God appears in a football stadium

God showed up at a football game...this is a great article for this time of year.
Click HERE to read it:

Mac Christmas

A little humor for your Christmas...

Stuck in the snow

I have not blogged in over a week and there are two reasons. One is because there were some software issues with my site (thanks, Brad!). The other is an ongoing frustration.
For some reason, I cannot access my blog from the church office. It's really weird. The only sites I cannot access at the office are WordPress sites. I can't get to mine. I can't access Patrick's either.
Yesterday I couldn't have blogged because I was out playing in the snow all day. There is a family in our church who owns a large snow removal company, and I am one of many from our church who are a part of their team.
For a few days I was anticipating the many hours I would spend in the snow yesterday. And then yesterday came. And snow it did! There was one point yesterday morning when the area I just shoveled would be snow covered again in a matter of minutes. It was crazy! Snow was falling at a rate of one to two inches per hour.
One of the most interesting sights yesterday was by a Rite Aid in Pontiac. Several semi trucks were attempting to go up a road with a fairly steep incline. But once one of them was stuck, it was all over. There must have been over two dozen vehicles stuck for at least an hour or two. The entire stretch of road was shut down, and evidently the police came shortly after we headed off to our next stop.
Isn't it funny how people sometimes try to take on something without the proper help? I watched these trucks take on a road that never should have been attempted until they were properly treated by the road crews. Instead, they tried anyway and got stuck in the process.
That can happen to us in our spiritual journey as well. Sometimes we tell God we can take care of it ourselves and plow ahead, regardless of whether or not God is with us. We try to conquer things that can only be conquered through prayer without taking the time to pray. We make big decisions without fasting or a period of discernment. We rush into situations where we know we will be tempted without considering the consequences.
Just like the police and the road crews that eventually helped everyone out, God will be there when we ask for help. But when we move forward without God, it will often result in frustration and pain. Wouldn't it be better if we were to seek out the wisdom of God before going down a road that might be a little difficult to travel?

shine!
Jason

SNL's take on Hillary

Here's a little humor for your weekend...

Hospitality

Have you ever had an 'a-ha' moment when something that has been right in front of you for a long time becomes obvious?

I had one of those moments yesterday during our church service. During the sermon, Josh Graves was talking about hospitality. In the midst of his words, I realized something.

My dad is one of the most hospitable people I know.

When we go to his house, he makes you feel like he really wants you to be there. He makes sure he has drinks on hand that we like. He makes food that he knows we like. He serves us while we're there. When he brings you something to eat, he waits for your reaction to see how much you enjoy it.

He has always been like that.

Thanks, Dad, for helping me learn what it means to be a servant and a host.

shine!
Jason

Getting some rest

I have been fighting a nagging illness all week. Every time I feel like I am getting better, I feel worse a few hours later. It is honestly pretty annoying.

I realize part of the reason is because I have not gotten enough sleep this week. Between my huge paper for my grad class and snow removal, most nights have been limited and broken sleep.

I have been reminded this week of the importance of rest. It is vital to remain healthy.

Rest can come in many forms.

Sleep is a necessary rest. I always find it interesting when teenagers are on edge because they have been texting half the night. They wonder why their emotions are frayed and they are on edge. Maybe they haven't gotten enough rest.

Quiet is a necessary rest. So many people today seemed to be stressed to the max. I wonder how many of them build quiet time into their day. There is value in turning off the TV, pulling out the earphones, and enjoying stillness and silence.

Vacation is a necessary rest. Workaholics can put in hours upon hours at work and seldom take a break. With cell phones, smart phones, and the other communication tools we have, it is pretty easy to never leave your work alone.

Seek opportunities to slow down and take a break.

I don't think God took a Sabbath because He needed rest. I believe God wanted us to realize the importance of rest.

In today's "on-the-go" society, it can be challenging to build rest into your schedule.

Confession time. I am a work-a-holic who always feels like he needs to be busy. I have a really hard time just sitting still and being. I either want music in the background or a TV on. If I start to get restless, I will find something to do.

Not a day goes by when a teenager doesn't tell me or text me, "I'm bored." We have lost the fine art of rest in our world. We entertain and work ourselves to death. Maybe part of the cause of more cancer and illness is because we don't give our bodies time to rest.

I remember when I was a teenager, the local police department bought extra police cars. Before, the different shifts would share cars. That would mean that a car was being driven all day and night. By getting extra cars, they found the number of hours a car could drive would increase.

If cars are less effective when they don't get rest, shouldn't it be even more true for the human body? The next time you feel overwhelmed or stressed, don't increase your stress level by accelerating your speed. Take a few minutes to be still and enjoy the rest God intended you to have.

shine!
Jason

Giving for a change

The craziness of Christmas is now officially in full swing. This past Friday, millions of people camped out for hours in the cold, waiting to be the first line of invaders into stores.

For the next month – and to be honest for a while before now – we have been told that we need that certain gift. We have been shown in commercial after commercial that a specific brand name or product will bring us happiness, make our marriage better, or improve our lives.

While it is true that some things can help make our lives better, we have to be careful not to buy into the lie that those things are the ultimate source of satisfaction in our lives.

Jesus himself warned us about this very thing.

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:28-34)

Stuff is not the source of our problems. It is the unhealthy desire for stuff that causes so many struggles. People steal so they can have someone else's things and make their life better. Others cheat in school to get better grades to make more money someday, and thus have a "great life."

In this season that is so focused on getting, let’s do all we can to focus on the attitude and action of giving. True life, true freedom, and true joy are not found in how much we can accumulate. Rather, the more we give away, the more life we experience, the more free we feel, and the more joyful we may become.

It’s not always easy – and if we are honest, it’s not always enjoyable – but it is the path to peace and fulfillment.

Be open during the Christmas season to new ways to give. Time. Energy. Attention. Money. Possessions. Love. They are all things God has provided for us. But He has not given them as things to be hoarded. Instead, He wants us to give away all that we can, and in the process, change the world one transaction at a time.

Giving should not be something we do. It must become who we are. We should do all we can to make giving as natural as taking a breath. Watch what God can do with a heart like that.

shine!
Jason

Ending the moratorium

The moratorium is officially over. In the Steckel house, we do not begin listening to Christmas music and putting up decorations until after Thanksgiving. But after Thanksgiving, it's Christmas 24/7. :-)

If you want Christmas 365 days a year, you can drive an hour north from my house up I-75 to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan. (It's a pretty cool place. If you've never been there, it's worth the trip.)

Many people have their own family traditions regarding Christmas and when they begin celebrating the season. Some enjoy Christmas music in October and November. Others wait until the week of the big day. Which ever one you prefer doesn't really matter.

But I also see a lot of Christians who treat their walk with Jesus like I treat Christmas music. They treat their week like I treat Christmas from January to November. They consider it a time to take a break from things that focus on Christ. The music of their life is whatever they choose, but Christ-focused living is packed away in boxes until the next Sunday.

Then it's time to pull the decorations out and get ready for church. Time to put on the Christian mask and start using church-speak. Time to celebrate Christ for a day until it's time to put things away until next weekend.

On Monday, it's back to living for self-centered agendas and forgetting the life worthy of the calling we have received. Just like I pack up the Christmas decorations and my home returns to normal, some will pack away the things they sang about on Sunday morning.

This is not what we are called to do or be. Consider these excerpts from Ephesians 5...

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.

So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

So be careful how you live.

Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.

Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We all need to live our lives like Bronner's celebrates Christmas - 365 days a year. Being a Christian isn't something we should celebrate once a week; it should be something we live every day of our lives. When we assemble on Sundays, it shouldn't only be a reminder about God and His work in the world. It should be a time when God's people come together to celebrate how they have been caring out the work of the Kingdom of God all week long.

shine!
Jason

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for so many things....

A loving God

A wonderful partner in my wife Michelle

An amazing son in Matthew

A great dad who is also a wonderful grandpa

A church family at Rochester that is a constant source of blessings

A great youth group

A church staff that is second to none

A supportive group of elders

A house to live in

Food to eat

The grace and mercy of Creator God

The sacrificial life of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

The gift and outpouring of the Holy Spirit

The ability to love

What are you thankful for?

shine!
Jason

If it feels good...

Have you ever heard someone say they did something because it "feels right?" Emotions are a powerful thing. They have started wars, ended marriages, and changed the dynamics of families.

So how do we know when to listen to our emotions? Whether it's your "gut instinct" or one of those "I've got a feeling moments," how can we determine when to listen to that voice inside?

First, I believe we should be very careful about letting our emotions take control. This can be very challenging for us today. It was only a few decades ago that our culture frowned on emotions. Just think about some of the phrases that still remain in our lexicon:

"Real mean don't show emotions."

"You want me to give you something to cry about."

"Crying is weakness."

"Why are you so emotional?"

Obviously, times have changed. We now have an entire teen subculture named after being emotional. The pendulum seems to have swung the other way. This is even true in many churches.

If you think about the songs and style of worship, much has changed. The "old hymns" seemed to carry a deeper, internal emotion that was to be displayed. They told stories or proclaimed truths about God. They were designed to stimulate our minds much more than our hearts.

Today many of our songs are praise and worship songs that touch our hearts (sometimes to the neglect of our minds, I fear). Emotion appears to be much more accepted in today's church.

So what does all of this have to do with listening to our emotions? First, we must acknowledge that we are often handicapped because the previous generations don't have the experience to help us sort through all of this. Many who are my age and older have parents who did not live in the world we live in. Their world wasn't as open to a public display of emotions.

Second, we have to understand that God created us to be a holistic person. That means that emotions and facts are both important, and neither can stand alone. They must both have their place at the table.

Without emotions, we make decisions that look at the "cold hard" facts. This can cause us to hurt other people and ourselves because we are blind to the emotional aspects of our actions.

On the other hand, decisions made without engaging our mind can lead to foolish decisions that didn't consider the consequences. Proverb 15:14 says, "The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly."

So how do we find a good balance? Why not ask the One who designed us in the first place. Let's consider the words of the Apostle Paul...

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Philipians 1:9-11)

True balance comes through having the right perspective. Paul's prayer was that their love would abound in knowledge and depth of insight. How do we listen to our emotions and our mind? We seek the heart and mind of God.

I have found in my life that the more distant from God I become, the more my balance gets out of whack. Sometimes I will make decisions without engaging my emotions and other times I will act on my emotions without thinking. Both can have damaging results.

If I have a "gut instinct" or a feeling about something, I will begin by considering the heart and mind of Christ. That means I need to be in tune with the heart and mind of Christ. Without that connection, the discernment is much more challenging.

I realize that some of us may be overwhelmed by emotions or emotionally numb. (And sometimes both at the same time.) Those extreme situations may require professional help or at least a long period of working through things. That can be a long, challenging journey, but it is worth it.

In today's "if it feels good, do it" world, we are in a battle for our hearts and minds. If we can seek that balance that is centered on God, then we can be "filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ."

shine!
Jason

Shhh

Music… TV… Cell phones... Text messages... Internet... Movies... Earphones.

Silence…

We struggle with silence. There are so many things that distract us and keep us from simply being still. For many, it has gotten to the point where being silent is extremely uncomfortable.

One of the biggest barriers that keeps many people from growing closer to God is the lack of silence in their lives.

Consider the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 46:

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see the works of the LORD,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
    he burns the shields with fire.
Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth."
The LORD Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

In the midst of our trouble, we should be still. When defeat seems inevitable, we need to be still. When trouble is before us, we must be still.

If we want to experience God and hear His voice, maybe we need to quiet the hundreds of other voices that can drown His out.

The problem is that we like the noise. It helps us try to cover the pain, confusion, and hurt that many of us hide below the surface. Maybe it’s time for you to be still and know that He is God. Let Him be your fortress instead of settling for a bunch of inferior, noisy alternatives.

shine!
Jason

 

Welcome home

This is a great video...

The church?

What do you think of when you think of church? A building? An activity? Worship?

I think that the early Christians would look at our meanings for the word "church" and wonder what we are talking about.

Constantine did the body of Christ a huge disservice when he essentially hijacked it for his purposes. When he decried Christianity as a "socially acceptable" religion, he opened the door to the institutionalization of the church.

While I believe God used this to aide his purposes, I also believe it began the distortion of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

No longer was following Jesus a risky proposition. Instead of a conscious decision to follow the way of Jesus, regardless of the costs, following Jesus became a part of the Roman Empire. The orders of one man took a counter-cultural movement and integrated it into the mainstream.

So what does that mean for us?

It impacts us in many ways and forces us to evaluate what it means to be a "Christian." Consider some of the things Paul wrote:

"Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?" (1 Corinthians 6:19)

"Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." (Ephesians 4:15-16)

"He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs." (Acts 17:24-25)

I often hear people say things like "you can’t say that in church" or "you can’t do that in the church building." How would our behavior change if we acknowledged that we are the "church building?"

We are the temple of God and the body of Christ. We are called to be the presence of God wherever we find ourselves. It doesn’t matter if we are in a building with a sign out front that says "Church of Christ", sitting in our living room, at work, or walking the halls of our school. If we are a baptized believer, then we are the church. We are the dwelling place of God in this world. The only building that really matters is the body that you live in every day.

shine!
Jason

An afternoon at Focus: HOPE

Yesterday was our first Sunday afternoon at Focus: HOPE. We had over two dozen students and adults venture down to the Focus: HOPE campus in Detroit to make some new friends. While there were not a lot of children this first time, I feel like we made an impact on the children and adults that were there.

During our time there, we were able to share a meal, play some games, and build relationships. In the months ahead, I am hopeful that the numbers will grow and we will be able to meet more children from inner-city Detroit. But one thing I have learned in ministry, is that numbers aren't the most important thing. If we are able to make a positive impact on the life of one child, our trip has had value.

I am looking forward to developing an on-going relationship with the children and adults at Focus: HOPE. As we seek to live out Jesus-shaped lives, this is a great opportunity to live out our faith. And in the process, we can show the love of Jesus to those we encounter.

shine!
Jason

Bridging the gap

I love the Fall. I think there is something amazing about the changing leaves and the cool air. There are few things more beautiful in the world than the color of Autumn leaves.

The amazing thing is that the beauty emerges, even in the face of death. The changing of the leaves from green to red, orange, and yellow is actually the process of leaves dying and falling off of the tree.

While we appreciate that beauty, we often miss the beauty to be found in the older members of our society.

In recent years, our society has been more and more trained to look down on senior citizens and even middle-age adults. Many shows aimed at teenagers and pre-teens show parents as foolish and clueless. Commercials often portray the children as the smartest person in the family.

I don’t discount children and teenagers, and I admit that there have been times that their voices have unfairly been silenced or minimized. But swinging to the other extreme doesn’t make things any better.

I am witnessing a generation who is growing up without listening to very many of the voices of experience. Our mobile culture that moves families around the country and away from family has severed those connections. Churches where the teenagers often sit together and away from the adults has cut off that spiritual connection.

It saddens me when I listen to students who feel abandoned and alone. I know that there is plenty of blame to go around. Adults have ignored youth just as much as youth have pushed away from adults. But the reality is that there are as many lonely adults – especially senior citizens – sitting in the pews as there are teenagers.

I believe that one of the most overlooked opportunities in many churches, especially larger ones, is the chance for youth to connect with our older generations. In a world where so many institutions and organizations drive wedges between generations and separate us into sub-cultures, the church has a unique position. We can be a place where generations are drawn back together and voices of all ages can be heard.

If you are a teenager or pre-teen, my challenge to you is to approach an older member of the church and build a relationship. For our older adult members I would say this: Don’t be afraid to connect with the youth. While it may seem like their world is so much different than the one you grew up in (and it is), there are still many things where you can find common ground.

If the church can grab onto this great opportunity for community, I believe it can have a positive impact for everyone involved. Let’s bridge the gap.

shine!
Jason

 

"Star Wars" - an a capella tribute to John Williams

I found this on YouTube. It is worth the 4 minutes, especially if you are a John Williams or Star Wars fan!

The morning after

The commercials are done. The speeches are over. The votes have been cast.

History has yet to determine what this election means for our nation. In a little over two months, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States. Then we will see what the future holds.

While I fundamentally disagree with much of Obama's philosophy and many of his approaches to the role of government, I can't deny the historic relevance of this election. While I hope that those who voted, voted for the candidate's platform, not his race, I know that for some that is not true.

Regardless of how you voted and why you voted that way, it's time for our nation to display the spirit of unity that has held us together for over two centuries. This nation has suffered through many challenging times, but the beauty of our country is the peaceful change in leadership that has helped make us who we are.

I will still stand up for what I believe is the best way for our government to function. Just like in the church, unity does not mean everyone agrees. Unity means that everyone stands for one purpose greater than themselves. Whether we are talking about the Kingdom of Heaven or the United States of America, this message rings true. When we can look beyond ourselves to the greater good, we can overcome.

Today is a new day in America. We have elected to office a man who would have likely served on a plantation, not had a right to vote, and only counted as 3/5 of a person earlier in our nation's history. Agree or disagree with his style of governing, this is a historic day in our nation's history.

On the other hand, I hope that we don't let the significance of this moment keep us from engaging in serious dialogue in the days ahead. Some would use the historic nature of this election as a buffer to dispel disagreement and silence dissent. To me, that would discount the importance of this moment.

As with most things in life, we must always seek a balance between sensitivity and substance. We must strive to find ways to work together while remaining true to our principles. It is of the utmost importance that as we move into the future, we start from our common ground and engage in serious dialogue about the issues at hand. This is how we can mature and seek what is best.

While I am talking about our country, I believe the same is true with the church. We can disagree about the way we "do church" and the methods we use to engage our mission, but we must start with Christ as our foundation, our cornerstone, and our starting point. From there we can embark on our mission that will call us to change the world and bring the Kingdom of God to the lives around us.

shine!
Jason

My vote

I am glad this is finally over. While I have a minor in political science, I get weary of the long political season.

As I woke up this morning, something hit me. Why do Christians invest so much in the election of a President?

Don't get me wrong, I think it's OK to be involved in the political process. I believe we have a responsibility to participate in elections; that's not what I am talking about.

I am referring to Christians and Christian groups who have spent hours and hours making phone calls, handing out fliers, and investing a significant amount of energy campaigning - for either candidate. Giving that kind of time is not inherently a bad thing. But here is the question I want to pose against this:

If a follower of Jesus spends hours and hours campaigning for a candidate for President, how much time are they investing on a regular basis in the Kingdom of God?

I don't take issue with those who consistently engage in spiritual disciplines and offer their time and resources to carry out the work of the Kingdom. My concern is with those who generally give a lot less time to Kingdom work than a political campaign. Where are they putting their trust?

At the end of the day (or maybe days, depending on what happens - remember 2000?), our nation will have elected a new President. On January 20, 2009, either John McCain or Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of United States.

While I am voting today, and I do feel that one man is the better choice, my hope does not rest on who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. My hope rests with the One who sits on the throne of Heaven. So that's where I want to invest the majority of my time, energy, and resources.

I will vote for the President of the United States, but I live for the Lord and Savior of all mankind.

shine!
Jason

Significant or symbolic?

I walked by a high school football team practicing yesterday and noticed the oddest thing. They didn’t have a football. The offense just ran their plays, but without a ball to throw or run.

Then I watched a mechanic working on a car. It was weird; he didn’t have a wrench. He used his fingers to tighten the lug nuts.

Then I walked in the front door of my house to find Michelle in the kitchen, cooking dinner. The weird thing was she was trying to mix some ingredients together, but she didn’t have a spoon. She was kind of tilting the pan from side to side, hoping the ingredients would mix together.

OK, so none of these stories are real. But I witness something equally as strange weekly. I see dozens of students coming to Bible class without a Bible. I was especially surprised a few weeks ago when the class I was teaching divided into groups to look at a passage of Scripture. In a class of over two-dozen students, only two students had a Bible.

A football player wouldn’t imagine going to practice without his equipment. A mechanic would never think about working on a car without his tools. Michelle wouldn’t entertain the idea of cooking without utensils.

Paul wrote the following words to the church in Colosse:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:15-17)

Paul encourages the church to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” He reminds each of us about the importance of letting the word of God be a part of who we are.

I am not sure what the reason, but it seems like the number of people bringing their Bible to church has significantly decreased, especially with teenagers.

We set our TiVo so we don’t miss our favorite shows. We carry our cell phones everywhere so we don’t miss a call or text message. We always have our debit card for that purchase we might want to make.

But the Book that contains the words of God and wisdom to make us more Christ-like? Evidently, it is supposed to stay on the bookshelf at home where it’s simply a symbol of the faith we claim.

shine!
Jason

 

Media Coverage

I generally focus on spiritual and/or personal stuff on my blog, but I came across this today and had to share. With the election this close, you must have figured a guy with a minor in Political Science would have to mention something. Whether you like or agree with Bill O'Reilly at all, these statistics are pretty amazing.

Render Unto...

I have not been blogging much lately because we are having one of those weird computer issues in the office where I cannot access my blog from there. Anyway...

Tonight, I was able to be a part of something unique and interesting happening at the Rochester Church. For the month of October, we have conducted a Wednesday night series entitled "Render Unto..." The purpose of this series was to hear from four different people in the church regarding how faith shapes their politics.

While I disagree with each of the presenters in some way, I have a tremendous amount of respect for each of these men for the willingness to share their convictions in a public setting such as this. They knew in advance that some people would not agree with their views. They were probably also aware that some people would react in a negative fashion towards some of their opinions. But, they all offered to present in light of these things.

Tonight, in the fifth and final evening of the series, I was asked to serve as moderator for a panel featuring all four men. This was an honor and a challenge. Over the last week or so, members of the Rochester Church have given me questions that they hoped the panel would answer. I had to consider all the questions and decide how to choose the ones that would make it to Wednesday night.

This was not an easy task. There were a lot of good questions. I had to eliminate some, reword some, and combine others. In addition, I listened to all four presenters' talks twice in the last 5 days. It has been quite an interesting week.

Tonight when we gathered together, I attempted to frame the evening with the idea that this is a time of dialogue. One of the things I learned this week from listening to these men, and subsequently shared with the crowd, was that we need to listen to people's stories before we react to their positions. We all bring a unique story to the conversation, and that story shapes who we are and how we act and react.

After a brief introduction, we spent about 40 minutes engaged in healthy discussion. In all, I believe we addressed six of the questions I had prepared for the evening. We covered issues ranging from the role of government to the sensitive subjects of homosexual marriage and abortion.

One of the things that impressed me most, was the way all four men handled themselves. I have watched plenty of political talk shows over the years, and inevitably, someone on the panel always loses their cool, resorts to cliches, or just gets plain nasty. There was none of this - zero!

I closed out the night by refering to Jesus' words to His disciples:

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:34-35)

If we want to be the body of Christ to the world, our primary identity cannot be our positions. I agree that we need to stand up for what is right. We cannot ignore morals and convictions. But, when we stand so firmly for our position that we are not even willing to listen to our brothers and sisters in love, then what are we fighting for?

shine!
Jason

Does God have one person chosen for you?

Last night I attended a Parenting for Purity seminar at a local church here in the Rochester Hills area. I am not one to talk bad about other churches, so I will not name the church. My point here is not to bash anyone, but to consider the question you find in the title of this post.

While I fundamentally agreed with much of the practical aspects of the presentation last night, I disagree with several of the "pillars" of purity the speaker discussed. He believes that, "God has a specific person He intends for someone to marry." His next two pillars state that, "It is God's responsibility to bring two people together" and "God reveals to a person who that specific person is."

If you read some of the essays I posted here during my grad class with Dr. Rubel Shelly, you have already read some of my thoughts on the overall issue of free will and determinism. I also wrote a lengthy term paper for the class examining this topic. (If you care to read this "enthralling" piece, I would be glad to share it with you.) ;-)

Here is my struggle with the idea that God has one special person picked out for you:

Does God really determine the details of our lives and pick things out for us? I find it hard to believe that God has picked out everyone's mate and has arranged everything for that to happen. If he has, why is the divorce rate so high? Those who believe God has chosen that person would argue that you ended up with the wrong one.

Well, if God is really in control enough of my life to pick my spouse, shouldn't He make sure I end up with that person? If I don't pick the right person, is that sin, since it is - in essence - disobeying God?

Having an "arranged" marriage from God is not really the core issue, and I understand that. Essentially, this view emerges from a broader approach to Scripture and God. There are those who believe in determinism, which basically teaches that God has a plan for your life and that every detail is already determined by God. Your job is to figure out what that plan is.

I have to disagree.

I agree that God has created each of us with unique gifts, personalities, and passions. We are made for a purpose. And we are made for a plan. But I don't believe that God has scripted the details of that plan.

If we follow that argument to its logical conclusion, then God has determined when I will eat, what kind of car I drive, and more. If God maps out the details of my life, it's not really my life; it's His.

I believe that we have the free will to make choices about our lives. We will choose the job we want. We will live where we want to live. We will marry whom we choose to marry.

I do believe that God knows who we will marry. While God may not control our lives, He is aware of the choices we will make. However, His foreknowledge does not equate to His controlling our choices.

I believe that our task is not to seek out the one person God has prepared for us. Rather, we are to select someone who shares our values as a Christ-follower and then be the person God wants us to be in that relationship. Marriage is not about finding the person God picked out for us; it's about being Christ to the person we pick.

As I said earlier, outside of this significant disagreement, I found myself agreeing with much of what I heard. While our starting point is different, I agree with the idea that we must be faithful to our spouse long before we meet them.

The speaker argued that since God has already chosen someone, you should be faithful to them even before you meet them. I agree in principle with his point. Whether you meet your future spouse at 5, 15, 25, or later, you must prepare yourself to be the best partner you can be for that person.

What does that look like? It means you live the same way before your wedding as you do after. Would you have a sexual relationship with someone else besides your wife or husband? (I would hope you answer no.) So what makes it any different before you get married? If giving away a part of yourself emotionally or physically is bad when you are married, how can giving away a part of yourself emotionally or physically be good before you get married?

I know that some people will argue that you need to "learn" before you meet that person so you can be a better spouse. So let me get this straight. If I give away parts of my heart (through emotional and/or physical bonding) to someone else, that will make me a better partner in my marriage?

I find it hard to believe that memories of ex-boyfriends/girlfriends and the times you had with them will make you a stronger spouse. When times get tough in marriage (and they do in every marriage), how many of us want our spouse thinking back to that high school or college sweetheart (who they didn't have to share the struggles of day-to-day life with) and comparing us to them?

While I don't believe that God has one person picked out for you, I do believe that He wants you to pick one person. But before that day comes, your responsibility is to focus on your own walk with God and become the best man or woman for your future partner. When we take our eyes off of that goal and look to fill our selfish desires, everyone will lose and the world will suffer.

shine!
Jason

Old? or Young?

Over the last week, I have had two conflicting events regarding my age. One made me realize how old I am, while the other reassured me that I am still young in some ways.

Last Saturday was our Annual 180 Harvest Party. One of the staples of this event has become the football game. This is the one tackle football game we play each year. (As a side note, the older teen boys do a great job of controlling themselves when it comes to tackling the girls and younger kids. I am impressed.)

I didn’t feel that old during the game, although the next youngest player was at least twenty years my junior. What I lacked in speed I made up for in size. Not many teenage boys weigh in at over 200 pounds, so once I got going, I could be difficult to stop.

It was the next morning that I was reminded of my age. I have a new found respect for NFL players near the end of their career still playing into their mid and late thirties. Although they have trainers, medication, and more, they still have bodies that are over thirty years old. This whole experience reminded me that I am not in my twenties any more (and thirties for much longer).

But then, Wednesday came. I had a meeting with two other area youth ministers, one of which is about five years older than me. Let’s call him Jim. Anyway, Jim offers to buy breakfast for me and the other guy. While we are ordering, Jim asks if I would like to add something else to my order. The lady ringing us up looks at us and says, “Is this your son?”

I immediately had a huge grin on my face, and Jim gives me this look that says, “I’ll never hear the end of this.” Then we explain that we are not related. I thought it was pretty funny. I am not sure if Jim completely agrees with me on this one.

So, in the span of a few days I went from feeling like the old guy to the kid. I never changed ages. I still live in the same body. It’s all about perspective.

Which makes we wonder, how often we look at life’s circumstances and make them more or less important than they really are because of our perspective? I look back on situations in my life where I either overreacted or failed to react sufficiently because of my perspective.

This is the value of community. It provides a group of people who can offer varying perspectives on whatever is happening in our lives.

It becomes even more valuable when it is a multi-generational community because the range of perspectives multiplies significantly. This is one of the reasons I cringe when students gather in groups apart from the larger community and shut out those who might offer a different perspective. Adults might look old in some ways, but they have much to offer to those who find themselves at a different place on the journey.

shine!
Jason

 

Joey

Back in April when I spoke at a youth rally in Beamsville, Ontario, I met a young man named Joey Merling. Joey was no ordinary teenager. That was obvious from the moment I met him and his noticeable lack of hair.

As Joey and I sat to talk, it seemed like hair was the only thing the cancer had taken from Joey. The more I spoke with him, the more I was amazed at his faith. Here was a teenager who was facing death square in the eye, but his faith remained strong.

I am sure that in darker, lonelier moments, Joey would ask the questions all of us would:

Why me?

Did I do something to deserve this?

Why can’t I have a “full” life?

If we are honest, all of us have moments when we ask those questions…and many more. Some of us question God. Others question if God is there. Others even question God’s existence.

I talk with teenagers every week who encounter a variety of struggles and difficulties. Some of them are the direct result of decisions they have made. Others are the result of the actions of other people. Some of them deal with situations that seem to come out of nowhere.

God never promised us a carefree life. He never promised it would easy. As a matter of fact, Scripture tells us to expect difficult times.

Joey’s difficult times came to an end this past week. He lost his struggle with cancer at the age of 18. After a courageous battle, Joey is experiencing the ultimate victory.

Although my time with him was brief, Joey Merling left a mark on my life. He reminded me that life is not about me. He demonstrated an incredible faith and outlook on life.

When I complain about things that are not all that important, sometimes I remember sitting in the gymnasium at Great Lakes and talking with Joey about life and his battle. The words he shared about his faith echo in my mind.

Some people spend their whole lives hoping to make an impact. They dream about becoming a celebrity or achieving success in a sport or other endeavor.

Joey Merling was a superstar in the Kingdom of God. He is not famous. He never graced the front cover of “Us” magazine or appeared on a Disney Channel show. But he lived a life that far surpassed the lives of most people.

In eighteen years, Joey made a more significant impact in this world than many people make in eighty years. He did more than talk the talk…he walked it. And in the process, he brought the Kingdom of God to life everywhere he went. I can’t wait to see him again someday and sit down for another talk.

shine!
Jason

 

Revive

Today I was enjoying a 'Revive' Vitamin Water and read this on the label:
"If you woke up tired, you probably need more sleep. If you woke up drooling at your desk, you probably need a new job. If you woke up with a headache, on a ferris wheel at the Idaho State Fair, wearing a toga, you probably need answers. Not to mention this product."
Sometimes ministry is the same way. You can wake up sleep deprived, on the floor in some house, wondering what the day holds.
The difference is that we are revived by the Spirit of the God who offers living water. The only 'product' I need is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He is the source of real revival.

shine!
Jason

Focus: HOPE

This week I had an exciting meeting down in Detroit. I met with several people who work with Focus: HOPE. This is an organization that aims to celebrate diversity and help build up their community.

Here is Focus: HOPE’s Mission Statement:
"Recognizing the
dignity and beauty of every person, we pledge intelligent and practical
action to overcome racism, poverty and injustice. And to build a
metropolitan community where all people may live in freedom, harmony,
trust and affection. Black and white, yellow, brown and red from
Detroit and its suburbs of every economic status, national origin and
religious persuasion we join in this covenant." (Adopted March 8, 1968)

Starting on November 9, our ministry will partner with Focus: HOPE
one Sunday a month to interact with some of the children in the
community. In some ways, this will look much like a smaller version of
our Mission: Cincinnati summer mission trip. We plan to engage in
activities with the children as well as help with things like reading.

I am looking forward to our time in Detroit with the children.
Please be praying for our group, the children, and the community where
we will be taking the love of Jesus.

shine!
Jason

Back in the flow...kinda

Have you ever jumped out of a car while it is moving? Then a little later tried to jump back in while it's still driving down the road?

I think I kinda know what that feels like now.

I am still not 100% back in the swing of things since my vacation. I don't know if that is good, bad, or both.

It could mean that I was away too long and got out of the groove. In that case, it's a bad thing.

It could mean that I don't take enough breaks and I am not used to slowing down. (Don't ask my wife for her opinion on this one.) ;-)

Maybe I am just a creature of routine and 12 days out of routine is not routine for me.

Regardless, life can be a challenge when we change things up. That can be a good or bad thing depending on the situation. All that said, I will get back in the flow of blogging soon. I just need to climb all the way back in the speeding car called life in ministry and buckle up. More adventures to follow...

shine!
Jason

Reflections on the dozen days

Two weeks ago today, my family and I departed on our tour of the east coast. Well, not exactly.

The Wednesday we left, we headed down to Belpre, Ohio. I served at the Belpre Church of Christ before I moved to Rochester. It was good to see some old friends. It has been three years since we left Belpre and I really enjoyed seeing some people who were an important part of our life during our time there.

Thursday was our trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina. I spent a few days there and was blessed to perform the marriage ceremony for Anna Collier and Darin Sampson. I met Anna when she was in middle school. Her family used to attend the Amherst Church of Christ when they lived in Ohio. Amherst is where I started my full-time ministry work over nine years ago.

We really enjoyed our time in Hilton Head. In addition to the Collier family, we saw some other friends we knew from our days in the Mid-Ohio Valley.  We also made some new friends, including the family we stayed with while we were there. Matt and Martha are great people and their little girl is adorable.

When we left South Carolina on Sunday, we headed down to Walt Disney World. This was the first time Matthew had been there and Michelle and I had not been there in a few decades.

We spent Monday at EPCOT. It was a little rainy, but my awesome wife was prepared with ponchos and umbrellas. (I am glad we didn't have to spend over $20 to get WDW ponchos.) Even with the rain, we had a blast.

Tuesday was Animal Kingdom day. This is a smaller park, but still very enjoyable. We saw two great shows, another OK show, and rode Expedition Everest twice. Matthew loved the ride. (He has become quite the thrill ride connoisseur.)

On Wednesday, we ventured to Disney Hollywood Studios. Again, Matthew really enjoyed the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. To quote Matthew, "That was awesome!" We also enjoyed the shows, seeing Darth Vader in person, and the Toy Story ride. The Toy Story ride is new and has longer waits, but it's worth it. If you go, make the time to ride it!

We ended our week with two days in the Magic Kingdom. We needed two days to do everything Matthew wanted to do. From rides to shows, parades to fireworks, these were two action-packed days! Matthew was able to ride Space Mountain (twice!), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (twice!), Splash Mountain, and much more. He also got pictures with and autographs from a lot of characters all week. I could write pages and pages about these two days in the Magic Kingdom, but I know they were a great ending to the week.

I have a lot of great memories, but one of the things I brought home with me is Friday evening. It was about an hour before we had to leave the park and I was standing in line with Matthew to ride the Astro Orbiter ride one more time. As I stood there with my boy, it hit me. It hit me that this moment will never happen again. It hit me that Matthew will never be seven again. It hit me that every moment is precious.

I am a work-a-holic. Sometimes I am a recovering work-a-holic. Other times I have fallen off the wagon.

I was reminded this past week to make time for family. I was reminded this past week to protect time with family. All of the stuff in this world is just that...stuff. But time can never be replaced. Time is the most precious commodity we have and God used this trip to remind me that I have wasted far too much of that commodity in the past. I have a renewed passion to be more intentional about family time. It is the most important investment in the world.

shine!
Jason

Disney - Day 1

Yesterday was a great day at Epcot. Matthew really enjoyed the first day of his Disney experience, which means we enjoyed it, too.
At the end of the day, we were discussing our favorite ride of the day. Each of us had our own. For Matthew, it was Spaceship Earth (because he got to ride inside the big ball). For Michelle, it was Soarin. For me, it was Mission: Space. We all agree that Illuminations was a highlight of the day.
Today, we head to Animal Kingdom. Adventures await!

shine!
Jason

Arise

As I mentioned in a recent post, it was announced in a Parent/Student Meeting a few weeks ago that all students and parents are challenged to serve this year. The parents as a group and the students as a group are each challenged to serve for 2009 hours.

I know that some parents and students are already working to build up their hours. I have been excited to hear how some of our families are already looking for new and exciting ways to serve.

Our theme for this year is built around this challenge to serve. God calls us to be salt and light to the world. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Our faith is not just something we think. It shapes the way we live. We need to let our actions reflect our words.

Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”

This year, the families in our ministry will strive to live their lives in such a way that they shine for God while serving others. Let the glory of the Lord rise upon us.

shine!
Jason

Bad call

This past Sunday, I was watching the end of the football game between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers. As the Broncos were driving down to score a game-tying touchdown, this weird play happened. (If you follow the NFL at all, I am sure you have heard about this already.)

As the Broncos quarterback went to throw the football, it slipped from his hand as he was pulling his hand back. The referee, Ed Hochuli, blew his whistle and signaled incomplete pass. The problem is that it was never a pass; it was a fumble.

The play was reviewed and instant replay determined that it was a fumble. But according to the rule, once the whistle is blown, the play is dead. Therefore, the Broncos kept the ball at the place of the "incomplete pass." They went on to score a touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion. This gave them a one-point victory.

Following the game, the San Diego coach went on to chide Hochuli for his mistake. I am not excusing the referee's mistake, but coach Norv Turner's attitude was poor. Sure, Hochuli's mistake likely cost his team the game. But has Turner ever made a mistake? Called the wrong play? Put in the wrong players?

I cannot dispute the bad call. I understand Norv's frustration. But to act the way he did was a bit extreme. Maybe the fans need to remember his attitude the next time Turner makes a call that costs his team the game.

It's amazing how often we want to point out someone else's mistake, while we fail to admit - and sometimes even realize - our own shortcomings. Jesus said:

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)

We are so good at finding that speck in someone else's eye. But the reality is that we often point out the faults of others so we can ignore our own. If we really want to make things better at work, at school, at home, and even at church, maybe we should start looking at our own logs before pointing our finger at the other person's speck.

shine!
Jason

Cincinnati Connections

This past Wednesday, several of our students shared their Mission: Cincinnati experience with the rest of the Rochester Church. It was an exciting and encouraging time.

Thank you to the adults and students who were a part of our trip this year.

Several of the students shared stories about particular children at the center who had an impact on them. We heard about one girl who chased our van down the street as we left on the last day because she didn’t want to see us go. We heard about a boy who asked us to pray that he could be back with his family, instead of in foster care. These are just a few of the children who touched our hearts while we served in Cincinnati.

Wayne Beason shared his experiences while trying to lead a teen class with some of the teens in the community. His story of frustration leading into breakthrough was definitely a message of determination and perseverance. It was amazing to hear what God was able to accomplish through his teaching team.

We also heard about our experience at the school where we assembled 450 bags of school supplies and prayed with the community resource coordinator and the principal. Prayer in school is alive and well.

Another student talked about Pat Pugh. Pat is the minister in Cincinnati who works in the Millvale community on a daily basis. Pat is a true servant of God. This month, Pat and his church are moving into a new church building. We were blessed to be able to visit the new location and pray over it during our trip.

I have heard a lot of positive comments since Wednesday night. Our students are making an impact in Cincinnati and Rochester Hills. Their example of serving in the Kingdom of God has encouraged and motivated others.

An elder approached me following the presentation about doing “Cincinnati-type” efforts closer to home throughout the year. Two college students came up to me wanting to get involved in missions. I saw parents smiling as their teenage children talked about how God is working in their lives. That’s what it’s all about.

shine!
Jason

Chris Tomlin and John Deere

God speaks to people in strange ways and in unique places. For Balaam, it was through a donkey. Moses, a burning bush. He came to Gideon under an oak tree.

For me, God spoke through a pair of headphones while I was pushing my John Deere lawnmower around the backyard last night.

Ok, maybe it wasn't God's audible voice, but I am convinced it was Him nonetheless.

As I was getting ready to go out to mow, I grabbed my iPhone from the charger, put in my headphones, and started out the back door. I looked at my music and selected one of my favorite albums, Chris Tomlin's See the Morning.

The past week has been a rough one in some ways. At times it has been exhausting. There have been moments of discouragement. I am not saying that life is bad right now, just that this week has seen it's share of down moments.

But as I listened to song after song, my spirits were lifted. Each song seemed to speak to my heart and as I sang along (what a sight this must have been for my neighbors) I could sense the presence of God.

Worship does that. God created us to be touched by music. I believe that He always intended for song to be an expressway to our soul. It was a gift to us. A gift to help us more fully express our love.

Sometimes we misuse our gift. We can allow the wrong things to jump on the expressway and enter into our soul.

I won't go into the details of how I believe music shapes us. I just blogged about that a few weeks back. But I was reminded yesterday evening that what we listen to drastically impacts us.

Like I have said before, I am not a legalist who thinks you should never listen to anything but Christian music. But we must exercise wisdom and caution as we make music selections. I don't think every song we listen to has to be a "happy, clappy" song. There are times for lament. Sorrow is a natural emotion. But what is the underlying message of the songs you are listening to?

David, the greatest songwriter in the history of God's people, wrote a variety of songs. The same man that wrote,

I will exalt you, my God and King,
      and praise your name forever and ever.
I will praise you every day;
      yes, I will praise you forever.
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
      No one can measure his greatness. (Psalm 145:1-3)

also wrote,

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
      How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
      with sorrow in my heart every day?
      How long will my enemy have the upper hand? (Psalm 13:1-2)

The music you listen to doesn't have to be shallow or ignorant of the struggles of life. But at the same time, the lyrics we listen to should be consistent with our faith in God.

God reminded me last night that music matters. While the style isn't usually that important, the message absolutely is. Imagine if instead of listening to Let God Arise and Everlasting God, I had listened to the current top song on the American Top 40, Forever by Chris Brown:

It’s you
And me
Movin’ at the speed of light until eternity

Tonight
Is the night
To join me in the middle of ecstasy
Feel the melody
And the rhythm of the music around you (Around you)

Ima take you there (Ima take u there)
So don’t be scared
I’m right here baby
We can go anywhere (Go anywhere)

But first
It’s your chance take my hand
Come with me

It’s like I waited my whole life
For this one night
It’s gon be me you and the dance floor

‘Cuz we only got one night
Double your pleasure
Double your fun

And dance forever ever ever
Forever ever ever
Forever ever ever

Forever ever ever
Forever ever ever
Forever ever ever
Forever on the dance floor

Feel like we’re on another level
Feels like our love’s intertwined
We can be two rebels
Breakin’ the rules
Me and you
You and I

All you gotta do is watch me (Watch me)
Look what I can do with my feet (My feet)
Baby, feel the beat in time
If only you could take the front seat (Front seat)
Just need u to trust me (Trust me)
Girl (girl) (girl)

It's like I...
It’s like I waited my whole life
For this one night (one night)
It’s gon be me you and the dance floor

‘Cuz we only got one night
Double your pleasure
Double your fun

And dance forever ever ever
Forever ever ever
Forever ever ever

Forever ever ever
Forever ever ever
Forever ever ever
Forever on the dance floor

It’s a long way down
You’re so high off the ground
Sendin’ for an angel to break me apart

Girl where did you come from?
Got me so undone
Gaze in your eyes
Got me singing

What a beautiful lady
No if ands or maybes
I'm releasing my heart
It's feelin’ amazing
Theres no one else that matters
You Love me
But I won’t let you fall girl (Let you fall girl)
Ohhhh Ohhhhh Ohhh Ohhhhhh Yeahhh
I won’t let you fall ( Let you fall Let you Fall)
O0ooooh Ohhhhh Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeahh

It's like
It’s like I waited my whole life
For this one night
It’s gon be me you and the dance floor

‘Cuz we only got one night
Double your pleasure
Double your fun

Just wondering which one would help me as I try to "do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God." (Micah 6:8)

shine!
Jason

Are you ready for some football?

Finally! The regular season is here.

After a summer of baseball, a decent sport, it's time for America's game. Instead of five minutes of chewing, spitting, and standing, followed by 20 seconds of excitement, it's time for an action-filled sport.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy baseball. I went to two games this summer - one in Cincinnati and one in Detroit. But football is different.

Every game really counts. One loss can mean you are in or out of the playoffs. When you only play sixteen times in a season, it makes every Sunday special.

While I am sitting here watching the last game of the first weekend of football, there has already been intrigue. Most of all, the loss of Tom Brady for the season. With one tackle, the landscape of the NFL has changed.

I am ready for some football! In this season of cooling temperatures, colorful leaves, and touchdowns, it's the most wonderful time of the year.

shine!
Jason

A challenge to serve

It’s Students versus Parents for the 2008-2009 Academic Year! From now through July 31, 2009, students and parents are challenged to see how many hours they can serve. Each group (parents and student) is challenged to reach a goal of 2009 hours as a group.

So what counts? Most time spent serving counts. However, if the service involves getting paid, that doesn’t count. Family chores and responsibilities at home do not count either. Outside of that, just about everything is fair game. (If someone participates in a mission trip, they can count up to twenty hours for that trip.)

You may think, wow, 2009 hours is a lot of time. It might be, but think about this. We have over 80 students in our youth group. If each student performs 25 hours of service, that equals 2000 hours. (So a few students need to go the extra mile – or rather, hour.) That is about half an hour a week. Who can’t give half an hour a week?

What makes this goal even more attainable is that any student wishing to go on Mission: Cincinnati will need at least 40 service hours. If the team is the same size as this past summer, thirty-five, then that would be 1400 of the 2009 hours.

Here’s an equally important question. What about the parents? We have over 100 parents in our ministry. They only need about 20 hours each. An even easier task.

Who will come out on top? Only time will tell.

Over the next couple of weeks, there will be more details. I am looking forward to seeing what God can do with 4018 hours of our time over the next 11 months.

So why do this?

My experience over the last decade of serving in youth ministry has taught me that most people experience their most significant spiritual growth when they serve. I really believe that if we can get serious about serving, God will not only impact those around us, He will change us. And in the process we will be shaped more and more into the image of the living God.

shine!
Jason

A historic election

This morning I watched as the pundits debated who McCain would choose. The reporters were looking for an angle so they could break the story. As the morning progressed, potential running mates dropped off the radar. Tim Pawlenty. Mitt Romney. Both were gone. Then the rumors. A plane from Alaska had come in late Thursday evening. Suddenly, we heard a name not known by many...Sarah Palin. Sarah who?

A little over an hour later, John McCain introduced Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, as his running mate for the 2008 Presidential election.

One thing is for sure. On January 20, 2009, there will either be an African-American or a woman inaugurated. Barack Obama will become President or Sarah Palin will become Vice President.

Last night, on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr's "I have a dream" speech, an African-American accepted the nomination of the Democratic Party to be their Presidential candidate. Less than twenty-four hours later, as our nation celebrates 88 years of women's right to vote in the United States, John McCain named Sarah Polin as only the second woman on the Presidential ticket of a major political party.

This is a watershed moment in the political history of our nation. Regardless of who wins in November, history will be made.

On a side note, I was impressed with John McCain's ad last night. I appreciate his willingness to give Obama the spotlight and take one night off of mudslinging to acknowledge the historical significance of the moment. Whether it was a political move, a sincere message, or a combination of the two, it was a humble gesture.

Now that the historical significance has been acknowledged, let the battle begin. This coming week, the Republican National Convention will take place in Minnesota. Over the next 67 days, we will hear speeches, debates, and more. Time for the circus to move to center stage.

shine!
Jason

All you need is love

Love is so crucial to our Christian walk. I am not talking about the purely emotion-driven love that our culture seems to thrive on. This is not the love that says, "If you love me, you'll..." It's not the love that demands or is self-centered. That is the love that you and I are surrounded by every day.

It's not the love that drives people to say "because we love each other" we can do whatever feels good. It is a love that puts the best interests of the other person first. The real, long-term best interests.

This is the kind of unselfish love that genuinely puts others first. It means loving your parents, even when you disagree with them. It means loving your siblings, even when they drive you crazy. It means loving your friends, even when they let you down.

This is the kind of love that changed the world. While the Roman Empire crumbled, the Kingdom of God grew. While nations have risen and fallen, the Kingdom of God has marched on. While power and violence may rule in the short term, real, godly love will never be defeated.

Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

When we can learn to love each other as Christians should, the world will notice. In a world where hate is the norm, and selfishness is expected, we can be a light in the middle of darkness. But when we don't look much different than everyone around us, what kind of an impact can we make?

Let's agree to love our friends, and our enemies. Let's search out ways to lay down our lives for those around us. Let's replace selfishness, gossip, and hatred, with selflessness, kind words, and compassion. When we are willing to love like Jesus, we can change the world.

shine!
Jason

 

Olympics, Democrats, golf, and the pursuit of sleep

Last night, the Olympics came to a conclusion. Phelps, Bolt, questionable documentation, censorship, and a variety of other events that provided great theater, the Games of the 29th Olympiad are over. Beijing can go back to normal, whatever that is.

Tonight the circus arrives in town (via TV). The Democratic National Convention kicks off tonight. I must confess I am a bit of a political junkie. (Little-known trivial fact: I have a minor in Political Science) I will do my best to take in the convention. For some reason, no one wanted to plan an event in the Eastern Time Zone, so I will have to continue my sleep deprivation for the next couple of weeks.

I am fascinated by this year's presidential election. For the first time since I was born, the incumbent POTUS (President of the United States) or his VP are not on the ticket. In fairness, I haven't followed politics as closely as I used to. Honestly, I don't have the time or desire to dig into all the details like I used to. But I at least try to be informed. I look forward to seeing how each party will sell it's candidate and platform to the American people.

On a different note, I hit the golf course this morning before 7:00am with one of my teenagers. We had a blast! It was the first time I had walked 18 holes in a long time. And I didn't shoot all that bad considering my lack of recent play. Regardless of the score, it was great to get out and just walk around the course. It was pretty quiet, there were no crowds, and we just enjoyed playing and talking.

I hope Michelle Obama isn't too long-winded tonight. I would like to hear her speech, but I also have to meet my men's group tomorrow morning at 6:00am followed by a day full of appointments, meetings, and ministry. But I get to go home this weekend! :-)

shine!
Jason

The Clone Wars

Today we took Matthew to see Star Wars: The Clone Wars. It was pretty fun to surprise him. :-)  Here is how it went down...

We told Matthew to get in the car because we had a surprise for him. He started guessing immediately. His first guess was Great Lakes Crossing. I said, "Maybe, maybe not." I guess he figured that meant it was the location, because he stopped asking and went out to the car.

After we headed east on M-59 instead of west, he was confused. This wasn't the way to Great Lakes. He looked around, hoping for a clue. Then we got off at the Mound Round exit, and from the back of the car I hear, "This isn't where Great Lakes is." He was checking out every store and sign for a clue.

We pulled into the AMC 30 parking lot and he figured we were going to see a movie, but he had no idea which one. I ran ahead to get the tickets so he wouldn't know. Then, somehow, we got him into the theater without letting him see the sign above the door. (Michelle did a good job of distracting him. Normally, we can't sneak much of anything past him.)

We found a good seat and waited. First the advertisements. Then the previews. Finally, it was show time.

When the LucasFilm logo popped up on the screen, Matthew was intrigued. But then the next thing on the screen brought a huge smile to his face...

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..."

Matthew looked up at me and said, "The Clone Wars!" He was grinning from ear to ear.

For the next hour and forty-five minutes were treated to action and adventure. Lasers and lightsabers. Sith and Jedi. I really enjoyed the movie. It stayed true to the Star Wars story and was enjoyable.

I am sure some major Star Wars junkies might find some imperfection or something, but I was thoroughly entertained. Anakin acted like Anakin. Obi-Wan was Obi-Wan. There were a lot of Star Wars "regulars" and a few new characters as well. I was not disappointed.

There was some violence. It is The Clone WARS. But the violence is not graphic and mixed well with the action. There are not many slow moments, and even the slow moments weren't dull. Before I knew it, the movie was over.

Whether you are a big Star Wars fan or not, this is a good movie to go see. I don't like to spend the big money to go to the theater. (Although AMC's new $5 weekday prices make it better.) This movie is worth seeing on the big screen. Enjoy!

shine!
Jason

Stranded!

Last night we were in a boat on Atwood Lake in eastern Ohio, headed out to enjoy a quiet dusk evening. We had stopped in the middle of the lake and I shut the engine off.

After about 10 minutes, I needed to turn the engine on and move the boat a bit since we were drifting. That's when it started.

The engine wouldn't turn over. I turned the key, and all I heard was a quiet hum. No engine kicking in. No sign of life from the engine.

I waited a minute or two. The result was the same.

I checked the battery connection. It was fine. Nothing appeared to have changed from a few minutes earlier. But no engine.

So there we were, a big, silver, glorified flotation device. We were at the whim of the breeze that was gently nudging us across the lake.

By this time the sun had set completely and the reflection from the lights on the shore was about all the light we had. Night had come and there didn't seem to be any other boats on the lake.

Then in the distance we saw the lights. They came closer and closer. I flashed the flashlight and they flashed back. But as they started to pass we realized they didn't know we were in distress, so we started yelling. Then they figured out we were in trouble and pulled up next to us.

After listening to our engine and figuring out it was probably the starter that had gone bad (for the record, I am pretty clueless about these kinds of things), they tied our boat to their boat and started to tow us across the lake. The trip seemed like it took forever, but the longer it lasted, the more I began to admire the sky. I could see stars I normally don't see at home and even recognized a part of the Milky Way.

After about thirty minutes, we arrived at our location and floated into our dock with the help of a few fishermen who happened to be fishing on the dock where we had to park the boat. We went back into the house and enjoyed the Olympics.

There are a few things I was reminded of on this trip.

God will often use the most unlikely people in our lives to help us on the journey. A random boat passing by and a few fishermen were the only difference between us sleeping in our beds and floating on the lake most of the night.

Life will sometimes throw us a curve. We need to roll with it and enjoy the ride. I never really felt like I panicked, even though I was concerned. Life is too short to get that bent out of shape about situations that aren't life-threatening.

Finally, I was reminded that in the midst of darkness, there is always a light waiting to rescue us. Just like the boat passing in the night, God is present in our lives, even in times of darkness. One difference is that while the people on the boat didn't know we needed their help, God always knows. But sometimes He waits for us to call out to Him. Whether it's waiting for us to ask or waiting for us to acknowledge our need, God wants to be the light in the darkness that leads us home.

A lot of us spend time just floating through life. Sometimes we even find ourselves floating in the darkness. When we feel stranded, we should always remember that God wants to meet us in the midst of our trouble and take us into the light. Often we just have to be willing to throw Him the rope and follow where He leads.

shine!
Jason

Expression or impression?

I really wrestle when it comes to dealing with entertainment, especially music. There seem to be two schools of thought around music's role in someone's life.

Expression. One side of the argument would say that music is an expression of one's emotions and thoughts. (I am referring to the listener, not the author of the song.) The belief here is that music is helping the listener express how they are feeling. As someone listens to a song, it aids them in understanding their feelings. Some would even say that it helps them express something they cannot put words to themselves.

Impression. The other side of the coin would argue that music impresses emotions and thoughts. The thought here is that music shapes how we think and feel. Obviously, this is not occurring in a vacuum, but those who lean towards impression would say that music creates or over-amplifies feelings.

I believe that both are valid, but that discernment must be applied to our music choices. Music is one of the - if not THE - most direct pathways to our hearts. Music can create or reveal emotions that few other things can. The right song with the right lyrics can bring tears to our eyes or a smile to our face.

But hidden within the magic of music is also the risk. While music can reveal hidden emotions or help us express how we feel, it can also create emotions in us that were either not previously present or amplify emotions to a place they weren't before - and maybe don't need to be.

To get an idea of what teens are listening to, I looked at the Top 40 for this week. Here are the lyrics to the top two songs on the charts:

Leavin' by Jesse McCartney

Hey baby girl
I've been watching you all day
Man that thing you got behind you is amazing
You make me want to take you out and let it rain
I know you got a man but this is what you should say

[Chorus:]
Why don't you tell him that I'm leavin' never looking back again
You found somebody who does it better than he can
No more making you cry
No more them gray skies
Girl we flying on a g-5, g-5
And we're leavin' never looking back again
So call your shawty you tell him you found a new man
The one who's so so fly
The one to keep you high
Have you singing all night, like that

Now if I talk it girl, you know that I will walk it out
Man I'll put my money money where my mouth is
Cause you're the baddest little thing that I've ever seen
So I'm gonna ask you one time if you got a man

[Chorus]

Don't stress, don't stress, don't stress
Just tell him to the left left left
Don't stress, don't stress, don't stress
Cause we gone & we gone & we gone
No stress, no stress, no stress
Girl you deserve nothing but the best
No stress, no stress, no stress
Girl you need to tell him...

[Chorus]

-------------------------

I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry

This was never the way I planned
Not my intention
I got so brave, drink in hand
Lost my discretion

It's not what
I'm used to
Just wanna try u on
I'm curious for you
Caught my attention

(CHORUS)
I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it

(V2)
No I don't even know your name
It doesn't matter
You're my expiramental game
Just human nature

It's not what
Good girls do
Not how they should behave
My head gets
So confused
Hard to obey


(CHORUS)
I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it

(BRIDGE)
Us girls we are so magical
Soft skin, red lips, so kissable
Hard to resist so touchable
Too good to deny it
Ain't no big deal, it's innocent

(CHORUS)
I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it

------------------

As I look at the lyrics to both of these songs, I wonder what is going on. Is it expression or impression?

In many ways, today's teenagers are not much different than I was as a teen. They are trying to find their way. They are seeking direction and guidance. They want to figure out who they are.

The biggest difference is the voices that are calling out to them. There were voices when I was teenager. Whether it was Centerfold by J. Geils Band, Jack and Diane by John Cougar (before the Mellencamp), or Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard, we had plenty of songs to fuel our teenage emotions as well. It's just that today's stakes seem even higher.

It's amazing to me how, when I hear songs I haven't heard in almost twenty years, I still remember many of the lyrics. Is that expression or impression?

Music has the power to impress words, thoughts, and emotions on our hearts that can last for a lifetime.

I am not saying that music is the only cause of the increased sexuality, disrespect (for adults and peers), depression, and more. But when many teenagers walk around with iPods pumping lyrics like the ones above into their heads for hours a day, what can we expect?

This is not a call for censorship. It is not a statement that we should only listen to Christian music. I don't think that all "secular" music is bad. But, we need to be more intentional about our choices. We should be more selective about the words that shape our hearts.

I don't care how good the music is; if the lyrics have the potential to poison our minds, should we be listening? Is it more important to be entertained than Kingdom-focused? If we are going to be serious about being transformed into the image of God and enjoying the abundant life Jesus talks about, let's begin by controlling the pathway to our heart.

shine!
Jason

Mission: Cincinnati Wrap-up

This has taken me a few days to sit down and write because I have been recovering. My body was reminding me that I am 38 now.

Anyway... I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect back on M:C2008.

Last week was a great week. I have already talked about some of our adventures in my previous posts, but this is a chance to look back at the week as a whole.

As I have mentioned earlier, everyone on the team did a GREAT job last week. I don't remember ever having to ask someone twice to do anything. (Well, except when it was time to leave the center. Then I had to ask a dozen times, but I understand that.) They were more focused on their purpose than ever.

Last night in our Wednesday night youth gathering we had "circle time" (a time where we sit in a circle, turn off the lights, and light a candle in the middle of the room). Our sharing time centered around how Mission: Cincinnati 2008 impacted those who went and - just as importantly - how it was going to change the way they live now that they are back home.

One theme that surfaced several times was a desire to be a more welcoming group. Like most youth groups, we often struggle with integrating new people. One of the things that was really cool about our mission trip was that it didn't really matter what grade students were in, our team was a team. I watched juniors and seniors in high school interact with middle schoolers. There didn't appear to be an attitude of "we're better than you" that often haunts youth groups. This was a team in every sense of the word.

In addition, we struggle with welcoming people who are visiting our youth group. Whether it's the friend of a youth group member or someone who just moved into town, or even more shy students who have been at the church for a long time, we struggle with helping those students feel included. It is good to know that our students realize that and want to change it.

While there are several amazing things I could share from the trip and last night, the other one I want to focus on is the idea of boldness. Last night one of the students shared an experience from earlier this week. She talked about how she was in line at a clothing store and got into a conversation about God with a guy in line with her. She talked about the fact that she had never really done that before and she was somewhat surprised by her boldness.

Another student talked about how she met a guy who did not go to church, but the more they talked about Jesus, the more intrigued he was. That weekend, he ended up going to church and when they saw each other again, he thanked her for giving him a new outlook on Christians.

One of phrases I remember from last week was "crazy enough to believe." This was something Pat Pugh said a number of times as he talked about how God is working in Cincinnati. Whether it was their new building, the direction their ministry is going, or the ways he sees God at work, Pat kept telling us he is crazy enough to believe.

I am crazy enough to believe that God has changed the lives of some of our students. That He is about to unleash something powerful through the students in our ministry. That God is about to pour out His Spirit among us in a very powerful way.

I am crazy enough to believe that God will fulfill His promises when we are crazy enough to follow.

shine!
Jason

Mission: Cincinnati Update #2

I have a few minutes here in the middle of the day to send out another update. First of all, I realize that some readers may not know the details about our trip. Here is the short version:

Several years ago I met Pat Pugh. Pat serves in a full-time inner-city ministry called Cincinnati Urban Ministry Outreach (CUMO). For the last seven years or so, Pat has been leading CUMO. For the last several years, he has worked in the Millvale Community. Two years ago, we brought a group of eleven students to spend a week working with the children in this community. Last year we brought nineteen students. This year, thirty-five students are serving here in Millvale.

Much of our work occurs in the Millvale Community Center. We build relationships with the children through games and activities. We help Pat in his ministry through various tasks. And we usually end our time at the center with Bible time. I hope this provides a brief overview of our work here.

The picture with this post is the new building that CUMO will be moving into next month. God has truly blessed the ministry with a great opportunity in the middle of a community that needs God's love.

Yesterday morning, we traveled to the location (it's a few minutes from Millvale) to pray over the community, the church building, and the move. We met Yack while we were there. Yack (obviously his nickname) has family in the neighborhood. When it came time to pray, Yack joined us and began our time of prayer. It was truly an encouragement to meet and pray with this man. This is further evidence that God is at work in inner-city Cincinnati.

During the time at the Community Center, our students have continued to shine! Even now, they are playing sports, talking with children, and building relationships. At our evening devotionals, students have shared how much these kids and this experience have touched them. It is obvious to me that the children here in Millvale are impacting our students as much as - if not more than - our students are impacting them.

Our team has continued to do a great job of serving and laying down their lives. They have poured everything they have into this work. They are maturing as Christians right before our very eyes. I believe that many of them are experiencing life-changing moments this week. God is certainly at work!

This morning, we went to the school here and assembled over 400 bags of school supplies for the children. We were visited by the principal during our time there. We asked him if we could pray for him and he was excited to let us do that. Our team of over forty people surrounded the principal and another staff member and we spent close to 10 minutes praying over them, for the students, for the staff, and for the upcoming school year. We could sense that God was present among us in a special way.

Well, its almost Bible time and I need to get back. I just wanted to let you know how things are going. This will probably be my last update until our return. I will likely not have internet access again before I get home. Thanks again to all of the parents who allowed their children to be a part of this experience. You may not get the same person back that you sent down here.

shine!
Jason