2008 October | Bad Days Better

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.

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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. 

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. 

 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.

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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.  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.  So do you have real friends?  You know the ones that are like Jonathan who will stay by your side through it all.

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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

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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:

 

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. 

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.

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Oct 13

This Moved Me

Posted by Josh

After watching this video I was deeply moved.  Man how often do we just play the game and put on the face.  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.  In it the Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan calls Obama the Messiah.  There is one Messiah and he has come and will come again and it is not Barak Obama.

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Oct 07

The Adolescent Church

Posted by Josh

I recently read this 

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.”  I read this quote over and over again.  Many times churches struggle with both competent leaders and clear expectations of the people.  Some churches will have competent leaders but the people have no clue what is going on.  Others may communicate well and the people may know expectations but the leaders are not competent.  There are also cases where neither is true the leaders are not competent and the people really know nothing of the expectations.  

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.  Not only because their plans have failed but because they have failed to have a plan.  Sadly I have been in a church where I watched this very thing happen.  Where I sat and watched as the leaders of the church lost credibility with people in the church.  Many people left because of this very issue.  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.  Is the church perfect? No but I have seen God do some great things here and I pray He continues to do so.  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.

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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

2008 August | Bad Days Better

by Josh Monda | Jun 16, 2009 | Uncategorized

Yesterday I focussed on some statistics that I had learned.  Some of these stats were very discouraging to myself and we were left with the question then “what do we do?”  Today I will begin to answer that question.

Thom Rainer in Effective Evangelistic Churches tells us that the most effective methodologies are.

1.  Biblical Preaching

2.  Intentional Prayer Ministries

3.  Evangelistically Oriented Sunday School

The sad part is that many our churches are not doing these.  Maybe they have one or two but rarely three.  In fact is seems rare to see a church that has and evangelistically oriented sunday school.  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.  Some would think that we have to compromise the teaching to reach the lost but this is simply not true.  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.  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”.  

When you find your observations take some time to write them down.  During your observation phase you must read either the entire passage, chapter, or maybe even book to have it in context.  Now you might ask the question what do I observe.  Tis is not through six basic quesitons.

1.  Who?

2.  What?

3.  When?

4.  Where?

5.  Why?

6.  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 are 

1.  Biological structure

2.  Geographical structure

3.  Historical structure

4.  Chronological structure

5.  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.  Interpretation

The key question we must ask here is “What does it mean” 

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.  

1.  Language          5.  Prejudice

2.  Time                 6.  View of Scripture

3.  Culture              7.  Sin

4.  Geography

During Bible study preparation you must search for 

1.  The immediate context          4.  The testamental context

2.  The chapter Context              5.  The Biblical context

3.  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.  Organization

The key question we must ask here is how will you present the material you have learned?  

You must organize your knowledge.  Many times we are guilty of teaching curriculum and are fail to teach the Bible.  

Finally you move to application.

IV.  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.  How should my life change as a result of the truths in this particular passage?

2. What must I do?

3.  What must I believe?

4.  Is there and example to follow?

5.  A sin to avoid?

6.  A promise to claim?

7.  A prayer to reapeat?

8.  A command to obey?

9.  A condition to meet?

10.  A challenge to face?

Well that is where I am going to stop for today.  With this information you can lead more effective Bible Studies and can make sure they are Biblically focussed an still dynamic..  I would challenge you to print this off and use it.  Tomorrow we will get to Intention Praying and Open Small groups.  Come back everyday to get more information.

2008 May | Bad Days Better

by Josh Monda | Jun 16, 2009 | Uncategorized

May 31

Farewell Pennsylvania

Posted by Josh

Just recently I left Pennsylvania with my wife and my 10 day old son and started the trek to Missouri.  Currently I am in Urbana Illinois staying in the Eastland Suites.  If you are ever this way I would recommend them.  One of my good friends asked me what I was going to do on my last day in PA.  I really did not know what I would do but my last day was definitely a busy one.  

It started by waking up and finishing some things up for our move.  We had some cleaning and some other things to do.  We then took our baby to see a few people later that day and then spent some time with some friends.  It was a good time.  I enjoyed my last day just spending time with some old friends two of which I had not had the chance to talk to in awhile.  It was so nice to just catch up with people and to just sit down and be myself and hang out and act goofy with others.  One of the guys I hung with has his own site you can check it out here.  I knew all of these guys from tie in Youth Ministry together.   To be honest I could not think of a better way to spend my last day then just being me and that is what I had the chance to do.

Over my 9 years in PA it has been great.  It has been awesome to see how the Lord has allowed me to have an effect on the lives of many, many teenagers.  I had so many opportunities to lead teens to Christ and had the chance to see many teens not only come to know the Lord but to also follow after the Lord in their lives.  ore than one parent thanked me for the affect I had on the life of their teen.  I can remember one parent that spent some time talking with me and brought me to tears.  I praise the Lord for the gifts he has given me and I pray that I have made a difference in PA in the lives of those that I have had the opportunity to minister to.  Whether they were teens or adults.  I believe a legacy is not found really in what you leave behind at the church but what you leave behind in the lives of those you have touched.  When I left PA I left a part of my heart with those God blessed me to minister to.  Whether it was through a Bible class, a sermon, or just being there for someone.  I pray God bless you all and may God use you to bring others to Him.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

May 27

I know more than you

Posted by Josh

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.  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.

 

 

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

May 25

My Son Is Coming Home

Posted by Josh

If you have ever had a premature baby you know that there are definitely many ups and many downs.  Our daughter was born premature she was born at 30 weeks and had to spend 48 days in the hospital.  That was a little over 8 years ago.  For y wife and I that was an emotional roller coaster one visit everything was great and the next everything was not good at all.  It was a very difficult time for us and our faith was stretched to great lengths.

Once again with the birth of Micah John Monda we had another early birth.  Micah was born at 33 weeks and 3 days which is very good as far as premies are concerned.  He came out doing great right from the start.  He cried quickly and looked healthy.  During his first check ups in the NICU the doctor told us he was doing better then expected.  Tomorrow will mark is seventh day in the hospital and the doctors are telling us it looks like he can come home Tuesday.  Wow this is great news for us.  We have had people literally all around this world praying not only for the birth of our son but praying for his health.

 I remember the day my son was born I sat and looked at him and wept to think God would bless us so greatly and I often think of the faith of that little preemie daughter we had and how very early on she began to pray every day that her mommy would have a baby.  What faith and what and awesome testimony of prayer she already has at 8 years old to see an answer to prayer that she constantly prayed for for years. How awesome is our GOD.

In addition to all this we are in the middle of a move.  We had a group of teens show up at our house to hel us move and that was a true blessing.  In addition we had Keith Stutzman and Jim Smith show up.  They really helped us a great deal in packing a 26 foot Penske truck full.  Everything has been loaded and is on its way to Missouri.  My wife and I are sleeping on air mattresses and doing some final cleaning and then we will wait word from the doctors before heading for Missouri.  

On a crazier side we were told we had to find an infant car seat that would hold a child for 4 pounds.  Are you aware that most car seat are rated at 5 pounds and up.  Here is the kicker we found only two car seat stroller combos that are rated at 4 pounds an up.  1 was and Eddie Bauer stroller System the cost for it was 229 ouch compared the one I had picked out at 169.  I did not like the Eddie Bauer system it was not user friendly.   So our only other option was this Chicco System it was a measly 279.  That was 279 I did not plan on spending.  So I am thankful for Laura Smith who found me a coupon and I saved 10 percent at Baby Depot which helped.  Why don’t more companies make these things for smaller babies and help us out.

 The hospital told us they are going through some sort of thing right now where they don’t have the car seats to give away.  So what do they do with people that cant afford to spend this kind of money?  I couldn’t afford it but I want my child home.  On top of that the brakes on the only vehicle I have here are shot.  Actually I think the Caliper is frozen up do I have to get it fixed before we leave but it is the only vehicle we have in PA so I will probably have to rent something while it gets repaired.  Man this is all too crazy.  But Praise the Lord my son is coming home.  Sorry for all this depressing stuff that went along with it.

Life, My Thoughts

May 21

Are You Different?

Posted by Josh

Over the course of the last few weeks things have been very crazy in my life.  I am specifically speaking of my wife’s pregnancy and her many stay in the hospital that concluded with the birth of our son Micah John Monda Micah meaning “who is like the Lord”.  For me it has been a constant running back and forth from the hospital some nights staying at the hospital in this chair and getting little sleep, other nights coming home getting things done with my daughter then back to the hospital the home and to bed only to repeat it all the next day.  In addition to this trying to get things ready for our move to Missouri.

For my wife it was the uncertainty of not know when the baby would come.  It was her looking at her husband and realizing there was really nothing she could do to help as she was stuck in that hospital bed until the baby was born.  She could see it on my face and tell it in my body language that I was having a hard time with getting everything done.  These times were difficult for us both.  

However that is not what this blog is about.  What has amazed me in all of this are the times that people that barely knew us would make comments to us.  It started with one of my wife’s doctors coming in and telling us she was impressed with how pleasant we always are when she sees us.  That was cool to hear coming from the dr.  that deals with many different people all the time.  She proceeded to tell us that she has spoke with the other doctors and they all seemed to feel this way.  This was great for us to hear because it told us that there was something different about us that others could see and could tell.  

The next thing that happened was while we were sitting in the room one day a nurse walked in and said we wanted to let you know how much we appreciated your patience the other day.  you were so nice to us and never complained any time and were always nice to be around. The nurse had said she specifically remembered my wife.  So she said we got a WAWA gift card for you.  I was kind of like wow how often do you see this happen in the hospital how cool was that.  

Finally one of the days one of my wife’s doctors came in and wanted to talk to her a little bit.  As she came in and spoke with her about how she would have stay in the hospital she talked about how it stinks when stuff like this happens to great people.  This really moved me.  All of this has moved me to know that it is in the hard times that people watch you and they watch your responses to others and they watch how you interact and they watch what you say and the things you do.  

What’s cool is if you living for the Lord people will notice.  They notice that there is something different about you that things are not the same with you as with everyone else.  At a time when I needed some major encouragement it came from and unexpected source.  However God knew what I needed.  He is so good.  I just right this to say we chose to be different and to let our light shine and often enough we do things that put our light out.  Don’t let that be the case.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

May 19

Today My Son was born

Posted by Josh

It was 4am when the phone rang.  As I picked it up my wife was on the other end and she told me her water broke.  Our first child was a fast labor so I woke up my daughter and we headed off to the hospital.  And about 2 hours later Micah John Monda was born.  he was born at 6:17 am and my was at 33 weeks 3 days.  Micah weighed in at 4lbs. 9 1/2 ounce and was 17 1/4 inches long.  My daughter has prayed, and prayed, and prayed for this moment.  Her faith was always so strong believing God would give her a brother or sister.  It took  wife and I over 6 years to have this child and God poured out his blessing on us.

 Its interesting to see how God has brought blessing, after blessing into our lives.  I have been blown away.  Well I could right alot more but to be honest I need some rest and tomorrow I have alot of work to do.  Here is a picture.

Life, My Thoughts

May 18

Im Tired

Posted by Josh

I am really tired.  It has all hit me at once. I guess between dealing with my resignation, traveling back and forth to the hospital multiple times, gearing up to move, deciding whether to wait or jump back into ministry, it is just wearing me down.  

Friday my wife will be induced and will give birth to our son Micah John Monda.  Her pregnancy will be at 34 weeks so he will have to spend some time in the NICU.  In addition to that my mother will be here on that same day with one of my friends, and my niece and nephew.  So while my wife is in labor I have to somehow get my mom to the hospital, and I have to pick up the moving truck that day.  In addition to that Saturday it will be time to pack so we have to get the truck loaded and off to Missouri.  Then I have to decide whether to drive to Missouri and fly back to get my wife or do I stay here.  These are decision are weighing heavy on me and so is everything else.  Sorry for the rant.  Pray for strength right now I feel I have little but when we are weak He is strong.

Life, My Thoughts

May 17

Jesus Will Save!

Posted by Josh

These days have been crazy I blogged about it here. So I have not really known which was up or down between going to the hospital, taking my daughter to school,coming home from school, the stress of a baby coming early, my mom coming in a week, and moving man it is crazy.  But…

Today I was doing some reading and read this verse ”She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).  For some reason I could not take my mind of this verse it was just stuck in my head.  Now I know we read this verse at Christmas and most of the time we probably just blow right by it but I want to spend some time on this verse.  

Now Joseph was actually going through a pretty traumatic experience.  I know we do not say alot about him usually but think about this he finds out a girl he is going to marry is pregnant and he has done nothing to get her that way.  Then and angel comes to him and tells him that the this child is “of the Holy Ghost” talk about traumatic.  What is great is Joseph did not just freak out and run away, he did not clam up.  Joseph actually did something that we all should consider doing when a traumatic experience hits he got along and called out to God.  Now scripture does not come out and say this but it certainly is implied.  Joseph was a righteous man he probably wept to God and poured his heart out to God.  God sometimes just waits for us to pour our hearts out to Him when we experience difficulties.  Let me share with you a few verses that comfort me when I just need to pour out to God as in these last few weeks.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16).

 

“It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear (Isaiah 65:24).

Finally I love the end of this verse when it says for “He will save His people from their sins.”  Not He might save, but He will save.  Who does he save “His people”.  Those of you who tend to lean towards the Calvin side of things can figure this out.  The Mission of Jesus Christ His purpose for living is to save “His People” I take comfort in knowing I was, and am the mission of Jesus Christ.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

May 15

Only the Lonely

Posted by Josh

I remember as a college student at Hannibal LaGrange College a professor saying that ministry in lonely.  If I recall correct he said that to be in ministry is to be in some of the loneliest time you will ever know.  When asked why he stated because you feel like you cant have any real friends.  I thought this cant be true but it is.  Why is ministry so lonely?  Does it have to be that way?  Why do pastors and youth pastors feel like they have to shelter themselves from everyone?  Why do we not let people see the real us?

I have been a Youth Pastor for over 14 years and they have been some of the loneliest years of my life.  I have often wondered why?  It seems odd that we have certain criteria that we want followed and we often do not want people to step outside of our box.  Somehow and idea has invaded the church that a pastor can not sin or can do no wrong so Pastors shelter themselves trying to live the perfect life.  I rarely have had anyone that I could just poor my heart out to and tell them what I was feeling and why I was feeling it.   Even at times when I did share struggles or problems I was judged instead of loved.  

I can’t tell you how many times I would sit at home with my wife and wish we had someone just to hang out with.  Hoping maybe some people would just call us up or that we could just go out to eat with someone or watch a movie with someone.  This happened a few times with some people some more then others.  It is odd that a Pastor can stand in the pulpit and have people hanging on every word but outside of the pulpit no one seems to care.  I have some great friends that accept me for who I am unfortunately they are thousands of miles away some not that far but they all have their own ministries.  The funny thing is loneliest is one of the number one reasons pastors leave.  I do not like the loneliness especially right now with all that is going on.  But I think of those words from my professor “to enter into ministry is to enter into some of the loneliest time ever.”

And as I think of the possibility of getting back into ministry I am forced to ask myself this question.  ”Do I want to be lonely?”

Life, My Thoughts

May 14

No Regard for Human Life?

Posted by Josh

Ok so if you have watched any of the NBA playoffs you know what I am talking about.  If you have not there is a video below.  Anyway I know this is late but I have not had alot of time to blog.  But listen to the announcers comment I was in hospital withy my wife when I hear this and I just started rolling I was like ok what a weird statement to make in a basketball game.  Regardless of the announcers it was an awesome dunk over one of the best defenders in the NBA.  Check it out

Life, My Thoughts

May 13

What a last few days!!

Posted by Josh

Wow these last few days have been extremely crazy for me.  It all started yesterday.  My wife said she was having alot more contractions and our baby is at 32 weeks in addition she said she had not felt the baby move for awhile.  So I told her it was better to be safe then sorry and to call the dr.   She took my advice and the dr. sent us to hospital to get it checked out.  This was our 5th trip to the hospital during this pregnancy.  While there the nurse ran some tests and said that her water had broke and she was admitted.  We both thought that id were water had broke then our child would be born that night.  We were obviously wrong.  

So I spent the night in an uncomfortable chair and got about 3 hours of sleep before coming home showering and heading back to the hospital.  When I got back to the hospital we received good news.  The nurse said that another test was negative and that her water may not have broke so if she got three negatives she would be allowed to come home tonight.  However, you guessed it the next two showed signs that her water may have broke.  Confused?  Me too.  So they decided to keep her.  Not sure how long maybe until the baby is born we do not know.  

So in the middle of this I received a phone call from a Pastor who had been in contact with me about the possibility of becoming their Youth Pastor.  The kicker is everything with this church at the moment is matching up perfectly.  Well other then it will be 1,000 miles from our family still.  But everything else is perfect it is almost too good.  New building, in a place I have always wanted to live, more of a rural setting, Is this from the Lord?  God please make it known to me.  

In addition to all this my mom will be here next Friday and I have so much to get done for the move.  The plan is to send everything back to Missouri but my wife may still be in the Hospital?  This is crazy.  If you got some advice give it.

Sorry for the rambling just needed to say something.

Life, My Thoughts, Uncategorized

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Life | Bad Days Better

by Josh Monda | Jun 16, 2009 | 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

Mar 14

It’s Been Awhile

Posted by Josh

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.

Life, My Thoughts

Mar 14

It’s Been Awhile

Posted by Josh

It has been along time since I have posted primarily

Life, My Thoughts

Dec 18

Learning From an Atheist about Evangelism

Posted by Josh

I believe this video speaks for itself.  You may recognize him from Pen and Teller fame.  The video should really cause us to rethink our evangelistic efforts.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Nov 20

Forgiveness

Posted by Josh

Yesterday was a busy day for me.  I spent the day seeing patients for the first time and spent the day with several people.  I had a good day it was fun to spend time with some people yet at the same time difficult knowing that these people are in the last days of their lives. 

I enjoyed my time with one patient in particular.  We took time to look at an old car magazine together and I read to him about some of the cars.  We looked at the prices of some of the cars when they first came out and I shared with him what the horsepower was.  Even though he could not speak well enough fro me to understand him I could see in his expression and in his eyes that he liked the fact that I took the time to be with him.  It saddened me to know that perhaps this guy had a very little interaction with men now that he was in a nursing home and more then likely he was lonely and wanted a man to just show some interest in him and who he was.  I knew he liked cars because he had a picture of an old car hanging on his board.  My time with him was valuable.

However, this got me to thinking.  What would it be like to talk to someone and to know that they can not understand you.  I know his mind works but it must be difficult to know you can not communicate in a way that people understand you.  For some reason my thoughts turned to forgiveness.  What would it be like to want to say to someone “I forgive you yet not be able to”.  How difficult that must be.

My thoughts have turned to my father.  My father was alcoholic and that is really all I knew him as.  In fact it was a rare moment that my father was sober.  I remember the yelling and the screaming I remember the violent way he behaved when he was drunk.  I could not stand it.  I wanted an escape a way out.  Eventually my mother and father were divorced and I rarely saw my dad.  It got to the point where I never say him and in fact did not even know where he was.  I remember when my dad first found where I was and I m in that first letter he wrote and asked if I would ever be able to forgive him.  My response was “dad I forgave you long ago”  It was barely a year later that my father was murdered on the street of Arizona for a measly 11 dollars.  But what if I had never had the opportunity to tell him I forgave him and what I he never had the opportunity to ask.

This has been on my mind.  Forgiveness can be a powerful thing and I am so thankful that I have been forgiven by Jesus Christ.  I am so thankful for the grace that is experienced through the blood of Jesus Christ.  It took me a long time to get to the point where have forgiven some in my old congregation and how things were handled.  In fact if I am honest bitterness began to take root in me.  Do I agree with how things were handled?  The answer is a resounding no.  Do I forgive how things were handled the answer is yes.  I did not want to forgive but God began to break me and I got to the point where I knew without forgiveness my life would eventually be useless in the hands of the potter.  Now perhaps there are those that think they have done nothing wrong but regardless of the fact I forgive, and have forgiven those that have hurt me.  I pray God’s grace may abound.

I also know that in my life I am not so naive to think that I do not need forgiveness.  I know I have screwed up many times and many times my errors have hurt others maybe those I have hurt will forgive me.  This I know without forgiveness we are not following Christ.  It would be a terrible thing to want to tell someone you forgive them and not be able to say a thing.  

Tomorrow I will spend some time with a man that will most likely be dead very soon I am responsible for his spiritual care.  What would it be like to pass away without forgiving I pray I never know.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Oct 13

This Moved Me

Posted by Josh

After watching this video I was deeply moved.  Man how often do we just play the game and put on the face.  How many in our churches may be doing this every sunday.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

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

Sep 29

Free Porn Book Porn-Again Christian

Posted by Josh

I was recently doing some online surfing and came across this free ebook on Mark Drsicoll’s site.  This book deals with men and porn and is title Porn-Again Christian.  All of the book is not there yet but it will be soon.  Simply click on the link below and bookmark the site they also have an RSS feed.  Warning this book will be very frank.

…some years ago I sat down and in one day wrote a small booklet about male sexuality that we published in-house. Since then we have gone through thousands of copies and literally cannot keep it in stock. I asked some Christian publishers if they wanted it, and they said it was too hot to handle and so they declined.So, I decided to just put it online and give it away for free. The book has had a small amount of editing and rewriting since its original version. We’ll give it away at the Resurgencea bit at a time in conjunction with the Song of Songs series I am preaching titled “The Peasant Princess.” Once the entire book has been put online, it will then be posted as a file that guys around the world can download and read on their computer, forward to their friends, or print copies of to hand out as they like.

I hope this thing goes nuts and hundreds of thousands of guys read it.

In closing, I want to say two things. One, a lot of folks will not like the content or tone of this book and I love them and wish them well. You get what you pay for and this is free. Two, a lot of young guys (and some older guys too) tell me they have been helped by this content and if God uses it to help some guys I would be overjoyed with that. So, let the critics fire away and I’ll gladly take the shots for the guys who are walking wounded in an effort to help them get their shield up and sword sharpened.

Until we see Jesus,
Pastor Mark Driscoll

Porn Again Christian e-Book

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Sep 23

I vote for Life

Posted by Josh

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…” 

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.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Sep 19

How do You Change a Church?

Posted by Josh

I snagged this post from over at church relevance I enjoyed it and wanted to put it up here on my site.

Scott Hodge of The Orchard (Aurora, IL) opened up day 2 of MinistryCOM with a keynote on change. Scott is not only the lead pastor but the communications director as well. Here are some “tweaked” highlights from his talk:

How do you change a church that has been doing things the same way for too long?

The biggest challenge is changing the way that people think about church. People want to reach people for God, but they like to reach them on their terms.

God can birth a new culture for your church.

A communication director’s job is not to decide or dictate the vision of the church. A communication director’s job to to translate and clrify the vision so that people can get it.

Sometimes whole visions live or die on the basis of the words the leader chooses for articulating the vision.
-Bill Hybels :: Axiom

When you have a clear and compelling mission, you have the opportunity to create alignment.

Vision is not sticky. you have to recast it and recast it and recast it.
-Andy Stanley

Ask Yourself Three Questions

1. Who is God calling us to reach?
   Who has God positioned us or uniquely equipped us with the ability to reach effectively?
2. What is it going to take to reach them?
   What is it that we need to stop doing in order to effectively reach the people that we are called to reach? Sometimes your clearest vision starts simply by knowing what you do not want to be and stopping those things that feed it. What do we need to start doing?
3. Are we willing to pay the price?
   When you start trying to reach the people God has called you to reach, some people will not like it. You will lose something (reputation, appeal, etc).

You have the opportunity to create culture. That culture is created by everything, including what you choose to celebrate as well as who and what you allow to have influence in your church.

Communicate the why behind the what. Do not just tell people what is happening. Explain why you are doing it.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

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Spiritual Application | Bad Days Better

by Josh Monda | Jun 16, 2009 | 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

Dec 18

Learning From an Atheist about Evangelism

Posted by Josh

I believe this video speaks for itself.  You may recognize him from Pen and Teller fame.  The video should really cause us to rethink our evangelistic efforts.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Nov 20

Forgiveness

Posted by Josh

Yesterday was a busy day for me.  I spent the day seeing patients for the first time and spent the day with several people.  I had a good day it was fun to spend time with some people yet at the same time difficult knowing that these people are in the last days of their lives. 

I enjoyed my time with one patient in particular.  We took time to look at an old car magazine together and I read to him about some of the cars.  We looked at the prices of some of the cars when they first came out and I shared with him what the horsepower was.  Even though he could not speak well enough fro me to understand him I could see in his expression and in his eyes that he liked the fact that I took the time to be with him.  It saddened me to know that perhaps this guy had a very little interaction with men now that he was in a nursing home and more then likely he was lonely and wanted a man to just show some interest in him and who he was.  I knew he liked cars because he had a picture of an old car hanging on his board.  My time with him was valuable.

However, this got me to thinking.  What would it be like to talk to someone and to know that they can not understand you.  I know his mind works but it must be difficult to know you can not communicate in a way that people understand you.  For some reason my thoughts turned to forgiveness.  What would it be like to want to say to someone “I forgive you yet not be able to”.  How difficult that must be.

My thoughts have turned to my father.  My father was alcoholic and that is really all I knew him as.  In fact it was a rare moment that my father was sober.  I remember the yelling and the screaming I remember the violent way he behaved when he was drunk.  I could not stand it.  I wanted an escape a way out.  Eventually my mother and father were divorced and I rarely saw my dad.  It got to the point where I never say him and in fact did not even know where he was.  I remember when my dad first found where I was and I m in that first letter he wrote and asked if I would ever be able to forgive him.  My response was “dad I forgave you long ago”  It was barely a year later that my father was murdered on the street of Arizona for a measly 11 dollars.  But what if I had never had the opportunity to tell him I forgave him and what I he never had the opportunity to ask.

This has been on my mind.  Forgiveness can be a powerful thing and I am so thankful that I have been forgiven by Jesus Christ.  I am so thankful for the grace that is experienced through the blood of Jesus Christ.  It took me a long time to get to the point where have forgiven some in my old congregation and how things were handled.  In fact if I am honest bitterness began to take root in me.  Do I agree with how things were handled?  The answer is a resounding no.  Do I forgive how things were handled the answer is yes.  I did not want to forgive but God began to break me and I got to the point where I knew without forgiveness my life would eventually be useless in the hands of the potter.  Now perhaps there are those that think they have done nothing wrong but regardless of the fact I forgive, and have forgiven those that have hurt me.  I pray God’s grace may abound.

I also know that in my life I am not so naive to think that I do not need forgiveness.  I know I have screwed up many times and many times my errors have hurt others maybe those I have hurt will forgive me.  This I know without forgiveness we are not following Christ.  It would be a terrible thing to want to tell someone you forgive them and not be able to say a thing.  

Tomorrow I will spend some time with a man that will most likely be dead very soon I am responsible for his spiritual care.  What would it be like to pass away without forgiving I pray I never know.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Oct 13

This Moved Me

Posted by Josh

After watching this video I was deeply moved.  Man how often do we just play the game and put on the face.  How many in our churches may be doing this every sunday.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Sep 29

Free Porn Book Porn-Again Christian

Posted by Josh

I was recently doing some online surfing and came across this free ebook on Mark Drsicoll’s site.  This book deals with men and porn and is title Porn-Again Christian.  All of the book is not there yet but it will be soon.  Simply click on the link below and bookmark the site they also have an RSS feed.  Warning this book will be very frank.

…some years ago I sat down and in one day wrote a small booklet about male sexuality that we published in-house. Since then we have gone through thousands of copies and literally cannot keep it in stock. I asked some Christian publishers if they wanted it, and they said it was too hot to handle and so they declined.So, I decided to just put it online and give it away for free. The book has had a small amount of editing and rewriting since its original version. We’ll give it away at the Resurgencea bit at a time in conjunction with the Song of Songs series I am preaching titled “The Peasant Princess.” Once the entire book has been put online, it will then be posted as a file that guys around the world can download and read on their computer, forward to their friends, or print copies of to hand out as they like.

I hope this thing goes nuts and hundreds of thousands of guys read it.

In closing, I want to say two things. One, a lot of folks will not like the content or tone of this book and I love them and wish them well. You get what you pay for and this is free. Two, a lot of young guys (and some older guys too) tell me they have been helped by this content and if God uses it to help some guys I would be overjoyed with that. So, let the critics fire away and I’ll gladly take the shots for the guys who are walking wounded in an effort to help them get their shield up and sword sharpened.

Until we see Jesus,
Pastor Mark Driscoll

Porn Again Christian e-Book

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Sep 23

I vote for Life

Posted by Josh

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…” 

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.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Sep 19

How do You Change a Church?

Posted by Josh

I snagged this post from over at church relevance I enjoyed it and wanted to put it up here on my site.

Scott Hodge of The Orchard (Aurora, IL) opened up day 2 of MinistryCOM with a keynote on change. Scott is not only the lead pastor but the communications director as well. Here are some “tweaked” highlights from his talk:

How do you change a church that has been doing things the same way for too long?

The biggest challenge is changing the way that people think about church. People want to reach people for God, but they like to reach them on their terms.

God can birth a new culture for your church.

A communication director’s job is not to decide or dictate the vision of the church. A communication director’s job to to translate and clrify the vision so that people can get it.

Sometimes whole visions live or die on the basis of the words the leader chooses for articulating the vision.
-Bill Hybels :: Axiom

When you have a clear and compelling mission, you have the opportunity to create alignment.

Vision is not sticky. you have to recast it and recast it and recast it.
-Andy Stanley

Ask Yourself Three Questions

1. Who is God calling us to reach?
   Who has God positioned us or uniquely equipped us with the ability to reach effectively?
2. What is it going to take to reach them?
   What is it that we need to stop doing in order to effectively reach the people that we are called to reach? Sometimes your clearest vision starts simply by knowing what you do not want to be and stopping those things that feed it. What do we need to start doing?
3. Are we willing to pay the price?
   When you start trying to reach the people God has called you to reach, some people will not like it. You will lose something (reputation, appeal, etc).

You have the opportunity to create culture. That culture is created by everything, including what you choose to celebrate as well as who and what you allow to have influence in your church.

Communicate the why behind the what. Do not just tell people what is happening. Explain why you are doing it.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Sep 17

What are we waiting for?

Posted by Josh

In my reading of “Confessions of a reformission rev.” I came across this.

I am still not sure if most pastors are aware that their churches are comprised of people they don’t yet know.  Those people will never come to the churches so the Pastor must go to them.

This is definitely not the norm.  Rarely do we see pastors taking this to heart.  This is once again a difference between a missional church and other churches.  The missional church believes in the fact and clearly teaches that everyone is a missionary what more the missional church teaches how every member can be a missionary.  To often the pastor pawns it off on the people and the people pawn it off on the the Pastor.  However the Pastor and the people must work in concert with one another.  Both must be out meeting knew people.  People are not just going to show up at our churches anymore we have to go get them.

Here is a second quote I found

It was at this time that I realized that our church would never have a sign out front that said “everyone welcome,” because I did not want everyone.

Now perhaps we would say that Driscoll is wrong for this.  But is he really?  How many churches have this idea that everyone is welcome and sure they say that but in reality they do not mean it.  In fact certain people show up and they quickly realize they are not welcome.  What about the person that comes in and causes division in the church are they welcome?  We can think of many circumstance where people may not be welcome cant we?  Something to chew on.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Sep 16

I Shouldn’t be Alive

Posted by Josh

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.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Sep 12

Change and grow don’t change and don’t Grow

Posted by Josh

I am reading a book by Mark Driscoll who is the pastor of Mars Hill Church.  The title of the book is Confessions of  a Reformission Rev.  I will probably post about this book throughout the coming weeks as I find things in it that I find interesting.  I am definitely intrigues by the book and love the way Driscoll rights though for some I am sure he would be considered harsh and brash.  While reading the book it was speaking about change and something really stood out to me.

For a church to grow it must also accept that the church will change.  The problem with most churches is not that they don’t want to experience conversion growth but rather that they don’t want to change, which negates their ability to grow and is a sin to be repented of.

Over the years I have been blown away by churches that refuse to change.  Not change just for the sake of change but change in order to be most effective where they are at.  Instead they want to keep things they way they are the same music, the same standards, the same lack of vision, the same programs, etc.  In reality this is sin and should indeed be repented of.  

If the church does not change I am afraid the church will eventually die.  By our refusal to look at and do things in a different way we are telling others they really mean little to us and worse we are often telling our communities that they do not matter.  We are to often inward focused and rarely outward focussed.  Instead of evaluating our community and doing inventory of how we can effectively reach it we get stuck in the rut of doing things the same old way, and think by some miracle people are going to be drawn to our church.  Sadly this is primarily seen in the fundamentalist mindset and the churches refusal to change to a Missional mindset causes stagnation within the congregation and breeds discontent for the generation that wants to be an effective force in their community.

The message to the church has to be clear Change and grow don’t change and don’t grow.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

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Uncategorized | Bad Days Better

by Josh Monda | Jun 16, 2009 | Uncategorized

Jun 11

Rap Music Theology?

Posted by Josh

I know that is seems that there is controversy over Rap Music in fact I know of some people that would hate rap music no matter how Godly the lyrics might be.  However I do not fall into that camp.  In fact I love Rap Music.  That reminds me of an old DC Talk song that said  ”I luv rap music, I always have, and I always will”.

A little over a year ago I started listening to Shai Linne and was immediately blown away by the lyrics.  This guy’s music in one song typically has more then you hear in one year of some churches.  This morning while exercising on of his songs came on the ipod.  The name of the song is Atonement Q and A.  I have to tell you as I was going through my exercise and listened to the song I could not help but think how often our churches are failing at teaching any type of theology from the pulpit yet in one song a lot is taught.  I may not agree with every minor point but at least and attempt is made.  So look at the lyrics below and perhaps learn some Theology from a rap song.

Verse 1

Who is God? God is the universe’s Creator

And Sustainer plus the only Savior, there is no one greater

He is triune, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, absolute

Loving, sovereign and righteous are a few of His attributes

How do we know this? Well, we know this from the Bible

Where God has revealed Himself- anything else is just an idol

What’s the Bible about? Man’s complete ruin in sin

And what God has done in Christ to bring us to Him again

What is sin? Sin is the breaking of God’s law

Plus our condition, which means from birth we all got flaws

What’s the result? The result is by nature we’re God’s enemies

And must pay the penalty unless God provides the remedy

What’s the remedy? The remedy is the cross of Christ

Where He suffered all the strikes for the lawless type

I’ve been rescued by the Lamb, I’m convinced that He’s risen

And blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven!

Chorus

Just fall back, and with the eyes of faith

Behold the beauty of surprising grace

Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise

He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied

Just fall back- there’s an atonement now

The cross of Christ is holy ground

Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise

He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied

Verse 2

Regeneration- the Holy Spirit’s true work in His love

To the elect, who receive new birth from above

Expiation- expiation means God’s removed my filthiness

The old testament type was the goat into the wilderness

Redemption- we’ve been freed from slavery to sin

And His very own blood is the price He paid, my friend

Propitiation- Propitiation means since the Lamb has died

His work is finished- God’s wrath is satisfied

Adoption- adoption means God is now my Father

I got the hottest Poppa and by the Spirit holler Abba

Reconciliation means there’s no more enmity

God is now a friend to me, we’re no longer enemies

Justification- God declares us righteous

Sanctification– we’re being made into His likeness

Glorification– that’s what happens at the finish

When God conforms believers perfectly to Christ’s image!

Chorus

Verse 3

God’s grace is magnificent, He slayed His innocent

Son- through faith and repentance we get the benefits

What is faith? Faith is a gift from God- when we receive this

We trust and treasure the person and finished work of Jesus

Repentance? Repentance is turning from your sin

And trusting Christ as the Spirit cleanses you within

What is grace? Oh, grace is unmerited favor

Our inheritance major ‘cause we cherish the Savior

Right, and if I may quote again, we were doomed with Satan

But believers get Jesus’ righteousness through imputation

Imputation? God takes Jesus’ righteousness amount

Through faith He credits it into the Christian’s account

Anything else? Well, I guess this overview must suffice

But none of this is possible apart from union with Christ

And finally, once you know the ways of the Lord than the

only thing that you can say is Soli Deo Gloria!

Chorus

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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.

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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.

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Apr 18

Don’t Waste Your Life

Posted by Josh

Came across this video a little while ago and really liked it.

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Apr 13

Have You Heard of Susan Boyle? You Will

Posted by Josh

You have to check out this video.  Go take a look it is awesome.

Check out the Video HERE

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Apr 05

This Is Where I Am At

Posted by Josh

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.

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Mar 31

Discouraged

Posted by Josh

I admit that I rarely allow discouragement to get the better of me.  I typically am the type of person that allows most things to roll off my back and then move on.  God has allowed me to go through alot of challenges in my life and in ministry but I can’t think of a time where I have been more discouraged.  I understand and realize that God is definitely in control of all things and I suppose sometimes that is where discouragement seems to set in.  Because in the reality of everything I am in control of nothing.  It seems that lately I have been continually reminded of this.  God has continued to teach me humility and sometimes that daily prayer that I say “God reveal in me those things that are not of You” just gets harder and harder.  There are days I don’t want to say it but I continually am confronted with those thing that are not of God that are in my life.

I am so thankful that God has given me the opportunity to intern at making and I am doing one of the things that I love most which is ministering with students.  I have had the opportunity to speak on Wednesdays and Sundays and it has been awesome sometimes to see the teens response the word of God.  I have had numerous teens come and counsel with me after a message and tell me what God has spoken to them.  In addition I have had adults do the same thing.  God has truly blessed.  However I know that God has called me to full time Christian Service and I guess that is where the discouragement comes in.

I t is so hard to know that God has called you to something and yet feel like you are not doing what God has called you to do.  For the first time in my life I have questioned what God has called me to do.  I know God has called me but I suppose it is hard when you sit back and you wait on Gods plan to unfold.  So often we want things to happen so fast.

I have given my life to christian service.  In the last 14 years I have served in two churches and have  seen numerous teens come to know Christ as savior.  I have seen numerous teens be baptized, and have seen numerous teens live out there faith.  I pray that I have effected lives in ways that I will never know and I pray that God has somehow used me to change peoples lives forever.  However I continue to find myself asking God “what about now God”  God amI done?  God are my days of full time ministry over?  Have I done all  that you wanted me to accomplish in full time ministry?  I feel  the answer comes back no that God has more for me.  Oh but it is so hard when you cannot see it.  This is just how I feel.

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Mar 17

What A Powerful Testimony Of Forgiveness

Posted by Josh

As  I watched this testimony I could not help feel how powerful this testimony is not only to the grace of God but also the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Uncategorized

Feb 09

Can We Be Honest Here?

Posted by Josh

It has been a week since I have had a post so I thought I would get in gear.  I have been watching some basketball games of the local High School here.  The girls team is ranked numbers in the state for 3a ball and they are undefeated they have a good club I hope they do well.  Well anyways I am not going write about basketball but continue my series from the book Why Guys Need God by Mike Erre.  Today I want to share a couple of quotes from chapter 10 and talk about them a little bit.

When we come out of hiding in front of each other, relationship will take hard work and lots of grace.  The church gets lots of criticism because of its imperfections.

So many times we hide who we really are.  Sometimes it is like we have to put on some sort of facade  so people do not see the real us.  I am not sure what drives this perhaps it  is fear of people seeing the real us or fear that we are not good enough.  Rarely do we tell people our real struggles or the things that are keeping us from being all we want to be in Christ or all we can be in Christ.  The truth is if we really do be ourselves then in fact it will take alot of hard work and lots of grace.  Grace to forgive others even when we really do not want to and grace to ask for forgiveness even when we do not want to.  But if we continue to pretend to be someone we are not then the church is just a place where we go to be fake.  The church definitley is not perfect and we are indeed a bunch of reformed sinners going thorug the process of sanctification yet many times we act like we have already been fully sanctified and that we have no problems whatsoever.

I often wonder what would church be like if people were real.  What if a man walked into Sunday school and said I am struggling with pornography and I need help, or what if a woman walked in and said I struggle with gossiping I need help, or how about I have bitterness in my heart I need help.  The church is supposed to be a community loving each other and holding each other accountable but I am afraid we have become a community where everything is based on only what we want people to perceive us to be and not who we really are.  We don’t want people to know our secret sins what will is take for us to stop being superficial and just be honest.  It is so hard.  Here us the second quote.

Most churches teach men how to pretend behind religious fig leaves.  We learn to act in the right religious ways, look the right religious ways, sing the right religious ways, and so on.  We usually are not encouraged to actually share how things really are.  So even though we need to connect with other guys at a really deep level, the church actually often hinders this process.

Prayer isn’t a place to be good; it is a place to be honest.

I already spoke about this above.  I do not think this is a problem for just men either.  I think often we go to church to pretend.  Pretend to be someone we are not and we rarely go just to be honest and admit our struggles.

Uncategorized

Feb 02

God Owes Me Nothing.

Posted by Josh

Today I want to talk about what I got out of chapter 9 of Mike Erre’s book why guys need God.  THis paragraph from page 120 hit me pretty hard.

I can’t be grateful unless I see myself as small, dependant, and undeserving.

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