God and Rockville

 

   As most of my friends know, I love rock and metal music. It's been a love of mine since I was about 13. I can't get enough of an awesome double bass drummer. BUT, I felt like kind of an outcast because when I was in 14 I was taught in church that rock music was satanic. One comment from a kid in my Sunday school stuck with me, he called the people that listened to that music "freaks", basically he called me a freak. I was so angry, I called it quits with that class. I couldn't take it anymore.

   The amazing part is the love of that genre led me to my husband. He was in a band that played in my town for a festival. We didn't talk much until we both became single years later. The fact that he could play guitar and play it very well, was definitely a plus!

   Anyways, to the point I'm trying to make. I found out about Welcome to Rockville and I immediately told Jesse that we needed to go to this.  I looked up the ticket prices and saw that the 2 day passes were $109. $218+hotel+gas+food=NOPE! So I decided to enter the share contest on Rock 100.5's Facebook page. They announced winners every Thursday at 1:05PM. The first Thursday I sat out in my car and ate lunch just to see if I had won. Of course, I didn't. On Thursday's I volunteer as basically the office manager at the Samaritan's clinic. That night, I received a phone call from a lady who was crying and saying her eyesight was failing, she could no longer read the Bible she had because the print was too small. So I told her that we would see her on the following Thursday and that I would make sure she got a large print Bible. That Thursday came and I thought "she probably won't even come by, should I even buy this Bible for her?" but I knew that this was something I needed to stick with. It was my word. I walked into Wal-Mart and went to the Bible section, there was 3 different print sizes. Regular, large, and giant. I looked at them and the large print just seemed too small, the giant was almost ten dollars more but I knew if I was going to do something for someone I was going to do it right. Like I was doing it for Jesus. So, I purchased the giant print Bible. As I left the store my phone went off, it was a friends request from a person that worked at Rock 100.5. I accepted, then I got this on my timeline with a comment saying "Do you know what this means?"

 

Of course, I was about flipping out! Then, he sent me a message to call the radio station, so I did. I spoke with him about what I was doing that day, then he asked how I would you like to see Korn, Seether, Staind, Avenged Sevenfold, etc....I would love that, that's kinda why I entered the contest. He told me I won the tickets and told me where to pick them up. I went to the WTVY building and went up to the 8th floor. I was given the tickets and took a photo. I was then lead into a room and told I was going to do a promo for winning the contest and share how easy it was to win. Me speaking on the radio?!? No sir! I hate being on the spot! But he made it easy and told me what to say. It sounded so bad to me, but oh well, I wanted to get it over with. I talked to him about how blown away I was about winning it and the bible thing with the lady. I also got to talk to him about Haiti. We shared stories about how different it is being here and being in a third world country. Finally, the promo was done, YAY!! He gave me some T-shirts and told me to enjoy the concert. I left and headed to the clinic, since it was Thursday. The lady was there and I gave her the Bible. She hugged me and told me how thankful she was that I was doing this for her. It was such a blessing for me to be able to give her a chance see what she was reading.

  Some might think I am completely insane for thinking that God would bless me with tickets to this concert. But, I think otherwise. As soon as I got in my car and drove away from Wal-Mart I got a friends request and that picture. I feel as though God may have bigger plans than just attending the concert. It might not be the "Christian" thing to do to listen to secular music, but since when have I ever followed rules :) There could be someone at that concert that needs someone to listen to their problems. I would be lying if I said I was just going to the concert to see if there was someone in need. This concert has an amazing line up of bands I have listened to since I was younger, but what if there's one person there that needs love, an open heart, acceptance, and God? Am I going to be looking for it? Probably not....but, if God reveals that person to me then who am I to say no? If we seclude ourselves to nothing but church and church people, who are we reaching? In no way am I saying I will be the only Christian out there. There could be hundreds! Is your Christianity shown by what you wear, what music you listen to, or how many times you go to church? In my opinion, no, That's religion. It comes from the love you show other people and to be honest, I have seen some amazing amounts of love come from bikers, rock stars, skaters, and those that listen to those bands. We get a bad rep for having tattoos, wearing black band shirts, having piercings, and/or listening to heavy metal, but we can and have been the most loving and caring people you could ever meet. Just like some church people can be the most hateful and judgmental people you have ever met. It depends on the person. Love doesn't come from Satan it comes from God, so the next time you see a guy with a huge mohawk that's covered in tattoos walking an old lady across the street, just think....that's not someone to be judged because they have different preferences than you, he could be the biggest Jesus follower you know.

  Signed,
  Freak :)

Warriors for Christ

Ken and Martha Tuck

       Back in June of 2013, my husband and I met this amazing couple. We didn't know how much they would impact our lives, but with serving God along side of them, we formed a bond. We became family. They have encouraged us when we felt like giving up, they might not have known we felt that way but their words and love helped us through whatever we were going through. They show REAL love, not superficial love, but the kind of love that has no cut off point. If someone did something that wasn't quite right Martha always says "We just have to love them anyways". You don't see a lot of people like that today. That's what's truly amazing to me about them, there's not many people like them. It's kind of sad, but amazing in a way. How many people, better yet, Christians do we know that have created an organization that helps the "least of these"? How many people do you know would go out into the woods to search for homeless people just to offer them food and prayer? Ken Tuck even quit his job to go into full time ministry, but that's not the ministry that comes with a comfy church. That ministry is going to other countries, some possibly dangerous, and preach the gospel. This Tuesday, they are leaving to go to different parts of Asia and preach. Some of those places they are going were closed countries not too long ago. Some places they can't tell us they're going to. They are going to be missed while they are gone for those 6+ weeks but we know this is God's calling for them and we know God has and will do great things through them on this trip.

       I personally want to say thank you. Thank you for showing Jesse and I what the true meaning of being a Christian is. Thank you for being there and being family to us. Thank you for trusting me to run the clinic while you are gone. I feel as though I don't deserve it but you saw something in me that I don't see. Words cannot describe how much you guys mean to us. I don't know where we would be without you. I don't know what this community would do if it wasn't for you! How many hurting, lonely, and hungry people would get off the bus and have no one to talk to, pray with them, or give them food? How many homeless people would go without care from a doctor? How many countries would go without hearing about Jesus? Because of your obedience.....you've made a difference in this community and in the world. The love of God shines from you guys. We have seen you pray, inspire, and dance people to Christ in Haiti. I can't wait to hear about what you are going to do in Myanmar, China, The Philippines, and where ever else God leads you. Those places are going to find Jesus, and they are going to find Him through you. They may also discover "What does the fox say" and if they do, YOU BETTER RECORD IT!!!
     
      Words cannot describe what you guys mean to us and everyone at Love In Action. You are an amazing couple and we are proud to call you our family! We are going to miss you guys like crazy while you're gone. We will try to keep Mama Tuck in line until she leaves, but we can't make no promises. Again, Thank you!

We love you!!!

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20

Christian

   I grew up in church when I was a child and called myself a Christian but I never knew what it truly meant. It wasn't until recently that I found out. I thought being a Christian was going to church EVERY TIME the doors were open, which happened to be around 6-7 times a week. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with people that do that, but God showed me something different. I now go to church once a week. I have learned that being a christian is not about how many times you're in church. God doesn't take attendance. Personally, I believe you can be a Christian and never step foot in a church, because nothing we do can make God love us anymore, it's always been because of the grace of Jesus that we are allowed to be worthy enough. The man hanging on the cross next to Jesus didn't have to go to church, get baptized, and change his life before Jesus allowed him to enter Heaven. Going to church can be really good for you. It helps you with problems you may be facing or just to renew your spirit and help you feel God. I have personally found God outside of church, at the bus station. I find God the most when I am out serving him. Showing love to those who have never truly felt it. All you have to do is give them food and pray with them. I have also seen that the best way to show someone love is to listen! My husband met a guy Tuesday night at the bus station who was going through a really rough patch in his life. One of his parents just died, his girlfriend left him, and he has a warrant out for his arrest. He was very angry at first, tired of everyone there telling him it would be alright. He spent about 30 minutes to an hour talking to Jesse about his life. Finally, something in his heart broke and his was no longer angry, he accepted "everything was going to be alright". He told Jesse that all he wanted was for someone to vent to, and that's what Jesse was allowing him to do. It might not be as much as listening, it could be a smile! You never know what that person may be going through today. They could be behind you in Wal-Mart thinking about ending their life tonight. The simplest thing you can do, besides a smile, is the drive thru difference. I have done it many times and have had it done for me. Pay for the person behind you, that's all it is. Tell the cashier that you want to pay for their food and after it's done, drive off. You don't get credit for it or meet the person face-to-face. It's doing something for someone who can never pay you back! Isn't that what we're supposed to do? Unfortunately, today's society tells us something different. It's all about what YOU can GET, not what YOU can GIVE. The bible tells us in Luke 14:12-14 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,  and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

  True love, to me, is not about what you can get but what you can do for someone without anything in return. That goes for marriage as well (that may be another blog at a later time). I know nothing we can do in this life will get us brownie points with God, but I see it as being a Christian is also being a disciple. You need to spread the word and love of Jesus to everyone. Including those who have done you wrong. People are dying everyday never knowing about Jesus. They don't know about the hope and love we find in Jesus. They don't know that whatever they have done in life, no matter how bad it is, Jesus came so they can be free from those sins. That's why missions has been very heavy on my heart....some of those people have never even heard the name Jesus before. How amazing would that be to share that with someone? In America, pretty much everyone has heard about Him, but we have become a nation that feels we don't need him, because "we can do it on our own". Yes, that applies to some Christians as well. I have actually been told by a guy in our church that you can do the "God thing" but there's a time to cut it off. At the time we just started out being Christians and if we didn't know better we would have believed what he said. I would hate for someone to believe that. You can't just cut God out of your life whenever you see fit, is that truly following God? I know we get off track some times and lose focus on God, but purposely cutting him out when we feel it may get in the way of our job or life. What if God did that to us? What if he cut us off when he felt like it? I'm not saying God will do away with you if you cut him off all the time, but you can't be a lukewarm Christian. You're either walking with God or you're not.
 No, Christians are not perfect, we mess up, we sometimes forget what we need to be doing, we say the wrong things, and it's because WE ARE HUMAN! We are no different than ANYONE else. We are not more holier than anyone else. Some christian's act like they are but I am here to tell them, in the words of Andy Stanley that you, every single one of you, including me, are "UNGODLY". If you are not God, you are ungodly. Being Godly is being perfect and no one in this entire world is perfect, so we are all ungodly. I am no better than a murderer, a prostitute, or a drug addict. There's nothing that separates us from other sinners, Jesus didn't just die for Christians, he died for the murderers, the rapist, the drug addicts, the alcoholics, the prostitutes, etc. Truth is, we all need to learn that, as a society. We are all made the same way, nothing makes us different than anyone else. We all die! There's no amount of money that can stop death, you are going to die when God says so.
  I also believe that Christians shouldn't separate themselves from people that are not walking with God. IF YOU SHUN OUT EVERY PERSON THAT DOESN'T LIVE LIKE YOU, WHO WILL SHOW THEM GOD? All they will see is a stuck up "Christian"! I don't know how many times I have heard lately how people hate church, and it's for that very reason! I have been shunned away by Christians because I had piercings and I do have tattoos. I embrace my tattoos because I can reach people that others can't. I don't listen to just christian music and that opens doors as well. Just the other week there was a guy at the bus station that was waiting to get on, he wasn't open to talking to anyone, but I saw his shirt, which happened to be Fall Out Boy, that opened a conversation between me and him, we started talking about the band, skateboarding, and he was ok with talking to me, where as with someone else he wasn't comfortable talking to. If you can find a way to relate to someone, do it. Never think you're better than that person, because  YOU ARE NOT. God is no respecter of any person!
   All of my statements in here might not apply to your life. You might not be a christian and THAT'S OK! I am not here to push God on anyone. If you are not a christian or just starting out, I am here to love you and be here for you when you need me. That also applies to "old" Christians. If you need someone to talk to please send me an email, text, or phone call! I am always here to pray, talk, or just listen!!
  I started out not knowing what to write, at all! I started to write something completely different, but that's not what God had in mind. God just told me to write and this is what he came up with. Maybe God is trying to change something in your life and this is why he told me to write this, I don't know. I hope you all enjoy it!

For the Glory of God,
Pamela Johnson

P.S. Sorry for grammatical\punctuation errors. My husband's not here to correct me :)