Runaway fridge

So today, Wayne (my intern) and I are working around the church building and we get a phone call from the church office. A student from Rochester College called and they need help because they can't get their dorm fridge in their car. Our understanding of that message is that she needs help getting the refrigerator in her car.

Being the servants we are (or maybe because we would have felt guilty not to help) we decide to walk the 1/4 mile or so to the storage place. When we arrive we find the real story. The fridge won't fit in her car and she needs to get it over to Rochester College, which is over 1/2mile away. So Wayne and I offer to walk the fridge over to the college on the 4-wheel cart.

(NOTE: At this point, if this story is about your fridge, please stop reading. Thanks, Susan.)

(ANOTHER NOTE: Please do not attempt what you are about to read at home. As a matter of fact, I would probably yell at the teens in my group if they did this when I was around.)

Anyway, being two youth minister types, and because it was over 90 degrees, we were not in our right minds. Most of the trip is downhill. (This is an important piece of information.) So Wayne decides to get on the back of the cart. He reaches over the fridge and grabs on to the bar at the front of the cart.

I thought it would be funny to let go of the cart and see what happens. Well, one does not need a degree in physics to figure that out. The cart begins accelerating down the hill. At first Wayne and I both are laughing and think this is funny. However, as the speed of the cart continued to increase, both of us became concerned. I think Wayne was more worried than me since he was the one on the cart.

Anyway, as the cart started to pull away from me, I decided to run with all I had. It took me a few seconds, but I got ahead of the cart, slowed it down, and saved Wayne from certain peril.

Like I said earlier, please don't try this at home. As a matter of fact, don't try this anywhere. (If you are a boy between 12 and 20, I am sure you will ignore my several warnings.)

Although this was probably a pretty fun sight to see, it's not so funny when the runaway cart is our life and the pull of gravity becomes the pull of sin.

I have watched many teens (and adults for that matter) jump on the runaway cart of sin thinking it will be a fun ride. Unfortunately for some of them, they don't realize the danger until it's too late. When they are laying on the side of the road in pain, they realize the ride wasn't worth it.

One big difference between crashing a cart and crashing from sin is that the wounds from a cart crash will usually heal. Injuries from sin will seldom heal completely. Scars that can't be seen will continue to hurt. Pains below the surface will continue to haunt. And sometimes we can even become callous to the pain and we continue to hurt ourselves.

It could start out as an innocent party that leads to drunk driving and an accident with life-changing consequences.

It might be shoplifting one small item that turns into a habit of shoplifting and eventual jail time.

It could be smoking one joint that leads to a drug addiction that destroys your family.

It might start out with an innocent make-out session that ends up with giving away a part of yourself that you'll never get back.

The options are endless. Exciting cart rides that Satan parades before us, hoping we will jump on. He hopes we see the fun ride, but not the crash.

Even though the scars may last for the rest of your life, Jesus is there to bring healing. The best option is to avoid these mistakes that often cause a life-time of regrets. But if you have already experienced one or more crashes in your life, Jesus is there to help. And if you are in the middle of an out-of-control ride, know that Jesus is there waiting to help you.

Life with Jesus is better than any ride Satan has to offer. It will still have risks, but the journey will be fulfilling and the end of the ride will be amazing.

shine!
Jason

Reckless passion

Today has been a great day!

Just a few hours ago I had the honor of baptizing Liz Trainor. I love this girl like a daughter. For the last two years I have watched her grow, struggle, ask questions, and deal with a number of difficult situations.

This is one of those days someone in ministry never forgets. A day when someone whose journey you have been blessed to be a part of makes a big step. It was exciting to see the look on Liz's face as she realized what she was experiencing. She knows she will never be the same again.

Sometimes I wish more people in the church had real conversions. For some it seems like being baptized is the thing to do. Just another thing you do because you grew up in church.

For Liz this is a real conversion. She has found a God that loves her regardless of where she has been. A God who wants to love her no matter what. A Father who wants her to realize that she is God's masterpiece.

She was not baptized because it is what everyone else is doing. She was not baptized to make anyone else happy. She was baptized because she is falling in love with God and God's love is at work in her life.

I am not saying that everyone who grows up in church doesn't have a real conversion. I know plenty of Christ-followers who have gone to church their whole life. However, we can learn something from a person whose life before Jesus was not Bible classes and VBS. We can learn a lot from someone who has seen the underbelly of life and found the light of God on the other side.

I am challenged by Liz. Every time I turn around she is bringing someone else to church. She is telling people about God. There are times her friends fill an entire pew.

Imagine the difference it would make in our churches if we all could be this serious about telling people about God. But many of us are too afraid of what people will think.

Maybe we have had life too easy as Christians. Maybe church is more about what we do than who we are. Maybe we need a little persecution.

Thanks, Liz. Thanks for showing me what it looks like to be passionate about Jesus without having to have it all figured out.

shine!
Jason

Hunger

Hunger.

Desire.

Starvation.

What do we hunger for?

What do we desire?

What are we starving for?

Yesterday I fasted. From bedtime on Tuesday until breakfast today I only drank water. I will admit it was hard at times. But it also forced me to think.

I thought about food, obviously.

I thought about God, a lot.

I prayed everytime I thought about eating. So basically I prayed most of the day.

Fasting is a purifying activity. Sure, it helps you purify your body physically. But it is much more than that.

Yesterday was the first time in a while that I really thought about what it means to be hungry for God. I feel like I have been on spiritual cruise control for while. I have been snacking on a lot of other things to fill the hunger intended for God.

Last night as I reflected on my day of fasting I was convicted to change my "eating" habits. This is not a change in grocery shopping. It's a change in life choices.

I need to hunger more for the word of God.

I need to hunger more for prayer.

I need to hunger more for quiet times of meditation.

I need to hunger more for justice.

I need to hunger more for making the right choices.

As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

I feel like I often hunger and thirst for other things that aren't so filling.

The food I ate this morning made me feel full, but in a few hours I will be hungry again. Aren't the things in this world the same way? They make us feel satisfied in the short-term, but in the long run they often create even more hunger.

Studies say that artificial sweeteners are worse than sugar because they make you think you are getting calories when you aren't. And a short while after you eat or drink them you are more hungry and thirsty than before you ate.

Isn't sin basically artificial God? It is a short-term solution to a life-long hunger. It often looks good and tastes good, but it leaves us hungering for more. And like some artificial sweeteners, it often leaves a horrible aftertaste.

Frankly, I am tired of the bad aftertaste, the empty feelings, and the lack of satisfaction. I am tired of the artificial God that Satan entices us to eat. I am tired of wondering why I am so hungry after I have filled myself with so much. It's time to change my diet.

I want to encourage you to change the parts of your diet that you need to as well. My son Matthew likes to look at the nutritional facts on food packaging. He will tell me about the amount of carbohydrates and fat. He looks at the percentages of vitamins.

Maybe we should take a lesson from him and more carefully examine the spiritual nutritional facts of what we consume.

How many sinful suggestions are in that music we are listening to?

How much selfishness is found in our desire for a certain look or label when it comes to clothing?

How much hurt is found in the words we use and the way we treat people?

How much attitude of Christ is found in the choices we make.

How much fruit of the Holy Spirit is found in our attitude?

I would venture to guess that many of us go through life and seldom consider these things. We just consume, consume, consume, and then wonder why we are out of shape spiritually. We enjoy the buffet of life without thinking about the impact our choices will have on our heart and mind.

I want to invite you to join me in a day of fasting and prayer on the last Wednesday of every month. If you are under 18, be sure to talk to your parents before doing this. And you should even invite them to join you. Imagine the impact of your whole family fasting together once a month.

Spend one day hungering for food and it could alter the way you think about hungering for God.

shine!
Jason

Rio - Final Update

Well, it's our final day here. The plane leaves in less than 9 hours. It has been a great 10 days here in Rio. Here is a little longer recap of the last several days...

Friday - On Friday half of our team finished work projects and the others went to an orphanage. After finishing the projects, our whole team was together at the orphanage. We painted a number of rooms and spent time playing with the kids at the home. It was awesome watching the team members interact with the children. Those little ones surely touched the hearts of all of us. When dinnertime came, we were joined by teenagers from another home. The pizza party was a chance to interact more with the youth. It was a truly incredible day to meet Jesus among the poorest of Rio's citizens.

Saturday - The English day was incredible as well. There were over 100 Brazilians who came for this special Saturday event. According to Dan and Kirsty, the vast majority were visitors and over half had never visited the church before. Those who came were able to practice their English, play some fun games, and enjoy a hamburger. It was a great chance to help the church make some new relationships.

Sunday - I always enjoy worshiping with the Brazilians. Their worship is passionate and uplifting. Words can not describe how amazing it is to worship in another language. It helps cement the fact that we serve a God bigger than any one nation, language, or people. There is nothing like it!

Monday and today have given us a chance to visit with a few of the Brazilians and visit Dan and Kirsty's home. Some of us even had a chance today to meet an eight-year-old Brazilian boy who lives in Dan's neighborhood.

I was so impressed with our team again this year. God always seems to bring together the right mixture of people for the task at hand. They all worked hard without complaint. They accomplished so much for God here in Rio. God's light was shining through all of them!

I have been touched once again by Rio and it's people. It is a place that has much less than us in material possessions, but they are rich in many of the things that God values. Joy. Passion. Friendliness. Valuing children. These are the things that Brazilians possess. While I am looking forward to home, I will miss Brazil a lot. There is a part of my heart that will always be Brazilian.

shine!
Jason (Michelle & Matthew)

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This trip has been amazing.  Its hard to believe that we accomplished so much in such a little time.  Every day has been full of hard work and a lot of fun.  The work with the children's home was my favorite part of the trip.  The kids were so eager to love us and hug us.  They were so sweet, and it was very hard to leave them there.  I will be staying in Rio for another week, and I am very sad that the rest of the team can not stay with me because I have grown so close with them. I hope that anyone reading this gets an opportunity to participate in a campaign like this one. It is a life changing experience.

Becky

 

Rio Update - Sunday

Wow! That is really all I can say right now. Sunday morning worship just finished and we are about to leave. Here is the last three days in a nutshell:

Friday - Work projects and time at the orphanage

Saturday - Special English Day and spending the night in a Brazilian home

Sunday - An awesome, Spirit-filled worship service

BRASIL...PRICELESS

I will try to post one more update before we leave, but I don't know if I will have access to the internet. If not, I will send a final update when we get back.

brilho!
Jason

Rio Update - Thursday

Boa noite! I hope all is going well back in the States. We are having a great time in Rio. We did get to enjoy fireworks on July 4, but not in the way you would expect. Part of our day on Wednesday was going to a soccer game. This was a soccer game in a part of Rio where tourists normally don't go. We were able to see real Brazilian soccer and even made friends with some of the locals. Matthew got to help play the drum and wave the big flag. VASCÃO! (The name of the team we cheered for, since they were the home team and Dan and Kirsty's team.)

On a different note, today has been filled with hard work. Many of the rooms have been painted, storage areas have been reorganized, the puppet stage is much further along, and more. It has been great to serve the church here in Rio. They are doing a great work!

The next couple of days will be filled with opportunities to serve the people here. Tomorrow we visit an orphanage and Saturday is the big English Day. Please pray for these two activities.

A huge thank you to everyone who has been praying for us and all of you who have supported our trip financially. Your prayers and help are helping us be a big source of encouragement for the church here. Kirsty shared last night how much it means to the missionaries and the members here to have visitors travel thousands of miles to work alongside them. You are a part of that effort!

Well, time for our bi-lingual service. This was one of the highlights of last year's trip. Tchau!

brilho!
Jason

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Hi everyone!
Today has been a work day at the church building.  Depending on what floor you are on, you hear the sound of saws, hammers, laughter and the splatter of paint rolling on to the walls.

Wish you could be here to share in this wonderful time of serving and fellowship.

Blessings,
KO

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Hello Everyone,

Being in Brazil has been a wonderful experience.  The people here are incredible and have huge hearts.  I hope to come back one day.

Best wishes to all of you! - Lisa

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Hi all,

We have really enjoyed meeting the people here and they have been great to welcome us.  Our work days are long and very rewarding and we have enjoyed seeing the sites in Rio.  This is an experience of a lifetime and we are grateful for the opportunity God has given us to be here.

Blessings,

The Osborns

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Greetings!

Today has been another good day for our team in Rio!  We worked hard today and tonight, after worship, we will play hard.  Our team plus a few missionaries have challenged the Victory church to a game of soccer.  If we lose, no, when we lose we will then challenge them to a game of basketball. Wish us luck! 

Thanks to all of you who are praying for us and to all of you who have financially supported this trip.  It truly is a blessing to walk with, work with, and worship with our brothers and sisters in Rio!  It is also a true blessing to see Dan and Kirsty at work!  God is most definitely using them in powerful ways!

Love and God Bless,
Danny Cagnet

Tuesday Update

Boa noite! Evening is here in Brazil. Since it is the middle of winter here the days are short (but still warm). We are about to leave for dinner so I figured I better get this posted. It has been a great day and we are working on numerous projects.

As I write this, Sarah is upstairs teaching a Tae Kwon Do class with several helpers. Others are downstairs working on a puppet stage for the Children's Ministry. Josue, who heads up the Children's Ministry, is completely excited!

Yesterday we began our work projects and had a little time to experience the real Rio. We avoided tourist areas on purpose to see what the city is really like. One of the things that impacted me most was being in the middle of downtown and seeing skyscrapers with window air conditioning units. We are so spoiled in the US. The financial district of New York City would never settle for this. But these are the conditions these folks live with every day.

The team has been doing an awesome job so far. They have been working hard and making a lot of relationships. I can see the Spirit at work among us. As a matter of fact, many of the team members did not have time to write anything for today.

Tomorrow is our day to see a few of the well-known sites of Rio, then Thursday we are back to work. Watch for more updates on Thursday. Since there is no internet at the hotel, we can only update when we are here at the church building.

By the way, if you were a part of last year's team and you are reading this, you wouldn't believe the changes. They have made further improvements to the grounds and the building. God is at work among the people here in Rio and we are blessed to be a part of it!

brilho!
Jason

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Hey everybody!  This is the Osborn family reporting from Brazil!  Everything is going great here with the church… our expectations have been blown away!  We´re working with the church members to help renovate offices and build a library as well as other stuff.  We miss all of you back home!

OSBORN FAMILY

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Bom Dia!

Brazil is even more amazing than I remember it, and the church here is beautiful as well as all of the members. They are so kind and generous! Wish you all could be here!

 

Becky

We are here!

We have arrived safely! Our trip was long, but uneventful. We have settled into our hotel and will join the church in a few hours for evening worship. We also have the opportunity this afternoon to join Dan & Kirsty and their new English class. They just started last week and had 35 people show up, most of whom are not currently members of the Victory Church. Please be in prayer for this exciting new ministry. I would also ask that you keep us in your prayers over the next 10 days. We are looking forward to joining God in His work among the people of Rio.

shine!
Jason