Rev. John C. Mac Iver's Thoughts

This Might Be My Last Post!

2011-10-23T13:25:00.000-04:00

This may very well be my last post because on Wednesday, possibly sooner, my The New Jersey State Parole Board, to whom I am directly accountable, will most likely betaking my Internet access away. They may even decide to restrict me from computeraccess all together. This action will have immediate and no doubt devastatingeffects on my life and ministry. It is not justified and I have had a strong emotional, evensuicidal reactions to the thought of this. However, God and my sin put them over me and I will follow as I am instructed.

Regardless of this two weeks ago I made a determination: nomatter what my circumstances, I will never look at my situation except againstthe backdrop of the cross. In the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Godforever convinced me that He loved me. The love relationship I have with myHeavenly Father will sustain me through this extremely difficult time.

My faith is not based on good situations in my life it isbased on what Jesus has done throughout my life. I rest in that and if you aretruly my friends, you will remind me of it when I need reminding.

This is where my hope is centered, on what my Daddy haswritten for me:

Jeremiah 29:11:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declaresthe LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give youhope and a future".

2 Corinthians 4:16-18:

So we do notlose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is beingrenewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us aneternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to thethings that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that areseen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Deuteronomy 31:6:

Be strong andcourageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God whogoes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

I hope this isn't goodbye, but if it is I want to encourage those of you who read this blog, around the world, to take courage! This is not the end of me, it's just another chapter in my life coming to a close. If I never see you here again, I will see you in eternity! And that's a promise that no one can take away!

The Word of God is Personal and Real and written for Me, and you!

2011-10-17T09:28:00.001-04:00

As I was in the Word today and studying the Experiencing God workbook, I realized a great truth that I wanted to share with the world!

Jesus came to Saul and revealed the Father's purposes of love for him. This is also true in my life. I do not choose Him. He chooses me, loves me, and reveals His eternal purposes for my life.
Romans 8:29-30:” 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

This passage in Romans is written about me! I am one of the ones He foreknew!

This passage in Romans is written about me! I am one of the ones He foreknew! I am predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son! I am firstborn among many brothers! I am Called! I am Justified! And I will be glorified! Wow how exciting, how humbling. It is one thing to read the Scriptures and be in awe of them, it is quite another to realize that God is indeed talking about me! How awesome, how humbling!

But it still isn't all about me, it is about Him. He foreknew me. He predestined me, He conformed me, He bore me, He justified me, He will glorify me!

You know it is great to personalize the Scriptures but it is foolish, reckless and just plain stupid and self-centered to only look at what is being done for me and not look at the most important part, the ONE who does it for and to me, my God and King! This thought is perfectly illustrated by Jesus in John 15:16,19: 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Well that's what I think!

I Just Want To Live!

2011-10-05T12:02:00.001-04:00

Life is challenging and it seems that every day is bringing me more and more to worry about. Everyone around me is hurting and the truth is; it's starting to get to me. I have so many things that I have to be careful about. I am not trying to get away with anything, be decietful or run anyone elses life. I just want to be able to live and find enjoyment in my life.

It's ironic that for the first time in my life I truely want to live! I've spent the majority of my life wanting to die or just fade away, something to make the pain stop.

Now I'm in a place where my top two relationships are so wonderful I cannot express it in words. Jesus and my beautiful wife Penny, they are so very important to me and I couldn't ask for a better relationship with either of them. I am blessed, I am happy. But things keep coming up that would seek to tear down my relationships and my joy of life.

However, I've made a determination: no matter what my circumstances, I will never look at my situation except against the backdrop of the cross. In the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God forever convinced me that He loved me. “Father, don’t ever let me look at my life and question Your love for me. Your love for me was settled on the cross. That has never changed and will never change.” Our love relationship with the Heavenly Father sustains us through extremely difficult times.

But even as I seek to look only to Jesus you will notice how far I have to go by counting the number of times I've used the word "My" in this post. Six times I have taken back all that I have given over to God in this post alone. I still have a ways to go.

"Lord Jesus, I give you back again all that I hold dear, because You can take better care of them than I ever could!"

This Has Got To Stop! Lord Jesus Please Intervene!

2011-09-22T21:38:00.001-04:00

This Must STOP!

Lord Jesus We Beg You To Intervene!

I know too well how it feels to be different and have attractions that I can't reconcile with my faith. And I too know what it's like to be bullied at school and at home. People are cruel and as soon as cruel people see a weakness, or something the perceive as a weakness in a person, they will attack! In my childhood I was called all the names Jamey was called and was beaten up more times than I care to remember. As a result I spent much of my life hating myself and wanting to and trying to die. I am not in that place now and God has allowed me to survive this long so that I could experience the peace He has promised. I didn't get there over night it took a while. Jamey said in this video clip that "it gets better", however he never lived to see better and that saddens me greatly. I am deeply moved by his and all the other stories like his. I don't know what else to write but, "It Does Get Better!" If You are contemplating Suicide please visit this website:

www.suicide.com

Jamey Rodermeyer committed suicide

outside his home after being bullied

A 14-year-old boy who blogged about being suicidal due to being incessantly bullied at school has been found dead outside his home in an apparent suicide. Jamey Rodemeyer, from Buffalo, New York, cried for help online for months before his death and his family and friends said suicide was a popular topic with him. He regularly posted about being bullied at school and how people would launch gay insults at him. But what was worse for Jamey, was that when he wrote of his pain and frustrations and cried for help in his blog postings, students at his school started to bully him online. About 12 months ago on his Formspring account - which permits anonymous posts - other students started making gay references towards him. 'JAMIE IS STUPID, GAY, FAT AND UGLY. HE MUST DIE!' read one post. Another read: 'I wouldn't care if you died. No one would. So just do it :) It would make everyone WAY more happier!' On September 9, Jamey wrote on his Tumblr site: 'I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens. What do I have to do so people will listen to me?' The day before he wrote: 'No one in my school cares about preventing suicide, while you're the ones calling me [gay slur] and tearing me down.' He put up a separate post that day letting everyone know it was National Suicide Prevention Week. But still no one listened. On Saturday night he posted a lyric from Lady Gaga's song The Queen on his Facebook page which said: 'Don't forget me when I come crying to heaven's door.' On 1.30am on Sunday morning, he left two final messages on one of his blogs saying he was looking forward to seeing his great grandmother, who recently died, and one as a tribute to Lady Gaga, thanking her.

'He was the sweetest, kindest kid you'd ever know. He would give all his heart to you before he gave any to himself'His mother Tracy Rodemeyer , told Buffalo News: 'He touched so many hearts, so many people. I didn't realize how many people he touched. 'He was the sweetest, kindest kid you'd ever know. He would give all his heart to you before he gave any to himself.' She said that her son had been questioning his sexuality over the last year and that his fellow students picked up on it and used it to taunt and bully him. Friends of the 14-year-old reported the message posts to the school guidance counselors, she said, but by then it may already have been too late. 'He was totally against bullying. He has had issues since fifth grade. He had suicidal tendencies back then,' she told Buffalo News. She said she tried to talk to him on numerous occasions and asked him to talk to her about what was wrong, but he assured her that he was OK. Last weekend the family went to a camping spot they would frequently go to and she said he seemed really happy. Mrs Rodemeyer said: 'He used to cry about the taunts from his peers but they didn't seem to phase him this time. Lately, he's been blowing them off, or at least we thought he was.' Olivia Rinaldo, an eighth-grader at Heim Middle School, said she was drawn to his outwardly upbeat and extroverted personality. He made friends of the friendless, she said. 'He was always putting people first. He always wanted other people to smile, even on the worst of his days.' She said even though he was seeing a social worker and a therapist, not enough was done to help him. A letter was sent home to students on Monday morning informing them that he was dead. Dale Bauer, a licensed school social worker and clinical social worker at North, said: 'We make it apparent to the kids that there's help all day long and in the days to come.' Jamey was a new student at Williamsville North High School and the student known to have committed suicide there since 2010. Joe Chearmonte, a junior honor student, died in February of last year.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus!

2011-08-18T16:58:00.003-04:00

Dear Hearts,
As most of you know I struggle with depression and shame, I have been this way most of my life then recently A wise and dear friend told me that God had told him to tell me (if that makes sense) to take my eyes off of John C. Mac Iver and put my eyes on Jesus. Now at first I dismissed this as another well meaning Christian trying to solve my problems. But then I tried it. When I would think to myself I want to die, I would say, No I want to live for Jesus. This made me feel a little better.
As I came to believe it, my circumstances didn’t change but my perspective did. God has been very present and good in my life over the past couple of months. My relationship with Him has been tremendous and yet Satan has wanted to have me back in the pit where I was. Hurricane Irene put a whole in my roof, and we praised the Lord, I broke the upstairs toilet, and we praised the Lord. Now I have been scheduled for a polygraph test this month. I am nervous but we all have to go through it so I will simply take the advice that my Dad gave me in:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I’m sure a lot of my new perspective comes from a book I have been reading titled, “The Pursuit of God” by A. W. Tozer. And I think what I am getting out of it can be summed up in this quote from chapter 8 which reads: "Let the seeking man reach a place where life and lips join to say continually “Be thou exalted,” and a thousand minor problems will be solved at once. His Christian life ceases to be the complicated thing it had been before and becomes the very essence of simplicity. By the exercise of his will he has set his course, and on that course he will stay as if guided by an automatic pilot. If blown off course for a moment by some adverse wind, he will surely return again as by a secret bent of the soul.”

Friends I know this seems simple but I can assure you, at least for now, it is changing me. Try it for yourself!

Well till next time, “Walk with the King today and be a blessing!

This Should Make Us think!

2011-08-18T15:19:00.000-04:00

This Should Make Us think!

The Shack

2011-07-27T14:25:00.001-04:00

“If you have not heard about The Shack, there is a good chance you will soon. A novel self-published about a year ago by William P. Young, the book has gained quite a following in Christian circles. It is still among the top ten sellers at Amazon.com. And when it receives a glowing endorsement from a scholar whom I respect, like Eugene Peterson, it is not a phenomenon that discerning Christians can ignore.”

That’s how Chuck Colson starts his article Stay Out Of The Shack. But unlike Chuck Colson I have actually read the book. In his article he makes some grand statements why you shouldn’t read the book by William P. Young. I find it amazing that people who don’t know what they are talking about seem to have a lot to say on the matter.

Like I say I’ve read the book and found it fascinating! Although parts of it were hard for me to hear, I came away with a new understanding of God and His love as shown through Jesus. The author was very adept in describing deep theological concepts in a way that makes you say, “Wow, why didn’t I see that before.

The only problem I found was personal. It shed light on my life in a way that I was not prepared for. I can’t explain it in words so I encourage you to read The Shack and judge for yourself.

Don’t take my word or the word of those who Criticize without having read. The shack is reasonably priced and cane be found at CBD amongst other places. After you read it let us know what you think and we will pass your comments on to the author.

Well till next time, “Walk with the King and be a blessing!”

2011-07-26T16:19:00.000-04:00

We Love This Show!

Liquid Church’s Dirty Water Project 5k Run

2010-09-08T09:28:00.001-04:00

Penny and John participated in Liquid Church’s Dirty Water Project to raise money and awareness of the problem of finding clean drinking water in Africa and around the world, something we take for granted. Did you know that $20.00 can provide 20 years of clean drinking water for one person? Our time was 1 hour and 15 minutes, and although we came in last we felt truly like champions. Here is what the local paper had to say about the event:

Morristown, Sept 4--The Liquid Church holds their Dirty Water Run 5k to benefit water projects in 3rd world countries. Darth Vader, a.k.a. Tim Lucas lead pastor at the Liquid Church, hi-fives runners as they make their way up Speedwell Ave. at the start of the race.

See John C. Mac Iver's Baptism Online!

2009-12-05T07:39:00.000-05:00

I am the very last one to go so you may fast forward to the end. However, most people who watch this find it so inspirational that they watch most if not the entire thing!

Click Here: http://newbrunswick.liquidchurch.com/pages/page.asp?page_id=92154

Note after you click choose The New Brunswick campus 9:30 service!

Comforting Hearts Ministries Survey

2009-11-27T10:38:00.000-05:00

Please take a few minutes to take the following survey to help us determine our 2010 budget and proposed projects. It will only take about 2 minutes.

Click here:

New Life And What It Means To Me, John C. Mac Iver

2009-11-24T06:52:00.000-05:00

This Sunday November 22, 2009 something inside me changed and I am going to try to explain it. If you are of a Catholic, Lutheran, etc. and you baptise babies you may not understand. If you are Baptist, Pentecostal, or most Non-Denominational you will understand as we believe that baptism is an outward sign of an inward change of heart. Therefore it can only be done to adults or a child who understands it's symbolism; Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.
I was baptised shortly after I was saved at 13 years old but I didn't do it because I understood all it's implications, I did it because I wanted to be a member of Manahawkin Baptist Church. So as an adult I came to understanding of what baptism really meant. So all of my adult life I have wanted to be re-baptised or in my case baptised with understanding. The only problem for me was that it never felt right until this past Sunday.
I was visiting with my wife her church called Liquid Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey. I knew before I went that they were doing a baptism and I was curious about how they were going to do it in a hotel. I did not expect however that they would offer an open baptism, which would be offered to anyone who wanted to take that step of faith.
Well my dear Hearts, I was finally ready and after 26 years of wanting to and not feeling that I was in the right place, everything changed, and I lined up for spontaneous baptism.
The church was great they had like an assembly set up to take me through the process. First they lead me to two women volunteers; one interviewed me and the other recorded and edited it. That became my testimony that some Australian guy read before i was immersed. They had everything and to my surprise they had it in my size! They gave me swim trunks, a Liquid tee shirt and flip flops. They took me to a room to change and gave me instructions. They took great detail to make sure that I knew what I was doing and why.
My testimony included how my sin eventually lead me into prison and I felt like I was being cleansed from my dark secret. I truly believed, and still believe that when I came out of that water I was a new person. I also felt it was a wake-up call to those who would judge me based on my past. And now they can do what they like because God has forgiven me and has made me new despite what my critics might say.
So that's it I feel clean, excited and free, for the first time in many years maybe for the first time ever. God bless you all for reading this long testimony!

Bad Things

2009-11-09T09:37:00.000-05:00

Dear Hearts,
I know you've heard the expression "Bad Things Happen To Good People." Now I am not sure I think of myself as a particularly good person, because I have past sins in my life like everyone else, maybe more. However, in this case I am a bad person trying to turn my life around and do what the Bible commands in Matthew 6, "But seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be given to you as well." We have always been taught that if we seek God first in our lives things will go smoothly all the time. Well friends sometimes God in His infinite wisdom allows bad things to happen to us that don't seem fair. For example someone found out I was in prison, a fact I do not try to hide, on the other hand it is really nobody's business what sins I have committed in the past! I wonder if anyone who may be reading this would say that yes others have the right to know your personal sins? Well that's exactly what woman named ***** believed. So as I am prone to do I answered her honestly, too honestly, and she used the information to destroy the Not The Youth Group. In addition she manipulated the situation to humiliate my wife and I.
So in the final analysis, God in His majestic wisdom allows the bad to fall on the good and the bad. That's Just the way it is and I love Him!

Still Not The Youth Group!

2009-10-15T21:23:00.000-04:00

Another incredible night of deep down to the heart sharing and light hearted laughter! Were Not The Youth Group but we have to be the best group of them all! Is that boasting? I don't know, I'll confess it tomorrow!

Not The Youth Group!

2009-10-08T21:36:00.000-04:00

It was a lively group tonight! We've decided to name our group, "Not The Youth Group!" Just about everyone was involved but all went away feeling that we were deep into our relationship with God and each other! We may not be the youth group but we're not dead yet either! Penny and I look forward to next week!

Our First Life Group Meeting

2009-10-02T08:16:00.000-04:00

This was our first life group meeting and we put a lot of time into it, blessed time. We had a great group meeting, and that is because we have an exceptional group of people in attendance! All shared from their hearts and we had no need for "ice breakers!" These people came pre-cracked! The only negative thing that was reported to us was the fact that despite the candles, strategically placed around the room the odor from our sick dog was noticeable. So we will be working on that this week. We were honored that we had such an honest group that they were able to tell us about it. But Praise God for all things! Next week we plan to eat the group as part of a ritual sacrifice! Until then, God bless you all!

Life Groups and John C. Mac Iver

2009-09-18T07:29:00.000-04:00

This blog has been dormant for too long. Now that Penny and I are starting a new home Bible study for Liquid Church in New Brunswick I think I might have more to say. We went to the leaders meeting last night and it was filled with those weird, alive, on fire for the Lord kind of people, you know the type, the type we wish we were. The type we were when we first got saved. Boy I really hate going into a room with too many people smiling! I never know whether they like me or want to eat me. Wow I watch way too many zombie movies! I used the joke that I was the youth group at my church meaning that I was one of the youngest at 44 but I don't think they got it, I will have to work on my delivery! My over all impression was that this was a group of committed Christians who love the Lord and want to serve Him the best way they can. My wife and I too are in this number. I don't go to Liquid but I love them just the same and I hope to have many funny and touching stories in the coming weeks! God bless you all! And God bless America, only! (that's just a small political joke).

CHM News: Jason Comes Home!

2009-05-03T20:54:00.000-04:00

John C. Mac Iver's 44th Birthday Celebration!

2009-03-16T10:42:00.000-04:00

Comforting Hearts Ministries, Inc. 2009 Bowl-A-Thon

2009-02-09T11:40:00.000-05:00

God Has Provided!

2009-02-02T15:54:00.000-05:00

Bad News For CHM, But God Will Provide

2009-01-23T17:39:00.001-05:00

Bad News for Comforting Hearts Ministries!For the last year Gateway Pregnancy centers graciously allowed us to use their color copier for free and we were able to produce some beautiful Heart Warmers. Unfortunately with the current economic climate they can no longer afford us. So now we must pay to have our news letters printed. That's why we came up with the 20/20 project. We need 20 people to pledge $20.00 per month to pay for the printing. We currently have 18 volunteers. Will you help us? It is our prayer that we will be able to keep producing this valuable resource. Would you help save the Heart Warmer? We now accept Mastercard, Visa and Discover Card for your convience!
Contact us at contact@comfortinghearts.org

God Always Provides!

2009-01-09T09:59:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Corner Blog! This month I want to tell you about an experience we had here at Comforting Hearts Ministries.
We are going through a rough financial time right now and our Non-Profit permit for our mailing is about to expire.
On February 5 of this year we have to pay the Post Office $180.00 for 2009. Just to have the blessing of saving on postage. And believe me it is a considerable savings in comparison with $.42 stamps.
Well, we sent out an urgent e-mail explaining the situation an asking our friends and clients for help in raising the money.
Let me tell you I was nervous. Every time I went to my e-mail I heard the sound of crickets! No one was responding.
Well, yesterday we received 3 pledges totaling over what we needed for the Post office.
I had been discouraged for days because I was relying on people to supply our needs. I should have been relying on God who has never let us down.
Another example of how God provides is that last year we budgeted $5,000 for the year but it cost us over $8,000. And God provided every penny. This year we are trusting God for $10,000 for our budget. That’s what you call a faith budget! Because we have no regular source of income. No church supports us. Please pray for us this year that God will provide not only funds but guidance.

Attention Cookie and Entertainment Lovers!

2008-12-16T17:30:00.000-05:00

On Saturday December 20th. CHM will have a Christmas Cookie Party and Coffeehouse to help raise funds for the ministry. Each guest brings 5 dozen cookies ( a normal batch) and these cookies are exchanged.

Time: 7:00pm -9:00pm
Place: Evangel Baptist Church
242 Shunpike Road
Springfield, NJ 07081
Directions: see below
Map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&countryid=250&addtohistory=&address=242%2BShunpike%2BRd&city=Springfield&state=NJ&zipcode=07081&submit=Get%2BMap

Live music, a ventriliquist and comedy will highlight the evening. The purpose is to show these ex-offenders that the Body of Christ cares for them. The gospel will be shared of course.

It's free. An offering will be taken for Comforting Hearts.
Would you attend? This would continue to show hese men that they are not forgotten by God's people.

The State Of Comforting Hearts Ministries in October 2008

2008-10-30T07:28:00.000-04:00

Dear Hearts,
I must be honest with you we are struggling financially but we have hope. God is continuing blessing us and we have been able to do some amazing things by God's grace. We have been able to purchase 2 cases of NIV Study Bibles for the inmates that are taking our Heart Builders Bible Correspondence course. The only problem facing us now is how to raise the money for shipping. Please keep us in your prayers as we seek God for additional provision.

In His Service, Now and Forever,
John C. Mac Iver
Executive Director

The Battle for Purity

2008-08-10T08:15:00.000-04:00

We will be having a seminar on sexual purity on September 20, 2008 at Evangel Baptist Church 242 Shunpike Road, Springfield, NJ 07081. Our featured speaker is David S. Mackey leader in Every Man's Battle. It will be held from 10:00am to 3:00 pm and the cost after August 15th is $60.00. Everyone is welcome to come.

John C. Mac Iver's Thoughts June 14, 2008

2008-06-14T08:19:00.000-04:00

Everything is going along well here at Comforting Hearts Ministries. We are growing and in fact we have increased our Heart Warmer newsletter's readership from 175 last year to 273 this year. Would you like a copy of it? Go to www.comfortinghearts.org and click on the link to contact us. (this is found at the bottom of the page) Send us your address and we will be happy to put you on our mailing list!

By the way we could use your prayers in the area of finances. Things are tough all over!

June 6, 2008

2008-06-06T14:12:00.000-04:00