- personal - biblical - progressive -



shaky blogging
Tuesday, June 30, 2009

So the past week or so I have been pretty shaky on keeping up with my blog. I have not done a great job which is disappointing because I love to blog. Here is the thing: I am going out of town for a few days here at the end of the week and I probably won't be blogging very much. This week has been crazy so far and I don't anticipate it slowing down at all. With that said, I will be blogging from time to time in the next couple of weeks before I get back into my regular routine.

God is speaking to me about some things. He is revealing things to me. I am so thankful that we have a God who speaks to His people. I am so thankful that I get to do what I get to do. Although it can be very difficult, challenging and I get criticized, I love being a pastor. God has been so good to me and so faithful to me that I am overflowing with joy from Him. I love what the bible says in Psalm 31:19 - Oh, how abundant is your goodness. Rest in that thought today.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 11:48 AM, , links to this post




Hurting People Part 3
Friday, June 26, 2009

We hurt others with the things we say an with the things we teach. Sometimes we hurt people emotionally. As I have reflected over the death of Michael Jackson you see his life took some tragic turns. Over his whole life he has some very odd behaviors. We know that he had several emotional issues he was dealing with even up until his death. The damage that we can do to each other emotionally can leave scars that last for years. I know people who are holding on to things that happened 40 years ago. Now, you may be saying it's easy for you becuase you didn't go through what I did. While I will concede I did not go through what you did, I did go through some things in my life, one of which was a deep depression. I still have emotional things from that time in my life that try to play on my heart strings. If were honest most of us have emotional scars that come back to light when a certain person, smell or place comes to mind. The good news is that with the help of God we can move forward in our lives. While many of these things are very difficult to overcome, we must do what we can do to move on. Too many people resort to bitterness and unforgiveness. Stop today and pray for God to help you through whatever emotional scars you have and do your best to move forward with God's grace working through you.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 1:34 PM, , links to this post




hurting people part 2
Wednesday, June 24, 2009

So yesterday we talked about how we hurt people by the things we say, whether intentional or unintentional. I want to talk about how the things we teach people can be very hurtful. I see this mostly with kids repeating what their parents say or do. They are teaching their kids such unhealthy habits or life lessons. I recently heard a young girl talking about something and I just kept thinking to myself, this girl doesn't have a chance at life. The things she is being taught are so destructive and backward this girl has no shot at making it in the future. Now, I am an optimist. It was that bad. The things we have taught even in the church sometimes are so unhealthy and untrue. Sometimes churches can teach their opinions of what God is or how he works, when the bible completely contradicts it. There are a lot of people who teach things incorrectly and if we teach things incorrectly not only will the person be affected, but everyone around them will be too. So what are we teaching in our churches? What are we teaching to our children? It better be biblical and it better be correct. Teaching people your opinions will do more harm than good. (even if you think it is a really good opinion)

posted by Pastor Potter @ 11:13 AM, , links to this post




hurting people part 1
Tuesday, June 23, 2009

This week I am going to dive into some things people do to hurt people. Whether it is on purpose or not on purpose there are several things we do or say that hurt people and it doesn't seem to bother most people. Now, let me first start off and say I have done my fair share of hurting people. I have said things to people that I am completely embarassed of. I have done things to people that I would never want done to me. I have unintentionally hurt people too. I think we all are kinda in the same boat here.

So the first way people hurt people is by the things we say without thinking. So we are at Hy-Vee and a lady asks my wife "how far along are you"? My wife says " I still have 6 weeks to go". No pregnant woman feels beautiful really, so this lady proceeds to say "are you having twins"? Who in their right mind talking to a woman who already doesn't feel beautiful would go off and say a thing like this? Now if a guy says something like that it is expected cuz most guys just say stupid things. But from another woman who has kids to a first time mom? Geez. Here is my point - Now, people say whatever they want and they don't really care if they hurt anyone's feelings because "well that's what I believe". Most people don't use a common sense filter when they speak. So as we get started this week, let's start by watching what we say to people. And if we do say something completely ridiculous, say your sorry. Common people, get it together. And for the record my wife looks great pregnant.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 9:24 AM, , links to this post




camp
Thursday, June 18, 2009

Since I have been here in Clarinda we have sent students to camp every year. This has just been something the church has always done. I think it is a great thing to send kids to camp. It gives them a week to be at a place where they can learn about God in an environment that is fun. The kids have so much fun at camp doing all of the events, but they also learn about God. Everything that is done at camp is pointing people the students to God. We do everything in our power to send as many kids to camp as possible. Next week we have a group going to jr high/sr high camp. The next week we have a couple girls going to sr high camp. We get a little break and then we have a group of kids going to camp July 20th-24th. We are doing everything in our power to reach the next generation for God. What a lot of parents don't understand is that there are a lot of churches doing nothing really to reach kids for Christ. We have a full kids service every week. We are creating ministries designed to reach kids and teenagers. I hope the parents never take that for granted.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 9:44 AM, , links to this post




missons
Wednesday, June 17, 2009

So this year I felt led to lead us as a church to give more towards our community. This year we are giving $6000 away to our community. ($500 a month) What we are trying to do is even out the playing field in our missions giving. We don't have a problem sending money to foreign messions at all, but there was a monsterous gap between our foreign missions giving and our home missions giving. We are bringing the gap closer now and I think that is pleasing to God.

This being said, this weekend we are having Bob and Barb Van Wyk and their family who will be leaving to go to Africa here in the next few months. We are really excited about them coming down and sharing their hearts with us. Looking forward to spending time with them. If you are a New Lifer, get as many of your friends and family here as possible. The story of missions always helps change hearts and lives.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 9:07 AM, , links to this post




completely blessed
Monday, June 15, 2009

So here's the deal. I have a wife who is passionate about ministry just like me. Being a pastor's wife alone is a hard thing, but throw in being at the forefront of ministry every week and it is to me really difficult. Melissa does it every week. She steps in and teaches sunday school when needed, she prepares the computer for Life Kids every week (no easy feat), she fills in at the nursery whenever needed, she leads worship every week (which includes picking out music and having practice), she helps during prayer time at the end of services, she helps with tasks throughout the week at our church to make sure that everything gets taken care of. Our church is extremely blessed to have her as a part of the church. Not too many churches have a husband and wife team ministry with both of them in the forefront. I know whether she was out front or behind the scenes which she is both actually, both are extremely difficult. I feel so blessed to have someone by my side who cares about ministry the way I do, and is willing to help that come to pass in our church. We are living for God and to see people come to God. I am so blessed to have her as my wife. She did awesome preaching yesterday. Check out the message here http://tinyurl.com/mr5rcl

posted by Pastor Potter @ 9:30 AM, , links to this post




off my chest
Friday, June 12, 2009

So sometimes it is nice to get things off your chest. This is a time when you can just kind of say what you want or need to say because it is bothering you. Well over the past couple months I have been venting some frustrations about people who say they are believers yet really don't live that way. Some of this is an inner wrestling with God within myself. I am not trying to go off on anyone or puff myself up above anyone else. It is with my own frustration in living my life to display the glory of God. There are days when I feel like I do a good job and other days when I don't feel I do the best job. Overall, I understand God is not impressed with me or anything I do or any sermon I give. However everyday I am becoming more and more in love with the way in which He reveals Himself to me. I am so thankful for His beauty.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 4:11 PM, , links to this post




32 week check up
Thursday, June 11, 2009

So today was our 32 weeks check up. Everything seems to be ok so far. It seems like it is taking forever, but I am sure the moment she is born, it will seem like her life flies by for us. I honestly am having such a hard time waiting for her. I am so excited. God is so amazing in his wisdom in knowing exactly what a baby needs. The time for developing and all. I really do believe that child birth is miraculous. What I do know is that I will be a big bawl baby when I am in there. I choke up just watching A Baby Story. Everything is completely in His timing and control and I am just so thankful that he is letting me be a part of her life. I keep thinking of all the things we want to teach her and all the ways in which we plan on raising her. I am sure most of the time God will be teaching us and speaking to us about things as we raise her. My prayer for her is that she would live to bring glory to the name of Christ. That is all I want. Lord, your will, not mine.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 8:15 PM, , links to this post




500th post
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

So this is my 500th post. As I was noticing that I was thinking to myself, why do I blog? Why is this something that is important to me. Here are a few reasons why I blog and why it really is something I try to be diligent about -

Those are just a few reasons why I write. Thank you to all of you who read on a regular basis and from time to time for responding to my posts. May God bless you.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 2:33 PM, , links to this post




more reflection
Tuesday, June 09, 2009

This week is like many that will be busy and we will be pressed to get everything done. Melissa is going out of town on Thursday to Powette. She will be speaking one day to young girls and she is really looking forward to the opportunity. She will get to see her friends from Sioux City that she dearly misses. It will be a great trip for her.

So I will have a lot of time to think and process through what God is teaching me and showing me over the next few days. I don't have to preach again till June 28th. I hope to get a lot done. So we have just today and tomorrow to get everything ready for Sunday. We will do it though. We are a good team. I am so glad I have a wife that is as passionate about ministry as I am. I am a lucky man.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 11:17 AM, , links to this post




Unleashed
Monday, June 08, 2009

Last night we kicked off Unleash. It is our ministry for Students 12-18. Melissa and I will be leading this group from our home Sunday nights. We are going for a relaxed, small group feel with relationship building and mentoring. So most weeks we will have a time for hanging out, some games and some bible teaching. We are going to use mostly video teaching at the beginning to set some foundations for the students. Some students go to church somewhere, others don't. So we want to set some great foundations, then move to the red letters. The Iowa Youth are building a Red Culture. Living Life in the Red. Our DYD, Heath Adamson says "Jesus is perfect theology". So we are teaching our students to live according to what Christ taught us in the red letters. We are looking forward to what God is going to do in the youth of our community and surrounding areas. So as of right now we have youth that meet in Corning every week on Thursday nights and a group at our house. We can't wait to see what God does through these students. Please pray for wisdom and knowledge in this adventure.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 12:06 PM, , links to this post




God is Unbelievable
Sunday, June 07, 2009

Today I talked about how God is so unbelievable to me. When I read the bible and hear the stories and look at my life, I have no clue how God does anything :). Check out the sermon right here Sunday Sermon

posted by Pastor Potter @ 5:15 PM, , links to this post




reflection
Saturday, June 06, 2009

The last few days have been heavy on reflection. It has gone well. I have really enjoyed being able to collect a few thoughts. For the most part it is me being confused about everything in life, yet at the end of the day knowing God is perfect and holy. Here is what I want to say "we cannot under-estimate the power of being alone with God". Let's not take it for granted.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 3:46 PM, , links to this post




being a christian is easy
Friday, June 05, 2009

YEAH RIGHT!!!! Learning to trust God and rely on Him for everything is absolutely difficult. This is a daily battle. Anyone who thinks that it's easy has never tried it. Never given anything up for God. It is a constant grind that I believe very few are actually cut out for. It shakes you to the core. I really felt God saying Christians need to ask themselves this question - "What have you sacrificed for me lately"? If the only thing you have sacrificed or given to God this year is going to church on Sunday's, you are missing it. That's not enough. That's not the gospel.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 6:25 PM, , links to this post




I'm Really Smart
Thursday, June 04, 2009

So as a little preview for this weekend I am going to let you chew on this thought coming into the message this weekend. This is something that I have come to know -

"The more I think I have God figured out, the more I understand I have no clue in the way He works"

Yes I know God's ways are higher than our ways. That is what the bible says, but almost everytime I discuss God with anyone, we think we somehow have Him figured out.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 11:32 AM, , links to this post




two things
Wednesday, June 03, 2009

We believe strongly in supporting missions here at New Life. We support foreign missions every month through giving and prayer. I am so proud of the way our church has given extra to help missionaries get out on the field.

This year we are doing the Jerusalem Project. We are blessing 12 businesses and organizations in Clarinda with 10 or so thank you notes every month, a letter from the church and $500. We are trying to get ourselves out in the community. We believe by giving sacrificially and out of the blessing that God has given our church, people will come to know Christ. We do believe we are making an eternal investment in foreign and home missions. Can't wait to see what God is going to do.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 12:12 PM, , links to this post




A lot going on
Tuesday, June 02, 2009

This week we have so much going on. Here are a few things to be praying for us about.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 9:21 AM, , links to this post




i love it when .........
Monday, June 01, 2009

You have no doubt heard people start off a sentence with "I love it when .........". One of my "I love it when...... " statements would have to be "I love it when service goes well". There are so many things that go into each Sunday morning. Now, this does not mean I don't love the spontaneous because I do. What it means is there is a lot of planning and preparation into each weekend and when everything seems to fall into place, it is a great feeling. When the worship songs go over well, when the offering transition goes smoothly or when the message doesn't fall off the end of the pulpit it helps in having a good Sunday. I realize that for some folks, Sunday is the only time they get God in their week. So I have to be able to bring it every week and know that this is the only time they will worship, only time they will give, the only time they will fellowship and hear the word of God throughout the week. It's a big deal to me, so "I love it when service goes well". Mostly because we point everything towards giving glory to God and he has recieved the glory that service.

posted by Pastor Potter @ 9:35 AM, , links to this post


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Name: Joshua Potter
Location: Clarinda, IA, United States

I am married to my beautiful wife Melissa. I want to give people a new perspective on things. My favorite verse is Isaiah 50:4 "to give the word that sustains the weary"

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