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