Jasper the Friendly Host

FRIENDLINESS and BEING OUTGOING…….. The 2 lost arts of Jesus’ ministry

-Jesus goes out of His way to approach Bartimaeus and takes time to minister to him (Lk. 18)
-Jesus helps out his mother and the party they were at by supplying the wine (Jn. 2)
-Jesus is nice to the kids (Lk. 18)
-Jesus humors this random woman and pronounces her daughter whole (Matt. 15)
-Jesus takes time to heal the people in the streets (Mk. 5)
-Jesus takes time to encourage the woman with the issue of blood in her faith (Mk. 5)
-Jesus takes time to visit Jairus’ house and heals his daughter (Mk. 5)

*These are just a few little examples of Jesus’ “MINISTRY”….. compared to the thought process of people today…this isn’t really the picture that we have of “ministry” today. I mean check it out- What we call the “Ministry of Jesus” was really just him walking around different towns and giving to people what they wanted. When was the last time any of us did much of that? I know for myself that a lot of what I do in ministry usually centers around getting people to come to MY church so that I can give them the Word.

Here’s one: When did we get it into our minds that this is what ministry is? Giving people the Word who don’t upfront want the Word and then getting frustrated that they aren’t more responsive to what we keep giving them. HOW BOUT THIS——–What if we all (the body of Christ) made a bigger effort to just give people what they want naturally/physically/mentally/socially and then through the anointing that is transferred because of our GIVING then people are enticed to WANT to hear about the spiritual side. ITS JUST AN IDEA……

WWJD- Well HE definitely was more concerned about making other people feel awesome than he was about getting them into a church. HAS IT DAWNED ON ANYONE YET…. We are THE CHURCH…. The building is the place that we assemble. If I could get it into my head and attach faith to it from my heart that PEOPLE JUST WANT TO BE LOVED then I would be out loving people as opposed to expecting them to love me or what I know.

I love this quote: “People don’t care what we know until they know how much we care”

I don’t know about anyone but myself………I want that! I want that Jesus lifestyle. I want people to like me. Is that wrong? I doubt it. Isn’t that the idea? If we don’t start to care what people think about us then we won’t change so that they will. WE ARE JESUS’ representatives in this Earth… “As He is so are we in this earth” (I Jn. 4:17) If they don’t like us then how will they ever like HIM? If we suck (in their minds) then HE sucks (in their minds). HOW CAN I REACH PEOPLE who think that I suck?

IT’S JUST A QUESTION….

***I think so many questions have got to be addressed with us as a general body. Too much scattered behavior and too many DIFFERENT ideas about who God is and what He’s about. WHY CAN’T WE ALL JUST BE NORMAL? Ask yourself this……. What is it that you like about your best friend? (earthly) What is it that attracts you to your soul-mate? Why do you fall in love?
answers:
-they are cool
-they got spunk
-they have personality
-they treat you good
-they love you
-they show you attention
-they meet your needs
-they make you feel good
-they bless you
………..etc………..
NOW add that against how WE are presenting the gospel to the world. WHY IN THE WORLD would they EVER want it? (first obvious answer) “Oh, so they can inherit eternal life”——–YO, has it dawned on us yet that they DON’T BELIEVE IN IT????

Question- Why do you believe in Heaven and Hell? Why do you believe the Bible? Who told you? Why did you believe them?

WE ARE TRYING to get people to believe us w/NO CREDIBILITY and many times not giving them a reason to even LIKE us let alone trust that what we say is Truth.

RELATIONSHIP begats RELATIONSHIP……… Why do so many of my family (body o’ Christ) think “Normal” thoughts when it comes to their relatives, in-laws, unsaved friends, etc. BUT when it comes to being “Spiritual” and helping people to find faith, we FLAKE OUT and get WEIRD.

LOVE itself is proof of God…..

How far will your love go? I don’t put down people for having a limit. I mean it’s natural… We all have a limit. Today your love has natural limits. THE NAME OF THE GAME is to increase those limitations that are love will go to. God’s love is UNLIMITED. So much that He sacrificed His only son to prove it. Much like Abraham was willing to do the same to prove his love for God. (coincidence…NOT!) But you and I are still working it out. That’s cool. I think that the more we WORK IT OUT with the people around us THE MORE WE WIN! LOVE NEVER FAILS! If that’s true then why are far too many of us striking out with the world around us?

Here’s something to make you see yourself the way God sees you:
JESUS…that’s who He sees when He’s looking at you. So you look awesome, blameless and like a “Star” to Him. God is pleased with you today. He’s got you and never letting up. No matter where or what you are doing right now….GOD LIKES YOU A LOT! Just as He was pleased with Jesus on that day that John baptized Him and God said “this is my son in whom I am well pleased” that’s what He is saying about you. “YOU’RE MY BOY BLUE, YOU’RE MY BOY”!!!

How did we get off thinking that Man’s love for eachother was greater than Gods……

Take for example that last remark “You’re my boy Blue” (obvious movie quote)- How do we accept that Will Farrell could have such great love for his elderly brother in that ridiculous movie and THAT’S ACCEPTABLE in our minds and even bitter-sweet but when it comes to GOD loving us even in our faults we get hung-up. Is Will Farrel’s love greater than God’s? WOW!!! (*I am in NO WAY promoting Old School)

THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT THOUGH———-NORMAL FREAKIN’ THINKING ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD and THE LIFE OF CHRIST (the anointing).

People talk about “Being anointed” and “The anointing” …….Ooooooooh! How bout trying just to be “normal” and “Steady” with and about the Love of God and REALLY living like Jesus lived?

The Dream Center IS Making a Difference!

The Dream Center has successfully mentored teenagers for nearly five years.  In fact, through the Skateboarding and Concert Venues, hundreds of teens have made positive life choices by turning away from drugs, underage drinking and crime.  Recently, the Dream Center hosted Dodgeball for teens on Tuesday nights at the Recreation Center in Berlin where up to 90 teens would show up for the two hour event every week.  In addition to that, the Dream Center has run a successful Soup Kitchen having provided warm meals to nearly 50 people each time.  In November, the Dream Center gave out over 200 turkeys with the fixings for Thanksgiving to families that may have otherwise gone without.  The Dream Center staff is always trying to think of unique ways to meet the needs of the people in our area.

 As a result, about six months ago, Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) was formed.  RAK, coordinated by Vicky Campbell, and overseen by Pastor Joey Roberts, consists of a group of people that go around the Berlin/Gorham area once a month performing good deeds to strangers in an effort to encourage the community. The team feels that in times like these, it’s important to keep up the morale in our area as much as possible.

When RAK started, the goal was to individually encourage a stranger every day by using kind words or actions.  These included giving a sincere compliment, buying a coffee for the person behind you , paying for a stranger’s meal at a restaurant or letting someone cut in front of you at the grocery store, to name a few.  Then, RAK started once-a-month group activities.  The events have been planned out for all of 2009 and are not announced to the public beforehand. The element of surprise is what the RAK team is going for.

In January, RAK was held at Wal-Mart in Gorham where people were offered free hot chocolate at the door.  About 50 cups of hot chocolate were enjoyed by Wal-Mart customers on a particularly frigid day.  

In February, Gorham House Florist gave a generous discount on carnations making it possible for a flower to be given each resident of Coos County Nursing Home, St. Vincent’s Nursing Home and patients at AVH on Valentine’s Day.  A total of 211 carnations were distributed.  The residents were extremely happy to receive the surprise delivery.   

March brought the very successful Dollar Drop.  Approximately 140 one-dollar bills were left in stores throughout Berlin and Gorham.  Each dollar had a note on the back that read “You’re in luck, here’s a buck!” so the recipient would know it was left there on purpose.

In April, the RAK group collected over eight large bags of litter from Main St. and Pleasant St. in Berlin.  In addition, each downtown business was left a packet of seeds to plant as a symbol of future growth for the business.  The Dream Center loves and believes in our city! 

May’s Random Act of Kindness will be coming up in the next couple of weeks, so be on the lookout!

Dream Big

Awesome things are happening around the Dream Center.  We are so blessed to be able to do all the outreaches we are doing…and there’s more to come!! 

The latest news is that we are renting the Big Scoop!!  The Big Scoop has been an ice cream place for years (probably obvious by the name), but the owner’s are leasing it to us now and we’re totally psyched!  The location is great and, though it’s small in size, God’s going to do great BIG things there. 

We’re going to have our Thursday night services there starting tonight and will begin a new Sunday night service this Sunday.  This will be awesome for all the people who live nearby who haven’t come to our services because of transportation issues.  (yes, that’s why they haven’t come..I’m sure of it!)   The Youth Services will be held at the Big Scoop, too, on Friday nights.  In fact, this Friday (tomorrow) is the big Kick-off with a BBQ and 2 live bands.  It’s gonna rock! 

We will also be able to reopen our Soup Kitchen and possibly our Food Pantry.  Besides that, we have a vision of having a Cafe there a few days a week with lots of goodies to sell to teens/adults to help us raise money for the different outreaches.  So cool!

This Saturday, the Random Acts of Kindness group is meeting at the Big Scoop at 10am.  We’re going to do some downtown clean-up and give out some seeds or small plants to area businesses with a note attached saying that the Dream Center is planting good seed in our community.  If you can make it to this event, we’d love to have you!

WE have a super team of people working together to get all these things done and we’re grateful to God for supplying every person and every need.

…AND THEY WERE ALL HEALED!!!

4 NIGHTS OF UNDENIABLE DEMONSTRATIONS OF GOD

@a women convention in AL

Well I’m here in gulf shores AL at the coast to coast womens convention. Last night barbara Arbo spoke and it was bombtastic! Wish you could all be here! Love, PJ w

WINTER CELEBRATION!!! CHARLESTON, IL

Information about meetings:
Guest speakers- Joe Morris, Ross Roberts, David Ellis and Joey Roberts
Music- (lead) Markus Johnson w/The Dream Center Band
Sponsored by- The Dream Center of Northern New England

*LIVE MUSIC
*SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT
*SPECIAL SURPRISE GUESTS
*DOOR PRIZES

MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND DON’T MISS THIS VERY EXCITING EVENT COMING TO CHARLESTON, IL

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 603.723.2872 (Pastor Joey Roberts)

Singing in the spirit…

Acts 1:8- But ye shall receive power after that the HG comes upon you. And you shall be witness of me (Jesus) both in Judea, Sumaria and to the UTTER MOST PARTS OF THE WORLD.

WE LIVE in an “Utter Most Part of The World”….Wherever you are is an utter most part of the world. You need power wherever you are today! Get filled with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. You’ll be so glad that you did. 

 

I write this blog today to encourage anyone who’s thinking about whether or not to be filled. It’s your right! It’s your promise from Jesus, from God, by His Holy Spirit. In Acts 1-4 we read about what happened on the day of Pentecost and how Peter (who by the way….just denied Jesus 3x because he was afraid) got filled with the HG and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave him utterance. And then went out into the streets totally FEAR-FREE. Peter then proceeds to preach to those who put Jesus on the cross. And the Bible says in the latter part of Ch. 2 that three-thousand people believed and were saved. 

This is so groundbreaking! We read on at the beginning of ch. 3 and Peter and John (now filled with the HG) head to the synagogue to pray and meet a beggar who is lame asking of them for money. You know this one….they say to him “Silver and gold have we none but such as we have we give unto thee.” And they reached down and grabbed-hold of the man and commanded “In the name of Jesus WALK!” And the man’s feet and ankle bones received strength and he got up and walked. That’s awesome!

It’s amazing what the infilling of the HG will do for us as believers. So the long and short…..get filled 1 time. Stay full all of the time by speaking in other tongues and with that, read Ephesians. It talks about “The perfect will of God.” Paul said “I would not have you ignorant but understanding the PERFECT WILL OF GOD. Be ye not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be ye filled with the spririt. (how?) Speaking to yourselves in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Singing and making melody on your hearts unto the Lord.

Here’s an encouraging email I sent to a dear friend in the Lord encouraging them to continue to speak and sing in other tongues. (Read)

The singing in the spirit is awesome. I’ve found that when your praying in the spirit goes to singing in the spirit almost on it’s own, then that’s an outward or physical sign that you broke through in an area inwardly or as Hagin says “you got your note of victory”. Singing in tongues is RAd. I do it all the time. I usually start off by praying in tongues. The Bible says that HE (the HG) Knows what to pray when we know not. It also says “Howbeit when we pray in other tongues we speak out MYSTERIES by the spirit.” These mysteries many times are our future, our guidance, protection, etc. and God uses our prayer language to get things done spiritually so we can walk them out physically. 

There’s just something about it going from praying to singing…..try it!

I love all of you who read this blog. Tell your friends to check us out! WE ARE CHANGING OUR WORLDS!!!

PJ

THE MONSTER’S BALL!!!

Word to the wise “We be ballin”!!! Hey ya’ll come to the Monster’s ball! Happening at the T&C Hotel in Gorham, Friday Oct. 31st at 6pm. It’s gonna be the BOMB! We got 3 live bands, a dance floor, DJ, Lighting, Food, Prizes, Giveaways ***WE ARE GIVING AWAY 4 IPODS***. The cost of a ticket is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. We will be giving the GRAND PRIZES away to the BEST DRESSED. So come looking as your best NAPOLEAN DYNAMITE character. I’m gonna be “Uncle Rico” so be ready for that. We love yall…don’t miss it, it’s gonna be the greatest event in DC/CA/CCV history!!! I guarantee!

PJ

Back 2 Skool sermon….

BACK 2 SKOOL SUNDAY- “What’s more important than your education?”

 

 

At the day and age we are living in, there is the highest of premiums put on the education of your children. “Getting into a good college, graduating with high honors, exceeding even our highest expectations, grants, scholorships, making the dean’s list, making the honor-role”. For some of us (like me) it was just finishing school, or showing up on time, making a B- instead of a C or D. No matter where you are at in your education, whether you are at the head of the class or somewhere down the line, your education is very very important to the level of success that you are headed for in life. Ask anyone over the age of 25 today, if they had it all to do over again, would they put a higher level of interest on their education??? If they answered honestly, we’d all have the same answer- YES! 

 

With our education being of the utmost importance in life sometimes it can easily seem to be THE most important thing. Yes, our book smarts is very important and the Bible agrees that we are to(2 Tim. 2:15)- “Study to show ourselves approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, having the ability to rightly divide the word of truth”. But notice here “The Word of Truth”. 

 

*Isn’t it interesting that there’s a much higher priority put on our understanding of God’s book more than our understanding of other books.

 

*God isn’t telling us that we shouldn’t go to school or get a great education, He is simply giving us the KEY to the highest education there is- The Bible.

 

-If we would get an understanding of the Bible (while we are young) and as for those of us with children, give our children an understanding of the Bible while they are still young, their school work will follow.

 

*There’s simply something in the Word of God that causes us to excel in all other areas of life.

 

*God told Abraham in Genesis that if he would adhere (take interest in understanding and living by) to His Word (the word of God) that whatever he would put his hand to would prosper. He told Abraham that He would make his name great, that even his children would be great at what they do.

 

TO THE PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS……If we will do our part as adults to dig deep into God’s Word and get a better understanding of His Word, we will be better parents and mentors for our children.

 

-SOMETHING ABOUT MY MOM….Growing up in our household it seemed like for every problem and question I faced in life, my mom had a Biblical answer for. Not only that, but her Biblical answers always outdid my physical or worldly understandings of life.

 

 

For instance: I’d come home from school feeling like a failure. I’m flunking one of my classes, I’m getting into trouble, I don’t feel smart, my teachers think something’s wrong, people are talking about me, I’m not getting any younger, my grades are really taking a dive, I’m worried about college, my teachers don’t think I’m ready to go to the next grade and on and on and on….

 

I’d bring home questions like this (just like every other kid) but the difference in our home from some of the other homes was that my parents took an interest and made God’s Word a priority over the understanding of men’s wisdom. 

 

Read:

I Cor. 3:19

I Cor. 1:18

 

When I’d come home with questions about why I’m failing in life, mom would come quickly with answers, and those answers were always straight from God’s Word. 

 

-There’s a power in God’s Word that cuts right through the questions of this world and get’s to the heart of the matter.

 

Read: 

Heb. 4:12- Sharper than any two-edged sword…..

 

Every time I’d say “I’m a failure” mom would say “No Joey, the Bible says in I Jn. 4:4 that the greater one (Jesus) lives in you and He’s made you a winner.” 

 

She would then make me agree with it…..The Bible talks about the power of “Agreement” 

 

James 1:5-8- Where 2 or more gather together in my name…they can ask anything and it shall be done for them.

Deut. 32:30- one alone can do so much but 2 together increases your power by 10x.

Acts 1:24- The power of agreement causes you to make right decisions

Acts 2:1, 2- The power of agreement brings the Holy Ghost on the scene

Acts 3:1-9- The power of agreement brings miracles

 

*Mom’s, dad’s, grandparents, teachers, students LISTEN……Your greatest weapon against defeat in this life is AGREEMENT WITH GOD’S WORD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 things to remember about: THE POWER OF AGREEMENT

 

1. You cannot agree with something you are unfamiliar with. 

-You’ve got to take time to understand God’s Word for your life.

-It’s not good enough for your pastor to understand it

-It’s not good enough after a certain age for your parents to get it

*You must read it and have your own relationship with God.

 

2. You’ve got to agree on ALL areas.

-Don’t pick and choose from the Bible what you will live up to.

-Live up to all of it.

*Make the decision that “Whatever you get revelation of form the Word you’re going to apply to your life without question.”

 

3. Don’t do it for anyone but yourself.

-Be “Hoggish” with the things of God. 

-Don’t worry about everyone else around you, get it for you.

*Too often we think we are doing the will of God by worrying about other people and their relationship with God when we should only be concentrating on OUR own relationship with God.

-You can’t help others before helping yourself.

-GET STRONG IN THE LORD AND HE WILL MAKE YOU STRONG FOR OTHER PEOPLE!

 

4. Let God promote you

-Too many people try to promote themselves and clime up some non-existing latter in their spiritual walk with God.

*If God does the promoting then there will never be any De-moting. “God don’t sponsor no flops”- T.L. Osbourne

-Many times you’ll see someone who constantly promotes their own agenda and their own goodness and labels it “Because of Jesus” but in most of these cases it’s short-lived….

*I don’t have to promote to you the Goodness of God in my life so much if you can see it and experience it by just being around me.

-WHEN GOD PROMOTES IT’S THE REAL DEAL!

-Let God promote you and in turn you’ll be in position to promote Him to others.

Sunday Morning…where’s the bacon?

Well it’s finally Sunday! It’s like I wait all week for today. It seems funny when you think about it…many people (including myself at a former time in life) avoid Sunday morning like the plague and then for me and many of you out there, it’s our favorite day of the week. 

Well besides today being “Back 2 Skool Sunday” it’s also just another great morning to celebrate Jesus. You know there is a lot of things during the week that try to distract us from our real purpose in this world, which is to know God and make Him known. We can so easily get caught up in the stuff around us and get sidetracked into believing that we are hear for another reason. 

The devil is the master of distraction. He goes about (as the Bible tells us) like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Notice it says “Like” a roaring lion NOT actually “as” a roaring lion. You know what I’ve never actually seen him, Wigglesworth did but I haven’t as of yet, but even if he looks like a lion, he’s a lion with no teeth. The devil was rendered powerless by the blood of Jesus. You and I are NOT subject to his folly. We have been redeemed (Gal. 3:13). We have been given all power on earth as it is in Heaven. Today truly is a great day to be alive!

Think about it….Today is your day for breakthrough! Can you believe it? Can you see it with the eyes of faith? Today is about getting more in touch with your heavenly Father. Today is a wonderful opportunity to GET IT! You are going over the top today. You can’t lose today! You can’t fail today! Today you are headed in a direction that is prosperous. Today you are being built up. Today you have wisdom far beyond your years. Today you are headed for more greatness. Today you are powerful. Today nothing can stop you. Today is your day!

I dare you before you head out (hopefully to church at DC) wherever you may be going, to stop and confess what I just wrote in the previous paragraph. Say each of these over yourself and your day and your family 3x. It will set you on a more excellent path already this morning before even leaving the house. Do it! You’ll be glad you did!

PJ