A sad but true fact is that the #1 viewed page on my blog ever has been a post I made about the Orange Park Poker Room on March 18th, 2008

http://www.ericjaffe.org/2007/03/orange_park_pok.html

If you type in the Orange Park Poker Room on Google, the post is the #1 hit.

Since it’s arrival the room looks to probably be meeting the financial projections given by it’s owners. You can drive by the parking lot and it is now full pretty much all day every day and the primary signage on the building has changed from being the Kennel Club to being the Poker Room.

But I still often wonder at what social cost their profits come.

If you are reading this post and are strugling with a gambling addiction and want to get help reach out – The people of Journey Church are here to help – give us a call          904-302-5320       . Your in our prayers and you don’t have to let gambling ruin your life – there is hope and there is recovery!

You might also contact Gamblers Anonymous of Jacksonville

Jacksonville G.A.
7:30 PM
St. Luke Mayo Hospital
Roger Main Building Room #370
4201 Belfort Road
Jacksonville, FL

http://www.nefrpc.org/index.htm

Today was my graduation from the 2008 class of the NEFLRLA.

It was an incredible experience overall. Sometimes depressing, other times incredibly encouraging, but overall it was an opportunity to think out of the small boxes we sometimes get ourselves into. My small box had been Clay County. Why? I know God called us here and planted us here for such a time as this and I have fell in love with the area.

But, as with anything else, Clay County is not an island unto itself. We are interdependent on the other counties that surround us. Particularly Jacksonville which is the economic engine of the region. We are all interconnected – inseperable especially when dealing with issues of economic development, transportation, housing, etc. We simply have to think about our neighbors and at times sacrifice battles so that we can win the bigger war together.

Like many things in life, our people perish for lack of vision. The NEFLRLA is trying to get people to have a vision for a preffered future state for the next 50+ years should the Lord tarry. What is the best way to utilize available land, transportation, environment, work centers, spaces for housing, etc. What an incredible opportunity we have should we VISION the future instead of just reacting to present comp plans.

Not only has it expanded my understanding of the region and the issues we face, but it has expanded my thoughts in terms of Church. Even the original vision of Journey Church said Clay County and the surrounding areas. I really think we need to expand that to NE FL and the surrounding areas.

We are so interconnected, our fates, our destinies and believe me, God cares about the prosperity of cities.

Lets pray that God not only blesses the areas we live in, but blesses this region "The First Coast" the first area occupied in the New World. Might God pour out His Spirit here and let it flow from here throughout the USA and beyond..

A thought that I have continually been faced with as of late is are we looking at the decline of a great nation?

In many ways the more I attend these things and hear about the state of government and the economy, I am saddened. I try to be an optimist, but sometimes it’s hard.

Financially our government seems in worse shape than ever before. They continue to spend more than they bring in on a monthly basis at a record pace. Local, state, and federal all share the blame. Families and individuals have followed suit and have more debt than ever before. But nobody seems to want to tighten their belts.

Morally, wow – what is there to say?  take the government again. How can u tell people don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t gamble when the state has sanctioned gambling through the lotto. How do you stop a poker room in clay county when the government sanctions it?

This mornings topic – education – and the state of the falling apart university system in  florida. wow. $, $,$..

This afternoon – affordable housing – sensitive topic, but at it’s core – welfare. somebody is giving money to someone else to buy a house they couldn’t otherwise afford. Weird place we live in…

The answers seem few, $ seem fewer, and taxes seem higher than ever.

Morally – how do we make the shift? I doubt it has to do with legislation, or condemning people’s outward behaviors. It seems what we need is a heart change. For believers to step up and live like believers to live apart from this world, to position themselves differently, but in a way that is attractive and draws the people of this world unto Jesus.

I guess it all goes to our hopelessness apart from Jesus and if things don’t change we need Him to come back sooner than ever.

I believe in our nation, our state, and our local government, but now seems a time we need to pray more than ever for those who are in power. That they would be willing to do the hard work, the belt tightening, etc that they really need to to provide for a better future for our children and our childrens children.

May we all as believers seek to live in such a way that we leave this earth better than when we arrived having made a difference in the name of Jesus in everyone we encounter.

I just finished reading a book by Rick McKinley called This Beautiful Mess: Practicing the Presence of the Kingdom of God it spoke powerfully of Kingdom Principles and brought reflections on some of the following questions:

·         So what does the kingdom look like?

·         How does or will Jesus govern his kingdom?

·         What does patriotism in the kingdom look like?

·         And how do I really know if I am a citizen?

Many of you know from a previous post that I was considering running for county commissioner. A very important role, and one in need of believers who will step up and lead our county admirably into the future. Yet a role that I am not ready for at the moment.

A few of the reasons:

1)      My girls are 13 & 15 and the pace of life that would be needed might be too much.  4 years from now they will be in college and timing might be much better considering the time commitments that would be involved in running an effective race.

2)      Journey Church is just getting off the ground and will need the bulk of my attention in the coming year.

3)      Integrity CSG needs time and attention in conjunction with the new church launch. To make ends meet I am currently bi-vocational and the nature of this work is getting paid for hours spent working so any time spent away from this could have a very negative impact on our financial situation.

4)      Impact Clay has been stagnant through these transitions. As the dust settles in my life we want to re-invigorate it’s mission and vision and continue to use it as a tool to unite pastors, community leaders, and non-profits for the furtherance of the kingdom in our area.

In essence – at the heart of my desire to serve in that capacity was to make a difference in the community. Making it stronger. Keeping faith and family values high on our agendas and simply believing for the best in people. A hearts desire to be a reflection of our God who came down out of a heavingly dwelling place to bring a slice of heaven to people whos lives were often times a mess.

So don’t rule me out for a few years from now!

Being difference makers is something we can all do.

Something to think about and reflect on. Why not stop for a moment, pray, and answer these questions:

What do you see at the top 3 places of need in our community?  1 – 2-  3

What are some creative, simple ways that you, your family, your friends, or Journey church could help represent the kingdom in those areas?

Finally the question for you..

What keeps you and those you know from being signposts of heaven in our community? And how can you remove those obsticales?

.

Putting the call out to get your voice heard on this very important issue that faces our County. If you want to make your feelings known about this issue, I encourage you to pick up the phone and call the town of Orange Park and let them know what you think of expanding gambling in our county.

Town of Orange Park
2042 Park Avenue
Orange Park, FL 32073
(904) 278-3018

If you would like to take it a step further I encourage you to call Diane Hutchings 710-1469 and take her up on representing a No Gambling Stance by being at the meeting and potentially holding up a sign regarding the issue. See details that were forwarded me below:

One meeting down and one to go!  This is the most important one-the Town Council will be voting on whether or not to allow a Poker Room at the OP Kennel Club.

We have some signs to hold at the Town Hall next Tuesday and would like to have some ‘families’ willing to spend an hour on the shaded corner of Kingsley and Hwy 17 from 5-6:30pm. We are concerned that the holiday weekend will cause a low attendence.  Please let me know if you can join us!!!

Diane Hutchings
Financial Planner
710-1469 Cell