JoHoDonKnow's Xanga

Leaving, on a jet plane!!!

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:24:51 GMT

So tonight, I'm leaving for China!!! It's been an amazing journey to get to this place...I'm incredibly pumped. Pray that God continues to teach me to love Him from the inside out. I bless you guys in leaving and ask for your prayers that God would allow us to impact the hopes and dreams of those who we meet. I'm excited to tell you all about it when I get back. Have a great summer and I'll see you guys soon.

Always,

Justin

Team China

Wed, 07 May 2008 03:21:11 GMT

China called me the other day on my personal cell phone requesting my presence. Apparently, the government wishes to acclimate their citizens to massive numbers of white people attending the Olympic Games this summer.

This is an excerpt of our conversation: "We are are afraid 'the great white' will startle our people. Would you be so kind as to bring your pre-emptive whitety-whiteness to our land?"

I agreed.

So I need your help, in order that me and my whiteness makes it to China this summer...

My stunning photo shoot in China...

Every summer, Biola sends student-led worker trips to various countries. This year I will be co-leading a trip to Xi’an, China. My team and I will have the amazing opportunity to study the Mandarin Chinese language, with the purpose of being able to better understand the culture and communicate with the people. Additionally, a portion of the trip will be spent teaching English to Chinese students, loving on orphans, doing one-on-one relationship building, and teaching children English through Dad's stories.

The Chinese Ladies love the hair (yes...the chest hair)...

I will be co-leading on a team of 7 Biola students and our vision is that the Chinese people would be convinced of love through our lives as we live out Dad's reality in China with the expectation that Dad will do greater things than we could ever hope for or imagine. We seek to be united as a team as we abide so that through us, love will be shown to the people we meet.

This trip from June 25rd-August 7th, will be a step of faith for me, and I am asking that you would join with me in my step of faith by supporting me in prayer and/or financially. The cost of the trip is approximately $3,000, which will cover meals, lodging, airfare, and tuition.

If you decide to support me financially there are two ways in which you can support:

1. By Phone: 800-632-4652, they'll ask for your credit card # and tell them it's for Justin Green with Student Missionary Union, Team China.

2. By Mail: please make any check payable to Biola University. (Also, please do NOT put my name on the check anywhere, as Biola will not be able to issue you a tax-deductible receipt if you do; instead put my name on a separate piece of paper in the same envelope as the check). Please send checks to SMU, 13800 Biola Ave, Box #10, La Mirada CA 90639.

If you plan to give, please send your support as soon as possible. Our support was due last week, however, I am still in need of $1000 to be able to go personally, so I wanted to throw this out to my brothers and sisters here on xanga to ask for your support. Thanks for your love...it truly blesses me.

While financial support is important, your requests to Dad are also extremely coveted as they will truly be the means of supporting myself and my team. Please talk to Dad especially for team unity during this whole process, and for the people we will be meeting in China. You play such an important role of my life and I am so thankful for your support and talking to Dad.

White people seem really tall in China...

Please ask for the unity of our group and that hearts will be prepared in China. I love you guys and want to ask you guys to talk to Dad about some specific things:

1. Team Unity- If the people of China don't see us for our love for one another than we are knowing. Ask that we might not be deceived as to whom our battle is for and against. Ask for wisdom and insight into eachother and how we might love one another

2. Open Hearts- We want to be able to love those in Xian and Xianyang. Ask that their hearts will be prepared to receive the Love that we have to offer.

3. FUNDS!!! We still need to come up with about $8,000 (I personally have to come up with a little over $1,000) and the money was suppose to be in last week. However, we received a loan from the school and we're GOING!!! But we still have to come up with the funds. Please ask Dad for financial support...and if you can give, please give generously,,,I feel that all of my major supporters have given so I'm not sure where this final thousand dollars is going to come from. If you supported my attempt to go to Thailand, know that you check was destroyed and never cashed, so please send another if you would like to support my trip.

4. Rest... Several of my teammates have reported a lack of sleep, and with finals coming up...it doesn't look like it will get better any time soon. Ask Dad for deep, peaceful rest for each of my teammates and myself.

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Always,
Justin

Dr. Julie Harren

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:39:20 GMT

I just wanted to leave a note and express to everyone my excitement for Dr. Julie Harren and announce to you all that she has just been named as the president-elect of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (http://narth.com/). She is a fantastic woman of God who is definitely the right person for the job. She loves life and is enthused about everything that God has to offer. I'm happy for her and for what God is doing in the movement to love and embrace homosexual people. God bless all of you and I wish you joy in this new year.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:49:31 GMT

This is ISF:

Our X-mas Party Special OFFICE PARODY ( as in the show the office) about the Institute for Spiritual Formation, the program that I'm in at Biola University-

Pretty Stinkin' Amazing...

Friday, December 07, 2007

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:06:39 GMT

Hey! I wrote this huge post about my life and everything...but it all got deleted. I'm too lazy to do it again...however, here are some pictures from a recent retreat I went on a St. Andrews Abby in Valyermo. Enjoy!

Much Love Y'all. God bless you.

-J.Green

Sarai4Jesus

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 20:42:09 GMT

Cindy aka Sarai4Jesus...I don't know if you still check my site or not...but I wanted to let you know you and your son Brian have been on my heart. Let me know how I can be praying for you if you see this. If anyone knows how to get in touch with Cindy, please send me a private message. Thanks so much. God bless you Cindy and everyone else.

Justin Goes to Thailand to find a Woman/Be a Missionary

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:48:40 GMT

This picture may or may not be the poster for the 2008 Exodus Freedom Conference...just sayin'

So y'all know how bad I need a woman...and my friend tells me that Thailand ain't a bad place to find one...enough said. Just Kidding. I'm actually going to Thailand on a missions trip and I need your support. Prayers are definitely needed and I definitely can't raise the necessary $2000 without your help. Please support me as I feel called to this mission.

You Can Feel the Excitement of the Villagers at My Decent onto their Nation...

The Trip Dates are from December 28- January 11...

We will be working with church plants in 2-3 cities of Thailand including Bangkok. Please pray for our team which includes about 10-12 members.

Pray for me specifically during this time. Some of you know what happened last year when I felt called to go to Israel. My heart was injured with everything that happened and it is a huge step of faith for me to put myself out there in this way again. Thanks so much.

I know many of you cannot afford to sponsor me financially and I totally understand that. For those of you who are able and willing please send checks to:

Vineyard Anaheim
Attn: Karen Sciortino
5340 E. La Palma Ave
Anaheim CA 92807

Make Checks Payable to Vineyard Anaheim and DO NOT WRITE MY NAME ON THE CHECK if you wish for it to be tax deductable. BUT put:

1. My Name
2. Your Name
3. Your Address
4. Your Email

...On a SEPERATE document so that they can give you your tax info and can earmark the funds for my trip.

Need I say more...

Thanks so much and God bless all of you.

A Whirlwind Adventure...

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 20:46:18 GMT

So...long time no update.

Here I am in sunny California...how did you get there you ask...well...I'm so glad you asked.

It all started with a plane trip from Cincinnati to Asheville. Well...the plane trip got cancelled because some neighbor friends were driving there anyway. SO...I got to Asheville...but not really Asheville...it was a small town outside of Asheville called Spruce Pine. It was a quaint little town that is known for it's mining opertunities. While there I got to meet some great guys...Oren and Kenan. It was a tough week for me...I was under severe demonic oppression and felt subjected to isolation all week. God worked through the situation though, by giving me the discernment to go to warfare with and for my other brothers who were there with me. It was tough...but I'm glad I went through it...I'm stronger because of it.

While in Spruce Pine, my dad was on a search for an affordable, yet well maintained used vehicle. HE FOUND ONE....

Now presenting...my new (well used) 2001 Kia Rio...(du-da-da-DU)

Ok...so you can't really see it because I took the picture with my phone. I know...too bad. But it's a beautiful car and as you can see...packed with my life that I hauled from Tampa to LA. It was a great trip and I enjoyed it thoroughly. On the way I stopped to see Memaw (my grandma...the only one of my grandparents who is still kicking) in Louisiana and I also stopped in Oklahoma for a day to take a break with my friend Chris Kaesar. He's amazing. He is for sure one of my biggest heros...and supporters. He's a good friend. So I went to his church and fell in love with the group there. It was great to see the spirit moving. As the pastor spoke...he continued to say that the Lord was calling one specific young man there to Him. This culminated with one young man giving his life to the Lord. It was pretty special.

And the road trip continued. So now I'm in sunny LA. It's great. I love the weather and the friends that I am making. Not that I don't miss PBA. Forever it will be in my heart and I miss the community of friends that I had there. Here it seems to be much more difficult to make friends. Either that or I forgot how difficult it was in the first place. My schedule is kind of all over the place. I'm taking classes only on mondays so I'm off for this whole next week because of labor day. It's been cool. I love the classes that I'm in (from the one day of actually having them). My professors seem awesome and genuine and my classmates are very diverse in age and backgrounds. It's very exciting and I can't wait to dive into some of my classes. I'll no doubt have some sound bites for you guys as the year goes on from my classes. But praise God. Very exciting.

I love you all so much and know that you are in my prayers. God bless you.

Always,

Justin Green

Friday, August 10, 2007

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:03:15 GMT

So...I need to get a car in the next two weeks...would anyone like to donate one to me? That would make my life a whole lot easier...thanks ;)

Are We Asking the Right Questions?

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:55:51 GMT

"Who do you think Jesus was?"

That's the question that was raised by the interviewer onscreen at the Creation Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio.

They were mostly asking college students and yuppies who were non-Christians...but why?

Were they hoping that the mostly middle aged (and older) audience in the museum would better understand the demographic of college age students in order to learn to contextualize the Gospel in such a way taht they might understand it better? Or was it another reason to board up our Christian houses and not be rocked by the tides of culture and society...

My heart tells me it was the latter.

It seems to me that it is irresponsible to ask this question of non-Christians until we ask them two more important questions:

"Has your life ever been touched by the love of Christ? If so, how?"

See...Christians get confused. They think that this is a battle of Christians vs. non-Christians...but the word tells us differently. The word says that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities.

We wrestle against the things that hold the minds of men captive.

I can see the red flags going up in some people's minds right now:

"But Justin...In order to know the goodness of God, people must first understand how sinful they are. Right?"

...maybe you're right, but...our loving actions prior to their waking up to their own shame, guilt, and fear due to sin set the precedent for how they will respond once they do wake up to their sin.

Think of this...(mostly words of Sy Rogers...I love you friend)...say you've just been born. Welcome to the world *smack*. Your sitting there so cute and cuddly and all of a sudden...you poop your diaper. And that's right...you're gross and disgusting. But you...on the other hand...being ignorant of your defilement..are not too concerned about it. Your Daddy has to now clean you up.

Then it happens again...you poop...Dad cleans...you giggle.

You poop...he cleans...you pee on him in the process.

You poop...he cleans...he laughs and holds you.

So you do this for a while... not realizing you've defiled yourself...and one day it hits you.

You're a little bit older...and you poop you're diaper and in someway you understand that you have just defiled yourself.

And now you have a choice...

Do I run to God to clean it up...or from Him because I feel ashamed.

The difference will be made when one looks back to see how God has been handling his or her defilement for as far back as he or she can remember.

And we look back and say, "Wow! He really does care for me...he really does love me. I think I'll run to him because in the past, when I've been dirty he has made me clean again. I'm sure he'll do the same again.

Our actions today set the precedent for how they will respond when (who?) the Holy Spirit, in His timing, and when he knows they're ready for it, opens their eyes and shows them the reality.

We have to set a precedent in the way we love today...in order that tomorrow they will run to God and not from Him when He calls.

Every non-Christian is in a process...and we cannot take our pre-processed and canned Christianity out to meet their needs if we don't know where in the process they are. Paul met each of his audiences differently and addressed the needs that their circumstances presented them with. We ought to do the same.

Our society today has been saturated with arguments for the validity of Christ...both valid and invalid arguments. What teenagers and college agers have not seen is the love of Christ pouring out of our churches...and what did God say...He said that people would know you for your love...not for your compelling arguments.

The whole museum was plastered with Christian retoric that pitted the Christian against all kinds of groups and tried to make Christians out to be the victims. I'm sorry...but if you have Christ within you...you have a hope and joy and foundation that the rest of the world does not have...stop complaining about how bad you have it and recognize how harsh life can be without hope and joy. Do you really believe that having faith, hope, and love is more important that finances and nice things in this life...then stop cutting down your neighbor because he has nice things and start praying for him because you have better things.

Graffiti Alley

This was my favorite exhibit...only for the fact that the idea of getting lynched by Christians because I struggled with homosexual attractions gave me a jolt of energy that helped me get through the rest of the "museum."

Welcome to the exhibit:

That's right guys...look right above this arrow ^ and you will find our favorite Time magazine cover as you walk into the exhibit...

This exhibit reminded us of how horrible society is...who could ever think that this could happen...of course no one in our churches deals with something like homosexuality...it's just so sinful. Unbelievable...

44% of born-again adults and only 9% of teens believe in absolute truth...but people get confused. Absolute truth is not the same as absolute knowledge. Absolute truth is the existence of truth that is 100% accurate. Absolute knowledge is our ability to know that truth 100%. And the truth is...WE CAN'T!!! Yea... I said it...or do you deny the role of faith in our knowing??? See...we see through a glass dimly. Part of our knowing truth takes a step into faith. But a lot of people (including many in this report no doubt), believe in absolute truth...but don't believe in our ability to know it. This would be a lot of teenagers...and good for them for recognizing it. But when they try to verbalize it, their vocabulary (and the survey materials) may be biased in such a way that they cannot communicate it effectively...so we end up with data that causes Christians to run to their KJV's and preach hell fire and brimstone in order to save their children and those outside the church who have no hope but to turn from their wicked ways (which is easier than having to love them).

The displays in the museum had all of this great information...except rather than putting up facts and discussing the strengths and weaknesses of both sides...what you got was a pre-chewed Christian opinion of the evidence. Not only that, but on issues where Christians (true followers) are divided, they took a hard conservative view, even when the point was not on a issue that was really a moot point with most non-believers anyway. Silly...

I WAS SOOOO ANGRY!!! (Can you tell)...and hurt. I wish that we could help our brothers understand how much their fear of society becomes hatred and condemns non-Christians into believing that our God is horrible and not worth their trust. It's sad to see this...

Oh...btw...I changed my hair...

Hope you all have a great day and I would love to hear your feedback. God bless you.