I'll never regret

Less than two years ago, I stood before my Michigan church family and tearfully announced our plans to move back to Ohio.

Months earlier, my sister-in-law had tragically lost her husband to a heart attack. My wife had spent several months in Ohio caring for her sister and walking through those dark days by her side. In addition, my widowed dad was now in his mid-seventies and as an only child, I was becoming more and more uncomfortable living several hours away from him. After a time of prayer and discernment, it became clear to us that God was calling us home to care for family.

So I found myself standing before hundreds of people who we had known as family for over seven years, telling them of our plans. One of the things I said that day was that I would never regret the time my son would have with his grandpa. Little did I know how prophetic those words would be.

We moved back in early 2013, and that fall my dad ended up spending a few weeks in the hospital and almost two months in a rehab facility. It was at that time that Dad's doctor asked us to move in with Dad to care for him. For the next eleven months my wife, son, and I experienced the challenge of living in someone else's space and my dad dealt with having to share his space with us. At times it was very difficult for all us, trying to learn to live together, respecting each other's privacy, and finding a delicate balance of give and take. Some days it was agonizing and other days it was wonderful. There was laughter and there were tears; we experienced conflict and compassion.

But now, less than two years after we moved home and less than a year after we moved into my childhood home, we walk every morning past an empty bedroom, a constant reminder of a missing family member.

There is something that helps fill the emptiness. Even in the midst of loss, I find comfort. While my dad will never again sleep in that bed or walk the halls of this house, the memories linger like a gentle mist, like the fragrance of a candle.

Those words I spoke nearly two years ago continue to echo in my mind... "I will never regret."

Was it difficult to move away from a place we love and people we care deeply for? Yes.

Was it difficult to give up our freedom and move in with my dad? Yes.

But it was all worth it.

It was worth it to spend some time with my dad.

It was worth it to know that we brought some joy to my dad's last days.

And most of all, it was worth it because we were able to plant seeds that provided an eternal harvest as my dad accepted Christ in his last days.

shine!

Jason

If I were Ray Rice

I've been thinking about the latest turn of events in the ongoing Ray Rice situation and how things could unfold.

If you're unfamiliar with the situation, here is a thumbnail sketch: Ray Rice is a professional football player who was caught in video hitting his then fiancé (now wife) in an elevator. He was suspended for a few games and then later given an indefinite suspension which was overturned this week.

There are several principles at play in this situation. First of all, it is never acceptable to strike a woman. Ray Rice must be held accountable for his actions. We cannot be a society that allows violence, especially toward women, as a normal part of human interaction. If Ray Rice doesn't face any significant consequences, then we are signaling that entertainment value trumps human decency.

At the same time, we live in a culture that values second chances. As a follower of Christ, I belong to a kingdom built on grace and mercy, forgiveness and second chances.

So how do we balance the two?

Yes, Ray Rice should face appropriate consequences for his actions, and the opinions about those consequences are endless. However, should those consequences be permanent, without an opportunity for redemption and renewal?

At the end of day, I believe the best resolution to this issue cannot come from Roger Goodell, the NFL owners, other players, or even the fans. It must come from Ray Rice.

Ray, the ball is in your court. To use a football analogy, you have been handed the ball; where are you going to run?

Ray could run the victim direction, pleading to be signed to a team because he was unfairly punished. But I believe that sends the message that what he did wasn't that bad and everyone just needs to move on.

He could also go the entitlement route, reinforcing the idea that athletes and entertainers live by a different standard; as long as they win, off-the-field behavior is simply a distraction from what really matters.

There is a third option that could end in both redemption and renewal. Ray could admit he was wrong, apologize for his behavior, and commit to taking the rest of this season off to focus on his family and personal struggles.

This doesn't sweep it under the rug while also providing an opportunity for a second chance. It acknowledges that wrong that has been done, but gives the wrongdoer a chance to change, a healthy balance of justice and mercy, consequences and grace.

Ray could have a fresh start next season while making a statement about what really matters. With one simple but difficult decision, he could display humility and repentance, something that is sorely lacking in our society, especially amongst those who entertain us and often influence our children.

For those crying for justice, this may not be enough punishment. But Ray Rice isn't the first person whose violation of a societal standard brought forth condemnation and cries for punishment. Before you condemn Ray forever, remember the words of Jesus as he spoke to a crowd ready to stone a woman caught in the act of adultery: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” (John 8:7 NIV)

But as Jesus stands in the midst of public opinion, he would not just speak to those holding a stone in their hand, ready to bring forth retribution. He would look squarely into the eyes of the man who was caught abusing his future wife and say, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11 NIV)

What's your move, Ray?

shine!

Jason

Pride and imperfection

This week at Men's Fraternity, we were asked to share and discuss our Life Verse. Mine is found in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5:16... Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

One of the major reasons this verse speaks into my life is because I have always struggled with pride. I often think more of myself than I should. I'll dig into that a little more in a few minutes, but one of the biggest side effects of pride is disappointment. When we place our trust in ourselves, we look at our shortcomings as failures and follow that to the end result of considering ourselves failures.

But this is not about me. It's not about us. We are not the beginning or the end of what we do and who we are. We are recipients and conduits of all we have and are. Here is what the apostle Paul says about that...

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart....

For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:1, 5-7 NIV)

We are not living for ourselves or from ourselves. We are reflectors of the light that comes from God, the goodness that brings light into the darkness. Our lives are a living sermon designed to speak forth the wonderful gifts that God has lavished upon us.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and in the midst of the Creation story we encounter the pinnacle of God's creation, mankind, embodied in Adam and Eve. But it doesn't take long for pride to creep into the picture. Adam and Eve are deceived to believe that they can be like God. Instead of relishing the role they were given in God's world, they wanted to be "more." And in the process, they gave up the wonderful blessings God had given them.

Since then, God has been in the business of restoring the world. Through prophets, priests, and other people, God worked to make his creation the way he intended. This plan culminated in the coming of Jesus Christ, the ultimate, perfect human who showed the world what it means to fully live into our purpose and mission, making all things new.

While Christ's life, death, burial, and resurrection brought forth something new, our work is not yet done. Until Christ returns again, we are God's partners in making all things new. Paul describes it this way...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NIV)

When we are in Christ, we are conduits of the new life. We are made to offer glimpses into how things will be on that great and wonderful day. Renewal and restoration is not only something that will come when Christ returns; it is our daily mission now. We are Christ's representatives in this world, engaging in the work of reconciliation. Reconciliation in our homes, our families, our workplaces, our communities, and ultimately, the world.

But if we depend on ourselves to accomplish this, we will fall right back into that trap of pride. Yes, we are all blessed with various gifts and abilities, but they are not from us, but for us to use to bless others. Pride tells us that we are self-made. But in the kingdom, we learn that we are formed by God and given these gifts to care for, develop, and use for the betterment of the world and the expansion of God's kingdom.

As Paul begins to conclude his letter to the Corinthian church, he talks about his own weaknesses and shares these words...

But he (Christ) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV)

As I said earlier, I have struggled with pride most of my life. I often think more of myself and my gifts and abilities than I should. But Matthew 5:16 reminds me that I am a reflector, not a source of light. The goodness I display is not my own and the good works I perform are not out of my strength. God has been so good to me and blessed me so richly, but I continue to struggle with giving him the glory and the honor. I still find myself wanting to take credit at times.

God, thank you for your grace and mercy that I so often take for granted. Thank you that even in the midst of pride, you take the broken jar of clay that is my life, pour in your power, and make it possible for me to partner with you in the ongoing mission of making all things new, shining your light into this world that is filled with darkness.

shine!

Jason

One binge away

Over the last several months, my wife has dedicated herself to a weight loss plan and has lost nearly 30 pounds in the process. She still has a ways to go on her journey, but she has already accomplished a lot.

Several years ago, I made a similar journey where I lost over 50 pounds over the course of a year. Since then, it has been an ongoing battle to keep the weight off and stay in shape.

As I reflected on these two journeys, I was drawn to a scripture and as I read, I reconsidered how I have always understood, and even taught, this passage from Hebrews 12:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

I have usually thought of this throwing off as a singular action. Today, I will throw off my sin and follow Jesus. But as I reflect on this passage, I am more and more conviced that this throwing off is a lifetime event.

The author of Hebrews continues this passage with words that seem to support this idea...

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. (Hebrews 12:1-13 NIV)

When we decide to follow Jesus, our struggles don't instantly go away. Yes, I have heard of individuals who have experienced a supernatural removal of addictions and other sinful habits. But those are the exception rather than the rule.

For most of us, and even those rare exceptions, this battle against sin will never end this side of the grave. It will require that discipline described above.

Even though I lost over 50 pounds, every day I face decisions and temptations that could result in gaining back that weight. And in the four years since my weight loss, there have been a few times when I have gained back 5, 10, and even 20 pounds.

Whether we're talking about weight loss or a variety of other addictions and struggles, most people are one binge away from falling back into their old habits. Yes, it usually gets easier as time goes on and new habits become more deeply entrenched, but the danger is always present.

Our walk with Christ is much the same. While we make an initial decision to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, we will spend the rest of our lives continuing to throw off those things.

Following Jesus doesn't remove temptation and struggle, it provides a new direction, a new path to follow. But even along that new path, voices will call us to wander and speedbumps may trip us up. But when we focus on Christ and follow the way that he has placed before us, and when we are open to accepting the discipline that God provides, we will find healing that can only be found in the victor's circle surrounding the throne of God.

shine!

Jason

Transcending time and space

Last night, Michelle and I want to see the movie Interstellar. (There are no spoilers in this post, so read on.) At an emotional, pivotal point in the movie, two of the characters are having a intense conversation and one of them speaks these words that have stuck with me since I heard them: "Love is the one thing that transcends time and space."

Can love really transcend time and space?

If so, that leads to an even more challenging question: What is love?

To many in the world, love is an amorphous concept that involves emotions and relationship. Here are the first three definitions I found for love in the dictionary:

1) Strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties

2) Attraction based on sexual desire; affection and tenderness felt by lovers

3) Affection based on admiration, or common interests

But love is much more than an emotion; it is a person. Consider these words penned by John...

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 John 4:7-21 NIV)

Twice in this passage we read the words "God is love." While there are many places in Scripture where we read that God loves, these three words - God is love - are a game-changer. No longer is God just one who loves, God is the embodiment of love itself.

Love is much more than an emotion, it is a person. At it's core, love is someone rather than something.

So when the character in Interstellar says, "Love is the one thing that transcends time and space," she is absolutely right.

But God's eternal nature alone doesn't make love eternal. Love can't be love unless there is someone to share it with. Love cannot exist without more than one being present. This is where God becomes the embodiment of love: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit living together in perfect community. God is community, the soil in which love grows.

As beings created in the image of God, we are invited by God into community with God and each other. Through those relationships we are called to embody love. Love God. Love others. If God is love, then as image-bearers we must strive to be ambassadors and agents of love.

Yes, love does transcend time and space, but it also descended into time and space through the person of Jesus Christ. In Christ, we see what it means to be love from the one who is love. As members of Christ's body, we are partner's with God in bringing love into our relationships and communities.

shine!

Jason

I wish you were angry

When I was working in full-time youth ministry, there were many times that students would make mistakes (to be honest I usually kept pace with them). While there were times I responded with anger, and later regretted it, I usually responded with a phrase that would drive many of them crazy: "I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed."

Some of them would beg me to be angry. They would want me to be mad at them. While this request seems strange, I understand why.

Law is easier to deal with than grace.  Law gives us something to change that we can control. It also allows us to point back at the other person and their faults.

But grace disarms us. It leaves us vulnerable to face our own shortcomings. It makes it much more difficult to deflect our guilt by focusing on someone else's failings.

Grace forces us to face the reality that we have missed the mark.

Law, on the other hand, allows us to ignore our faults while pointing out someone else's.

This principle is even more true with those who we consider enemies or adversaries or who mistreat us. As he examines the idea of love, Paul writes the following...

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21 NIV)

We don't have the right to issue justice. This doesn't mean that communities can't enforce consequences. However, we are not in a position to exact justice or revenge. That responsibility lies with the only one who can stand completely faultless.

Our role is to receive and embrace the grace that God offers and then turn around and offer that same grace to those around us.

Grace brings life while law brings death.

Grace brings renewal while law brings decay.

Grace brings forgiveness while law brings judgmentalism.

Grace brings unity while law brings division.

If we want to build community, bring restoration, and begin transformation, we must extend grace.

Will some take advantage of it? Absolutely.

But I would rather love someone until their heart breaks than extend judgment until their heart hardens. I would rather love them into surrender than guilt them into submission.

If we're honest, the hardest part of extending grace to those around us isn't extending love, it's acknowledging that we are not God. Giving grace forces us to look into the mirror and admit that we are just as sinful as those around us. But maybe that kind of confessional, broken attitude is the soil that allows the Kingdom to flourish.

shine!

Jason

The real treat is to give

Yesterday, Michelle, Matthew and I spent a few hours handing out candy at my office for the Downtown Sandusky Trick-or-Treat. In the course of those two hours we gave away over 200 candy bars.

While I enjoyed seeing the smile on the children's faces and hearing "thank you" as they received their treat, one of the greatest joys of the day was watching my son.

For years, we have taken him trick-or-treating and he has gotten bags full of candy. He was the one saying thank you and receiving treats from generous people. But this time was dfifferent. He was the one giving the treats.

And what I noticed was that he seemed to find more joy in giving the candy than he had shown when he was the one carrying the bag gathering goodies. It was a reminder of something I have seen in many people's lives over the years. Giving brings more joy than receiving.

This is one of the principles of the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom built on giving.

When Paul was about to leave after visiting with the elders in Ephesus, a city where he had spent a significant time during his ministry, he spoke these words...

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:32-35 NIV)

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

This wasn't just a catchy slogan for Jesus, or Paul for that matter; it was a way of life. Jesus came into the world, giving up so much to be with us. Paul described it this way: (Jesus), being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8 NIV)

But Jesus did not give all of this up simply so we could be blessed. He blessed us so that we in turn could bless others. We are meant to be conduits of God's grace, not recepticals. We are rivers, not ponds.

Think about a pond you might find out in the woods. The water is stale and stationary, filled with green muck and  little sign of life. A river is alive, flowing clean water brimming with life.

God has always intended for us to be rivers of grace and mercy. When he first called Abram, God spoke these words to the man who would be the launching point of his plan to redeem Creation...

“I will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2-3 NIV)

God has always intended for us to give, and that is the richest blessing.

My experience has been that those who only allow themselves to be recepticals of God's grace are the ones whose faith is stale and those who are conduits have a faith that is living and active. The reality is that most, ok all of us, are somewhere in between.

In a society that tells us it is more blessed to receive, me must always remember that the truest blessings, the ones that bring real peace and fulfillment, are found in giving. This is a principle I was reminded of yesterday watching my son smile, laugh, and experience joy as he freely gave away hundreds of candy bars.

shine!

Jason

What's in your prayer?

Last night at our prayer team meeting at church, we were Dwelling in the Word as we considered the following passage:

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“ ‘Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth rise up

and the rulers band together

against the Lord

and against his anointed one. ’

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. (Acts 4:23-35 NIV)

As our group shared what captured their attention, several powerful ideas surfaced. One of these was that in the midst of persecution, difficulty, and trials, this group didn't pray for God to stop what was happening to them. Rather, they prayed for boldness.

There was no prayer that God would stop the persecution. No prayer that God would strike down their enemies. They didn't ask God to take them out of the situation or make everything better.

Enable us to be bold. Bring about healing. That was their prayer.

What if more of our prayers sounded this way? What if we started praying for God to change us before asking God to change our circumstances? How would that change our witness? How could that impact the world?

I don't believe that means we never pray for God to intervene in our situation. I don't believe that makes it wrong to ask God to protect us from our enemies and those who persecute us. However, it challenges us to consider what we focus on when we pray.

I am convinced that prayer's primary purpose is to change us, not convince God. Prayer is communication between Almighty God and me, a sinner. The perfect Creator and the imperfect creation. That tells me I am the one that needs to change, not God.

Will God hear my pleas and respond? I believe he will and often does. But most of the time, God needs me to be transformed so I can be ambassador of the Kingdom in whatever situation I find myself. Usually, I don't need God to change my circumstances; I need God to change my heart and mind so I can represent him in the midst of those circumstances.

Maybe if I prayed like that, God could use me more effectively to bring about the renewal and restoration this world desparately needs. How about you?

shine!

Jason

Grace + Law = Love

What a weekend!

Friday morning, I gathered with several dozen men for Men's Fraternity as we continued exploring the idea of grace in our study entitled One Way Love. We wrestled with the tension between grace and law.

Starting Friday evening, I spent a little over twenty-four hours with 40+ middle school students. During that time, I had the opportunity to get to know some really cool teens. We played games, discussed life, sat in the cold, and I was reminded what it's like to drive a van full of boys in early adolescence. If you've never done that, I recommend you give it shot. ;-)

On Sunday morning, I was back at the church for worship and then served as a small group leader with the middle school students.

Sunday afternoon we gathered with some other Chapel folks for our second session of Foundations: Serve, a 7-week class that helps us examine our spiritual gifts and how we can serve in the Kingdom.

The weekend wrapped up on Sunday evening with the Mission Impact Team, where we heard about a number of missional initiatives and a presentation from a missionary who is translating the Bible into a regional language in Mexico.

I am absolutely exhausted and completely uplifted, wondering how one can feel simultaneously drained and filled to the brim.

As I reflect on the weekend, my head is spinning. What does it mean to be in community? How do we live that out? What does it mean to be the church? Here are a few reflections...

Lead with grace

Whether we are dealing with those in the church or outside the church, we must always lead with grace. God did not come to us demanding perfection before offering forgiveness. As the apostle Paul wrote, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8 NIV)

If Christ died for us while we were still sinners, who am I to demand anyone else measure up to God's standard before I extend grace to them?

I believe one of the main reasons that so many people have a bad taste in their mouth when it comes to church is because Christians so often lead with law, not grace. We judge behavior and demand certain standards before we offer grace.

Look to the law

At the same time, we can't ignore the law. It is there for a reason. Paul wrote, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." (Romans 3:20 NIV)

Following the law will never earn us anything, but looking into the law will reveal what we need to change. The law is meant to challenge those of us who have a relationship with God; it is not meant to be used as a weapon against those outside the church. Paul said it this way: "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?" (1 Corinthians 5:12 NIV)

Followers of Christ cannot ignore the law, but neither can they obey the law to find favor with God or people. Which leads to my last observation.

Love with abandon

In a world where so many people are trying to earn their value and worth, Christians must be people who are first and foremost known for their love. Jesus came into the world and loved the unlovable. He ate at the home of a hated tax collector. He welcomed the prostitute. He offered mercy to the woman caught in adultery. To those who were outsiders, he offered an invitation and open arms.

Lead with grace. Look to the law. Love with abandon. When we allow the grace of God to provide us assurance and the law of God to offer guidance, then the love of God will flow through us into a world that is desperately in need of unconditional love. And isn't that what the gospel is really all about?

shine

Jason

Looking in the mirror

What did you get on the test?

How much do you get paid?

How did your child do in the sporting event?

How much of our energy do we spend on trying to look better than someone else?

We live in a culture that says...

Do you drive this car? It means you're successful.

Do you wear this label? It mean's you're stylish.

Do you drink this beverage? It means you're sexy.

But the way of the Kingdom offers a different approach to how we look at others...and ourselves.

Don't compare. We shouldn't look to others to determine our worth. In a world that tells us to measure our value by how much better or worse we are than someone else, God tells us that our value is found in the love He has for us.

Don't compete. This doesn't mean we can't play a game and try to win. However, when it comes to "real life," we should not use the performance of others as a benchmark. Instead, strive to do our best based on the talents and abilities God has blessed us with.

Don't condemn. So often we think we are "good" because we do something better than someone else. I'm not so bad because I don't do that sin.

At the end of the day, we need to look at ourself in the mirror instead of looking at someone else. The apostle James says it like this...

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:22-25 NIV)

If we do that and realize how imperfect we are, we might feel even worse. By comparing ourselves with God's word and competing with God's standards, we could find ourselves feeling condemned. But that is where God's grace comes into play. God's grace allows us not to be judged by our sins, but affords us the freedom to face our sins and make the changes needed in our lives.

And, just as importantly, we need to extend the same grace to others that God has given to us. The apostle Paul addresses this issue while writing to a church struggling with legalism and pens these words...

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. (Galatians 6:1-5 NIV)

Grace is not only something we receive; it's something we must share as well. But it will be challenging to do that as long as we depend on comparison to others for our value. Rather, look into the mirror of God's word, strive to make the right changes to become more like Jesus, and encourage others to do the same.

shine!

Jason

Earning grace?

When we are young, we are rewarded for our perfomance. Whether it's receiving accolades for a great athletic performance, good grades for excellent academic performance, or awards for artistic endeavors, we are trained from early on that how we do impacts our value.

As we transition into "the real world," we find this doesn't change much. We get paid based on our performance at work. We receive raises if we work hard and excel at what we do. Sometimes we even have the opportunity to earn awards and bonuses.

From an early age, we learn that if we work hard we can earn money and gain success.

And then we wonder why we struggle with the idea of grace.

Don't get me wrong. With all of it's challenges, I think that Capitalism is a fine economic system. It's not perfect, but I would venture to guess that many of those issues stem from the imperfect people - including me - who live within this system.

So what do we do?

Do we live in a dichotomous world where we have our work/economic life separate from our religious life?

Do we try to find an economic system that might reflect grace?

Do we allow the idea of earning bleed into our theology and work hard to God's love and salvation?

I have seen people try all of these, and more, and none of them work.

Living a divided life where work and religion are seprated leads to frustration and confusion.

I have never seen a perfect economic system, despite many valiant efforts.

Trying to earn God's love and salvation leads to disappointment, and often legalism.

So what do we do? Let's consider Paul's words in the book of Ephesians...

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. (Ephesians 6:5-8 NIV)

While Paul is writing to slaves, I believe this principle applies to those of us who work for anyone.

Don't work for your employer or yourself. Don't be a hard worker beacuse of what it is in it for you; work because you're a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

Ultimately, our allegiance is to the Kingdom. We are called to be agents of reconciliation and renewal. We bring light to the darkness, hope to the hopeless, and love to the unloved. That should be our focus at work, the "why" behind the how of our jobs.

But you might say, wait a minute, didn't Paul also say that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do? Those are the words in this passage, but we have to remember the larger context of the letter.

A few chapters earlier, Paul had written these words...

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV)

Our reward is not something we will earn; it is something we will receive because we live in the Kingdom. Instead of thinking of our reward as something we earn, think of it as something we receive as a result of living in a way that brings the presence of God into our midst.

Should we work hard in school, at our jobs, and in other aspects of our lives? Absolutely!

There's nothing wrong with wanting to earn an income, but remember that ultimately, our goal is to be a blessing when we are blessed. But as Paul reminds us in the passage above from Ephesians, are blessings are meant for us to use as opportunities to expand the borders of the Kingdom.

shine!

Jason

Indescribable

Last night at Pointfest, a Christian music event held at Cedar Point, I was able to see Chris Tomlin live for the first time. It was an incredible experience. One of the highlights of the evening occurred while Chris was singing his song Indescribable. I was standing in the Soak City parking lot, arms raised upward, looking into the sky as these words poured out of my mouth and into my heart:

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing God

All powerful, untameable,

Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim

You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing God

Incomparable, unchangeable

You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same

You are amazing God

You are amazing God

The same God that knows every star, every tiny point of light billions of miles away, knows me and my innermost thoughts and desires. And even more amazing is the idea that God still loves me in spite of what he knows about me.

The apostle Paul says it like this...

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8 NIV)

I think we so often take God's love for granted. We gather in buildings, surrounded by walls, covered by roofs, proclaiming a God who cannot be contained my either. There's nothing wrong with worshipping inside a building. But there was something about worshipping outside last night that provided a refreshing remembrance that my God is bigger than I could ever imagine.

Does this mean I won't face challenges? No, I live in a broken world.
Does this mean I won't fail? No, I am a broken person.
But it does mean that when I face challenges, I will never be alone. When I fail, I will not be condemned. The love and grace of God can overcome any challenge I face and any failure I might have.

Incomparable, unchangeable

You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same

You are amazing God

You are amazing God

shine!
Jason

A day of rest-lessness

It was meant to be a day of rest. For years and years, the Jewish people had celebrated the Sabbath. On the seventh day of Creation, God rested. And when God handed down the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, there it was...
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11 NIV)
But for many of them on this particular Sabbath, it didn't feel blessed, or holy. For several years, they had followed their Teacher. The one that Peter had called the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
The healer.
The one who loved those that no one else would love.
The one who raised Lazarus from the dead and sent demons into a herd of pigs.
But today, today he was dead. In a tomb.
Hope turned to hopelessness. Their dreams of salvation nailed to a cross, one painful swing of a mallet at a time.
They watched their leader, their rabbi, their friend, die the death of a common criminal.
I wonder what they did on that day between Good Friday and Easter. Did they really rest at all on this day meant for rest. Were they able to sleep or find peace?
Fast forward two thousand years...
How many of us live in that same place?
Between Good Friday and Easter.
Dreams that have been dashed.
Hopes that have been crushed.
Futures that look hopeless and bleak.
Sometimes in the midst of restlessness and hopelessness, we forget that Easter is coming.
There will come a day when the Son will rise again. When all will be made new. When hope will live and love will reign.
But between Good Friday and Easter, things don't always feel right. The world isn't as it should be. We often feel lost and confused. Like the disciples, we find it hard to believe that hope can still live after we watched it die.
There is only one who has died and been raised to eternal life. He went before us to make the way. He overcame all that Satan had to throw at him and stands victorious.
As we live in the dark place between death and life, the reality of this world, remember that in Christ, life wins! Even in the midst of pain and darkness, there is hope. Wherever you find yourself today, remember that in God's Kingdom, there is always hope, even when you can't see it. Even in the restlessness of the Sabbath between Good Friday and Easter, God is working to make all things new.

shine!
Jason

Till you give it away

This weekend, I celebrated seventeen years of marriage to my wonderful wife, Michelle. While I've not been a perfect husband, or anything remotely close to it, I hope I have learned something and gotten a little better.
As I reflect on the last seventeen years, I think about all of the things I've experienced and learned. One of the most valuable lessons is that love is not something we can hoard. It is not something we gain by grabbing or taking. Rather, it's something we gain as we give it away.
In a world where so many things seemed to be acquired through gathering, holding, and locking it up, love, the ultimate prize, is quite the opposite. It truly grows the most when we freely share it with others.
The happiest moments in my seventeen years of marriage, and throughout the other aspects of my life as well, are those where I gave away my heart and lived with reckless abandon for the Kingdom built on love. The Kingdom built by the great I AM.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. (Acts 17:24, 25 NIV)

Our God is not a God who demands, but rather, gives. And when the world lost it's way and forgot what love looked like, this God came down and dwelt among us as a fellow human. Love was not just an idea written in the pages of a religious document. Love became flesh, born in a dirty stable, and murdered because he loved the outcasts and sinners. Love was crucified because he loved freely, in the face of pride, position, and possession. Jesus was willing to give it all away, and in the end, he changed the world.
Michael W. Smith describes this kind of love with the following lyrics...

There was a man who walked on water
He came to set the people free
He was the ultimate example
Of what love can truly be
'Cause His love was His life
And He gave it away
You gotta give it away

If we want to experience true joy, true peace, and true love, we must learn that the only true way to obtain these things is by giving them away. In a world that teaches us to gather all we can, the Kingdom of God shows us that ultimate joy and peace are found along a different path.
If I have learned anything over the last seventeen years, it's the power of giving away love. My best moments as a husband have not been the ones where I was in control, but rather, the ones where I laid down my pride. And to be honest, that hasn't been nearly often enough. My best memories are usually the ones where I didn't necessarily get my way.
Do you want to find love?
Quit chasing it and start pursuing ways to share it.
Stop demanding it and start delivering it.
Instead of manipulating others to get it, start humbling yourself to give it away.
As Jesus so powerfully taught us in his life, and death...
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. (Mark 8:34, 35 NIV)
Love, the ultimate expression of life, isn't love, till we give it away.

shine!
Jason