A Mother's Day gift

Happy Mother’s Day!

Today is a special day when we celebrate our moms. Take time today to thank your mom for all she does for you. If your mom is no longer alive, thank God for your memories and the way your mom blessed you.

I realize that for many teens, their relationship with their mom is not the greatest at the moment. This may even be true for some adults. Like all human beings, moms are not perfect. They make mistakes. They say things they shouldn’t say. They do things they shouldn’t do. But don’t we all.

I believe that almost all moms have the best intentions in mind, even when they don’t get it right.

So let me challenge you. Don’t just thank your mom for what she has done. Forgive your mom for the times that she didn’t get it right.

Sometimes Mother’s Day is treated like a Hallmark card. It’s a nice little poem with flowers and cute words. Sure, we need to share kind words with our moms. Yes, we need to give our moms gifts and thank them for all they have done.

But we also need to be realistic. Maybe the best thing for your relationship with your mom isn’t just flowers. Maybe those flowers need to be delivered with words of forgiveness. Maybe you need to forgive your mom for her imperfections. And just as importantly, maybe you need to ask for forgiveness for the times you have fallen short. That would be a real Mother’s Day gift.

shine!
Jason

All the difference

Today is a special day in my life. Twelve years ago, on May 10, 1996, I was baptized into Christ.

When I look back, it is amazing to consider the journey I have been on since that day. From my marriage to Michelle to the loss of our moms. From moving to Arkansas to go to school to moving to Amherst, Ohio to start full-time ministry. From the birth of Matthew to homeschool. From my first ministry in Amherst, then to Belpre, and finally to Rochester.

Following Jesus is quite the adventure. It has its ups and downs. There are unexpected turns. Sometimes what you least expect is what awaits you around the corner.

As I reflect back on the twelve years since committing my life to God, I realize that God does not determine your path, but He follows you along the way. In moments of victory, God rejoices with us. In moments of sorrow, God sheds a tear. Even in moments of disappointment and failure, God is the Father who is waiting to embrace us.

God never promised that following Him would be easy or without pain. But He did promise a crown of life to those who endure. In spite of all the bumps and bruises, I have discovered that a life of pursuing God is the life abundant that Jesus talks about. It may not look like success according to the world's definition, but it's something far better. This is the life I have chosen, and in the words of Robert Frost...

Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference.

shine!
Jason

Cover up

We are always looking for new ways to define ourselves on the outside.

Women (and some men) wear make-up.

We shop for clothing with certain labels and fashions.

We go to the gym to build muscles and look more toned.

We go to the salon to get our hair done.

We go to the tanning booth.

None of the above are intrinsically bad. But they can all be used to define us on the exterior to avoid dealing with the blemishes inside. And sometimes the focus on the outside can be taken to the extreme.

Celebrities and everyday people struggle with eating disorders; some do so to achieve the "right" thinness.

Some people take excessive medications to achieve the "perfect" figure.

Others will spend thousands on cosmetic surgery in an attempt to defy the laws of nature and aging.

Why are we so fixated on external appearances?

I would argue that for many it is an excuse from the pain, scars, and various other internal imperfections we all wrestle with.

I find it interesting that those who the world often considers "the most beautiful," are the ones who end up in rehab, prison, broken relationships, and sometimes even death.

In spite of all the evidence around us, so many still try to reach for the artificial satisfaction of external perfection. And how has this impacted our youth? This is where I am really concerned.

I talk with teenagers almost every week who struggle with eating disorders, cutting, depression, low self-esteem, and so much more. They feel inferior and worthless. They feel judged and rated by everyone around them. Unless their peers call them beautiful and sexy, they feel they are not good enough.

This is madness. I don't say that to say that the teenagers are to blame. What about the parents and other adults that feed this monster? How often do we fall prey to the message of external appearances? When do we place more value on our teenagers' looks, clothes, athletic abilities, intellect, and more?

Sure, we need to encourage our youth to be the best they can be, but why do we so often resort to defining who they are by what they do? I would argue there are at least two main reasons:

First of all, we have bought into the lie. We watch TV just like they do. We read magazines that propogate the same messages. We play the same games in our lives that they do. We worry about the car we drive, the clothes we wear, and what neighborhood we live in. We compare ourselves to those around us to see who appears - and I emphasize the word appears - to have the best life and lifestyle. We are bringing the lie into our homes, and the in process poisoning our children.

Second of all, too many adults - I believe - try to make their children an extension of themselves in an unhealthy way. For example, I watch parents who appear to base their value on the athletic ability of their child. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your child. I smile with pride when Matthew has an accomplishment. But Matthew's abilities do not define who I am. My self-worth does not hinge on my son's performance. But for some parents, this appears to be the case. Not only does this reveal the adult's lack of self-confidence (likely fueled by a life-long pursuit of performance and appearance based value), it also places an unfair burden on the child.

Maybe it's time for a reality check. Maybe Jesus was dealing with more than the pride of the religious leaders of His day when He said, "You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matthew 23:27-28)

Maybe when Jesus spoke those words He was touching on a weakness of all human beings. Our sense of pride and focus on our outward appearance. Our struggles are not new and the challenge has existed for thousands of years. When we can look like we have it together on the outside, we can try to ignore the inside.

One of the biggest complaints I often hear is that Christians don't look much different than the world. Maybe we need to challenge the church to look inside of ourselves and stop trying to cover up like the world. I wonder how much differently our message would be received if we were willing to stop the cover up.

shine!
Jason

Journey with Jesus update

This past Sunday I presented my "Journey with Jesus" challenge to our students. Right now there are at least ten students who are participating. I think there are one or two more who do not have a good internet connection at home and they are going to write out their answers and bring them on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Anyway, I am excited with the participation. If you want to know more about "Journey with Jesus" visit www.180ministry.org.

Here are a few comments from students so far...

From Matthew 1: I think I can learn something from the way Jesus was put on this earth. If God humbled himself so much that he put his son in such an uncomfortable genealogy, I should be even more humble.

From Matthew 2: One thing I can improve in my life from what I learned is again to have faith that God has a plan for my life and he will always take care of me and will never leave me like he took care of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus and provided for them while they were hiding in Egypt.

From Matthew 3: I need to start producing "better fruit!"

From Matthew 4: One thing that can improve my life is to not give in to temptation.

From Matthew 5: One thing I can improve in my life that you have to be a light to the world, I know when you're a little kid in Sunday school you sing this little light of mine you're more interested in the catchy tune but you really do have to be a light and you can show people Jesus.

I love teenagers. They make me smile.  :-)

shine!
Jason

Finally

What a relief to hear the words, "Jason Castro is going home." This will be really brief, but since I have not had an American Idol entry in a while, I guess I am due.

Last night was a weird night on AI. However, my personal favorite, David Archuleta - in the words of Simon - "crushed the competition." Other than David, everyone seemed to be a little off their game.

Jason should have probably been gone a few weeks ago, but his staying power is a testimony to the voting power of the tweens. It is amazing what can happen when a bunch of eleven and twelve-year-olds have cell phones.

Anyway, Jason is gone, and there are three great performers left to fight it out next week.

shine!
Jason

Going pastoral

This morning at 6:45am, I met with four men whom I greatly respect. These four men serve as shepherds here at the Rochester Church. Our conversation this morning centered on shepherding the families with youth.

I don't think I have ever been more excited about the future of the ministry I am a part of, or the future of the Rochester Church. One of the areas where Rochester has not always been strong - and for that matter, most churches have not - is in the area of shepherding families. Especially for larger churches, this can be a real struggle. However, I feel as though we are making changes and moving in the right direction to correct this situation.

This morning we discussed how we can effectively connect with every family and help them in their spiritual journey. While we are in the early stages of this process, I feel like we are moving in the right direction. I am sure there are bumps and potholes in the road ahead, but I am thrilled that we are moving down the road.

In most churches, there are a significant number of people who come to the building for worship and that is the majority of their connectedness to their church family. This can create a huge vacuum in terms of support, encouragement, and rebuke (when needed) for people in their spiritual formation. Without that network of people around you, the journey of following Jesus can become overwhelming and people often give up or settle.

We as a family of God must do all we can to prevent that from happening in people's lives. We must get outside of our comfort zone, reach out to those around us, and create an enviroment of community and caring.

In this busy and complex world we find ourselves in today, people have connections all over the place - cell phones, email, children's sports teams, etc - but many people are not truly connected anywhere. We run from place to place and activity to activity, but we struggle with putting down roots that run deep.

The result?

Marriages fall apart. Families are crumbling. Lives are shattered. And much of this happens right under our noses because people do not have a safe place with significant relationships to share their burdens.

My dream is that Rochester Church becomes a place where families and individuals can feel safe to share those burdens and struggles - as well as their victories - so we can get away from being a religious country club and become the hospital for those who are hurting. And if we are honest, the vast majority of us are hurting in some way.

There is a song by Casting Crowns called "Stained Glass Masquerade" that summarizes what I am trying to say. I will end with the words to that song:

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small

Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay

shine!
Jason

SPLASH: Baptism as change

This is the first part of a seven-week series that will explore the significance of baptism as a part of our spiritual journey. This lesson was presented on April 16, 2008. Click on the image below to hear the lesson.

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Journey with Jesus

I wonder how many people know who Jesus is but don’t really know Jesus.

In the month of May, our teenagers are being challenged to take a Journey with Jesus. Maybe you have never taken the time to read through an entire Gospel before. This could be your chance.

There is information about Journey with Jesus available at our ministry’s website, www.180ministry.org.

In the book of Acts, Luke writes the following: The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

I wonder how often people look at us and recognize us as people who have been with Jesus. I wonder if we are followers of Jesus or simply admirers of Him.

I am convinced that way too many people who claim to be followers of Jesus are just that, admirers.

I challenge anyone to spend a month with Jesus and see what happens. Maybe we should be a little more like Peter and John. Maybe we should be a little more bold about our faith. Maybe we should be people who are willing to do more than talk about Jesus.

Maybe we should spend more time with Him so we can learn to live more like Him.

shine!
Jason

Pizza from heaven

Tonight we had a meeting for our ministry leadership team. As we often do, we had dinner before our meeting.

Tonight's meal was pizza from Kruse & Muer, a Rochester restaurant with great food. One of the pizzas (which was requested by me) was Rocky's Creation. Here is the list of ingredients: Cajun Gulf shrimp, diced tomatoes, garlic butter, artichoke hearts, fresh herbs & cheese.

OK. At this point some of you are thinking, "That sounds disgusting."

Whatever you might think, I believe that this is the pizza that will be served in heaven. Only God could have created such an incredible combination of flavors.

You may not agree with my taste in gourmet pizza, but I am sure you have some weird food likes that I could do without. It reminds me of the fact that we have a God who loves variety. We are each created uniquely by God. In the words of the Psalmist, "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it." (Psalm 139:13-14)

If everyone were like me, the world would be a boring place. (And Rocky's Creation would cost more because of the demand.) So I am glad that we are all unique in our own special way. It makes the world more interesting and displays the wonder and creativity of our God.

shine!
Jason

Tears at the bar

Sometimes it's weird how theory meets reality.

Last night at small groups we talked about "Issues for Girls." Our conversation centered around some of the struggles and weaknesses that girls face in dating and relationships. One of the points we discussed was that sometimes girls will think things like, "If I don't do what he wants to do then he might leave me." I have seen many girls compromise their morals or remain in a relationship they really didn't want to be in because of thoughts like this.

What's funny is that as I talk about some of this stuff (as I have been over the last several weeks on Sunday nights), I generally get one of two reactions. One is, "Whatever, Jason." This one is usually followed by anger, smart remarks, or general disdain. The other reaction I often get is this "deer in the headlights" look from students who have not been there yet. Occassionally (and usually from a student who has more experience in this area than she wishes), I hear that what I am saying makes sense. In a few cases I might even hear, "You're right."

Anyway, after last night's session, I stopped at Chili's to grab a salad for Michelle and I to share. (Side note: Have you ever noticed how much cheaper it is to eat when you are trying to lose weight? We spent less at Chili's last night than I usually spend at McDonalds.)

So after I ordered my food, I went to the bar to watch the Piston's game while I waited. Two seats down was a girl who I am guessing was in her late 20's or early 30's. Somehow we got into a conversation about the Piston's game. She was friendly and smiling. We didn't share many words, but her overall countenance was positive. I noticed the drink at the spot between my seat and hers, so figured she was there with someone.

After we both went back to watching the game, the bartender, another woman who was obviously her friend, began talking to her. I wasn't eavsdropping, but I was sitting close enough that I happened to hear a few words that they shared. It seemed like they were talking about a guy that one of them was dating.

Less than a minute after their brief dialogue, a guy comes and sits down in the chair between the girl and me. Suddenly, her whole appearance seemed to change. The smile that she had on her face had gone away. The guy, whose back was to me, must have been giving her some kind of look. The bartender friend walked up at that point and tried to make a joke to break the apparent tension between these two.

I was still waiting for my food, wondering why it seemed to be taking so long.

I kept watching the game, but occassionally glanced at the young woman, since I had to look over her to see the TV. It was a minute later that I saw her wiping small tears from her eyes and the guy she was with appeared to be staring blankly at the same TV I was.

Then everything I had talked about earlier started coming back to mind. What feeling caused this girl to stay in this relationship? What lie might be keeping her from leaving this guy? Was she being abused? Was she selling herself short? Was she willing to settle?

I have to be honest. My pastoral side kicked in about this time and I just wanted to ask if everything was OK. But I knew this was not the time or place for something like that.

It was just a minute later that my food was ready and I left the restaurant. I looked back one last time and watched the woman wipe another tear away from her eye.

Then I wondered...what teenager that I had spoken to earlier that night will be sitting somewhere on some night in the future with someone less than she deserves or that treats her like less than she is?

shine!
Jason

The clothing makes the man?

This past week we were blessed by the presence of over 30 guests from South Oakland Shelter. SOS is a ministry that helps people who are at a challenging place in life. These are people just like you and me who have lost their job, their homes, and sometimes even their families.

As I reflect on this week and some of the great people I met, I think about the words of James:

My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn't this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn't it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren't they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?

Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. (James 2:1-9)

How often do we judge people based on their appearance? Do you ever find yourself treating someone different (or at least thinking differently about them) because of their clothing or the car they drive?

As I look back at the life of Jesus, He spent time with the people no one else would. Rich or poor, they were worthy of His time. If we are trying to follow Jesus, shouldn't we strive to be the same?

shine!
Jason

The obstacle course

Last night, while Michelle was at a meeting, Matthew and I traveled to a nearby park.

We spent a significant amount of time at the swings, where Matthew made friends with a young adult who was on a swing as well. It helped that she worked at Tim Horton's (the home of one of Matthew's favorite treats - TIMBITS!).

However, the other highlight of the park was the obstacle course that Matthew created. It went kind of like this: You start by sliding down a slide in one of the jungle gyms. From there you run to one of those spring riding animals (you have to go back and forth ten times). Then you get on the spring riding animal next to that and go back and forth nine times. After that, you run to a nearby picnic table (which you circle around), then run to another jungle gym, where you slide down another slide. Finally, you end up back at the original jungle gym and go down the slide where you started.

Whew! I got tired just typing that.

Anyway, after running the course, Matthew tells me he is tired. (I'm not sure I would have even finished.) Then he proceeds to tell me that when he gets bigger, the obstacle course will get bigger, and when he is 16 it will be a really big course.

I wonder how many of us spiritually are still running the same basic course we ran when we started our adventure of following Jesus?

In school, work always got harder as we got older. Second grade is harder than first grade. Third grade is harder than second grade.

In sports, it gets harder the higher you go. High school football is more work than middle school. College football is more work than high school.

But for some reason, it seems like many Christians never strive for that next level. We settle for the basics that we started with early in our journey. How often have you heard of a Christian talking about moving from Bible reading, to in-depth Bible study, to Lectio Divina?

Granted, some people don't talk much about their spiritual routine. But why is that? Sure, we don't want to brag. But at the same time, shouldn't we share the ways that God is calling us to new levels of spiritual growth?

I must admit, this has been a struggle for me since I became a follower of Jesus in my mid-20's. It was not something I grew up around. And to be honest, it's not something I have seen modeled or taught by many Christians I have been around.

My challenge to you - and to me - is to find a way to grow beyond your current practices for spiritual development. If you need help, there are a number of books out there. One I have some experience with is Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster. I have also heard good things about The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives by Dallas Willard.

If you see me on a regular basis, keep me accountable. My goal is to add at least one spiritual discipline to my routine this summer. If I am completely honest, I struggle with engaging in any kind of discipline on a daily regular basis. I don't always make the time for it and I often let it slide when life gets busy. But isn't the point of spiritual disciplines to create a quiet place in the midst of a crazy life? That is what I desperately need. And if we are all honest, it's something we all could use more of.

shine!
Jason

Reborn Identity

This past weekend, 8 students, my family, and I traveled to Beamsville, Ontario to attend the 2008 Great Lakes Youth Rally. It was a great weekend where I saw old friends and made new ones.

We left Friday morning and headed to Port Huron, where we would cross the border into Canada. Crossing the border into Canada was pretty easy. The lady at the border didn't ask to see any papers or anything. Maybe it was the van full of teens and all the subsequent paperwork that scared her off.

Before heading to Beamsville, we decided to head over to Niagara Falls. Most of the students had never been there before. It was amazing to be reminded of God's power as we watched millions of gallons of water flow over the Falls. God created some pretty cool stuff.

While we were at the Falls, we ran into the guys from Watershed. It was really random, but it was pretty cool at the same time.

Then we arrived at Great Lakes Christian College (which is actually a high school). The people there were amazingly friendly and welcoming. From the minute we walked in the door, I felt like I was among friends.

The entire weekend was a great experience. It was great to worship with Watershed. I felt honored to be a part of their last weekend together for a while. I know it was an emotional time for Chris, Vicki, and the other guys in the group.

Our teenagers had a great time making new friends, growing closer to one another, and experiencing God. On Sunday morning during our worship time, Luke Jenema had a chance to share a little of his experience with Mission: Cincinnati. It is always encouraging to hear how God is working in the lives of students. 

One of the most amazing parts of the weekend were two guys that I was able to meet. Ryan was born with a hole in his heart. We sat and talked for quite a while on Saturday afternoon about his life and what he had been through. According to the doctors, Ryan shouldn't even still be alive.

Then there was Joey. Joey was attending Great Lakes until he was diagnosed with cancer. As I sat talking with this teenager, I was amazed by his faith and his attitude. He shared with me that he had been in the hospital on Wednesday (two days before the youth rally), but how glad he was that he was able to come for the weekend. I was humbled by the faith of this 17-year-old. Although he has been through chemo and a host of other medical procedures, Joey continues to live life to the fullest.

The theme for the weekend was "Reborn Identity." It was a time to be reminded of our purpose and our identity. God created us for more than just going to church; He created us to be the church. My prayer is that each of us can find our place in the world to serve others and bring the love of God into this world.

shine!
Jason

Baptism as change

Wednesday night at 180 Connections, we talked about baptism as change. We explored the idea that in baptism we are declaring to God and the world that we are refocusing our life.

I want to challenge you to consider your focus. If you have been baptized, have you reoriented your life to pursue a path of following Jesus? Do your decisions and actions reflect the fruit of the Spirit?

If not, think about what you can do to set your aim in the right direction. In the words of the apostle Paul, "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." (Colossians 3:1-4)

If you have not been baptized, would you like to join God’s dream for this world? Would you like to have a life of purpose that seeks to make a difference? Then God calls you into a passionate, cross-centered relationship with Him.

As our students take a deeper look at baptism in the weeks ahead, my prayer is that they will discover—or rediscover—that baptism is more than a tradition or ritual. It is an integral part of our faith walk which reflects the character, nature, and kingdom of God.

shine!
Jason

The Uniqueness of Religious Doctrines

This is the final short paper for my Philosophy of Religion class. This has been a great experience and I have learned so much. In this essay, I am considering Paul J. Griffiths' thoughts on the uniqueness of religious doctrines.

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Griffiths answers those who subscribe to the pluralistic view of religions. His main point, and the focus of his essay, is that many religions include a number of particularist and exclusivist doctrines which contradict the pluralist view. Griffiths argues that there are five important dimensions of religious doctrine. While they overlap, each has its own unique contribution to doctrine. Griffiths uses Christianity – specifically the Anglican variety – as well as Buddhism as his primary examples.

The first dimension addressed is Religious Doctrines as Community Rules. Religious doctrines function as rules which outline the conduct of the members of the religious community who subscribe to a particular faith. Griffiths states: "This dimension of religious doctrines is perhaps the most basic of all; from it the others flow." (p. 590) While all five dimensions have areas where they overlap, this first dimension significantly impacts the other dimensions more than any other. It is the central dimension of all five.

Next, Griffiths discusses Religious Doctrines as Definitions of Community Boundaries. Religious doctrines are central to dictating the boundaries for behavior and belief. Often these boundaries are created to exclude things from the community which are considered untrue, inadequate, or misleading. They are the barriers that protect the community from unwelcome behaviors and beliefs. For the Christian, these can include topics such as the understanding of the person and work of Jesus Christ or the Trinity.

The third dimension, Religious Doctrines and the Spiritual Experience of Communities, entails the spiritual experiences that shape the doctrines of and are formed from the doctrines of a religious community. One way Griffiths illustrates this dimension is by discussing how the prayer practices of Christians have both shaped and been shaped by doctrines about the Virgin Mary. Spiritual experience can have a significant impact on what a community believes.

The fourth dimension is Religious Doctrines – Catechesis and Evangelism. These two areas of this dimension focus on making members of religious communities. Catechesis is the process of teaching and training with regards to the doctrinal and practical aspects of the religion. This can include elements of creeds, liturgies, religious practices, and more. The ultimate goal of catechesis is the formation of a faithful Christian or adherent to whatever religion is involved.

Evangelism is the process which converts a person to a particular religion. For those who were not raised in a certain spiritual community, this is the process which recruits new members to that community. When evangelism is successful, new members begin the process of catechesis. Doctrine is generally central to both aspects of this dimension.

The final dimension Griffiths discusses is Religious Doctrines and Salvation. While it may look significantly different for various religious communities, almost every community of faith addresses the subject of salvation in some form. This dimension is one that is especially troublesome for pluralism because doctrines – especially those involving salvation – often cannot be abandoned by a religious community which takes its beliefs seriously. Since many religious groups have a specific doctrine of salvation, they cannot ignore that belief and accept the pluralistic view.

While most religions share these five dimensions, Griffiths does go on to address the uniqueness of Christian doctrine. Christianity is unique because, in the words of Griffiths, "a strong and interesting doctrinal claim is being made here, a claim as to the singularly and salvific centrality of a particular historic event." Christianity makes a unique claim which cannot logically co-exist with any other doctrine of salvation. It teaches that salvation is found in the person of Jesus Christ and through his death, burial, and resurrection. This specific of a salvific doctrine is unique to Christianity.

If we are going to have serious dialogue with other religious groups, the unique nature of Christianity must be a part of the discussion. If we ignore the uniqueness of our faith, then our discussions with other religious communities will be hollow and of significantly less value.

Not only do I affirm Griffiths' position, I feel that his position makes the pluralist position logically impossible. Unless one is willing to discount Christianity as a false religion, she cannot be a pluralist and remain consistent. Either Christianity is a false proposition, or pluralism is a false position. One cannot advocate a philosophy that accepts all religions when at least one of those religious communities accepts an exclusive salvific event.

Religious doctrines are indeed unique as outlined by Griffiths in his essay. While many religions will share some similarities which produce common ground for dialogue, we must acknowledge that many religions, especially the Christian faith, include doctrines which nullify the possibility of pluralism and make a claim for exclusivity.

Unfortunately, some who disagree with pluralism will swing to the other extreme and take exclusivity to the point of arrogance and judgmentalism. We must always approach inter-religious dialogue with a sense of humility balanced with a firm belief in our position. This requires us to be diligent students of our beliefs as well as those with whom we disagree. If we want others to honestly listen to our position, we must be willing to accord them the same attitude of openness. We can listen with an open mind without sacrificing our position or affirming their views as ones to which we subscribe.

One last issue Churches of Christ must consider in the pluralism/exclusivism debate is our exclusivity as a religious community. This is not unique to our tribe, but we have been well known in the Christian community for our claims of exclusivity. While we have our unique doctrines that shape our community as Griffiths discussed, we must be careful not to draw firm lines and distinctions where God has not. If we have a healthy attitude that acknowledges traditions as traditions rather than salvific issues, we can respect our heritage while maintaining healthy dialogue with the rest of the Christian community. We must always be willing to examine every aspect of our doctrine and heritage against the Word of God. While God’s nature will never change, our understanding can and will change as our approach to Scripture and the culture we live in continues to change around us.

Reflections on the death of a parent

It was nine years ago today. There are those pivotal moments in your life that you never forget. Weddings. Births. Deaths.

April 16, 1999, was the day of the phone call that would reverberate through the rest of my life. My dad had called earlier in the evening and I could hear it in his voice. Something bad had happened. I returned the call expecting to hear that my aunt who had been sick for some time had passed away.

Instead, I heard the words that I will never forget. "Your mom has gone to be with God."

A host of emotions rushed through me at that moment. Disbelief. Anger. Sadness. I just started saying, "No...no....no."

Instantly my world had been turned upside down. The woman who brought me into the world was gone.

The next couple of hours were filled with crying, packing, and dealing with a feeling of numbness. I didn't want to believe it was true.

Michelle and I were in Arkansas at the time, so we had to arrange plane tickets to fly back to Ohio. It was already after 10:00pm by the time we found out about my mom, but within minutes friends of ours were at our home. One couple even spent the entire night with us and helped us get to the airport.

Then there was the plane flight home the next morning. It was during that time that God began to speak grace and mercy into this moment of grief. There was one passage that I continued to read over and over. Paul's words began to bring a sense of peace.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)

In the days, weeks, and even years following, this verse continued to bring healing to a wound that may heal but will always leave a scar.

I still remember arriving in Ohio and the long drive from the airport to my house. I remember walking in the door and seeing my dad for the first time.

One of the strongest memories of coming home was the walk down to where my mom died. Her fatal car accident occurred less than half a mile from the home where I grew up and my dad still lives. After spending a little time with family, I walked out the door to walk down to the place where my mom took her last breath.

It was a short walk that seemed to last forever. But eventually I arrived at the intersection and knelt down and had a heart-to-heart with God. I asked those questions we all ask in times like this. Why, God? Why my mom? Why now?

It was in the midst of mourning the loss of my mother that our nation suffered a tragedy of its own. On Tuesday, April 20, 1999, the day of my mom's visitation, two teenage boys committed the Columbine massacre. While I was dealing with my own grief, I was reminded that we live in world where death is inevitable and sometimes tragic.

One of the bright lights in the midst of the darkness was realizing what kind of impact my mom had made on those around her. I remember my mom as a fairly reserved person who was usually either at work or at home. But that day I was overwhelmed by the number of people who came and shared how my mom had touched them. It was such an inspiration and I was reminded that you don't have to be loud or the center of attention to make a difference.

Then there was the funeral. Somehow I was able to read the brief poem I had written for my mom in the days between her death and the funeral. As I look back it all seems so clear, but at the same time it was a blur. I remember a quiet moment where I was alone standing over my mom's casket. I recall sitting down next to my cousin - who considered my mom his second mother - and comforting him in his grief.

I realized we all deal with grief in our own unique way. At times I would mourn. At other times I would switch into comforter mode. There were other times I just sat and tried to absorb what was going on around me. Even days after my life was forever changed, I was still looking for a sense of normalcy.

In the days and weeks following my mom's death and funeral, I can't count the number of times I wanted to pick up the phone and call my mom. When I would experience milestones, I would remember my mom was gone.

Several months after I lost my mom, I graduated from Harding. It was on that day, July 31, 1999, that Michelle's mom lost her battle with cancer. Of course, this day resurfaced my pain. Together, Michelle and I once again dealt with the lost of a mom. Within a few months, we had both lost the most important woman in our lives. It was a time that stretched our trust in God and reaffirmed His love for us and our love for each other.

It was less than a year and a half later, Matthew came into the world. Again, we were reminded of the hole in our families. I wished that my mom was there to share in this special moment. As a new life began, I was reminded of a life that ended too soon.

In the years since, I have often had moments where I wanted to talk to my mom. Whether it was seeking advice, wanting to share a special moment, or simply the desire to say hi, there are times when I just wish my mom was still here. But again, I am reminded that we live in a broken world where death is inevitable and no one is immune from pain and suffering.

If there is anything I have learned over the last nine years it is that God can help us work through our pain, but He cannot remove the scars that pain and suffering bring to our lives. I was reminded of that this morning when I attended the funeral of a twenty-four-year-old woman who died during childbirth. As I sat in a church this morning with a community that mourned with a widower, his newborn daughter, and their families, my pain surfaced yet again. But it was in that moment that God's word of comfort was brought to mind by the Holy Spirit.

As I had nine years ago, I opened my Bible to 2 Corinthians 1. It was in those words that God once again reminded me that the will of God is not what happens to me; it's how I react to what happens to me. Sadness is an emotion we all experience at various times in life. We can choose to allow grief to control us or we can allow God to heal us by using us to bring healing to others. When we are willing to allow God to use us to serve others, He can also redeem even the darkest of situations.

shine!
Jason

I'm glad God isn't a CBP agent

This week we are getting ready to make a journey to Canada. I am speaking at a youth rally up at Great Lakes Christian College (which is actually a high school) in Beamsville, Ontario. It should prove to be an interesting weekend.

As we have been preparing, our group has probably killed a few trees with all of the documentation we need to cross the border. Passport. Birth certificate. Photo ID. Parent consent letter. We need all of these forms just to cross an imaginary line from one parcel of land to another.

Every time I travel out of the US, I get a little nervous when it's time to deal with the CBP folks (CBP is another government acronym which stands for Customs and Border Protection.) I always breathe a sigh of relief when I am through that ordeal. Generally it goes smooth, but occasionally you get the extra questions. Then you never know what will happen. Full body search. Open your suitcase. You are at their mercy.

I am so glad that God doesn't work for the CBP. When you cross into His Kingdom there are no forms. He doesn't ask a bunch of questions. While He asks for commitment, He doesn't ask you to jump through a bunch of hoops.

I love the simplicity of the Christian message. Engaging in the Kingdom of God is about joining in God's dream for Creation. God doesn't want to keep you out. He wants to let you in. Everyone is welcome.

The flip side of that is true as well. God doesn't keep anyone in through coercion. God's grace and mercy does not function that way. He always has open arms waiting to welcome you in. And that is something I doubt you will ever see a CBP agent do.

shine!
Jason

Why do we sin?

Why is sin often so enjoyable? I mean, if you think about it, why else would we sin?

Sure, we know it’s wrong. We know that God doesn’t want us to do it. Sometimes, we even know that sin will have negative consequences. Yet, in spite of all that, we sin anyway. What’s up with that?

The longer I live in this world, the more I realize that sin is often the symptom, not the problem. Sin is usually a shortcut to relieve pain, suffering, or emptiness. It is an unhealthy solution to something that is wrong in our lives.

Men engage in sexual sin because in some way they feel inadequate, alone, or helpless. They are simply looking for a place to find value and control over their situation. In the search for a solution, they often find a shortcut that brings temporary relief, but often unseen long-term consequences.

Women engage in gossip because they want everyone to know there is someone worse off than they are. In the search to feel better about themselves, the easiest solution is often to put someone else down.

Neither of these are exclusive to the gender I have ascribed them to, but these are a few common examples. Most of us, at times in our life, look for ways to heal the pain we feel.

God knows that we hurt. And God knows that sin will often bring a short-term solution to the pain. But God also knows that these "quick fixes" often lead to more pain in the long run. It could be days, months, or even years, but sin will usually come back with more pain than what we tried to fix in the first place.

God offers a different solution. Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) Although it is often not the easy path, it is the one that offers more than a “quick fix” and brings true healing.

shine!
Jason

Faith of a child

Today I had the experience of being humbled by a 7-year-old.

So I am sitting in my house and my wife, Michelle, is checking her email. She tells me about an email she received from a friend explaining that several teenagers in our area were killed in a car accident. As Michelle is reading the email, she reads a part of the email asking us to pray for the families.

I think to myself, OK, I will pray for them.

Suddenly I hear a voice from the other room. My seven-year-old son, Matthew, sometimes the most practical theologian in the house, says from the other room, "Let's pray for them now."

Well, after experiencing a bit of pride and a taste of humility for not suggesting this myself, I ask Matthew if he would like to say the prayer. He agrees and offers a prayer that may not have been as "churchy sounding" as mine, but it was as sincere as any prayer I have heard in a long time.

If only we all could have the faith of a child.

shine!
Jason

Two Separate Domains

After being out of town most of the week with my family, I am back in Michigan. I did have time this week to write another paper for my grad class. This one addresses an article about Stephen Jay Gould about the physical domain and the metaphysical domain. Is it disturbing that this stuff is actually getting to be fun?

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Gould focuses most of his article around statements and papers presented by Pope Pius XII and Pope John Paul II. He utilizes these two articles to contrast how the situation with regards to evolution and creation has changed in the last fifty years.

These papal statements are the framework in which Gould reaffirms the NOMA (nonoverlapping magisterial) principle. This principle states that science and religion are two separate fields which do not overlap and have unique magisteriums (domains of teaching authority). Pius argued that since there was evidence for evolution, it can be accepted as long as the divine infusion of the soul is accepted as well. Since evolution falls within the magisterium of science and the soul is in the magisterium of religion, these two apparently do not conflict.

Gould rejoices in the fact that Pope John Paul II supports the advancements in science that reinforce evolution. This goes beyond Pius’ statement which still left evolution as questionable.

Gould describes an important aspect of the NOMA concept when he states, "If religion can no longer dictate the nature of factual conclusions residing properly with the magisterium of science, then scientists cannot claim higher insight into moral truth from any superior knowledge of the world’s empirical constitution."

I do not believe that the NOMA concept is logical or realistic. The more we learn about matter, energy, and the details of the universe, it appears as though there is inevitable overlap. NOMA will grant that there is some "gray area" where the two magisterium meet, but I would argue that there is overlap. Science cannot remain independent of morality and morality cannot exist outside of the realm of science.

If we believe in a Creator God, then we cannot accept the NOMA concept. However, the idea of evolution allows us to disconnect the moral God from the creative God. This unhealthy divorce is damaging to a holistic view of the universe, our world, and our lives.

The NOMA concept appears to be a way for religious people to avoid science and scientists to avoid morality. However, it is crucial that this not happen. When we say that science and religion do not share domains of teaching authority, we are robbing the religious person the opportunity to explore God and faith though scientific study. In addition, the scientist will tend to look at the world with less morality. This entire worldview disagrees with my view that the scientific world and the spiritual world overlap.

Gould’s theory assumes two paradigms of world-views: physical/scientific and metaphysical/religious. This is a faulty foundation because the metaphysical is the overlying structure for both. I believe that Gould revisits the mistake of the Scientific Revolution by attempting to separate the physical realm from the metaphysical. I would argue that the physical world is simply the empirically measurable aspects of the metaphysical realm.

One of the consequences of this separation of the physical from the metaphysical is a separation of morality from science. This can create a host of dilemmas in our modern world. As science explores cloning, stem-cell use, euthanasia, atomic weapons, and other modern scientific discoveries, Gould wants to remove morality from science at a time it is needed most. Not only is this theory faulty on a philosophical level, on a practical level it could have damaging consequences.

So where do we go from here? How can we react to Gould’s theory and provide a more holistic model? We must begin by acknowledging that science and theology overlap, but they each also have their own "space." Science and theology are partners that cannot be separated. For example, religion has contributed to many of the scientific achievements, especially in areas of medicine. Without the metaphysical influence of religion and theology, science may not have been as driven to learn more. Christianity had a significant impact over the last two millenniums to influence scientific thought.

I have already discussed the importance of morality in the realm of science, but what about the influence of science on religion? We must remember that scientific/physical realm is simply the empirical manifestation of the metaphysical realm. It is only part of a bigger picture. Therefore, it is essential to keep in mind that the physical realm cannot dominate the metaphysical. As we have learned in recent years with the developments described by those such as Schroeder, the more we learn about the physical world, the more the majesty of the metaphysical world is revealed to us.

One specific area where this is very important for our young people is in the area of evolution. As we wrestle with the origins of life, this balance of the physical and metaphysical is crucial. If science is the measurable part of the metaphysical, this has major implications in the evolution/creation debate. Rather than exclusively arguing the evidence for evolution against the evidence for creation (which is basically operating in Gould’s world-view), we must teach our young people to think critically and evaluate the physical (scientific) and metaphysical (moral) aspects of the origins of life.

David's latest song

The continuing adventures of David Archuleta on American Idol...

 

Vinaigrette

One of my favorite kinds of salad dressing is Vinaigrette. I enjoy the simplicity of olive oil and vinegar. There is something pure about it.

But I also know that if it sits very long the vinegar and oil separate. One settles towards the bottom of the bottle and the other floats to the top. They are two different substances that don't stay together very long if not in motion.

While I like vinaigrette for salad dressing, it can be a challenge in ministering to students when you have a vinaigrette youth group. What do I mean?

There are seasons in the life of a youth group when you have an influx of what some might call "unchurched" students. These are teenagers who have little or no church background. They may have never attended a worship service and are new to the whole "God thing."

Recently, we have experienced this exact situation. I have really enjoyed getting to know some of these students, but it has also been a challenge. It has been a challenge for them, for our existing students, and for some of our adults.

As an aside, I realize some of the people I am talking about might be reading this, so know that I am not trying to talk about you, per se. I am considering the challenges inherent anytime this dynamic occurs.

For the students who are new, there is the challenge of trying to understand this whole Christianity deal. What does it mean? What does it look like? They might ask tough questions like, "What about the teens in this youth group who go to my school, but pretty much act like everyone else?" Or, "Is this God for real?"

Some of them, if we are going to be quite honest, might be coming mostly for the social dynamic, to play some pool, and maybe to check out the members of the opposite sex. But I also believe that all of them - on some level - are looking for acceptance and a place to belong.

This brings us to the students who have been in the youth group. There is this funny thing about a youth group. It tends to be a close group of friends, but it is also a group who has difficulty assimilating new members. This is a phenomenon I have observed at every church I served with. The youth group is a friendly group. It is a loving group. But every group is - to some extent - a closed group.

If you can get in the group and become a part, you will become part of the family. But, if you are shy, different, or otherwise unable to "get in," a youth group can be a place that feels very unaccepting or unloving. Keep in mind that for most students in a youth group, this is not an intentional or malicious attitude. I believe it is part of the experience of adolescence where teenagers are trying to find their identity. In an effort to be a part of a group, students tend to put much more energy into gaining acceptance than offering it.

The last group is often the most perplexing. There always seem to be adults in a church who fear the "community kids." Maybe it's because they don't dress like "church kids." Maybe it's because some of them might smell like cigarette smoke or even alcohol. Maybe it's because they look like those trouble-making teens they have seen on TV or in a movie. Whatever the reason, some adults - again I believe unintentionally and without malice - reject these students based on their appearance. Unfortunately, this can add to the sense of unacceptance that these teens feel because they are "vinegar" trying to mix with "oil."

So what do we do?

I don't think there is an easy answer. But I do believe there are things we can do. While I don't begin to believe this is an exhaustive list, here are some of the actions that I believe will aid in creating a "vinaigrette" youth group. (I will confess here, that I have not been as diligent as I would have liked in instituting some of these.):

First, we must educate and encourage existing students to reach out to those who are new. While it may be easy to talk about it, bringing the theory to life can be a challenge. Students like their youth group and don't usually want things to change. In addition, some of the newer students may be from clans at school that they don't relate well to or even oppose. However, this is a golden opportunity to experience the fact that the Kingdom of God trumps any "kingdom" of this world. Accepting those you don't normally accept - and even your "enemies" - is central to the gospel message of Kingdom living.

In addition - and probably before anything else - we as youth workers must model acceptance for our students. If we want to create a welcoming environment, we must take action ourselves. We should be the first ones to offer an open hand. We should make a concerted effort to talk to newcomers. The students who have been in our ministry for a long time must know they are valued, but they also must see our lives testify to the fact that all are welcome. This may even require us to "encourage" students to make the effort to welcome those who are new.

Another action that I believe is vital is to balance teaching that both stretches the student who has been part of a church their whole life and makes the Word of God accessible to the teenager who may not even know where the book of Matthew is in the Bible. This is no easy task. It requires hard work, prayer, and patience. While not every lesson will reach every level of learner, we must be careful and diligent to communicate on various levels.

One final part of the puzzle that I will mention here is serving. When students on various places in their faith journey serve together, walls come down and bridges are built. I have watched teenagers who had strong dislike for one another serve together on a mission trip and return home as good friends. However, this can be a difficult thing when you have community teenagers who are just checking things out. They are often not ready to commit to serving opportunities. I can say that in situations where new students have engaged in serving, it has helped them connect with some members of the group.

As I said earlier, these are not panaceas that will fix everything, but they are potential parts of a solution to an often challenging situation. Obviously, every church is different, every youth group is different, and every student is different. But as we seek to reach out to students who are hurting, lost, confused, and lonely, we must be willing to shake things up a bit so that "vinegar" and "oil" can come together to create a vinaigrette that brings more flavor to the world of our teens.

shine!
Jason

The Falsification Debate and Religious Language

Here is another of my papers from my Philosophy of Religion class. This one explores the use of religious language and the "falsification debate." It might sound kind of boring, but the longer I am in this class, the more fun this stuff becomes!

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In these two articles, the authors reflect on two different aspects of religious language. In the first article, Flew and Mitchell center their discussion on the "falsification debate." The basic argument in this debate is whether or not religious statements must be proved with empirical evidence.

Flew begins his argument with a parable about two explorers who come upon a clearing in the jungle. As the two explorers examine the situation, one uses the empirical evidence to come to a conclusion that there is no gardener. The other explorer, the Believer, continues to believe despite the empirical evidence.

Flew argues that, through a process of qualification, the assertion made by the Believer should be empirically provable. According to Flew, if the visible facts contradict the assertion, then it is no longer an assertion at all. He applies this train of thought to Christianity by asking this question of the believer: “What would have to occur or to have occurred to constitute for you a disproof of the love of, or the existence of, God?” I would argue that question is invalid for the believer, because it assumes that God is the source of evil. Flew’s argument appears to discount God’s love, and thus his existence, because of the presence of evil in the world. I disagree with that premise so the question is irrelevant.

Mitchell challenges Flew by acknowledging the problem of evil, which appears to be one of Flew’s primary empirical proofs against the assertion of the existence of God. From there, Mitchell shares his own parable about "the Stranger." I believe this parable is relevant, but it still seems based on the assumption that God is the source of evil. Mitchell’s parable is a good illustration of how an inadequate theodicy can be troubling.

Mitchell agrees with Flew that theological utterances must be assertions. However, Mitchell goes on to say that these assertions explain the behavior of the partisan (the Believer). He concludes by considering that theological utterances can be treated in at least three different ways: (1) as provisional hypotheses to be discarded if experience tells against them, (2) as significant articles of faith, (3) as vacuous formulae to which experience makes no difference and which make no difference to life. Believers cannot have the first attitude and must exercise caution to avoid falling into the third.

I believe that Flew has some valid arguments with regards to qualification of assertions, but his premise is built on an unhealthy theodicy. It appears that Flew’s argument centers on his belief that God and evil cannot coexist and that the presence of evil in the world is evidence which disqualifies the assertion that God exists. While this is not his only evidence, it appears to be the significant issue for him. As a matter of fact, I believe the falsification principle is central both to Flew’s conversion to Deism and his notable continued disbelief in a God who interacts with mankind. While the evidence led Flew to disavow his atheism and become a deist, I also believe the lack of evidence continues to prevent him from advocating a belief in the God who most Christians profess.

Mitchell, on the other hand, seems to understand the idea of faith, and his options for dealing with theological utterances acknowledge the significance of faith while warning believers about empty words. We as believers must always take caution to assure that our lives reflect our language. Otherwise they become empty words with no real meaning in our lives.

Tillich takes a different approach to religious language. He considers the significance of religious symbols and signs. He begins his article by specifying the difference between symbols and signs. In his article, Tillich focuses on symbols, the more significant of the two, because "although they are not the same as that which they symbolize, participate in its meaning and power."

Symbols open up a level of reality which cannot be achieved otherwise. They allow us to experience what they symbolize in unique ways by opening up our soul. Symbols function ultimately is to allow us to experience something in a deeper way.

Religious symbols allow us to experience the ultimate reality of the Holy in a special way. Tillich discusses the two levels of religious symbols – the transcendent level and the immanent level. In the transcendent level, which goes beyond empirical reality, we begin with God himself. God is not just a symbol, but as an ultimate being and a person; God is more than we can comprehend.

We also consider the attributes of God (he is love, mercy, power, etc.) and the acts of God (he created the world, sent his son, etc.) as elements of the transcendent level. These all utilize religious language about God that find their place outside of time and space.

On the other hand, there are immanent level symbols that function and exist within time and space. The incarnation is the first of these. There are times and situations where God makes his presence known in this world. While we primarily think of Jesus’ incarnation, this can include any situation where the divine physically engages time and space.

The sacramental is another immanent symbol. This includes such symbols such as the Lord’s Supper. A third element includes things such as church buildings, candles, and other symbols which draw us closer to God.

Tillich ends his article by warning the believer to exercise caution. We cannot allow these symbols to become icons. For example, we must always remember the real power of the cross is found in Christ, not the cross we wear around our necks or view on a wall. We must remember that symbols, while participating in the meaning and power of what they symbolize, are not the source of the meaning and power.

College trip update

It's Tuesday morning and I am sitting in a hotel in Edmund, OK. We are in the midst of a tour of Christian colleges. Here is a recap of our trip so far:

Saturday afternoon we headed out from Rochester. We ended up in Chicago and celebrated Easter at Willow Creek's main campus. It was an uplifting and encouraging morning. The lesson was challenging. It was a pretty amazing experience.

Most of Sunday consisted of driving. I found out why they call it The Great Plains. I have never seen so many fields in my life. The best thing is that the speed limit in some places was 75 mph. After about ten hours of traveling, we arrived in York, Nebraska.

I was pleasantly surprised by York College. I had never been there before. I didn't know what to expect from a small Christian college in a small town in the middle of Nebraska. The people were very friendly. The campus was nice. It was a good experience.  I would recommend that you check out York if you are looking at Christian colleges.

Yesterday afternoon we jumped back in the van and headed south. Last night around 9:00pm we arrived in Edmund, OK. The cool thing is that we had homemade pizzas waiting for us. Kurk Ziegler, one of the students from ministry in Amherst, Ohio, is now a senior at Oklahoma Christian and made food for us! It was good to see Kurk. He looks so grown up! Anyway, we hung out with him for a bit and our two teen boys spent the night there.

I am about to shut this down and head over to campus for our Oklahoma Christian experience. Tonight we travel to Harding. We might want to stop and have pontoons installed on the church van before traveling to Searcy. We will get to experience the floods first hand. More to come...

shine!
Jason

When I make a wrong turn

Thank you to everyone who was a part of Illuminate weekend!! I felt like it was a great weekend and so many people were a part of it. To the adults who helped plan and coordinate, thanks! To the teenagers who were a part of worship, Ignite sessions, and the rest of the weekend, thanks! Most of all, thanks be to God who made this a truly great weekend!!

As I reflect back on Illuminate weekend, I am reminded that God continues to be faithful, regardless of what we do or have done. He is always seeking to find us, even when we feel lost.

We have a God who always wants what is best for us, even when we don’t realize it. He wants to protect our hearts, our minds, our bodies, and our soul. He wants us to have life abundant.

Unfortunately, we often get lost along the way. We take wrong turns, we go down dead ends, we take the wrong exit ramp. We find ourselves in places we never thought we would be. But that is often when God does His best work.

The apostle Paul wrote, "So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

I am reminded every day of how true that is in my life. God is much more concerned with finding me than condemning me for how lost I am. God would rather wrap His arms around me than point a finger at me. My God never puts why I am lost above why He wants to find me. That is the God of grace and mercy that I know and love.

shine!
Jason

Illuminate 2008...what a weekend!

Last weekend was our second annual Illuminate conference. This is a conference for teenagers, parents, and youth workers that we host at the Rochester Church. Here is a recap...

Friday during the day was filled with last minute preparations. Take 2 performed at assembly at Rochester College. David Fraze and Salient arrived. The final adjustments were made to the stage. We finished setting up rooms. And a whole lot more I probably wasn't even aware of.

As evening arrived, students and adults started showing up. By 7:00pm, students were entering the auditorium for the evenings activities. After months of preparation, it was time to go!

This year's theme was "LOST." Our focus was on helping those who felt lost find their way out and helping all of us minister to those who feel lost. Throughout the weekend, I was amazed at the people God brought together to carry out what we hoped to accomplish. As usual, God took our few loaves and fish and turned it into a feast!

The lights went down and the kickoff video played. Then Salient led us in some incredible worship and Ambassadors from Ohio Valley University performed a drama to set up the weekend. David Fraze and Take 2 weaved speaking and drama together to bring a powerful message. The evening ended with a great performance by Riley Armstrong.

Saturday was action-packed! In the morning, Chris Lindsey and his praise team led us in worship, David Fraze delivered another powerful lesson, and Ambassadors performed another drama. Following our morning session, adults and teenagers went to Ignite sessions. The teenagers were separated into three groups (teen boys, high school girls, and middle school girls) to address issues for their specific groups. This was a very moving morning where we addressed issues such as pornography, purity, cutting, eating disorders, body image, and more. All three sessions were led by great people. Patrick Mead and Gary Turner talked with the teen boys. Take 2 led a powerful session with the high school girls. Dana Spivy and a number of other young adult women spoke with the middle school girls.

We had a lunch break where students enjoyed a quick bite to eat, visiting college tables, and hanging out in the Underground Cafe. It was a good break before jumping into the afternoon activities.

Saturday afternoon included one more large session and three Ignite sessions. We had a variety of afternoon Ingite sessions for teenagers to select. Patrick Mead led a few sessions about "getting out of the woods." Pat Pugh and Jason Read asked "why do we go there?" Katy Dzwigalski lead a session about alcohol and drug issues. Josh Graves offered two different sessions, one on "finding your voice" with Shaun Hover and another on "finding hope" with Darren Chilton. Ambassadors led an interactive session called "acting out" where students acted out life situations. Sara Barton talked about "listening to the voice of Jesus. I can't being to tell you how good of a job all of these people did!

Dinner break sent everyone around the Rochester area for a bite to eat and a chance to decompress before the evening session.

We came back to the building and kicked off the evening with a short performance by Minor Measure, a band consisting of members from the 180 youth group. Then the colleges came up for drawings. The grand prize winner was a student who won an iPod shuffle. After that, Salient came up on stage and performed an exciting, energy filled concert. (I even got called up on stage to dance. That was interesting!)

After the concert we took a short break and it was time for the final session.

Chris led us in worship and Ambassadors performed another drama. Then David and Take 2 presented a powerful message that called us all to let God find us. It was an incredible evening as a number of students responded for prayers. There were over 20 students who had requests for prayers and encouragement. And there were three students who were baptized at the end of the evening! Two of them were from the 180 youth group!! :-)  (I also found out the next morning that a student who attended Illuminate was baptized Sunday morning at his home church.)

It was an incredible weekend where God was present in a very tangible way. Thank you to the dozens of volunteers who made it happen! Thank you to the hundreds who attended! Thank you above all to the God who never gives up on finding us, no matter how lost we may feel!!!

shine!
Jason

Soul-making Theodicy

Here is another paper from my grad class. This one addresses John Hick's article on his "Soul-making Theodicy."

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John Hick's theodicy emerges from his inability to realize the compatibility of the concept of God as both limitlessly powerful and limitlessly good and loving and the problem of evil. In his proposal, Hick provides an approach to this apparent conflict by revisiting and revising the Irenaean approach to theodicy.

The Irenaean approach to theodicy looks at the world as a "person-making world" which utilizes an evolutionary approach to the development of human beings. This is contrasted against the more historically popular Augustinian approach which begins with the fall and is known in modern times as "the free will defense."

It appears to me that Hick begins with an evolutionary presupposition when he writes, "For more educated inhabitants of the modern world regard the biblical story of Adam and Eve, and their temptation by the devil, as myth rather than story." He goes on to discuss how most "educated" people today believe that humans have evolved from lower forms of life.

Irenaean theodicy is built upon a two-stage approach to the creation of human beings. First, the "image of God" was a gradual process which brought forth human beings. In contrast to Augustinian theodicy, which supports the fall, Hick’s approach rejects the Creation story we find in Genesis and existence "in the image of God" as potential at the outset, rather than something to be realized progressively over time.

This approach then moves on to the divine "likeness," which is where modern human beings find themselves after experiencing one’s own free responses. Rather than the "paradise lost" we find in the Creation account in Genesis, Hick’s theodicy looks at the ideal state solely as a future and unrealized goal, not as something lost in the Garden.

Hick’s theodicy is extremely evolutionary. One of his arguments hinges on his belief that God could create beings that would, in essence, not sin. Hick states it this way: "It appears to me that a perfectly good being, although formally free to sin, would in fact never do so." One of his examples to support this position is Newton’s first law of motion. While this is an interesting consideration, laws of science do not function in the same manner as behaviors of living creatures. I believe that Hick chose a weak illustration to support an argument that does not make sense.

Hick goes on to argue that his theodicy makes moral goodness even more valuable because it is earned, not given. In other words, Hick argues that since God created imperfect beings who had to attain to a higher good, their morality is more valuable than one that God created in the first place. In one sense, this appears to be aligned with free will. However, the significant difference is that Hick argues that morality was never a part of the original design for man. This understanding of the source of morality disregards the Genesis story and removes much of God’s role in the creation story.

He also writes about the evolutionary idea of "survival of the fittest" and argues that natural evil helps develop our character. Since humans are forced to learn in an environment that includes natural evil, pain and death contribute to the growth of one’s moral nature. According to Hick, this world we live in – with its challenges and dangers – exists to help in the person-making process. Removing this pain and suffering would impair moral growth.

Hick does concede that this person-making process does not end in this world and continues in a future world, but his conclusions differ greatly from mine. He argues for universal salvation and states that, "the completeness of the justification must depend on the completeness, or universality, of the salvation achieved." In other words, according to Hick’s theology, everyone must be saved to complete God’s plan. This is basically an inevitable obligation on the part of a God whom one believes created every human being imperfect. If God made them incomplete creatures and life is the effort to be better, He would have to allow all of them to enter Heaven, regardless of their place on the journey.

I disagree with Hick’s theodicy for a variety of reasons. It contradicts the meta-narrative of God’s people in their struggle to regain what was lost in the fall. In my opinion, it negates – or at best diminishes – the significance of the cross. And it supports the idea that man was not initially created in the image and likeness of God. Rather we are evolving into what God intended us to be.

In his effort to justify his belief that God and evil cannot co-exist, Hick has created a theodicy that appears to be grounded more in humanism than in good theology. While some of his arguments may find a base in humanism, very few appear to take seriously God’s mission in the world to renew creation.

While I fundamentally disagree with many of Hick’s positions and opinions, I do not believe his theodicy is completely irrelevant. While I feel it is misapplied, there is a sense that life is about person-making. As individuals, communities, and the world as a whole wrestle with the implications and impact of sin, God is calling each of us to use life’s experiences as an opportunity to grow in our terms of our "God-likeness." In our individual journeys as well as the meta-narrative of human existence, God is calling us to learn from good times and bad to develop more fully into the people he intended us to be. This is where Hick and Irenaus do offer something of value in our understanding of evil, sin, and how God can coexist with these negative aspects of the world.

David is back!

After a "mess" last week, David Archuleta came back strong this week on American Idol. This kid can sing!

The Free Will Defense

This is a paper for my grad class examining an article about "The Free Will Defense" by Alvin Plantinga.

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In his article, Alvin Plantinga sets out to address those who would argue that an omnipotent God and evil cannot coexist. He especially addresses Mackie’s paper, "Evil and Omnipotence." I found the first part of Plantinga’s essay challenging and difficult to follow at times, but he discusses the importance of theodicy showing that an all-loving, all-powerful God is not logically inconsistent with the problem of evil. This becomes the foundation upon which the Free Will Defense is built.

Plantinga begins with the premise that an omnipotent God exists and has a good reason for creating a world in which evils exists. The purpose of the Defense is not to find the reason or purpose of any specific evils, but rather to say what might possibly be God’s reason for allowing evil of any type to exist.

One important belief of the Free Will Defense is that there may be a kind of good that God cannot bring about without permitting evil. In addition, a person must be free to make choices with regards to action. True freedom must give a person the ability to perform an action or refrain from it without direct interference. While one may be able to predict what someone will do, a person must have the power to choose their actions.

Plantinga outlines several other requirements as he defines free will. He states that an action is morally significant if it would be wrong to perform the action but right to refrain from it, or visa versa. In addition, someone would be considered significantly free if he is free with respect to a morally significant action. He also distinguishes between moral evil, evil that results from human activity, and natural evil, all other evils.

These thoughts come together in Plantinga’s initial statement of the Free Will Defense, which states, "A world containing creatures who are significantly free (and freely perform more good than evil actions) is more valuable, all else being equal, than a world containing no free creatures at all." One of the foundational beliefs is that in order for us to be capable of moral good we must have the freedom to choose moral evil. In other words, our goodness is only as meaningful as our opportunity for doing evil.

It is quite possible that God could not have created a universe that contained moral good without moral evil being present. While some would argue that God could have created a world where people only made good choices, this would contradict the idea of free will. In a sense, it would negate the value of moral good by eliminating the option of moral evil.

Others might argue that it is possible to do only what is right, even when presented the option to commit evil. However, God, with His wisdom and power, likely created the best possible world that still provided mankind with the opportunity to choose. So in order to create the best possible world, God created a world where there is the existential possibility for evil to exist.

While God could have created any world, the world God creates must be a world in which he exists. It must also be a world in which moral good exists while people have the opportunity to make choices, whether for good or evil.  God could not have created any world he wanted, but only worlds which contain moral good and moral evil. Otherwise, it would not be a world where true freedom exists.

In conclusion, Plantinga argues that God’s power does not allow him to create a world in which free will exists without moral evil. While God is all-powerful, his power cannot contradict what is logically true, that for moral good to exist, moral evil must be an option. Plantinga briefly addresses natural evil at the close of his essay when he discusses transworld depravity and that everyone suffers from that.

God, in his wisdom, created a world where he, the ultimate source of moral good, can exist with his creation, which has the freedom to choose good or evil. This free will makes it possible for a perfect being to coexist with beings who can decide to do what is right or what is wrong. Our freedom neither negates nor reduces God’s power or goodness. It makes it all the more wonderful.

Illuminate...2 more days!

Well, in a little more than 48 hours, several hundred people will descend on the Rochester Church for Illuminate 2008 - "Lost." We have begun to transform the stage into an island for this weekend. The picture to the right was taken earlier today.

Please be in prayer for David Fraze, Take 2, Salient, Riley Armstrong, Chris Lindsey, Ambassadors, Patrick Mead, Pat Pugh, and everyone else who will be presenting this weekend. I would also ask that you pray for our planning team and our volunteers. Most importantly, pray for the hundreds of people who will be participating in Illuminate this weekend and that God will work mightily among us.

If you want to learn more about Illuminate, please visit www.illuminateconference.org.

shine!
Jason

Will it ever end?

This past weekend, my dad, much of Ohio, and several surrounding states were buried by snow, blown around by winds, and generally miserable due to the weather. The photo above is from Progressive Field (the ballpark formerly known as "The Jake") in Cleveland, Ohio. This serves as another reminder of the winter that seems like it will never end. It makes me wonder what happened to global warming.

On the other hand, our Illuminate conference for teenagers and their parents is only FOUR days away! In the next couple of days I will try to blog a little about what is going on as we prepare for an exciting weekend. Today I sent the programs to the printers and continued to make arrangements for the Gathering times and Ignite sessions.

If you don't know anything about Illuminate, it's not too late to find out. Visit www.illuminateconference.org for details.

shine!
Jason

Interview with a teenager

This past Wednesday many of our teens were able to be a part of a special Connections upstairs with the adults. I had the privilege of interviewing four different students about how they saw God at work in their lives.

I interviewed Kalie about how she saw God at work as she learned she had diabetes. Hearing about her faith and trust in God was encouraging.

I interviewed Steven about how he saw God at work as he served inner-city children in Cincinnati. It was touching to hear how he learned that serving someone else is actually a fun experience.

I interviewed Amber about playing Mary in Imagine Christmas. She shared how playing this role changed her thoughts about one of her favorite characters in the Bible.

I interviewed Cassie about her decision to be baptized at WinterSplash. It was uplifting to hear about how her parents shaped her and how God became real to her the weekend of WinterSplash.

There was a lot of positive feedback from those who were in the audience that night. They were touched by those who heard stories about how God is working in the lives of our teenagers. As much as teenagers get “bad press” nowadays for being disrespectful, lazy, and more, I really enjoyed hearing compliments about some of the students in our ministry. Thanks to those who shared! Your words were a blessing.

shine!
Jason

I'm still alive...I think

This week I had a close encounter of the worst kind. I got to "enjoy" an intestinal virus (not flu, as my wife reminded me) this week. It started on Tuesday night. I had been invited to go with a student to the Pistons game. (I need to write more about this experience soon.) But at the game I started to get sick. I spent most of Tuesday night floating in and out of sleep and much of Wednesday sleeping on the couch, trying to feel better. The rest of the week has consisted of trying to feel better and getting caught up...and getting ready for Illuminate!

Sickness has a way of reminding us that the world does not revolve around us. We can be lying in bed and the world contines on without us. We are important, but not central, to the happenings of the world. I hope I don't need to be reminded again in THAT way for a long time.

shine!
Jason

More than just a test...

Last week I had my mid-term exam for my Graduate School Class. (Students, I don’t tell you this so you can know that I understand your pain when it comes to studying for school. Although, I guess that is a great point.)

Anyway, the class I am taking is Philosophy of Religion. We are considering questions like the existence of God and problem of evil and suffering. It has been an interesting and challenging class.

While I have learned a lot, one of the most important things I have been reminded is that we can use our minds and be a Christian at the same time. So many times I have been told that Christians cannot have faith and be intelligent. I have heard it said that science and religion are not compatible.

One of the things I am learning this semester is that these things are far from the truth. The more we learn about our universe, the more obvious it becomes that there is a beginning that needs a “Beginner.” The more we learn about our bodies, cells, atoms, and other aspects of Creation, the more obvious it becomes that there must be a “Creator.”

People may argue about the specifics of who this “Beginner” and “Creator” are, but my faith, the revealed Word of God, and the complexity and design of nature all speak together loudly that there is a source of the universe; I know Him as God.

shine!
Jason