GREETINGS :: FRIENDS, FAMILY, SUPPORTERS

It’s been three years since you’ve heard from us in an official
fundraising capacity, as God has been leading us through an intense
journey of learning to trust HIM as our Provider. It’s been challenging
and rewarding in so many ways, and we now feel released to make
you aware of and invite you into the journey like never before.

Giving is an act of worship. He doesn’t need our money, but
surrendering it is a chance for us to practice radical generosity and to
show God with our actions how much He means to us. It’s not lip service.
It’s a practice of putting our trust in Him over everything else – even money. We have an incredible opportunity right now to walk this out together. Would you take a step with us?

We’re headed to Guayaquil, Ecuador on July 6 for outreach concerts, chapel services, and the opportunity to help raise scholarships for impoverished children to attend Christian school through Latin America ChildCare. An estimated 20 million children under the age of 15 don’t go to school there because they have to work to help keep their families alive. God’s used this ministry to transform thousands of futures - to rewrite a child’s life story and turn hopelessness into dreams. We are praying to raise $3,000 to cover the expense of this trip and the ministry events. Would you help send us?
52 weeks a year (for 16 years now!) you can find me ministering somewhere, sharing the amazing truth of God’s love in a creative, compelling way. Recently, I’ve experienced extreme favor and
connection again with teenagers, leading students in a “God Party” of sorts – an interactive worship experience within the context of celebration that is resonating deeply and touching hearts. There’s an article about it on my website. It’s a fresh move of the Spirit, and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part! Would you consider partnering with us in this endeavor on a consistent basis, maybe adding us to your monthly missionary support - or per event? If we could raise $2,000 a month, it would literally propel me around the world, sustaining multiple events and the accompanying expenses. These concerts end with several students on the stage, in the band – their faces beaming with joy and pride while they play along as part of the team (often for the first time ever), leading their peers in worship and celebration. It changes them. It changes me. Supporting this ministry makes an eternal difference in the world.

What part will you play?

PLEASE CONSIDER HITTING US UP AT THE PAYPAL BUTTON ON THIS SITE, PURCHASING A FEW CDs, OR WRITING ME AN EMAIL TO RECEIVE INFO ABOUT USING YOUR CREDIT CARD OR SENDING A CHECK.  THANKS AGAIN!

Have You Thrown a Party Lately?

By Justin Fox

The truth is; Christians don’t really know how to party. Our culture, our generation, and generations to come need to relearn the fine art of celebration - and nothing is worth celebrating more than God’s goodness, faithfulness, and love for us. Sure, we sing about celebration, we talk about it in sermons, but rarely do any of us actually experience it in our church gatherings. For example, many of the songs we sing reference “dancing”, but how many of us really dance. Be honest.

So, I propose instead of thinking of your next special gathering as “putting on an event”, or “planning out a service”, why don’t you instead THROW A PARTY? Set it up just like a party. Hang streamers, and balloons. Pass out party-poppers and candy. Pour the punch, dim the lights, rent a popcorn machine, hang a disco-ball. You get the picture. Personally, I have felt God calling and nudging me in this direction, and I’m excited to see where it leads.

When I look at the Old Testament and read God’s first instructions to His people about festivals and feast days, it seems as if we’ve missed something. God loves a celebration and I think many of us could benefit from a fresh approach like this.

What would a Christ-centered party look like? What would you actually do? Well, as I have experimented with this lately I’ve discovered a few things that work really well. We like to keep the idea of celebration connected to the Biblical context of worship, but still maintain room for individual creativity. So, take these as suggestions, but be sure to put your creative fingerprints on this and help shape it and mold it for your community.

Ideas For Your Next Celebration:

The plan is to have a band or an individual on stage to play and provide the music during the party. Everything you do needs to be thought out in advance and designed to make sure everyone participates and has a great time.

WORSHIP THROUGH COMMUNITY - 10 min.

Starts with an extended time of unstructured “hanging out”. Music playing, punch flowing, treats out, and no chairs. Let students talk with one other. I recommend serving food first. (Have you ever gone to a party where they save the food for last?)

WORSHIP THROUGH THANKSGIVING - 15 min.

Gather students together and officially welcome them to the party. Get things jumping with 2 or 3 fun, upbeat songs of thanksgiving (original if possible). Then have them seated (on the floor, or have them grab a chair and race back). Encourage them to share with each other in small groups of three or four about the things that they are thankful for. Transition out of that with a few more fun songs. Keep audience participation high and your sense of humor sharp.

WORSHIP THROUGH PETITION - 10 min.

You can’t authentically celebrate without addressing and dealing with the struggles, hardships, and challenges of life. When things are tough and we don’t know where to turn, we turn to God. This is an act of worship.

Have students pray for one another. Maybe in silence, maybe all together out loud, maybe one-on-one, but give them an opportunity to minister to one another.

WORSHIP THROUGH GIVING - 5 min.

A great place for an offering, but make it meaningful and maintain a worshipful atmosphere. We don’t give because God needs it – we give to sacrifice something precious to us as an act of worship.

WORSHIP THROUGH OBEDIENCE - 10 min.

Transition from this prayer time with a call and a challenge to follow God and His ways, even when times are hard. If another song is sung here, it might be fitting to have students stand when they feel led as an act of saying they want to follow God with their whole life.

WORSHIP THROUGH CELEBRATION - 10 min.

With the kids still standing, lead them in thanking God for His grace and strength to obey Him – that it’s not about us, but all about Him, and transition into an up-beat congregational song. In between this and your last song, consider challenging your students to really dance as an act of worship and celebration. One idea that I’ve tried is playing a “dance party medley” from my iPod with songs like the Macarena, the Chicken Dance, and YMCA. It’s a sure-fire way to make sure everyone is dancing and having fun.

WORSHIP THROUGH PARTICIPATION – 10 min.

At the very end, invite several students to join the band up front (or be the “band”), playing random, funny instruments like a small accordion, shaker, cowbell!, ukulele, etc. Get the rest of the crowd involved in some way, cheering for the kids on stage or trying to out-shout one another if possible - anything other than just singing along. Pass out confetti and Party-Poppers and when you give them the signal have them shoot them off to end the song.

PARTY CHECK LIST:

- Streamers, balloons, candy, punch, lights, hot dog machine, popcorn, disco-ball…etc, etc!

- Party-Poppers (1 for each person in your group)

- Any small, rare, silly instruments you have lying around?

- “Party Mix” of songs for before and after the live music and planned activities

- Set seating for audience in a casual, random way in sort of a semi-circle if possible (not too “churchy”)

To close things off create a playlist on your iPod or burn a CD with a selection of party songs like “Celebration” from Kool and the Gang or something to keep the party atmosphere going as closing words or announcements are made.

**

I’ve already lead 3 or 4 of these events and the response has been overwhelming!  I’d be honored to party with you - find out about booking by clicking HERE

Last year’s ASCENT was awesome. 12 of us camped in the Yosemite valley and climbed Half Dome! Here’s a re-cap:

“Just a quick word to say thanks again for setting up the trip! I know you and Heidi did a lot of work setting it up and making it run smooth! It turned out fantastic!” - Ken

“Wow, is all I can say. God’s handiwork, his power, and his blessing us with the reminders in creation is humbling to say the least.” - Gregg

See the full story HERE

My wife and I decided to host these retreats, targeted for everyone and anyone that would be interested; singles, couples, pastors, musicians, artists, families…just a fun way to get away and experience something new, together.

:: THE TRAVERSE 2009 ::

THIS YEAR WE’RE TAKING IT TO THE GROUND for a 2-day hiking retreat in the picturesque Marin Headlands above San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. We’ve made it a little more accessible this time with easy to moderate hiking trails along coastal wilderness and actual beds and amenities at the Marin Headlands Hostel

THE DATES ARE SEPTEMBER 24-26, 2009

THERE ONLY 14 SPOTS AVAILABLE, and they are first come/first served starting now! The cost includes accommodates for 2 nights (plus meals for Friday and Saturday) and is only $150. To reserve your spot simply hit our Pay Pal button on the site, send in a check to our address below, or call me with your credit card number at 949-294-7039.

Justin Fox Ministries / 3007 Donnybrook Ln. Costa Mesa, CA 92626

:: SCHEDULE ::

Thursday the 24th - 7pm check-in / 8pm Beginning Gathering :: Worship, Experience, Community

Friday the 25th - 8am Breakfast and pack lunch / 9am leave for day hike / 6pm Dinner / 7pm Middle Gathering

Saturday the 26th - 9am Breakfast / Communion / Community …10:30am everyone heads home…

KJ is a youth pastor, author, and deep thinker out here in Colorado.  We’ve been having a blast hanging out and ministering together.  We also got to fly-fish along the dramatic Poudre River.  We had no idea what we were doing, but it was fun!  I can’t wait to share some thoughts about church, worship, and ministry that have been blossoming on this trip - big stuff.  Maybe I’ll write more after the sunburn heals…

Anyone out there near the Denver, CO area???

Some really cool friends of mine are putting together a fun show in Greeley this May.  You should make a night of it if you’re nearby!  It’d be great to see you there!!!

YAAAAAHHHHHHH, we did it!!!! It’s over! Everyone now; deep sigh of relief…

I’m really happy with how this last day went. It was a big one, but God was bigger. The 2 services at Oasis went pretty smooth, 2nd better than the first (I was more awake, audience had more energy, and I didn’t do quite as many clumsy things). Samme’s short sermon on “Poolman” was ground-breaking…in fact, I’m comfortable calling it legendary at this point. I will try to post it up on this site if I get a copy, and I definitely need to send it to TIM! Lou Gramm did not show sadly, but I did meet hundreds of warm, welcoming, supportive, and encouraging people! The CD donations, love offering, and church’s honorarium completely blew me away. It was a huge financial windfall that will propel our ministry forward in profound ways — THANK YOU, OASIS!!!

We all hit the Chinese food place again for lunch, and then I took off for my super-last-minute booking back in Geneva. My voice was doing well, but feeling a little stripped, so right after sound check in Geneva, I borrowed a pot and dish towel from the church kitchen, boiled water in it, found a quiet room, and with the dishtowel around my face, I inhaled steam for about 15 minutes. I have to say, that is one of my new favorite voice-care activities! It feels awesome! And it’s an excuse for more solitude and quiet…you should try it! The concert went OK…very small crowd…6, 7, 10 people? Very mellow, too. At one point, I felt compelled to say that “permission is granted to clap after a song, if you’d like”…hee hee… I really dug the pastor and his family. Good people with sincere hearts. Thanks to Paul Estro and his wife for helping me connect with this church. Paul is a unique, passionate musician that you should check out. He opened my Thursday night show this week and did a great job!

Well, New York is much bigger and more rural than I ever imagined…tons of open land with beautiful, vintage farm houses everywhere…it just goes on and on and on…I had a great adventure here, and I’m already plotting my return trip; Summer? Bring the family? Fire up the motorized surfboard??!!!! Oh yah, SAVE IT FOR ME, LOU!!!

I can’t thank all my hosts, concert promoters, and friends enough for this amazing week. I am humbled and honored to serve alongside you! Thanks, readers, for sharing in this trip with me. Please pray my flights all run smooth tomorrow and that I am home on schedule to pick the kids up from school.

4 days home and then the band and I pile in the van for a weekend of shows in Nor Cal.

…and The Tour rolls on…

PIZZA AND WINGS!!!!

…but I’m getting ahead of myself…

Today started out with the big drive back to Rochester…another long period of time with no CD player and miles and miles of quiet scenery. As I focused in on a time of intentional prayer, I tried to listen for God to speak (instead of me doing all the talking), and guess what? He talks like a New Yorker! I was having all these ideas running through my head, and I asked him, “Are these ideas from you?”. It was like he replied, “Yah, of course they’re from me! What are youzz, some kinda wizeguynow?” Anyway, I wish he would’ve said more, but that’s all I got.

One of the ideas I was thinking of was that these diary entries this week seem a little too “goody-goody-halo-wearing”, if you know what I mean. I am having a relatively good week spiritually and morally, but that’s not always been the case (and maybe the accountability of this blogging is helping me). The truth is; I am a broken, stumbling, imperfect person…often further off the mark than I realize most of the time. I read an interview with one of my touring heros; David Wilcox where he said being on the road is like “running in sand”. It can be like training. You can use the time on the road for spiritual, moral, mental, and physical discipline. Treat it like a running-in-sand exercise so that when you get back, onto solid ground, everything is easier. I read that about 5 years ago and never forgot it. David, if you’re reading this (I just found out he’s actually following ME on Twitter), thank you!

I really try now to live like a monk on the road…like an impoverished missionary in harsh conditions or something! My two temptations that I fall for most are TV (VH1, MTV) and shopping (clothes, sunglasses, shoes). I’d splurge because I was lonely, bored, whatever, but I’m learning; those things are not good for me. One of my problems is worrying. I doubt that God loves me about every 52 seconds, even though I stand up on a stage and passionately express God’s great love…oh, the irony! I need all the help I can get in fighting off worry and doubt, among a host of other things, and TV and the Mall just get me off track and make me sick - full of the world’s empty, hollow sweetness, like a big bag of Halloween candy for lunch…the LAST thing you want when you’re alone and far from home. So I’m learning…and it’s getting easier.

I checked back into the hotel here in the afternoon and headed to a school where the PA and chairs are getting set for tomorrow’s church gatherings. The Oasis Christian Fellowship band is rockin’ the house! I get to lead a few congregational songs with them, so we ran through them in rehearsal, and everyone is sounding great. Glen is doing a killer job leading the worship team and laying down some heavy guitar! After that, is was PIZZA AND WINGS TIME, BABY!!! I think I ate 42 wings. I’m serious, they are the best out here…it’s magic! They even combine the two with “Buffalo Wing Pizza”, which is, of course, awesome.

I’ve been hearing rumors that Lou Graham goes to this church, and that he might be there tomorrow…to critique my singing! HA! He is definitely a huge influence on me. “Juke Box Hero” and the Foreigner 4 album stoked the fire in me to perform and write songs. He’s a LEGEND! I hope I get to meet him.

Well, if Jesus doesn’t come back tonight…then tomorrow we ROCK!!!

I am rounding the corner, people! Over the top! I am feeling the momentum of the second-half pulling me toward home, and it’s all downhill now…in the best way!

I drove most of the day after my 11:30 am rock star breakfast by the lake. That’s livin’! I experienced the first feeling of warm sun since I left Cali and took a few pictures of the scenery, bought that capo and then hit the road. The Aspire does not have a CD player (or at least I can’t find one), so I’ve not been able to listen to the 5 or so CDs that people have given me - sorry, guys! I try to pray a lot when I’m driving, and today I reflectively journeyed through the Lord’s Prayer, adding in extra stuff and personal prayers to each line…it took an hour! The other hours I spent listening to Fresh Air, Prairie Home Companion, and This American Life podcasts.

After crossing miles and miles of farmland, I pass through Albany and then deeper into the country for my next stop. My hosts tonight are Pastor Roger and his family. They put on a great event to raise money for the local food bank…and cooked great meatloaf! The crowd was fun and responsive, my voice felt fine, and I ended up making my concert a little longer than I thought…the time just flew by! People were so kind and generous at the “tent table” and as I was reaching down to grab some more CDs out of the suitcase, I saw something shiny…something metal…MY CAPO!!! So, I guess now I have a back-up…

I’m in the extra bedroom at Roger’s house and getting ready to talk to Heidi and the kids and then get some sleep. I’m thankful that the fam has been doing good this week. I’ve called Heidi every day, talked to the kids several times, and I’ve been texting my 12-year-old ’cause that’s how she communicates now. I bought cheezy NY trinkets for them all…real crowd pleasers! Only 2 more real days to go, and then my fly-day home. I’m so stoked! I can’t wait to get back to Rochester tomorrow and hang out again with Samme and the Oasis crew…I’ll be rehearsing with his band for Sunday services and finally; PIZZA AND WINGS!!!

I’ll see my largest audiences of the trip on Sunday. It’ll be my fullest day so far. May God restore my energy and focus and keep me humbly dependent on Him.

On the home stretch…

Oh man, thanks for your prayers, everyone!!!  My voice recovered and my singing at tonight’s concert was totally fine!  A real miracle.  I tried to stay quiet all day except to answer the U.S. Border officer’s questions…as he pulled me out of the car and SEARCHED IT!  I didn’t know what was going on.  I just tried to stay calm and not look guilty or nervous…but that’s when you look the most guilty and nervous, right?!  They finally let me go, and I was sure happy to be back in America.

The Aspire is running like a champ!

My hosts tonight put me up at this really nice hotel overlooking a giant lake.  I was so blessed!  The concert went well.  I’m just super relieved that my voice held up and seems to be getting better and better.  Another big miracle:  I was unable to schedule a Sunday night service on this trip, but still booked my ticket for Monday morning by faith that something could come up.  Well, God’s plan unfolded…A pastor of the local Assemblies church was in the audience tonight and BOOKED ME for this Sunday!!!  Amazing.  I’m so stoked.

I uploaded a new video clip the other day.  It’s a fun piece in the middle of our DVD documentary, including interviews with three of my brothers.  They are STUDS! Oh yah, and I step in dog doo-doo…

Tomorrow I will sleep in for sure…and buy a capo after breakfast.  The Albany youth group concert tomorrow is 3 hours away.  It’s a benefit for the church’s food pantry.  May hearts be touched, motivated, and inspired!

OOOOHHHH, CAAANNNNAAADDDAAAA!

I made it! I’m here in another country…across the river. Today started awesome with a lively Christian school chapel concert at 10am. They were actually shouting for CDs by song 3! That’s never happened…and it’s the one gig that Samme told me NOT to bring any CDs!  The Chinese food was really good, though.

I picked up the borrowed car, and it’s a beauty; a soulfully vintage ‘95 Ford Aspire. The speedometer doesn’t work so I can go as fast as I want! Oh yah, and here’s the promised picture…2 words;

MOTORIZED SURFBOARD!!!

This thing is sitting in a NY garage on the Lake Ontario coast, and Louie will fire it up for you - It’s ready to roll!!!

I crossed into Canada this afternoon, stopped to catch a glimpse of the Niagara Falls, and headed to lasagna with a friend I haven’t seen in…gulp…25 years! Our families lived in Bangkok, Thailand together. He’s now a worship leader here and was able to sneak me into the youth gathering. Here’s the rundown; Canadian audiences are quite reserved - I misplaced my capo somewhere - my voice took a dive in the middle of the show - I nursed some tea afterward - inhaled some steam - and…well…it was kind of a challenging night.  I’m thankful for my friend’s warm hospitality, his capo, his family’s generous support, and the comfy bed that’s calling my name!  How cool to have a friend like that; a brother in Christ, reunited from around the world!

I pray God used my feeble ramblings somehow in the lives of teenagers today. I pray my voice recovers for tomorrow. If you’re the prayin’ type, keep me in mind…