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teusday afternoon

I'm sitting here in the Transition House I manage, listening to Jason Upton, getting ready to have a little prayer time before I start my "Divine Healing" corrospondance course. I just wrote my exam on "Foundational Christian Doctrine." I think I aced it! Doce!

All in all, I've been worse. The Lord is transitioning "me" more than the guys that are here at Harvest House. He is teaching me to not despise where He has me. It is difficult though. I am grieved when I read scriptures I feel like I am not living. It makes me literally nauseous. It makes me sick. I have to "Gaurd my joy" constantly. God has told me not to worry about what others are doing, but to worry about what I'm doing. Keeping my relationship right between Him and I is crucial before I start to involve myself in others' affairs.

Anyway, like usual, I am not communicating my thoughts as accurately as I'd like to be. Is that rapture thing happening this year? 2006, where will we be at Christmas 2006. I prophesied to a few dear friends that I would be in either St. Catherines, Ont; Buenos Aires, Argentina; or Maputo, Mozambique. Who really knows but God? But that's the thing, right there. God knows.

Heidi Baker said over the summer, "If you have to sleep on a grass mat under the stars for the rest of your life.......it should be your joy. Cause you've got Jesus." Theirin lies wisdom. That is an amazingly powerful statement. There is more power and Godliness contained in that quote than in any other I've ever heard.

And I sit, and stare, and think.............................and pray

Was there a pre-Adamic race?

So....what do you think. Was there a pre- Adamic race? or not? Anyone who has open mindidly looked into the subject must be surprised at the evidence for it. Benny Hinn's teaching "War In The Heavenlies" is an absolute must on this subject. That teaching is what swayed me around to thinking that, "Well, there just may be........" Anyway. Take the poll to the right. Voice your opinion. What do you think? Before the time of Adam and Eve was there another race who lived on earth? Was Lucifer in dominion over the earth before the creation of Adam? It's a controversial subect, indeed. But a fascinating one nonetheless. Check out a few of these Scriptures that are "pro" pre-Adamic.

Genesis 1:1-2
2 Peter 3:5
Jeremiah 4:23-26
Isaiah 45:18

Quite interesting.

Vote on "crucial' subjects

O.K. everyone. You can now vote on all the "crucial" subjects that jump into this crazy brain of mine. Just look to your right to see my latest poll. I hope to have a new one each week or so, like maybe on mondays. So, make your opinion known on missionaryjosh blog.

Why I love missions.....

If a picture says a 1000 words, than this one fits the bill. It was taken in Northern Mozambique in mid August/05 during a weekend outreach. This was a common scene in Mozambique. Kids with nothing; no hope, no desires, no goals, living as if dreams didn't exist. And in a lot of cases, they didn't. So, in come the missionaries with stories of God's redemptive plan through Jesus, and something inside them sparks to life. Purpose, hope, dreams, LIFE, MEANING. Its not that I have anything against humanitarian relief effort; it's just that when the money, food, clothes, etc are gone, what is left? Thats why I love missions. Missionaries can't meet every need. But when the missionaries leave, they leave hope and peace and purpose/meaning. They leave the revelation of the true God and His precious Son, Jesus Christ. They leave ETERNAL LIFE. Freedom. It's the most humbling thing, when God uses you to bring freedom to a thousand, a hundred, ten, even one person who had no hope before. Who never believed hope existed in the first place. I may never see this boy again. I'll likely never know if he actually met Jesus that weekend. But one thing I do know, that weekend he heard the message of Jesus, who came into the world to bring eternal life to all those who believe. That is why I love missions.

The King's Way

by Jason Upton

There is a road

That leads to peace

That leads to life

But few will follow

We're at the crossroad

Which way will we go

There is not today a more holy way

Than the steps that lead me to the cross

Where my will can't be the priority

And these crowns I've gained

I count as loss

When I hear the Spirit say

That this is the true King's way

Dr. Tama

One of my best friends is Dr. Tama. Not only is he one of my best friends; he is also my psychiatrist. Whenever I am not feeling "up to par" I go out to FaithWorks and spend some quality time with Dr. Tama. I always feel better afterwards. He always has time for me.
Today, I spent from 9am to 12:30pm with him. We had a great time with the rest of my worship team just praising our hearts out to God. Then I went to a Harvest House church service from 3pm to 4:45pm. Then I rushed back to FaithWorks to spend from 5pm to 8:30pm with Dr.Tama. Things seem less stressful after a day on the drumset. It's a vacation in itself, of sorts.
I wonder when God will finally say, "Alright, enough with the therapy. It's time to move on."
The thought makes me wonder about things.........

thoughts of Mozambique

The last few days my mind has been wandering back to Mozambique. I sit here on PEI and judge myself on every word, thought, and deed; and I don't measure up. Mozambique was a place God took me and changed me. The first time I was there it was April/04 for 2 short weeks; I had only been a Christian for 2.5 short years. But God had plans that had to bear fruit. The hospital in downtown Maputo broke my heart as no other place on earth had done. Noone refused the prayers of a white man who couldn't even communicate with those whom I ministered to. I grew up so much those two weeks; I returned not as Josh, but as Joshua.

For the next 7 weeks after that trip, I was a total mess. I avoided almost everyone in my church (hiding behind my drumset till everyone left). I woke up in the middle of the night with tears streaming down my face.....so many nights. It was almost unbearable. God told me,"Don't ask for these feelings to be taken away, cause they won't be. This is part of My Will for your life." I was literally dying inside.

My life hasn't been the same since then. I've been back to Mozambique twice. Thoughts of foreign missions consumes me. Everyday I wrestle with the impulse to just "Go!" I hold myself back, telling myself that it's just a matter of time before I am back on the foreign mission field. I fill my time with preparation. Getting a solid Biblical foundation into my very being so I can go, teach, admonish, edify, impart, love, but most of all.....die. Die to this world, die to all it's filth, die to myself. After all, haven't I been crucified with Christ? Isn't it no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me? And isn't the life I now live in the flesh, the life I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me? (Galations 2:20) Isn't this what I profess to believe?

It's not that I don't appreciate PEI. On the contrary, I think it might be the best place on earth to live. But am I called by God to stay here. I don't have to think about that question for a moment, cause I already have the answer.----->

wisdom from Bill Johnson

Probably ten to thirteen years ago now, I just really felt impressed to take six months and work on three verses of the Bible to see if I could learn how to apply the instructions to my life. It's out of 1 Thessalonians 5. It says, "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks." I thought, "You know, those three commands are all inclusive. If I could learn to do those three things, I'd have everything else in my life come together." So I would quote it throughout my day. I'd think about it as I was going about my day, "Rejoice always." That's real demanding, because that means in everything! That means I just have to choose joy and express it in every situation. Some situations are easier than others. Then there's the "pray without ceasing"; that's really demanding too. Man, this is all or nothing here; I've got to stay in communion with the Lord constantly. Then, "In everything give thanks." No room for error here. Do these three things all the time. Always be thankful and happy, and pray about everything. So I came to the conclusion, if I could learn those three things, I'd be a saint.

People come to me and say, "I just need to know God's will for my life."

I tell them, "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks." The next phrase is, "For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

"Yeah, but I need to know whether the take this job or whether I should live in Portland or I should live in San Jose."

"It makes very little difference, if you rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks."

"Yeah, but I don't know what to do for my occupation."

"Pump gas or be a doctor, it doesn't matter to me. But just rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks. This is the will of God. Everything else is trivial."

"Yeah, but I don't know if I should go to the School of Ministry or go to college."

"I don't care. It's a win-win situation. Just rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything, give thanks.

Bill Johnson ( of course )

For He Himself is our peace

I was reading in Ephesians 2:14: For He Himself is our peace, it peaked my curiosity so I looked up the greek meaning for that word "peace". This is quite crucial for us.

The greek word translated "peace" here is
Eirene; peace, rest. In contrast with strife; denoting the absence or end of strife. Eirene denotes a state of untroubled, undisturbed, well-being {James 3:18- And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace .(eirene)}. Such a state of peace is the object of divine and saving promise and is brought about by God's mercy, granting deliverance and freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as a result of sin. Peace as a Messianic blessing is that state brought about by the grace and loving mind of God wherein the derangement and distress of life caused by sin are removed. Hence, the message of salvation is called the Gospel of peace {Acts 10:36- The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace (eirene) through Jesus Christ; Romans 10:15 T.R.- How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"; Ephesians 2:17- AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE (eirene) TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; 6:15- and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE (eirene)}. It is called the peace of God, not that God needs it, but God gives it {Philippians 4:7- And the peace (eirene) of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23- Now may the God of peace (eirene) Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.}, the peace of Christ {Colossians 3:15- Let the peace (eirene) of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.}. It can be the result only of accomplished reconciliation {Romans 5:1- Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace (eirene) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,; Ephesians 2:16,17- 16and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE (eirene) TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE (eirene) TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;} referring to the new relationship between man and God brought about by the atonement {Romans 5:9,10- 9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.}.

Is this not awesome?!!

Proverbs 16:26

2006 has certainly started off with a bang. I can't recall a time in my life when I've been consumed with so much..............stuff, or something. God has been teaching me these last 4 or 5 months on just what really is important and how much of our work will survive that infamous "test of fire" (1Corinthians 3:11-13) when we stand before Him. Regardless, I am driven by this hunger to know God even more deeply, and to devote myself to an "Eternal Perspective" mindset. Here is what I've been "killing myelf" at the last few months or so:

--I am now a Full Time House Manager of a Transition House here in Charlottetown. Trying to promote change in men's lives who haven't had the best go-of-it.

--I am working Part Time at nursing home for young adults with developmental disabilities (such as autism, schizophrenia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, etc).

--I am currently taking Bible corrospondance courses through Peter Youngren's (www.peteryoungren.org) WIBI Bible School (www.wibi.com).

--Mondays; I volunteer at a Soup Kitchen.

--Teusdays; a girl from my church and I lead Young Adult Meetings. But I'm thinking about stopping them and starting up "Soaking" meetings.

--Wednesday; I try to make the weekly Men's Group at the church.

--Thursday; I usually have Worship practice. I play the drums.

--Fridays and Saturday are usually my days off unless I'm called in to work at the Nursing Home.

--Sunday; I have a morning service at my church (www.faithworkscenter.org), afternoon service at Harvest House, then an evening service back at FaithWorks.

--And then their is my full time prayer schedule. Or, more specifically, my "learning to abide" time. It is more strenuous then all the others. To make a conscious effort to keep God in my every thought, every decision, every breath I take, every moment of every day. I'm believing for some big things, the least of which are 3rd Heaven visitations, communion with angels, experiences "with" God in His actual presence, open Heavens, signs and wonders, etc, etc, etc.

It's funny though. Through all these "works", I've never felt closer to God and His will for me. This time here on PEI is some serious traning ground. Crazy stuff. But when you think about it, He's a pretty crazy God. The fact that He's willing to use us to accomplish His will upon the earth is proof enough of that.

So, yeah, I like prayer. If any of you ever sense Holy Spirit leading you to pray for me, PLEASE DO!!! Bless you all. 2006 is gonna be something else!!!

Shawn is the winner!!!!

Hey everyone. Just want to throw a shout out to Shawn Cuthill who made a historic first comment to MissionaryJosh blog. Everyone go to www.shawncuthill.com and give a praise report or something. And whoever reads this post has to throw up a prayer for Shawn & Hayley and their family, that God would bless them extraordinarily this year.

Hey eveyone. I switched from 360 to Blogspot. For my previous posts go to http://360.yahoo.com/joshuajduffy. Blessings to you all. 2006 is gonna ROCK!!!!