Thanks MOM!

Thanks Mom for the chocolate fountain---Danielle and I love it!!

See more pictures of the CRM Thankgiving PITCH-IN @ www.ShowMeCRM.org

Sir Do you know why I pulled you over?

Friday night, Danielle and I ended a romantic evening in Chicago with a speeding ticket coming home on 41 North. I was going 61 in a 45---so that is $105 less in our checking account. I honestly had no idea I was going over the speed limit. The speed limit when merging onto 41 north from 94 north was 55---I thought I was safe. But I guess the speed limit changes to 45mph as you travle


Needless to say, we will never be taking 41 north to get home.

The Freed Family

God thanks for not giving me a normal functioning family

Thanks God for brothers

Well Danielle and I are in Detroit at my parent’s home in the suburb of Clarkston. My parents live in a really cool place. They live on the same lake as Bob Seger and Kid Rock! Sometimes, they can hear music on the lake from Bob’s house and my mom has bumped into him at Kroger one or twice.

Being home for the Thanksgiving is interesting for me. It is always good to reconnect with my brothers and mom and dad. but it always reminds me of why a man leaves home to cling to his wife. I can appreciate my family, and love them a ton, but I feel good about moving away and starting my own home. It is awesome how that happens so naturally.

Right now I am watching Seinfeld with my brothers, just like old times. I have to admit I do miss them. They are the only guys on the face of the planet who really know what it was like to grow up in this house.

They are the only guys in the world that know how to really tell when dad is mad.
They are the only ones in the world that know where the “silence of the Lamb’s” cardboard cutout is hidden in our house.
They are the only guys that know how Joseph screwed up Christmas morning one year and made mom cry…we will never let him live that down.
No one else in the world knows what it is like to celebrate a FIREFIGHTERS Christmas at Kimball Township Fire Dept.

I love these guys! Thanks God for my great brothers…and thanks for giving us a relationship that is deep and real.

Happy Thanksgiving from the quietest one in the Freed family…no joke!!

Paul COLE!!!

Paul Cole got married today....congrats Paul!!!
Elopping is crazy!!! WOW!!!!! See you at Family Christmas!!!
nothin but love from the Freeds in Wisconsin!!!

Jodi and Paul Cole :::: WOW!!!!!

Blue Print: reflection of Titus 2:12

-And we are instructed to turn from godless living, and sinful pleasures and we should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God.- Titus 2:12

This week a group of men and I that I meet with weekly have committed to tattooing this scripture to our hearts. It is a powerful verse that is really a blue print for how we should respond to life.
I am forced to respond to life, through my behavior. If your attitude is the only thing you can change, the only tool of change is your behavior.
Tuesday night Danielle and I and a bunch of friends went to “THE RAVE” and awesome club here in Milwaukee that features all kinds of concerts through out the year. On Tuesday when we were there, and the only reason we were there was to see RELIANT K and MXPX. This was an awesome concert!! But one thing almost ruined it….

THE RAVE has a main floor and balcony that wraps around the entire perimeter of the room. You can literally look over the shoulder of the artist as they rock out. Not wanting to get caught in the mosh-pit with sweaty teenagers, Danielle and I sat in the upper right side of the room, just behind the shoulder of the bass player. We had a birds eye view of everything!! We could even hear the small talk of the band to each other in between songs. It was as if we were on stage with them. But from the stage…something disturbing was sitting in the front row. That if you were in the crowd or mosh-pit you would have totally missed it, but from Danielle and my seat…we heard every word.

The enemy sat in the front row of this concert. When Reliant K took the stage the 500+ people in the room erupted in praise, except for the 5 people in the front row. They hurled insults, swear words and number of hand gestures that you would not be able to find in a sign language dictionary. For the next hour between songs, this small group of people screamed at the lead singer of RK[reliant K]. At one point, the screaming was so intrusive to the band, the band members actually paused before starting a song…just to grasp their bearings. The enemy was in the front row.

The concert ended, the crowd was pleased, Reliant K had hit a home run for Jesus in their final song, that sang about forgiveness, and grace. But the enemy sat in the front row. No one probably heard them, except for the band, and no one cared, except maybe the band. But I watched in anger, in frustration, in deep hurt, because I could not do anything to protect the band. I could not yell enough praise to them or cheer them on enough to dismantle the enemy in the front row.

Here is wisdom I walked away from this life experience with…….

1. The enemy is always in the front row of our lives. He is Screaming out discouragement, and tearing us down, declaring that we, -F-in suck-, and we will never amount to anything.
2. Though the crowds cheer us on, it only takes a few voices to really change the direction of our hearts. How many times have I listened more to the enemy in the front row, then the crowds the sing a different tune.
3. The enemy is not looking to defeat you, just take your focus off what is important. When our focus is off what is meaningful and lasting, we will destroy ourselves.
4. The only way you can respond is in your behavior, behavior is chosen through your attitude. When the enemy seeks to destroy, and sits in the front row of your life, you have to make a decision. How will you respond?


The ability to Choose is the most beautiful, and most ugly thing God created. Daily I am faced with choices, to honor God in my behavior, or fall prey to the enemy. There is a beautiful spiritual reaction that our lives go through when we choose to live a life of self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God. There is also a very ugly bitter reaction that happens to us spiritually when we live godless lives, and live by our sinful pleasures.

Choice is what makes us human it’s what makes us able to love. Love is more of a choice then a feeling, or emotion. Maybe, when we reach back into our lives, and pull out these elements of self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God that make up a Christ driven life. We really are swimming against the current of the world around us, we are making a choice that goes against the grain of our fall nature. So maybe being a follower of Jesus Christ is more about Holiness then happiness? Hmm…..this is another topic….for another blog…

Ok, now I am ready to tattoo this scripture to my life.

This is Don Freed doing my favorite thing...making steaks on the grill. To this day, I have never tasted a better steak. However, he did have two heart attacks, and today can not eat much steak...but in this picture [july1979] he is loving life.

And if you are wondering...he is smiling...that is my Grandpa...happy.

love you Grandpa Freed!!

Dear Don Freed

Dear Grandpa,
I love you! Thank you for being a man of God, and sharing that with your three boys. I remember as a little boy coming over for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and every night before bed, the whole family would all kneel and pray. I know this was a tradition from your father, which you shared with your family, and then with your grandchildren. That was powerful in my life, and to this day I kneel to pray. Also, every Monday night, I have a Bible study of 30 teenage boys who meet at the church, and I tell them the story of my Grandpa, and how he is a man of God, how he loved his wife Lucy, and their three boys. I tell them about how you are a man of prayer, and conviction. I always tell them of your love for Jesus. So on Monday night with those young men, we all kneel to pray, just like you.
Grandpa, I hope I grow up to be like you. I love you so much, and pray for you often. You have always been a spiritual hero in my life, and many times I have faith in Jesus, because of my grandpa’s faith in Jesus. Thank you for loving Jesus.
Finally, thank you for the nicknames. Pumpkin toes, Hunk of Bologna, and my favorite, JohnBoy. No matter how old I become, I will always be JohnBoy.

I love you Grandpa,

JohnBoy

Danielle and I this summer

Here is a great picture of Danielle and I this past summer at Youth Camp. She is so beautiful!!!

Books I am currently reading:

Ok my hope is to read these books by the end of the year. I have started all of them, but hope to finish all of them by Jan.1

What happens is every 3-4 months I make personal reading goals for myself. The reason I do this, is because i buy lots and lots of books...with dreams of reading them all...then slowly read them...so for the past year I have been setting reading goals for meself...it has helped a ton. here are the books i am reading now....

ENTER THE WORSHIP CIRCLE by Ben Pasley [Relevant Books]
This is a great book...I laugh out loud when he the Author talks about coffee houses, and the art work inside. Very good insights so far in worship, and life style worship. I have always loved the CD's and now the book also.

THINKING FOR CHANGE by John C. Maxwell [Warner Business Books]
I have read all of John's books...and if you have read one...you really have read them all. But I enjoy his illustrations and quick insights...a mile wide and inch deep...but an easy easy read. Very encourageing to me. I enjoy all of John's books because they are fast read, and practical....much like my life.

THE CASE FOR CHRIST by Lee Strobel [Zondervan]
I have been meaning to read this book for a long time. and I am reading another of Lee's books this month, so I thought I would zip through this...but most times with Lee's books...it is a slow walk. He always has great stuff to point out...He has a great way of thinking....and causing you to think.

CONTROLLED CHAOS--Making sense of Junior High Ministry-- by Kurt Johnston
I am reading this book because in our ministry we have just split Jr. High students from the Sr. High students. I am not all that good with Jr. High students. So I am reading this book looking for direction and help...hopefully it will solve all my worlds problems. Kurt is a great youth pastor I have learned a lot from his other books.

THE DISCIPLE-MAKING CHURCH by Bill Hull
I am looking forward to reading this book. mostly because it is my passion. I have never read a book by Bill so this should be good....first two chapters are intence.

INSIDE THE MIND OF UNCHURCHED HARRY AND MARY by Lee Strobel [Willow]
This has been a great book...it is really a look in side the mind of Lee. The feelings he felt as a professional journalist for the Chicago Tribune and his feelings when he first came to church with his wife. He does a great job at painting a picture of the seeker, and the type of greeting they expect from a church. and the type of greeting they need to recieve from a church. I do question this book a tad...the first church and only church he visited as a seeker was Willow Creek, and he was a white collar professional from the City, from a boomer generation....these all play a part in a seekers mind...still waiting to see if he talks abou that.... So far though a must read for anyone who wants to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ....also for anyone who read my last Halloween post...

Chooseing To Cheat by Andy Stanley
A preacher hero to me, Andy writes great stuff...but repeats a ton in a lot of his books. I have read many of his books, and I am getting alot out of this one. I read Andy's "Visionariing" book for desert after a long day at the office....that is a great book, and my dad says this one ranks up there with it. We will see...so far...OK....but the middle is always the filler for Andy's books...he does best in the first 4 and last 4 chapters....especially in an 8 chapter book.


Hope I finish these things...I have 61 days as of today...

3 Main Ingredients to a Successful LIFE

1. Purpose [aka: Direction or Compose]
Having this defined at the front end of your life, will keep you on the path to success. This works in all ways of life. That’s why “PURPOSE Driven LIFE” has been a successful book. Because people have found that when you have purpose, it is like having a compose for your day to day activities; whether that is a meal with friends, or a marriage.
KEY QUESTION: Why are you going in this direction?

2. Goal [aka: Destination]
Having clear goals allows your to track progress in the direction you are going. ALL successful people have goals. What are the goals you have for life? Having clear goals allows you to track where you are going, and how you will get there. Having Goals in life, is like having a map.
KEY QUESTION: What do you want to accomplish?

3. Strategy [aka: Vehicle]
Having a clear strategy for how you will accomplish your goals, which are directed by your purpose, will give you the easiest way to success at what ever you do. Nailing down a strong strategy will give you a vehicle to your goals. Having a strong strategy, will give you confidence and momentum in accomplishing your goals. With out a strategy, you will never accomplish your goals. For many school is the vehicle for accomplishing their life goals. I recommend always linking yourself with a mentor. A good mentor will challenge your strategy, requiring you to really make good choices, and proper steps through life. My ministry is to link people with strong LIFE Coaches...take a look at "MY WORK" under links.
KEY QUESTION: What methods will you take to accomplish your purpose?

Why I think Jesus would participate in Halloween

I grew up -trick or treating-, in Ohio, and Michigan. My father who is a pastor would map out the best way to collect the best and most about of candy. Halloween was a big game to him. His enthusiasm for the sport of collecting free candy, really sparked in me the whole idea of Halloween.
Halloween is a kids dream come true. Everyone in your neighborhood for miles around gave away free candy. And all you have to do is dress up in a cheesy homemade costume. It is so much fun to dress up and get real creative on what you will be that year. Every year it seemed I was the super hero from TV I was currently in awe of. However, every four years, I was always the current president. I have been Ronald Regan, George Bush and one year my brothers and I were Ross Perot, Bill Clinton, and Bob Dole. We got a lot of laughs that year, and that was what we were looking for.
In my growing up years I was only allowed to -Trick or Treat- until I reached the 6th grade. Then after the 6th grade I only could help my brothers go door to door. We never decorated our home in orange and black, and we were allowed to carve pumpkins, but only with smiles or Christian symbols. One year, my mother actually won a pumpkin-carving contest sponsored by the local hospital. We were very proud of that pumpkin. Also, in my family we were never allowed to dress up like witches, wizards, ghosts, or anything scary. Halloween was a time to laugh, smile, and of course free candy. My father who was a strong Christian man laid out for my brothers and I the reasons we don’t celebrate Halloween and the reason we participate in Halloween. These truths have stuck with me.

One house, and the only house I ever remember going to for candy, was a Christian man on the corner of a long street. Don’t ask me the name of the street, as a little boy on a bike, you only know streets by the length you have to peddle. This man on the corner of the long street I knew was a Christian because and only because of Halloween. He always decorated his house real bright, with many crosses, manger scene, which I always thought was neat, and beautiful scene of Jesus with little children. Scripture was placed around his yard on signs for people to read as they approached his house. This was a house everyone wanted to be at on -trick or treat- night…not because of the décor…but because of the candy. This Christian man always gave HUGE full size candy bars away. Not those cheap, nasty, -Sweettarts- or -candy corns- that everyone else gave out, and you always were disappointed to see. This Christian man gave out the good stuff, and always wrapped around the candy bar was the entire salvation message. On the back of the wrapping the gospel was written in children’s terms, and on the front a more in depth, more adult focused message of salvation. Everyone respected that Christian man’s message. Everyone felt loved, and not judged. Everyone one knew that the Christian man loved kids, because he always had a Huge sign in his front yard that read, -Jesus loves the little Children-.

I Find Christians are on different sides when it comes to Halloween. For example in some church families, people don’t participate or celebrate Halloween. Many even speak out against it. some even throw a Halloween Alternative at the same time as the town’s scheduled -trick or treat- time. So that there children don’t feel the pressure to participate in the -Trick or treat- time.
Other church families celebrate Halloween by doing different activities during the season as a Christian response to the pagan holiday. For example the church I was a little boy in, always through a Harvest party after -trick or treating- so children could come show their candy they had collected and enjoy fresh donuts, and cider. Then my father would share the Gospel of Jesus and how He is the great provider, and Lord of the harvest in our life.

So here is what I think…I think you can either MAKE or MADE HALLOWEEN…and you say what??? Let me explain

Some Christians MAKE something out of Nothing:
Halloween to the world is a fun holiday where children dress up and -trick or treat- door-to-door. People who do not know Christ, and maybe do, decorate their home with silly cheap decorations they buy from Wal-mart [which begins promoting Halloween right after school starts]. Most times the decorations deal with scary, dark supernatural symbols. To the world, it’s cute and silly. However, to Christians, who are used to thinking in the supernatural, these things are very dangerous feeling. Christians understand the horror of sin and the slavery and bondage it puts people in.
However, most times Christians make something out of nothing. While the world would not care if Halloween disappeared we as Christian make something an issue that is not even an issue to the world.

Here is what I see happens when you MAKE something out of nothing:

Christians look scared::::::::::::::::::::
When we make Halloween an issue, and have “Halloween Alternative” we make something out of nothing. The world wonders why Christians get so scared and defensive around Halloween. IT makes us look like we are not confident in the supernatural power we claim to worship, and claim has all the answers.
I talk with many new believers, and many non-believers in my week. I really seek them out about topics like this. Search their heart, and really find out what they are thinking. They are very confused why we make something out of nothing, like Halloween. Personally I have to agree brothers and sisters. I have never once met someone, who did not come to Christ because of Halloween. But I have met many who will not give Christians an open heart to the Gospel, because of our response to Halloween.
The Truth is church, we worship a God that is stronger and more powerful then a small American holiday like Halloween. Our response to Halloween by making it an issue comes across as fearful, judgmental, and with out power. We do not worship a weak Lord, but one that is ALIVE and moving. How have you expressed that to your neighbors this year? They all wanted to bring their children to your front door, you had the opportunity to share with them your goodness through a simple piece of candy. That could have been an open door to their lives. Instead, Christians will lock their doors, turn off their lights, and not answer, or worse, leave the neighborhood to huddle up in their churches. Connecting with only people who think and act like them.
Where is the powerful God you worship, the one who eats with sinners? Where is the Jesus you worship that came for the sick? The hurting? The lost? Is He only at the church?
As for this Pastor, I will give out BIG Candy Bars with the Gospel message lighted on my front lawn, and wrapped around the great treats I have for the children.

1 Corinthians 1:21-25 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Christians Give Halloween Value:::::::::::::::
Often times, when you give nothing attention, time, and energy, you give it value. For example, I have always felt BEANIE BABIES were the dumbest things ever. They were worthless, small, bean bags in the exact same bear shape. However, companies like McDonalds new they could sell them, as collectors items. Why? Because people gave them attentions thinking they were cute and meaningful, time, searching for them. I worked at McDonalds when I was fifteen and Beanie Babies were hot items. People would call around, and search for specific collector Beanie Babies. Great amount of energy went into these stupid things, thus giving them value. Since then, many attics, mine includes, have a box tucked away holding these stupid Beanie Babies, thinking someday they will be worth something.
Christians give value to Halloween and it’s meaningless decorations, and hype by making it an issue. If Christians spent more time responding with Love, it would give more credibility to our message then our position for or against Halloween. Don’t cast your pearls church among swine! The money, energy, and attention your going to give a Halloween Alternative, turn around and put that into spreading the Gospel and making disciples. The great commission never said to defend your Christian position.
As Christians we often allow the worlds supernatural thinking to come on the same playing field as our own Holiness pursuits. Halloween is childish, but the idea of salvation, justification, and regenerations is heavenly. The theology of Holiness is not comparable to the cheap theology of Halloween. Halloween will be stuffed in boxes and stored in the garage for most of the year, but our talks of holiness with our children should be around the dinner table every night. When you compare the supernatural thoughts of this world, with the Holiness pursuits of your brothers and sisters, it cheapens the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is like comparing the Green Bay Packers with your local Junior Varsity football team at your local high school. They are not even on the same page.

1 Corinthians 3:19-24 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness; and again, The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephs or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Choose to Make LOVE not Divisiveness:
A dark empty house says something to a community on Halloween. It is not saying love that is for sure. It is being closed off from society, and worse neighbors. It is judgmental, and divisive. It is not the Gospel of Love it read about in the scripture. It is not the Jesus followers I read about in Acts. The Bible commands us to be a LIGHT to our neighbors, not a judge, a City on a hill, not a court.

Brothers and Sisters I urge you to be LOVE. Open, inviting, trusted, friendly, honest, patient, kind, and respectful. Be love, so that people will be open to your message.

1 John 4:17-21 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, I love God, yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

How A Christian Made Halloween Something out of nothing::::::::::::

1. Point To LIFE!
Show that LIFE with Christ is stronger then death with the world. We live with out life when we are separated from the creator of Life. I heard Mike MacNeil say it this summer and it has stuck with me ever since, WE WORSHIP THE GET UP GOD. Death no longer has a sting. We are more then conquers through HIM! At Halloween point people not to death like the rest of the world, but use your life, your home, your costumes to point to a NEW Life in Christ. Be joyful and announce that the Prince of Peace is alive and ready to give NEW LIFE. Brothers and Sister do not be fearful of this world, but teach your children that the world is a place fallen from God. Thay is why there is death, but we worship a living God. A God of hope, peace, and Love!

Luke 7:36-50 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.

Jesus answered him, Simon, I have something to tell you.
Tell me, teacher, he said.
Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?
Simon replied, I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.
You have judged correctly, Jesus said.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.
Then Jesus said to her, Your sins are forgiven.
The other guests began to say among themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins?
Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace.

2. Advance the Gospel
Speak the Word of God courageously and fearlessly. Use Halloween to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. The man on the corner when I was a child, told hundred and hundreds of Children about Jesus. Just by investing His time, money, and energy into the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is an example of us all of using the negative things of this world, as a positive platform to share the Gospel. I really believe that we have a problem in the American Church. We have believers who will make more of a fuss about abortion, Halloween, politics, democrats, and Supreme Court decisions, than they will for spreading the Gospel. This shows me a church with pride problems.

4 Ways to Use Halloween to Advance the Gospel:

Trunk or Treat: If you live in a rural community, open up the church as the community center for “trick or treat” invite families to the church, where member so the congregation decorate their trunks with BIBLE Themes. Some great trunk themes have been, Christmas, David and Goliath, Calvary, Acts Church, Noah, Creation, and Lazarus raised from the Dead. At each trunk a child has to say, Jesus Love Me and when he or she does, they will receive a piece of Candy, or course wrapped in the Trunks, story from the Bible. When the Child returns home, or inside the church for donuts and apple cider, they have 30-40 Bible stories, and 30-40 great pieces of candy.
My favorite was an older gentlemen, who did not feel he was very creative. He merely showed up and opened his trunk. He passed out big candy bars, but his trunk was not decorated like the others. When the Children asked why his trunk was empty, He would smile, and explain that His trunk was decorated to show the story of his LIFE before he asked Jesus to come inside; boring, and plain. He then would tell how he accepted Christ, and why they should too. I believe even an empty trunk can speak more of love, then a dark home, on Halloween.

Gospel Tracks with BIG Candy Bars: Make kids want to come to your home. Give away big candy bars, with a big message of LOVE! They will read those messages, I always did! Also, parents will be curious of the message your giving their child, and read the message also.

Christian Symbols: Symbols are a big part of Halloween; for example, black cats, witches, ghosts, black kettles, or dark scary things. Now one wants to really live in a world like this. So give them another option. Decorate your home with beautiful Christian symbols that speak of new life, and fresh starts. Decorate your home that speaks a nonverbal message of a great God!

Throw a Halloween Costume Party!: This is my favorite, because I always love a good party; especially a costume party. As adults, we still love to be childish and creative. Invite adults to your home for a costume party. Invite not only believers, but also non-believers from your work, or neighborhood. Invite them with a great invitation that really sets the mood for the evening. Have a costume party, with a prize that’s worth being creative for. Then at the end of the night, tell the group you want to share with them the GOOD NEWS that changed your life. Share your personal testimony and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Give them an invitation to talk to you more about your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Tools to Teach your Children about Halloween:
Often times, Children reap the most from Halloween. So use Halloween to spark conversations around your home….here are a few of my suggestions.

1. Teach of Supernatural things, such as demon possession, death, SIN, and how God is larger then all these things. Teach that the world is curious of supernatural things, because they don’t understand, but the Bible is very clear on these topics. [1Corinthians 7:29-31; 1John 2:16-17]
2. Teach God is greater then Death. The world does not understand death, because they do not have HOPE in Christ. Explain the Good news of Jesus raising from the dead, so that we may go to heaven.
3. Halloween is a great time to talk with your children about sin, and hell. Explaining to them that a relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to escape hell.


Let’s not Make Halloween an issue church, let’s say we made Halloween worth something…

My Space....make it your space

hey i have started something new...check it out...

www.myspace.com/johnfreed

WOW! The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few

There are 51 Million children under the age of 18 years old
80% of all children in the US do NOT have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
40 Million Do NOT know Jesus

Before I am 35 (10 years) the US will no longer be able to consider itself a Christian nation.

A persons moral foundations are generally in place by the age of 9

Most American Christians have accepted Christ by age 12

What person believes by age 13 is what they will die believing.

85% of Parents in the US believe it is their job to teach their kids about Spiritual Matters and Moral beliefs.

Only 11% said they believed it was the Churches job to teach children about spiritual matters.

In the Protestant churches across the US only 1 in 5 parents were given any instruction on how to Teach children about moral beliefs and Spiritual matters.

In most typical US Churches 4 of ever 10 people a church ministers to are children. Yet 7 our of every 8 dollars are spent on adults.

Why I wish church was like our NEW SUPER WAL-MART

Praise the Lord, Super Wal-Mart opened it’s doors in my town at 7:30am yesterday morning. People were rushing in and out of the coffee shop to see it. I found myself feeling anxious as I waited for Danielle to get off work, so we too could zip over and see the Materialistic Temple.

Super Wal-Marts (SW-M) are very hard to find in Wisconsin. Only one in the Greater Milwaukee area, unlike Indiana where we have migrated from. In college we would spend hours just wondering the aisles see all the pretty things we will own when we were out of school. And today, I bought speakers, and a sub-woofer…why? Because I like loud music. And as I sit here and reflect on my present location in my journey through life, Black Eyed Peas, “Where is the Love” is rumbling through my speakers.

So back to my title of my reflection…why I wish church was like the Materialistic Temple we call Super Wal-Mart?

I have a few reasons:

1. They remember the ONE THING: No matter what day you walk into SWM you will know what the main thing is…the price-the cost—the MONEY! That’s right, SWM open all across this red white and blue nation with the one goal in mind. Make money! Sure they ALWAYS (which they now own that word) want the lowest price for you and I. But the truth is, they want our hard earned money.

Church is a little different, and when I say church I am talking about your church, and my church, and that church on the corner where your grandma used to go, before the young preacher came in, and that church that sits in circles and guy with dreads sings with a guitar, while we try to figure out the tune. And I am talking about the church where everyone wears a suit on Sunday, and have like a billion kids in every family. Church has lost it’s ONE THING. I bought a book a year ago called “THE ONE THING” great book, as it explores Martha and Mary and sometimes we need to be a Martha in our work, but most times we need to be a MARY and just chill and rest at the feet of Christ.

I am reflecting on the church as a whole, so I am making big generalizations. Buti feel today, that the church has lost it’s one thing. We are so caught up in ministry we forget what the ONE thing is. We forget what every person that walks through our doors want and need.

The one thing: GRACE: Salvation Grace, Discipleship Grace, Evangelistic Grace, Servant Grace.

2. Wal-Mart figured it out…it takes more then one product to get your money. They know they could not have a SWM only selling clothes, or just food, or just oil changes. They have figured out that, to make the most money, they need to have products for everyone of our needs….and most of all WANTS

Wal-mart feeds to our nature to want things we don’t need. Maybe the church can learn something from this. Except turn it around. Feed to the need, not to the wants of the people. Yeah people want to be entertained, but seriously, where in the Good Book does it show eternity as entertaining. And if Children’s ministry is so important in today’s church life…why are we so bent on entertaining the children and not feed the family’s need for deep relationships, practical virtues, and honest communication?

The church needs to simplify, cut out the fluffy fat that’s been holding us back from truly running the race for the prize. As a preacher, I want to give people what they need, not what they wanted.

Do people like it? Not really, seriously, I am sounding like I like it. But I am the first who wants to be entertained, the first to be spoon fed the message every Sunday. But the truth is, people stopped following the message of Christ because it was to hard. It required so much, it required all of us.

Well, it’s 9:46am and I need to get back home to my beautiful bride, she is probably sleeping in…I love that about her. She knows how to enjoy the mornings. This is my day off…why am I here?

Any way, I will probably swing by the new 3rd largest in the country SUPER Wal-mart on the way home. It is right across the street from my 800 sq. ft. apartment. What a beautiful world. What a beautiful Mukwonago!

Times are ALWAYS changing...

Today I read an article over a new cup of coffee. I don’t know which one I enjoyed more, the Carmel Mocha Freeze or the article on the new in coming college freshmen. Now it was only 6 years ago that I was a college freshman at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. Some of you remember my freshman year…and I again apologize for all of that. I am definitely like a fine wine…am getting more enjoyable every year. But anyway on to more important things that me…this coffee freeze was amazing. As you know my wife is a professional barista…for a coffee drinker, that is like an alcoholic owning a bar…it is a beautiful relationship. Any way, I was enjoying this coffee when I found this article on 7B of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which by the way is a horrible paper. But it is all we have in these parts. So if I am going to read it, I read the good stuff with a good cup of joe.

This article was really interesting. I guess every year the Beloit College publishes the Beloit College Mindset List, an annual compilation that offers a glimpse of the worldview of each incoming class. And it came out today!! Yeah!! And the paper thought it would publish a few of it’s findings. I have listed them here for you to enjoy with me…but wait….get that coffee I had…it is so good…

The Culture of the College Freshman

1. Born in 1987
2. America’s Funniest Home Videos’ has always been on the air
3. A man named George Bush has been the president for more then half their lives.
4. They grew up with pay-per-view, voice mail on their phones, dirty dancing at school dances, and the United States as the only superpower.
5. The class of 2009 has never known Andy Warhol
6. They have never seen Jimmy Swaggart preach on TV
7. They have never seen a show of Arsenio Hall.
8. They all grew up with home computers
9. They have never known life with out a digital camera
10. Souped-up car stereos is not new to them.
11. Television has always blurred the lines between news and entertainment
12. This freshman class has no concept of the 6 o’clock news
13. Most freshman guys do not know how to tie a tie, let a lone own one
14. My favorite: They have always had “Starbucks”


I found this article intresting, and felt led to add some of my own. Since I do work with youth at many diffrernt level I thought I would add what I have picked up:

The Culture of a High School Student…

1. They have never known life with out a Wal-Mart in their town
2. They have never had basic Nintendo as their only game system
3. MTV has never played Music video’s
4. They have always had 3D video games
5. Sad but true…Dumb and Dumber (the original and only funny one) is too old to quote. They don’t get it…it is so so so sad. Does anyone want to hear the most annoying sound….blank stares….that is all you get…blank stares…so sad.
6. They have no conception of a military draft
7. They want to be around people who are different
8. They respect adults more than previous generations
9. Rebellion comes in different forms then just smoking, drinking, or sex, Rebellion is done publicly and openly
10. Homosexuality, has always been accepted
11. The church has always been for their parents
12. Coffee drinking is cool
13. They don’t know life with out email, or cell phones
14. AOL has always been around
15. AOL Instant Messenger is a primary way of communication
16. Text messaging is growing fast then a 30 year old trying to text “fast” on his or her phone.
17. Returning bottles is a foreign concept (except in Michigan where I am from)
18. Having a paper rout is so Andy Griffith…wait….they don’t know him either.
19. DVD players are old hates
20. They have always known school with shootings and open drugs.

WOW, as a person who invests His life into youth, I really have to be on the watch more then I am today, or the changing culture that is around me. If you have any more…please email me and let me know.

I got worms……….blank stares….blank stares….so so sad…

Thoughts from my reading over vacation

Ok, so I am now in Indianapolis, Indiana, visit my father and mother in-law. It was is always good to see them, relax by their beautiful big pool and just refresh. I have really enjoyed our vacation these past couple of days. We have been from Milwaukee, to Detroit, down to Dayton, Ohio, and now in Indy. On the way I have been reading a book called “We Believe” by a bunch of different authors including one of my favorites Thomas Oden, and J.I.Packer. I find these guys simply deep…I say simply deep because they take you deep with simple terms and thoughts. I hope someday to be able to do that with my writing. But today, I am bloggijng on what I have learned from my vacation.

First I have learned, I have a lot of holes. In fact if you were to fill me with water, I would leak. I have been reading some J.I. Packer and he was writing about how messed up our lives really are with out Christ. He concludes that people are “perverted”. What a crazy way to put it! But think about it, we are really messed up. Turn on the television at 5:00pm, the radio; open up the Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee's horrible so called newspaper) and you will find a group of perverted living creatures. Why do we act the way we do? How can we stop the violence, bring peace in the middle-east, stop the big corporate scandals, hold back the gas prices, and convince people not to shoot other people? Why is sex the main focus of everything on TV? Why does there have to be more then chicken wings at Hooters? Why are we this way?

Sin is a subject many preachers today fail to tackle? I don't know if it is because it is to big to totally label? Or we are afraid to step on toes. Maybe sin is to big for one preacher to talk about, to much in us to point out in others. Maybe we are not supposed to point anything? But what about sin. Is it talked about in your life? Do you deal with it? Suffer from it? Is it a desire or disease in your life?

James, (the book not my brother) talks a lot about sin. I have been studying this book on Sunday mornings with some friends. We gather for breakfast and dig deep in this book, trying to find and discovers what God has for us through this letter written by James thousands of years ago. James writes that our desires married with evil gives birth to sin. First time, I read that it didn't really catch, it's one of those Bible things that jump out on you in every day life. My desires are not sinful, but desire to serve my wife and love her with all I am is not sinful. But turning those desires onto myself, or another women, other then my wife would be a sin. See how sin works? It takes the good of this world, things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control….the things we are naturally drawn to, the things we all long to have in our lives, and Sin or better said, the evil one, perverts those things, making them destructive, like a cancer to our lives. Sin takes for example; love and perverts it to lust, or joy and turning it to anger, and bitterness. These things eat at our lives, our nature, and unfortunately, it has been in our lives since the womb.

We are full of this cancer when we are born, passed from one generation to the next. No one ever has to teach a kid how to lie, or cheat, or be selfish. No one had to teach me how to be perverted in how I live. It is in my nature. Like it's in the nature of a lion to kill and eat, it's in my nature to sin.

So how do we change this course we are on? Can we? I mean can you and I change the life in which we are living? Like a broken car needing a total overhaul of the engine. Can my life be changed by me? Can the car fix itself? Can the computer rid itself of a virus? OR does it take an outside force? Does it take something greater then the car to fix the car?

I know the cure for the world. I really do. I have experienced it, and right now in this Starbucks where I write this, I am experiencing it. Not for the first time, or the last, but for all time. How about this…if I had the cure for aids, which kills hundreds of thousands a month. Kids in other countries are dieing horrible deaths because of this disease. If I had the cure, and you had the disease…would you want it? What would you do for it? Would you kill for it? Would you steal for it?

Remember James? Not from brother but the book in the Bible that I mentioned before. Yeah, that guy, well He died. In fact he died for the cure. He died sharing the cure with others. He was killed for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The cure my friends for this disease of sin is Jesus Christ. In fact Christ died so that you could be saved. Christ paid the price for the cure; He wanted you so bad to be delivered from the bondage of the disease that He died on the cross so that you and I could be free from the bondage of Sin.

But if you know me, and you do, or you wouldn't be reading this, you would know that John Freed is full of sin. He is not right. But friend, God is still working on me. Just like a car needing a complete overhaul of the engine, John Freed needs a complete overhaul of his heart. Sin has perverted his heart, soul, mind, and strength. But Christ says, love me with all you, and I will give you all ME. Walk with Me and I will walk with you. He says in John 15, “I am the vine you are the branches, if you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing”. I really believe that John Freed apart from Christ can do nothing. Nothing, that isn't perverted or distorted.

Holiness, is the process in which Christ moves in your life making you pure, and perfect. So it isn't you who fixes you…it is Christ, and Christ's Spirit releasing your spirit to be all He has created you to be.

So I have a few questions for those of you who finished this thought…
1. Do you have sin in your life?
2. Do you realize how it is destroying you?
3. Are you trying to fix it on your own?
4. Have your surrendered all of you to Christ?
5. Have you searched Christ out for a new life?

It was a good vacation so far, Friday we head home and it is back to work on Saturday.

If you wondered what I looked like since College

Many of you have called or emailed and wondered what i look like since college. Brooks Sayer had a bet with his wife on the subject of my beard and whether or not i would still have it or not, so here is a picture of me in June...in case you wondered how i turned out!

my Beautiful Awesome Wife

This past tuesday was my 2 year Anniversary to my beautiful Danielle.

She is awesome!!!

My vacation

My vacation is going great this year. Danielle and I are traveling to Detroit to visit my parents in their new home and church. It was great seeing how God had moved and provided in their lives and to see how many people they will have the chance to share Christ with. A year ago, we were praying that God would provide a ministry for my father (Bud Freed). A few years ago he came out of a really hard season of ministry. Ministry had become more of a job, than serving the Lord, and he understood he needed to get his feet under him and draw closer to the Lord. So, for three years he has worked as the Chaplin for a hospital in Coldwater, Michigan and in the shipping and recieveing area of that hospital. But today, he is the senior Pastor of a church in a beautiful lake town just outside Detroit. They are loving this season of ministry and enjoy being able to be used by God in a fresh new way.

So we are over here for a few days visiting them, then on Friday and Saturday we are heading to Ottowa Lake near Toledo (exit 5 on Hwy23) where Justin and Lindsay will tie the knot..........................spring forward to the future.........................that wedding was beautiful!! Justin and Lindsay make an awesome dynamic couple. Justin has always been a huge smile in my life. He is one of those guys you love to be friends with because he makes you a better person. Justin has always taught me how to be open, real, and authentic with others in my spiritual life. Lindsay is a beautiful lady, who is passionte about her faith. I was thinking yesterday, when her father was walking her down the isle...boy i hope my daughter, someday, turns out in love with Jesus like she is!

We are back in Detroit, and we are planning on leaving tomorrow for Dayton, OH. where I will show Danielle where i grew up and went to high school. It will be fun seeing old old old friends, and reconnecting with them.

Then after Dayton, (we have no schedule of time) we will head to Anderson, IN. where her parents live. We are looking forward to this..because they have a pool, so we plan on just sitting around doing nothing.

While i am on my vactaion i am reading a few books. I hope to have them done when i return home. One is "Chirst Plays in 10,000 Places" by Eugene Peterson. Which is a great book on Spiritual Theology. It is a tough book!! But i am enjoying it. Also i am reading "We Believe" which is a basic Christianity book by many old time authors. And then finally i am reading, another book my Eugene that i can not recall the title....but i proimse you it is good. If you would like to borrow them, drop me a email.

If you were wondering, i do miss our students. It is like we have left our kids with grandma and grandpa. I think about them daily, and just earlier I was showing someone our website...i really love those guys and gals.

well, i better get going. Danielle is napping on the couch, and i am chillin on the porch. I will try to check back later...but you know how I am at blogging.

What am i doing now?

Ok seriously, i am not a good blooger. This is exactly what happens when I try to journal. I get a great start..and then boom...real life kicks in and I loose it. I get not lazy, but too busy. Almost as if everything i was doing was more important then journaling...or blooging. So do i get guilty? Do i get angry? Do I stare aimlessly into the night? NO! I FIGHT BACK!!!

My wife had a good idea...she said i should put my "To Do" list on my blog, giving people a great glimpse into what I do on a daily basis. Since I am sure everyone wonders what a pastor does all day...besides prayer, practice weddings, and listen to Christian raido.

But next week I have to preach...no, i don't normally have to preach...but well it is coming to that time of the month again, so the topic I am speaking on is..."What Jesus wants to do when life hands you garbage to work with"...long title i know...but i could not think of a better way to shorten it. Unless I went with: "Jesus + Garbage = Todays 30min sermon".

Well today it is 78 and beautiful in Milwaukee. Could not ask for a better day. Danielle is coming back from Chicago where she took Veronica (our good friend from Arizona) to the air port. It is an emotional ride, because Veronica will not be back for sometime. So Veronica, Wisconsin and our hearts...are growing colder until you return.

Tomorrow if you really want to know: CRM (www.ShowMeCRM.org) is having a Car wash to raise money for youth camp, and after that i am off to Oshkosh for LIFEST!! Should be a ton of fun!

Well, I tip my glass to those who struggle. It is sad to think...if it were not for Christ being the unfailing God...the unfailing love...my whole life would be nothing more then a failure. Sure I fail, and often. But what if failing is all i can do? What if somewhere deep inside of me is this cancer....this broken peice of me...and all I will ever do is fail? Then what?

John 15:5--->when ever you start to get it.

Love you Father, keep close, pull me back, and urge me out into a deeper walk with you. You make it so easy...help me not to make my spiritual life so hard. I just have a way of taking it back, and making my spiritual life about me...and less about you. When in fact you want to create in me a clean, pure, powerful, rich, barbaric, heart, that desires to have all of you. Yeah...that sounds good.


p.s. if you have not noticed....my grade school English teachers FAILED in a grand way with me...i take no responsiblity for my education...i was merely a by stander=) or so it seems.

Pictures

My family was never big on pictures. We are not that typical family that has pictures covering the hallway walls, or lining the fire place mantle or even hanging in the bed rooms. My family has only taken the traditional family photo every 5 years. I guess the thinking was, “hey we know what each other looks like”. But since I got my digital camera for Christmas I have been obnoxious. I love to take pictures of everything, and everyone. They say a good picture can speak 1000 words, and I believe it. I love to look at peoples pictures of trips, family events, old ones, new ones, sad pictures and funny pictures I love the many things pictures can say to a person.
But as I write this the thought passes my mind. If someone could take a picture of your spiritual life, what 1000 words would come to mind? Or better yet, if they could take a picture of your spiritual life, just capture a second of it, what one word would it be saying?
Truth is, no one can take a picture of your spiritual life. But Jesus Christ can see it. He can, he can look deep into your heart and read everything you think, feel, and desire. Do you know what He sees? What do you think His reply is? How do you think He will respond? I bet I can guess…

Forgiven

1 John 1:9-10 Read it! And LIVE it!

Reflections from James

Last night I was beat. It's been awhile since my last full day off, to long to admit even to myself. So last night I came back to the apartment to vedge. I grabbed a “Sam’s Choice” flavored water (man I love those things) and a bag of popcorn and sat on the porch.

When I get old I want to be one of those old guys that gets up really early and goes to the local diner to drink coffee and talk about the headlines with other old guys who do nothing all day. That, my friend, is a day I am looking forward to.
Anyways, I came back to the ol' homestead for some R&R and fliped open my Bible to James. I honestly picked the book of James because my brother James has been on my heart all week. He is currently working through some life changes, or life issues and I have been lifting him up in prayer. He has been a huge blessing to me but He seems to live one of those lives that is always in turmoil. So I am really praying that God gives him Peace. Not peace like a great inner war is now over. And one side is the winner while the other regroups. But peace in the Hebrew sense of the word…a NEW road…A fresh path for his Life.
So again, I opened my Bible to James. Here is what I dug up...

First off James is a great book for the mature IN Christ. If you are looking for that Purpose Driven Life….well look no further. James laid it out long before Rick Warren figured it out.
v. 19 “…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Easier said then done of course, but James warns us that anger does not bring about what God desires. If you really want purpose for your life, seek out what God’s purpose is for your life. RIGHTEOUSNESS. Large word that I too am still trying to come to grips with. But as I read further in James he points out just 3 verses later that it starts with humility.

My brother James is an awesome guy who I know wants what God wants. But many times he is like me…quick to speak, slow to listen, and quick to snap off in anger. But is that who God has created James of me to be?

The truth is James puts it simply when he says that we need to shed off moral filth, and HUMBLY accept the word planted in you. Which can save you.

Humility is a hard lesson to learn. Have I learned it completly…no, but I have experienced it! Like the time I asked my wife to marry a fool like me. She said yes!! Yes!! Can you believe it? I mean…I can not believe she would commit to live everyday for the rest of her life with, and for- me. I mean me wanting her was a no brainier, she is incredible in every way. But me, an untalented in cool things, bad dresser, and not really much to look at guy.

Humility is learned as you do your faith. As you walk this road of life, and you hand over every step to Christ. I feel that he hands back, humility. The more you clothe yourself in his Word. The more humility you gain. Do you see it? Read the rest of James, maybe you will see what I see. That you can not gain humility, it is a gift. Like grace, mercy and holiness. Humility is the food for your faith. With out works your faith is dead. Just like with out food you will die, but think about it…could it be that humility is how we digest our faith?

Can you have faith with out humility? Can you have anything good and life giving with out humility?

Praying for James on this supposedly day off of Thursday. God is my strength and my refuge.

PIC: Danielle and I with our friend Dana

What i love...

John Freed is a husband to Danielle. Who he is very much in love with. In fact before Danielle other wise known as BD. He was a fool. He searched and searched for MRS. Right. Many times his heart was broken. Until one day, she took him on a date. Yup, you could say he fell in love. Love at first sight for sure!!
Also, John is in love with Jesus Christ. yeah before Christ other wise known as BC. John was a fool. He searched and searched for somethign real in fake places. Until one day, GOd got a hold of John's heart....kinda called out to him in a way. John responded and it was love at first sight. Full of grace, hope, Joy, peace, mercy. All wrapped up in Love. Since then John has been a good husband, good friend and blessed. I guess you could say John would have been all those things before Christ entered his life...but John knows. Yup John knows what could have happened if he would have never fallen in love with Christ.

Do you know what could happen in your life with out Christ? I know what could happen in your life with Christ.

Thursday Night...and I am tired

Well Danielle is in Choir pracitce right now, but she sends her greetings. We really don't know what we are supposed to do with a Blog site, but we are doing it....somehow.

Today, we took the day and went to the Wisconsin Dells, not for play or fun, but for a Kids Camp meeting. We are getting all our ducks in a row for this summer. I am working on CRM stuff and she is organizing and stratagizing for Children's Ministry. It is an exciting time, but a very busy time. We really need some time off...but as we look through our calenders...we don't see it coming until at least middle of July.
But we truly feel very blessed to be in Mukwonago and at Our Savior's Wesleyan Church. The people here have given us the opportunity to spread our wings and truly allow God to teach us to fly. It feels good to be here and serving Him!

Then this afternoon we took a long walk down State Street in Madison Wisconsin. Beautiful university town. somewhere around 65000 students attend that school!!! WOW! As we walked down state street my eyes kept staring at people. Danielle and I have a starring problem. We really love people, and we love to just watch them! It even gets worse when we are in a town like Madison, but we enjoyed the day seeing the people=)

In my life I am hungry. Not like food hungry, like stomache hungry. I am hungry for more. Hungry for a deeper love. It almost feels like my soul is groaning. I long for a deeper love for my Lord, and deeper love for my wife, and a deeper love for my ministry. I know this feeling well. I feel it when I am on the brink of something big in my spiritual life. Something fresh...something new. I have a craving heart.
I don't say this to sound like I am holy-er than thou...but i say it because I want more...i mean i really want to know and do, and be more like Christ. have you ever felt like your soul was hungry? Like you wanted something more than where you are currently living? What did you do? Tonight, i am merely trying to get a Blog off the ground that honestly i am 100% sure no one knows about or even reads. Like it's my own litttle private web space...what will i do with it?

Tonight, i will sleep good, because tommorow i spend the evening with a LIFE Group south of town. I am walking them through a healing service for a young family in our church. We are hungry to see GOd move.

Good night...and well...pray that i get somethig to eat....i am almost starving! Is that where he wants to take me? Like is this a 40 days in my desert. We will see.

Night

What am I doing?

Ok well, it is Wednesday, I am rushing between one ministry to the next, and thought I would set up a Blog Spot for Danielle and I. I really honestly do not know how these things work...but hey, I think it could be intresting. Plus, I can send people here to introduce them more to us. I hope this can be used so people can view our hearts, and really get to know us better.

Well here is to the Freed House...keep an eye out and see what we are up to=)

John