Potential

Man, what a great week this has been. I'm so happy to be in Colorado. I feel like my summer has finally begun and it feels great. Yesterday was an awesome day as I went through my first staff meeting, helped out at the food pantry, lunch at chipotle (so good!), worked on my first youth service next week and saw the Lakers roll the Celtics at buffalo wild wings with a couple of youth along with TJ, Jody and Ron. Such an awesome day. I have enjoyed every moment of CO thus far because of the great people that I have met and the experiences that I have been apart of. One of my favorite activities has been laughing. I can't even begin to explain how funny the people here are. it's unbelievable. I laugh at literally everything but here, everyone else laughing so I don't feel so dumb. haha.
So basically next week will be the dawning of a new era for the youth at Engelwood First and I say that because until this point, there hasn't been a ton of spiritual development in the youth group gatherings and that is changing because I get to bring the word every week. I'm so excited. I was inspired by the Lord and a message that Pastor Paul gave at Metro last week to talk about potential for my first message here. Think about it, as Christians and humans in general, we all have the potential to do amazing things. Potential very simply is the capability of something becoming an actuality. Maybe that wasn't a simple difinition (haha) but I think you all know what I'm getting at. For Christians and believers we have the potential to do some amazing things for the Lord but there are some things that get in the way. The main 3 things that come to mind to me is sin, our influences whether it be friends, family, entertainment, etc. and lastly ourselves. Adam and Eve, God's first two humans ever. They had the potential to live in God's perfect image, to live amazing lives but what happen? Adam disobey God with the help of Eve and their lives were forever changed and ultimately they didn't live up to their full potential. One error in judgement, ruined their lives. See what happened to Adam and Eve can very well happen to us if we aren't careful. Adam sinned, listened an influence in his life instead of God, and allowed his actions to get into the way of God's plan. This is so applicable to our lives, especially in the lives of teenagers because of the seriousness of peer pressure and the outside influences that are in young peoples lives.
Honestly, this topic has got me thinking about my potential in my life but more specifically about this summer. There is great potential for this summer to be amazing for me and the people that I will be working with but at the same time, I have to be sure to keep sin out of my life as much as possible, be careful with what and who influences my life and also make sure my ways aren't getting in the way of God's way. Serious stuff there folks. Despite the challenges that I might face over the next 8 weeks, I'm very excited to see what God does through because I know I have the potential to do amazing things and you do too. so I close with this challenge, are you living up to your potential? If not, what do you need to change to get there and for God to use you the way he wants to use you. Cool stuff will begin to happen when the performance-potential gap is narrowed in your life and more specifically your relationship with the Lord. Well time to break down this message some more so that's all for now. I will leave you with a funny picture of me "gettin down" at Jered and Jordan's wedding last week. Peace and chicken grease.

Blessings
Joe
Col. 3:1-3



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Colorado! I love this place!

So my summer has finally begun and I say that because I arrived in Colorado today to start my summer with my Englewood Assembly family and I couldn't be more excited. I started my trek west yesterday at about 12pm and got here today at 4pm. Now I know what you might be thinking but NO! I didn't drive for over 28 hours. I drove from Chicago to Kansas City and stayed with my friends Mari and Ephrain and then I left out at about 630am this morning to finish the trip. Since last Friday I have put about 1500 or more miles on my car. Crazy! Well after a long boring trip (except for KC!) I ak finally in Colorado!
Once I got here, I went straight to the church and hung out with Jody, Ruth, Matt and some of the youth for a while and then I headed out to the Moreno's which is where I am staying and I'm sure I will be blogging a lot here as well. Leroy and Mae are seriously some of the nicest people I have ever met. For them to open up their home to me for the summer is awesome. I'm so glad I get to stay here. Youth was fun as the kids got to know me better through asking me lots of questions. Shoe size, favorite thing to do in the summer, what I would do with a million dollars (buy a lambrogini), yep we covered it all. Haha. I love the group. They are awesome kids
Wow, today has been a long but great day. God is gonna do some amazing things in my life and the life of these students this summer. I'm so pumped to be apart of it! Well tommorrow, will be filled with cool stuff like staff meeting, food pantry stuff and hopefully some nba finals action with some of the youth. I'm so excited. Now its time to get some sleep. Peace ya'll!

Blessings
Joe
Jer. 29-11

What a beautiful wedding!

As I type, I am in the conference room of the church in which Jered and Jordan are getting married. I have about 5 minutes to get this post done so I will make this quick. Jered has been my roommate at GC for the past two years and let me say I couldn't have asked for a better roomie. It's amazing the I'm standing at his wedding (first time ever). I'm so pumped for him and Jordan because of the big time future that the Lord has for them together. It's gonna be legit for realz.
Can't lie though, all this wedding stuff has me thinking many thoughts...

1. I'm not looking for to all the weaksauce stress that comes with getting married.

2. I'm kinda excited to see who I married.

3. I leave for CO in 3 days. YIKES.

4. I hope my wedding can be as cool as Jered's. For realzies!

5. Gaylord has been here since 10am and I'm sure he's pretty tired and hungry. Haha.

Okay well time to pray for my man Jered. God Bless Jered and Jordan!

Blessings
Joe
"Greater things have yet to come, greater things will still be done in this city."

Hometown love!

School is out and I'm back in Da Brook for the summer! Well, not exactly. See my last day of school was on Friday and after a weekend of catching up with old friends, watchin the magic struggle in Bean-town and doin my normal Metro routine, I moved all my stuff out of my house into my new place for next year on Monday and headed home for a few days. FYI? Driving 4 hours without air conditioning is a definite no-no. It was so hot outside! I made it though and thankfully my mom had the air crankin at home. Monday and Tuesday were filled with times of catching up with all the people that make my hometown once of my favorite places ever. Luke, Ben, Nina, Ms. Cathy, Brezie and so many more. Oh man, its been a good time. Yesterday I went to my old youth group and it made me smile to know that Fusion was still alive and kickin. I miss the place since I am who I am today largely because of it but Colorado and so much more is calling my name over the next couple of months and I couldn't be more excited.
I'm home until Friday morning and I have been savoring every moment here because I only get to be home about a few weeks out of the year. I love being home because of all the memories, all the laughs, all of the great people that have invested time and energy into my life. I could blog for days about all of the amazing memories that I have in Da Brook and still not be able to get all of them in. I just love this place. I will close with this, no matter where you go in life. Who you marry, where you work, the friends that you make, never, ever forget where u came from and where home really is cause the events and moments in time experienced in the place where u grew up and spent the first many years of ur life are what make u who you are. Never forget! Well that's all for now folks. Until next time. Love you all!

Blessings
Joe
Psalms 100

Our God

Wow...well it's Friday and to say that this has been a tough week is an understatement. With school coming to a close, I have been under the gun to get everything finished which has meant some late nights and some serious stress but I think I worked it out for the most part. On top of that, I've really been struggling to get over some stuff in my life and the crazy part about it is I don't fully know why? That's the craziest part. The devil really knows how to get me down at times. It sucks. Sometimes I really just want to go back to a month ago and do things differently and maybe I wouldn't be feeling all of these terrible emotions but then I realize that there is no way I would be where I am now without the experiences that I have been thru over the past few weeks. I thank God for the unbelievable presence that he has been in my life through all of this but that doesn't mean that life doesn't suck sometimes. In the end though, I have to believe that the Lord is gonna bring me out of this storm and everything is gonna work out. Something that always makes me feel better about everything is hearing songs about the greatness of God and "Our God" by Chris Tomlin is one of those songs. It really speaks about how amazing God is. i mean honestly we serve a God who turned water into wine, opened the eyes of the blind and has done so many things. He's higher than any other, yet I stress and worry about things like like when I'm gonna have a girl to share my life, when I know that the Lord has an amazing plan and purpose for my life including an amazing woman. Man, trusting God in situations sometimes can be really hard but God is greater and stronger and higher than any other so everyday day I am called to trust him through the good and bad times. I have a ton of praises that far outweigh any struggles and worries that I have

Getting a great education
My amazing mother
Awesome friends who speak truth into my life
Awesome summer to spend in Colorado investing in the lives of young people
Great family who I love to death
Sweet Car
Place to live next school year
Two great jobs for next school year
Amazing church that allows me to play drums and be a youth leader. two of my passions
Great health

Man there are so many other things that i can put in here that God has truly blessed me with. It's really amazing. I'm so pumped for the future that God has for me and the doors that I know he is going to open in my life. I have some things to work on in my life to be fully ready for the plan and purpose that he has for my life but I know with the Lord's help my life is going to be amazing and it's gonna be all for the Glory of the King.

This weekend is going to be exciting as tomorrow I get to hang with some old friends. One of them is Jordan! haven't seen him since Xmas! Such a good dude. I also have a ton of cleaning and packing to do but I also get to play drums for Metro as well. I can't forget about graduation on Sunday. All three of my roommates are graduating. It's gonna be a great weekend. well thanks for reading this. I will leave you with my hearts cry right now and its "Our God" by Chris Tomlin. Love you all. Until next time...

Verse 1
Water you turned into wine opened the eyes of the blind
there’s no one like you none like you
Into the darkness you shine out of the ashes we rise
there is no one like you none like you

Chorus
Our God is greater Our God is stronger God you are higher than any other
Our God is Healer Awesome in power Our God, Our God

Bridge
and if our God is for us then who could ever stop us and if our God is with us
then what could stand against

Chorus
Our God is greater Our God is stronger God you are higher than any other Our God is Healer Awesome in power Our God, Our God

Blessings
Joe
Matthew 28:19-20

That's why I need you

So I'm sitting at work and I'm thinking about my day today and I just realized that my day today has really sucked. Despite the suckyness of my day I still wanted to blog cause I gotta keep my streak going. This song kinda sums up how i feel right now but the Lord will for sure mend my broken mess of a heart. I'm sure of it. well that's folks. Hopefully tommorrow is a better day and I actually start using this blog to drop knowledge on the 2 people who read it. haha. peace.

Sanctus Real-I'm not alright

If weakness is a wound
That no one wants to speak of
Then “cool” is just how far we have to fall
I am not immune
I only want to be loved
But I feel safe behind the firewall
Can I lose my need to impress?
If you want the truth, I need to confess

I’m not alright
I’m broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to you, it leads me to you

Burn away the pride
Bring me to my weakness
Until everything I hide behind is gone
And when I’m open wide
With nothing left to cling to
Only you are there to lead me on
Cause honestly, I’m not that strong

I’m not alright
I’m broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to you, it leads me to you

And I move, and I move, and I move...closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move...closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move...closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move...

I’m not alright
I’m broken inside, broken inside
broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
Leads me to you, leads me to you

I’m not alright, I’m not alright, I’m not alright...that’s why I need you

Blessings
Joe
Psalms 37:4

A picture is worth a thousand words!

So Finals and paper prep now is in full effect right now since I have literally 3 days left in the semester to get everything done. It's crazy right now! I'm taking a break right now to blog about some things in my life. First of all, is it June yet? Second of all, did anyone see the Lakers game last night? Kobe got loose on the Suns! haha. Third of all, I just realized that I really don't have to much to say for this post but I'm gonna keep going with my random thoughts anyways. Five random thoughts, ready, set, go...

1. Kristian Stanfill and Sanctus Real are two of my favorite music artists right now
2. The air conditioner at work is extra loud right now
3. I'm so ready to move into my new apartment
4. Sometimes God allows his people to go through some hard stuff so he can get the glory at the end. (yup, some hard stuff in my life right now)
5. I'm gonna miss my family and friends this summer but my new family and friends in CO will carry me through for sure.

Well, I feel better now that I have kinda taken a small break from my work that is staring me in the face. if your still reading, I will leave you with a few pictures from my trip to Colorado last week. To see the rest you can go to my facebook page and check them out. Love you all, until next time folks

Blessings
Joe
I Thessalonians 5:18