About the Site
There are many men who have impacted my life in an incredible way. Many have been used by God to completely alter the course I find myself on. Because of this, I am passionate about the effect God can use us to have on one another for the cause of Christ. The power of influence is nothing to be taken lightly and all have the power to influence. The question is: what are we going to do with it?
The purpose of this site is to be a help. My vision is that this site be a source of encouragement and motivation to the work of our Lord. The blog, recources, recommended sites, media, and recommended reading are my way of trying to make sure that much that I have been fortunate enough to receive doesn't simply sit idle with me. I don't believe God is given to frivolity. If God does something, then rest assured there is a purpose. I figure if there is a message, or a thought, or some other thing that God has used to be a blessing to me, then perhaps another will find it helpful as well. That is my desire and my reason for including it here.
The site name is The Builder's Block. As a believer, I believe that we are all responsible in one way or another for influencing others for the cause of Christ. That call is to all who know Him. Paul called himself a 'wise masterbuilder'. I do not claim that status. I am, however, to some degree a 'builder' in the sense that Paul referred to, as is anyone else that knows Christ. This website is for you. It is for all 'builders'. It is a place that hopefully you can come to and be challenged as well as encouraged. If one person is helped by the content, then this site has fulfilled its purpose. This is the 'builder's' block.
The purpose of this site is to be a help. My vision is that this site be a source of encouragement and motivation to the work of our Lord. The blog, recources, recommended sites, media, and recommended reading are my way of trying to make sure that much that I have been fortunate enough to receive doesn't simply sit idle with me. I don't believe God is given to frivolity. If God does something, then rest assured there is a purpose. I figure if there is a message, or a thought, or some other thing that God has used to be a blessing to me, then perhaps another will find it helpful as well. That is my desire and my reason for including it here.
The site name is The Builder's Block. As a believer, I believe that we are all responsible in one way or another for influencing others for the cause of Christ. That call is to all who know Him. Paul called himself a 'wise masterbuilder'. I do not claim that status. I am, however, to some degree a 'builder' in the sense that Paul referred to, as is anyone else that knows Christ. This website is for you. It is for all 'builders'. It is a place that hopefully you can come to and be challenged as well as encouraged. If one person is helped by the content, then this site has fulfilled its purpose. This is the 'builder's' block.
About the Author
JJ Lusk was born in 1981 in Dallas, Texas. He did not grow up in a Christian home, though he grew up in a good home with wonderful parents. It wasn’t until his early teen years that JJ first began to attend church regularly. JJ moved around quite a bit as a child, and found himself living in Ennis, Texas, for the second time just before turning 13 years old. Through a group of friends, he became acquainted with the Bible Baptist Church. It was here that JJ first heard the gospel preached. It would be another two years before he would accept Christ as his Savior.
In 1997, JJ attended the Red River Valley Baptist Youth Camp right on Lake Texoma. The speaker that year was Dick Webster, pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Lewisville, Texas. The first night of camp, JJ called on the Lord to save him. Bro. Gary Webster dealt with him at the altar. The very next night, he surrendered to the call to preach. As he sat listening to the preaching, he began to wonder how one might know if the Lord was calling him to that work. He resolved to approach the preacher after the service and ask him that very question. Just after making up his mind, Bro. Dick began to tell a story about a young man that approached him after a meeting and asked him how one might know if God is calling him to preach. Bro. Dick’s response to the young man was, “Son, what made you ask me that question?” After the message, JJ went forward and surrendered his life to the Lord.
JJ served faithfully at Bible Baptist until he went off to Heartland Baptist Bible College in the fall of 2000. It was here that he met Lindsay Benson. They were engaged on April 28th 2001. JJ went home to help his pastor and save money for marriage after his first year in Bible college. JJ and Lindsay were married in June of 2002.
Later that year, JJ and Lindsay were considering going back to Heartland so that JJ could finish school. Upon approaching their pastor for prayer on the matter, they were asked to consider coming on staff and working with the youth. They prayed about it and in January of 2003, JJ became the youth pastor of Bible Baptist Church where he worked for the next five years. JJ and Lindsay saw the Lord work in many wonderful ways during their time in Ennis, Texas. Towards the end of that five years, the Lord began to stir in both of their hearts the idea that change was coming. By the end of 2007, God’s direction was clear and they prepared to head back to Oklahoma City and back to Heartland.
In the Spring of 2008, JJ reenrolled in Heartland Baptist Bible College and, acquiring his BA in Biblical Studies, graduated in 2011. It was around this time that he received a call from Joe Dickinson, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in El Paso, Texas. After much prayer and waiting, JJ and his family, by now consisting of Lindsay, Clayton, Quinton, and Hudson, moved to El Paso, Texas, to accept the position of Associate Pastor where he takes care of the Outreach, Hospitality, and Sunday School Ministries of the church.
Ultimately it is JJ's desire has been ultimately to pastor some day and perhaps teach at a Bible college. At least one of those dreams appears to be right around the corner. On November 9th of 2014, he and his family intend to start the Forest Hills Baptist Church of Rockville, Maryland.
In 1997, JJ attended the Red River Valley Baptist Youth Camp right on Lake Texoma. The speaker that year was Dick Webster, pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Lewisville, Texas. The first night of camp, JJ called on the Lord to save him. Bro. Gary Webster dealt with him at the altar. The very next night, he surrendered to the call to preach. As he sat listening to the preaching, he began to wonder how one might know if the Lord was calling him to that work. He resolved to approach the preacher after the service and ask him that very question. Just after making up his mind, Bro. Dick began to tell a story about a young man that approached him after a meeting and asked him how one might know if God is calling him to preach. Bro. Dick’s response to the young man was, “Son, what made you ask me that question?” After the message, JJ went forward and surrendered his life to the Lord.
JJ served faithfully at Bible Baptist until he went off to Heartland Baptist Bible College in the fall of 2000. It was here that he met Lindsay Benson. They were engaged on April 28th 2001. JJ went home to help his pastor and save money for marriage after his first year in Bible college. JJ and Lindsay were married in June of 2002.
Later that year, JJ and Lindsay were considering going back to Heartland so that JJ could finish school. Upon approaching their pastor for prayer on the matter, they were asked to consider coming on staff and working with the youth. They prayed about it and in January of 2003, JJ became the youth pastor of Bible Baptist Church where he worked for the next five years. JJ and Lindsay saw the Lord work in many wonderful ways during their time in Ennis, Texas. Towards the end of that five years, the Lord began to stir in both of their hearts the idea that change was coming. By the end of 2007, God’s direction was clear and they prepared to head back to Oklahoma City and back to Heartland.
In the Spring of 2008, JJ reenrolled in Heartland Baptist Bible College and, acquiring his BA in Biblical Studies, graduated in 2011. It was around this time that he received a call from Joe Dickinson, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in El Paso, Texas. After much prayer and waiting, JJ and his family, by now consisting of Lindsay, Clayton, Quinton, and Hudson, moved to El Paso, Texas, to accept the position of Associate Pastor where he takes care of the Outreach, Hospitality, and Sunday School Ministries of the church.
Ultimately it is JJ's desire has been ultimately to pastor some day and perhaps teach at a Bible college. At least one of those dreams appears to be right around the corner. On November 9th of 2014, he and his family intend to start the Forest Hills Baptist Church of Rockville, Maryland.