Corinthians 8:3)
I give this challenge the next time you seek knowledge about a circumstance or a situation try to seek love instead. See if it makes a difference. To often our knowledge leads to arrogance. So much could be accomplished if we only sought love.
by Josh Monda | Dec 12, 2013 | random thoughts
Came across this video a little while ago and really liked it.
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 remember 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.
Today I decided to use two videos as my post. The first video is of John Piper I am sure most of you have already seen it but I wanted to share it anyway. Every-time I watch this video I am moved. Since we have been getting ready to move I have clamped down on money realizing I need to save as much as possible. I still could probably tighten down even more like cut off cable, and so forth. But I often think of how much I spend on different things and wonder how is this going to help me bring someone to Christ. Often I may be convicted about spending and justify it in my own mind as a need but it is usually a want.
I grew up very poor. I can remember my mother working three jobs to support us and keep food in our stomachs. I remember going to the dump site to look for stuff. I can remember times not having anything new for Christmas I was satisfied with what I had. I think as time wheres on and we get more we spoil ourselves and become less satisfied with what we have. I think of how half the world lives on less then $2 a day and how we stand in line at buffets and throw food away, how we get upset without fast internet, etc., while in Haiti people are eating dirt.
Ill never forget the pictures a missionary friend of mine showed me of children from Haiti. I remember asking him why their hair was orange and he telling me it was because they were not getting nutrients. Some of the stories he shared I will never forget. Even when I grew up poor I was not really poor. I recently heard of a challenge where the church had challenged the people to live on nothing but beans and rice for a week and to take what they had saved and donate it to the poor. Maybe we can all learn from this. Anyway thanks John Piper for this video it makes you think, of the prosperity Gospel.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukcV-xtU3hc
The second video speaks of the affects of the fall of man. I have been often asked the question why is there suffering? Or why is there death and pain? The answer to say because of sin is usually not popular typically we want to water it down. But the truth is the truth.
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned–(Romans 5:12)
I do not look around the world and wonder how it can be so messed up I know how it is because of sin. Why do we treat each other so poorly? Â Because of sin sadly much of it is Christian on Christian. The first time I watched this video I cried. I was motivated what am I doing to share with the world the very hope that is found in Genesis. Yes we all have sinned but right after God pronounces his judgement he says this
And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
This is known as “protoevangelium” or “first gospel” your big word for the day. Praise God that he had already planned the death of His son for our salvation. Please enjoy the video.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgs0EDlNv80
by Josh Monda | Dec 12, 2013 | 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.
It has been along time since I have posted primarily
by Josh Monda | Dec 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
This is something I recently read concerning Obama.
David Freddoso:
When Barack Obama spoke on the Illinois Senate floor in 2001 against Illinois’ born-alive protection bill, did not say that a pre-viable baby is not a “person.” He argued, rather, that even though the state should perhaps provide care for these babies, any recognition of their personhood would create unacceptable consequences. Again, his words, at length, so there’s no uncertainty about context:
There was some suggestion that we might be able to craft something that might meet constitutional muster with respect to caring for fetuses or children who were deliever in this fashion. Unfortunately, this bill goes a little bit further, and so I just want to suggest, not that I think it’ll make too much difference with respect to how we vote, that this is probably not going to survive constitutional scrutiny. Number one, whenever we define a previable fetus as a person that is protected by the equal protection clause or the other elements in the Constitution, what we’re really saying is, infact, that they are persons that are entitled to the kinds of protections that would be provided to a – a child, a nine-month-old – child that was delievered to term. That determination then, essentially, if it was accepted by a court, would forbid abortions to take place. (Taken from the transcript of the Illinois 92nd Assembly, Mar. 30, 2001.)
Wow. Did you catch that? Since Roe vs. Wade is threatened, then we are allowed to commit murder? You would think it would be the other way around, right? We should not be allowed to kill babies that are born alive from survived abortions and if Roe vs. Wade is threatened, then so be it. Does that logic not follow? But Obama’s stance is as follows: If we have to sacrifice some born alive infants to make sure “women have the right to choose” then that’s what we’ll have to do. How backwards is that?
Read this again: “Number one, whenever we define a previable fetus as a person that is protected by the equal protection clause or the other elements in the Constitution, what we’re really saying is, infact, that they are persons that are entitled to the kinds of protections that would be provided to a – a child, a nine-month-old – child that was delievered to term…”Â
You would think that if you read this paragraph in isolation that what would come next is, “so we need to do exactly that. Protect these persons.” But sadly, it’s not. For Obama, our personhood is not defined by anything specific other than the need to uphold Roe vs. Wade. I think the basis of our personhood should be rooted in ground that is much more solid than the pragmatic need to see the Democratic ticket upheld. Would you not agree? Does this not follow for you Obama voter?
Friends, this man has morally disqualified himself on this issue alone. Don’t drink the Obamalaide.
Last-night on “Hannity and Colmes” Gianna Jessen shared some of her story.  If Obama was president at her birth she would be dead.  She handles herself well.  Check out the video.  This issue is going to heat up in this election especially with the fact that Sarah Palin’s baby Trig being born with Down Syndrome.  It is estimated that between 80 and 90 percent of all pregnancies diagnosed with Down Syndrome are murdered.  Watch the video below.
by Josh Monda | Dec 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
Since becoming a pastor this verse has stuck out in my head. Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; (1 Peter 5:2, ESV). Personally I believe there is a very good reason why this is the case. You see, since becoming a pastor it seems that anytime someone calls me or stops into my office they always apologize. I am not really sure why they apologize but this seems to be the case the majority of the time. For whatever reason they seem to think that they are an inconvenience. Honestly, this is somewhat bothersome to me on many levels.
It seems like the modern pastor has come into this mentality that their job is to advance their agenda. I am not quite sure where this comes from or at what point this began to happen. Pastors are busy writing books, perhaps preparing sermons, etc. and have little time for the people. Honestly I somewhat understand this with a Mega Church naturally a pastor can’t have time to see thousands of folks on a daily basis, but I do not understand this in smaller churches. To be clear, for me, a smaller church would be any church under 1000. Seriously, why is it that our people sometimes have to wait weeks to see there pastor or to schedule an appointment weeks in advance. Before you think this is only in Mega churches it is not. I can list churches running under 500 right now where this is the case. I often wonder what it would have been like if this is how Jesus did ministry. If he said “set up an appointment with my secretary”. Seriously, at what point did we stop shepherding and become so snobbish that we can’t have time for the people we are to be leading. Am I so arrogant to think that the only time I shepherd the flock is when I stand in the pulpit? How foolish we are to think this way.
Honestly, my mind can’t help to think of Jesus and the numerous times He is thought of as a Shepherd in scripture. I think of those times when He saw the masses and said they were like sheep without a shepherd. Yet as pastors we want to go in our office and close our door and continue to let our sheep wander. We constantly see Jesus with the people and we see this at all times of the day, morning, noon, and night. Shepherding takes place on a constant basis. Jesus did life with his disciples they hung out all of the time, and from there he did even a little more with three of them. In addition to the disciples he spent a ton of time with people, the masses were constantly pressing in on him. Yes he took time away, but why is it we constantly see Him respond to the needs of people? Because he loved them. Because He was the chief Shepherd. As pastor’s we must love our people enough to shepherd them. We must spend time with them. They should never feel guilty about coming in to see us, and we should never make it so difficult for them to see us. I want to shepherd is such a way that the people I am leading know I love them. I pray this is the case.
