JohnMassie.com

Well, yeah, it has been a while since I posted. I am trying to be more consistant, but it is kind of hard, with everything going on. I am running around like crazy! At church we are putting in our server this week, and I am trying to prep the computers and notify the staff of the upcoming changes; it is just crazy! Then I have work and oth things. So, everyone, pray for me!

Well, my internet has been down for the past few hours, so I am behind on getting this server ready to go. I guess I need to remember that God is in control, no matter what is going on. Speaking of this topic, I found this great song on a new Vineyard CD someone loaned me. Here is the song:

You Are In Control
Scott Underwood

Chorus 1
Because You are in control
You are in control
You are in control
You are in control

Verse 1
You are my Shepherd
I have no needs
You lead me by peaceful streams
And You refresh my life
You hold my hand
And You guide my steps
I would walk through
The valley of death
And I won’t be afraid

Misc 1
(BRIDGE)
You cause everything to work together
You truly have a sov’reign plan
And You know who I am
And You made who I am
And You love who I am

So, if you are like me running around so fast it isn’t funny, then I hope this brings you encouragement.

Talk to y’all later,
John

Good Afternoon,
Wow, now how many times have I written that on Xanga? Yeah, I am posting early, which I will probably regret, because then I will just end up posting later, but oh well! I trust that everyone is doing well, I know Monday’s aren’t the greatest… .

Well, this weekend rocked! Yes, I used the word rocked. Anyways, my friend Brian and I participated in a photography contest. Didn’t win anything, but had a blast gathering all my pictures. Well, I guess there is always next year. It really was fun though, I got to spend my entire weekend in Hocking County (way out in the sticks, for those of you who don’t know where it is). Had my first experience driving a manual transmission, and did some “”off roading” with my firend’s brother. All in all, it was fun.

Like I said, I will post later. Hope y’all have a great week!

Later,
Massie Out
(For those of you who watch American Idol, you’ll understand)

Good Evening Everyone. I have a lot to tell tonight. So, if you are planning on reading all of this, make sure you have some time. Oh, and Brian and Tiffani… make sure you take time to read it….

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First off, let me tell you all a story. I have one heck of an amazing friend, Tiffani. She has one heck of a testimony, and it just keeps growing and growing. I have seen a person that through every trial and all that she deals with daily, she not only finds time for God, but also sees how God works in her life.

 

She is a living testimony to me, and I am sure to many others. I have seen her go through so much in her life, and the short time I’ve known her. Yet through every trial, she holds to God and He brings her through it. At the end, making her stronger in her faith, and closer to Him.

 

In this past year that I’ve known her, she has brought me so much encouragement! Not only verbally, but also just through her life. One famous saying is that , “Actions speak louder than words”. Many people I know say, “I love God, I am a Christian”. They say it  with no passion; almost robotic like… Not Tiffani, she shows it with every bit of her might that she is a Christian and she loves God! Thanks Tiffani for showing me that no matter what, God is there, and to never give up!

 

 

Now onto Brian… If you read back a few days, you will see a post about him. Let me tell you the story behind Brian, and what he has done for me…

 

Brian, an ordinary 15 year old, approaches me at a camp. Head shaved bald, dieing to help me out. Unfortunately, campers can’t help the staff out during the services and things. He talked to me, just about every day… So I just knew him as the bald kid from Camp.

 

Later that summer, I went and visited his church, and we chatted a little. Then he camp to a camp I was working at… and started walking towards me… I kept thinking, “ok, this is the bald kid from camp, but what is his name?” Well, we continued to talk and it hit me that it was Brian.

 

Let me tell you something. I am a 100%, full blooded, city kid. Brian, on the other hand… is a 100%, full blooded, country kid. We share a few common interests, but for the most part, we’re different. Not that I didn’t think that we couldn’t be friends, but I just didn’t see us being close or “best” friends.

 

God had other plans… We began talking more, and now have become great friends. I’ve always prayed that God would help me develop friendships, and He did. Now Brian and I hang out, (Yes, even across the 65 mile distance), we talk, and have a good time when we’re together.

 

Brian got online and read my one post and wrote me a letter… I believe that God was working through him when he wrote me this:
I consider you to be one of my best friends also. There are a lot of people that i can call best friends, but none are like you. You are one of the few people that actually call me instead of me calling them all the time. You would not believe how much of a break it is for that to happen because I am having a lot of friendships go down the drain right now, and it cause I don’t have time to call them. They won’t call me, so I guess oh well

 

Many people in my life have touched me with their words, but few have done what Brian has done. I don’t even think he realizes what that mean to me. So, if you get around to reading this Brian, thanks…

 

Well all, God’s been faithful, and good. He always manages to show me daily that He Lives, and He knows me personally.

 

Night Everyone,
J

Today’s Verse: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2–3, niv).< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Ever wonder why God puts you through so many hard things in life? Ever think that you’ve been through so much crap, that you couldn’t stand it anymore? Well, I am sure we all have been there at one time or another. I sure know that I have. Not to say that my problems are as great as some, but I’ve had my share… In retrospect of everything through, I guess I would have to say that I am thankful for it. Yes, you read that right, thankful.

As the verse says, God puts us through the hard times to develop our faith in Him. As long as we don’t loose our way, the outcome is a stronger deeper faith in Christ. A “Friends” sitcom episode made me think (Title: The One That Could Have Been). It made me think, what would my life be like if one major bad thing never happened to me. My entire life would be different, and I wouldn’t be as close to God.

During the hard times in life, I remember and hold onto two promises that God has given us:
1. God will never give you anything that He knows that you can’t handle with His help and guidance. I know that God tries my faith to the limit at times to help it to grow.
2. God will never leave you! Many times in life I have felt so alone. I felt like God took everyone away, and I was alone and was going to stay that way forever. I just remember that sometimes it seems that way so I will come closer to Him and develop a stronger relationship with Him.

I hope for those few of you who read this that you will find encouragement in my words. To close out this entry, I had one thing to leave for you all to think about… A wonderful, old hymn of the church….

It Is Well With My Soul
Chorus 1
It is well with my soul
It is well
It is well with my soul

Verse 1
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say
It is well
It is well with my soul

Verse 2
Though Satan should buffet tho’ trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed His own blood
For my soul

Verse 3
My sin O the bliss of this glorious tho’t
My sin not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord O my soul

Verse 4
O Lord haste the day
When my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound
And the Lord shall descend
Even so it is well
With my soul

In Christ,
J

Hello All! This week is over; it was good overall. I was busy as usual, other than that, I enjoyed it. I hope that everyone had a great Easter; I know I did. My church started a Contemporary (Modern) Worship Service and we had an excellent response and turn out (at least 500 people). I am excited to see how this goes.< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Looking back at where I was from a year today is kind of interesting. I was reading entries from last year around this time, and things have totally changed. I noticed that I always told people I was happy with < ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Grace Ministries, but if you look at all my entries at least 75% of them have something to do with being in a crowd of people I know, yet still feeling lonely. That is one of the most major differences between there and Crossroads. I worked for Grace, and my “”friends”" were my “”friends”" at church, and that was it. At Crossroads, I filled that loneliness with acceptance and relationships that are important when working in a team environment. Though, I am glad that God has taken me through, all that He has. It has taught me a lot about Him and myself.

I was thinking about how I always said to myself after I left Grace, “The only thing I miss is that I had friends that were my age and older than I am.” Stopping to think about it, I still have that, except differently. God’s given my friends that I actually hear from other than when they need something or on Sunday/Wednesday.

Here is a great example:
Chad (28), a busy working adult with a family. He still finds time to call me almost every day. Yes, sometimes it is about something he needs or I needed, but many times it is just to chat, or to find out if I am ok. Also, we always end up just chatting anyways. Chad takes time to care about my life outside of church, and that is something I appreciate from him. There has been times that things haven’t been so great at home, or I’ve had a hard time in life, and he has always had time to listen to me. Actually, he was there for my first car accident, and was the one that helped me through it. I feel I am truly blessed to know him.

Yet another example:
Brian (16), a student that lives two hours from me. Though he does live two hours from me, we do go to the same church. Brian actually keeps closer contact with me than all my other friends that live in the same city as I do. We talk all the time on the phone (yes, long distance) and when we see each other at church. I must admit that when I first met Brian, I thought we were so different that we wouldn’t work out. As time passed, he turned out to be one of my greatest friends. We may even get together tomorrow to hang out. I thank God that He’s given me such a great friend.

God’s taught me a lot tonight. I see that I am blessed, no matter what happens or goes on. Well, enough for tonight. I hope that everyone has a great week. Leave me a comment!

Later,
J

Had to copy off of Tiffani…

HAPPY EASTER

Later,
J

Well, it has been quite some time since I last posted. Let me see if I can update you all on what has been going on lately.

I said that life was going 100MPH last time I wrote… Now it is going about 200MPH… I quite my job with Dell, to work for myself. Actually, that was a good move. I am making twice the money I was, and I get to work when I want to. I am doing more stuff at Crossroads Church. We have almost migrated all of our systems to Windows 2000 or XP Professional. Next month we should have our Windows 2003 Small Business Server finished and up and running. Like I said, things are going fast! Next week is the week where we practice every night for our Easter Drama, fun…

Lets see… I’ve managed to break all ties to the school I formerly attended. It is amazing to see how people don’t seem to understand the concept that a friendship is over. Not that I am not for trying to fix a broken friendship, but when one person is trying, and the other could care less, in my eyes, it is over. So, I’ve moved on. I am building friendships at my church and even outside church.

So that is what is going on right now in my life. If you can catch up with me, you can try calling me on my cell phone. Otherwise, leave me a comment, a message on AOL, or drop me an e-mail.

Later,
J