Paralyzed by the past

Why do we so often let the past paralyze us?
Whether I am looking at my own life or the lives of others, so many people are held captive by their past.
I have stood behind the bars of past mistakes. I have felt the imprisonment of regrets. I have experienced the hate, anger, guilt, and shame that result from poor decisions and unpleasant experiences.
My use of the past tense does not mean that I am completely free of those things. If I am completely honest, there are still times that I struggle with my past. I have times when I look back and feel the emotional and spiritual paralysis beginning to seep back into my life.
God never intended for us to look back. I think that is the real lesson in the story of Lot’s wife in Genesis 19. Jesus actually referred to this story when he told his disciples, “Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.” (Luke 17:32-33)
Throughout history, God’s desire has been that we leave our past behind and look ahead to what God has in store. He wants our lives to be more than we can imagine. His dreams are bigger than our dreams. His hopes for us far exceed what we can imagine.
The apostle Paul may have put it best when he wrote, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)
Don’t look back. Don’t be held captive by past mistakes or situations. Whether it’s choices you have made or things that have happened to you that are beyond your control, God is calling you into a better future.
This journey may not be easy and it’s nearly impossible to make the trip alone. We need each other to help us along the way. God called us into community for a purpose, and part of that purpose is to create a place of safety and encouragement where we can be there for one another.
Don’t look back.
Don’t be held captive.
Look forward to the incredible future God has in store for you.
We usually can’t see what the future holds, but when we trust God and lean on one another, we will move closer to the hope and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

shine!
Jason

An alternative community

I am wrestling with something I read last night. For my grad class, I am currently reading The Missional Leader by Roxburgh and Romanuk. I came across some words that have challenged me. Maybe challenge isn't even the right word. What I read connected with my heart and mind. It touched on something I have been bothered by. It resonated with a passion that has been burning inside me for some time. It gave words to the feeling I have had for some time. Here is what they wrote:

Today, in discussion about the nature of church leadership, there is little theological wrestling with the questions of how to form or socialize a people into an alternative community. On the contrary, there is a growing emphasis on how to help seekers feel they belong in a congregation without any expectations or demands on their lives.
It is a strange twist of thinking to watch this kind of conversation. In the time of Tertullianm someone wanting to belong to the church had to go through a rigorous period of training focused on behavior (how daily life was actually lived). In other words, to belong to the new community of Jesus, a person was mentored in practicing change in habits. Today leaders talk about the need to create a safe, non-threatening, low threshold of belonging in order to draw people into the church. Note the two radically different ways in which the same language is being used. These approaches suggest contrasting sources of understanding. In the latter case and in our contemporary context, the source of this thinking in not a theologically, biblically formed imagination but the latest marking strategies that come from polls and studies about what people are looking for when they want to join a group. This is not to suggest that we not seek to welcome people into our churches. It is to point out the distinct sources of our leadership imagination today.

A little later, they wrote:

The Church entered the long period of Christendom and the focus of leadership shifted from formation of a people as a alternative society of God's future to oversight of orthodoxy, proper administration of the sacraments, and regulation of spiritualized and privatized ethical practices increasingly disconnected from any biblical or theological understanding of the ecclesia as the people of God.

I feel that in our efforts to spread the Kingdom we have lost some of the uniqueness of the Kingdom. We are called to be separate from the world. This doesn't mean we hide out and disengage from the world. Rather, it means we engage the world from a different perspective. But it seems that we have focused more on looking like the world and engaging the world on their terms instead.
Just last night I was talking with a teenager about the struggles of being a Christian teen. As I think about our conversation in the context of what I read last night, sometimes I feel like we have missed it. Instead of equipping students (and, just as importantly) their parents to develop spiritual habits and disciplines, we have focused on creating events and ministries that will appeal to today's teenagers.
Don't get me wrong. I love teenagers and spend most everyday thinking about how to reach them with the love of Jesus. But, in the words of one of my favorite college professors at Harding, "What you win them with, you win them to."
It feels like we have turned Christianity more into staying out of hell than living for heaven. For many, the question seems to have become, ""What do I need to do to get to heaven?" instead of "What does it mean to follow Jesus?"
I feel like I am beginning to ramble. There is so much going on right now in my mind as I wrestle with the words I read. God, hear my cry. Give me discernment. Where is it that you are calling God's people today as we face an unknown future? How can we move from being admirers of Jesus to committing our lives to him as his followers?

shine!
Jason

Camp out

Last night I enjoyed another camp out with my son.
You might think I am crazy to have a camp out in March in Michigan, but it's not exactly what you think.
From time to time, we will pull the cushion off the futon in our guest room and put it out in front of the the fireplace in the living room. Then we turn on the fireplace, which serves as our "campfire." Matthew and I lay there and pray together, talk for a bit, and then drift off to dreamland.
These are some of the moments that I will cherish the most as my little boy grows up. There will come a day when this may not be so fun and cool. However, I am hoping that one day they will transform into camp outs where we can sit around a real campfire and talk about more profound aspects of life.
Every moment is precious and I know I don't always make enough time for my family. But I know that little things like these "camp outs" will be more important than any investment I can make in a retirement account.
If you have children, be sure to make time for moments like this. Unlike money in a bank account, they are investments that can never be taken away. They are the down payment on your future relationship with your children. Don't trade them in for the cheap substitutes of money, power, prestige, and possessions. Make time for the most important things and you will be richer than you could ever imagine.

shine!
Jason

Illuminate thank you's

Illuminate 2009 was a great weekend! We had over 250 students and adults registered for the event as well as a number of special guests who were a part of the weekend. Students from here at Rochester and around the region joined together for times of worship and teaching. In addition, there were several breakout sessions that included a variety of topics and learning styles. We had comedy and a very entertaining concert.
Don McLaughlin, from the North Atlanta Church of Christ, was our keynote speaker who brought the word of God to life in a powerful way. He also stayed and spoke on Sunday morning.
Sean Algaier, from the Jenks Church in Oklahoma, lead us in worship on Friday night and taught a parents/teens class on Sunday morning.
Our own Chris Lindsey led worship on Saturday as well as coordinating everything that happened during our worship times.
Ambassadors, from Ohio Valley University, provided dramas that enhanced the message of the weekend. They also led several breakout sessions.
Hoss Ridgeway provided a lot of laughs through his comedy and led two breakout sessions.
Pat Pugh, from Cincinnati Urban Ministry Outreach, led several breakout sessions.
Randy Hendrickson, from Parkersburg, West Virginia, shared his story in a breakout session.
John Reuben performed a great concert on Saturday night.
In addition to all of those guests, there was an army of people from here at the Rochester Church that made Illuminate happen. I want to thank each and every one of them for their time and energy to make this event possible. Without them, Illuminate would not have been possible:

KITCHEN
Scott Vasseur
Sue Vasseur
Gary Osborn
Dawn Osborn
Jim Lytle
Heidi Lytle
Paul Patrico
Michelle Patrico
Rick Hillman
Paul Shinsky
Barb Huey
Tracy DuBaere
Karen Demsich
Nora Muntz
Lisa Patrico
Jeanie King
Patti Jenema
Carolyn Palmer
Amber White
Dave Turner

SECURITY
Kerry DuBaere
Josh DuBaere
Jerry Ward
Reggie Hansen
Dave Palmer
Joey Kesler
Kevin Stewart
Duncan Mead
Gary Turner
Keith Huey
Bob Stewart
Allen Meinhard
Joe Demsich
Jim Lytle
Elijah Blake
Keith Huey

REGISTRATION & HOUSING
Laura Stewart
Barb Huey
Carolyn Palmer
Lisa Patrico
Heidi Lytle
Debi Gibbs

BREAK OUT SESSION REGISTRATION
Michelle Steckel
Betty Turner
Patti Jenema

GUEST HOSPITALITY
Katie Dear
Dana Spivy
Jenny Hoggatt

TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Gary Anspach
Jon Knutson
Dave Cassilly
Matt Brown
Woody Woodward

SET-UP/CLEAN-UP
Kevin O'Sullivan
Rick Hillman
Debi Gibbs
Joey Kesler
Trudy Kesler

SICK ROOM
Tammy Ward

VIDEOGRAPHY
Lee Higginbottom

PRAISE TEAM
Chris Lindsey
Vicki Lindsey
Jeremy King
Veronica King
John Knutson
Holly Knutson
Steve Corp
Brenden Davison

PRAISE TEAM BAND
Chris Lindsey
Sean Algaier
Andy Robinson
Neil Graney
Teresa Graney
Ben Ayers
Aaron Mize

BREAK-OUT SESSION TEACHERS
Patrick Mead
Brian Bowers
Robert Martin
Sara Barton
Scott Ockerman
Shaun Hover
Adam Hill
Adam Hacias
Katy Hacias
David Watts
David Rotberg
Krystal Rotberg
Ty Warczinsky
Brandi Warczinsky
Joe Howard
Chris Lindsey

SPONSORS
Rochester College
Ohio Valley University
York College
Harding University
Great Lakes Christian College

STAGE PREPARATION
Jodie Anspach
Vicki Lindsey

BABYSITTERS FOR VOLUNTEERS
Kerri O'Connor
Allyson Huey
Melody Hastings
Sarah Ageno
Meghan Palmer

PEOPLE WHO HOUSED (approx. 100) GUESTS
Russel & Karen Wilkinson
Bob & Sheila Sparks
Jerry & Tammy Ward
Bob & Laura Stewart
Gayle Flanigan
Duane and Pat Harrison
Bill & Paula Flowers
Todd & Patti Jenema
Mark & Linda Dear
Jeff & Mollie Debandt
Tom & Sara Hayman
Dave Cassilly
Jerry & Julie Parks
Scott & Renee Tekely
Dave & Karen Benedict
Gary & Dawn Osborn
Rick & Merry Hastings
Fred & Lisa Hartman
Keith & Barb Huey

EVERYWHERE
Trudy Kesler
Michelle Steckel
Jason Steckel

Once again, I want to thank everyone who was a part of the weekend. I hope I have not forgotten anyone’s name here, because I really appreciate all of you. Let me end this article with a comment from one of the youth ministers who was here for Illuminate:
“Illuminate was AMAZING! It is quickly becoming my favorite event of the year. Everyone involved did a great job. John Reuben was, as expected, excellent. Well, I am running out of synonyms for really good.”

shine!
Jason

Illuminate videos

Here are the Illuminate 2009 highlight video and Illuminate 2010 teaser video...

Illuminate 2009 Closing Highlights from Lee Higginbottom on Vimeo


Illuminate 2010 Promo - DRIVE from Lee Higginbottom on Vimeo

shine!
Jason

The day after

Well, it's the end of amazing weekend. I will have much more to say tomorrow, but I have to take a minute to thank the wonderful people of the Rochester Church. Over 100 people volunteered to make Illuminate happen. When I did the math, I estimated that over 1,500 hours of work went into making Illuminate a success. Wow!
Over the last several months, I have probably put about 75 hours of time into Illuminate 2009. People ask me how I made Illuminate happen. It wasn't me all that much. There were another 1,425 hours of time put in by an army of people. I only contributed 5% of the time put into this event. The other 95% came from others who brought a variety of talents and abilities to the table.
Most of all, I want to thank God for being present in an amazing way! I was reminded once again this weekend of the power of God and the value of community. The Holy Spirit moved powerfully this weekend through the hearts, minds, and bodies of scores of people at the Rochester Church. I am blessed to be part of such an incredible church family.

shine!
Jason

Two more days!

It's hard to believe that we are a little more than 48 hours from the kick-off of Illuminate 2009! The stage is being decorated, final plans are being made, and people are hard at work.
I am asking for everyone's prayers over the next couple of days. Pray specifically for the following people:

Don McLaughlin, who will be our main speaker
Chris Lindsey and Sean Algaier, who will be leading us in worship
Ambassadors as they present messages through drama
Hoss Ridgeway as he makes us laugh through his comedy
Ignite session leaders, including: Patrick Mead, Pat Pugh, Shaun Hover, a mission team, Randy Hendrickson and Scott Ockerman, Sara Barton, Ambassadors, and Hoss
The dozens of volunteers who are giving up hundreds of hours this week (and some for the last several weeks)
The hundreds of students, parents, and youth workers who will be converging on Rochester Church this weekend

Thank you for praying!!! Pray that God moves in very powerful ways this weekend and that people are set free from the things that bind them.

shine!
Jason

Steelers Draft

And now something fun...

The Ides of March

Today is the Ides of March. This day is probably most famous as the day that the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar, was assassinated.
On this day in 44 BC, the Roman Senate tricked Caesar and killed him. While there is some dispute among historians about Julius Caesar’s last words, many believe that his last words may have been, “Et tu, Brute?” This phrase means, “You too, Brutus?” or “Even you, Brutus?”
Marcus Junius Brutus was a Roman Senator who Caesar had brought into his inner circle of associates. However, he was convinced by other senators to join the assassination plot against Caesar and was there for the killing of the Roman leader.
It was less than a century later that another man was betrayed by someone in his inner circle. We know this man as Judas Iscariot.
Judas was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. He was chosen by Jesus as a member of his inner circle, his closest associates. Judas was even made treasurer of the group.
In spite of his close relationship with Jesus and the rest of the Twelve, he chose to betray Jesus. Ironically, it was with a kiss that he completed the betrayal.
I wonder if Jesus knew what would happen a few laters when he spoke these words in the Sermon on the Mount…
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.” (Matthew 5:43-47)
Regardless of whether or not he knew at the time he spoke these words, Jesus lived them. Even as he was hanging on the cross, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:24)
Whether it was Jesus befriending Judas even as he prepared to betray him or his prayer for those who had crucified him, Jesus lived what he preached until he breathed his last death.
On the anniversary of the betrayal of an ancient emperor, let’s take a minute to reflect on Jesus’ words and actions. Imagine how different our world would be if we could live like that. How would things be different if we truly loved our enemies and prayed for those who persecute us? Maybe that’s the recipe for true peace.

shine!
Jason

Who do you want to be?

Who do you want to be?
Who do you want us to be?
These are the two questions I posed Wednesday night as we kicked off our small group time.
I am firmly convinced that how we answer these two questions will significantly impact where we go as individuals and a community.
Please slowly read and reflect on the Bible passages below…
But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you….For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Romans 8:9-11,14)
Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? (1 Corinthians 6:15)
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ…All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
(1 Corinthians 12:12,27)
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
If we are truly Christ-followers, we must realize that the world does not revolve around us. Rather, we are called to be a part of a community, a body of believers. That requires us to consider others in all that we do. In addition, we must live a life that seeks to improve the health of the entire body.
For some of us, this means it’s time to stop “playing church.” In other words, church is not an activity in your planner or something you do when you feel like it. Church, the body, is who you are. It is your identity.
For others, it might mean it’s time to remove any spiritual cancer that is hurting you and maybe even those around you. Is there a habit or attitude you need to get rid of?
God has created us and called us to be part of a bigger plan. We are created in the image of God so that we can live out God’s dream in this world. That means we need to seriously consider the questions “who do you want to be?” and “who do you want us to be?” Those are the questions that should shape and direct every aspect of our lives.

shine!
Jason

Youth Dialogue Day - Middle School Edition

Today I was able to make some really cool new friends. I was invited to be a part of a Youth Dialogue Day. Basically, it's a day where students gather to share their opinions and ideas surrounding certain issues today's students face.
I was really impressed by many of the insights students shared. While middle school students have not changed much since I was there 25 years ago (wow, I feel old all of a sudden), some of the issues they are faced with have changed significantly.
There are pressures and choices that very few of my peers had to deal with. The conditions and culture have become more hectic than ever. The stress and anxiety are at levels I can't imagine. But in the midst of all of that, I met some students today who had some great thoughts about what they deal with on a daily basis.
One of the things that I heard a number of students share is that they wish their parents were more involved in their lives. I don't think that necessarily means they want parents who don't give them space and tend to stick their noses in everything. But there definitely seems to be a desire for parents to be more engaged.
Today we live in a culture where times have changed. It seems as though there are more two-income households than ever. I realize that some families need two incomes, but in other families it is more desire than need. A second income to live in a bigger house and drive nicer cars is not a need.
Every family is different and every situation is unique. However, I believe our society has often gotten our priorities out of order and missed the bigger picture. If you could get students to be honest, I believe that many of them would give up some material possessions in order to have parents who had time to listen to them.
One of the things I have become more and more aware of is the feeling of desertion and loneliness that many teenagers feel today. For many of these students that starts at home. They may come home to an empty house where there isn't a adult there until later in the evening. For others, it might result from being at school until five or six in the evening, running to another event, and getting home just in time for homework and bed. For others it might come from everyone in the family having a television in their room, so everyone can watch what they want in solitude. We have allowed our culture and our entertainment-focused society to drive wedges in the middle of our most crucial relationships.
While teenagers want their freedom and want to discover who they are, I am convinced that they will actually feel more free to explore the question of who they are when they know home is a place of safety and community. When they know their parents will actually take time to listen - not just instruct and give orders - teenagers will be more willing to ask questions and share their struggles.
Don't expect teenagers to tell you everything. They are seeking their own life and their own identity. But when we provide an environment where they know we are there, willing to listen and willing to make time for them, the results can be priceless. That's the kind of investment that lasts long after the things we thought were so important are in a landfill or in the rearview mirror of life

shine!
Jason

Role Models

Click on this link to read a great article about athletes and role models. This really touched me, so I wanted to share it with others.

shine!
Jason

Discipline

For many of us, our spiritual life consists of periodic “mountaintop” experiences dropped in the middle of a life of spiritual mediocrity. We might attend a great youth rally, seminar, retreat, or other event and be pumped up and excited. But within a few days – or weeks at best – we return to our routines.
This isn’t just a spiritual phenomenon. Think about the days, weeks, and months following September 11, 2001. While we were focused on what happened that fateful Tuesday morning for some time, eventually, most people’s lives returned to normal and what happened became less and less of a daily reality.
Think about marriage. A young couple looks each other in the eyes and love is in the air. But within a few months the stress of bills, a pregnancy, and life together can make the honeymoon seem like a vague memory.
Whether it’s a need to remain vigilant in a war, maintain romance in a marriage, or stay connected to God, it takes real work to go beyond the rush of the moment.
Spiritual disciplines are a significant way to maintain our connection with God. It isn’t difficult to connect with God during a time when you are away from everyday life at a special event. The real test comes at a time when life returns to “normal.”
Spiritual disciplines provide a method of making space for God, even in the midst of a hectic, busy schedule.
God has emphasized the importance of this space since the beginning of time. When He created the earth, God rested on the seventh day. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Genesis 2:2-3)
I firmly believe that God didn’t rest on that day because He was tired. Rather, He was setting an example for Creation. We need rest. We need space. We are not designed to run 24/7, seven days a week.
Whether it’s fasting, prayer, meditation, silence, confession, or a host of other spiritual disciplines, God created us as beings who need time to recharge. Fasting can cleanse our bodies and our minds. Prayer draws us closer in relationship to God. Meditation provides room for God’s word to speak to us. Silence allows us to hear the quiet, still voice of God. Confession gives us room to admit our shortcomings and deal with them.
Spiritual disciplines practiced on a regular basis are not just something we do because we are “good Christians.” They are exercises that make us better people. They give us the room to develop spiritually and allow God to form us into His image.

shine!
Jason