Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to my family at RCC

Thank you to everyone who blessed us with a Christmas card or gift. We continue to feel extremely blessed to be a part of the family here at Rochester. It’s hard to believe that it was a little over four years ago that we moved here. In the time since, we have grown to love the people here and value the relationships we have developed.
In a time when hundreds of commercials tout the latest toys, gadgets, clothes, and more, you have given us the greatest gifts there are: love and family. We wouldn’t trade anything for the way you have welcomed us, embraced us, and made us part of the Rochester family.
In addition to celebrating the past, I am looking forward to an exciting future. When I think about everything God is up to, I can’t wait to see what He has in store for us in 2010! I continue to be amazed at the power of God’s grace and mercy.
Please allow me to share the words of Paul to express my feelings for you and as a prayer for you as we begin a new year together:
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace…in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:3-11)
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

shine!
Jason

A gift to remember

It’s almost Christmas!
This is the time of year many people look forward to all year. For some, it means gathering with family. For others, it represents a week or two off. For others, especially children, it’s a chance to get some new gifts.
But for others, this is not a season of joy. For them, it may remind them of a loved one who has died. Others will be working just as hard simply to assure their family can eat. Some will face the prospect of little or nothing under the Christmas tree.
As you approach Christmas, what is your situation? Do you resonate more with the first group or people, or the second?
More importantly, especially if you are in the first group, what is your attitude?
We live in a culture dominated by want. Let’s be honest. How many of us as children were encouraged to write a list of what we want to give for Christmas? Even if we were, which list was longer? The list of what we wanted to receive or what we wanted to give? Which list is longer today?
Consider the words of the apostle Paul as he spoke to the elders of Ephesus near the end of his final visit with them:
“And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:32-35)
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Do we believe that?
More importantly, do we act that way?
During this week of Christmas, I want to challenge each of us to take a minute and consider what we can give.
How about letting that mom with three small children go in front of you in line at Walmart?
What about stopping over to visit your elderly neighbor who doesn’t have any family around?
Smile instead of some other reaction when someone cuts you off or takes “your” parking spot.
Students, what are you giving up for iChristmas? Another video game? An iTunes card? Getting $30 shoes instead of $60 ones? Giving up a gift card that could buy a meal for a family that can barely afford to eat?
In this season where our culture begs us to get, get, get, let’s go against the trend and give, give, give. We should strive to be people that seek the greater blessing. Long after something you gave someone is gone, the memory of giving will continue to linger. That is the best gift of all.

shine!
Jason

Cards for Cass Park

We want to do something special for our friends in Cass Park this Christmas season by sending as many Christmas cards as possible down to Cass Park.

On (or before) that Sunday, December 20, there are several ways you can help:

1) Donate Christmas cards.
Whether they are last year's unused cards or cards you purchase and donate, we hope to gather as many blank Christmas cards as possible by Wednesday, December 16. To donate cards, please drop them off at the Cards for Cass Park table in the main lobby beginning Wednesday, December 9.

2) Students to Volunteer for Set Up.
We need 3-4 students to come early (8:25am) December 20 to help set up. Contact me to volunteer.

3) Breakfast Donations.
On Sunday, December 20, we need 6-8 families to offer to bring 2-3 dozen donuts or breakfast baked goods. Contact Trudy Kesler to sign up to bring these food items.

4) Assist at Card Signing Tables.
We need at least 4-6 students to "man the card tables" between services on December 20.

5) "Attend the Christmas Card Party".
Sunday, December 20, between services, there will be a Christmas card "party" where you can sign cards in the main lobby. There are no classes between services on that Sunday, so there will be coffee (and donated donuts/breakfast foods) that will be available as well as several tables set up around the lobby with blank cards to sign. Please grab a cup of coffee, a donut, and sign some Christmas cards.

6) Students to Volunteer for Clean-Up.
We need 4-6 students to assist with clean up and putting away tables.

After second worship on Sunday, December 20, our Cass Park team will take these cards and distribute them to our friends at Cass Park. What a great opportunity to bless our friends during this holiday season.

shine!
Jason

Spending passion wisely

We all have it. We all exert it. It's passion.
For some, it goes into a hobby, sport, or talent.
Others spend it on an entertainer, sports team, or TV show.
Our culture today provides hundreds of options for using our passion.
I was reminded last night of how much work it takes to redirect our passion in a direction that is both healthy and helpful as a citizen of the Kingdom of God.
Last night, I went to Buffalo Wild Wings with family and friends to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers play against the Cleveland Browns. As a fan of the Steelers, it was a pretty frustrating game to watch. If you know the outcome of the game, you know that I was disappointed by the final score. But what happened after the game reminded me of how far I have come.
This morning would have been significantly different for me several years ago. I would have woken up in a bad mood, still bitter about the loss. I likely would have been in a bad mood for several days. Comments from my friends who are Browns fans would have gotten under my skin and fueled the anger and frustration lurking just under the surface.
Today is different. Am I disappointed that a football team I support and cheer for lost? Sure. But once the clock read 0:00 and I walked out of B-Dubs, it only took a few minutes to get past it. This game is not consuming my life.
That's right, it's just a game.
What I have learned over time is that it's just a game. It's a bunch of men playing a game and getting paid millions of dollars to do it. Is it entertaining? Sure. It is fun to watch. Sometimes. Is it worthy of a passion that consumes my life? Not really.
Before those of you who don't get into sports start shouting, "Amen," this doesn't just relate to sports.
I see friends who have that kind of passion about television shows, movies, or books. They talk about the characters throughout the week. They often quote those characters a lot more than they quote Jesus.
Others show that kind of passion for a sport or hobby. They will spend hours upon hours practicing and playing, while leaving little or no time to engage in activities of the Kingdom. It can even become their primary source of identity, rather than their identity as a child of God.
Others invest their passion in things such as the way they look, the labels on their clothing, the lifestyle they work to maintain, and their social status.
Most of the things I mention above aren't inherently evil or sinful. However, when they become the recipient of so much of our passion that we have little or none left for Jesus and His Kingdom, I believe that we have seriously misdirected our passion.
I will be the first to admit that I have not arrived when it comes to this. I still misappropriate my passion sometimes. I elevate some things to a level that is wrong. I am by no means perfect.
But I can tell you that last night's game was a reminder of how far I think I have come. Ten years ago, if I had witnessed this kind of loss, I would have likely ignored certain phone calls, avoided certain people, and been somewhat unpleasant for a few days.
Today?
Well, last night I slept peacefully. And this morning I woke up and my passion was focused on other things. Passion for my God. Passion for my wife. Passion for my son. And passion for people who need to see Jesus in me today.
There are people in the world who genuinely dislike each other simply because of the football jersey they wear. I watched a few of those people get into a fistfight a few months ago at a Steelers-Lions game I attended. Seriously? You're going to punch a guy because he likes the other team? How ridiculous is that?
That, my friends, is misspent passion.
Imagine if those of us in the church poured as much passion into worship, prayer, social justice, and spiritual growth, as we pour into our sports, hobbies, entertainment, and other pursuits. How different would our lives look and how different could the world around us look? Just a thought from a guy who's still on the journey of figuring out how to spend his passion wisely.

shine!
Jason

Living to the max

We talked during circle time Wednesday night about how we can know what God desires and the idea of being filled with and led by the Spirit. Rather than using words, I decided that this week I would let Paul’s words speak for themselves:
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:1-17)
Being led by the Spirit is not checking a list of rules. It’s much more. It calls us to look at God’s commands not as a list of minimums. Rather, they are guidelines that free us to live to the maximum. Following Jesus is not about restrictions; it’s about experiencing real freedom.

shine!
Jason

Recognizing some students

I wanted to take an opportunity this week to compliment some of our students for answering a few challenges that have been placed before them. The first one is the significant increase in the number of students who have been bringing their Bibles with them to class.
Several months ago, I noted that in a class of 30-40 students, we were averaging somewhere between two and five Bibles in class on a given Sunday. With the transition to a new curriculum that is more anchored in the text of the Bible and the challenge to bring Bibles, students have responded. We had 28 students in the high school class this past Sunday. Twelve of the students had a Bible with them. While that is still a little below half, it is a considerable improvement.
For those who have been bringing your Bibles all along, thank you for setting an example. For those who recently started bringing your Bibles, thank you for answering the challenge and showing an increase of devotion towards your study of the Word of God. For those of you who haven’t been bringing your Bible, let me encourage you to start doing so. If you don’t have a Bible, please let me know as we will get you one. One of the keys to improving your relationship to God is having a better understanding of His Word. Bringing your Bible to class is one way to take a step down that path.
The other thing I want to comment on is the increase in the number of students sitting towards the front during worship. While I have not been encouraging this as strongly or as often, it has been something I have mentioned to a number of students over the last several months.
Students who sit in groups towards the back of the auditorium tend to talk much more during service and often pay little attention to the lesson or participate in the singing. When groups of students sit closer to the front they are generally more engaged and get more out of what is happening around them.
I want to commend the students who have taken the initiative to sit towards the front. Not only are you setting a good example for the preteens and others, you are taking actions that may very well help improve your spiritual growth.
When it comes to growing spiritually, so much more often comes from the small, steady things than the big, mountaintop experiences. While there is nothing wrong with mountaintop experiences, if you do not have ongoing, intentional actions in your daily life, your faith will likely not thrive just from spiritual highs. True discipleship and true spiritual growth comes from a life dedicated to the daily development of disciplines and choices that slowly and surely draw us closer to Christ. What these students have been doing is taking them down that path.

shine!
Jason

iChristmas Kick-off

With “Black Friday” less than a week away, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind everyone about our annual iChristmas campaign. Here is what has been previously announced:

The ARISE Ministry will once again be celebrating iChristmas. This is an opportunity to live out the true meaning of Christmas. Here is the challenge to our students:

As you are making a Christmas list for your parents, write this on the list: “Please buy me one less gift and put the money you would have spent on that gift into an envelope marked ‘iChristmas’ and put it under the Christmas tree with my other gifts.” The one gift should be more than a pair of socks, but what you are willing to sacrifice is up to you.

Starting on Sunday, December 27, students can turn in their iChristmas money. They can either put it in the ARISE Black Box on the wall in the main lobby, or you can drop the money in the iChristmas gift box.
Each year, the money raised for iChristmas supports a ministry of the Rochester Church. In the past, the ministries we have supported include our missionaries in Rio and Uganda as well as Cass Park. This year, we are planning to contribute all iChristmas funds to the Rochester Church Member Care Fund, which helps our members in need.
Thank you to all of the students who participated in iChristmas in previous years. Continue the iChristmas tradition this year. For those of you who didn’t have an opportunity to give an iChristmas gift last year, make this the year to start a new tradition.

As the push for Christmas begins, please consider what you are going to sacrifice for iChristmas this year. We have around 75 people actively involved in our youth group. Imagine if each person contributed $20 this year. As a ministry we would collect $1,500. That amount could probably pay someone’s mortgage and utilities for a month.
As you think about iChristmas, consider the blessing you could be to another family in our church. You might think $20 isn’t much, but together we could have a huge, positive impact on some of the families with worship with each week.

shine!
Jason

The View on accountability

This morning while I was sitting in a hospital waiting room, I watched a little bit of the television show The View. They were discussing an interview with Sarah Palin and her reflections on her youngest child, who was born with Down's Syndrome.
Much of the conversation centered around abortion, Palin's pro-life stance, and a woman's decision whether or not to carry a baby to full term, if she discovers during the pregnancy that her baby has Down's Syndrome.
I am not sharing this information to turn this particular post into a pro-life/pro-choice conversation. Rather, I am simply providing a framework for one particular comment which was made in the context of this dialogue.
In the middle of the conversation, Whoopi Goldberg made a statement that captures much of what is troubling in our culture today. I made sure to type the comment in my phone as soon as I heard it, so I wouldn't forget. This is what she said:

"Nobody outside of you can judge you for the decisions you make."

Read that a few times and think about the implications.
Now, let me take the liberty to change the pronouns and alter the perspective, but not the attitude, of the statement. Nobody outside of me can judge me for the decisions I make.
This, in a nutshell, is a philosophy that is undermining our society. And, unfortunately, I think this way of thinking has even pervaded many corners of the Church.
Think about all of the ways this attitude has permeated our society. The abortion debate, where this comment first emerged, is one example. But there are a variety of other areas. Sexuality. Substance abuse. Greed. Selfishness. So many of these issues are supported by the foundation of this attitude. "You can't judge me for (fill in the blank). It's my decision."
But before we start pointing fingers, we should look in the mirror. I have seen Christians defend their decisions by (mis)quoting Scripture. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, "Do not judge others. Then you will not be judged." (Matthew 7:1)
I don't believe Jesus is advocating the "I'm OK, you're OK" philosophy that some Christians use this to advocate. Rather Jesus is calling us to a deep self-evaluation before we evaluate others. Jesus' call is actually the opposite of "Nobody outside of you can judge you for the decisions you make." Jesus demands a significant self-examination because we are all responsible for holding each other accountable. The church is not a place to ignore sin or take it light-heartedly. Rather, it is a place where we first hold ourselves accountable to a higher standard, and then we challenge others to do the same.
The problem Jesus was confronting is our tendency to measure our sin against someone else's "bigger" sin. He was not telling us to look the other way when we sin, but to be so intentional in our own lives about becoming more like Jesus that we can find ourselves in a better position to help those around us.
In this age of humanism, individuality, and relative moralism, so many people want to allow our society to sink to the lowest common denominator instead of striving for the highest possible calling. For those of us who belong to the Kingdom of God, we can settle for no less than living our lives so that our community is a place where everyone is able to judge the decisions we make in the context of the Way that is following Jesus Christ.

shine!
Jason

Laying down your life

What does it mean to lay down your life? In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses this phrase to describe real friendship.
We might think about the cross as the ultimate embodiment of this idea. And we would be right. But what does it mean for us as Christians? For many we would think of martyrs who gave their life in defense of their faith. From Stephen, who is stoned to death in the book of Acts, to Cassie Bernall, who was killed in the Columbine shootings in 1999, there are thousands who have died for their faith in Christ.
Is this all there is to laying down your life?
In the book She Said Yes, written my Cassie Bernall’s mom, she recounts something that Cassie’s youth pastor said in one of the first Sunday services after the shootings:

Cassie struggled like everyone struggles, but she knew what she had to do to let Christ live in her. It’s called dying to yourself, and is has to be done daily. It means learning to break out of the selfish life…It’s not a negative thing, but a way of freeing yourself to live more fully.
The world looks at Cassie’s “yes” of April 20, but we need to look at the daily “yes” she said day after day, month after month, before giving that final answer.

Cassie’s story reminds us that laying down our life is not a one-time event or only a single act of the willingness to physically die. This is a life-long, daily endeavor. Laying down your life, dying to oneself is something we must pursue every day.
It shapes how we deal with gossip and temptation. It impacts our attitude towards our parents and our friends. When we see an outsider or outcast in school, it will determine our reaction.
Jesus tells us, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) As you consider laying down your life, reflect on Jesus’ words and ask what selfish ways you need to turn from.

shine!
Jason

What is God doing in your life today?

As we at the Rochester Church strive to explore what it means to be a community, I am about to embark on a new adventure that I am inviting the families in my ministry to join with me. I want to be more intentional about engaging in dialogue about how God is working in our lives individually and as a community.
One of the ways I will be doing this is by sending out an email to several members of our ministry every week with the following question:

“What is God doing in your life today?”

All I ask is that they respond to the email. They can answer with a sentence or write a number of paragraphs. I will also ask whether if it’s ok for me to share the responses. Unless they request otherwise, any responses I am allowed to share will be anonymous and I will change any necessary details to keep them that way.
We usually don’t have a problem talking about our school activities, our hobbies, our sports teams, and other parts of our lives. For some reason, our conversations are generally absent of discussions about how God is moving in us, around us, and among us.
I will be sending these emails to parents and students. I will typically not email two members of the same family in the same week. I want to hear from as many people as possible.
In Mark 5, Jesus encounters a demon-possessed man and commands the demons out of him. After this happens, we see the following interaction between Jesus and the man:
As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. (Mark 5:18-20)
I hope our families join in the conversation as we seek to go to our friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for us, and how he has had mercy on us.

shine!
Jason

Singing with the big kids

I am cleaning up my emails and came across something I wanted to share. A group of teens led Kids' Worship earlier this Fall. The younger children at church go to Kids' Worship during the sermon in what I fondly call "Big Church."
I wanted to share some feedback we received from a few parents of the children who were in that Kids' Worship:

"I just read your note about the teen praise team that led our youngsters in kids worship last week. I was finally able to make sense of some of the conversations I’ve had with my 3 year old! I just wanted to let you know that he LOVED it! He has talked about the “big kids singing the same songs we do in big worship” for two days! "

"Just wanted to let you know that EmmaKate really enjoyed the "singing with the big kids" on Sunday. She mentioned it a couple of times throughout the day. She also told me that she would be able to sing to the little kids when she "gets bigger".

So often, I think teenagers fail to realize how much younger children look up to them. That can be a blessing or a curse.
From the comments above, it's obvious that something as simple as leading worship for children can have a huge positive impact. Both children talked about the impact of what the teenagers were doing. One even commented that he wanted to follow their example.
Unfortunately, that desire to follow their lead isn't limited to good examples. If they see teenagers doing things like texting during worship or treating adults disrespectfully, they will often seek to emulate that as well.
I am proud of our teenagers for the example they set for the children at our church in Kids' Worship. This is a good time for teenagers (and adults as well) to remember that "little eyes" are often watching us. What we say and do has an impact. We should live every moment like someone is watching.

shine!
Jason

Stuck in the middle trying to figure it out

This is a powerful highlight clip from last week's episode of Law & Order where they deal head on with the issue of abortion (You'll have to sit through a brief commercial first):

An uncommon promise and common people

Last Sunday in our Student Spiritual Formation class we discussed Jesus’ genealogy. Our primary text was Luke’s genealogy, but we also used Matthew’s. It was interesting to hear some of the things our students observed during this study. Here are a few that I remember:

Luke starts with Jesus and works back to Adam, and eventually God. Matthew, on the other hand, starts with Abraham and works forward to Jesus. We talked about the significance of how Luke traces Jesus’ lineage all the way back to the original man while Matthew starts with the man to whom God made promise that found fulfillment in Jesus. Luke seems to pointing towards the importance of Jesus as the Savior of all mankind, while Matthew wants to remind his readers about Jesus fulfilling the promise made to Abraham.

There are 77 people in Luke’s geneaology while Matthew has three groups of fourteen. We noted that the number seven was significant to the Jewish people as a symbol of perfection. If it’s more than coincidence, Luke seems to be saying that Jesus is perfect perfection by the use of 77 people. Matthew has three groups of double perfection. One of the students even commented about the seven days of creation.

We also noticed that Luke’s genealogy simply gave people’s names, while Matthew often provides a description of who he is talking about. Several of those descriptions point out the women in Matthew’s genealogy (none of whom appear in Luke). We find mention of Tamar (a woman who became pregnant after she posed as a prostitute to have sex with her father-in-law), Rahab (a prostitute), Ruth (a Moabite), and the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba, who committed adultery with King David).

Even in something that may seem boring to many, there are a lot of things we can learn about God. In the few verses of Jesus’ genealogy we learn some important lessons. We learn that God is faithful and keeps His promises. In Genesis 3:15, God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head,?and you shall bruise his heel.” In Genesis 15:5, God told Abraham, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. So shall your offspring be.”
In addition to His faithfulness, we learn that God can work through common people to accomplish His purposes. Even people who feel like they have messed up are important in God’s Kingdom. From prostitutes to adulteresses to unknown ancestors, God used a variety of people to fulfill his promises. Imagine what God can do through us if we look to Him and allow ourselves to be a part of His unfolding story.

shine!
Jason

A week of reading

This past week on vacation, I had the opportunity to read five books. I wanted to share with you something I learned from each book.

Raising Boys to Be Like Jesus by Sharon Norris Elliott
I was reminded of the importance of relationships. Throughout this book, the author consistently focused on the importance of character in the midst of relationships. Whether it was his relationship with his mother, his father, or others he encountered, we see an integrity and character that we all should strive for in our lives.

Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
Faith is more than belief; faith is action. Whether it’s a Rabbi who dedicated his entire life to one community in New Jersey, or a drug dealer and convict turned pastor, who pours his life into a ministry to the homeless in Detroit, faith is something we must live out. I was reminded that God works through the most unlikely people and faith is more about God than it is about us.

A Brief History of the Future by Jacques Attali
History repeats itself. Never before has this fact been so reinforced as it was in this book. As the author reviewed history and speculated about the next century or so, his insights (some of which are already unfolding) reminded me that history is cyclical. There is much to learn about our future by examining our past.

A Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore
Prejudice is alive and well I our country. While things are improving, people still judge others by the way they look. Whether it’s skin color, clothing, or the way we speak, we often jump to conclusions about someone before we get to know them. In this book, I was reminded that some of God’s greatest blessings come from our diversity and willingness to listen to those unlike us. As a rich art dealer and a homeless man develop a rich, warm relationship, God is able to work in incredible ways.

For One More Day by Mitch Albom
You never know the last time you will talk to someone you love. Life takes strange twists and throws us curveballs. We should cherish every moment and treat it like it could be our last. Life is too short to waste time and relationships are too valuable to neglect.

This was a diverse stack of books, but each challenged me in a different way to live life more fully. May God call you to do the same.

shine!
Jason

Submission and respect

Why do we have such a hard time with submission? It is a lack of respect?
It seems like our society is replete with people who don’t respect others. Think about the number of marriages destroyed because of a lack of respect. People illegally download music off the Internet, stealing it from musicians who invest their life in making music. Students cheat in school showing a lack of respect for teachers and themselves. Television, from reality shows to dramas to sitcoms, shows people treating each other with disrespect.
Paul has some advice for Christ-followers struggling with respect…
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:16-33)
Relationships are built on the foundation of respect. Respect for covenant and for the other person. This is the foundation of Christ’s love for the church.
Love and respect go together. Whether it’s a parent, a friend, or a spouse, love and respect are essential to a lasting and healthy relationship. Without them, relationships will struggle to survive.

shine!
Jason

Remembering Bill

This week a number of my friends are gathering in eastern Ohio to celebrate the life and mourn the death of a servant of God. Bill Covan, who was 66, passed away Tuesday morning, September 29, 2009, from complications following open heart surgery.
Bill served as the minister for the Struthers Church of Christ. I knew him as one of the co-directors for Senior Week at Northeast Ohio Christian Youth Camp.
There are a few things I will always remember about Bill...
His smile. As soon as Bill saw you, his face greeted you before you said a word. His smile would speak volumes and you could feel his warm, sincere love from a distance. I'll miss that smile.
His sense of humor. Bill was a jokester. He was always good at making you laugh or getting into mischief.
His love for teenagers. There was never a doubt in my mind that he loved every teenager at camp. You could see in his eyes that there was a deep compassion. Some of what I learned about loving teenagers, I learned from Bill Covan.
His love for God. Bill was a man after God's own heart. His smile, his sense of humor, and his love for teenagers were all products of his love for God. Bill was a conduit for God. He not only preached God's love; he lived it.
Bill and I didn't agree on everything, but we agreed on the things that matter most: love God and love others. This philosophy defines Bill Covan. Once you met him, you knew this was a man who was serious about following Jesus.
The last time I saw Bill was this summer. He was doing what he loved doing, telling teenagers about God. I was visiting NOCYC and Bill was speaking that evening. You could see the pure joy as his smile, his humor, his love for teenagers, and his love for God were all there.
Bill has touched countless number of lives, and I am blessed to be one of them. He will be missed, but his mark will carry on into eternity.

shine!
Jason

Harwell, Albom, and faith

This is a great testimony by Ernie Harwell, the 91-year-old former Detroit Tigers broadcaster who was recently diagnosed with incurable cancer.

Living love

This past Wednesday in ARISE Connections, we focused on the importance of love in all relationships. Here is what we centered our thoughts on:

Love…
is patient
is kind
does not envy
does not boast
is not arrogant
is not rude
does not insist on its own way
is not irritable
is not resentful
does not rejoice at wrongdoing
rejoices with the truth
bears all things
believes all things
hopes all things
endures all things.

It was evident to me that the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully in some students’ lives Wednesday. If you were there Wednesday night, take a few minutes to review the list again and ask God to continue to move in you. Think about what you heard from God and ask yourself what you have changed or want to change in light of what you heard.
If you were not there, ask someone who was how God spoke to them. Consider the list above and ask yourself which aspects of love are the most difficult for you to live out in your life.
The reality is that we all struggle with embodying authentic, God-centered love. But the good news is that love doesn’t start with us. John writes, “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
Let’s rejoice in God’s love for us and share that love with those around us.

shine!
Jason

Spirit-filled relationships

Relationships are at the core of our identity as human beings. Without relationships, it is hard to imagine what our existence would be like.
Whether it’s family, friends, or those we date and marry, much of what happens in our life is determined by friendships. And the best friendships occur when we live lives that are filled with and controlled by the Spirit. Who wouldn’t want to have relationships filled with the following traits?
Love.
Joy.
Peace.
Patience.
Kindness.
Goodness.
Faithfulness.
Gentleness.
Self-control.
So, ultimately, our relationships are the best when we are in relationship with God. In Romans 8:5-6, Paul writes…
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
We can choose to have relationships full of life and peace, if we live according to the Spirit. What does that mean? It means we submit to God’s will. We allow the Holy Spirit and the word of God to shape who we are. What if we don’t? Then imagine relationships full of the following: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. (Galatians 5:19-21)
We can ultimately decide what our relationships are like by what we allow to shape us. If we want to have relationships that bring wholeness, peace, and fulfillment, let the Spirit fill and lead you.

shine!
Jason

Have you been with Jesus?

This week our students start a yearlong journey through the Gospel of Luke. I am excited to see what we will experience and learn about Jesus throughout the next year.
My experience has taught me that some Christians know the Bible well and others not as well. But even for those who know the Bible fairly well, there are many who may not know Jesus very well.
One of the main purposes of spending a year in Luke is to get to know Jesus better. In his follow up to his gospel, Luke says the following about Peter and John:
The officials were amazed to see how brave Peter and John were, and they knew that these two apostles were only ordinary men and not well educated. The officials were certain that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
The officials weren’t amazed because of the Peter and John’s education. It wasn’t because there was something special about them. As a matter of fact, it was their ordinary nature that made their bravery so unique.
Imagine how much different we might act if we knew Jesus. Obviously, we can have the same experience as Peter and John, but there are four accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry to help us better understand who this Jesus really was. By spending a year traveling with Jesus from birth through the resurrection, we are hoping to get a better glimpse of the man from Nazareth.
Here is how Luke opens his account of the Life of Jesus Christ:
Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us. They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened. So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus, I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard. (Luke 1:1-4)
My prayer is that this year, we can join Jesus through the words of the gospel of Luke. Hopefully we can walk alongside Him and see people the way He does. Then maybe people can say about us that we have been with Jesus.

shine!
Jason

Lord, save me from myself

There is a sign hanging in my office that I made early in my ministry. It reads as follows...

My Priorities:
1) My God
2) My Wife
3) My Family
4) My Ministry

I have to admit that for the better part of the last ten years, this sign has been more of a decoration than a description of my life. If I were to remake the sign according to the reality of how I have lived, it would read like this...

My Priorities
1) My Ministry
2) My Ministry
3) My Wife
4) My Family
5) My God

Yes, I intended to list ministry twice, because that's more like the way it has been. I have allowed ministry to define me, shape me, and give me much of my identity.
I have gotten it all wrong.
Over the last several weeks I have listened to God in my life like I never have before. I have a long way to go, but I believe that God has been trying to speak boldly into my noisy life. Here is what I think he is trying to say:
Repent of your "savior complex" and let me (God) be God. For too long, you have been trying to be the savior. You have tried to do what only I can do.
Repent of your primary identity as a youth minister. Youth ministry is a calling, not an identity. Your identity is as a human being, one created in my image.
Repent of your need for affirmation from people. Affirmation from others is good and necessary, but your first source of love and affirmation should be from me. I created you. I know you. I saved you. I was there when you were created and I will be there when you die. I will never fail you. I will never just tell you what you want to hear.
Repent of your misguided priorities. After your relationship with me is your relationship with your wife. I have made you one flesh. You dedicated your life to this woman. Return to the vows that you made and make her the top human relationship in your life. Stop being distracted at home. Give her your attention. Your second most important relationship is with your son. Molding and shaping his image of me and of the world starts with you. Show him he is more important than everyone else except your wife. Make time for him.
Repent of your busyness. There is nothing wrong with working hard, but make time to be quiet. Make time for rest. I included the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments for reason. You must make time to recharge.

Father, forgive me for neglecting our relationship. I have tried to sit on your throne for too long and it is wearing me out. Save me from my selfishness and desire to seek my ultimate fulfillment from anywhere other than you. I have let important relationships suffer because of my own selfish desires. I have permitted my calling to become my identity, and in the process, I have sometimes forgotten who and what that calling is about.
Father, forgive me for allowing my ministry to distract me from being a better husband and a better father. Save me from my desire to receive the praise of men before your praise. Help me to see that when my relationship with you is stronger and my relationships at home are stronger that I can be a better servant of yours.
Father, forgive me for all of the times in the past I have gotten lost along the way. Thank you for your years of patience as you watched me struggle along. Thank you for speaking to me, even when I wasn't listening. Thank for you giving me a wife with supreme patience and a heart of gold. Thank you for giving me a son who loves me, even when I am not as attentive as I should be. Lord, thank you for loving me, even when I frustrate you and let you down. Save me from myself so that I can be more whole.

What's the big deal about Kanye's stunt?

I have to admit, I am pretty culturally clueless much of the time. Well, maybe that is a bit extreme, but I don't spend a lot of time keeping up with celebrities and popular culture. When I am in line at Wal-Mart, I often look at People or Us and wonder who these people are on the cover.
I say that to set the stage for what I am about to talk about. I have been intrigued over the last twelve hours or so to hear about what Kanye West did last night at the MTV Video Music Awards. Honestly, if it wasn't for every third or fourth Facebook status mentioning it, I would have probably never known what happened. But, since everyone seems to be talking about it, I thought maybe I should do a little research. (Side note: I have been trying over the last couple of weeks to be more intentional about having some clue about pop culture without spending too much time in that world.)
Well, first, I watched what happened. I have to admit that I thought it was pretty rude. Here is this young woman who just won an award and some other guy comes up on the stage, interrupts what she is saying, and basically insults her by saying someone else should have won.
After I watched the video, I reflected on what people were saying (primarily via FB statuses). I saw people really getting down on Kanye for his behavior, his attitude, and his apparent intoxication at some level.
Well, in the spirit of research, I invested a little time this afternoon watching all of the videos that won awards - or at least the ones on the MTV website. Before I get to my point, I have to say I was intrigued by the artistry some of the artists displayed in their videos and music (Whether I agree and appreciate the lyrics and messages or not).
As I reflected on the videos I just watched and then thought back to the Kanye incident, what's the big deal about what he did? Seriously.
I watched videos where women paraded themselves around as sex objects, sang about the sexualization of their bodies, and engaged in movements and actions that hinted (sometimes not very subtly) at sexual activity. I watched one video where Britney Spears is in a sauna naked (with carefully concealed breasts) singing a song that includes the following lyrics:

Womanizer
Woman-Womanizer
You're a womanizer
Oh Womanizer
Oh You're a Womanizer Baby
You, You You Are
You, You You Are
Womanizer, Womanizer, Womanizer

Does anyone else see the irony in her displaying her body in a way that displays her as a sexual object while deriding a man for treating her like one? (To be fair, maybe Britney intended this irony. But it seems to me that she undermines her point even if that is her intent.)
Ok, so back to where we started. When videos are being shown that could be considered soft pornography and men and women sing about women as sexual objects, what's the big deal about what Kanye did? When musicians are using their craft to teach our culture - especially young minds which are still forming their value systems - that women should use their bodies to get what they want and men should use women's bodies to get what they want, what's the big deal about what Kanye did?
Sure, we should be offended that Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift's moment in the spotlight. But shouldn't we be more concerned about the messages that are shaping our culture's approach to the way we view our bodies and how we live as people created in the image of the Creator?

shine!
Jason

Community

Why are so many people of all ages getting into Facebook? I am convinced one of the reasons is because they crave community. In a day and age where families (aunts, uncles, grandparents, and even adult children) are spread all over the country, we are starving for a place to belong.
For most of history, families were in the same community and often the same house. Today, that is no longer the case. As we become more and more of a transient society, the hunger for connection becomes even more acute.
So how do we respond to this need as followers of Jesus? In a word… community! Our theme for the 2009-2010 year in the ARISE Ministry is COMMUNITY. The focus of our events, activities, and ministries will be designed around this theme.
Last year’s theme, “Arise,” helped us develop an understanding of a life of service. From the 40 Hours of Service, to the drive for 2009 hours of service, to monthly service time at God’s Helping Hands, to the 30 Hour Famine, we were very intentional in creating venues and motivation to integrate serving into our lives. We even adopted ARISE as the new name of our ministry because it became a focus to get outside of ourselves, let our let shine, and rise to face the challenges God has put before us.
This year, as we strive to create stronger community, we will engage five areas of community: God, youth, families, church, and world. God is community. In the Trinity, we see Father, Son, and Spirit living as three persons in absolutely unity. God said, “Let us make humankind in our image.” (Genesis 1:26, emphasis mine) Our identity and primary community call us into relationship with the Trinity, the perfect community of the Creator. This will occur through a variety of avenues, including, but not limited to, a more intentional interaction with the Scriptures, times of reflection, and a call to prayer.
Beyond that, our students will have ways to experience community with one another in small groups and a variety of events.
While peer interaction for teens is important, there is a crucial need for students to connect with parents and other age groups in the church. We will be seeking ways for families to grow closer together and imagining new ways to bridge the gaps between generations, from children all the way up to senior citizens.
Finally, if we are true to our calling, we must find ways to engage the world. When we are “being rooted and grounded in [God’s] love,” (Ephesians 1:17) we can build community with all who share in the common heritage of being children of Adam and Eve. God made us for community with all who are created in their image.

shine!
Jason

God's ongoing story

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the present that we fail to learn from our past or dream about the future. Others either become trapped by their past or consumed by the future.
I believe God calls us to a healthy combination of past, present, and future. In the community of the Trinity we see how God wants to be involved in every moment of our life.
In the Father, we find that all in the past has brought us to a particular moment. Through His dream we were created. Our past is a place where the Father looks to teach us. It is a place where we can look to find wisdom. We should look at failure not as a place of ending, but rather as a place of beginning. Through our past, especially mistakes, the Father is the anchor that shows us grace and mercy.
The Holy Spirit is always seeking to break the future into the present. It is through the Spirit that God moves and acts towards God’s preferred future. It is through the action of the Spirit that God’s dreams – not ours – take shape.
The Son is where the past and future come together. It is through the incarnation that God’s past and God’s future meet. The Father, who has been our Rock and our Refuge, provides a launching pad of sorts. We are able to look back into our past and ask questions like, “What is God teaching us?” We can ask those questions without fear, but rather with hope, because of the Father.
This frees us to be open to the leading of the Spirit into the future. We are able to ask God what His dreams are. What is it that God is calling us to? It is important to remember that God’s dreams are bigger than any one person’s past or future. We are a community that God is calling together into the unity of the Spirit.
The lessons of the past and the dreams of the future find themselves meeting in the present. While Christ serves as the perfect embodiment of God’s present, each of us is called to continue living as this embodiment. We are not individuals seeking personal salvation. Rather we are part of a living, breathing organism known as the body of Christ. We are each a part of God’s dream for this world. We are invited by God to join in His dreams and to hear His voice.
The abundant life Christ speaks of in John 10 is not something He simply spoke about. He lived it out and was the ultimate illustration of how it looks when God’s past and future come together to live in the present.

shine!
Jason

A living kingdom

I wanted to share with you a passage from The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer that I came across this past week:

One of the greatest hindrances to internal peace which the Christian encounters is the common habit of dividing our lives into two areas, the sacred and the secular.
…Our trouble springs from the fact that we who follow Christ inhabit at once two worlds, the spiritual and the natural.
This tends to divide our total life into two departments. We come unconsciously to recognize two sets of actions. The first are performed with a feeling of satisfaction and a firm assurance that they are pleasing to God. These are the sacred acts and they are usually thought to be prayer, Bible reading, hymn singing, church attendance and such other acts as spring directly from faith. They may be known by the fact that they have no direct relation to this world, and would have no meaning whatever except as faith shows us another world, “a house not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens.”
Over against these sacred acts are the secular ones. They include all of the ordinary activities of life which we share with the sons and daughters of Adam: eating, sleeping, working, looking after the needs of the boy and performing our dull and prosaic duties here on earth. These we often do reluctantly and with many misgivings, often apologizing to God for what we consider a waste of time and strength. The upshot of this is that we are uneasy most of the time. We go about our common tasks with a feeling of deep frustration, telling ourselves pensively that there’s a better day coming when we shall slough off this earthly shell and be bothered no more with the affairs of this world.
…Let us think of a Christian believer in whose life the twin wonders of repentance and the new birth have been wrought. He is now living according to the will of God as he understands it from the written Word. Of such a one it may be said that every act of life is or can be as truly sacred as prayer or baptism or the Lord’s Supper. To say this is not to bring all acts down to one level; it is rather to lift every act up into a living kingdom and turn the whole life into a sacrament.

May God challenge us with these words and may we find a deeper understanding of what it means to have faith and be a follower of Jesus in this world and at this time.

shine!
Jason

A new language

I had to share this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

“All Christian thinking, speaking, and organizing must be born anew… The day will surely come when humankind will once more be called to so utter the Word of God that the world will be changed and renewed by it. It will be a new language perhaps quite non-religious but liberating and redeeming as was Jesus’ language. It will shock people and yet overcome them by its power.”

The world will go on

Last week I took three days to spend at home with my family. For the most part, I avoided email, Facebook, texting, and all of my other distractions. It was nice to just take a break and “get away.”
I don’t do this enough, and if most of you are honest, neither do you. We are surrounded by a world that clamors for our attention.
Phone calls.
Text messages.
Emails.
Television shows.
Billboards.
Commercials.
The calls for our focus are endless, and in the end, we might end up focusing on nothing at all.
Even Jesus struggled with this. He always had someone who wanted to get healed, ask Him a question, or follow Him around. After the feeding of the 5,000, He managed to find a chance to rest.
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. (Matthew 14:22-23)
We would do well to follow Jesus’ example. What are some ways we can find rest?
Turn off your cell phone and/or stop texting, especially when it’s time to sleep.
Dedicate certain days or evenings to avoid the internet, television, or even listening to your iPod.
Find a day to go somewhere as a family without any distractions. In the summer, a water park could be a great option. You can’t take any technology with you in the water, so it is a natural way to get away from electronics. You could also find a park, leave your phone in the car, and go for a walk.
If the Son of God felt it was important to have time away, shouldn’t it be important for us? If the world can carry on while God is taking a break, I think it can survive without us for a few hours.

shine!
Jason

Simplify

Today at my retreat, I have been challenged to begin simplifying my life. I have already taken my first step.
I am an admitted iPhone addict (technology addict in general). My phone often distracts me in conversations and other contexts that require my full attention. At the break, I changed the setting on my phone so that when I switch to silent my phone will no longer vibrate. My phone was set to vibrate when it was in silent mode and that vibration would distract me.
In the words of Randy Harris, who is speaking to us today, I want to be "fully present to the people in front of me and to God." I believe this is a step towards realizing that in my life.

shine!
Jason

More than a feeling

Love. It is the topic of countless stories. It is the theme of many songs. There have been hundreds, if not thousands, of movies built around the idea of love.
So why is love such a significant part of the human experience?
Consider what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13. You may have read this or heard it hundreds of times. But take time to read it carefully and answer the questions I have inserted…
Love is patient and kind. Am I?
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Am I?
It does not demand its own way. Do I?
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. Am I?
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Do I?
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Do I?
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Did you stop to consider the question at the end of each line? If not, stop, go back up there, and read each line. Then ask yourself each of those questions.
Because this passage is so familiar to us, we often glance over it and miss the power behind the words.
The same is true with our understanding and approach to love. We have been so immersed in a culture that tells us so many lies about love and redefines what the word means.
To our culture today, love means I get what I want if you love me. Love means that we have sex because we are attracted to each other, not to seal a life-long covenant between two individuals. It means that I set aside all reason and chase an emotion.
True love, the kind that Creator God embodies and envisions for each of us, has been pushed into a corner. Rather than love being an unconditional, unselfish commitment to others, it has become an excuse to follow our passions and pursue our own interests. It has been used to give us permission to follow our desires and often ignore what is best for others and in the long run. Maybe we would do well to seek out love from God’s perspective and make that the definition of love that we live by.

shine!
Jason

Cincinnati Recap

Wow! What a week!
Due to very limited internet access, I was not able to post a blog during our mission trip to Cincinnati, so here is a recap of our week...
Monday was primarily a day of travel as we loaded everyone up in the vans and drove to the camp where we would be staying for the week. After our arrival and unloading we went to downtown Cincinnati for Donatos pizza and a Cincinnati Reds game. The Reds, of course, lost. ;-)
Tuesday we awoke to the sounds of thunder and heavy rainfall. Our first stop was the CUMO (Cincinnati Urban Ministry Outreach) church, where we set up for our VBS. It rained most of the day and after handing out flyers in the rain and hanging out at the community center we headed back to the church. We were ready and waited to see who would show up. You could sense the disappointment when only around a dozen children showed up. However, our students keep their chins up and made it a great time for those who came.
Wednesday morning was spent seeing a movie and grabbing lunch at Johnny Rockets before another afternoon at the community center. With the nicer weather, there were many more children at the community center. We also decided to go out and hand out pamphlets again. We weren't sure what to expect after such a small turn out the night before. This time, we ended up having seventy-five children show up for our VBS. After a fairly easy and laid-back night on Tuesday, Wednesday provided a real challenge. In spite of the craziness of so many children, many of whom come from homes with little structure or discipline, our students adjusted and did a good job.
On Thursday, Pat took us to a park down by the Ohio River for a few hours to eat lunch. People engaged in a variety of activities, including football, volleyball, and renting bikes to ride around. Then we went back to the center for another afternoon with the children. By now you could see that our team and the children were really starting to bond. That night we had eighty-five people show up for VBS. Our students made a lot of adjustments and they did a fabulous job. It was really exciting to see the students learning and adapting. It was a great night!
Friday morning we went to the Creation Museum. It was an interesting day since there was a group of approximately 200 atheists visiting the museum. Some of our students had conversations with some of the atheists. While there were a few of the atheists who made snide comments, overall there were no real problems. After the museum, we went to the community center for our last afternoon there. It is always a joy to see our students interacting with the children. They laugh. They play. Piggyback rides. Basketball. Our students show them love in a way that many of these children may not see the rest of the year.
Friday night's VBS was our biggest of the week with ninety-one children in attendance. The team did a great job and they ended the week on a high note. God was certainly at work throughout the week and everyone did a great job leading groups and teaching classes.
Saturday was our reward for a week of hard work. We headed to King's Island for a day of roller coasters and fun. We got into the park and everyone went off in their groups. While we were at the park, seven students and I were in line for a ride when one of the riders experienced a serious health problem. At first, we weren't sure what was going on. We stood there for a few minutes until medics arrived and we were sent back through the line with everyone else waiting for the ride.
The experience had a significant impact on those who were in line with me as well as a few other students waiting for us by the exit. A little later, we gathered everyone and left the park to get dinner at Cici's. After dinner, we headed back to the camp to debrief. It was truly a blessing to have Dave Palmer as a part of our team. He helped walked our group through a time of processing. Dave met with me and the other students directly impacted by what happened. Other students who were affected indirectly spent time with our other adults. The other students who were not impacted had time to go to their cabins and begin packing. Following the debriefing time, we gathered everyone back together for a time of prayer before going to bed. I was so impressed with our entire team of chaperones and the way they responded to minister to students in need.
Sunday morning we woke up, cleaned up the camp, loaded our stuff up, and headed up to breakfast at Sonic. After enjoying a delicious breakfast, we headed off to CUMO for worship. Worship started around 11:30am and lasted until around 2:30pm. It never seemed like three hours and the Spirit was moving among us. Our time together included singing, praying, testimonies, and more. God is obviously working in Pat and the group that meets there. Following worship we enjoyed a final meal together and started the journey home.
We arrived at 250 West Avon to find a church full of parents waiting to see their children. We all gathered in the auditorium to thank the team and present awards to the students as well as a gift to the adults. The night ended with the baptisms of three of our students. Kylie Cohu, Kaitlyn Butka, and Emily Martinko dedicated their lives to God and were baptized into Christ. What a great ending to a great week of Kingdom work!!!

shine!
Jason

Every opportunity

When we think of teaching, we often think of classrooms, desks, and lectures. The reality is that all of life is filled with teaching. The things we say. The way we act. The attitudes we display. For anyone who is watching, we are serving as a teacher.
The apostle Paul wrote the following…
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. 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. (Ephesians 5:15-20)
Paul was reminding us that every moment is a chance to learn, and a chance to teach. We must make the most of every opportunity not only for our benefit, but for those around us as well.
Paul also wrote the following to his “son in the faith” Timothy…
Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. (2 Timothy 4:2-5)
Every situation is an opportunity to teach others about God. Whether at school, at home, or at the mall, we must remember that our ministry is to share God’s message and love with the world. What are you teaching through your life?

shine!
Jason

A true hero

I watched this and had to share it...

Temporary residents and foreigners

I am slowly recovering from the last two weeks. There is something about being in a foreign country. I loved my trip to Brazil, but it didn’t feel like home. There is something about being in a foreign land. The people talk different. They dress different. Their customs are different. You never quite feel completely “at home.”
As Christians, we should feel like foreigners in this world. Our words, our appearance, and our customs should look different in some ways. The apostle Peter wrote the following:
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. (1 Peter 2:9-12)
It can be hard and feels weird when we live differently than the world around us. It can be uncomfortable.
We struggle to live like foreigners in the world. We want to fit in. We want to look like everyone around us.
We don’t have to go out of our way to be different. We don’t have to be strange just to stick out. But, if we live according to the customs and traditions of God’s Kingdom, we will look different at times. If we speak the language of God’s Kingdom, we will sound different than the world. If we clothe ourselves with Christ, there are times we will not look like everyone else around us.
We are “temporary residents and foreigners” in a world that is ruled by sin. The question is, are we living like citizens of God’s Kingdom or are we abandoning our culture to fit in with the world where we live.

shine!
Jason

Rio Update - July 19

It's hard to believe that we head home in a few days. :-(
This morning we worshipped with our Brazilian brothers and sisters again. I love the passion in their worship. I am also excited that I know enough Portuguese that I can at least grasp the general idea of most of the songs and the sermon.
This morning we had to say goodbye to some of our Brazilian friends. We will see others in a little bit for a special event here at the building. It sounds like something similar to an event we call Emerging Artists at Rochester. I can't wait to see what it will be like.
Some of our team members (led by Roger) have done a lot of work on the playset at the children's home. It's looking really good. :-)
Friday afternoon was our last VBS. We were supposed to hold it here at the church building, but we had a great opportunity. Instead, we were invited to hold our VBS at the public school next to the church. (That would never happen in Michigan!) We had over 50 children there and it was a great experience. The children were a joy to be with and our team members did a great job once again.
That evening we enjoyed a cultural event when we went to a fair that was created to preserve the culture of northeast Brazil. There was food, dancing, and more. It was a very interesting and fun evening.
Saturday was our English Day. We created a variety of games where Brazilians who know various levels of English could practice their English and have fun. It was an enjoyable day and it helped us get to know some of the Brazilians better. There were church members and people from the community who came.
After the English Day we went to a mall (without a Portuguese speaker in the group) for shopping and dinner. Some of our team members took in the new Harry Potter movie (in English). Then we enjoyed dinner together before heading back to the home for the evening.
After worship this morning, we enjoyed beans, rice, and meat for lunch before spending the afternoon at the Hippie Fair. The last two times we were in Brazil, Michelle wanted to buy a painting at the fair. Today we were able to find one we liked that was within our budget. Needless to say, Michelle is very happy.
As I type this, I hear our mission team's praise team practicing. I am pretty sure they are going to sing a few songs tonight as a part of the special event. I am looking forward to it! It starts in about half a hour.
The next couple of days will be more relaxing as we experience Rio and the Brazilian culture. Our team has worked hard for a week and now we will have a couple of days to unwind. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us and supported us! You have made it possible for us to bless others and be blessed.
I am hoping to post one more update before we head home. God has certainly been at work in our midst on this trip.

shine!
Jason

Rio Update - July 17

As I write this we are about half way through our time in Brasil. So far we have cleaned up the children’s home, worshipped with the Brazilians twice (once in a bi-lingual service), started construction of a new playset for the children’s home, been in the community, held two VBS’s (one in the children’s home and one at the Ramos Church across town), and connected with the Brazilian culture. On a more fun note, we have been to soccer game at the famous Maracanã stadium, eaten Brazilian pizza, and enjoyed soups, beans, and rice. It has been an incredible experience so far.
I have been reminded on this trip that God is not an American God. God is a God of all creation.
So often we think of God as the God of our nation. While that is true at some level, He is not just “our” God. As a matter of fact, I don’t believe that American has a special place in God’s heart where He loves us more than other nations. Actually, He is probably disappointed with us more than many other nations.
I am not trying to bash our country. I love the United States. I appreciate what we have and what our nation stands for. But at the same time, we are not God’s “special country.” We are one nation among many through which God wants us to bring forth His Kingdom.
I love the Brazilian people. I love that they often have more joy and peace than we do, but they have less than we do in terms of material goods. Many of them do not have the weight of large mortgages, expensive cars, and maintaining a certain lifestyle. They have something more simple, and more satisfying.
Sure, some of them would like more. Yes, there is violence and corruption in Brazil. There are many who go without food or own little or nothing. They are broken people, just like you and me. However, I appreciate the smiles, hugs, and joys they find in the simple things.
They have learned to be content without things you and I take for granted. Things like free refills, plumbing that doesn’t require pumps, and more reliable electricity. But it is in that contentment that many Brazilians have found something that you and I often struggle to find…the joy of a simple, less distracted life that doesn’t require constant entertainment and amassing of material goods.

shine!
Jason

Rio Update - July 15

We have done a lot since Sunday and I have not been able to blog since we have not had internet access. At least I have been able to check my email several times a day with my phone. I have to admit that technology is amazing and so often I take it for granted. This trip has reminded me of how blessed we are materially in the States.
Monday and Tuesday were dedicated primarily to projects around the children’s home. We spent time weeding (light and industrial size weeds). We also cleared out several areas around the grounds. Others installed new handrails and a fence to keep the children safe while they play.
We have enjoyed some delicious homemade Brazilian foods, including traditional breakfasts and soups. The people here have been extremely hospitable and kind to us.
The group was also introduced to one of my personal favorite treats in Brazil, chocolate pizza. Imagine thin crust pizza with chocolate sauce, chocolate sprinkles, and M&M’s. All I can say is, yummy!
I have been highly impressed by our team. We are a diverse group with a variety of different abilities, but we have all come together to accomplish so much. Since our arrival we have transformed the children’s home in a number of ways. In addition to the weeding, handrails, and fence, we have put down concrete where we will be installing a new play structure. (They don't use sand in Rio for playgrounds because it will quickly become a litter box for the animals in the community.)
We have also connected with many of the people here. Marcos and his family have grown close to us. Marcos, a member of the Victory Church, volunteers his time to help fix things around the children’s home. He and his family have spent a lot of time with us. I have gotten to know their fifteen-year-old son, Thauan. We talked throughout the day (using a dictionary and a lot of hand signs) and played foosball. Table soccer is like real soccer…the Brazilians always win.
This morning we experienced a power outage in the favela. While power outages are a struggle for us in the States, they create even larger problems here. Not only do you lose lighting and electrical outlets. You also lose water. Here, the water is pumped up to the top of the house in a large cistern. The plumbing then uses gravity to feed faucets, showers, etc. So when you lose power, you also lose the source for water. For a few hours this morning, that meant most of us couldn’t shower. Fortunately, the power came on in time for most of us to get a shower before heading to the church building.
Today we will be starting our three days of VBS. Today’s VBS will be held at the Ramos Church. Tomorrow we will hold a VBS at the children’s home. On Friday, we will hold our final VBS at the Victory Church. We have many other things on the agenda as well as our English Day on Saturday.
This year has been different than the last two trip to Brazil, but equally as fulfilling and encouraging. I have enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. I am really excited that Thauan gave me an email address so we can keep in touch – which should be interesting with the need for translation. There is so much more I could say, but I will end with one final story…
This morning as some of us were sitting in the kitchen listening to the rain and without power, we began singing “Send Your Rain.” It was a moment of peace as the Spirit of the Lord poured over us. God reminded us of His presence and working among us. It was one of those thin spaces where God speaks in a quiet but powerful way.

shine!
Jason

Rio - July 12 update

We arrived early yesterday morning and spent the day in a semi-awake state getting settled in. We had lunch at the church, shopped at the new WalMart, and spent the evening at the children's home where we are staying during out trip. It is such a beautiful view and I am enjoying the neighborhood. Yesterday afternoon, Rachel, Drew, and I went for a walk in the neighborhood. We grabbed a drink from the local store and watched children play soccer and fly kites.
We slept well last night and had a great breakfast this morning. Worship was incredible. I was amazed at how much Portuguese I remembered after two years. There was a new song we sang this morning (well, new to me) that had a simple but powerful chorus... (Thank you, Kevin, for helping me translate and remember)

Examine me
Break me
Transform me
Fill me
Use me

My prayer is that this song is the anthem of our trip. That God will do what He needs to do in us, around us, and through us, as we seek to grow closer to him and serve the people of Rio and the Victory Church.
So far this has been a great trip and I am excited about the team that God assembled for this trip. It has also been good to see Dan & Kirsty, the other Rio church members, and Becky and Claire. We also making some new friends. I can't wait to see what else God has in store for us.

shine!
Jason

What do you really need?

It can be difficult to live in the world and not be consumed by it. Every day we see hundreds of messages telling us what we need to be happy, popular, or complete. There are so many things telling us that peace is one purchase away. The apostle Paul reminds us of a better way to find peace…
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:6-13)
Paul did not become content without working at it. His “secret” to a life of contentment and purpose comes from living out the following advice:
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
When we make the effort and work hard at allowing God to transform our minds, we can discover a new purpose for life. As we fix our thoughts on things of God instead of things of the world, we can truly learn to rely on Christ and we will find contentment, where we no longer need the things of the world to be happy. We will be able to do everything through Christ, who gives us strength.

shine!
Jason

I was hungry...

On Thursday afternoon, we returned from Destination Unknown. As we were preparing to leave the cabin we stayed in, I was cleaning out the van and noticed the remnants of a loaf of French bread in between the two front seats of the van. I grabbed the bread and a few other things and walked in to the throw everything out. When I got to the trashcan, I felt compelled to keep the bread. So I threw out everything else I had brought, but took the bread back to the van.
Fast forward about seven hours. We are just south of Detroit on I-75 and we heard that it was finally open again. It was around 4:00pm, and while northbound 75 wasn’t supposed to open until 5:00pm, I felt compelled to drive past the detour at exit 41 and go on.
We found out it was still closed and we were forced to exit. We exited the highway and started on our detour around the construction.
As we pulled up to a red light at the intersection of Clark Street and Fort Street, there was a man standing next to a road construction sign. He was holding his own handwritten sign that communicated that he was a war veteran seeking food.
As I looked at him, I remembered the bread. I reached over and grabbed it and rolled down my window. As my eyes met his eyes, I held out the bread. He walked over to the van and smiled slightly as I handed him the bread. One of the students in the van commented, “Did you see the way his face shined?”
Maybe this is what Jesus had in mind when He said that we are the light of the world. Maybe our task is not just to shine for Jesus, but to help bring the glow of the Kingdom into the lives of others.
It reminds me of something else Jesus said…
“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me…I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:35-36,40)

shine!
Jason

Independence?

Today our country is celebrating Independence Day. It has been 233 years since the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress.
Many of us have learned or at least remember the famous words found in the early part of the Declaration...
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
This sentence is the underpinning of much of what we have fought for over the last two centuries. They have served as the battle cry of those who fought for civil rights. They have been stated by those who argue for the Judeo-Christian foundations of our nation. They have fueled a philosophy that has helped the United States become a beacon of freedom for the world.
But at the same time, it has been distorted by those who want to do what they want to do. Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness has become a reason to become too individualistic. For many, this idea of the pursuit of happiness means that I can have what I want. It gives me the right to demand my rights. My, how we have so missed the point.
Maybe we should look at the closing sentence of the Declaration of Independence. Here is the last sentence before the signature of John Hancock...
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."
There is a crucial lesson in this important sentence that concludes the Declaration. Freedom does not mean I have the right to demand what I want. Rather, it gives us the freedom to work together as a community to work for the best interests of everyone. It means that I am willing to sacrifice my individual desires so that my passions can become part of a greater effort, something bigger than me.
Imagine if we approached our citizenship as Americans, and our citizenship as citizens of the Kingdom of God, in this way. How much different would the United States look if we would use our talents and abilities to improve our nation before filling our own selfish desires? How much different would many churches look if we would really practiced the words of Jesus from Mark 8:34-35 which say the following:
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
Our nation is built on the idea of freedom. But it is a freedom that comes with responsibility. It calls for sacrifice that allows us to pursue our passions in the context of a community which seeks the greater good.
The church is built on the same premise. We are not saved from our sins primarily for our own personal salvation. Rather, we are set free from the bondage of sin to discover our unique role in the family known as the body of Christ.

shine!
Jason

Billy Mays here!

I always enjoyed Billy Mays and his enthusiasm. This is funny...

Upside Down

All of this past week I was at Elevate, a Christian camp for teenagers held at Rochester College. This is the sixth time I have been a part of this camp and the fourth consecutive year I have been a part of the camp since I moved to Rochester.
This year was an incredible year. For months I have been praying for God to move in some very powerful ways in our youth group, and He answered many of those prayers this past week. I witnessed reconciliation, unification, and spiritual growth. It was incredible to see God at work.
Two of the students from our group were baptized this week. I had the honor of baptizing Addy Laster into Christ and Hannah Harrell was baptized by her dad in the river. I always enjoy seeing someone being baptized into Christ.
The theme for this year was “Upside Down” and there were a lot of people whose lives seemed to be turned upside for the better. I listened to students share their burdens, recommit their lives, and seek God. The times of worship were incredibly powerful.
I spoke about the following passage on Monday morning…
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
This week I was able to see students and adults, myself included, respond to God’s call for us to be salt and light to a world in need of the love of God. Whether it was in worship, through meditation on God’s word, in small groups, at our youth group devos, or during times of serving, the Holy Spirit was moving at Elevate this year. Praise God for the ways He shapes us and moves us to bring the Kingdom of God to life around us.

shine!
Jason

Sword of the Spirit

Last night I had a chance to speak in what I call "big church." Patrick was out of town and I offered to teach for Connections in the auditorium.
It worked out well because Patrick has been talking about Spiritual Warfare and I have been teaching a series on the armor of God Paul discusses in Ephesians 6. So last night I presented a lesson on the sixth piece of the armor, the sword of the Spirit.
This was a challenging lesson for me because it forced me to examine my own life, habits, and behaviors. The lesson was as much for me as it was anyone else. As is the case in many of my lessons, I am challenging myself as much as everyone else in the audience.
The word of God, the sword of the Spirit, is living and active. It is a weapon that we must be familiar with and use wisely.
It is our weapon against the forces of darkness. Just as Jesus used God's word to battle temptation in Matthew 4, you and I must embrace it as a weapon in our fight.
We must use the Word to correct, rebuke, and encourage one another as followers of Jesus. We must not be afraid to patiently use it to instruct each other.
When we live out God's word in our lives, it will also introduce people to God. When the Word comes to life in our lives, God becomes visible. It allows us to be salt and light.
We should never shy away from allowing the sword of the Spirit to dissect our own lives. James describes the word of God as a mirror that we should look into and make changes when needed. How often do we ignore what we see when we look into God's word and compare our own life?
It seems as though many Christians either fail to realize or acknowledge that we are in a war. This is a struggle against the powers of darkness in the heavenly realms as well as this world. Our battle is not against flesh and blood.
Why is it that so many appear to take this battle so lightheartedly? Things like Scripture memorization and bringing a Bible to worship or even Bible class have fallen out of vogue. Why is this?
Have we overreacted to a past where we flirted with worshipping the Bible instead of God?
Have we created a culture where we put verse on the screen, so you don't think you need your Bible?
Have we allowed so many other things to consume our time, that God's word has lost its place in our lives?
The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are so intimately entwined in our spiritual life. The sword of the Spirit, the word of God, is such a vital part of that equation. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples shortly before His arrest and trial...
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” (John 14:15-21)
If we want to experience God's love and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth, we must also expose ourselves to truth. Yes, we receive the Holy Spirit at baptism. Yes, the Spirit works in our lives. But we must also, "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." (Colossians 3:16)
The word of Christ will only dwell in us richly when we invest time in drinking it in. If we are serious about discipleship and following Christ, then we must commit time to sharpening ourselves with the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.

shine!
Jason

Reaching out across the street

I am so excited about yesterday! Sunday morning our students and parents partnered to reach out to our community. Instead of sitting in a classroom talking about our faith (which is not a bad thing), we were able to get out of our comfort zone and live out our faith.
Across the street from our church building is an apartment complex with 526 units. For some time, God has placed a burden on my heart (and on the hearts of other members of our staff) to reach out to this community with the love of Jesus. There are literally a few thousand people within shouting distance of our building who may never have experienced the love of God. I am sure there are hundreds who are hurting in a variety of ways.
We did not go to set up Bible studies, preach to them about salvation, or take a survey. We simply went to extend a hand of friendship. On Sunday, July 5, we will be having our Jubilee Sunday. On this special Sunday, there will be one combined service at 10:00am, followed by a BBQ and activities for all ages. It will be a great day!
Our purpose in going across the street is simply to invite the members of that community to get to know us better. My prayer is that through knowing us, they will come to know Jesus.
Above anything else, God is a God of relationship and community. In Genesis 1:27, it says, “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
God created us in His image. Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live in community with one another, we are created and called to live in community. We are designed to know and be known. We find our value in living out our purpose.
Yesterday, just as God reached out to us through Jesus of Nazareth, we reached out. We reached out to those who may very well need a smile, a hug, or just a place to belong. We want to be His hands and feet to bring light to the darkness, hope to the hopeless, and peace to the restless. There is no greater purpose than that.

shine!
Jason