It's not about me, but I need to be about it

Yesterday was our monthly youth ministers luncheon. John Barton, one of the professors at Rochester College and a great guy, lead a discussion surrounding ministry and what Paul had to say in 1 Corinthians 3. Here is the passage we discussed:

Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?

After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say,

   â€œHe traps the wise
      in the snare of their own cleverness.”

And again,

   â€œThe Lord knows the thoughts of the wise;
      he knows they are worthless.”

So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you—whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. (1 Corinthians 3:1-23, NLT)

For most of people in ministry - if we are honest - this can be a struggle. We enjoy recognition. We want to hear that we are doing a good job. But how do you balance humility and success?

On one level, Paul reminds us that our ministry is not about us. We are not important - in the sense of being central. We are God's servants. Ultimately our ministry is about drawing people to Jesus, not us. Paul wrote, "Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow."

How many times have you heard a minister say "my church" or "my youth group"? I know I have said that before. Those phrases aren't intrinsically bad, but if we don't guard our attitude, phrases like those can twist our view on who should be the focus of our ministry.

On the other hand, God calls us to give our ministry our best. Paul wrote, "But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done." God will consider the quality of our ministry. He does not expect perfection, but He does expect faithfulness.

I have known ministers who have these two things backwards. They want their ministry to be all about them while they put little effort into it. They are self-centered and lazy. And what a terrible witness for the Kingdom.

Most ministers I know are not like that, but it only takes a few to give other ministers a bad reputation. I pray that I would never be guilty of this.

Regardless of what we do - ministry, a profession, a sport, or any other endeavor - God calls us to be selfless and self-conscience at the same time. We must never fall into the trap that this world is about us while at the same time treating everything we do with the understanding that our efforts can bring glory or disgrace to the One we serve.

It's not about me, but whatever I do, I need to be about doing it...and doing it well.

shine!
Jason

David Archuleta

I have never really been a big American Idol fan. In the past I might have watched it occasionally. But this season, one young man draws me back to the show every week. David Archuleta, a 17-year-old, is an absolutely phenomenal singer! Here is what he sang last night. Remember, he is only 17!

Long distance call from Korea

So early this afternoon, I am standing in the office of Patrick Mead, our pulpit minister, when my cell phone begins to ring. I look at my phone and see this really long number that doesn't remotely resemble any phone number in the US. Not sure who it is, I decide to answer. Maybe it's one of those guys from Africa who keeps emailing to help transfer a bunch of money. (Do you get emails from them too?)

Anyway, I pick up the phone and on the other end of the line a voice asks for me. I respond that this is Jason and this voice tells me it's Cary. Now you have to understand, Cary and I are friends from college. Not college as in Harding back in the late 90's. This is a friend from my Case Western Reserve University days (1988-1992).

Cary and I ran together for student government back in the day. Cary was the candidate for Student Body President and I was the candidate for Vice President of Finance. We, together with one other person, ran as a ticket of three. Without boring you with all of the details, we survived several political scandals and emerged victorious, defeating the ticket that everyone thought would win. Later, Cary went on to pledge and join the fraternity I was a part of, Beta Theta Pi. So we have history.

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you about the phone number. Cary was calling me from South Korea, where he is an executive for an energy company. He was calling me in the middle of the night during his "connect with the States time," which is somewhere between midnight and 4:00am. (Isn't technology cool that a friend from over 16 years ago can call my cell phone from Korea?)

What a great phone conversation we had. We talked about a variety of things, but a significant portion of the call was Cary asking about my faith journey. How did I go from being a non-believing, fraternity guy in the early 1990's to a minister today? It was refreshing to have a chance to tell my story. It reminded me of how far God has brought me.

Sometimes when we are in the middle of living life, we forget where God has brought us to. In the midst of stress, family, work, finances, and so much more, we can miss seeing the big picture. I never want to be caught looking in the rear-view mirror so much that I miss opportunities to grow, learn, and move forward. However, there is value from time to time in taking a breath, pulling out the spiritual "scrapbook," and looking at what God has done.

Cary, thanks for the chance to be reminded of God's faithfulness.

shine!
Jason

Laughing at someone else's pain

Last night I was invited to drop by an all-night birthday gathering of teenage boys. After Matthew's concert (which was great!), I drove over to the young man's house. I felt like I was in a spy movie as I drove into his driveway and sent a text message that I was there. Within seconds, the door opened and I was allowed to enter.

After saying hi to the guy's mom (she was barely awake on the couch), I ventured downstairs to the testosterone zone. Here I joined a group of teenage boys who were playing Looney Tunes Monopoly. Honestly, I didn't know that version existed. I did come to find out that this family has numerous versions of Monopoly. (I assured him that Parker Brothers was thankful.)

I plopped down on the couch as the boys finished their game. I watched as they added up their "laughs" (the name for dollars in this particular version) to determine who was the victor.

After the game was packed up, we plugged in the PS3 to get on the internet. (This was an educational evening for me. In addition to my ignorance about Looney Tunes Monopoly, I didn't realize you could surf the net with a video game system.)

Anyway, we proceeded to venture over to "YouTube" to watch some videos. Suffice it to say that the next hour or so consisted of laughter, tears, and nearly wetting ourselves. We watched a series of videos called "Funny Crash Compilations." I am not sexist one bit, but I think this is foolishness that boys enjoy much more than girls do. It was hundreds of episodes of people tripping, crashing, falling, and a multitude of other injurious situations.

I did feel a tinge of guilt rejoicing over the pains of others, but it was also pretty entertaining.

But what about the times we rejoice over people getting hurt emotionally?

What about the times we feel better about ourselves because we put someone down?

What about the situations where we wish harm to others so we can experience success?

There is something about us human beings that can cause us to find pleasure in someone else's pain. Maybe it's the fact that it's not us. Maybe it makes us feel better about our situation. Maybe it's our sinful nature that allows us to become self-centered and self-seeking.

Regardless of what the cause is, God calls us to explore a different way of living. Instead of laughing at someone's misfortune, God asks us to get down in the mess with them. Rather than rejoice in another's sorrow, God wants us to weep with them.

It is a different way of living. One that the world often looks at strangely. But it's one that often catches the eye of the person who is hurting. While the world often looks on in bewilderment, the downcast and untouchables of society capture a glimpse of the One we live to serve.

shine!
Jason

The Analogical Teleological Argument

Yet another paper I wrote for my grad class. It discusses an article by William Paley entitled The Analogical Teleological Argument. This is another nerdy, read at your own risk article. My thanks once again to Dr. Rubel Shelly for his corrections, suggestions, and challenges that helped shape this paper. I am now "caught up" on posting these things, so hopefully I will have something a little lighter next time. ;-)

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Paley begins his essay contrasting the difference between discovering a stone and a watch. While a stone has little visible sign of design, a watch, with all of its intricate moving parts, cries out for a creator. The way that all of the parts work together tells us "that there must have existed at some time, and some place or other, an artificer or artificers who formed it for the purpose which we find it actually to answer: who comprehended its construction and designed its use."

Paley continues by providing a number of supporting thoughts to defend his argument for design:

• The conclusion is not weakened if we have never seen a watch made.


• If the watch does not always run exactly right, it does not invalidate the conclusion.


• If we do not understand the role of each part, that does not bring uncertainty to our argument.


• One should not argue this was just one of many possible combinations that would have worked.


• We cannot imagine a principle of order apart from the intelligence of the watchmaker.


• It would be surprising to think that the mechanism of the watch was only there to make us think it was designed.


• It would be just as surprising to argue that the watch was simply the result of the laws of metallic nature.


• Being told you know nothing about the matter does not drive us from our conclusion.

After laying out his argument, Paley compares an eye to a telescope. As much as the telescope has an obvious creator, the eye, an even more complicated "device," must have a creator. He also argues that "the contrivances of nature surpass the contrivances of art in the complexity, subtly, and curiosity of the mechanism." The complexity of the eye – and its greater complexity than a telescope – confirms a creator.

Paley concludes his argument by comparing the eye and the watch. He reminds us once again that this is a matter of examining the evidence. I believe that Paley’s argument supports the belief in a creator. The intricate design of so many parts of creation points to an ultimate designer.

It is difficult to comprehend a world as complex as ours evolving into what it is today. Something as simple as a single human organ (e.g., kidney, brain) shows the complexity of our bodies. I am convinced that the more we learn through science and research, the more Paley’s argument is reinforced. As science discovers more and more about the intricate design of the human body and other aspects of creation, the Teleological Argument becomes even stronger evidence for the existence of God. As evidence for this, one need only take account of the recent works of such scientists as Gerald Schroeder and the impact of their science-based arguments on philosophers such as Antony Flew.

The popularity of Paley’s well-known argument declined dramatically in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries because of the work of Charles Darwin. Darwin’s evolutionary model claimed that the (apparent) order in living things has resulted from natural selection rather than divine creation. Today Paley’s argument is finding renewed debate and discussion as the "Intelligent Design" movement and scientists such as Richard Dawkins reconsider Paley’s argument in light of recent scientific discoveries.

While I believe Paley’s argument makes some excellent points, there is at least one area of possible weakness that merits discussion. As a "creation focused" argument, Paley’s argument could be used by a Deist as well as one who believes in the God who continues to work in the world. To be fair, I don’t believe that Paley set out to prove the existence of a God though His ongoing works. Rather, he hoped to consider the evidence from creation and show that this line of thought is a strong argument for the existence of God as a Creator.

The Cosmological Argument

This is another paper I wrote for my current grad class. It discusses an article by Bruce Reichenbach entitled The Cosmological Argument. This is another nerdy, read at your own risk article. My thanks to Dr. Rubel Shelly for his corrections, suggestions, and challenges that helped shape this paper.

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In his essay on the Cosmological Argument, Reichenbach not only presents his points and opinions, he does an excellent job of addressing many of the objections to his position. He begins by reviewing some of the earlier approaches to arguments for the existence of God. In this section of his essay, he discusses the explanation for God. He explores the Principle of Sufficient Reason, according to which "no fact can be real or existing, and no statement true unless it has a sufficient reason why it should be thus and not otherwise." While considering this principle, Reichenbach goes even further to detail the nuances of the principle and how it fits the Cosmological Argument. He argues that, "a moderate version of the principle, which holds that what is contingent or what comes into being requires a sufficient reason why it exists or comes into being." This is one of the foundations of the Cosmological argument because everything in the world is contingent and needs a reason to exist.

He also comments on the necessity of scientific and personal explanations. While scientific explanation requires natural features, events, and processes or conditions to occur, personal explanation is explained through the actions of a person. When dealing with the existence of God, Reichenbach argues that both are critical.

Another central question addresses the issue of what needs explanation. The argument for a sustaining cause deals with why the universe exists. In this argument, we would argue that contingent beings, those things which the universe consists of, are dependent on other beings for their existence. The argument for an initiating cause discusses the cause of the coming of the universe. This argument would advance the idea that since the universe exists, it must have a cause. While both arguments have some validity, Reichenbach warns us to be careful in situations where an explanation in terms of God competes with that of science. As science discovers more and more, we must look to science not as our enemy, but as a friend who often fills the gaps in ways that enforce the Cosmological Argument, not weaken it.

Reichenbach goes on to outline a Deductive Cosmological Argument from Contingency. This argument would advance the idea that a contingent being exists and that it has a cause or explanation for existence. Since contingents require another being to cause or explain their existence, a necessary being must be included among the beings which exist. Therefore, a necessary being must exist. This argument hinges on the fact that "contingent beings alone cannot cause or explain the existence of a contingent being." I agree with this statement and its validity. Therefore, I believe this argument is sound.

During his examination of this argument, Reichenbach openly discusses the objections to and possible problems with this method of thinking. The first major objection he tackles is the idea that the universe simply exists. Most of his explanation circles around the writings of Bertrand Russell, who argues that the Universe "just is." However, Reichenbach argues that the source of the universe demands an explanation. While he states that quantum physics raises some questions about indetermination on the subatomic level, Reichenbach would argue that even these subatomic particles require a cause. Contingent beings still need a necessary being.

The second objection he addresses is the idea that explaining the individual parts of the universe is sufficient to disprove the existence of God. Hume even argued that uniting the parts of the universe is an act of the mind and has influence on the nature of things. Reichenbach argues that how the parts are arranged is crucial to the argument because examining the parts may very well give an incomplete picture of the whole. In addition, we must consider why these parts exist and their role in the universe.

The third objection confronted the notion that the conclusion is contradictory. This objection centers on the fact that the cosmological argument presupposes the cogency of the ontological argument. Reichenbach explains that a necessary being is not self-contradictory, and its existence is not intrinsically impossible. He argues that this is not the logically necessary existence that Kant discusses. Rather, necessity in the Cosmological Argument is understood in the sense of a factual necessity. This is a convincing point because without a source or cause, there is nothing.

Reichenbach finishes by defending his thesis that God provides the best explanation. His essential claim is that God is not scientifically explainable and does not depend on anything else for His existence. In addition, God provides the best explanation of our expectations of the universe. Since there must be a cause to the universe and God is the simplest and most reasonable answer, the God of religion must exist and is the cause of all creation.

I appreciated his approach because he was not afraid to tackle objections and other points of view. Reichenbach did not try to cover up these arguments against his opinions. Rather, he addressed them in a variety of ways. He acknowledged those times when others made a valid point. But he also considered the weaknesses of those counterpoints. For example, when dealing with Hume’s quantum physics argument, Reichenbach affirmed the challenges but went on to see the limits of Hume’s point. By considering and talking about the objections and arguments, Reichenbach actually helps strengthen his task to prove God’s existence. The Cosmological Argument accomplishes that goal very well.

Back to my roots

The last week and a half have been a blur! Between preparing for our trip, Illuminate preparations, grad class, snow removal in the middle of the night, and all of the stuff I usually do, my life has been a blizzard of activity. But this past weekend was a chance to refocus on the things that are really important.

I have been distracted recently by all kinds of things that have gotten me off track. But God used this past weekend to steer me back in the right direction.

We took a group of 37 down to Ohio for a weekend at Castaway Bay for a youth trip. It was a great weekend, a good balance of fun and spiritual renewal. We spent time in the water park and time in worship. We played and we prayed. And one of my favorite aspects of the weekend; it was an intergenerational weekend where people of different ages had a chance to grow closer together.

So, let me tell you about a particular highlight of the weekend. After worship on Sunday morning, Cassie, one of our teens, told me she wanted to be baptized. To be honest, there are times I wonder if a teenager is really sure about what they are doing when they make that decision. There was no doubt that Cassie knew what she was doing. You could see it in her face. You could hear it in her voice. She knew it was time to get out of the boat and follow Jesus!

We had originally planned to find somewhere to baptize her in the water park after lunch, so we headed off-site to lunch. Well, in our search for a place to eat, we ended up at Chet & Matt's, a local pizza place. (We were in Sandusky, Ohio, the area where Michelle and I both grew up.)

Next to Chet & Matt's was the Meadowlawn Church of Christ, the church where Michelle grew up and where Michelle and I first attended when we met. There was no one there by this time on Sunday a afternoon, but we decided to make some calls and see if we could get in the church building to do the baptism there.

After a few calls, Vern - one of the members there - was able to come over and open the door. So we all went in and prepared for Cassie's new birth.

OK, so here is the cool part. I know this baptistry well. On May 10, 1996, I was baptized in this same church building and this same baptistry. As I was preparing to baptize Cassie it brought back memories of that day almost twelve years earlier. I remembered the excitement. The joy. The new beginning. I was reminded of the commitment I made to God in this very place where I was standing.

Then I recalled all of the times I had let God down since that day. The rebellion. The sin. The selfishness. There were so many times I had chosen to do what I wanted, not what God called me to do. That day seemed so long ago. That new start seemed like a distant memory in some ways.

But as I walked down into the water, I was reminded of God's grace.

As I saw the excitement on Cassie's face, I was reminded of God's love and mercy.

As I baptized Cassie I was reminded of the blood of Christ that continues to cleanse us.

This week I am renewed. I am renewed by the faith of a young girl who decided that she was ready to get out of the boat and follow Jesus. I am renewed by the fact that God is always there, always faithful, always ready to receive us. He is the Creator who loves His creation. He is the King who cares for His people. He is the Father waiting for the prodigal son to return.

He is the God that I know.

He is the God that I serve.

He is the God that I love.

And it feels so good to know that no matter where I have been, He loves me too.

shine!
Jason

It's just that simple

Yes, it’s just that simple sometimes.

We try to make Christianity so complicated. You have to believe this and that. You have to be against this other thing. If you get all of your beliefs about certain issues right, then you’re faithful.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are a lot of things about God and following Jesus that require serious conversations. Bible study is a vital part of our faith walk. Christians should never disengage our brains when it comes to our belief. God wants us to think.

But God also wants us to act!

Sometimes the most important thing we can do is act. Act by serving someone else. Act by being less self-centered. Act by seeking out opportunities to give of ourselves.

Jesus Himself said that we should love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. God wants us to use every aspect of our lives to follow Him. Our heart must learn to love God. Our soul must connect with God. Our mind must learn about God. And our strength should be used in the work of the Kingdom.

Following Jesus should never be only something we learn about; it must also be something we put into action. Lay down your life, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus for the adventure of a lifetime.

Yes, it’s just that simple sometimes.

shine!
Jason

Divine Omniscience and Voluntary Action

This is a paper I wrote for my current grad class. It discusses an article by Nelson Pike entitled "Divine Omniscience and Voluntary Action." It's kind of nerdy so read at your own risk.

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Much of Pike’s essay centers on the example of Jones mowing his lawn. The primary argument is that, if God is omniscient, humans cannot have voluntary actions. In continuing to revisit this illustration, Pike reinforces the idea that, if God knew in the past what we were going to do, we would not have the choice to decide what we will do. With the example of Jones, Pike argues that, if Jones decided not to mow the lawn, then Jones would cause one of God’s beliefs to be false. In a sense, Pike’s belief is that God’s foreknowledge precludes us from having the choice to change because it makes God a liar.

I disagree with Pike’s assessment, because he appears to consider God a temporal being who cannot work independently of time. When we treat God as a human and give Him human limitations, we will see his power reduced and expectations diminished. Pike argues that, if a human changes her mind and avoids acting in the way “God knows,” then she is going to prove that God is not perfect.

I believe that Pike’s argument fails because he does not take into consideration the belief that that God functions in a way where time does not constrain Him. God’s knowledge 80 years ago about something today does not mean that it was going to happen. I believe that God’s knowledge exists outside of the boundaries of time.

This presupposition is what much of the argument hinges on. If we accept that God’s belief “80 years ago” is a belief constrained by the limitations of time, then it is true that Jones must mow His lawn or make God into a liar. However, if we can acknowledge that God ultimately exists and functions outside the limitations of time, then His beliefs are not from the past or in the future. They are eternal beliefs that reflect how the world is at a given time, not what God knows will happen. This is a very challenging concept to grasp, but I believe that God exists outside of time, but is able to work within time. Much like a two-dimensional world cannot relate to three dimensions, I believe that God is in a dimension beyond our comprehension. This is what makes this dilemma difficult to figure out or understand. However, I do think that God is able to relate to us in our limited comprehension. That is part of the miracle of God; while He is timeless, He finds ways to interact with His creation which is bound by time.

I believe that God is omniscient, but humans still take voluntary actions. Even if God knows tonight what I am doing tomorrow, that does not ascribe Him control over all of my daily decisions. Because God is the “I AM,” He is a being that exists outside of the boundaries of this world. His knowledge of past, present, and future events in our lives does not rob us of voluntary action. As a matter of fact, this type of knowledge allows God to be active in the world providentially.

Going for 19

After an entire season, two teams will meet to determine who is the NFL champion. The New England Patriots are going for a record-breaking, perfect 19-0 season.

As I have listened to "experts" talk about the Super Bowl and New England’s historic feat, so many of them say it won’t be nearly as impressive if they lose the Super Bowl. Many have said that a loss during the regular season would have been less damaging than going undefeated to this point and losing the "big game."

Can you imagine the pressure those players must feel? Sure, in interview after interview they say it's just another game. But let's be honest, these players must feel immense pressure.

Christians often face similar pressure. Often we feel like we need to be perfect and any mistake makes our life seem less valuable, less worthy.

The difference between the New England Patriots and you and me, is that through our imperfections and "losses," God can often do His best work.

Should we strive to follow God? Yes!

Should we seek to avoid sin? Absolutely!

But when we make mistakes and fall short of what God created us to be, remember that through the blood of Jesus we can continue to play on like we never lost a game. It’s the grace of God that gives us the ability to be true champions in the Kingdom of God.

shine!
Jason

Back at it...

OK, so I have really been slacking lately on my blogging. That is for a host of reasons that I don't really need to get into. Suffice it to say I have been in a blogging slump. I guess I just lost my "blogging voice" there for a bit.

Anyway, I want to tell you about something really cool that happened the other night. It was the last Wednesday of the month which means 180 Connections Unplugged for our teens. During 180 CNX Unplugged, we put the chairs in a circle and turn out the lights. We usually start by singing a few songs and some prayer time to get us a little more focused. After we finished singing I read to the students a blog entry from a teenager I know from a previous youth ministry I was a part of. It was an incredible story about how this teenager had taken risks by befriending several homeless people in her town. (I did have permission from the student to read this blog, but I still kept her anonymous.)

Following the story, several teens shared how they had witnessed or even been a part of judging people based on outward appearance. Others talked about opportunities they had used to go against the flow and encourage and befriend "outsiders." It was a good discussion around the candle.

The highlight of the evening for me was the last ten minutes or so. As we wrapped up our conversation, I told the students we would sing "Arms of Love" and that during the song, anyone who needed prayers could walk to the center of the circle and sit. We had almost 50 students there, so the circle was a pretty good size.

As we sang the song, four students came to the center. We have a confidentiality agreement that "Whatever happens in The Hub, stays in The Hub." (The Hub is the room where we have 180 Connections.) Because of the agreement we have, I cannot share the specifics of what we shared. But all four students opened their hearts and shared some personal struggles they are facing. From finances to family, students shared some major concerns.

As they finished sharing, the other 40+ students gathered around them and formed a huddle to pray. We finished with a time of prayer and a lot of hugs, tears, and encouragement.

One of the things teenagers desire today is a safe place to share their dreams, desires, hurts, and pain. A place to let people see who they really are without judgment. The adult world often supplies a world of criticism and condemnation. I am glad to be a part of a church where teens can feel safe to share even the painful parts of their life. It's so cool to watch God at work in the act of redemption through grace, mercy, and love.

shine!
Jason

Be filled and overflow

So how do we allow God to overflow in our lives? How do we balance living in the world and not be influenced by the world?

There is a simple answer. It is not an easy answer, however.

The answer? Be filled with the Spirit.

I point us back to the same passage I wrote about last week. Paul wrote to the Christians around Ephesus, "So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:15-20)

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a simple, yet difficult task. We are surrounded by so many messages. There are so many voices telling us what to think, how to act, what is right, and what is wrong. There are so many different voices that it’s often hard to decide which one to listen to. That is what being filled with the Spirit is ultimately about.

God calls us to be more than people who can simply quote a Scripture. He wants us to be people who live a Spirit-filled life. And that requires more than knowing the Bible. It requires us to be people who see the character of God and strive to make that our character as well. It challenges us to look at the Bible not as a list of rights and wrongs, but as a glimpse into the heart of God.

shine!
Jason

Pouring over

Have you ever been in a situation where the things you wanted to keep secret seeped out?

Maybe you got mad and said a word you normally don’t say out loud.

Maybe you have always felt a certain way about someone and your real feelings slipped out in a moment of anger.

Maybe the words to a song where you "only listen to the music" came flying out of your mouth.

It’s all about overflow. In moments of pressure, frustration, anger, and stress, the things that have been building inside of us overflow out of us. Jesus said, "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)

This is where being a follower of Jesus meets reality. Paul wrote the following:

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-20)

I don’t believe that the singing and thankfulness that Paul talks about at the end of this passage are commands. Rather, they are the result of a heart that is so filled with the Holy Spirit that it overflows. When we are filled with the Spirit, worship becomes an outpouring, not a task. When we are filled with Spirit, thanksgiving becomes an outpouring, not a forced response.

When we focus on being filled with the the Spirit instead of doing church, we will begin to overflow with the love of Christ. Drink up!

shine!
Jason

The Shack

If you can only pick one book to read this year - besides the Bible, obviously - THIS is the book! The Shack, by William Young, is a great story that will likely challenge some of your perceptions about God, life, and faith. I don't want to say much, because I don't want to take anything away from the story, but I will say this is an incredible book. Move it to the top of your "must-read" list.

To find out more, visit www.TheShackBook.com.
 

shine!
Jason

Overflow

Have you ever had one of those experiences where you are physically exhausted, but spiritually energized? This past week I had one of those experiences at the National Conference on Youth Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

From Wednesday, January 2, through Saturday, January 5, I was blessed to be with some of the finest men and women in the world. Hundreds of people who have dedicated their lives to ministering to teenagers and their families gathered at the Atlanta Airport Hilton for this great conference.

Over the next couple of weeks I will likely write about some of the things that impacted me. But the one thought that continues to dwell in my mind is the idea of overflow.

Often ministers, especially youth ministers, get so wrapped up in their ministry that they forget to take time for themselves. I wonder how often I have been hard at work in ministry and neglected my own spiritual life.

My main goal for 2008 in ministry is not to create some new program or come up with a new approach to doing ministry. My primary ministry goal for this year is to focus on my own personal spiritual life so I can minister out of the overflow.

Too often I feel like I am experiencing spiritual drought while trying to provide living water to those around me. Have you ever tried to pump water from a fairly dry well? It takes a lot of work to get the water out.

This year I am going to aim for filling my well until it overflows. I want God to be so present in my life that His Spirit gushes out of me. I can't wait to see see what He has in store.

shine!
Jason

New Year's Resolutions

This is the time of year when people make New Year’s resolutions.

Some will buy a membership to a fitness club.

Others will pledge to break a bad habit.

According to the article Implementing New Year's Resolutions by Suzanne van Gils, here are statistics on how we maintain our resolutions throughout the year:

• Past the first week: 75%


• Past 2 weeks: 71%


• After one month: 64%


• After 6 months: 46%

If you have ever tried to make a New Year’s resolution these numbers may not surprise you.

So how do we follow through on our resolutions, especially our spiritual ones? I would recommend that we keep a few things in mind.

First of all, we serve a God of grace and mercy. The first time we fail doesn't mean we should give up. God is all about second chances. If your goal for 2008 is to be more giving, don’t quit the first time you act selfishly. God forgives you, so it’s OK to forgive yourself.

Second, remember that faith is a life-long journey. We are always working to improve as followers of Jesus. Don’t expect to change completely overnight.

Lastly, don't be afraid to ask for help. The church is a community of people all traveling the same journey; we are just at different places along the way. God brought us together to encourage and help each other.

It can be challenging to stick to our resolutions, but if we can remember that God and our fellow followers of Jesus are here and we are not alone, then we can strive to become more and more like the God we aim to serve.

shine!
Jason

What a trip!

I printed out the directions from Google Maps. It said 11 hours, 32 minutes. So we left late in the morning with our trip planned out. One long stop for dinner to stretch our legs and a few short stops for lunch and potty breaks.

As we headed south down I-75, it seemed like things would never get better. According to the Weather Channel, things should have cleared up by the time I got to southern Ohio. Lima was snowy. Dayton? Snowy. Cincinnati. Still snowing and windy.

As the sun began to set I was hoping for improved conditions; but as we approached Lexington, Kentucky, I realized things weren't getting any better. The traffic slowed to a crawl. It seemed like every quarter of a mile there was another car in the ditch or some kind of accident. Collisions, fender-benders, and even a jack-knifed semi. We saw it all. And this was while my speedometer seldom passed "10."

Heading further south in Kentucky, I figured this madness will finally end. But we continued to experience patches of snow and slick roads. Even Georgia wasn't safe. Finally, at a little after 3:00 am, we pulled into the parking lot. My legs were stiff from spending so much time holding down the break pedal. My back was sore from over 15 hours of driving.

I don't really want to complain, because I know we are doing a lot better than the people we saw in ditches and those being taken away by an ambulance. Sure, we had to drive a little longer than we planned, but our car is still in one piece and we are all safe.

However, I was reminded of an important lesson. It doesn't matter how much we plan or prepare, life can take turns we never expect.

Just like my 16-hour journey from Ohio to Atlanta, there are times we need to slow down and be cautious, and other times we need to press forward with focus. How things go in this journey called life are often determined more by the choices we make in the midst of storms or good times than by the situations we might find ourselves in.

The next time you feel frustrated, angry, or irritated, don't just push down the accelerator and try to speed through it. Hold on to God, think before you act, and focus more on what you can do than on what is happening to you.

shine!
Jason

Keep it in perspective

I just watched the New England Patriots make pro football history. Undefeated. 16-0.

I came to my computer to check the news and the "Breaking News" story was about the Patriots.

Let me preface that I am a big football fan. NFL. College. High school. I like it all.

But while many of the citizens of New England celebrate an undefeated season, they will drive by defeated people sitting on street corners, living in cardboard boxes, and struggling to survive. People, often defeated by situations beyond their control, will spend tonight in the cold. They will go without a meal.

There are people who probably paid more for a seat at this "historic" game than many people in the world earn in a year. All to watch a sporting event.

Like I said, I really enjoy football. But when entertainment consumes us and the justice of God becomes a footnote to our lives, have we lost our way?

Tonight and in the days ahead, sports analysts and armchair quarterbacks will spend hours and hours talking about where this 16-0 season stands among other sports accomplishments. Meanwhile, there is a good chance someone will sit outside of a sports bar wondering why no one is paying attention to him. While multi-million dollar athletes celebrate winning a game, someone will likely lose their life due to the effects of poverty.

I am not saying we should never enjoy entertainment. I am not saying that the New England Patriots' accomplishment should go unnoticed. But in the grand scheme of Creation, let's keep it in perspective.

shine!
Jason

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone! I came across this and it made me think of the many men and women who are away from their families this Christmas because they are serving around the world in our military. Thank you.

shine!
Jason

 

12 Days of Christmas

My wife, who loves barbershop/a cappella style music, came across this on YouTube. Even if this style of music isn't your thing, I think you will enjoy it. Merry Christmas!

shine!
Jason