It seems like people often swing back and forth between extremes in many areas of life. I believe this is true in the area of faith and works.
I am currently in the middle of watching a documentary about the life of Martin Luther. What I have watched so far has shown what led him to write his Ninety-Five Theses. (If you’re not familiar with what I am talking about, I recommend taking a few minutes to look into this. It’s one of the most significant events in the history of the Church). One of the biggest catalysts was his realization that our salvation is not based on our works, but on faith in Christ.
We have to realize that Luther came to this conclusion after years of serving in a church setting where everything was about doing enough works to deserve salvation. He was coming from one extreme of the spectrum.
Unfortunately, some have taken the ideas Luther espoused to the other end of the spectrum and would argue that our works have little or nothing to do with our salvation. They would say that all you need is belief.
The reality – as is often true – is actually found in the middle. While our works do not earn our salvation, they are certainly an essential part of our walk. Without them, we are dead. We are not dead because we didn’t do enough. Rather, we are dead because the fruit we bear (or don’t bear) reveals our attitude and the depth of our faith.
I like to say it this way: We don’t do works to be saved. Rather, we do works because we are saved.
If we have truly encountered God and seek a relationship with him, our lives should reflect the character and nature of God. Our works should naturally flow from within as the Spirit fills us and pours out into our lives.
We should not think of the Christian faith as a list of rules to follow. That is selling things way too short. But at the same time, the Christian faith is not simply agreeing to some idea so we can have the promise of eternal life.
The Christian faith is a life-long pursuit of God in which our lives should continue to bear more and more fruit of the Kingdom of God as we are transformed. Our works are not the ticket to eternal life. They are the evidence that we are living lives according the Kingdom that will reign forever.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Taking it home
We added two new items to our Families with Youth newsletter this week that I hope will help families engage their faith at home.
In the “Pass It On” segment, I am inviting a different parent to write something each week where they can briefly share a way they pass on their faith to their children. Part of this comes from a passage in Deuteronomy that we discussed in our Parent/Student Meeting a few weeks ago:
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
This does not have to be anything complex or fancy. It might describing a weekly family devotional. It could talk about how a family prays together each day or week. They might share a special service opportunity they participate in as a family. It could be as simple as some way they weave faith into their everyday conversations. The options are endless.
Thank you to one of our parents, Laura Stewart, for her willingness to be my “guinea pig” by writing the first “Pass It On” entry. Parents are asked to email their submissions so I can include them in upcoming newsletters.
The second new segment is entitled, “Faith@Home.” In this section, I will be providing the title and description for our current series as well as the specific class topic for the current week. The “Talk about it” section of this segment will offer a few questions for discussion as well as an action point. Families may choose to read these questions verbatim or use them to formulate their own questions. In the action point, families are asked to put what they have discussed into practice.
As our ministry enters into this new season of helping the home become the center of spiritual formation, I am hoping these new resources will help our families along the way.
shine!
Jason
In the “Pass It On” segment, I am inviting a different parent to write something each week where they can briefly share a way they pass on their faith to their children. Part of this comes from a passage in Deuteronomy that we discussed in our Parent/Student Meeting a few weeks ago:
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
This does not have to be anything complex or fancy. It might describing a weekly family devotional. It could talk about how a family prays together each day or week. They might share a special service opportunity they participate in as a family. It could be as simple as some way they weave faith into their everyday conversations. The options are endless.
Thank you to one of our parents, Laura Stewart, for her willingness to be my “guinea pig” by writing the first “Pass It On” entry. Parents are asked to email their submissions so I can include them in upcoming newsletters.
The second new segment is entitled, “Faith@Home.” In this section, I will be providing the title and description for our current series as well as the specific class topic for the current week. The “Talk about it” section of this segment will offer a few questions for discussion as well as an action point. Families may choose to read these questions verbatim or use them to formulate their own questions. In the action point, families are asked to put what they have discussed into practice.
As our ministry enters into this new season of helping the home become the center of spiritual formation, I am hoping these new resources will help our families along the way.
shine!
Jason
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Coming out of the dark
The last fifteen months or so have arguably been the darkest season of my life. Looking back over the landscape of that time, I believe that this time even eclipses 1999, the year that Michelle and I both lost our mothers. You see, it is one thing to lose a close family member. It is quite another to walk with an entire church community through a host of difficulties while dealing with your own personal struggles.
I am not seeking pity or praise for the last year or so, but as I look back at what the last fifteen months have been, I have new appreciation for the words of the psalmist, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley..." (Psalm 23:4) I feel like I have walked through a valley and as I stand on the edge of that valley and look back at the path, I see death, destruction, and discouragement in the midst of the hell that the Rochester Church and I have journeyed through together.
The death of a mother of four (including a teenager still at home) after fighting a brain tumor for five long years.
The unexpected death of a friend and partner in ministry, a 31-year-old husband and father of three (one of them still in the womb at the time of his death).
The tragic death of a seven-year-old child in a freak sledding accident.
The death of a 21-year-old young man who had been in my youth group, and the long recovery for his twin brother, who suffered serious injuries in the accident.
These are only the tip of the iceberg for a dark and difficult season in the life of our church family.
I don't think you realize the weight of walking through a war zone until you escape it. I have never served in the armed forces nor have I been in a physical battle, but I have been through a spiritual battle in the last year or so. These have been some of the deepest, darkest days of my life, but only now am I fully realizing where I have been and the impact it has had on me.
It's funny how you don't really grasp how dark it is until light erupts on the horizon. I'm just now really beginning to understand how this has all affected me.
And in the midst of everything above, our church also went through a significant staff transition and I wrestled with my own calling in ministry. There were times I considered walking away from ministry. Other times I had no idea what to do. And in the midst of these upheaval and uncertainty, God spoke clearly to me and I returned to my true calling to minister to students and their families.
I don't share this to receive sympathy. Rather, I want each of us to realize that sometimes we are in the darkness and we don't realize it. Other times, we may get frustrated with others walking in darkness, but we need to realize they may not see it.
These past months have taken a toll on me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have gained back nearly half the weight I lost. I have not been the husband and father I should have been. My relationship with God has suffered. But today, I stand on the dawn of a new day. I look back at the valley, but just for a minute. Then I look to the future, to a new horizon.
In the early 1990's, singer Gloria Estefan was seriously injured in an accident. Following that accident and her struggles in the months after, Estefan penned the words to a song that made it all the way to the top of the charts. I think these words speak to a hope we all long for and a healing we all seek. While she wrote these words to her husband, I want to take these same words and direct them to the One who has ultimately brought me out of the darkness.
Thank you, Lord, for walking with me though the valley of death. Thank you for shining your light into the darkness. Thank you for bringing me out of the dark.
shine!
Jason
I am not seeking pity or praise for the last year or so, but as I look back at what the last fifteen months have been, I have new appreciation for the words of the psalmist, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley..." (Psalm 23:4) I feel like I have walked through a valley and as I stand on the edge of that valley and look back at the path, I see death, destruction, and discouragement in the midst of the hell that the Rochester Church and I have journeyed through together.
The death of a mother of four (including a teenager still at home) after fighting a brain tumor for five long years.
The unexpected death of a friend and partner in ministry, a 31-year-old husband and father of three (one of them still in the womb at the time of his death).
The tragic death of a seven-year-old child in a freak sledding accident.
The death of a 21-year-old young man who had been in my youth group, and the long recovery for his twin brother, who suffered serious injuries in the accident.
These are only the tip of the iceberg for a dark and difficult season in the life of our church family.
I don't think you realize the weight of walking through a war zone until you escape it. I have never served in the armed forces nor have I been in a physical battle, but I have been through a spiritual battle in the last year or so. These have been some of the deepest, darkest days of my life, but only now am I fully realizing where I have been and the impact it has had on me.
It's funny how you don't really grasp how dark it is until light erupts on the horizon. I'm just now really beginning to understand how this has all affected me.
And in the midst of everything above, our church also went through a significant staff transition and I wrestled with my own calling in ministry. There were times I considered walking away from ministry. Other times I had no idea what to do. And in the midst of these upheaval and uncertainty, God spoke clearly to me and I returned to my true calling to minister to students and their families.
I don't share this to receive sympathy. Rather, I want each of us to realize that sometimes we are in the darkness and we don't realize it. Other times, we may get frustrated with others walking in darkness, but we need to realize they may not see it.
These past months have taken a toll on me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have gained back nearly half the weight I lost. I have not been the husband and father I should have been. My relationship with God has suffered. But today, I stand on the dawn of a new day. I look back at the valley, but just for a minute. Then I look to the future, to a new horizon.
In the early 1990's, singer Gloria Estefan was seriously injured in an accident. Following that accident and her struggles in the months after, Estefan penned the words to a song that made it all the way to the top of the charts. I think these words speak to a hope we all long for and a healing we all seek. While she wrote these words to her husband, I want to take these same words and direct them to the One who has ultimately brought me out of the darkness.
Why be afraid if I'm not alone
Though life is never easy the rest in unkown
Up to now for me it's been hands against stone
Spent each and every moment
Searching for what to believe
Coming out of the dark, I finally see the light now
It's shinning on me
Coming out of the dark, I know the love that saved me
You're sharing with me
Starting again is part of the plan
And I'll be so much stronger holding your hand
Step by step I'll make it through I know I can
It may not make it easier but I have felt you
Near all the way
Forever, forever I stand on the rock of your love
Forever I'll stand on the rock
Forever, forever I stand on the rock of your love
Love is all it takes, no matter what we face
Thank you, Lord, for walking with me though the valley of death. Thank you for shining your light into the darkness. Thank you for bringing me out of the dark.
shine!
Jason
Monday, January 16, 2012
I have a dream
Today we are celebrating the life of a man who helped change the course of history. He stepped into a conflict dominated by hate and violence and offered love and peace. When others wanted to use bombs, guns, and intimidation to forward their cause, Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated peaceful marches and non-violent protests.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is about so much more than the Civil Rights Movement. Don't get me wrong, racism lost a lot of ground because of the efforts of King and those who marched with him. But what he stood for went much deeper than that.
In his famous speech in Washington, D.C., King said, "I have a dream..." But this wasn't King's dream. It was God's dream living through him. While I never knew him personally, I can tell by the fruit that he bore than Martin Luther King, Jr. was an ambassador of the Kingdom of God. He wasn't perfect, but he was certainly taking a stand for something that reverberated the echoes of the voice of the Creator.
Ultimately, his willingness to stand against the tide cost him his life. A voice of hope, peace, love, and victory was silenced too early. But not before he sounded a cry that would echo for generations to come. Much like the man he followed, Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, Jr. was willing to do what was right, regardless of the consequences.
When I consider the life that King lived I am both embarrassed and encouraged. I am embarrassed about the number of times I fail to live in way that reflects and advances the Kingdom of God. I am encouraged because I know that King struggled, too. When I read a biography of King's life, I learned that this larger than life man was just as human as I am. He made his mistakes. He had his regrets. And in that way, he and I are no different.
If a man like Martin Luther King, Jr. can take a stand and change the world, so can I. There may never be a holiday named after me and it's unlikely I will ever appear in a history book, but I can have a dream like God's that will change the world around me in a way that ushers in the Kingdom of God.
Thank you, Dr; King, for showing us a better way to live so that God's dream can become our dream, too.
shine!
Jason
Martin Luther King, Jr. is about so much more than the Civil Rights Movement. Don't get me wrong, racism lost a lot of ground because of the efforts of King and those who marched with him. But what he stood for went much deeper than that.
In his famous speech in Washington, D.C., King said, "I have a dream..." But this wasn't King's dream. It was God's dream living through him. While I never knew him personally, I can tell by the fruit that he bore than Martin Luther King, Jr. was an ambassador of the Kingdom of God. He wasn't perfect, but he was certainly taking a stand for something that reverberated the echoes of the voice of the Creator.
Ultimately, his willingness to stand against the tide cost him his life. A voice of hope, peace, love, and victory was silenced too early. But not before he sounded a cry that would echo for generations to come. Much like the man he followed, Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, Jr. was willing to do what was right, regardless of the consequences.
When I consider the life that King lived I am both embarrassed and encouraged. I am embarrassed about the number of times I fail to live in way that reflects and advances the Kingdom of God. I am encouraged because I know that King struggled, too. When I read a biography of King's life, I learned that this larger than life man was just as human as I am. He made his mistakes. He had his regrets. And in that way, he and I are no different.
If a man like Martin Luther King, Jr. can take a stand and change the world, so can I. There may never be a holiday named after me and it's unlikely I will ever appear in a history book, but I can have a dream like God's that will change the world around me in a way that ushers in the Kingdom of God.
Thank you, Dr; King, for showing us a better way to live so that God's dream can become our dream, too.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, January 15, 2012
True religion
What is true religion? What does it mean to be a Christian?
These have been questions that followers of Jesus have wrestled with for hundreds of year. The answers have not always led to good results. Churches have split. Denominations have been created. People have given up on God.
But at the same time, it’s the question that we must continue to seek an answer for. It is the question that tugs at our heart and cries out for a response.
James tells us, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
So, religion isn’t really a set of rules, a way of doing church, or anything like that. Are there commandments we are called to live by? Yes. Does God want us to meet in community for worship, encouragement, and accountability? Absolutely. But neither of those are the purpose. They are guideposts along the journey.
Ultimately, religion, true religion, is a call to live a life that echoes the story of God. A story of hope. A story of love. A story of redemption.
It is a way of life that demands we live according to a different rhythm than the one the world offers.
The world – and Satan – want us to base our religion on rules and doing church. When we do that, we miss the point, and evil gains a foothold in the world. While we focus on what happens for a few hours, one day a week, God is focusing on the world around us. A world where people are hurting and help captive by a variety of masters.
Do you really want to be religious?
Look after orphans and widows. Care for the unloved. Reach out to the untouchables. Acknowledge the ignored. Not just in some country on the other side of the globe or even in another city. Do it where you live. In your community. On your street. Maybe even in your home.
Keep yourself from being polluted by the world. This means so much more than don’t have sex, don’t get drunk, and don’t steal. It means live a life that reflects Kingdom values. How has consumerism taken you captive? Does having a good image trump doing the right thing? Do you gossip or look at members of the opposite sex as objects rather than people created in the image of God?
If we are going to practice true religion, we should stop worrying so much about what we do on Sunday mornings and focus on who we are on Monday mornings. Then we will live a life worthy of the calling we have received.
shine!
Jason
These have been questions that followers of Jesus have wrestled with for hundreds of year. The answers have not always led to good results. Churches have split. Denominations have been created. People have given up on God.
But at the same time, it’s the question that we must continue to seek an answer for. It is the question that tugs at our heart and cries out for a response.
James tells us, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
So, religion isn’t really a set of rules, a way of doing church, or anything like that. Are there commandments we are called to live by? Yes. Does God want us to meet in community for worship, encouragement, and accountability? Absolutely. But neither of those are the purpose. They are guideposts along the journey.
Ultimately, religion, true religion, is a call to live a life that echoes the story of God. A story of hope. A story of love. A story of redemption.
It is a way of life that demands we live according to a different rhythm than the one the world offers.
The world – and Satan – want us to base our religion on rules and doing church. When we do that, we miss the point, and evil gains a foothold in the world. While we focus on what happens for a few hours, one day a week, God is focusing on the world around us. A world where people are hurting and help captive by a variety of masters.
Do you really want to be religious?
Look after orphans and widows. Care for the unloved. Reach out to the untouchables. Acknowledge the ignored. Not just in some country on the other side of the globe or even in another city. Do it where you live. In your community. On your street. Maybe even in your home.
Keep yourself from being polluted by the world. This means so much more than don’t have sex, don’t get drunk, and don’t steal. It means live a life that reflects Kingdom values. How has consumerism taken you captive? Does having a good image trump doing the right thing? Do you gossip or look at members of the opposite sex as objects rather than people created in the image of God?
If we are going to practice true religion, we should stop worrying so much about what we do on Sunday mornings and focus on who we are on Monday mornings. Then we will live a life worthy of the calling we have received.
shine!
Jason
Friday, January 13, 2012
Reflections from Daytona
I have had a few days now to think about my trip to Daytona Beach and the National Conference on Youth Ministries and I wanted to share a few reflections from my week...
Receive the day
Each morning at the conference, Earl Lavender from Lipscomb University led us in a morning devotional. While the crowd was sparse, what Earl offered was very rich! His focus for the week was to receive the day. He pursued the idea of starting the day open to what God has in store for you.
I tend to wake up and start the day by looking at my iCal to see what I have planned. While I am intend to stick to my commitments, I am going to work this year to not let my calendar dictate my day. I am convicted that I need to leave margin in my schedule for God to reveal opportunities for the inbreaking of his Kingdom.
Each day should be an opportunity for an exciting, unexpected encounter with God and his creation. I want to echo in my own life the words we read from Psalm 5:3 last week, "In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."
Cherish the simple things
On our last morning there, our family went down to the beach to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean. As we sat there anticipating the breaking of the sun over the horizon, I was reminded of the beauty of simple things. In a world where Facebook, texting, hundreds of channels on TV, iPods full of music, and busy schedules dominate our lives, we need to appreciate the simple things.
A sunrise. A bird walking along the shore. The smile of a friend. The embrace of a loved one. These are the true treasures of our world. I so often get wrapped up in the complexities of life that I miss the beauty of creation. We have created a world that demands our attention and often distracts us from the more important things. I often miss hearing God because I'm focusing more on what we have created, and less on the Creator and his creation.
Slow down
This will require me to slow down. I am too busy. My schedule is too full. I struggle to receive the day and cherish the simple things by my own doing most of the time.
I have bought into the American philosophy that busyness is good. I have been taught to believe that my productivity determines my worth. I often measure my value by what I am able to do, not who I am. Chris Seidman asked a question the first night of the conference that has stuck with me. He asked, "Are you living from the blessing of God or for the blessing of others?"
I am convinced that I spend too much time living for the blessing of others and way too little time living from the blessing of God. God tells me that I am his child, highly valued, not for what I do, but for who I am. I am his. He created me. He loves me. He values me. If I only I could slow down long enough to hear his voice.
God is in the business of redemption
David Fraze reminded us that, "Your life, your story, no matter how chaotic, is redeemable."
I needed to hear that for my life. I can be an idiot sometimes. I allow my life to become too chaotic. I don't receive the day from God. I don't cherish the simple things. I don't slow down. Even on my best days, I usually well off the mark.
God created me for relationship. Relationship with him. Relationship with others. And too often, I forget that. I live like I am created for success, recognition, or my own self-aggrandizement. God forgive me for pushing him off his throne and trying to climb in it myself.
There is hope in knowing that no life, regardless of the chaos, is beyond redemption. Thank you for that reminder. I am a sinner in need of God's grace and mercy. This is not some formula that simply wipes my slate clean. It is so much more.
This redemption is about a God who repairs relationships, restores identity, and renews life. God has not just saved me from my sins; he is saving me from myself. I am in need of God who loves me regardless of the mess I have made in my life and embraces me no matter what.
And that is what I need every day.
shine!
Jason
Receive the day
Each morning at the conference, Earl Lavender from Lipscomb University led us in a morning devotional. While the crowd was sparse, what Earl offered was very rich! His focus for the week was to receive the day. He pursued the idea of starting the day open to what God has in store for you.
I tend to wake up and start the day by looking at my iCal to see what I have planned. While I am intend to stick to my commitments, I am going to work this year to not let my calendar dictate my day. I am convicted that I need to leave margin in my schedule for God to reveal opportunities for the inbreaking of his Kingdom.
Each day should be an opportunity for an exciting, unexpected encounter with God and his creation. I want to echo in my own life the words we read from Psalm 5:3 last week, "In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."
Cherish the simple things
On our last morning there, our family went down to the beach to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean. As we sat there anticipating the breaking of the sun over the horizon, I was reminded of the beauty of simple things. In a world where Facebook, texting, hundreds of channels on TV, iPods full of music, and busy schedules dominate our lives, we need to appreciate the simple things.
A sunrise. A bird walking along the shore. The smile of a friend. The embrace of a loved one. These are the true treasures of our world. I so often get wrapped up in the complexities of life that I miss the beauty of creation. We have created a world that demands our attention and often distracts us from the more important things. I often miss hearing God because I'm focusing more on what we have created, and less on the Creator and his creation.
Slow down
This will require me to slow down. I am too busy. My schedule is too full. I struggle to receive the day and cherish the simple things by my own doing most of the time.
I have bought into the American philosophy that busyness is good. I have been taught to believe that my productivity determines my worth. I often measure my value by what I am able to do, not who I am. Chris Seidman asked a question the first night of the conference that has stuck with me. He asked, "Are you living from the blessing of God or for the blessing of others?"
I am convinced that I spend too much time living for the blessing of others and way too little time living from the blessing of God. God tells me that I am his child, highly valued, not for what I do, but for who I am. I am his. He created me. He loves me. He values me. If I only I could slow down long enough to hear his voice.
God is in the business of redemption
David Fraze reminded us that, "Your life, your story, no matter how chaotic, is redeemable."
I needed to hear that for my life. I can be an idiot sometimes. I allow my life to become too chaotic. I don't receive the day from God. I don't cherish the simple things. I don't slow down. Even on my best days, I usually well off the mark.
God created me for relationship. Relationship with him. Relationship with others. And too often, I forget that. I live like I am created for success, recognition, or my own self-aggrandizement. God forgive me for pushing him off his throne and trying to climb in it myself.
There is hope in knowing that no life, regardless of the chaos, is beyond redemption. Thank you for that reminder. I am a sinner in need of God's grace and mercy. This is not some formula that simply wipes my slate clean. It is so much more.
This redemption is about a God who repairs relationships, restores identity, and renews life. God has not just saved me from my sins; he is saving me from myself. I am in need of God who loves me regardless of the mess I have made in my life and embraces me no matter what.
And that is what I need every day.
shine!
Jason
Thursday, January 12, 2012
I'm a character
One of my goals for 2012 is to blog a little more often. So here we go...
Have you ever watched a movie and noticed all of the people that appear in the scenes? I mean, sure, we notice the stars, the people whose names appear on the posters. The people who have all of the speaking parts and make the millions of dollars are hard to miss. They are the focus of most scenes.
But what about the supporting actors and actresses? And what about the extras? We might think they're unimportant - especially the extras, but are they really?
Think about those scenes on busy streets or in a sports arena. What would those scenes be like without all of those extras Would it be the same if a couple was walking down a sidewalk in New York City with no one else around?
What would God's story be like without the supporting actors and actresses and the extras?
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul reminds us that everyone is a part of the story. We are each a member of the body of Christ. We are all important.
Think about what happens when a part of the body is amputated. It becomes lifeless. It loses purpose.
The same is true when we are disconnected from the bigger story we are invited into.
It seems like I constantly have to remind myself that I am a character in a bigger story - God's story. The truth is that I forget this all of the time.
Sometimes my pride gets in the way and I think I am the lead character. I start to think I am God and act like it. Trying to be the lead in our own story is like trying to use my iPad and not bringing the charger along. It might work for a while, but eventually we run out of energy.
There are other times I feel so unimportant and inconsequential that I forget I'm even in the story. I might begin to think I don't belong in the story and that I am not in the picture. This is never true. While it may be true that our role is minor at time, it is never insignificant.
I must always remind myself that I am a character in God's grand story of creation. And the coolest thing is that I have the freedom to write my part. I should always listen to the Author of Life, but at the same time I have the pen in my hand. I get to fill the pages in my script. I can choose to write the story I want. This means I have the freedom to make the story revolve around me and loose its greater purpose. Or I can write myself out of the story and feel like I don't have a place. Or...
Or I can listen for the voice of God and allow Him to invite me into his grand narrative and find a place where my story finds it purpose and I can be more than I ever imagined.
shine!
Jason
Have you ever watched a movie and noticed all of the people that appear in the scenes? I mean, sure, we notice the stars, the people whose names appear on the posters. The people who have all of the speaking parts and make the millions of dollars are hard to miss. They are the focus of most scenes.
But what about the supporting actors and actresses? And what about the extras? We might think they're unimportant - especially the extras, but are they really?
Think about those scenes on busy streets or in a sports arena. What would those scenes be like without all of those extras Would it be the same if a couple was walking down a sidewalk in New York City with no one else around?
What would God's story be like without the supporting actors and actresses and the extras?
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul reminds us that everyone is a part of the story. We are each a member of the body of Christ. We are all important.
Think about what happens when a part of the body is amputated. It becomes lifeless. It loses purpose.
The same is true when we are disconnected from the bigger story we are invited into.
It seems like I constantly have to remind myself that I am a character in a bigger story - God's story. The truth is that I forget this all of the time.
Sometimes my pride gets in the way and I think I am the lead character. I start to think I am God and act like it. Trying to be the lead in our own story is like trying to use my iPad and not bringing the charger along. It might work for a while, but eventually we run out of energy.
There are other times I feel so unimportant and inconsequential that I forget I'm even in the story. I might begin to think I don't belong in the story and that I am not in the picture. This is never true. While it may be true that our role is minor at time, it is never insignificant.
I must always remind myself that I am a character in God's grand story of creation. And the coolest thing is that I have the freedom to write my part. I should always listen to the Author of Life, but at the same time I have the pen in my hand. I get to fill the pages in my script. I can choose to write the story I want. This means I have the freedom to make the story revolve around me and loose its greater purpose. Or I can write myself out of the story and feel like I don't have a place. Or...
Or I can listen for the voice of God and allow Him to invite me into his grand narrative and find a place where my story finds it purpose and I can be more than I ever imagined.
shine!
Jason
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Poor in spirit
Almost every aspect of our culture fights against the idea of being "poor in spirit." Pride is a virtue in the story of the Amercian Dream. Commercial after commercial seeks to convince us that we will not be happy without their product. We praise people who succeed at all costs. But this is not the culture of the Kingdom of God.
When Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," he is ushering in a new way of life. A life that lives and breathes humility.
James expresses the same idea in his letter that reflects many of the same teachings as the Sermon on the Mount. In James 4:4-6, he writes the following...
"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"
How would living according to this way of life impact your life? Your family? Your school?
So often, Christians focus on our behavior. Maybe we're starting at the wrong place. Instead of making Christianity a religion about outward appearance, perhaps we should make Christianity a way of life emerging from inward attitudes.
That means to we need to consider what story we are a part of. Are we part of a story focused on how God will bless us or how we will bless others? Are we part of a story focused on doing the right things or being the right people?
Jesus invites us into his story, a story built on self-sacrifice and humility. It's not just something did; it's who he was. And if we are going to be his followers, our story needs to be a part of his story.
shine!
Jason
When Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," he is ushering in a new way of life. A life that lives and breathes humility.
James expresses the same idea in his letter that reflects many of the same teachings as the Sermon on the Mount. In James 4:4-6, he writes the following...
"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"
How would living according to this way of life impact your life? Your family? Your school?
So often, Christians focus on our behavior. Maybe we're starting at the wrong place. Instead of making Christianity a religion about outward appearance, perhaps we should make Christianity a way of life emerging from inward attitudes.
That means to we need to consider what story we are a part of. Are we part of a story focused on how God will bless us or how we will bless others? Are we part of a story focused on doing the right things or being the right people?
Jesus invites us into his story, a story built on self-sacrifice and humility. It's not just something did; it's who he was. And if we are going to be his followers, our story needs to be a part of his story.
shine!
Jason
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