James Is Your Friend

Taking A Break

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:35:00 -0400

I want to thank everyone who has been reading my blogs and watching my videos over this past year. I’m honored that you would choose to waste your time on this site.

Unfortunately, I must tell you that I am going to be taking a break. It was a hard decision and I will miss you all. I am currently redoing my time management situation and part of that is by simplifying my life. Jamesisyourfriend.com is one of the projects that I decided I needed to put on hold to refocus and simply my life. This simplification process will allow me to more effectively glorify God in the higher priorities of my life.

However, this is not the end. I will come back to write many more blogs on how Christ’s love must be shown and shared to this culture. In fact, I have 4 blogs that I have been drafting recently and I will post them when I come back. I do not know how long of a break I am going to take, it could be 3 months to even a year. Please keep me in your prayers as I seek God’s guidance during this refocusing time.

And always remember….my name is James and I am your friend. :-)

Posted on 09/27/11 at 4:35pm

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Fri, 02 Sep 2011 23:18:45 -0400

"Endless thanks to all who were involved in the making of this project. All praise and glory to..."

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:50:56 -0400

“Endless thanks to all who were involved in the making of this project. All praise and glory to Jesus Christ, to whom I owe everything.”

- Adam Young (Owl City)
In the booklet of his new album, All Things Bright And Beautiful.

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Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:01:05 -0400

A Thought About Practicing People Patience

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:21:00 -0400

Everyone knows someone who tests their patience. Can you think of that person? We all have people in our lives that bring us to the threshold of our patience because of reasons ranging from them being annoying or different all the way to them even being mean, hurtful, and causing suffering. These people may be in our family, be our friends, or at our work, school, church, and other regular meeting places.

I know that I am not immune to this test of patience. I can remember working with someone who was very hard to work with. They were very arrogant and condescending. There were times that I had to spiritually prepare myself before walking into the door to work. I also know that my wife is not immune to this. I have been the cause of a lot of my wife’s struggle for patience. I know that God loves me because He gave me a wife that can deal with my personality, weaknesses, and my times of stupidity.

Patience is important to discuss because…. (read more ->)

Posted on 08/25/11 at 9:20pm

A Short Thought About Knowing God's Will For Your Life

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:04:40 -0400

Many of us ask the question, “What is God’s Will for my life?” This is a good question and we all struggle with this. We sometimes wish that God would just lay out a roadmap before us detailing His plan in our life. I constantly hear people say, “I just wish I knew God’s Will for me.” Is it possible to know God’s Will for your life, right now?

Well, first of all, we must remember exactly what it means to know God’s Will for our lives: God’s Will is what is in His Word. A lot of times, we think that we have to have this “revealing” moment where we know exactly what God wants us to do. Of course, that can happen sometimes, but most of the time it is simply living God’s Word. Basically, we can do whatever we want and still be in His Will as long as we are living according to His Word. Also, in order to truly know how God’s Word applies in our lives specifically, we have to follow Romans 12:1-2:

“I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

This verse basically tells us a few things about understanding God’s Will:

1) We need to be living completely surrendered to Him by sacrificing ourselves (our desires, our selfishness) to Him. This sacrifice to Him is “living” and “holy.” We need to be actively pursuing Christ and His love. We need to be “alive” with complete satisfaction and fulfillment in Christ. We need to get our joy, strength, identity, and security from Christ. We need to be “holy” in that we are set apart from the world - we live, feel, think, speak, and act differently.

2) We need to be being transformed into Christ and not be conforming to the world. That means that we have different values, beliefs, behavior, and worldview from the world. We don’t listen to the messages that they send our way because their messages just cloud our understanding of God’s Will and His Word.

3) We need “renewed minds.” We need to allow God to completely control our thoughts and attitudes. We need to use our minds to guard our hearts. That means that we have to not fill our minds with all the useless crap that the world sends our way all the time (esp. through movies, TV, music, internet, etc). We need to fill our minds with God’s Word.

Now, the question is, what does all this mean for us specifically? Well, it really means that God’s will is for us to glorify Him by knowing Him and making Him known. If you are going to do something that follows that purpose, then that is God’s Will. I usually tell anyone that if they are going to do something that is about the glory of God, I say, ”Go For It!” Of course, there are some conditions to this: 1) If your heart is right with God. 2) If your motivations are pure. 3) If you are wisely thinking about the choice.

Knowing God’s Will for your life is simple: Know His Word. Now, it may be simple to know, but it sure is hard to live. That’s why we must make our relationship with Christ the priority in our lives in order for Him to live His Word through us. Stop worrying about God’s Will for your life, start living out God’s Word along with Christ.

Posted on 08/15/11 at 11:05pm

Photo: Crazy Clouds 5

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:23:41 -0400

On our way to Sub Zero one day after visitation, I saw this cloud that looked really cool. Then I noticed that it was right in front of the sun and it looked epic. I really wanted to take a picture of it, but I was driving a van full of students, so I decided to be safe and did not take a picture. However, just recently, I found out that one of the students had taken a picture of it and she sent me the picture. Check it out and thanks Ashley!

If you want to see more of my Crazy Cloud pictures (and video) check out my previous posts:
Crazy Clouds 1
Crazy Clouds 2
Crazy Clouds 3
Crazy Clouds 4

Posted on 08/08/11 at 7:25pm

Photo

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 23:02:36 -0400

A Short Poem 3 - Bad Day

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:16:00 -0400

I have never claimed to be a poet. I am not good at artistic stuff, including poems. However, I do try to write small rhymes at times to glorify God. One day, I was thinking about life and how somedays can just seem to be horrible. But, even when those days seems like they suck, I know that Christ made that day for a reason. So, I came up will a small saying that helps me through those days. I figured I would share it with you to maybe help you when you have a bad day.

Its just one of those days to glorify my King.

In the midst of all the pain and suffering,

I will hope in the joy that He will bring.

(Check out my other feeble attempts at poetry: A Short Poem 1 & A Short Poem 2)

Posted on 08/5/11 at 2:15pm

A Short Thought About Feeling Like The World Hates You

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:22:00 -0400

The whole world doesn’t hate you.

But, even if every person in the entire world was actively and consciously hating you, so what?!?! If you have Christ, you have everything. All you need is Christ. He alone will satisfy. He alone will fulfill. He alone should be the basis of your life, strength, joy, security, esteem, and identity. He is the only one who ultimately matters because He is the only one who perfectly and truly loves you and will never leave you nor hate you…ever. Stop trying to gain something from everyone else, just gain everything from Christ.

I’d rather be hated by the entire world and have Christ, then to be loved by the entire world and only give half of my heart to Christ.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me (Christ) before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” John 15:18-19.

So, my friends, you have a choice: Are you going to get fulfillment from others or are you going to get your fulfillment in Christ alone?

Much love. :)

Posted on 07/28/11 at 3:20pm

Photo: Crazy Clouds 4

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:41:00 -0400

So, at Summer Camp with the youth, there was this weird storm cloud that came across the sky. I attempted to take a picture of it, but it doesn’t look as cool as it did in person. Anyways, here are the pics:

If you want to see more of my Crazy Cloud pictures (and video) check out my previous posts:
Crazy Clouds 1
Crazy Clouds 2
Crazy Clouds 3

Posted on 06/27/11 at 10:40pm

A Short Thought About Suffering

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:44:00 -0400

Everyone suffers. It could be from circumstances, feelings, physical pain, or just life. Life is hard and painful at times. Sometimes we feel as if the world is strangling us and we can’t breathe. Sometimes storms come and cause us to start drowning, painfully gasping for air. Death happens, betrayal happens, depression happens, breakups happen, poverty happens, evil happens……
life happens.

However, in the midst of the struggle and in the midst of the storm, there is someone who changes everything….He changes how we see suffering…He changes how we view life….He changes life.

This someone is Christ. Christ is the answer, Christ defeats evil, Christ changes life.

So, whenever you suffer and are going through a hard time, look to Christ. He is the only one that you truly need. He is the only one who can truly fulfill and satisfy you to the point where trials and storms in life will not break you down or destroy you. You can get through it all if you just look to Christ:

1. Look to Christ who knows what its like to suffer.

“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are….Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” Hebrews 4:15, Luke 24:26

2. Look to Christ who suffered, yet was innocent.

“Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:21-22

3. Look to Christ who is victorious over evil sources of suffering.

“Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand, with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” 1 Peter 3:22

4. Look to Christ who will bring you through suffering with strength in Him.

“The Lord said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

5. Look to Christ who will comfort you in the midst of suffering.

“For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:5

Life is full of suffering and it is not always easy. However, we can be thankful that we have a Christ who has suffered & been persecuted, will give us comfort, power, & victory, and at the end say “death, crying, and sorrow is no more” (Rev 21:4).

(Written by both James and Keri Witmyer)
Posted on 06/21/11 at 9:40pm

Dad’s New ToyMy Dad’s new (used) car. Randomentary...

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:26:44 -0400

Dad’s New Toy

My Dad’s new (used) car.

Randomentary is just a random documentary of random moments in my life. My name is James and I am your friend.

Posted on 06/20/11 at 11:25pm

Lunch Wars: The Bigness of Cam The galaxy is in turmoil and...

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:37:07 -0400

Lunch Wars: The Bigness of Cam

The galaxy is in turmoil and there is only one who can save little kids from being bullied about their lunch money. (What started as a small clip in a Summer Camp video, actually ended up as a small video of its own!)

Posted on 06/19/11 at 5:45pm

Waterfallin’ Frisbee Our attempts at throwing a frisbee...

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 21:10:00 -0400

Waterfallin’ Frisbee

Our attempts at throwing a frisbee off a waterfall on this year’s White Water Rafting Trip. It ended up as a fail…a waterfail.

Posted on 06/04/11 at 9:10pm

A Short Thought About Wasting Your Life

Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 -0400

I know a lot of people out there that are scared that they are going to die and a couple of them are thinking that they will be “living in the sky.” But, while I’m here living, I have to ask, “Why? What am here for?” I have to figure it out. Waste my life? No, I gotta make it count! If Christ is real, then what am I going do about everything in Luke 12:15 down to 21? You really ought to go and check it out. Paul said if Christ isn’t resurrected, then we wasted our lives. Well that implies that our life is built around Jesus being alive. So, everyday I’m living and trying show the world why Christ is more than everything you’ll ever try: better than pretty women, and sinning, and living to get a minute of any woman or man that you admire. This is no lie. We are created for Him, out of the dust He made us for Him, elects us and He saves us for Him, Jesus comes and raises for Him. Magnify the Father! Why bother with something lesser? He made us so we could bless Him and to the world we confess Him. He resurrects Him so I know that I have life. In matter of fact, what’s better is that I know that I have Christ. If you don’t see His ways in my days and nights you can hit my brakes and you can stop my lights. Because, I lost my rights, I lost my life, forget the money, cars, and toss that ice. The cost is Christ and they could never offer me anything on the planet that’ll cost that price.

I don’t want to waste my life.

Suffer? Yeah do it for Christ! Are you trying to figure what to do with your life? If you’re making a lot of money, I hope you doing it right because the money is God’s and you better steward it right. Stay focused! You don’t have a ride? Well, your life isn’t wrapped up in what you drive, the clothes you wear, the job you work, nor the color of your skin because we are Christian first. Some people are living for a job, make a little money, start living for a car, then get a house, a wife, kids and a dog. When they retire, they may be living high on the hog. But, guess what? They didn’t ever really live at all, because to live is Christ! Yeah that’s Paul, I recall. To die is gain, so for Christ we give it all. He’s the treasure you’ll never find in the mall. Your money, your singleness, marriage, talent, and your time were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is Divine. That’s why it’s Christ in my rhymes. That’s why it’s Christ all the time. See, my whole world is built around Him and He’s the life in my lines. I refuse to waste my life. He’s too true to chase that ice. Here’s my gifts and my time because I’m constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ. If He’s truly raised to life, then this news should change your life. And, by His grace you can put your faith in a place that rules your days and nights.

I don’t want to waste my life.

(This post is adapted from the song, “Don’t Waste Your Life” by Lecrae. Yeah, that’s right….this is a Rap song. This might change your perspective on rap music, huh? Listen to the song below.)

Posted on 05/31/11 at 11:00pm

Reply: To Anon About The World's End On May 21st

Thu, 19 May 2011 21:59:00 -0400

Is the world going to end on May 21st, 2011? What about in 2012?

Well, today’s post will not be very long because its topic is not worth spending too much time on. However, I wanted to still write a post because everyone is talking about it and it needs to be discussed. An anonymous person asked me this question:

So I’ve been seeming billboards up all over sayin judgement day is may 21. 2011. What’s up with that?? When revelations clearly says no one will know the time of the return of Christ except the Father himself. Where are these people gettin their info? But I’m sure its the same people who are sayin the Maya calendar is right and the end of the world is December 21. 2012. Haha. I know these people are wrong, I would just like to hear your insight on the topic. Thanks

I’ve heard about this whole deal. Its all over the internet and billboards. People like that are wrong. We cannot know for sure when the End Times will come. So, where are they getting their information? They are getting it from some complex mathematical equation and by using some “Biblical code.” Here is their explanation: Judgement Day May 21st. Of course, we know that its wrong because Jesus is clear in Acts 1:7 and Matthew 24:36 that no one knows when the end will come. Someone who predicts the end is actually saying that Jesus is a liar.

Am I saying that I know for sure that Jesus will not come back on the 21st? No, that is a possibility….just like tomorrow is a possibility. But, the only thing that predicting the end times does is provide reasons for the secular world to not be favorable to Christianity. If these guys are wrong about the 21st, then its just another reason to make fun of Christians. I wish people would just stop predicting the end times and start focusing on urgently sharing Christ with others.

So, as you can see, you are right. We cannot know for sure and that is based on Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”

After more than 7 years of intense theological study, I only know 1 thing for sure about what happens during the End Times: We win.

Posted on 05/19/11 at 10:00pm

"To die would be an awfully big adventure. (Phil 1:21; 2 Cor 5:8)"

Mon, 16 May 2011 22:22:13 -0400

“To die would be an awfully big adventure. (Phil 1:21; 2 Cor 5:8)”

- Posted on 05/16/11 at 10:20pm

Reply: To Anon About God & Evil

Tue, 10 May 2011 23:15:00 -0400

I was going to write a “Short Thought About…” blog post today, but an anonyomus person asked me a very good question on my ask page. This question is one of those questions that needs to be discussed, so I decided to write a “Reply” blog today. Here is Anon’s question:

I think that if God is all knowing and that He has predestined everyones futures and people do horrible things then that makes God apart of the problem more or less. It’s about knowing bad things happen and actually letting them happen. I don’t want to believe in a God that would be apart in or controlling all those things. Please explain?

Unfortunately, I am in a dilemma. This is a very important question that I want to answer, but it would take forever to adequately answer this question. So, I am going to be limited in this post, but I will do my best to provide some sort of answer to this difficult question.

Introduction To The Problem of Evil

Behind your question is a classic case of the Problem of Evil. I’m not going to say that I know all the answers and I must admit that this is a very difficult topic. But, lets just start with defining the Problem of Evil. The Problem of Evil is a term used to describe the tension with the simultaneous existence of a perfect God and of evil. Within this tension, there has come about an argument to show that the existence of evil actually challenges the belief in the existence of God. Here is this argument in a simplified form.

First, there are 3 premises:

God is omnipotent (all-powerful)
God is omnibenevolent (all-good)
Evil exists

Second, these premises form into the actual argument:

If God is all-powerful, then He could destroy evil
If God is all-good, then He would destroy evil if He could
Since God is both, then He could and would destroy evil
However, evil still exists.
Therefore, the conclusion is either: a) God does not exist, b) God is not all-powerful (impotent), c) God is not all-good (malevolent) or d) God is neither.

This is a very logically valid argument. However, there are a few problems with the argument that causes me to conclude that, even though it is logically valid, it is not logically sound. This leads me to my short-version response.

Response To The Problem of Evil

There are four presuppositions behind this argument that actually show that it has a problem.

1. Presupposes Evil - How do you know what evil is unless you know what good is? And how do you know what good is unless there is an objective standard of good beyond yourself? In my view, the existence of evil actually confirms the existence of an objective standard of good and God is that objective standard of good.

2. Presupposes No Self-Application - When people believe this argument, they forget about themselves. If God did exist, they would want God to stop evil completely right now. You really want God to stop evil? Then, suppose He starts with you? If God stops evil right now, then He will stop you and me, because we all do evil.

3. Presupposes No Past Action - This argument presupposes that nothing has been done to defeat evil up to this point. Actually, the Bible teaches that evil was defeated in the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Of course, evil has not yet been ultimately destroyed.

4. Presupposes No Future Action - This argument also presupposes that since evil has not been destroyed up to this point, it never will be destroyed. Actually, the Bible also teaches that the complete destruction of evil will come in the future. The Crucifixion and Resurrection were the beginning of the destruction of evil by defeating it and then the final destruction will be in the future.

The Story of the Problem of Evil

In the beginning, God created humans with a will to choose. With the creation of these humans with a will to choose, the natural by-product is the possibility of choosing evil (this is potential evil, not actual evil). When humanity chose evil, the actuality of evil came into existence. It is humanity who brought evil into this world. So, here is a summary of the entire story: God created this world good and perfect (Gen. 1). But then humanity in a willing choice messed up the world with sin and evil (Gen. 3). God, in His love and mercy, sent Jesus Christ to fix the world, and with Jesus’ death and resurrection, He started the fixing process (John 3; 1 Cor. 15). Right now, Christ’s true followers are continuing the fixing process (Matt. 28). In the future, Christ will come back to complete the fixing process (Rev.). In other words, Christ defeated sin and evil in his first coming and then Christ will ultimately destroy sin and evil in his second coming. In order for humanity to be truely fixed, we need to fix our spiritual problem. Without fixing the spiritual problem, all the other solutions are in vain. But, we can’t fix it ourselves, we need a Savior to rescue us and fix it for us. Only faith in Christ can solve the problems and bring true and lasting peace. Then, He can work through us as tools to continue to help Him fix things, because it is Christ who lives in His true followers (Gal. 2:20).

The Author of Hope

I know that the above is a very limited discussion on the topic and does not answer all the questions, but I am limited on time and I am not going to pretend to know everything. However, I would like to end with a thought on the sovereignty of God. The sovereignty of God does not make Him out to be Author of Evil. The sovereignty of God makes Him out to be the Author of Hope. Since we know that He is in control, He has a reason behind everything that happens. Our finite minds are limited and cannot completely understand God’s infinite mind. It all ultimately comes down to this: We can trust in the promise that “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28).

(If you would like to ask a question like Anon did, I just want you to know that anyone can ask me any question! Just go to www.jamesisyourfriend.com/askme.)

Posted on 05/10/11 at 11:15pm

The Expressive Emotions of Shaun McCubbin His emotions sure are...

Sat, 07 May 2011 17:00:49 -0400

The Expressive Emotions of Shaun McCubbin

His emotions sure are expressive.

Posted on 05/07/11 at 5:00pm