Today’s Journal Entry

Though there will be many journal entries for me that I wouldn’t want to share with the whole world, I thought today’s might be helpful to some. Enjoy!

I feel like today’s scripture in The daily bread was a bit out of context. 1Cor. 10:31 “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” was delivered inspirationally as a life goal to bring Glory to God with your respective gifts. But,for me, in reading the scripture in its full context, I believe it was mainly about how we reflect God through our actions. i.e…. What we eat or drink or things we participate in. 

In verse 23 it says “We are free to do all things, but there are things which it is not wise to do. We are free to do all things, but not all things are for the common good.”

To me this passage is not about using your gifts to bring glory to God, though a valid challenge. It’s about ensuring that the things you do in your everyday life “Bring Him Glory”

Further more, I found another place in scripture that we Christians tend to misuse ALL THE TIME: 

“You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but he will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it.”

Not once have I ever heard anybody recite the former or ladder of this scripture. Two HUGE roles of the scripture! I have always heard it said, “God will never give you anything you can’t handle.” This delivery offers no help to a person who is struggling in their life and in their walk. STOP DOING THIS PEOPLE! 

What about,”You have been put to no test but such as is common to man”? This says you are not alone! Many have shared in this struggle and overcome; a powerful message of hope. And what about,”…but he will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it.” Thank You God! You mean this can be fixed??? Why do us Christians spit out these cliches in an effort to offer hope and leave the Truth of God’s Power and faithfulness by the wayside??? 

God, today I see that in my time of despair and darkness, you have not left me alone to figure it all out. Not only are you testing me on common things to every human being, but You’ve offered answers and a way out of the mess. Give me the faith and perseverance to overcome. Open my eyes and heart to receive such things. I love you, my God xoxox

UPDATE: Jeremy Noelker attracts Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Good Afternon Friends, here’s an update on Jeremy as he makes his way to Washington D.C.

I’m so grateful for Katy McCaffrey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for writing up this article on Jeremy’s Journey. As I spoke with Katy she informed me that one of their photographers was on another assignment when he came across Jeremy walking with the cross. Intrigued, he snapped a photo and brought it back to the office to share. When I asked Katy what her initial reaction to Jeremy was she stated that it was “kind of odd” but after receiving an email from Jeremy she realized how legit he was and that he was doing was a “good thing”.

Katy, if you’re reading this. I can’t thank you enough for spreading the message of “Love One Another”! If only the whole world could jump on that single bandwagon. It’s not about religion, it’s not about faith or people groups. It’s about humanity and the Love that we should be sharing with one another.

Before you click the link below to read the story, please remember to keep Jeremy in your prayers, he’s had some rough nights out there. Weather is turning cold and wet these days. Also, I would like to remind you that I’m still accepting donations for Jeremy’s cause, and raising funds to go pick him up in D.C. Please follow God’s lead on these things! Check out the article Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10293/1096503-454.stm

LIVE: In the Studio @ Indy’s New 88.3 The Walk

UPDATE: Jeremy Noelker – 1/2 way to D.C.

Snapped in Greenwood, IN

Jeremy found a library today and I was able to chat with him on facebook. He told me he’s in WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA!!!! THAT’S 1/2 WAY FOLKS!!!!

He did say that he had a rough night over the past couple nights. With storms rolling through and cold, he was unable to set up his tent and had to sleep in the cold and rain with little more than his clothes and a  blanket. KEEP PRAYING!!!  And again, if you would like to help Jeremy out, I’m accepting pledges and donations for each of the 624 miles he walks. Contact me at info@joebanua.com.

Below is a note that Jeremy posted on his facebook page. REALLY COOL STUFF! God Bless!

“Hello there. Just wanted to give a short update to anyone following this mission. I am still in ohio. The past couple days have been a bit rough. I’m out in what seems to be the exact middle of nowhere. The towns have been getting further and further apart, and it has been a challenge at times to stay supplied. But God has continued to show me provision. Day after day he has answered my prayers. And I have met some of the most amazing people. I made a friend for life outside of Columbus Ohio. His name was Kent and he has been homeless for the past two months, living in the woods. We met when i came out of a store and he was sitting next to Scoob, so I decided I’d sit there with him. I asked what he was doing, and he told me “Shopping for cigarettes.”  He was digging cigarettes from the ash tray. So i went inside and bought him a pack and something to drink. We talked for a little while longer, and he asked me if he could give me a walking stick in return for the kindness that had been given him. In hobo tradition, if a man gives you a walking stick then you’ve made a friend for life. And it was the first one he’d ever made, with the word “Stength” carved into it. So on our walk I began asking him questions dealing with spirituality, not pushing my views on him, but to hear what he had to say. It was a good conversation. He explained to me how he’d lost faith as he grew older. That Christianity was just a bunch of mindless people doing as they were told, because “God said so”.

Photo snapped by Bob Shadowens near S.R. 201 and 40 in Dayton, OH.

I could see that this man just didn’t have any faith anymore, so i told him stories from the road of the way God had been answering my prayers and working in others. When we were about to head seperate ways, he told me he felt he had met me for a reason, because he hadn’t thought about any of this in years. So i started thinking I should spend some more time with him. i invited him to get a cup of coffee. By now he was quoting scripture to me and telling me stories from the bible. And realizing the faith aspect of it all. that all that knowledge is meaningless without faith. When it was time for us to both go to our camps, it was difficult leaving. I truely made a friend for life. Thank you everyone still praying for us! It is very much needed. This is one crazy world.”

Jeremy Noelker: via Resident of Dayton, OH

 

Photo snapped by Bob Shadowens near S.R. 201 and 40 in Dayton, OH.

 

Jeremy Noelker doesn’t blow smoke, folks! Here’s a resident of Dayton, OH that requested my friendship on Facebook and told me about his encounter with Jeremy in DAYTON, OH!!!!

“This young man is Jeremey Noelker. I saw him walking down U.S 40 with his dog. He was carrying a large wooden cross. He left his town in westeren Indiana and was walking to Washington D.C. He was an incredible young man with a great testimony. He was not crazy. I found him to be perfectly sane. He just wanted to follow God’s will.

He was very humble. I asked if he wanted to use my cell and he declined. I asked if he needed money he said no he had a few bucks. He did let me donate to his cause. I gave him some milk bones for his dog.

Then we actually stood along the road held hands and prayed for God’s mercy on him while he traveled. He was relying completely upon God for his needs. He was an incredible young man. I signed his cross and he let me take his photo.

So the reason for this post is I would ask you to remember Jeremey Noelker in your prayers. He actually told me he doesn’t know why God has lead him to do this, but he was trusting God to reveal this to him someday.
I’m glad I stopped.”

- Bob Shadowens of Dayton, OH

There you have it, folks, he’s really doing it! Keep Jeremy in your prayers and remember, I’m excepting pledges for every one of the 624 miles that he will walk. Again, this was my idea to give him this money, not his! I’ve already received a couple hundred dollars for Jeremy’s cause, let’s continue to bless him and Scoobert!

Stay tuned for more on Jeremy’s Epic Journey!

JEREMY NOELKER: Update from the road!

Here is what Jeremy has had to say after the first 5 days of his journey to Washington D.C.! Remember, I’m taking pledges for each of the 624 miles that he must endure to make his goal. I’ve received one pledge and I’ve chosen to match that pledge. God Bless, everyone, I hope you enjoy this update… Get the kleenex.

“Some of you may know about the journey I have taken up. Five days ago I set out from Brownsburg, IN carrying a cross with a message to “Love One Another”  headed for Washington D.C. with faith that I will make it in time for John Stewart’s rally on the 30th. I know it’s a longshot, but i know that this is God’s will and that he will lead me there. I know this without doubt because of the wonderful ways He has shown himself everyday, acting on the hearts of others and acting on my own.

I am journaling my experience and will have lots to share with you when i make it, but I’d like to tell you a story about a man i met two days ago.  It was an especially rough day, my body was in so much pain that i didn’t know how much further i could make it. There had been nothing but miles and miles of farmland and i was running low on water and had no more food with many more miles to civilation. A man had seen me pass by his home as i dropped the cross. I didn’t see him but a little later down the road this man stopped to tell me that he had called in late to work because when he caught the sight, God told him to bring me water and food. This man was not a Christian and had never felt God’s calling so clear. When I showed him my water bottle was nearly empty and had no food, the man became full of spirit to experience god’s calling was a real thing for the first time.

People, i ask that you pray for this man, that he may hear God’s voice as clear as he did that day and continue to serve Him the rest of his life. And for the countless others who are touched by this mission. I don’t know why God is calling me to D.C., but i can only believe it is more amazing than i can understand right now, if ever. Please pray for me especially at night, as it is very cold out there.

And I want to give a very specially thank you to Shane Hamton, Joe Banua, Ali Moore, Drew Hildabrand, all of Brownsburg, and Brandy Bowen for all of the love and support you have provided me. I love you guys.

Tomorrow I will be in Ohio, and i will keep you updated as much as i can. Thank you and remember that it is by grace through faith that we are saved.”

- Jeremy Noelker & Scoobert

RE: Jeremy Noelker: Your Prayers Are Needed

Please read this blog in it’s entirety, I know time is valuable, but I’m hoping we can all get involved somehow.

Good morning friends. You may remember when I told you about a young man I met singing outside my house a few months ago. If you don’t you can read a previous blog entitled “Because God Said” http://wp.me/pAKON-6t.

Over the past few months, Jeremy and his loyal furry companion, Scoobert, have walked all over Indiana bearing a cross that displays the words “Love One Another”. The cross also sports the signatures of the hundreds of people that were moved, when they saw Jeremy, to get involved or draw closer to God. In fact, Jeremy’s travels have taken him over such a distance that his original cross (also bearing hundreds of signatures) was worn down so far that he could no longer drag it behind him.

All of this because it was the first thing that God laid on his heart after becoming homeless earlier this year.

Over that past several months, Jeremy has, on many occasions, stopped through Brownsburg for brief periods of time, and I was humbled by some of the stories he shared with me.  But this most recent visit was different.

Just days ago, Jeremy stopped in and shared with me a vision to walk from Brownsburg to Washington D.C. in time for the “Rally to Restore Sanity” which, if you don’t know what is, follow this link http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-16-2010/rally-to-restore-sanity-announcement . While he and all who were present were mildly apprehensive about the journey, we all knew that the enemy would certainly try to keep something this huge and epic from happening. Jeremy would arrive in D.C. not with the intent to shout at people about their sin, not with the desire to sell them his God, but with the quiet humble prayer for America to begin to “Love One Another”.

So without much hesitation we printed off a walking route for him, prepped him with rations and supplies, spent a little time in the word, and off he went. Man, dog & cross headed south on SR 267.

I was blessed to catch a random facebook photo upload from a facebook friend in Greenwood, IN that saw him on Smith Valley Rd. She didn’t know him, but she was fascinated with her encounter. You wouldn’t believe the amount of response to her posting of this picture. Here’s another link if you’d like to check it out: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6702896&id=662286498&il=0&ref=notif&notif_t=photo_reply .

The true meaning of this post, however, is not to simply make you aware of Jeremy, but to offer you an opportunity to be a part of this epic journey. The first way you can do that is simply through prayer. Jeremy has pretty much nothing but a tent, some clothes, a canteen, some bread and peanut butter, and a go-phone. He will be walking on State Highways because it’s not safe or even legal for him to travel by foot on Interstates. After several days, Jeremy will find himself in the Appalachian Mountains where it is desolate and lonely. Pray. Pray. Pray. Please Pray. For comfort when he’s afraid, for supplies when he needs them, for a warm, dry place to sleep when he needs it, for safety from the elements, and for a heart of Joy as he fulfills what He has been called to.

The second way is this.

I was thinking earlier tonight. LOOK OUT! Ha And, I thought that maybe some of you who are reading this can help with money. Like I said, Jeremy is homeless, and a few weeks ago, he asked me if I knew a way that I could raise support for him to keep doing what he’s doing without having to be homeless and without provision. At the time, I had no great ideas for him… But today I do.

Jeremy must walk 624 miles to reach his goal in Washington D.C. and I’m thinking that some may be interested in pledging a set amount of money for each mile that he walks. It could be a penny, it could be a dollar, or whatever… But when he returns to Indy, we could present him with some funds to help him continue surviving and serving the Lord. If you are interested please send me an email at: info@joebanua.com

I know this was a lot to read, but I’m really excited about what God is doing with Jeremy, and I’m so honored and privileged to be a part of it. Oh Yeah! It looks like I might be over in the D.C. area on tour at the same time he should be arriving, so I might be able to bring him home after his journey… that would be cool if God worked it out that way! We’ll see!

Thanks for reading, friends. I’ll try to do this more often but with shorter reads… LOL

In His Hands,

Joe

I know, I know, It’s been a while ;)

Good morning so far. Saw the family out the door and had me some Jesus time.

Gotta say I’ve been seeking his guidance quite a bit lately, and ironically as I began my study the song “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath came onto 88.3 The Walk. Shortly after I was led to 1 Corinthians 9:24. I want to encourage you all this morning.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

As the Lord guided me this morning I heard, “It doesn’t matter how you get to the purpose I have for you, Joe, just run like the wind to get there. Grow closer to me, and you will grow closer to MY purpose!”

Friends, for the Banua’s right now, there are so many unknowns, and we always appreciate prayer. However, we remain confident that God is preparing us for things that are SOOO much bigger than us. So we continue to ask God to “give us His eyes” so we may see the path He’s laid for us. Regardless of His timing, we will continue to run full speed ahead to what we believe He has placed before us.

I hope this finds you all well, and I would like to open myself up to you. If you need prayer, if you just need to vent, or if you’d like to tell me about how God is revealing himself to you, email me! joe@joebanua.com

I love you all, and encourage you to keep checking into joebanua.com for new info regarding the music stuff. Join the mailing list, yadda yadda yadda…

Much Love – the Banua’s

GRAPHIC ARTISTS ASSEMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ATTENTION GRAPHIC ARTISTS!!! I need a logo to grab the attention of the world!
If you have a knack for design, create a logo or 3 and send the jpgs to info@joebanua.com – Next week the top 5 logos will be selected and posted for the world to vote on. The winning logo will be plastered all over my merch for the fall tour and will earn its designer free copies of the “Broken EP” and the “Acoustic Sessions”! GO!

MUST USE THE LETTERS JBB and be T-Shirt ready and Knit Cap ready

88.3 The Walk presents: the OPENING ACT TOP 4

So, I can make this story really long or really short… For the sake of your time… We’ll go with the short version.

Little over a month ago, just days before my son was born, a good friend, Andy Schroeder, told me about a contest that 88.3 The Walk was conducting. On my son’s birthday, July 6th, I submitted my application and that weekend found myself auditioning along with 140 other contestants.

The objective of the friendly competition; to secure an opening spot for the Sidewalk Prophets & Matthew West concert at the Indiana State Fair, and gain access to studio time in Nashville, TN as well as meet with executives from Word Records.

So 140 contestants were then seen by judges from Integrity Music and 88.3, who narrowed the group to 24. The 24 performed at Greenwood Christian Church with a single instrument or accompaniment, and were then seen by judges from Word Records who narrowed the group to 8. The 8 performed this past Friday at GCC with 1000 Generations as their backup band for judges from Provident Records, 88.3, and a Nashville Radio promoter. Then there were 4!

1. Brianna Caprice Patrick

2. Dena Shomali

3. Jim Garries

4. And Yours Truly – Joe Banua

Voting has commenced and I ask that you take a moment and visit the 88.3 The Walk website and  drop a vote for your boy Joe. Also listen in your car or online for each of the Contestants to be in the studio live from 7-8am Monday-Thursday this week. You’ll enjoy getting to know all of them as I know that I have. Great people!

I specifically will be broadcast live from the studio Thursday, August 12th from 7-8am — WHICH IS MY BIRTHDAY!

So! Vote, Listen, Pray for God’s Will to be done, and if you have the resources, I beg that you consider supporting 88.3 with a donation for all of the opportunities they’re opening up for us “nobody’s” and for the incredible ministry they continue to do in the Indianapolis Area. http://www.883thewalk.org