Showing posts with label Jacob Fields. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jacob Fields. Show all posts

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Getting To Know Me - Day 11 iShuffled my iPod

Day 11 – iShuffled my iPod

I have taken a Blog Challenge to blog daily for 30 days mostly about myself so that you and others can get to know me a bit better. Tell a friend about www.jacobfields.org this month, or like and interact with me on my Facebook ministry page at Facebook.com/Jacobwfields

Blog Challenge day 11

Put iPod on Shuffle and list the first 10 songs that play.

1.     My Word – Trip Lee
2.     Hit The Floor – Linkin Park
3.     Lithium – Nirvana
4.     Apathy – Trip Lee
5.     Walking Thru Barbed Wire – Papa Roach
6.     Machinehead – Bush
7.     My Enemies Are Men Like Me – Derek Webb
8.    Next To Nothing – String Quartet Tribute to Breaking Benjamin
9.     Dark Jazz – Dilettante
10.Sorrow – Box Car Racer

As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.




Saturday, July 20, 2013

Getting to Know Me - Guilty Pleasure Day 10

Day 10 – Guilty Pleasure

I have taken a Blog Challenge to blog daily for 30 days mostly about myself so that you and others can get to know me a bit better. Tell a friend about www.jacobfields.org this month, or like and interact with me on my Facebook ministry page at Facebook.com/Jacobwfields

What constitutes a guilty pleasure is different for a lot of people. For me it is something that you do that you enjoy but that you wouldn't really broadcast that you do. So to me, sharing my guilty pleasure is a bit odd but I really want you to feel like you know me so here it goes.

I enjoy an occasional cigar.

By occasional I mean maybe a couple of times a year. I really don’t like the way it tastes in my mouth the next day, no matter how much I brush my teeth or eat I can usually still taste it and that is no fun. I don’t encourage others to develop this habit, it probably is not the healthiest thing you can do. However, I like to have a cigar while golfing or sitting near a campfire enjoying a relaxing evening with friends.

As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.




Friday, July 19, 2013

Getting to Know Me - Dream Job Day 9

Day 9 – Dream Job

I have taken a Blog Challenge to blog daily for 30 days mostly about myself so that you and others can get to know me a bit better. Tell a friend about www.jacobfields.org this month, or like and interact with me on my Facebook ministry page at Facebook.com/Jacobwfields

If you could have any job in the world what would it be?

This is going to be an easy one, a real short answer. I would be a youth minister in a church that reaches out to the poor and hungry in the community. I would try my best to teach the students about how amazing God is and impact their life in a positive way. I would be in the process of becoming an Elder in The United Methodist Church so that I could preside over the sacrament and order a church in a way that creates disciples. That’s a pretty big deal so I would want to make sure I did my best to prepare myself for it.

Oh wait, that is exactly what I am doing!

God Is So Good!

As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.




Getting to Know Me - Day 8 Satisfaction

Day 8 – Satisfaction

I have taken a Blog Challenge to blog daily for 30 days mostly about myself so that you and others can get to know me a bit better. Tell a friend about www.jacobfields.org this month, or like and interact with me on my Facebook ministry page at Facebook.com/Jacobwfields

Name a moment in life when you have been the most satisfied:

I am so blessed to say that I live in a constant state of satisfaction. I am so happy with the life I live, it is so much fuller than I could have imagined. I always imagined being married but not being so fulfilled by her companionship. I always imagined being a dad but never understood the euphoria that comes from seeing my son smile. I for several years have wanted to spread the word of God and impact lives for God, I never imagined what it would feel like to actually lead people who are in a place of unbelief to a relationship with God. So the moment I have been most satisfied is now, it has gone on for quite some time and I don’t see it ending anytime soon.

My satisfaction does not however negate the urgency of the Gospel and the drive to keep pressing forward in life.


As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Getting To Know Me - Day 7 Favorite Childhood Toys

Day 7 Favorite Childhood Toys

I have taken a Blog Challenge to blog daily for 30 days mostly about myself so that you and others can get to know me a bit better. Tell a friend about www.jacobfields.org this month, or like and interact with me on my Facebook ministry page at Facebook.com/Jacobwfields 

I am only going to list 2 things because they are by far the dominant toys from my childhood.

1.  Sega Genesis - There was no such thing as not enough sleep when this thing was involved. I remember many nearly sleepless nights of playing Road Rash and Sonic Spinball. I remember asking for a Sega for 3 straight Christmases before getting one. Best of all I remember playing with my best friend Matt, we played all the time together. We played Bubsy, Echo the Dolphin, Battle Toads, Sonic 1,2,3 and Sonic N Knuckles, all this before discovering NFL quarterback club 93 and FIFA Scoccer 94. B and C Matt, B and C (this is a bit of an inside joke, if you want to be inside of it find a way to play it on the original console and then turn injuries and penalties off).


2. My Bike - Me and my bike went everywhere. I know it sounds like I spent a lot of time glued to the TV playing video games and I did, at night. During the day my friends at the apartment complex were often told to go outside and that we couldn't come back inside till dinner. Which of course sometimes meant going to another friends apartment and playing games till dinner. Nonetheless we still spent a lot of time riding bikes. We lived at the top of a great hill that lead to the greatest Elementary School Ever!!!! CHARLOTTE ANDERSON (Go Vikings). So not only did we ride our bikes to school and home from school but we rode them to each others houses. We rode them with no hands. We raced around the apartments. We tried to pop wheelies. We had contests to see who could make the biggest skid mark on the road. We had contests to see who could coast the furthest after going down the hill without pedaling. We built ramps. We crashed off ramps. We went on adventures. Best of all, we made some great memories.

As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Getting To Know Me - Day 6 My Top 5 Influences

Day 6 - My Top 5 Influences

I have taken a Blog Challenge to blog daily for 30 days mostly about myself so that you and others can get to know me a bit better. Tell a friend about www.jacobfields.org this month, or like and interact with me on my Facebook ministry page at Facebook.com/Jacobwfields 

I am going to leave off the Sunday School answer that is Jesus, because he is of course my primary influence and he is working in and through the names I will list here. This list is as of today and any one of you could move up or down in this list at any given point in time.

My Top 5 Influences
  1. My Wife - Kim - She is who I spend the most of my time with and she is very different from me in many ways that I can learn from. She challenges me to think about things from a different perspective and I share my life with her so she takes the cake in this list.
  2. Forrest - Steve - He was my youth director from 9th grade through half of my Sr Year. He discipled me in every sense of the word. He taught me through sermons, through bible study, through retreats, he inspired me through his example and through our friendship that continues even now he shows me God's grace and love. I get most of my personality from him and a good portion of my theology as well.
  3. The Tims - Tim Palmer and Tim Kennedy - I get my heart for others from Tim Palmer's example, the way he prays with such a fervent heart and preaches out of a deep place of personal humility and love for others has made me a better person, a better Christian, and a better minister of the Gospel. Tim Kennedy is what got me through every rough time I had at McMurry, from welcoming me when I toured his friendly smile and energy helped me to know that McM was where God was guiding my life. When I felt like I was all alone I went to the RLC office and always found a friend there. Even if Tim wasn't in his office, he created an environment where good people just wanted to be around and I am so thankful for all of the ministry that he did for and with me during college.
  4. My Mom- I am so much like her that sometimes it bugs me. I get so many good things from my mom, my work ethic, my independence, my good looks. And best of all, she brought me to church. She stood behind me and my bad behavior when a Sunday School teacher told me I was going to hell because I couldn't sit still and then took me to FUMC Mansfield where I was able to grow and discover the richness of life that can be found in Jesus.
  5. Mission Arlington Bible Study Teacher - Rod - Rod came door to door in the apartment complex I grew up at to invite the kids to a bible study that he was going to do at the apartments. I turned him away I don't know how many times, but eventually I found out that he had Mrs Baird's Snacks. So I went, Turns out to get the snack you had to remember a bible verse from the previous week, so I did. Then we did this thing where if you look up a bible verse fastest you got a quarter, so if I remembered a verse and was the fastest only twice I would have a snack and enough to get a drink from the vending machine, SO I did. Rod gave me a great example of outreach, he gave me my first bible, encouraged me to know Jesus and not just go to church. And why he rounds out the top 5 is because of a song that I still sing when things get rough.
"With Jesus in your boat you can smile through the storm, smile through the storm, smile through the storm. 

With Jesus in your boat you can smile through the storm, 
when your sailing home."
 
As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Getting To Know Me - Day 5 Comfort Food

Day 5 Comfort Food

I have taken a Blog Challenge to blog daily for 30 days mostly about myself so that you and others can get to know me a bit better. Tell a friend about www.jacobfields.org this month, or like and interact with me on my Facebook ministry page at Facebook.com/Jacobwfields

What are Your Favorite Comfort Foods?

Well I was kinda confused when I saw the question, I tend to over-think things. I thought "Hey Comfort Food that's Easy." Then I thought, "wait a minute does that mean it's food I eat when I need comforting? or food that makes me comfortable?"

Because if your anything like me the food you eat when you need comforting does not really make you more comfortable, especially with the way your clothes fit.

None The less I am resolved to give you an answer and here it is.

CHICKEN EXPRESS CHICKEN TENDERS - With mashed potatoes and sweet tea. Of course you cant forget the mild serendipity salt mixed in with the gravy!!! my mouth is now watering and my stomach is getting upset at the same time. This meal is so unhealthy that it I can only eat it when my wife is out of town because it has so much MSG that if I eat it and Kiss her, then her stomach gets all jumbled up. So I eat it when Kim is out of town (literally almost every time).

 So it comforts me when she is away and I love that, but Kim can you please be out of town anymore its really just not healthy for me. 

As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.

Getting To Know Me - Day 4 My Views on Religion

Day 4 - My Views on Religion

I have taken a Blog Challenge to blog daily for 30 days mostly about myself so that you and others can get to know me a bit better. Tell a friend about www.jacobfields.org this month, or like and interact with me on my Facebook ministry page at Facebook.com/Jacobwfields 

Since I am in ministry I have quite a bit to say on this topic and I would be glad to answer any specific questions. For efficiency sake I am going to simply insert the paperwork that I prepared for my recent District Committee On Ministry interview for Certification as a Candidate in the United Methodist Church.

Statement of Call
Growing up our family held membership at FUMC Mansfield but rarely attended. In 6th grade the invitation came to register for Confirmation. I am still not sure why, but that year when my mom asked if I wanted to go through Confirmation, as my brother had the previous year, I responded “That seems like a big deal and I don’t think I’m ready yet.” It was not until 8th grade that I finally accepted the invitation.
I felt I was better able to understand confirmation lessons by being more mature during that process, in a way in which it really began to change and shape my life. I look back now and can see how significant of a change there was emotionally, behaviorally, and socially once God became a regular part of my life. It was this confirmation process and an invitation from my youth pastor to be a part of the youth program that really launched my participation in the life of the Church. Through heavy involvement in the youth program and direct mentoring from a new youth director, I accepted a call to youth ministry my sophomore year of high school and took on significant leadership roles as a student.
I first felt the hint of being called to more than just youth ministry in the spring of my junior year in high school. Several times, I had invited a friend of mine from the track team to come to church with me, after about a month of attending he felt compelled to be baptized. My pastor invited me forward to lay my hands on my friend during the baptism.  In that moment, I felt an overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit that was telling me that this was what I was supposed to do with my life. In my youth, I dismissed this feeling as simply a confirmation of my call to youth ministry. It wasn’t until I really began learning about the process of ordination while at McMurry University that I came to understand this as a call to Sacrament.  However, God again guided me to the similar thought I had before confirmation, ordination is a big deal, and I wasn’t ready.
While Lay ministry has provided me with the opportunity to learn more about church work while spreading the gospel, I have learned that there is no way to satisfy that burning in my heart other than thru ordination. To delay following my call any longer would be to deny the desires that God has placed in my heart. I deeply desire to be sent as the set apart leader who brings God’s grace to new people by baptism and the grace of restoration to congregations that desire to feel the movement of the Holy Spirit as they once have. I desire to expand the kingdom of God by way of creating new opportunities for people to learn that nothing can separate us from the love of God. I desire to lead people in worship of and service to God, so that communities would be changed by a church that is relevant in people’s lives. This call on my heart has finally guided me to say that now is the right time to enter the process. I am experiencing the joy of married life, and now fatherhood, yet my heart was not settled. Where at times there has been fear or reluctance, there is now peace that only came from saying yes to God and what He has planned for my life by beginning the ordination process. I now feel confident to say that I know this is a big deal, I am ready.
When it comes down to a single definitive thing I must point to, it would be Matthew 28:19. My personal faith would not be complete if I never fulfill what God called me for years ago during my friend’s baptism. I must go and baptize, I must go and share in communion, to not would be to deny God’s call for my life making it difficult to consider myself a disciple of Christ.

Do they know God as pardoning God? Have they the love of God abiding in them? Do they desire nothing but God? Are they holy in all manner of conversations?

I feel confident responding “yes” to all of the above questions. I believe that God is merciful and have felt evidence of God’s grace and love in my life.

Have they gifts, as well as evidence of God’s Grace, for the work? Have they a clear, sound understanding; a right judgment in things of God; a just conception of salvation by faith? Do they speak justly, readily, clearly?

I feel strongly that the evidence for this set of questions rests in the answers to the questions about fruit. In my time working with Preschool children in chapel at Preston Hollow UMC I found very quickly that if I did not understand the biblical concepts of right judgment and salvation by faith, it would be impossible to communicate such profound lessons to 3-4 year olds. I have been uplifted by many for my ability to communicate the gospel in a way that people at many different life stages can understand.

Have they fruit? Have any been truly convinced of sin and converted to God and are believers edified by their service?

Not only can I answer yes there is fruit of my ministry, but I can provide names, stories, and examples. By the Grace of God, my life has served witness to have the following people make the decision to become baptized Christians: Joseph Farley, Catherine Newton, Sophia Newton; and at least the following make a clear renewal of commitment to their faith: Chris Newton, Drew Johnson Scott, Michael Conley, Alexandria Zupa, Rebecca Delflache and hopefully many more.  I strive to live a life that uplifts and encourages people, and have been a source of spiritual growth even to people that I admire for their faith.
I can, point to a trip to the Taize Monastery in southern France as my most formative faith experience. Through the unique style of worship and experience of silence, reflection, and prayer, I came to understand something different about my beliefs.  This is what I wrote in my journaling of the experience, “what was once confused as understanding is now understood to be confusion.”  What this statement represented was a shift from a black and white, cut and dry, legalistic perspective of what it means to be a Christian, to a place of constantly seeking and evaluating between what is right and wrong in my beliefs and actions. I am convinced of my beliefs in both heart and mind yet this openness has allowed me to come to grow deeper in belief and appreciation for God. I believe that we must always continue to learn. I believe that we will never perfectly understand God, mankind, or how we are to interact with each other but that perfection should be what we strive for in life.  What this has to do with my call to ministry is both spiritual and practical. In our churches when someone is seeking to grow deeper spiritually there is only so much growth through silence, self reflection or even, searching the scriptures, at some point we must get more involved. We must become more involved in our communities to be able to see how God is moving and interacting with others. We must become more involved with the un-churched to grow in our understanding of all Jesus’ references to gentiles. We must become more involved in church for our eyes to be opened to the reality of life behind the plastic smiles of those we think “have it figured out,” and to see the Pharisee in our own selves. Personally I have journeyed from saying I am a Christian, to being a church attendee, then from attendee to volunteer, from volunteer to leader, and finally from leader to staff. My faith has grown each step of the way as I have found joy in becoming more connected, have been uplifted and encouraged by others to continue in my path. That is the spiritual role of the church in my personal call. The practical role of the church in my call to ordained ministry is what District Superintendant Dr. Clara Reed once told me is the “outward call.” She explained to me that there is more to being called to ministry than how I personally feel about my call. Others in our life will see God’s plans for us sometimes before we do, and they confirm and encourage verbally what God is speaking in our hearts. In my time of working in the church, many people have provided this confirmation and encouragement of pursuing ordination as an elder.
I believe that God created and is creating still. I believe that God is truth and that God is love. God pursues a relationship with each and every person and will do anything to be with us even to the point of sending us Jesus, God made flesh, not only as the atoning and redeeming sacrifice for our sin but as the only perfect example of how to live. As a Christian my relationship with God is not merit based but a free gift of grace outside of my doing and through that relationship we are invited to be a part of what God is doing in the world. I believe God loves murderers, rapists, brutal dictators, atheists, religious people, apathetic people, and even me, yet God’s love does not look the same to all people. The world will be a better place if more people were able to recognize God’s love in their life and then respond to it through the way they live. The Gospel is social and it should affect the way we interact with each other and with God. I trust in the Holy Bible as the word of God, even though there is a lot about it that I do not understand. I believe that God brings life and that the abundant and eternal life that Jesus came to give should be lived even now. I believe that God packages a unique set of gifts in all people for them to share with the world. I believe that my gifts are best used in ministry.  My entire life God has been crafting me for this work, making me a leader with creative vision and the ability to spread this vision to others. The gift of persuasion then allows me to bring others into the process of change. God has also blessed me with the gift of preaching in a way that challenges and inspires people. I am able to identify with a wide variety of people through my life experiences which allow me to be a witness of God’s love to many people in many different circumstances. These gifts inspire me to continue following my call to ordained ministry as an elder so that I would have the opportunity and authority to bring people into the church and into closer relationship with God.
I have an amazing support system comprised of both friends and family starting first with my wife. All of our immediate family lives in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex and are willing to help us in whatever way they can to help me through the ordination process and seminary. I have friends that I can trust outside of my place of work and friends that I can trust at the church that help me to accomplish the things I do.
What is the meaning and significance of the Sacraments?
The Sacraments are outward symbols of God’s love toward us and a means to God’s grace which is working within us. The Sacraments implemented by Jesus and by doing them we affirm our love for God and awareness of God’s love for us. Sacraments unify the members of the body of Christ in community with each other sharing in responsibility of strengthening each other as Disciples of Christ.
            What is your understanding of itinerant ministry?
Simply put, it means going where the bishop decides to appoint an elder for the sake of ordering the church and administering the Sacrament. Methodists began itinerate ministry for the practical reason of not having enough ordained elders for every church to have one so a pastor would be assigned a circuit of churches to ride between for a year or two and then moved to a new circuit.
            What is your understanding of baptism? Who Can Receive Baptism?
Baptism, an outward sign of inward grace, is a sacrament ordained by Jesus in which water is used and an Ordained elder says the prayer “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” It represents the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is a means of grace that is a complete work of the Holy Spirit and is permanent. You cannot be un-baptized much the same as a pickle cannot become a cucumber again, therefore it must only be done once. Anyone who has not yet been baptized can receive the sacrament of baptism. 
                  
As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Getting To Know Me - Blog Challenge Day 3 Pet Peeves

Day 3 - Pet Peeves

I have taken a Blog Challenge to blog daily for 30 days mostly about myself so that you and others can get to know me a bit better. Tell a friend about www.jacobfields.org this month, or like and interact with me on my Facebook ministry page at Facebook.com/Jacobwfields 

This post is pretty simple and hopefully pretty short, I will tell you my top 5 pet peeves.

1. Crooked Picture Frames - 
I'm not sure why but when I see a crooked picture frame I cant resist the urge to straighten them. They bother me. I actually tried to straighten a frame at the Louvre museum in Paris, unfortunately the frames were screwed to the wall so I couldn't move it. I don't think security would have been happy if the saw me try to straighten their frame.

2. Messing with people in their sleep - 
For some reason it is really upsetting to me when someone messes with another person who is sleeping. 

3. Being late - 
I think it is important to be on time to things. It upsets me when other people are late for things, but I get even more upset if something happens that makes me late.

4. "I'll Pray For You" - 
Seriously I understand that people say it with good intentions and some people really benefit from hearing it but wouldn't it be so much more loving if we could just take the time to pray for the person right then and there? I try to use the phrase "I am praying for you" so that it is in the present and future tense as I do my best to be in a constant state of prayer. 

5. Secrets - 
I respect confidentiality and keep it when someone confides in me, however I maintain that you should live your life in a way that is open. If you don't want someone to know what you did or said, then you shouldn't do or say it. Of course I am not perfect on this either but I do try.

As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Getting To Know Me Blog Challenge - Day 2 "10 Years"

Day 2 - 10 Years from now

I have taken a Blog Challenge to blog daily for the next 30 days mostly about myself so that you and others can get to know me a bit better. Tell a friend about www.jacobfields.org this month, or like and interact with me on my Facebook ministry page at Facebook.com/Jacobwfields 

I find this to be a very fun topic, it is so broad that it can be taken in several directions. So I will oblige myself by expounding on a few of those directions here. I will cover what I hope my family will be like in 10 years, what I hope my career will look like in 10 years, and what I hope my families finances will be like in 10 years. Since this is a getting to know me challenge I will save what I hope the world will look like in 10 years for another post another day.

My Family in 10 Years - 
In 10 years from today I will be 36 years old and my wife will be the big 40. My son will be 10 1/2 years old and he will hopefully have a younger brother about 8 years old. My wife will be able to spend as much time with our kids as she would like because she will be working just enough to keep her sanity 10-20 hours a week in Physical Therapy. My Son George will likely be interested in a lot of things mostly spending time outdoors with daddy and Grandpa. I have no clue what it is that his main interest would be I want to let him choose what he does and I will just support him as best I can, I might discourage football unless there are significant advances in concussion prevention. I could see him being great at any number of things including gymnastics or aerial acrobatics all the way to baseball really anything. My family is now and still will be my absolute first priority (aside from my personal relationship with Christ) and hopefully we will be able to travel. I want my kids to be able to see the world and understand how amazing God's creation is while at the same time being able to see all the work the body of Christ is doing in the world as well as how much work still needs to be done. 

My Career in 10 years - 
In 10 years I will have finished seminary and with God's grace I will have been an Ordained elder in the Methodist church for at least 3 years (it can be a long process). At this point in my career I could see myself in a medium size church for the North Texas Conference (around 250 Average Worship Attendance) hopefully as the Sr. Pastor. I would be excited about leading the vision and direction of the church and helping it to live into the mission of creating disciples. I could potentially see myself in a new church plant, helping bring the message of Christ through the lens of Methodism to people in new ways. One thing I hope I will have accomplished by this point is figuring out what it is that elevates a preacher to become a "national voice" for people who are looking for more christian content than Sunday morning. For example:Matt Chandler, Louie Giglio, Francis Chan, Joel OlsteenRick Warren, Rob Bell or others. Then take whatever it is that lifts their voice to a national level and use that strategy to elevate a Methodist voice (or a few) to that level because as great as those current voices are, we don't understand the way God interacts with the world in the same way. We all agree and must focus on the cross of Christ, but some of the things they say become stumbling points for people who understand God differently than they do and I feel strongly that the nations theology could benefit from a national voice that has a Wesleyan understanding of the Gospel.

My Personal Finances in 10 years - 
In 10 years I plan to be 100% debt free. This includes my home and student loans, and no car payment either. This would only be 4 years early on the mortgage so I think it will be doable so long as my wife and I continue to embrace the Wesley philosophy of Make as much as you can, Save as much as you can, Give as much as you can. We live below our means. I hope to have set up a self generating stream of income through MASA that will essentially eliminate a need for my wife to make an income and free her to be able to stay home if she would like or work if she would like but so that she would not need to for the sake of the family budget. Likely I can see her still working between 10-20 hours a week but because she would go stir crazy if she didn't. I hope to have by this point a healthy retirement fund and be preparing myself to set up another side stream of income in real estate if I haven't got it set up already by then.

All these plans and hopes are of course subject to God's will for my life and barring disaster. 10 years ago at 16 I did a similar exercise on Xanga does anyone even remember that blog site? Most of what I imagined for my life happened, I graduated college in 4 years, I got Married and had my first kid at the age of 25 (the thing that didn't happen was real estate investing but that is because my stance on debt has changed, we did buy our first house though). I pray that God will continue to bless my life as he already has so far so that I could be a blessing to others.


As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Getting To Know Me - Blog Challenge Day 1

Day 1 - Describe Your Relationship

I have taken a Blog Challenge to blog daily for the next 30 days mostly about myself so that you and others can get to know me a bit better. Tell a friend about www.jacobfields.org this month, or like and interact with me on my Facebook ministry page at Facebook.com/Jacobwfields 

Well, I am married to a wonderful woman named KimBerly Rose Fields and she is the best thing that has ever happened to me (other than Jesus). Kim and I met in the spring of 2007 at First United Methodist Church of Abilene where she was a regular youth volunteer and I had just been hired as the intern. Kim at this point had already graduated from McMurry Univeristy and was the cheer-leading coach. I knew her as Coach Peacock at the time and thought 1. She was way out of my league and 2 that she was way too old for me. I was 19 and thought she was like 28 or 30 (only because she was the coach not because she looked it). As it turns out she was only 24 and little did I know but I actually had a chance.



We began dating on May 5th of 2007. We got engaged on March 14th of 2008, and were married on May 9th of 2009. Every day I learn more about God's love for me though our relationship, even the days that are not quite as joyful as you hope. She for some reason loves me and that is the most amazing illustration of the gospel that I can imagine. Since we have been married we have moved to the Dallas Ft. Worth area and she has become licensed as a PTA (Physical Therapist Assistant) and she works at Sandy Lake Rehab in Carrolton Texas. She has continued to work in the world of cheerleading and has helped two wonderful people open a gym called North Texas Tumble and Cheer in Argyle Texas. I brag on her because she wont, but as an all-star director and coach she has more than 5 National Championships.

On January 3rd of 2013 we became parents of a beautiful baby boy whom we named George Wesley Fields. I couldn't imagine a better mother for my son that Kim. I love you sweet heart.

As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.