Jeremiah 3:15-17 - The blog of pastor.ctj

Let me begin with this… I am fulfilling my end of the bargain. I signed the papers promising to take care of the ‘animal companions’, (see the April 29 blog for more info, then scroll back up) but it didn’t say that I had to like them. I provide sustenance, shelter, and creature comforts, but nowhere does it say that I have to like them.… Here’s the thing, I feel like I have been defrauded because they are not companions at all! A companion is a friend, and these things ain't nor friends o' mine! I have issues with our borders, to be sure. Here’s a short (but growing) list… a) My daughter is afraid that they’ll bite her, so she won’t pick them up. This of course defeats the entire purpose of having these things. She went so far as to ask if she could have a gecko last night. I told her no , she’s got to play out the string with the rodents.. b) The so called ‘silent exercise wheel’ is anything but. It is so noisy that the cage has to be kept in the living room so that my chi...

It is with a heavy heart that I announce today, the withdrawal of my candidacy for the Office of President of the United States of America. Though I am sure that my insight and experience would have been an invaluable resource, and my proven leadership abilities are what is necessary to lead this great nation into its great future, a lack of funding, and my concerns for the welfare (and privacy) of my family and friends, makes it impossible for me to continue.(Thank you to the Bean consulting group for all their help) Surveying the bleak political landscape and the remaining candidates, I have not found a suitable substitute, so I am not going to endorse anyone at the moment. I have been contacted via email by the Obama camp, seeking my endorsement, but it was under the pseudonym that I used to sign up for the email updates from Sen. Obama’s campaign, so they have no idea who I am…. I would like to thank the 5 people that pledged their support and their votes, the numerous people who ...

We’ve been back for 3 weeks now, and I haven’t written a thing. For me, this is of course unusual… But here’s the situation: Though I left Germany 3 weeks ago, Germany hasn’t left me alone; more specifically, one German in particular. One that I have never met in person, but whose words are messing my head up on a daily basis. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is his name, and his book “The Cost of Discipleship” is what is tormenting me. Literally. I have NEVER before read a book that I have to keep putting down every couple of pages. (I have been reading and reading pages 59-62 for a week now) This book is like trying to pick a rose. A huge and very beautiful and fragrant rose with thorns sharper than razor blades… Literally every touch cuts, and cuts deep. But it is worth it. I am being challenged, edified, encouraged, broken and strengthened ALL AT ONCE….. Good Book, I tell you. No… This is a GREAT BOOK, but it is not for the weak nor for the faint of heart! Buy it here Thank me later...

Several years ago, I song was out called ‘Place in this World’ The chorus said the following: Looking for a reason. Roaming through the night to find My place in this world, My place in this world Not a lot to lean on, I need your light to help me find My place in this world. My place in this world The song used to make me feel anywhere from vaguely annoyed to nauseated, and I did not understand why. Today, years later, when I have not heard the song in many moons, it hit me. We have a place, it is at His Feet!

I had to rethink my position when Brownie & Cream moved in… Brownie & Cream are my daughter’s new Hamsters. They are cute. I made a promise to my daughter that once we returned from Germany I would get hamsters for her. I kept my word….. We traveled for miles to get to the store, purchased the hamsters, and I even had to complete paperwork attesting to my ability to care for the ‘animal companions’ that I was purchasing. We watched as the salesman opened the aquarium that they were housed in, and pulled them, one by one from their home, and placed them in a cardboard box. They were VERY upset about it. They were not coming of their own volition, but complain though they did, it was beyond their control. They belong to my daughter now… We went all out for the new additions, we bought the “Critter Trail II” Duplex home, with the silent exercise wheel, and the “Loop-D-Loop” add on. The jumbo sized bedding, and the deluxe, specially blended hamster food, I mean we we...

This is a reprint of a post from March, which is in a sense, the prequel to the post I am working on now, having returned from Germany Why Berlin? The first time that I traveled to Berlin, Germany to minister, I felt awkward. I had never been on a ’Missions’ trip before, and for me, "Missions" was defined as: Taking food, clothing, and other physical necessities to the needy and less fortunate in other places. The necessities were a means of spreading the Gospel.. So I was saying to God.. Germany?! GERMANY ?!?! Why not Africa, or Asia, The Middle East, The Caribbean?… Truthfully, what I was really saying to God was, Why Europe? Why Europeans ?? They don’t need anything Lord, they’ve GOT everything… (But they don’t have ME , He said… Matthew 16:26) At that point I had to consider my views on a few things, and my life was about to change…. God had a plan . On the surface, He sent me to Berlin to teach about Worship, and to start a choir at the Berli...

4/24/08 - As I came out of the subway yesterday, I saw Ronnie, and he was crying. He was standing by the payphone crying. Our eyes locked, and I could see his pain, his anguish, and he knew that I saw it ….but I kept walking, because I had to get to work . Ronnie wasn't crying, he was weeping . But I kept walking . I got around the corner, and was flooded by Compassion and conviction. Clearly this man needed help , but what could I do? The scene had startled me, surprised me…Why was I surprised? Did I not expect homeless people to have feelings? Are they such a fixture in New York, that we (I) just walk by, passing them like I (we) pass the ubiquitous refuse on the street? I was ashamed, and immediately repented….I stood debating with God as I looked at my watch, looked in my wallet ,("Lord all I have is this $10 bill" "Well then give him that" "But what about if I break it and give him $5? No answer… I guess $10 it is) then went back around the corner…...