People who regularly visit Internet porn web sites daily: 40 million.

Christians who said pornography is a major problem in the home: 47%.

Breakdown of male/female visitors to pornography sites: 65% male – 35% female.

30% of unsolicited e-mails contain pornographic materials.

Websites offering illegal child pornography: 100,000

Porn revenue is larger than all professional football, baseball and basketball franchise revenues combined.

US porn revenue exceeds the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC at $6.2 billion.

Average age of first Internet exposure to pornography: 11 years old

8-16 year olds having viewed porn online: 90% (most while doing homework)

Every second – $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography

Every second - 28,258 Internet users are viewing pornography

Every second – 372 Internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines

Every 39 minutes – A new pornographic video is being created in the United States

God has called me to launch a church and while we are no where near the launch date, we are making some progress.
We recently had a great couple join our crew and I know they will help us tremendously.

In the midst of disappointments, it is great to cast vision and see people get it.

We are still looking for prayer partners, so if that is you or someone you know click here to sign up.

God is up to something BIG in Joliet.
It’s ON!

Planting a church is going to take everything that I have, and then some.
There are some things that I will have to sacrifice (my family is not one of them!)
This is not going to be the easiest road to travel.

I can hardly wait!

Everyday my heart bleeds for people in my city who don’t know God.
They have no idea about being connected to Him and the change that can be produced from that relationship.

There is a huge mission field right in my back yard.

I’m ready!

We, as a church, need to get beyond words and into action.

We live in a country where 10.2 churches close everyday.
195 million people are unchurched (they don’t go to church regularly).
We need to renew our passion for God and increase our compassion for souls.
There is a cry out in our land for a people who will act according to their words.

We must have the integrity to practice what we preach by following these guidelines:

1. see the invisible

We can sometimes limit ourselves by what we can see with our physical eyes.
By relying on our own abilities, we fall short of God’s plan for us.
What is impossible with man is possible with God. (Luke 18:27)
Our ability to see can sometimes be hindered by what we believe (faith).
If you don’t have the faith there is no way to see certain things.
Allow God to speak to you through His word and by His Spirit.
You will then have the vision to see His plan.

2. walk on your tongue

Our tongues can be used for good and evil.
It can be used to build up or tear down.
James 3:5-6 says that “…the tongue is like a fire…”
There have been words that have destroyed many long-standing friendships.
Wars that have led to thousands of lost lives, have started because of damaging words.
We should let the Holy Spirit guide us in controlling our tongues.
We can create a positive atmosphere just by what we say.
We have power in our tongues.

3. live out of your heart

There is no better way for an unbelieving so see God at work than having His church love people.
Our hearts can hold many things in it like anger, pain, jealousy and strife.
It can also hold peace, joy, compassion and love.
You don’t have to look very far to see an opportunity to share the love of God.
God Himself has chosen us to be vessels of His love.
We have not been given this role to sit ourselves on a shelf and look pretty (gathering dust).
It is our duty to spread His love wherever we go.

True community rehabilitation occurs when people’s lives are changed, not when new homes are built.
This can only happen by the power of God’s love.

If we can practice what we preach, we can change our world.

peace

This all changed with I went one year to our local Six Flags for their annual Christian concert weekend ( I forgot what they called it).
During this weekend they had the Black Christian artists perform on Saturday and the White artists perform on Sunday (huh??).

Since my friend and I had a 2-day pass we decided to go back Sunday and hear Carmen who was scheduled to appear.

During Carmens ministry time, there was a strong movement into worship.
The whole crowd was on their feet praising God.
I had my eyes closed and was immersing myself in the presence of God.

When I opened my eyes, everything changed.

Next to me was a young Caucasian guy.

He was worshiping God also.

Right then I realized that although we may not look the same or come from the same neighborhood.
Or like the same food, music, clothes, etc.
Despite that, this guy loves God.
And God loves him too.

In that moment all my fears and concerns about “how white people do church” were gone.
Never again could I be afraid of what I never really knew.

I’m not afraid of the dark.
Are you?

1. Church info meeting is this Sunday. I am believing God for people to come out to receive the vision and also to run with it!

2. Speaking of the church, I am looking for a Soul-ed out crew to get this thing going. Is that you?

3. I am looking for God to open some doors of opportunity to share the gospel and change lives.