John Pond

The head and the heart, all for Christ!

2009-12-22T11:04:00.000-08:00

Lately, if you listen close you hear admiration for all kinds of things, most of them good. Living in Alabama I hear more about College Football than anything else. Sometimes my Christian Consumer ears hear more about the next upcoming big thing that stirs excitement and expectations, but for what or who? Reading about the life of a certain Christian in the 1700's helped me get my focus and affection back on the centrality of Christ and Christ alone.

"The writings of Jonathan Edwards comprise only part of the explanation for his legacy. The other part is the depth of his encounter with God. Edwards remarkably managed to hold together what we tend to split apart. He saw Christianity as engaging both head and heart, while much of popular evangelicalism suffers greatly from pendulum swings in this regard. He had an overwhelming vision of the beauty and excellency of Christ, the love and sweet communion of the Holy Spirit, and the glory and majesty of God, while simultaneously seeing wrath and judgment, punishment and justice, an also comprising the divine nature. He had a profound sense of grace and forgiveness, coupled with an acute sense of guilt and repentance. In short, Edwards knew the beauty of Christ because he knew the ugliness of sin". Stephen J. Nichols

There may be a good question here for us to ask ourselves. What or who is stirring our religious affections in our heads and hearts? Is it a holiday, a Christian gathering, a speaker or worship leader, the way you dress - if that doesn't make sense to you, thank the Lord you are not to deep in evangelicalism. Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us to throw off anything that entangles us in our pursuit for Christ. Our souls long for Christ, and nothing less than Him will ever be good enough!

Christmas Quiz

2009-11-06T14:48:00.001-08:00

Purpose Driven Death!

2009-04-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

The chief end of man - to being glory to Jesus Christ and enjoy Him forever!

Matt Chandler - Irreverent, Silly Myths

2009-04-09T15:19:00.001-07:00

Advance09.com

2009-04-06T12:06:00.001-07:00

Cool Picture!

2009-04-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

What does this picture communicate to you?

Where are all the men?

2009-03-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm-l7Lcp-f8

Praise Jesus For A Bad Economy!

2009-03-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

Even though we see countless times in God's word to rejoice in times that are good, we also see reason to praise Jesus in times that are bad. We see Paul writing from prison to the Philippians, and any logical person would say that if your writing from prison your theme should be sorrow. However, as Paul was writing from Prison, his theme was Joy. We see also in God's word that Job was a major highlight of trusting in the Lord no matter the present conditions. But what about our present circumstances? Here are a few reasons to praise Jesus for this present time!

1) First and foremost - the Gospel should be heard clearer, now more than ever. People are starving for answers in the midst of bad circumstances.
2) True Identity is not found in our bank account but in our view of who Jesus is! Is Jesus the Christ, or our wishing well and crutch? Who is your Messiah?
3) The Prosperity Gospel is out of commission!!!! AMEN! Burn your "Best Life Now" books and read Lamentations! Find a church that preaches the deep waters of God's Word, no matter if the shallow one's claim that they are fastest growing in America! The Churches that preach the true Gospel are the fastest growing churches in heaven, not in the eyes of the sinful religious.

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4).

When Tragedy Changes our Theology

2009-03-03T13:03:00.001-08:00

Even though the prosperity gospel has been laughed at more than any SNL skit, it is still common to hear that God is not a God who allows his people to hurt or go through hard times, and that being a Christian means never being in debt or going through any hardships. Here is a reminder of an old saint who actually read his Bible and knew better!

The Rebel's Guide to Joy - Charles Wesley

2009-02-17T06:22:00.001-08:00

Paul Tripp: The Need for Silence

2009-02-17T04:34:00.001-08:00

You Must Suffer - John Piper - One Passion (Watch in HD)

2009-01-31T20:22:00.001-08:00

Holy Affections part 1. photo by Rachel Jones

2008-12-21T13:08:00.000-08:00

I don't know why I never realized it before, but I found the answer in a very strange place. I was thinking the other day as to why there is this desire and urge within all of us during Christmas. We desire so many things but it's never enough. We want presents, friends, SNOW, memories, but if I'm really honest I am always looking for something else. I have been seeing this in myself for years and wondered what this desire for something else was all about. Make fun of me if you will but I was driving around looking at Christmas lights the other night, by myself I might add, and got real excited about Christmas but noticed yet again, that I was wanting something more. I finally realized what it was. My desire that was so overwhelming but hard to notice, was the desire of heaven. The desire to see Jesus face to face and worship Him forever. I guess there are certain things about Christmas that bring it out. For instance, I was preaching on the attributes of God the other night using some photos that a friend of mine, Rachel Jones took. One picture was of a tree with snow on it. The very first time I saw snow it reminded me of God's grace, because every time you see snow it makes everything look different. When a landscape has snow on it, it doesn't look the same, it looks clean, pure, and right.
Jonathan Edwards the great preacher of the 1700's called this Holy Affections. Edwards says that, "He who has no religious affection is in a state of spiritual death and is wholly destitute of powerful quickening influences of the Spirit of God." These affections that Edwards talks about are things like a strong desire to be with Jesus and follow Him no matter where He goes, hatred for sin, Godliness, hoping in God's promises, and thanksgiving for Salvation through Jesus Christ. If these desires and longings are nowhere to be found in a person, this is a clear sign that there is no saving faith in the person. For the Christian, there is a longing to be with Jesus now and forever for the supreme purpose of giving Him glory that is due. This Christmas I challenge you to understand the deep longing to be at home with Jesus that lies within you and use it to strengthen your faith in the promise of Jesus that one day He will return to take His Children home!

"And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, these are the true words of God." - Revelation 19:9

Check out more photos at www.racheljonesphotography.com

Switching to Digital TV

2008-12-09T16:07:00.001-08:00

The Most Important Issues In the 2008 Election

2008-11-03T13:10:00.001-08:00

Enduring!

2008-10-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

Church Planting isn't easy, so for lunch I resort to a bowl of corn! My roommate thought it was funny!

For His Namesake,
JP

Introduction to The Gospel Coalition

2008-10-06T17:54:00.001-07:00

Read Your Bible!

2008-09-19T06:06:00.001-07:00

Psalm 1:1-2

Paul Tripp: The Need for Silence

2008-09-12T06:55:00.001-07:00

Mark Driscoll on Using Words to Arrest Attention

2008-09-11T11:26:00.001-07:00

A walk in the woods with Jonathan Edwards

2008-09-10T08:19:00.001-07:00

Rev. Edwards spent the summer with his parents in East Windsor and visited Bolton, then a small crossroads hamlet, in June of 1723. In his diary he describes his spiritual reconciliation:
"...there came into my soul, and was as it were diffused through it, a sense of the glory of the Divine Being; a new sense, quite different from any thing I ever experienced before. I thought with myself, how excellent a Being that was, and how happy I should be, if I might enjoy that God, and be rapt up to him in heaven, and be as it were swallowed up in him for ever!"The appearance of every thing was altered. God's excellency, his wisdom, his purity and love, seemed to appear in every thing; in the sun, moon, and stars; in the clouds, and blue sky, in the grass, flowers, trees; in the water, and all natureƒI spent most of my time in thinking of divine things, often walking alone in the woods, and solitary places, for meditation, soliloquy, and prayer, and converse with God."

Mark Driscoll on Speaking the Truth in Love

2008-09-07T16:49:00.001-07:00

The Shack

2008-07-23T09:36:00.001-07:00

A helpful view on the popular book, "The Shack".

Rich Mullins Concert Part #5

2008-04-02T13:37:00.001-07:00

4 Lanes of the Emerging Church

2008-03-12T14:35:00.001-07:00

How Far? pt.2

2008-02-26T12:02:00.000-08:00

The other night I was in Auburn checking out a new church plant and having dinner with a friend. Over dinner my friend and I were talking about creating the lifestyle of time with Jesus in a chaotic day. He was telling me of his days when he was doing mission work in Sudan. A normal day for him consisted of taking prayer walks, reading scripture, mission work, then more reading before he went to sleep. He started talking about the simpleness of those days and of how nourishing it was to his relationship with Christ. Jonathan Edwards, a well know pastor in the 1700's was also known for retiring from his office to spend the afternoon hours strolling in the woods and talking to Jesus. So the question we have to ask ourselves is this - Are we controlling our schedules, or are the schedules controlling us?

"for my people have committed two evils:

they have forsaken me.

the fountain of living waters,

and hewed out cisterns for themselves,

broken cisterns that can hold no water" -Jer. 2:13

How Far?

2008-02-20T13:57:00.001-08:00

On more than one occasion I travel out to my parents house during the week. In all honesty I travel out there more than 2 times a week. I use the word travel because from my house to my parent's house it takes me about 30 minutes. So, there and back is an hour of driving just to go to my parent's house. I don't go out there because I'm a momma's boy, even though that's what my dad says. The main reason I drive out there is simply because the food is that good! I was talking to a pastor the other day that was wondering if people would drive out of the way to come to his church. As he was talking I started thinking about those churches that are 5 minutes away from my house that don't really preach from God's word but speak from their own opinion's and thoughts that randomly pass through their minds. The question that I challenged myself with today is how far will I go to be fed by the Holy Words of Jesus. Not only that but to what areas in my life am I willing to re-order to make sure that I am taking in the goodness of Scripture so that I might love Jesus better. As for my friend I respond, people will drive to great lengths if their is quality food on the table.

Is. 55

Redneck Theology 101

2008-02-14T13:48:00.000-08:00

Today Jesus asked to be my friend on facebook and I said no. Of coarse it was not really Jesus but just another idiot expressing their Jesus as their "homeboy". If you ever wanted to know why the Church is sometimes the laughing stock of culture it is because of things like this. I know many people that have nothing against the Holy, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords but will not step into a church because to some Jesus is a "buddy" that ends up as a bumper sticker on someone's honda. I am not sure where it actually comes from or where it is going but I do know that a little respect for the Son of God is not only respected by insiders but also by outsiders. We should fear the Lord and think of Him as who He really is, not as some hippie truck driver making his way through town.

"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." - Ecclesiastes 12:13

Can God Judge Me?

2008-02-11T17:40:00.001-08:00

The Glory Of Obscurity

2008-01-24T07:40:00.001-08:00

John Knox (1510-1572) is widely known for leading the Scottish reformation and starting what we now have today, the evangelical Presbyterian denomination. Knox is also known for the early tracings of church and state which gives us the freedom to meet together for Church services without state interference. John Knox was a great preacher and was also put in prison with 120 pastors who were persecuted for preaching the word of God in Scotland. John Knox was buried in the old Church graveyard until the Church decided to pave over it and sell the space to a used car dealership. You can now pay your respects to the great reformer at his final resting place in Scotland, that is if you can get one of the used car salesman to move the KIA in spot 23!

"But I am afflicted in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high" Ps. 69:29

Grow Up!

2008-01-15T20:03:00.001-08:00

You would of thought that there was a dark force out there preventing me from seeing the 4th movie in the series of Die Hard flicks. But I am proud to say I finally sat down and watched it the other night. What a movie, I loved it and was wondering if God was calling me to change my last name to McClain instead of Pond. Not too long after watching the movie I sat down to do some studying for a upcoming d-now I am preaching in February and to my surprise I saw some similarities between our hero John McClain and Paul. Before you think I am becoming a heretic before your very eyes let me explain. I would have to agree with Pastor Mark Driscoll in Seattle that too many men in our culture today don't want to have anything to do with Church. It's not so much that they don't love Jesus, but that when they see men in the Church today they see a bunch of pretty boys in the choir that love to skip down the church hallways sucking on lolly pops. On and did I mention that a lot of these men are still not winning the fight on kicking porn out of their houses, or learning how to be Godly husbands and fathers. In the language that we read in Paul's letters to Timothy, Paul uses language not too different than our kick Butt friend John McClain. Paul urges Timothy to not be shaken up by people questioning him because of his young age but growing up spiritually and being a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Paul urges Timothy to watch out for people with bad agendas who carry bad doctrines that want nothing more that to disrupt God's household and invade the minds of good lay people. The more we read of Paul's desire for the Church the more we can see that God is not wanting some goofy and wimpy men, but wanting some men of Godly integrity and men of the word to influence the world for one reason alone, the renown of Jesus Christ.

New year, Old story....

2008-01-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

If you’re a blog reader I would begin to wonder why in the world you are reading this one. It does not get updated that often and when it does you may not see words but pictures or even videos. Sometimes it makes me laugh about how much we write in blogs while wondering if anyone ever truly reads them. At any rate, it’s a new year, and with a new year we expect new things. However, we cannot forget that what we live for, or rather whom we live for is nothing new, but it’s a lifestyle that is based on a true story not more than 2000 years ago. But are we bothered by something that is that old.
If you notice Christian culture in our country you will notice certain dissatisfaction with something as old as the gospel. More than a few years ago there were many folks that decided that we need to be like Paul, all things to all people. Our churches need to be relevant and opened to non-Christians. People should wake up on Sunday morning and having the option of going to church or going to the beach, they should pick going to church everyday and twice on Sunday. Besides, if our Jesus is irresistible why should church be any different? I totally embrace this idea, and for one reason alone, - these folks still held on tightly to the foundation of Christ and solid doctrine. They did not abandon old and trustworthy truths. Now we see something different in our world today. We see a group called the emergent church, a group that wishes to not only change the way church is done but change the way we read scripture, change our convictions, and make our theology more flexible like a trampoline (and example used by a guy named Rob Bell).
The Gospel does not need to be changed, we need to be changed. When we notice our lives becoming stagnant and dull, we need to realize we are stagnant and dull not the gospel. It’s a time where we embrace the same story as the early apostles did and grow in our process of learning what Christ wants to do on this earth and in our lives. I will never forget the story of my friend and mentor, Jay Ridenour. In his senior year of college, Jay went on a mission trip to Bolivia. The team traveled around village to village for a few weeks showing, “the Jesus film” to people who had never heard the gospel. The film was a simple brush of the life, death, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. After going from village to village carrying all kinds of audio/video equipment they came to the last village of their trip. As the movie began to play Jay was approached by a woman who had asked him to hold her baby so she could watch the film. As the film came to the part of the crucifixion she began to weep out loud, so loud that it was almost a disturbance to everyone who was trying to watch the movie. While the lady was disruptive as she began to cry more and more, the team of students became excited as the thought that she would be the first person to want to know more about this Jesus. When the end of the movie came the team rushed to the translator to ask if the woman had any questions about this story of Jesus. The team was quickly informed that this woman who had become too emotional from seeing the brutal execution of Jesus on the cross had a unique story about herself. The truth was that this woman had heard of the gospel before, in fact she had heard it many times. The fact of the matter was that this woman had been a Christian for nearly 40 years, and heard the gospel when she was a little girl. In her eyes, the gospel was as new to her as it ever has been.
In light of a new year I hope your prayer is that we embrace the old but glorious story told to us in the trustworthy pages of the Holy Scriptures. We do not have to do many great things this year; we just have to be mastered by one thing that is very great. May the gospel of Christ Jesus continue to amaze you this year and overflow in your daily life for the glory of the kingdom of God.

For His Namesake,
JP

State of the Pulpit - Joel Osteen

2007-11-05T05:20:00.001-08:00

Church Needs Dudes

2007-10-30T09:26:00.001-07:00

John Hodges Drake 6th

2007-10-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints, O LORD I am your servant."
-Psalm 116:15,16

There are some things that preachers cannot preach. Some things that sermons cannot speak, and even music that can hardly communicate. When speaking about the glory of the Son of God, Jesus, the only thing that comes close is a complete life of a saint. In my eyes my grandfather was like an early church father full of wisdom, history, and the Holy Spirit. He was a soldier, a husband, father of 5, a grandfather, and an amazing singer who spent part of his life traveling around the globe singing gospel music with his wife who played the piano. More importantly he was a lover of God who influenced and led an entire family to the throne of the living God. A few weeks ago I was in Cincinnati to say goodbye but was amazed to see how many people this simple man had influence over. In 1972 after serving with P&G for over 20 years he decided to step in as administrator of a nursing home with my grandmother. From 1972 to 1997 they both found their purpose in ministry as directors of a nursing home, ministering to people who were in their last chapters of life before stepping into eternity. One of my last conversations with my grandfather consisted of him updating me on his ministry. They had both grown older and was ironically residence of a nursing home as they could not live on their own due to poor health. In the midst of aging bodies my grandfather told me that they had begun a Sunday service at the nursing home with a local pastor preaching and my grandfather singing and my grandmother of coarse playing the piano. He continued to tell me that the service was so well attended that he decided to start a Thursday night Bible study in the nursing home which many more attended. The amazing part of his last days was that he could hardly walk 2 feet without his wheelchair and helping my grandmother who is now unable to see clearly enough to play piano but continues to do so by memory. But they still both ministered to those around them up to his last days on earth, glorifying God with all they had even when their very own bodies would not permit it.
I am not sure if you have ever read the book, "Don't waste your life", by John Piper but it's about living for the glory of Jesus Christ all the days that He allows you to be on earth. I have read it and love it, it's very biblical! However, I have now seen it in the life of my grandfather and rejoice that there is such an example in these days for me to follow. I will miss him dearly.

"Can you hear me when I sing, you are the reason why the music is in me."

God Is Enough!

2007-08-23T18:52:00.001-07:00

Halls and Inner Rooms, thoughts from C.S. Lewis Part #2

2007-08-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

"When you get into your room you will find that the long wait has done you some kind of good which you would not have had otherwise. But you must regard it as waiting, not camping. You must keep on praying for light: and, of coarse, even in the hall, you must begin to try to obey the rules which are common to the whole house. And above all you must be asking which door is the true one; not which pleases you best by it's paint and panelling. In plain language, the question should never be: 'Do I like that kind of service? but 'Are these doctrines true: Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me toward this? Is my reluctance to knock at this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike of this particular door-keeper." - Lewis

I suppose we could take this particular paragraph of Lewis and draw many conclusions, all the way from relationships with people to areas of ministry. However, I will try to draw some thoughts out of Lewis on the idea of our commitment to the church. It may not seem like that big of a deal to some of us but for others their view on eternity, mankind, God, and the church are thoughts that take time and special attention. Some people in this world would say that they will walk in the hallway but never enter a room simply because they do not want to. It is safe to say that we could refer to these people as those who do not know the Lord and who would never want to come into any kind of church. However, there are some in the hall that are still trying to figure out what they believe and why they believe it, this we will talk about later on in regard to how we treat those who dwell only in the hallway (one of the rules that is common to the whole house). As for those who will enter into a door but trying to decide which one may be looked at as one who is trying to find a place, congregation, or people of certain thought like their own. In light of this I think Lewis is suggesting that we look at these rooms with an open mind, asking the question, "is this the leading of biblical truth or my own mere feelings and emotions?" I have run into a lot of people that would suggest it is perfectly alright to treat the church like a Friday night hook up and spend all 4 years of college or after college to run around from church to church and not engaging in any real relationships with the body of Christ. In 1 Timothy 3:6 Paul urges Timothy that as an overseer that person must take care of the church just as that person takes care of a household. The point is, is that the church is to be respected and cared for, loved and cherished. It is alright for those to spend some time waiting on the Lord to see which door is the right one for them to open and which room or "body" is the right one for them, but as we discussed earlier the hall is not a place to live in even though it may be a place to wait in. So why discuss this topic? Why talk about hallways and doors and churches and people's thinking? The reason why it is important is because Christ set up the church to be His lighthouse to all the world, and we need to be shown as people who are committed to the rooms and the people inside of the rooms, not just the hallways.

~JP~

Halls and Inner Rooms, thoughts from C.S. Lewis...

2007-08-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

"It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not in the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in". C.S. Lewis "Mere Christianity"

It is certainly worth the time to think about how we do church these days. I have had many days in Bible College where I was excited to poor over many different theological thoughts and views, trying to see why one certain group believed this and one group believed that. Although, I am still learning a whole lot about my own theology and other people's theology I have come to be much more interested into how our theology plays out in church, more importantly a "worship service". I find myself always wanting more and more of a certain mid-week service that will "recharge my batteries" and will hopefully last me till Sunday as if walking through the week hand in hand with the Lord was not enough. Obviously scripture brings out the point of the importance of the fellowship with the body (1 Corinth. 12:12). However, it seems that sometimes I find myself depending on a one-stop worship service to be my Church or body for that entire week, forsaking the service to a real Church and body where my service must be placed. It might be that Lewis is trying to show an example of what happens when we depend so much on a service alone, a song alone, or even a certain sermon alone to be our main "meal" of the week. Not that we do not grow from a service, podcast, or event, but it seems that just one time of worship during the week or weekend is not a main meal but rather a late afternoon snack. Lewis says, "we are not to live in the halls", meaning that our dinner table to where we feast with the living Christ is not just in a one time event with our favorite worship leader and entertaining speaker. Maybe the inner room that contains a fireplace, chairs, and a meal is found in the commitment to the local church where there is a body of believers and discipleship. I will always visit and sometimes sit, and even learn in the hallway, but it is the inner room where the main meal will always take place.

~JP~

Crazy Summer, Crazier Fall....

2007-08-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

My friend in Louisiana reminded me the other day that some people read this blog, so I do apologize for not writing on here lately. It has been a very crazy but very amazing summer, which mostly consisted of watching God do some amazing things and I was blessed to have a front row seat. When God first gave me this vision last fall to preach to anyone, any time, and most importantly anywhere, my number one desire was that I would just be able to see God do some amazing things in the lives of people around me. Looking back on this summer I see that He has shown me just that. I assume that if I could even explain all that God has done this summer it would take me until next summer to write it all out, and I’m sure nobody would read it all. For now I will simply say that it is an amazing thing to watch a student decide for the first time that Jesus is more than just a sermon, but that Christ is real and alive. I was blessed enough to watch students step out in faith to accepting the truth of the substitution that Christ gave us on the cross, and seeing students awake to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. It reminded me that it is the simple things in our walk, with God, the most foundational beliefs we hold so close, that seem to be the most glorious. Praise God for a glorious summer that was full of rejoicing and learning!
For the past few weeks I have been looking back on my first summer in itinerant ministry and savoring the experience to learn everything that God brought my way. I have spent the last few weeks in deep reflection of how to carry this forward into the fall and winter. One thing that has always been consistent in God’s calling on my life is to always be available. I remember playing little league baseball as a kid and seeing all the kids running up to the coaches on the first day of practice with their parents behind them screaming, “I’ll only play short stop, and if you really want to win you will consider me your best pitcher too!” A few things that God has shown me over the last few years is that first, ministry must be embraced with humility. As ministers we must hold onto humility like it is our only child, and embrace it with all that we face in these times. We must also be on guard against shoving our plans in God’s face, proclaiming that our vision and our clocks are bigger and better than His. Not to say that vision is bad, not at all. Vision is a must in every walk of life. However, if we are to follow the vision of God we must be open to following Him wherever He leads us and at any time. Jonah was the perfect example of someone who heard the voice of God and decided that his own vision was bigger and better than God’s vision. It is with this thought that God has opened my mind and heart to continue to preach His word to anyone, any place, and at any time that He says so. This probably goes against some popular preaching that says that our visions have to be specific and have to work out in the end without any failures or changes, but that is not the way Paul lived his life. Paul had Rome always in his mind, however he also had a heart to be in many other places as well, before going to Rome.
With all that said I am looking forward to an amazing fall and winter with many different ways of preaching God’s word. I am currently working on a speaking schedule that will keep me close to the south for the first part of the fall, but hopefully will take me to other areas later on with the possibility of going overseas to preach too. I plan on meeting with some folks this week about spending some time in the next few years speaking some overseas so please pray for God’s providence and my discernment in these areas of this ministry. Lastly I plan to begin working on a book called, “more than enough”. The book will focus on one specific passage in John about Christ being the center of all of our needs, and how that truth alone sustains us for now and throughout all eternity. I am really excited about this opportunity which just fell in my lap one day when a publisher approached me about the idea of writing. Other than that I plan to spend much time in personal study walking through the Old Testament and many of C. S. Lewis’ writings which I am excited beyond words to dive into. Again, please pray for God’s leading and my following to preach His truth to whoever, whenever, and most importantly wherever He sends me. I plan on writing on this blog a lot this fall so check in daily for updates and other random thoughts on the greatest person mankind has ever known, the son of God, Jesus Christ.

For His Namesake,
John Pond

Is God happy? Reflections from "God Is The Gospel" by John Piper

2007-06-26T11:01:00.001-07:00

In 1 Timothy 1:11 Paul focuses on the gospel as "the glory of the blessed God." The word translated "blessed" in this phrase is the same greek word used in the beatitudes of Jesus in the book of Matthew 5:3-11. It's a crazy fact that only in 1 Timothy 1:11 does the word refer to God, out of the entire Bible. Paul is making a statement about God, as he usually does in his letters. Here in 1 Timothy Paul is making the statement that God is happy, makarios.

"We may learn the phrase "the glory of the happy God" that a great part of God's glory is His happiness. It was inconceivable to the apostle Paul that God could be denied infinte joy and still be all-glorious. To be infinitely glorious was to be infinitely happy. He used the phrase, "the glory of the happy God," because it is a glorious thing for God to be as happy as He is. God's glory consist much in the fact that He is happy beyond all our imagination."

Imagine that. God is happy! Most people in this world awake to the idea every day that God is out to get them. That if they do not live a life full of good works and good deeds then God is out to get them and punish them forever. God does have a side of righteous wrath but it is not eternal for those who trust in Christ as the savior of their lives. So at the end of the day God does not have a kingdom full of worry, sadness, or regret. God knows the end and the end is completely filled with the whole earth proclaiming God is the glorious God, who else is like Him?

J.P.

"Be still and know that I am God. I WILL be exalted among the nations, I WILL be exatled in the earth!" - Ps.46:10

Hittin the road...

2007-06-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

Well, we're off and running! I am just about to leave the coffee shop and hit the road to Panama City, the capital of Summer camp in student ministry. Please pray for safe travel and for a great time before the Lord with all the churches that will be arriving on Sunday night. I will be in Florida for a week and then leave for Lake Charles , LA for another camp. Thank you to all who have been praying for me over the last few weeks! Your prayers and words have been so comforting and encouraging. May the light of Christ be seen by all who have never looked upon the face of our Lord and have never seen Him as He should be seen!

For His Namesake,
John Pond
"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Christ sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ". 2 Corinth. 4:4-6

Sermon on Podcast

2007-05-12T18:10:00.000-07:00

"Unified living", a sermon that was preached at Shades Mountain Baptist Church back in April is now available to hear on itunes. You can get to the sermon by clicking on this link and subscribing to crave ministries podcast. http://www.shades.org/206064.ihtml

JP

Here comes summer '07...

2007-05-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

Well summer is pretty much here for me, as I start to finalize a summer camp schedule and begin to spend the whole month of May in spiritual perpetration and study. I have decided not to post the final summer schedule just yet because there are a few more possibilities still flying around. More than likely I will be speaking at 3 camps this summer that will be in Panama City Beach, Florida, Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Dallas, Texas. So 3 camps total which is 3 more than I thought I would have. I thought my first summer would be pretty quiet and looking to summer of 2008 for anything to happen, but yet again God amazes the human mind at any chance He can get, especially when it's all about His glory. And it is!

How can you be praying? Please, Please, Please; be praying for my time in preparation. I am a big believer in preparing like it's your first time to preach and preaching like it's your last time to preach. I put a lot of time into studying and desire God to not only speak to His people but also to me in the process. I would also ask that you pray for me in taking time to rest. I will confess that I am an all or nothing person, which I pay for in the end. Pray that I find times to rest when I can especially in between camps. I am still working at Starbucks in the mornings, which helps me cover expenses that I cannot otherwise. So to say that I need physical strength from the Lord is a huge prayer request for me, especially when waking up at 4am almost every day! I trust that you will spend less time praying for me and more time praying for God's spoken word and the lives He will impact with it. Once I post the final camp schedule I will be asking for specific prayer request for specific churches and cities. Thank you for your time, and thank you for you partnering with this ministry!

For His Namesake,
JP
www.johnpond.org

"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:16-17

2007-04-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

Quick Update....

2007-04-13T12:19:00.002-07:00

I say quick because the last 3 weeks have been insane and today is no exception. Even though it is Friday afternoon and I feel the living room couch and tv calling my name. But there is no time which is a good thing! I have been speaking a lot in the Birmingham area the past few weeks. Last Wednesday night April 4th, I had the chance to speak at FCA Wednesday morning at Vestavia Hills High School, at Shades Mountain Baptist that same night and then at another FCA meeting after that. So I have been fairly busy to say the least but I am glad that God has given me the opportunity to be so busy. I am in the process of putting a schedule together for the summer which will be on my website in the next few weeks. Please pray that God would continue to give me strength as the days get harder and harder and that I would remain humble in this time. Thank you for your prayers and your support!

For His Namesake,
John Pond

Reflections from A.W. Tozer

2007-03-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

Water cannot rise above it's own level. Neither can a Christian rise above where they are in their walk with God. Think about it, how deep or shallow is your walk with the Lord? A constant reminder to the Christian is the reminder that it's not how we live our lives on Sunday, rather how do we live our lives on Monday. When it came time for Moses to share with the people of Israel it only happened when Moses came out of the tent where he met with the living God. Moses' ministry was not based on the shallow waters of him going out to speak on his own wisdom or passions. It was only after he had spent much time with the Father to deepen the waters of that relationship was he able to step out to speak to the people of Israel. If we are to preach, witness, or bear the image of our holy God, we must deepen the waters of our holiness through the grace of His son Jesus Christ. I'm not sure how many people actually read this blog which I guess is the risk you run when writing a blog in the first place. However, if you do read this blog, I challenge you to stop and think about this illustration. I also ask that you pray for me and all who preach God's word to keep the faith, persevere, and spend more time with the Lord than that of ministry.

For His Namesake,
John Pond

"In you, O Lord, do I take refuge!" - Psalm 31:1

Lots Goin On...

2007-03-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have been praying for this ministry, thank you! The past few weeks have been very busy with much exciting news to talk about. First of all the new website went up, if you haven't seen it yet check it out at www.johnpond.org . I have also been busy speaking at local churches here in Birmingham and getting a schedule together for the summer that already includes a camp down in Panama City with First Baptist Birmingham. The rest of my time has been spent writing new sermons and spending time with the Lord and letting Him lead me with His grace and love. Please be praying for this ministry in the next few weeks, I will be speaking at Vestavia Hills High School at FCA club on Monday morning April 4th and then at Shades Mountain Baptist Church that night. Pray for God's leading and God's message to be spoken with clarity and passion. I have learned a lot over the past few months with this ministry but the most important thing is, is that the focus is never on the messenger but the message. I ask you to partner with me to continue to ask God that He would further His message of His grace and glory through solid teaching and solid theology.

For His Namesake,
John

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith --that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with ALL the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:14-19

The Life of Jonathan Edwards

2007-03-09T06:56:00.000-08:00

"Once as I rode out into woods for my health in 1737, having alighted from my horse in a retired place, as my manner commonly has been, to walk for divine contemplation and prayer, I had a view, that for me was extraordinary, of the glory of the Son of God, as Mediator between God and man, and his wonderful, great, full, pure and sweet grace and love and meek, gentle condescension..... which continued, as near as I can judge, about an hour; which kept me the greater part of the time in a flood of tears, and weeping aloud." J. Edwards

"He (J. Edwards) had an extraordinary love for the glory of God in nature. The good effects of this love on his capacity to delight in the greatness of God and on the imagery of his preaching were tremendous, Jonathan Edwards preached the way he did because of the man he was and the God he saw!" - John Piper

I pray that you and I would be gripped by the view of God as Edwards saw and expeirenced in his life on a daily basis!

Web Site Is Up!

2007-03-08T05:57:00.000-08:00

The web site is finally here, go check it out - www.johnpond.org

Web Site Coming Soon....

2007-02-17T15:31:00.000-08:00

In just a few days the web site will be up and going and able to see. The web site will contain photos, a bio, schedule of upcoming speaking engagements, news, and more. The web site address will be www.johnpond.org. Again, it should be up in a few days so keep checking in.

JP

The Lord is His Name

2007-02-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

"He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, THE LORD IS HIS NAME!" - Amos 5:8

2007-02-14T12:53:00.000-08:00

Well my time in Virginia was amazing, and we saw God do some amazing things. The theme was "Believe" with the emphasis on looking at God's existence in a new light. The more and more I think about our simple belief in the reality of God the more I am convicted of how simple we have made it. I even notice it in myself waking up every morning and not stoping to think about how amazing it is that God's existence and creation is still alive and well, instead I assume and go about my business. I think we need to stop, think, believe, and rejoice as opposed to driving by and not giving thanks that our God is real and ruling over all creation and all heavens. I am now back in B'ham and little bit under the weather, but hopefully on the road to recovery. I will be speaking at First Baptist Birmingham and First Baptist Trussville the next 2 weeks. Please pray that God's word would again be preached with Passion and Clarity.

For His Namesake,
John Pond

"of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known". Colossians 1:25

2007-02-01T08:48:00.001-08:00

Well, another amazing day seeing God letting us be apart of spreading His truth around and telling the story of God to publish salvation for all to see. I am sitting in the Birmingham airport getting ready to leave for Virginia for a retreat at Tomahawk Baptist Church. Please pray for me and all who will be involved that we would simply see God for who He truly is and worship Him in light of the simple and glorious fact that GOD IS REAL! Also, pray for warmth, it is supposed to snow every single day while we are away. Meaning that I finally get to see some snow but will have to do so while it is freezing cold, seeing snow is funny that way :). Please continue to visit the blog as often as you like, and I am so thankful to the ones who are praying for me and God's spoken word. Please continue to leave our comments, they are a huge encouragement to me!

P.S. - Last night at First Baptist Birmingham was amazing God spoke and it was another chance for me to watch Him work. Praise God!

"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." - Psalm 46:10-11

Schedule for January and February

2007-01-24T14:28:00.000-08:00

Please pray for over these dates, that God's word would be spoken humbly, clearly, and loudly!

January 24th : FCA Vestavia Hills 8:30p.m.
January 31st : First Baptist Church of Birmingham 6:00p.m.
FCA Vestavia Hills 8:30p.m.
February 1st - 4th : Tomahawk Baptist Church Disciple Now, Richmond Virginia
February 7th : FCA Vestavia Hills 8:30p.m.
February 21st: First Baptist Church of Birmingham
February 28th: First Baptist Church of Trussville

The Supremacy of God in Preaching

2007-01-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

"All genuine preaching is rooted in a feeling of desperation. You wake up early Sunday morning and you can smell the smoke of hell on one side and feel the crisp breezes of heaven on the other. You go to your study and look down at your pitiful manuscript, and you kneel down and cry, "God, this is so weak! Who do I think I am? What audacity to think that in three hours my words will be the odor of death to death and the fragrance of life to life (2 Cor. 2:16). My God, who is sufficient for these things?" - John Piper, "The Supremacy of God in Preaching"

2007-01-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

Ya, not much to smile about in Coney Island, where the snow comes at you sideways when it's around 5 degrees outside and the wind is blowing off the ocean. My time in New York was amazing, very cold, but amazing. The first couple of days were spent helping my friend Landon prep for a mission trip up there in April. I also got the chance to hang out with some folks from Brooklyn Tabernacle, sharing the vision of my ministry and what God has called me to do, to preach the amazing and overwhelming reality of God and His glory. The last day was spent playing in Manhattan and on top of Rockefeller center where I thought we would literally freeze to death. All in all my love for New York City is still alive and well and hope that God continues to open doors for me to go back there and preach. Next stop is Virginia for a d-now I am speaking at and you can begin to pray that God's word will be spoken with humbleness and clarity. God is at work, and I am having a blast just sitting on the front row, watching Him do His thing!

JP

''to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved". - Eph. 1:6

Back to NYC - (where Sox fans are questioned by the NYPD)

2007-01-08T13:51:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the loudest response to the greatness of God is absolute silence. So it was this past week for me at the Passion conference in Atlanta. I never knew it could be so frustrating trying to tell someone what it was like. I guess all that someone can say is that it had nothing to do with a conference or the people there, but it had everything to do with the fact that God was there, and is always present every day of our lives. Maybe someday we can all treat that truth as an honest fact and not just something we take for granted. Lord knows I take it for granted. So, I now head for New York City, where it should be a bit colder and hardly anyone cares about College football. Either way, NYC is one of my favorite places to go in all the world. I will be up in NYC for 3 days helping prep a mission trip in March, and hopefully meeting some folks at the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Please continue to pray for me that I would continue to be on my knees before God, humbled, and willing to go where He sends me. I have been very thankful to hear of the people who are reading these blogs and praying for me. I am continuing to see God open doors for me to go speak all over the U.S. and I'm very excited to see where He takes me throughout 2007. Thanks again!

For His Namesake,
John

P.S. - Please pray for me as I fly tomorrow on the big school bus with wings - Southwest Air.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you". - Psalm 32:8

2007-01-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

All I can say right now about Him.

New Year, New Road - 1st Stop Atlanta

2006-12-31T10:23:00.000-08:00

I'm off to Atlanta for a gathering I look forward to ever year. Passion 07 is a gathering of College students that come together for a few days to worship and adore Jesus Christ. Even though I am not a college student I will be what they call an "adult chaperone". In other words, I am one among many who loves these conferences and will find any way to go even though I am too old. It is also a great chance to see old friends who are worship leaders, speakers, and College ministers. It is one of the few times that I get to see friends in ministry from all over the world and spend time together worshiping our savior Jesus Christ. This will be a great week for me before I head out to New York, Virginia, and Florida in the coming weeks to speak about the reality of God's existence and His amazing grace. Please pray that this will be a great start to a great year filled with God's providence and my obedience. If you would like to watch the gatherings at Passion online go to www.268generation.org.

For His Namesake,
JP

"Yes Lord, walking in the way of your truth we wait eagerly for you, for your name and your renown are the desire of our soul". Isaiah 26:8

The road less traveled.... (the purpose of this blog)

2006-12-26T10:36:00.000-08:00

"If it was a simple, painless process then I don't think the records would have the same intensity or resonance. You have to gouge away and open the veins to the find the stuff that really matters to you, and to do that you have to go to some dark places". - The Edge (U2's guitarist)

After spending a few years volunteering, interning, and being a Student Minister I was still feeling like my part in the kingdom of God was not being fulfilled. I was not doing the things that I felt really mattered to me. What does matter to me is simple. That is to see people embrace with their lives, the reality of God. Meaning that God is not just another thing that we sign our name to and claim that we are apart of. Rather, a relationship that His name is signed on as ownership over our lives. This may seem obvious but it only sounds that way because we have heard it so many times. The very fact of God existing, and His amazing story of His Grace and Glory is something that should awaken us to amazement every morning. After spending some time being a Student Minister I now understand and have discerned that God is calling me to speak full time on His grace and the reality of His existence. This was a very scary and intimidating road for me to go on, one that I should mentioned I avoided for some time. But after spending many months in prayer about the next step in my life, God showed me that this was it. God continues to confirm this by showing me many of those who have partnered with me to pray for me and encourage me. Throughout the month of December I sent many prayer letters to many people asking for their time in prayer for me. God has blessed his plans by filling up my calendar for most of January and February. God has given me the opportunity to speak and visit in Alabama, New York, Virginia, and Florida in the next 2 months and I can't thank enough, the people who have been praying for me. You can be praying for me as I prepare and travel for the coming months, and that the spring and summer would fill up as well.

For His Namesake,
JP

Believe?

2006-12-22T06:05:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night I had the chance to speak out at Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Leeds, Alabama with Chuck Hooten leading worship. It was an amazing night and Chuck did an awesome job of leading us in worship. The message was beLIEve. Emphasizing that there are things in this world that are real and that are not real. Even more, do we truly believe that God is real? It sounds simple but it's not. The fact that God is real may be the greatest thing we can say about Him, considering that we live in an environment where going to church, being a Christian, and owning a David Crowder CD or some other Christian artist CD is the cool thing to do. If you are not a Christian you are considered an outcast, not part of the normal grind. As if God is normal, no way! God is other, not normal, not part of the southern Christian boxes we try to fit Him in that says this is just a part of my life. Some people call themselves Christians because they feel it is the right thing to do or say. Some people call themselves Christians just because they don't want to call themselves non-christians. Point is God is not a country club, program or even an organization. God is a person, a reigning King. God is real and in our midst, He's watching, listening, comforting, solving problems, holding, caring, instructing, leading, helping, directing, reigning! God is not a mere service or building, or even an idea. God is who He says he is. Do you believe? Praise God that 4 young men Wednesday night believed for the very first time in their life.

2 Days 15 Hours 25 Minutes 20 Seconds till Christmas!

JP

"On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord is in your midst".

Beginnings

2006-12-21T04:33:00.000-08:00

This week has been the start for a number of things. First and foremost, my sister had another baby boy. Henry Drake Bell weighed in at 7 lbs. 10 oz. on Tuesday afternoon. This is the latest addition to the series started by Jack and then followed by Andrew. Secondly, This week was the beginning of this blog and setting up the 2007 calendar year for speaking engagements. I am in my second month of this ministry that God has called me to which I will talk more about in the coming days. For now I will simply thank the people that have been praying for me these past few months and that have partnered with me in following the Lord's leading to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ full time. It was your prayers that got this month off to a very fast start with numerous opportunities. Thank you!

JP

"As for the saints in the Land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight" - Ps. 16:3