JustPassinThru

How Does the Resurrection of Jesus affect us Mentally?

2010-11-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

The world in which we live is full of amazing and life changing events that challenge to take our thinking to a new level. In fact, one just need to turn on the news to find incredible stories that wow our intellect and via for our attention. One such TV show that aired years ago with the title “That’s Incredible” spent the entire hour showing events that were just simply hard to believe. The TV show fascinated viewers with the idea that events unexplainable happen all over the world. Incredibly enough millions of Americans believed all of the unexplainable events that were reported every week. And yet above anything we could ever see on television, nothing has shattered history and humankind more than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection has been history’s golden jewel and while many have tried to disprove the resurrection, none have been able to snuff out its phenomenal impact on human lives. But the resurrection of Jesus Christ happened nearly 2000 years ago and for many, the idea that this ancient event can still have an impact on normal everyday life is at most far-fetched. In a world where 60 hour weeks are common and motoring kids all over the county for sports are the norm, just how can the resurrection of Jesus Christ affect my life, my thinking and my attitude? The Bible is clear that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundational motivation behind tomorrow’s promises.
It appears that in today’s society, stress and emotional irregularities are the norm rather than the exception. Surprisingly, many individuals who may appear to have everything together are in reality taking some form of prescription medication to level out the emotional highs and lows in their life. Many experts admit that stress is the most potent cause of health problems in the world. Stress can lead to malnutrition, heaviness, and heart disease not to mention the taking of one’s own life. It appears that the “mess of stress” is not just prejudice to those who have no faith. Even those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior find themselves at times battling more intensely the onslaught of stress.
Many pastors who shepherd the flock of God “dredge” to work not knowing what set of problems await him at the office. When he gets to the office, he is confronted with emotional highs, lows, and “in-betweens”. He is expected to have an answer in “quick-fix” format that will take the church member to the next day and better yet, all the way to the next problem. Emotional pains and reactions are just as much a part of the church today as outside of the church. In an effort to advance the kingdom of God, Christians are faced with a battle for the mind. And in all of this somewhere, the Christian is commanded by God to “be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us”. As evangelicals, we claim to have the answer to the emptiness that haunts this world and we “believe” that this message should be shared in a way that calls for a decision to take place. But where does this hope truly come from? Does it come from more programs that began at church last week? Does it come from the addition that is going on the backside of the sanctuary? Does it come from the new service that will be starting in a few weeks? Maybe it comes from a new car, plasma television or the latest video game. My answer would be a profound “NO”. The only place that the Christian can find the hope that God is talking about in the scripture is in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible says in I Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Could it be that our mental condition as Christians are a product of our own disconnection from the resurrection? Jesus said in Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” It is clear in Scripture that God is in control and has our good being in mind as followers of Him.
All of the promises that God has given us in His Word can be confirmed, sealed and taken home through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ truly rose again on the third day then this delivery proves Him to be exactly who He says He is and thus we can trust Him with all of the promises in the Bible. For instance, many times we are so pessimistic with saying “I can’t”. In fact, the Christian is indeed known to have said these two words from time to time in his life. But the offset to these words are found in Philippians 4:13 that tell us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” We say that we can’t and God says that we can. Of course in the context of the discussion, we must know that whatever we ask must fall in line with what God would have for us. If it would bring glory to His name, then we can rest assured that we can accomplish anything with the help of the heavenly Father. The resurrection is like the icing on the cake in our good favor. If we dive into God’s Word on a daily basis and trust his promises for our life then our total mental capacity will be much different. Just verses prior to this verse, we see the Bible says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-mediate on these things.” Our mental condition is based on the things that we allow our minds to think about. The Christian is to “think” on the things of God and trust Him to work out all things for our good. The Bible says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” As we go through mental strain and depression in our lives, we can be guaranteed that if we’re living for Him and our heart’s desire is to bring glory to Him, then our present difficult circumstances will be worked out for good.
The resurrection assures us that we can depend on God’s Word in trials and tribulations. In Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” encourages us to hang on for that prize. The glories of heaven will far outweigh any kind of spiritual darkness that we may be faced with. Well how can we depend on these encouraging words? How can we know for sure that God’s glory will far outweigh any trial? The resurrection of Jesus Christ assures us that He means what He says. It is just a matter of time before trouble will be over and paradise begins for the Christian. In Revelation 2:25, Jesus exhorts the church at Thyatira to “hold fast, until I come”. Our everyday philosophy of life should be dramatically changed by the literal physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Paul’s hope lied in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Philippians 3:10, Paul pleads, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead”. How did Paul deal with the persecution? How did Paul go to his grave a martyr for the faith? How did millions of others in church history lay their life on the line for Christianity? Only through the resurrection could these men and women who lost their lives have hope. Only through the resurrection can you and I have hope. When we come to grips with the reality of the miracle, our life will be changed to the glory of God. Our belief system must take priority in our thinking not our emotions. Perhaps our emotions are running our life and our minds. Our reactions are determined by how high our emotions are running but lest us rest in the belief that Jesus conquered our worst enemy-death. The Christian can also look forward to partaking of the bodily resurrection. In fact, the Christians can have hope in the worst possible circumstance in this life-death. For the Christian, the death is the gateway to eternal bliss with the heavenly Father. If a Christian can continue to keep focused on the eternal rewards of heaven, then leave no doubt that mental conditions will be much healthier. As each day passes, the Christian approaches the day when all tears will be wiped away and there will be no more pain. Let the Christian rest in the dear resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us fret and worry no longer as we know for sure that our eternal abode is with the Lord and how we long to be in His presence.
So my friend, what will you do with the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Man that was Great!

2010-07-24T19:49:00.001-07:00

Just got back from an amazing time with the family in Key West, FL. The last time I was in Key West, my scout troop led by my dad went to the keys for SCUBA certification. So I guess I was about 16 years old. Let's do the math, that would be 22 years ago! Actually, it seemed like I had just left yesterday. Many memories began to pop up as my family and I snorkeled the pristine waters off of Key West. Back then, we stayed at Sea Base, a BSA owned and operated camp in a town called Islamorado. Actually while in Key West, I was able to talk with some scouts who were participating in the same program that I was in at the time. They were form OHIO. Key West was laid back and my truly favorite part was walking around the pier looking at the boats. I love boats and airplanes. I could do this all day. In heaven, I am going to live on a boat in Key West. We were able to eat at a great restaurant overlooking the piers and the sunset was gorgeous. It was the best meal that I have had in a while and the view was priceless. The meal was affordable and we were well pleased. That morning, we went parasailing for only 29 bucks a piece. In VA Beach, double that price! We stayed about 3 days total in Key West and visited the sights and just relaxed! We all miss this place already. We headed back and stopped for a day in St. Augustine which was very beautiful and full of history. This trip was great and I thank Jesus for the opportunity to spend this time with my family now.

This was actually part II of my vacation as my parents treated my whole family (16 of us) to a cruise in Mexico. We left out of Tampa and ventured to the Cayman Islands and then to Cozumel. The Cayman's were great! The water was exactly as the picture books show it. It was great spending the week with everyone and just chillin on the boat and then eating in the afternoon! Well eating all the time. I actually got home and weighed less than when I went. Glory to God the treadmill really does work. Overall, our vacation this year was probably the best ever and we often wonder just how it could get any better but God's creation is neverending with wonder! Our family loves exploring the countryside of America. The most beautiful country in the world.

Vacation Bible School

2010-06-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

Well we are in day 2 of Vacation Bible School and it has been an amazing ride so far. We often wonder each year how it will go. Our workers work so hard and have such creative minds! I am so proud of our workers and all of the dedication that they place on children. While it is a stressful week, all of us know who it is for. It's all about Jesus Christ and how He can change our lives. One of my favorite activities this year is the mechanical bull built by Scott Giles. Scott is so creative and willing to do anything for us each year. While the bull is dangerous, it is so much fun. I pray that by the end of the week, many will make decisions for Jesus. I thank God for all of these kids. I thank God for putting me into the ministry. There is no greater job in the world!

Louisa National Day of Prayer Events

2010-05-04T14:41:00.001-07:00

Louisa County National Day of Prayer Midday Service
05/06/2010 11:45 am - 05/06/2010 12:45 pm
Join with friends, neighbors and community leaders for this traditional service of prayer and music to lift up our nation in prayer--for such a time as this! (See separate entry for the Louisa County NDP Prayer Walk.)
Louisa County Courthouse LawnLouisa, VA 23093
Rain location: Louisa United Methodist Church (across the street from the courthouse)
Contact: Rebecca Disosway -- (540) 967-9576http://
Louisa County National Day of Prayer Walk
05/06/2010 05:00 pm - 05/06/2010 06:30 pm
New this year: Prayer Walk through the Town of Louisa, stopping to pray at various locations for our churches, government, businesses and other centers of power. Walks begin every 15 minutes from the Louisa County Courthouse lawn starting at 5:00 p.m. through 6:15 p.m. Rain location: Louisa County Office Building.
Louisa Courthouse LawnLouisa, VA 23093
Contact: Rebecca Disosway -- (540) 967-9576http://

What Happened to You?

2010-01-13T18:26:00.000-08:00

Ok good question and check it out. My life was radically changed on July 4, 1994. Before that time, I was living for myself, my ways, my wants and my lifestyle. My drinking had become unmanageable and I couldn't go anywhere without getting drunk or drugging. Many of you guys know what I am talking about, you were there. We did it together. Many nights, we were fortunate to even make it home because we were behind the wheel drunk and we don't even remember getting out of the car or how we even survived the night. You guys remember our friend Billy Collins? How could you forget? I remember Billy ‘kinda’ disappearing on us. You know what I am saying? He was like missing in action for a while. We couldn't figure it out! Man where did he get to? Well we all eventually found out that Billy had "found" God or something. You remember he told us about his "conversion" to Jesus. If you were like me, I was saying, "Yeah right, I've heard that before". I was wishing Billy well but deep down inside, I was going to keep an eye on Billy for a while to see if it was "real". I remember trying ruthlessly to get him to "come back" to his old ways. He never did. I mean for me, I grew up in a local church and was "confirmed", sprinkled and all that good stuff. I was supposed to have the same thing. But deep down inside, I knew I was lost and empty-void of any purpose whatsoever. I admit that Billy had something different that I wanted. I knew I was using alcohol to try and fill that empty spot. I knew I was using partying to give me some kind of meaning in life. One time, after a night of drinking and gambling, some friends found me drunk in the middle of Ellisville Road in Louisa County. I remember that night as if it was yesterday. I was so drunk with a mixture of things that I tried to make it home but never did. I was vomiting so bad that I had to stop the car and lay in a ditch around a bad curve. The car's battery was dead because I had left everything on and my friends were able to get the car started and took me to their house where they gave me a bed to sleep in. Later on I realized that they were ready to call the ambulance because my color was terrible and ghostly white. Later on I revisited that site and realized that had a car come around the curve and wasn't aware, I would have been killed. That night was probably the beginning of my quest for God. Somehow, I knew if I would have died, I wouldn't have been OK. Why did I feel weird about dying? I mean, I had church and religion so shouldn't I be set? That same summer on July 3rd, 1994, I drank a case of beer with my friends and drove home to my house where something crazy was happening. All that beer but I was still sober. Strangely, the beer wasn't working anymore. I became depressed and deep down inside wanted to end it all. After all, don't nobody care anymore. The alcohol has stopped working and the pain (emptiness) is still there. I debated on what to do. (Have you ever been there?) I remembered Billy Collins and his words to "Come to Jesus" (John 3:3, "Except a man be born-again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"). That night by faith, I kneeled down on the kitchen floor and cried out to God to save me from my sin. I asked him to forgive me for all the people I had hurt and for most importantly hurting Him. I asked Him to come into my life and make me a new creature. I acknowledged that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and on the third day, rose again for Josh Turner. My friends, I didn't see lightning or hear thunder but one thing is certain, I had peace in my heart for the very first time in my life. All of my sins had been forgiven by God! I looked at the clock and it was past midnight (July 4th) and I felt real freedom! I called Billy and his mom answered and said that he was asleep. I would later learn that she thought I wanted a ride home or something from being drunk. What I really wanted was to tell him that I had been born-again! He will tell you that he regretted not taking the call that night but he too thought I was in another drunken stupor. Billy came by and we talked and drove around town sharing our faith. I wish I could say that things got easier and life was lived happily ever after but in many ways, things got more difficult and I found a new set of challenges. I realized that my flesh still had the desire to do the same old things but the Holy Spirit inside of me was resisting the urges of the flesh. The war was on! But I picked up my Bible daily and found out, “Man this is what I am going through!” For instance, in Galatians 5:17, the Bible says, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” How true this was becoming! As the days moved on, my faith began to grow more and more. I became involved in a fellowship at VA Tech called New Life Campus Fellowship and Collegiate Christian Life. One day when I was working out, I saw their ad over a water fountain! (Again God working). I began to grow under a pastor name JR Woodward who has since then planted another church in Los Angeles. He took me under his wing and while I resisted some of his "parenting", now I see that he was looking out for my spiritual well-being. When I went to church at New Life, the presence of the Holy Spirit was so strong and I had never experienced young people who loved God. There was music, clapping, testimonies and joy! Most churches in my experience were lifeless. While there, in October, I was baptized in the VA Tech Duck Pond! It was freezing! I remember my parents, brother and sister coming for a game and then church on Sunday. I remember my mom reminding me that I had already been baptized. Here was an open door to share that I had been converted to Jesus Christ. That was another step of faith for me. I am not sure what my parents thought at the time. Today they are faithful members of New Life Community Church in Louisa. :) And my brother, I am so proud of him, He has planted The Point Church of Charlottesville, VA (meeting at Monticello High School, Sunday mornings at 10 am). My sister: She has been saved for several years now and her husband Mike is Student Leader at our church. They serve faithfully at NLCC. How blessed could I be? I am not finished yet: While at VA Tech, I met the love of my life, Stacey Smith. When we met, we were just friends because she wasn't a Christian at the time. I knew the Bible forbade us from dating because it would be unequally yoked and it wouldn't work without Christ. I shared Jesus with her for months. One night I got a call and she said, "I did it!". I said, "did what?" "I surrendered to God tonight". I thought she was joking but after months of seeing her life changed also, it became apparent that the Holy Spirit had indeed invaded her heart! I ended up moving to North Carolina where I experienced a deep battle for my faith. I was alone and without a fellowship of believers to encourage and give me strength. I remember sitting by the radio each night listening to Dr. David Jeremiah teach on the Bible. During that time I experienced the chastening of the Lord and had to repent daily for "screw ups". Eventually, I was able to land a job back here in Virginia for a paper company. In the meantime, Stacey and I continued to talk over the phone and I realized (after God's chastening) that she was the one for me! I asked her to marry me and she said "yes!" Even during that period, I could sense the enemy (demonic forces) trying to destroy the future that God had planned for me. Yes just like back on Ellisville Road. After we got married, I could sense God calling me into full time ministry and that's when a dear friend, Roger Bevins of Grace Freewill Baptist Church took me under his wing and began to teach me the things of God. Looking back, God used Roger to prepare me for the future. I will truly be indebted to this man for all of my days. At the time, I didn't appreciate what Roger had done in my life. Now I love this man! In 2002, I had the wonderful privilege of planting New Life Community Church in my hometown of Louisa, VA! Today, I share the gospel of Jesus Christ every week with hundreds who come to hear God's Word. It's awesome to be able to baptize new believers who also have surrendered to Christ! God has changed my life! But I want you to know that He can change your life too, just as He has changed many lives in Louisa. www.newlifeinlouisa.com Now I know that some of you out there are thinking the same thing I thought before I surrendered to God. Here were some of my excuses: I go to church, I have my own religion, God and I have our own thing, my grandmother was a wonderful Christian, I try to be the best I can be, etc, etc. Here is the truth my friend: “all of those are good things but none of them can get you into heaven.” Only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can save you from sin. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27, “ 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”. Question: If you were to die today, do you know where you would spend eternity? All of us will die. Today may be our day. I may never talk with you again but I want to be sure that we see each other again in a place called heaven. My friends, today Jesus wants to be Lord of your life. Will you ask him in? If God is speaking to you right now, just pray to him from your heart, these words, “ Heavenly Father:.......................................................................... I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day's of my Life!. Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen. Now my friends, if you prayed that prayer from the depths of your heart, your sins have been forgiven and your eternal destination is secure in Christ forever! Send me an email and let me know that you have been forgiven and are now living for Jesus. Now that you’re saved, it’s important that you find a Bible-believing church near you to attend and grow in your faith. Also begin to tell others about the commitment you have made. God bless you and thanks for listening.

2009-12-17T19:24:00.001-08:00

Dear family, friends, and church family,

It is hard to believe it is once again time for us to be sending out our annual Christmas letter. I really look forward to writing because it allows me to reflect on what the Lord has accomplished throughout this year. It is our prayer this season that amongst all the busyness and chaos that Christmas brings, you will also take time to reflect on the Lord and why he was born so many years ago. He was born a little baby in a stable; however, He grew into a mighty man who took the sin of the whole world upon His shoulders. What a sacrifice! All He wants in return from us is our love!

2009 has been a huge stepping stone for New Life Community Church in so many ways. We continue to minister at New Life and amazingly watch the Lord work through this church and this wonderful body of believers. Nothing blesses us more than seeing people surrender their lives to Him and growing closer in their walks of faith. This year, New Life took part in planting the Point Church in Charlottesville, VA pastored by Gabriel, Josh’s brother. We look forward to seeing how God continues to use Gabriel, Kari, and their body of believers in Charlottesville. Also, in 2010, New Life will be expanding by means of a multisite campus in Gordonsville, Va. It is our prayer that God can use New Life in this way to reach more people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

On a personal note, we continue to lead very busy lives. Josh amazes me how he continues to pastor a church, take classes for his second Master’s degree, and be a wonderful husband and father all at the same time. Recently, I have been spending lots of days substitute teaching at the kids’ school. Of course, Laura Ruth and Anna love it while Caleb gets embarrassed. We have definitely found out that life is a delicate balancing act of getting everything done. Josh traveled to Nicaragua twice this year. On the second trip, he and a mission team from New Life ministered to the people of this very impoverished nation. In Nicaragua, they have very little materially; however, they are rich in the sense that they are craving the Word of God. It is amazing that the same God we serve is the same God all over the world! Jesus Christ! Josh recently spent two weeks in Colorado with friends from New Life and brought back his first elk that he has ever killed. If anyone would like this trophy deer to hang in their living room please let me know. We also went on a few family trips as well. Over spring break, we spent the week at Myrtle Beach. It was a little too cold to dive into the waves; however, we had fun swimming in the pools, flying kites, and just spending time together as a family.

In July, we came up with the crazy idea to take a cross country trip with three kids in a suburban. As crazy as it was, it turned out to be the most fulfilling trip as a family we have ever been on. Josh and I even survived the kids periodic fighting, and they only asked, “When are we going to be there?” about a handful of times. A true miracle! We were gone two weeks and traveled through fourteen states with New Mexico and the Grand Canyon, our ultimate destination. We traveled through Oklahoma and saw the wind turbines and toured the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial. We traveled on through Texas and saw lots of dry flatlands. We spent several days in beautiful Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Next, we traveled on to the Grand Canyon which of course was breathtaking! No words can describe! And who says there is no God! On the way home, we spent several days in Colorado where we drove up to Pike’s Peak where it was 32 degrees in July and it briefly started snowing and sleeting. We also rode the Gorge River train, toured James Dobson’s Focus on the Family, and even stopped by Mile High Stadium. I was a huge John Elway and Broncos fan growing up. We also saw the Columbine shooting memorial and explained to the kids what can happen to those children who grow up without Jesus. It was a solemn but wonderful teaching moment. Kansas, well, Kansas was Kansas. It had lots of pretty cornfields to look at for many long hours. Lastly, we spent an evening in St. Louis. We went up in the arch, enjoyed the riverfront and rolling in the grass as the sun went down. The whole trip was picture perfect except we broke down as soon as we crossed the New Mexico border in the middle of the desert and 110 degree weather! We ended up having to drop $800 on a new fuel pump. It was a bummer, however, the trip was wonderful and we would do it again in a heartbeat!

During Memorial Day weekend, Josh and I did something together we had never done. A very dear friend, Lori Willis, encouraged me to run my very first 5K race. I despise running and truly did not think I could do it. However, after months of training with Lori’s encouragement and faith that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, I decided to try to accomplish this small feat. For a mom with three kids and lots of Little Debbie cakes I have been carrying around through the years, this was no easy challenge. Somewhere along the way, Josh decided to join me. On race day, I did not think I could do it, but I ended up doing it and even took five minutes off my fastest time. Of course, Josh smoked me! Even though the race was something small, my faith was increased a little that day!

The kids are all growing so fast! Caleb is getting ready to turn 10, Laura Ruth is 8, and Anna is 5. Our year is taken up with lots of sports, cheerleading, AWANA, and church activities. Caleb just finished his first year of football playing defensive end and linebacker. He was bruised up a lot, but loved every minute of it, and turned out to be really well at it. He loves sports, tubing, wakeboarding, hunting with his dad, and hanging out with his little gang of friends. Laura Ruth is in 2^nd grade and matures more each day. She loves hanging out with her Mommy, reading, and dressing her American Girl dolls. She is excited to be singing her first little solo in the church’s Christmas play and is looking forward to being baptized in January. Anna started kindergarten this year! Such a bittersweet moment! I truly miss the kids when they are in school, however, it is a little more peaceful going shopping and grocery shopping by myself! Plus now I have time to read my new favorite, Karen Kingsbury novels. Anna’s favorite thing to do is play school. She and Laura Ruth remind me of my sister and I growing up playing school. Of course, Kelly became a teacher, and I can’t wait to see if Anna is a teacher one day. This little girl has so much energy which causes me to turn a little grayer each passing year. She definitely has her daddy’s personality and spunk!

This year has been bittersweet in that we lost some dear people in our lives. The Bible tells us that the Lord gives and takes away. In June, Josh’s grandfather passed away. He was a gentle giant to all who knew him. He was not a fancy man by any means and did not do anything famous, but the evidence of the impact he had on others was so evident. He loved the simple things in life. Family, friends, church, and farming were just some of the things he cherished. He loved the Lord and loved people. It could be said that Red Turner never met a stranger. He was a friend to all. The Lord blessed him with a wonderful life that he lived to the fullest! We loved him dearly and truly miss him! The trips to Broadway will never quite be the same. In April, I lost a dear cousin Miranda who was only 32. She loved life despite all the hardships she had to endure along the way. James 4:14 says, “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Their deaths have taught us to love life and make the most of it because we do not know when it will be our last day.

This is just a small portion of what our lives have contained this year. We want to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year! The desire in our hearts is to love the Lord, and let you know that we love each of you and are blessed by your presence in our lives.

Love In Christ,

Josh, Stacey, Caleb,

Laura Ruth, & Anna

2009-12-12T19:26:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

We are please to announce that we have signed a lease on the former Gordonsville Christian Church (314 North Main Street) in Gordonsville, VA. Built in the mid 1800's, this church has been a beacon of hope in this community for many years. Unfortunately, the Gordonsville Christian Church no longer exists and the trustees have been grateful in leasing us this property. Our plan is to extend our ministries into the town of Gordonsville and this location will serve as an additional campus for our church. Tomorrow night, Sunday, December 13th, at 6 pm, we will be holding a prayer meeting/vision casting service led by Rev. John Nichols. Pastor John has felt the Lord leading him for some time in the area of Campus Church development and we will endorse our brother and his family for this adventure. Previously, there have been prayer walks and prayer meetings to prepare this community for seed planting. While our vision is to duplicate the services from New Life-Louisa, we understand that building any spiritual work must begin with prayer and the forming of leadership teams for the task. Tomorrow night will be just that. Pastor John will be preaching from the Book of Nehemiah and comparing the similarities with rebuilding in our own lives. This Sunday night service will occur from here on out and we are trusting God to lead us as we transition to Sunday mornings. We want you to be a part of this great work by inviting friends and family that you may know who are living in this area. Not only invite them, but you come with them and create a friendly environment for those who may be attending church for the first time.

Here is how you can pray for us:

1. Pray for Pastor John as he makes this transition to Gordonsville Campus Pastor.

2. Pray for leaders who will step up and commit to this work in Gordonsville.

3. Pray that the Spirit of God will move across this town and we will find favor with the people.

4. Pray for those who are already living in Gordonsville that God will give them boldness in sharing with their friends.

5. We are convinced that as we claim this territory for Jesus, that the enemy will be angry and attempt diversions. Pray for our discernment and direction.

6. Bring family and friends with you to support this new ministry.

Josh Turner
Sr. Pastor
New Life Community Church
P.O. Box 502
(509 East Main Street)
Louisa, VA 23093
(540) 967 - 4361
www.newlifeinlouisa.com
www.jamminjosh.blogspot.com

Colorado

2009-11-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

Well I just got back last week from the great state of Colorado where I was weened off of continuous availability through blackberry, phone calls, and agendas. Several great guys from NLCC packed up and made the 32 hour drive to Grand Junction, CO, where we stayed in the Super 8, went grocery shopping, and then up the mountain for the hunt. Fortunately a (bitter sweet) moment came on the first day of the elk season. I got up early after an uneventful good nights sleep in the mega-popup camper. I wanted to get a good start on the day, so it was well before dark when I took Scott's ATV about a half mile up the road to my entry point into the vast wilderness of Colorado. I entered the woods through a stand of aspen trees and took in the fresh, cool air. Man this was incredible, not even the sound of a jet airplane going by but only stillness and quiet! When was the last time that you experienced NO SOUND? I mean really, no sound whatsoever is the most peaceful feeling in the world. Instantly through NO SOUND, God began to speak peace into my life. The reassuring calm words from the Father were saying, "See, I have everything in my control, don't' worry Josh, can't you tell that I am much bigger than you?" Amazingly, I am reminded of how true Psalm 46:10 is, "Be still, and know that I am God". OK, I just experienced that! Why do sometimes, I don't experience that? Because I am rushed, busy, overloaded, and stressed!

OK, so after I got settled into my walk, stress tries to come back in. I find out that the screw holding my sling to my gun is missing and now one side of my sling is dangling to the ground! Not to mention that I just jumped a humongous mule deer with horns everywhere about 200 yards ahead of me! Although I didn't have a tag for mule deer, the stir of game was in the air. I immediately, began to diagnose my sling problem and came to the conclusion that my backpack had way too many straps on it anyway. So after analyzing the situation, I cut some pieces of excess strap off my backpack and was able to make do. The rest of the day was uneventful with great scenery and a few mule deer does about 300 yards away. About 1:00 man the temperature rose into the 80's and I began stripping off extra clothes and putting them into my backpack. By the time it was over, I was in jeans and a t-shirt hunting in CO.

Around 5:30 pm I walked down the side of this mountain back toward camp and found this beautiful location overlooking a field with some aspens in the background. Just as I was setting up my tripod for a rest, I jumped two elk in front of me about 250 yards down in the Aspen trees and one more ridge over. The elk just ran for a short distance and I knew I would be able to get a shot on the bull that was with this cow. I moved forward about 100 yards and set up my tripod again looking for the movement ahead of me. Instantly, a herd of mule deer bolted down the mountain and over to the next ridge. After about 15 minutes, I could see the 2 elk moving ahead of me and I set up for the shot using my binoculars trying to get a look before dark set in. While I was looking ahead, I instantly heard a crashing sound behind my left shoulder up on a ridge and here they come! About 12 cow elk thrashing down the mountain toward me never once knowing I was there. Coming over the mountain bringing up the rear was a beautiful 6x6 bull elk prancing with his herd. All I could see was horns bouncing toward me and I became afraid that one of the cows would see me and scare him away. I lifted my rifle for the shot and when he came in view about 25 yards away, I fired. It was obvious that I hit this monster but the only sign was a faint limp as he barreled down the mountain. I looked ahead to an opening in the aspens and placed the cross hairs in the opening. When he ran through the opening, I fired again and he instantly dropped and rolled down the mountain. Wow! This massive animal was amazing! A real bull elk from Colorado laying in front of me. The bitter sweetness of the kill was that this was the first day and there were 5 more days to go. My hunt was over. But what was I supposed to do? I was excited to have taken such a massive elk for the very first time. This was amazing. I immediately called Alvin, my friend who was almost back to camp. He picked up our back packs and headed to the GPS coordinates that I gave him. I called Bill and Mike who were not too far from me and they arrived in less than 45 minutes. It was all we could do to move this huge animal weighing at least 1000 pounds to where we could begin processing the meat. In Colorado with the mountains and the terrain, the only way to get an animal out is to process it in the woods and put the meat in bags placed in rack packs. As Alvin was processing the meat, dark set in and we pulled out our flashlights to see what was happening. We were amazed that coyotes were circling us and yelping at the same time. There must have been 20 or more in several different directions making a ton of noise. Now coyotes usually leave folks alone but on this night, in the dark, some how, we were getting a little weirded out about the whole thing. We knew they smelled the blood of the elk but what if they were waiting for a feeding frenzy on us? Alvin immediately pulled out his pistol and gave it to Bill in case strange things became even more stranger. Every now and then, we would hear the sound of rustling Aspen leaves about 20 yards away and we knew they were moving in. All four of us began hollering as loud as we could at the animals to get them to move on. Needless to say, we all made it out alive and the pack out was tremendous up hill! Each pack weighed close to 100 lbs but the terrain made going very difficult in the dark. We would inch our way up the mountain to the camp and finally landed in camp around 9:45 pm. We were exhausted. That was the first day of elk hunting for me and I will update later on how the rest of the week played out. Thanks for reading.

Changing Seasons Part 1

2009-09-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

Last week, I had an opportunity to see my grandmother who is in her mid-eighties. She currently lives at the Mennonite Retirement Center in Harrisonburg, VA. All five of us and mom make six, jumped into the suburban after church on Sunday and we headed across the mountain. I would guess that we have made that trip some 648 times since we have lived here in Louisa (don't ask how I figured that). It is always a peaceful and exciting drive to notice how things have changed and how some things have not changed over the years.

Ten years ago, we would have been heading to Broadway, VA, where my grandparents lived for an enormous amount of time together. I can still picture it now, we would have turned left on 33, where the huge, yellow cement mixers are parked and the old Broadway Ford dealership used to stand. Turning on 33, we would have crossed the railroad tracks and there on my right would have been the Presbyterian church where the live donkey used to be tied at Christmas. I later learned that we didn't see the donkey anymore because one night some young people took baseball bats and beat the donkey up. Across the railroad tracks and to the right would have been the Bar-b-que shack where just about every Saturday, my grandfather would work with the local Ruritans in preparing the finest Bar-b-que chicken. About a hundred yards past the chicken shack, we would take a right on what my Grandfather used to refer to as Cripple Creek Road (it wasn't really named that). We would cross the Bridge where the beautiful Shenandoah river flowed freely most of the time. Across the bridge, we would take an immediate left on Strooptown Road and then we could see the house on top of the hill. This was heaven for me and all of the cousins that would be coming by at some point. There was nothing in all the world that I would rather do than to go see PaPa & Grandma, spend some time on the Sari-Red ranch and unleash the potential that life had waiting. Man what was it about this place? The smell of cut grass and country air. There was Carl Gray, the neighbor, bailing hay down in the field. If you have ever grown up on a farm, you know the fun it can be in a natural simple way. Somehow, on the Sari Red ranch, things were going to be ok. Just the people in the valley made you feel that way. I remember Kenny, a guy who lived next door and never got married (he was a cross between Floyd and Goober on the Andy Griffith show). Kenny would just stop in for no apparent reason, come in the living room and just sit down and talk. My grandfather would oblige him and ask him more and more questions. I was intrigued that the extent of their conversation never went past the difference between a Briggs & Stratton and a Tecumseh engine. And just as quickly as he came, Kenny would be gone across the field back home. There was something soothing about listening to the simplicity of their conversation. I asked my grandmother recently about Kenny and she said that Kenny still lived back in Timberville somewhere but she hadn't heard from him in some 20 years. I long for this way of life again in the midst of sometimes chaos and busyness. My question is what has changed? What is happening? Anyway, just some thoughts that I have. Let me know if you think I'm crazy. I will continue later.

2009-08-28T12:58:00.000-07:00

Well for me, this was an incredible week as I took the "One Month to Live Challenge". Stacey and I are currently on day 11 in the book by Chris and Kerry Shook and we have been using it as a devotional tool. Day 11 for us this morning was probably the toughest as we dove into "Me First" issues. Do you ever have "me first moments?" I do all the time and have to ask God to help me through those times. But it has been fun to schedule Stacey in on the very first part of my day. I have to admit, there were two days where we finished in the afternoon due to unforeseen circumstances but God wouldn't let me go to bed without first doing the devotion. The marriage devotion is the #1 best thing you can do to foster a healthy marriage. Yes if I had a month to live, I would be doing this devotion. I believe these times are what I will remember most before I die. Like if I had a chance to know that I was getting close to dying, I believe I would revert to these close moments. I wouldn't think about "one more deal at the office" but how Stacey and I grew closer together in the last days. Wouldn't you want to know that you chose the important things in life just before you died?

I want to encourage you to choose Jesus Christ before you die. My friend, this is the most important decision you will ever make. It will last far beyond the grave and secure your spot in a place called heaven. I have been around folks who knew they were going to die and the number one thing they wanted to know is "where am I going?" The Bible teaches that we can know we're going to heaven. Trey Singleton, Chelsea Holmes and myself went through Louisa on Wednesday night sharing our faith and asking the question: What if you knew you only had one month to live?", and many people were placing their faith in being a "Baptist or a Church Member". My friend, if you believe that these things will get you to heaven, then you will not make it. Only faith in Jesus Christ will get you to the gates of glory! Trust Him right now. What is stopping you from asking Him to be your Savior? Don't wait for it to be too late. Let me know how you're doing.

Just One Experience!

2009-08-24T22:15:00.000-07:00

Looking in the windows to hear the Word.

Me and my translator, Oscar.

This new father and husband just got saved.

From left: Pastor John, Bill Kain, Me, Pastor, Oscar. This is William!

Ok so among many things that happened on this trip, I will never forget the late night, rainy drive into a town called Tipitopa. After a long day of feeding and evangelizing, we pulled into this town and I felt a sense of refreshment and excitement. I really should have been feeling worn out and tired but something was happening. I was slated to preach this night to a group who was meeting in the pastor’s home. A lady had started this church after having a desire to see her community evangelized. Eventually, her brother took the church over and is now pastoring here in this community. When we rolled in to this town, as usual, things were well underway and we could hear the music a great way off. It was very common for us to show up 30-45 minutes late and the “party” was just getting underway. I was still in my shorts and I waited for everyone to get out before I changed in to a pair of khakis and a collared shirt. It was only appropriate to respect the pulpit where I would be preaching and while the pastor donned a pair of jeans, I felt very good with what I was wearing. We walked down this muddy, dark alley for about 20 yards before I could see right there in front of me was a church that was packed to the gill. No more seats, so the windows on the side were lifted up and people were looking through the windows. The music was very loud but yet very good. Kids were everywhere playing outside in the mud having a good time. The atmosphere was festive and I had asked God earlier what passage He wanted me to preach from that night. He immediately took me to Ephesians 6:10-13 and I encouraged the body to stand strong against the wiles of the devil. I felt lead throughout the service to challenge men to guard their families against the demonic forces that were so active in this country. I’ll never forget the lizard over top of my head devouring a bug as I preached. Kim was checking it out the whole time, waiting for it to drop on my head in the middle of the service. As the message ended, the altar call was given and it seemed as if the Holy Spirit reached in and took over the whole service. There was conviction of sin and I will never forget one young man who just became a father came forward and received Jesus into his heart. Yes he was now saved and able to lead his family to the throne of God! Immediately after the service, his wife came up to us and surrendered her heart to Jesus! Yes that night the whole family was saved and beginning a new life in Jesus Christ. I will never forget that little town and all that God did that night. I will never forget William and his wife who spent most of their wage to hire a taxi to bring them there that night. William, a former whiskey dealer, got born-again one day and the Holy Spirit led him to burn his whiskey dealership. In front of the whole town, William lit the building up and all of those drunks, who used to buy whiskey there, witnessed this event. I am reminded in the book of Acts 19:18, “And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all”. That is exactly what William did! Oh friend, when you are converted, there is a change that overcomes your heart and the evil way of the devil become no more in your life. This is just one story of how God showed Himself strong to me and I appreciated the Holy Spirit ministering to me while I was there.

Getting Better

2009-08-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

Well it's Saturday and I have officially recovered from swine flu and consider myself to be fully healed. Having just returned from Nicaragua on Saturday morning, I was relieved to be back in the United States to see my family after a week or so. Sunday morning was an incredible time of testimonies and the music just fit right in with what God was up to. Monday morning, Stacey and I went to IHOP for some good ol "expensive" pancakes and I noticed that I was sneezing irregularly. I had never been sick with a cold like this in the summer before so I thought it a bit odd but at the same time, we went to the lake on Saturday and sometimes the water affects my sinuses that way. By 12:00 Monday morning, I was fully into the aches and muscle joint problems. I had meetings all day, some of which I had to walk out of due to my condition. The whole time, I was pumping the "germ free" stuff that you put on your hands while I was around other folks. My day ended at about 9:00 pm and I went home and crashed. That night, I woke up freezing and went in to my closet to put more clothes on and to turn the A/C off. All night, I was fevering tremendously. This is abnormal for me as I usually never get this sick. The bed was wet from sweating and I was beside myself. The next morning, Stacey insisted that I go to the doctor. My first thought was malaria because one night in Nicaragua, the mosquitoes ate me alive and I had those blood scabs that I kept picking around my ankles. I thought to myself, "If I get out of here without catching something, I will be lucky." I went to the doctor and it was sorta undecided until the flu word came up. After some tests, it was decided that the tests point to swine flu. All I could think of was that my name would be all over the place as the first "confirmed" case in Louisa or something. Well the doctor put me and the whole family on Tamiflu and so far, no one else has been blessed by this curse. All day Tuesday was a bomb! Laying around, burning up, wondering if I needed to be hospitalized. I asked for prayer from all who called, emailed and I told our team to brace themselves because they had been to the same places I had been. Fortunately, none of the team was sick or came down with it. Praise God! My brother, Gabe and his crew from the Point were at the Brooklyn Tabernacle and he asked if I needed prayer. To which I responded, "YES!" That night around 9 pm, I fell asleep on the back deck on the sofa. When I woke up, it was as if nothing had ever happened! I felt 100% instantly! No lie! That night, I slept better than ever and got up on Wednesday feeling like Lee Majors in the show, "Six Million Dollar Man". I was bracing for the whole week to be a nightmare. I had heard all of the rumors of people dying with swine flu in America. I was ready to call the elders to come and anoint me with "Germ Free" cleanser. lol This week, I have intentionally stayed away from people but technically, I should have been OK 24 hours after the symptoms disappeared. There is such a stigma attached to swine flu, that I didn't want to be the piercing talk of anyone who happened to get sick. From what I can gather, it is a real risk to those who are pregnant or older. Their systems just do not have the power to shut down the flu. So today, I am grateful that this week is behind me and I can move to a newer and exciting week. I give God all the glory and those who prayed for me this week, thank you. Your prayers, I am convinced turned this nasty disease into a minor inconvenience. Thanks again.

2009-08-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

It is so good to be back in the United States of America and our team trip to Nicaragua was successful and God worked through our team to bring much relief to this area. This past Sunday, our team testified as to how God changed their life on this trip. While we were able to be a blessing to the people of Nicaragua, they have abundantly returned the favor by blessing our team. The Bible says in Acts 20:35, “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Our team experienced these words firsthand and we would like to share with you some of our pictures from our trip. It is our desire to have a lasting presence in Nicaragua and commit to making a difference in this foreign land. Our team assisted in feeding over 538 children providing them with a meal that will last them for a day and also our team distributed vitamins to parents and children. One of our team members, Chris McKnight has a blog about our trip that you will want to read and keep up with. You can follow him at http://www.hikingwithcroc.com/ . Be sure to log on and check out this blog. It was a real blessing to partner with other ministries to accomplish this task. The following organizations helped us complete our mission in Nicaragua:
1. Carried on Eagles Wings Ministries (Billy Kain, Montpelier, VA)
2. Dr. Alex Rizk (Louisa area physician)
3. Blessings International (http://www.blessing.org/)
4. MAP International (http://www.map.org/)

Nicaragua 09

2009-08-12T12:38:00.000-07:00