Fore!

Yesterday I did something I haven't done in about three years. I played golf.

Yes, I have played putt-putt more recently, but that doesn't really count.

I was invited to join three friends to play 18 holes.

So yesterday morning I wiped the dust off my clubs, dug out my golf shoes, and headed out to the course. Since I received the invitation the evening before, there was no time to hit the driving range or warm up. I went out to the course and my first swing was on the first tee.

I ended up hitting a 102. Not bad for not having picked up my clubs - other than to move them around the garage - in a few years. I even had one birdie and one par. That tells you how bad the rest of my game must have looked at times.

As I was towards the end of my round, something hit me. Some Christians "play" following Jesus like I play golf. They occasionally clean off their gifts and abilities and decide to put them to use for the Kingdom.

And it shows. Like my golf game yesterday, they spend a lot of time dealing with missing the mark. If they haven't really been following Jesus consistently for a while, they spend time in the "rough" and "traps." Their inconsistency creates bad situations and poor choices.

This doesn't mean that consistently following Jesus will make everything perfect. In golf, even Tiger Woods has his poor shots. He is not perfect. But his endless hours of practice and preparation have served him well on the golf course.

I am no Tiger Woods, but I would venture to guess that if I played several times a week every week, I would become a better golfer.

How much better would many Christians be at following Jesus if they made it more than a weekend hobby?

shine!
Jason

Countdown to Cinci

It's hard to believe that a week from now we will be traveling down I-75 on our way to Cincinnati. This year we will have 34 students, 7 adults, and Matthew. It's hard to imagine that just two years ago we took only 11 students. I can't wait to see what God will do this year. Please be in prayer for our team as we prepare. I would also ask that you pray for the Millvale Community and Pat Pugh, who labors for the Lord in that neighborhood. Pat is a true servant of the Christ. More to come...

shine!
Jason

Enjoy the ride!

This week was our annual “Destination Unknown” trip. For this year’s adventure, we traveled to Muskegon, Michigan, and Michigan’s Adventure Amusement Park.

This is the first time Matthew has been to an amusement park since he has been tall enough to ride the big rides.

As soon as we got to the park, Matthew saw Shivering Timbers and wanted to ride. This is the tallest roller coaster in the park and is also a wooden coaster.

I wanted to warm up a bit and enjoy some other parts of the park, so we went to the Corkscrew and some other smaller rides. We also spent some time in the water park where Matthew was able to splash around.

In the water park, Matthew decided he wanted to go on a slide. I am not talking about the little ones either. This was a long, enclosed tunnel. After Matthew and I discussed the slide so I knew he knew what he was getting into, he was off. He grabbed a tube and headed up the stairs to the top.

So here I am, a fairly typical parent of a 7-year-old, waiting at the bottom for him to emerge. It seemed like it took forever, but finally he came flying out of a tunnel. He loved it and wanted to go again. But we decided to take a pass on the return trip up the slide and ventured off to other areas of the park.

A little later we found ourselves in line for Shivering Timbers. Matthew was so excited, but I wondered if he had any idea what he was really about to experience. As the line in front of us continued to shrink, Matthew became more and more excited.

Finally, it was our turn. Michelle, riding behind us, was the nervous mom. I was the excited dad. As we headed up the first hill, Matthew’s anticipation kept increasing.

Then we went over the first hill and Matthew was grinning ear to ear. He enjoyed the whole ride. It was a combination of fear and excitement. But when it was all over, all Matthew could say is “again!”

When we wholeheartedly follow Jesus, it can be like a roller coaster ride. There are times that are scary and exhilarating. It has it’s up and downs.

I find it ironic that in a youth culture where so many teens want to be risky and daring, they shy away from the adventure of following Jesus. Maybe it’s because we have turned discipleship into attending church and being “good people.” Following Jesus is not a stroll in the park or a kiddie ride. It is the hardcore adventure of following Jesus wherever He leads. Jump in, strap in, and enjoy the ride!

shine!
Jason

Where is God?

I'm not going to share all the details, but I received a lengthy email from a student last week. After sharing some struggles and frustrations, this was the end of the email:

but jason... does prayer really work? is god really there? does he care that i am hurting?

After reflecting on the questions, I tried to answer the questions as well as I could. I am sure my answers are not complete, but I wanted to share what I said, because I have received similar questions from other students as well. (NOTE: I have permission from the student to post the questions and my response.) Here is what I said...

You asked some really challenging and important questions in your email the other day. I don't have all of the answers, but I will do my best to help you with them.

God absolutely cares that you are hurting. I believe it hurts him to see you in pain. He created you. He knows you. He loves you.

One of the biggest struggles in life to try to understand how God can love us, yet all of these bad things happen to us. As I work with so many teenagers (and adults) who struggle with addictions, pain, anger, and many other emotions and challenges, I ask the same questions you do sometimes.

One of the things I have come to realize is that God's primary objective is not to take everyone's pain away. Now that may seem weird to think that He loves us and doesn't want to make the world perfect for us. But here is what I believe is one of the core issues at hand.

God created each of us, all humans, with the ability to make choices. God wanted people to love Him not because they were forced or programmed to, but because they honestly wanted to. So you, me, and everyone else has the freedom to choose to love God or not. That also means we have the freedom to choose how we treat other human beings as well.

Let me change directions for a minute and talk about sin. (This is related to what I said above, but goes in a little different direction.) I think a lot of people have a misconception of sin. They think it's some list of fun things that God doesn't want us to do. I think that is far from the truth. Sure, a lot of times sin is fun. But it's often fun because it is the shortcut to something even better - true joy.

Sin is when we function in a way that is different than the way God intended for us to function. I'll give an example that is very practical.

A lot of people ask me what's so bad about premarital sex. They love each other and they want to express it that way. They wonder why God wants to deprive them of that. Fair question.

The more that people study the physical side of sex, I believe that God's answer makes more and more sense. When you have sex with someone it releases a chemical that creates a strong emotional bond with that person in your brain. So when God talks about two becoming one, it's not just a physical thing; it's so much more.

God designed sex to be more than just something that feels good. It is a vital part of our design that emotionally connects us to the one person we are married to. It it intended to strengthen the bonds of marriage.

But when people have sexual partners before marriage, it actually weakens the bond. Something that God created to keep families together, when used improperly, actually creates a scenario where families are even less likely to stay together. It is meant to be something we share with one person we have already committed to in marriage.

I hope that makes sense and gives you an idea of what I mean.

So back to your questions about your hurt, prayer, and God's presence. Yes, God desperately wants you to not hurt. But you are in a world where people around you have the freedom to choose. That means they can choose to hurt you. They can hurt you physically and emotionally. And I sense that is exactly what has happened to you. I know you likely feel alone. You feel like no one cares. You even wonder where God is. You are not alone. Read the words of David, a man who was called "a man after God's own heart."

Psalm 13
For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
2 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?

3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have
defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.

David was hurting. He felt deserted by God. But he also realized that God's presence did not change because of His feelings. His feelings were real and significant, but God was still present.

Yes, prayer really works. But, prayer is not just asking God for what we want. Because of the freedom He has given us, He can't just control every person and situation around us. But I do believe He is at work among us. (Maybe this email is an answer to your prayer.)

God is not just a genie and prayer is not just a wish list. Yes, God wants us to ask Him and seek Him, but He will not always answer the way we want Him to. He works in strange and mysterious ways at times.

And here is the really hard thing I have come to learn over time. Prayer is not primarily about us changing God's mind. It's about God changing us. When we approach prayer not as a Christmas list of what we want, but as an honest dialogue with God, we will often be changed.

Prayer can be a time to cry out to God. To tell him our hurts. To share our shame. To scream out in pain. We can even share our doubts and our fears. Think about the Psalm you just read. Here is David, a "hero" of the Old Testament, asking God, "How long will you forget me?"

God is big enough to handle our doubts, anger, and fears. He wants us to be honest with Him. He wants us to reveal our true emotions and pour out our heart to Him.

I don't know if this helps or answers any of your questions, but it is some of what I have learned on my journey so far.

I know you are hurting and feel alone in this. You aren't. God is with you, even when it feels like He's not. Embrace Him. Continue talking to Him. And know that He is seeking ways to help you.

shine!
Jason

Skin

Skin.

Why is our culture fascinated with showing so much of it?

I was reminded of this today when I went to sign in to my MySpace account and had to deal with a picture of the Pussycat Dolls. The image that appeared on my computer screen looked more like something I would see in a Victoria Secret’s catalogue or an adult magazine.

Unfortunately, we have become somewhat numb to the sexualization of our culture. We often think nothing of seeing a young girl dressed in so little clothes that the slightest wrong move could reveal the color of her undergarments.

When I go to the mall, I realize that this is a real struggle. Clothing stores don’t help us in our battle. Sex sells. Girls want attention. Boys give attention to girls who dress “sexy.”

But we are called to be different. We are called to be pure. And that means more than avoiding sexual intercourse. Jesus said, “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28) It’s not just about our physical purity; it’s also about emotional and spiritual purity.

And even if you are not tempted in that way, you have a responsibility to others to consider how you appear. Jesus also said, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. So watch yourselves!” (Luke 17:1-3)

Let’s agree as a community of believers to do everything in our power to avoid temptation. Maybe that’s the way you look at members of the opposite sex. Maybe it’s the way you appear to members of the opposite sex.

You may need to change your wardrobe. It may require you to change your entertainment choices. Regardless of what it takes, let’s make a serious effort to live out the words that Paul wrote to Timothy: “Treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.” (1 Timothy 5:2)

Girls, don’t make it harder for guys to treat you with purity.

Guys, don’t engage in conversations that treat women more as objects than human beings.

Let’s all work together to treat one another as the sons and daughters of the King that we are.

shine!
Jason

Tony Snow and facing death

Tony Snow, former White House Press Secretary, conservative columnist, FoxNews host, and man of many other roles and talents, died last weekend after a battle with cancer. Christianity Today had recently interviewed Tony about his experiences dealing with cancer and facing death. I encourage you to read this profound interview.

CLICK HERE to read the article.

shine!
Jason

commUNITY: Worship

Last night in our youth gathering, we had the first lesson in a six-week series titled "commUNITY." Each week we will consider an aspect of our Christian identity and how it shapes us as individuals and a community. Last night's lesson was about worship.

I am teaming up with six different students to co-teach each lesson. In addition, one of our teens is leading worship.

Anthony did a great job last night. He recently returned from Camp Electric, a music camp featuring some well-known Christian musicians. This camp was a blessing for Anthony, and what he has learned and continues to learn is a blessing for our ministry. It has been incredibly cool to watch him develop his gifts and grow as a Christian and a musician.

I was impressed with how Ari did in her co-teaching role. We worked together to develop a lesson on worship and how it affects us as a community and individuals. The lesson preparation started when Ari wrote down some points she wanted to discuss and then we built a lesson around that.

The main focus of the lesson was the paradox of worship. This idea that worship is an individual expression of our praise in the midst of community. We talked about the fact that worship is more than some songs we sing on a Sunday morning; it's a life dedicated to God.

However, there is something special that happens when God's people gather for worship. When we lift our voices to God as a community, God is a present in a unique and special way.

We also need to remember that it's not about us. Worship is vital to the Christian community where we find ourselves.

Imagine how much different churches could be if teenagers would sing the "old songs" without complaining because they are a blessing to other members. How much different would things be if older members would sing the "new songs" without grumbling because they are a blessing to the younger generation?

We have to acknowledge that we come together with a variety of preferences. When we as a community can develop humble attitudes that embrace a multitude of styles and songs, we will be blessed. I will end with the words from a song we sang last night in the middle of the lesson - Heart of Worship by Matt Redman.

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worhip
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is yours
Every single breath

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worhip
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

shine!
Jason

Garage sale

As I write this article, I am sitting in my garage in the middle of a garage sale. I don’t really like having a garage sale, but I like having had a garage sale. Let me explain.

Sorting stuff, setting up tables, and pricing stuff is not fun at all. I really don’t enjoy waking up at 5:30am to go out and finish getting ready.

However, there is a freeing feeling to watch stuff leave my yard. Things that have filled boxes in the basement. Items that have not seen the light of day for years. Slowly, over the period of a day or two, you get to see unnecessary junk disappear.

Maybe for some of us, it’s time for a spiritual “garage sale.” There might be something in your “basement” that needs to go.

Are you carrying unnecessary guilt?

Do you need to unload some unconfessed sin?

Is there a source of pain in your life that you need to expose?

Are there negative feelings you need to unload?

Jesus offers us a “garage sale” for our sin.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Don’t let things weigh you down any longer. You don’t need to carry that burden. Open up the doors and let God in so He can take it away.

shine!
Jason

Spiritual warfare in full swing

I feel as though I am seeing a full-blown spiritual war going on right now.

I have never in my entire decade of ministry, witnessed so much spiritual warfare going on around me. Suffice it to say that Satan is hard at work. The areas of warfare include possible divorce, significant conflict between family members, various addictions (alcohol, drugs, pornography, and more), various forms of abuse (physical, verbal, and sexual), depression, cutting, and a variety of other stressful situations.

Over the years, I have wondered about how active Satan is in the world. After my experiences over the last several weeks, I am more and more faced with the stark reality of Paul's words to the churches around Ephesus:

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we
are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil
rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in
this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to
resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will
still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and
be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Our battle is not with people. It's not with the culture. Sure, they can and are used by the forces of evil to bring pain into the world. However, our battle is against evil
rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in
this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

We can no longer take Satan lightly. He is not a guy in a red suit with horns. He is not someone we can simply tell to "sit on a tack." He is real. He is powerful. He is evil.

I know that for whatever reason, he has his target set on us. Maybe he is aware of the healing that is taking place in some people's lives. Maybe he realizes that we are reclaiming some of his territory. Whatever it is, we have sure garnered his attention.

This is not a battle to be taken lightly. Lives are at stake. Souls are up for grabs. It seems like every day there are people around me crying out for help. They know they are in the middle of a war zone, but they aren't always sure where to turn.

Here is my simple request. PRAY! Unleash the powers of heaven in this situation. Bathe our church, our families, and our community in prayer. In the words of Paul again, "Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion."

I know I am not in this alone, but I also realize that I am on the front lines. I am so thankful every day for the people in the trenches with me. My wife. The staff here at Rochester. The shepherds who lead our flock. The volunteers who serve in our ministry.

We may grow weary. We may feel overwhelmed. But I also know that the battle belongs to the Lord. This battle is not mine to win. But, God calls me to fight. God is the one who will bring the victory. We are the servants who He is calling into service. Let's be faithful so that He can work through us.

shine!
Jason

Freedom?

Last weekend our nation celebrated its independence. Over 200 years ago, a group of men were willing to stand up and declare their independence from the nation of Britain.

Since our nation was founded, it seems as though many people have lost the point of our freedom. While freedom does enable each person to strive to be the best they can be, there is also a responsibility with freedom to consider what is in the best interests of the community.

For many in our nation today, it appears as though individual liberty has become a reason to do whatever is best for the individual. This misses the point as far as I am concerned.

I feel like sometimes the church has suffered the same misconception. We have been convinced that our freedom in Christ is something that sets us free to do as we please. But I don’t think that is exactly what Jesus had in mind. Our freedom is not freedom to do as we please. Paul himself wrote, You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24)

As a community of believers, God calls us to put the needs of others first. Our freedom is not a license to live as we please. It is permission to be all we can be, free from the bondage of sin. We no longer need to focus on our mistakes. Rather, we can focus on serving others.

God never intended for His Law to be a burden. Starting with the story of creation in Genesis 1, and throughout the rest of the Bible, God desires for us to live life abundantly.

As we reflect on our independence as a nation, let’s remember two things:

As a citizen of the United States, our freedom does not exist exclusively for our own benefit. We are also required to care and show concern for our fellow citizens. We should also use our freedom – and the other blessings we enjoy as Americans – to bless those around the world. Our freedom shouldn’t be so self-centered that we look down at the rest of the world.

As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are called to use our freedom as an opportunity to sacrifice our lives for others. Jesus was God in the flesh, but He never used that as a way out of His responsibilities. He willingly went to the cross, even though he could have called down an army of angels at any time. Jesus showed us through His actions what true freedom looks like.

shine!
Jason

Class reunion follow-up

I am back from my 20-year class reunion. What an interesting weekend.

On Saturday we drove down to Ohio. We had to stop at my dad's house to drop off Matthew because Saturday evening's event was just for the grown-ups. I am not sure who was more excited, Matthew or my dad. It's been a few months since we saw my dad (a little longer than usual). Matthew had been pretty much constantly excited about seeing his grandpa for a few days.

We visited with dad for a bit and then headed downtown.

When we first got there, we parked and started walking towards the Huron Yacht Club (location of the reunion event). On the way, I saw these three girls at a bit of a distance who looked vaguely familiar. I didn't want to look stupid - although I do it often enough - so I didn't walk over to them. However, I overheard them talking and realized it was who I thought it was.

They started walking towards us and we started talking. Once we were all standing there, I had this thought run through my mind, do I look that much older, too? It wasn't that they looked old, but they looked older. If you have ever had one of these moments you know what I mean. I had seen myself grow older one day at a time over the last 20 years. I hadn't seen many of these people in 10 or 20 years. And so here they are, all grown up, not far from the big 40. I think it was one of the first times I really thought about how old I am.

So after a few minutes of talking we walked into a bar nearby where everyone is waiting for things to start. We had about 30 minutes until the yacht club would be ready for us. It was a surreal experience. Suddenly I was standing in the midst of a few dozen friends, many of whom I had not seen in a long time. My first considerable conversation was with Greg. Greg was one of my better friends, especially in my younger years. Greg was on my bus route and we had played together often. Greg was now married with two young children. The most compelling part of Greg's story was the heart attack he had suffered last year. He talked about that whole experience and how it impacted his life. He had to change his diet, stop smoking, and just live a little smarter.

After we got to the yacht club, I connected with a bunch of people. The two couples we spent the most time with were Dan and his wife and Steve and his wife. Dan and Steve were two of the guys I spent a lot of time with in high school. Dan grew up a few houses down the street from me and Steve played tuba with me in marching band. Neither of them had really changed that much. Dan was still the gregarious guy who always had a funny comment to make. Steve was the more reserved type. The six of us spent quite a bit of time sitting at a table and catching up.

Among others, I was also able to talk with Shane, who is now a lawyer, and Kim, who is an executive with a non-profit organization that helps parents of young children. Kristin, whose brother now works with my sister-in-law, was there as well. There were a lot of people who I was able to interact with and connect with as well throughout the evening.

I was also able to connect with Mari for part of the evening. Mari was the main organizer of the event. She did a great job, especially considering how she did it at the last minute. No one else had stepped up, so she grabbed the reins and put something good together.

Mari is a Christian and we have had good conversations via email about our faith. It was really cool on Saturday night to sit down with Mari for a little while and talk about faith and the like. It was weird though. Here I am, the guy who was the atheist/agnostic in high school, and now I am a youth minister talking about God.

Saturday night ended with a nice surprise. There was a great fireworks show down in the boat basin that we were able to watch. The fireworks were almost literally right above us. We had great seats, and of the three fireworks shows I saw this past week, this one had the best grand finale.

On Sunday the fun continued. Sunday morning we attended worship in Amherst, Ohio. This is the first church where I served in full-time ministry. From 1999 until 2002, I was the Youth & Family Minister there. It was so good to see some people I had not seen in years. Their pulpit minister recently announced he was leaving and several of the people there wanted to know if I was coming back. While I love the people in Amherst and really miss them, I know that God has me where He needs me in Rochester.

Sunday afternoon we headed off to the family picnic portion of the reunion weekend. There were not a lot of people there, but in some ways that was really nice. I was able to have some good conversations with a few people. Chris, who still lives in the area, filled me in on his life. I was able to hear some really entertaining construction stories from Chuck, who works with his family business and brought his two sons with him. Ingrid, who is also friends with Michelle, was there as well with her family. She and Michelle talked for a long time. And Mari and her husband were there with their two children. Matthew made some new friends and had a blast. He was pretty excited that he has friends from the Seattle area now.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this reunion. It brings back memories and feelings from long ago. It is an odd experience to talk with people who were so important in your life 20 years ago. So much has changed in twenty years. Some of them have been married and divorced. Many have children. There were some people who have come to faith. Others have left their faith. At least one flirted with death. Some have changed a lot and others very little.

I was reminded this weekend to make the most of every minute, but never take life too seriously. There were girls there this weekend who I was nervous every time I was around them in school because I liked them. I look back and wonder why I was so silly. Why did I let that affect me so much?

At the same time, I heard positive comments about how people viewed me back then. Things like a smile and a kind word are the things that stick. No one told me they remembered my fine tuba-playing skills or that I was president of the photography club. No one brought up who I dated or how I dressed. But several people commented that they thought I was one of the nicest people they remembered from high school and that I always seemed to have a smile on my face.

If that is what people remember twenty years later, maybe those are the kinds of things we should all focus on in our lives.

shine!
Jason

I am getting old

Ok, so today I am heading home for my 20-year class reunion. I think that officially makes me old.

There is one really cool thing about this trip. I have been having an email dialogue with one of my classmates who I have not talked to since graduation. We have been having a really interesting conversation via email about faith and the like. Apparently, God has been working in the lives of several of my classmates. :-)

I am really looking forward to seeing what God will do in the midst of thinning hair, stories about old times, and the drinking - and likely drunkeness - that will ensue.

Watch for more early next week...

shine!
Jason

I don't want to step down into the pulpit

Every once in a while I am asked a certain question. Here are a few versions of it...

When do you think you will look for your own church?

How long until you will be a pulpit minister somewhere?

When will you move up into the pulpit?

My answer, depending on who I am talking to, goes something like this...

I really don't feel called to move into that role. In all honestly, I would consider pulpit ministry a step down. This is no offense to pulpit ministers. I work alongside one of the best preachers I have ever known. But for me personally, any other ministry would require me to step out of my calling.

I believe that the ministry I am engaged in is the most important one there is. (Ok, maybe Dana's ministry to families with children is a really, really close second.) ;-)  But, I believe that God has positioned me to have an impact at a crucial time in the lives of these teenagers. In a world where brokenness surrounds us and pain has become commonplace for many students, God has uniquely allowed me to help families who are hurting.

Parents are hurting. Teens are hurting. Families are often struggling, and often hiding it too.

I don't have all the answers, but I am blessed by the fact that God uses this imperfect pilgrim to speak into the lives of families with youth. I am blessed that God has equipped me for this ministry. I am blessed that God makes it possible for me to do this as a full-time profession. I get paid to do what I love to do. How many people can say that?

Sure, there are plenty of people around me who live in bigger houses, drive nicer cars, and have more than I do, but I can do without all of that as long as I have a relationship with God, my wonderful partner, Michelle, my incredible son, Matthew, and the knowledge that what I am doing makes a difference in the Kingdom of God. You can never put that in a 401(k), but a 401(k) doesn't give you peace and purpose anyway.

And that is why I do what I do...

shine!
Jason