JohnMassie.com

So funny story…

I didn’t realize that I got paid three times in December, so I budgeted as if I got paid twice. So I found a nice surprise yesterday when looking at my account. I was going to go to Easton the next day and figured it would be nice to do some harmless shopping.

So I picked up Amy and her friend Carrie from school and ran to Easton. We’re walking all around and we go into the Mac store. As I am walking around I notice some people in the back, and some boxes. I walk over to find out that they were re-selling all their new Christmas returns where people would bring back new computers they didn’t want, but were fully new.

So I am looking and I find this totally awesome decked out iMac G5. I am looking for a price and find $1400.00. I about fell over because here were the specs:
iMac G5 – 2.1GHz
512MB of Memory
SuperDrive
20″ Widescreen
Bluetooth
Airport Wireless
Bluetooth Mouse AND Keyboard
250GB Hard Drive
Built in iSight and FrontRow Media Interface

Which if you do that retail is like $1800 or $1900+ easily… So I kind of in the moment, decided to buy it. …. Happy New Year to Me! It’s going to be nice using it for church and stuff… Giving my poor laptop a break.

So that’s the exciting news of the day. Pictures will be posted sometime this weekend of my new setup and such.

Happy New Year!
John

So, God has a sense of humor. Nothing like feeling a little discouraged in your faith and the following song be running through your head all day and all evening…

Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey

All I Can Do Is:
-J

This week a challenge was presented to me, and I’ve decided to accept. Many believe that there can be no Christian meaning in secular music. I disagree.

My best friend told me the other day that he likes the song “Speed of Sound”. I decided to stop and look at the lyrics. This song has great ideas in it that if you sit down and look at the song you can see some spiritual overtones.

If you’re interested, here are the lyrics. I will post my comments under each verse/chorus/bridge… Comments are welcome.

Speed of Sound
Coldplay
How long before I get in
Before it starts before I begin
How long before you decide or
Before I know what it feels like
Where to, where do I go?
If you never try then you’ll never know
How long do I have to climb
Up on the side of this mountain of mine
(This is a great verse, almost as if you could be talking to God. I know that these are some of the same words I’ve presented to God. Basically asking for direction. Also asking when the tough times would be over “How long doI have to climb…”)

Look up, I look up at night
Planets are moving at the speed of light,
Climb up, up in the trees
Every chance that you get is a chance you seize
How long am I gonna stand
With my head stuck under the sand
I’ll start before I can stop or
Before I see things the right way up
(Not only mentioning the beauty of God’s creation but also offering an important reminder. Slow down, “every chance that you get is a chance you seize”. Again asking for direction as whether or not to move forward with a situation. Also expressing a common emotion with the uncertantiy of God’s will, “how long am I gonna stand with my head stuck under the sand”.)

All that noise and all that sound
All those places I got found
And birds go flying at the speed of sound
To show you how it all began
Birds came flying from the underground
If you could see it then you’d understand
(I think that the key line here is, “and birds go flying at the speed of sound, to show you how it all began.” People cannot create, only God can. To create is to make something out of nothing. Many inventions are copied off of thigns in nature that God created (in this case, planes and birds.)

Ideas that you’ll never find
All the inventors could never design
The buildings that you put up
Japan and China all lit up
The sign that I couldn’t read
or a light, that I couldn’t see
Some things you have to believe
While others are puzzles, puzzling me
(Two key lines here: “The sign that I couldn’t read…” and “Some things you have to believe…” Again referencing about having problems decerning God’s will in your life and finding direction. The second stating that you simply have to believe, no questions asked, aka faith. Ending with the fact that even so there are still questions we have that puzzle us, no matter what.)

All that noise and all that sound
All those places that I got found
And birds go flying at the speed of sound
To show you how it all began
Birds came flying from the underground
If you could see it then you’d understand
Oh, when you see it then you’ll understand

All those sign’s I knew what they meant,
somethings you can invent
Some get made and some get sent ooh
(Key line, “all those sign’s I knew what they meant…” I guess this could be perceaved as a realization as to what God is trying to show you when you finally understand.”)

And birds go flying at the speed of sound
To show you how it all began
Birds came flying from the underground
If you could see it then you’d understand
Oh, when you see it then you’ll understand

… So the next time you think that you can’t take any secular song and find Christian overtones or put a Christian message in it, think again. Just something to think about… Comments welcome!

God Bless,
J

Well, I think my title says it all. Nothing like having to be up in a few hours and feel the need to write on Xanga or write, in general. Maybe we will start on Xanga…

Life, is interesting. On the outside I live a life that goes 100 mph, on the inside, maybe 10 mph on a good day. Sure, there are days where the speed peaks a little on the inside, but for the most part, I take life as it comes at me. Sure, my calendar is full from now until next Christmas, but that’s just appointments to fill my day. My life that I live each day, I go about, like anything.

It’s amazing how much you can change in just a few short months or even a year. I would say I lived a pretty good “teenage life”. I had just about every teenagers dream. Graduate a year early, spend one year off, and then party the summer before college and then start college, all while making decent money. However, just as they began, they have to end. Yeah, I am 19, but I don’t and can’t live the life of a 19 year old.

I’ve built a career already, working on college, and looking towards my future. I think it all set in when I got my forms for my retirement plan a few weeks ago. Most 19 year olds think about what is the next “toy” they can buy. I am thinking about real estate and investing and what not. I have a job that requires other people to look at my examples and for me to assist others on a daily basis. Sure, being up at this hour isn’t responsible in the least, but when God calls, you always answer.

I’ve taken on a huge position at New Horizons Community Church. My spiritual passion burns bright when doing things for the church. It’s like an all consuming desire to do everything in my power to assist this church. I’ve dealt with so many crappy people in the church and watched “fake” leaders and “shallow” Christians. I’ve watched people judge my heart and actions without barely knowing me.

I don’t think anyone quite understands what it feels like to sit in front of a senior pastor who with only reading a 12 page letter you wrote about your testimony and life and talking with you for a few short moments asks you if you would be willing to accept the leadership role in the media department, something that you’ve only dreamed of all your life. It was like God was smiling down on me, because He fulfilled one of His children’s greatest dreams. I will never forgetting running out into the church parking lot and wanting to just dance, like a total idiot.

Why do I say all this? I guess to fill all those people in who know me but rarely get to see me, that this is where my time is right now. I am not trying to ignore, blow off, or “snub” anyone. Everyone that I do get to see on a weekly basis works with me in advance to see me. I have poor people scheduled out into January just to spend a few hours with me. So, if you’re wanting to get with me and haven’t been able to, try planning way out and I will try my best to accommodate as much as I can!

Maybe things would make sense if I posted the following…
I was approached by a friend the other day working on making a life changing decision and asked what were my priorities from the following list:
Friends
Family
Work
Future

Now, below is my list and explanation. You all may not agree, but that’s ok, feel free to disagree… this is what I felt God wanted that person to hear and what I feel that God’s created me to be like…

Just some things that I feel God wanted me to post tonight. Maybe it was all because I just watched “Raise Your Voice” and it made me think of some ways that you could tie into key spiritual living if you kind of lift a few scenes… lol… there’s that over-active creative/spiritual thing going on.

Anyways, I hope this offers some insight into my life and also brings direction or comfort to others.

Let me offer you all a blessing…
May God’s ever-flowing and never-ending grace and peace be with you this day. May you feel His wonderful joyous presence with you throughout your coming and going. With God’s love I part in peace.

Always With Christ’s Love,
– J

So, I am writing from church. Just thought I would drop a quick note…

Funny Story…
So, I was up at 4:15am. After posting on Xanga I heard someone out in my hall and my mom was awake. Then I was chatting with her and my Grandma walks out and joins us. So we all started opening gifts around 4:30 am. It took us about an hour and half to open everything. Good stuff…

Joel is preaching and I need to go! Later…

Merry Christmas!
J

Good Morning!
So, 4:15 am is a little early, I know. I have band practice at church this morning at 9:45 am, so I wanted plenty of gift opening time before hand. The family has agreed that we would start at 5:00 am, but I woke up and decided it wasn’t worth trying to sleep another 45 minutes.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas!

God Bless,
John

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful Christmas.

Church tonight was awesome, now to spend the rest of the evening with my family…

With Christ’s Love,
John

So, I am sitting here at the Unisys office in Westerville working on one of my co-workers laptop. It seems as if it doesn’t want to join the domain, great. So I am waiting for it to image so we can try again. Then after this, off to church for Worship team practice!

On a more sad note, Danielle’s funeral was today. It is so hard to think that she’s no longer with us. I guess the funeral really drove it home to finally realize that she’s gone. However, I believe the service was perfect, and if she could have planned it herself, she wouldn’t have changed a thing.

So, I am off… I have to finish up this laptop.

Later,
J

When people you love and care for pass away, it never seems “real” to me until that day when you go to pay respects and you visually see it for yourself. Sadly, Danielle’s viewing is tonight. It has seem so surreal before, but now reality has come to hit me in the face about the entire situation. I’ve never been in this place before. I’ve had relatives and older friends die, but never one so young. Then, to top it off, I am getting sick. So I am fighting with every ounce of my being to make it through the day so I can go tonight.

Please keep me in your prayers for not only this but also my physical health. I know God will carry me, but prayers are always appreciated.

In Christ,
John

It is times like these that make you realized that tomorrow is never promised to us. I thank God that my friend, Danielle Petermann, had an awesome releationship with our Savior before she passed away this afternoon in a horrible car accident.

Danielle,
Though you’ll never see this, it is to honor you. Thank you for your life. You were such an upstanding example to all those who met and knew you. Your were a light for Christ in a dark world. We mourn your loss but with the hope that there truly are no goodbyes in Christ. Rest In Peace my dear friend, and enjoy your reward.

With Christ’s Love,
John Christopher Massie

To close, I offer you all a simple song…

Homesick
MercyMe

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand timesAnd at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for youBut the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cryIs how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your faceIf home's where my heart is then I'm out of placeLord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehowI've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your waysThe reason why I wonder if I'll ever knowBut, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the sameCause I'm still here so far away from home

I close my eyes and I see your faceIf home's where my heart is then I'm out of placeLord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehowI've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbyeAnd in Christ, there is no endSo I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I haveTo see you againTo see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your faceIf home's where my heart is then I'm out of placeLord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehowWon't you give me strength to make it through somehowWon't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now