The war continues...

We are at war!
I have become even more convinced of this in recent months. I am not talking about anything happening in Iraq, Afghanistan, or the Gaza Strip. I am talking about what is happening right here among us.
I have watched students who have grown up in Christian homes become entangled in behavior that would have been unthinkable for them a few years ago. I have seen students become apathetic about their faith, treating it more like a hobby or activity than a lifestyle. Some of these students have continued to appear dedicated to Jesus on Sundays and Wednesdays while the rest of the week is spent engaging the worlds passions and desires.
On the other hand, I have seen others display self-righteous attitudes that exclude all but those who appear to be “good Christians.” When those who do not know Jesus are in our midst, they seem to be unable or unwilling to engage those who Jesus calls us to seek.
In both cases I sense the undercurrent of spiritual warfare. When we as families are unwilling to focus on spiritual training or place an emphasis on Kingdom-focused living, we can expect both of these results. For some, Christianity becomes a performance to put on when we “come to church.” For others, Christianity is knowing we are right and protecting ourselves from the “sinners.”
Both of these are unhealthy and immature. If we are going to be serious about the spiritual war we find ourselves in, we must be willing to dedicate the time and energy needed to fight the good fight.
The apostle Paul wrote, “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:11-12)
In World War II, everyone realized what was at stake and made sacrifices. Some went to the front lines. Others served as sergeants and generals, directing the battle. Those at home were willing to give up some of their comforts to support those who were in the heat of the battle. One of the main reasons we won that war was because everyone did their part.
Unfortunately, I believe we live in a time where many people have become comfortable and are either unwilling to sacrifice or unable to see the need to sacrifice. Although we are currently in a time of financial downturn, we are still more prosperous than most previous generations.
Until we are willing to commit ourselves to what it takes to win the war, Satan will continue to take his shots and inflict damage.
I am encouraged by some of the stories I have heard already from those who are participating in our 40 days of fasting and prayer. I sense that some among us are reclaiming territory from the evil one and engaging in the battle at hand. It’s time for all of us to arm ourselves and join the war that has already been declared against us.

shine!
Jason

Who gets the credit?

When Ronald Reagan was President, he had a sign on his desk that said, "There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit." In 2004, when I visited the Reagan Presidential Museum and Library, I purchased a paperweight with this saying on it and I have had it on my desk ever since.
While I struggle to live out this motto at times, I strive to allow these words to echo in my mind.
Another man who I greatly admire has lived by this creed for much of his life. Church Noll coached the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1969 until 1991. He is the only head coach to win four Super Bowl titles. He is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In spite of all of these accomplishments, he never looked for fame or fortune. He quietly headed into retirement.
This morning I read a great article about Noll that reminded me what kind of man he is and was.
As I think about men like Ronald Reagan and Chuck Noll, I think about the man who embodied this kind of humility and accomplished the greatest fete in the history of mankind. This man was no ordinary man. He was more than a man. He was God, in the flesh. Paul describes Him this way in the letter to the Philippian church:

Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

When I think about men like Reagan and Noll, I believe that while none of us are perfect, we can strive to have the attitude of Christ. And while both of them had plenty of faults - don't we all - they exhibited a humility that I wish could be a bigger part of who I am.
I am convinced that what often holds me back from accomplishing greater things is me. If I could set down my pride, stop worrying about what people will think about me, and focus on carrying out Kingdom work and considering others more, I am sure that God could use me to do much more than I can ask or imagine.

shine!
Jason

Name change

We are changing names.
We are in the process of transitioning the name of our ministry from “180” to “Arise.” This decision was made after almost a year of conversation and prayer by our leadership.
For the last year we have contemplated how the “180” fits the overall purpose of our ministry and the Rochester Church. Last year, the church transitioned to the “Connect. Grow. Serve.” vision. We are seeking, as an entire church body to connect, grow, and serve, in our personal lives as well as our Christian community. (This vision is being and has been discussed in our Sunday morning sermon series this month.)
We felt that the “180” name did not best communicate this vision or the shift to a ministry for families with youth that we have been undergoing over the last several years. However, we were having a difficult time agreeing on a name that fit.
Last fall we launched our “Arise” campaign that is challenging our parents to collectively engage in 2009 hours of service, and challenges our students to do the same. Late in 2008, the idea of transitioning our name to “Arise” came to light. Everyone on our team felt this was a name that better communicated our vision and purpose.
In terms of the church’s vision, “Arise” is a natural fit with “Connect. Grow. Serve.” It is an action word that better communicates the call for students and parents alike to rise to the call to connect, grow, and serve.
With regard to our specific ministry’s purpose, it addresses all three areas of our ministry. Students who are beginning to discover and develop their own identity are called to arise into what God created them to be. It’s time for students to arise from their childhood and find their own active faith. Parenting teenagers can be challenging, so parents are called to arise into the challenge of leading their families during this time. This requires personal growth as well family interaction. When students and parents are answering their individual calls in this period of their families’ life, our families will arise to be the outposts for the Kingdom of God that they are meant to be.
On a more practical note, this shift will take a few months. There are already some noticable differences in our publications and language. Other changes, such as our website, make take a little longer. There will also be an article in the February article of Rochester Church's REACH newsletter relaying many of the same things I shared here.
I am excited about the days ahead and seeing what God has in store for us. As we arise as followers of Christ, we may be amazed at what God will be able to do in and through our ministry.

shine!
Jason

Everyday hero

Yesterday afternoon I watched the television as a plane slowly sank into the Hudson River. I was captivated by the images of scores of people standing on the wings, appearing as though they were walking on water. It was like watching a movie, except it was real. And the heroes in this story weren't actors; they were real people.
One of the main heroes in this real-life drama was Chesley B. Sullenburger III. Who is that you ask? According to an AP article, "the 57-year-old, of Danville, Calif., is a former fighter pilot who runs a safety consulting firm in addition to flying commercial aircraft."
They also mentioned in the news article that, "Sullenberger, who has flown for US Airways since 1980, flew F-4 fighter jets with the Air Force in the 1970s. He then served on a board that investigated aircraft accidents and participated later in several National Transportation Safety Board investigations."
Here is a man who was in the right place at the right time. We can debate whether or not God placed this man in the pilot's seat of this plane. But what if God knew this was going to happen and gave this man the abilities he used in this scenario?
I do not believe that God has the days of our life pre-planned for us, but I believe that God has foreknowledge of what will happen in our lives. And I believe that God has given each of us specific talents and abilities for a reason.
Were Sullenberger's passions and talents provided by God for this very moment? We will never know. But I am convinced that his training and background made him one of the best pilots to navigate this potential disaster. Had either wing of the plane gone into the water on landing, the plane likely would have flipped and killed many on board. The abilities of this pilot probably saved dozens of lives.
Which makes we wonder...
How many of us have been given specific abilities and gifts and fail to use them at the right time or right place? The apostle Paul wrote, "But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it." (1 Corinthians 12:18)
You may never be the pilot of a plane that needs to make an emergency landing, but we all have opportunities to save people. God has created each of us uniquely to bring forth the Kingdom of God.
In a culture where we are encouraged to use our talents and abilities to bring honor to ourselves, what if we questioned and altered our motives? What if we stopped trying to make ourselves look good and challenged ourselves to be selfless heroes, living out the mission we were created to fulfill?
You are special. You are different than anyone else. You, and only you, have the set of passions and gifts that God created within you. You have been made with a purpose.
Instead of trying to look like everyone else or fit into an image that the world has created, look for ways to be the person God meant for you to be. Regardless of who you are, you can be a hero. You can save a life. You may not save anyone from a plane sinking in the Hudson River, but you can save someone who is drowning in the darkness of the moment. All it takes is looking at ourselves as instruments of God, parts of a body that has been created to be the hands and feet of God in this world.

shine!
Jason

40 day adventure

On Monday our ministry embarked on an exciting journey. Over the next 40 days, parents and students are challenged to enter into an intentional season of fasting and prayer.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that is often avoided or ignored. Maybe this is because we don’t understand. It could be that we really don’t want to engage in the type of sacrifices that fasting calls us to undertake.
My prayer is that over the next six weeks, our families will be drawn closer to God and each other. As God speaks through periods of time where we go without eating or set aside aspects of our life that we typically enjoy, may the Holy Spirit convict and confront us in our comfortableness.
Fasting pushes us out of our routine and often makes us think about things we often take for granted. During times I have fasted in the past, I have found myself reaching for something to snack on and suddenly remembering my fast. There have even been times I prematurely ended my fast – both intentionally and accidentally – and was reminded of the difficultly of true sacrifice and self-control.
On the other hand, fasting has been a powerful spiritual discipline that I have used – not even close to often enough – in times of decision or discernment. When I was contemplating going to school for ministry, a period of fasting provided clarity and made it possible to hear God more clearly.
As for this current period of fasting, I will be participating in both ways I am advocating. I will be giving up all carbonated beverages for the entire forty-day period. From Monday, January 12, until Friday, February 20, I will not drink any carbonated beverages. I really enjoy drinking pop, and this will be difficult. But every time I think about getting a drink of pop, I will remember Christ’s sacrifice and my call to set my selfish desires aside in an effort to bring forth God’s kingdom in this world.
I will also observe several days of fasting from food during the forty-day period.
Whether you are a part of our LifeStage or not, I challenge you to join us on this journey.
The weekend of February 20-22, our students will be participating in a retreat designed to focus on our connecting with God through the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that God will use the forty days leading up to that weekend to prepare their hearts and minds for what He has in store.
Fasting is not meant to be comfortable or convenient. It is a spiritual discipline that calls us to look outside of ourselves and acknowledge Creator God and give more intentional thought to what it means to depend on God as our Provider and Refuge.

shine!
Jason

Dedication

This morning on my way to the office I saw something that caught my attention. As a matter of fact, I had to look twice to make sure I wasn't imagining this.
Along Avon Road I saw a group of about half a dozen Oakland University students jogging on the side of the road. What makes it so amazing isn't that they were jogging. (If you saw me out there, that would be amazing.) What makes it so incredible is the weather conditions.
This morning on my way to work the temperature was a few degrees above zero with a wind chill likely floating around zero. It was just plain cold. In spite of those conditions, these college athletes (I am assuming they are training for a sport) were out running and getting ready for whatever they are training for.
What if Christians showed that kind of dedication to spiritual disciplines? But many of us don't.
We'll set aside Bible study because there is a TV show we really want to watch.
We are a little tired, so prayer gets pushed aside.
Fasting? No way am I going without something I want.
In my decade of youth ministry I have watched a lot of teenagers say they're serious about Jesus, but their actions betray them. They put far more effort into training and practicing for a sport or hobby then they do spiritual formation. Basketball, for example (since it is the current sport), might consume a few hours every day for practice. But how many of those students are giving two hours a week for spiritual training?
Adults, we are not off the hook. In regards to both our children and ourselves.
Many parents will push their children to practice, practice, practice for a sport. But are they encouraging spiritual training?
In addition, and I believe, more importantly, are they modeling that?
Confession time. I will admit that my spiritual training habits are not what they need to be. These thoughts are aimed as much at me as they are anyone else. I know I should be doing more and dedicating more time to this.
Sometimes it amazes me that we pour hour upon hour into activities, that while not bad, are not Kingdom-focused. Sports are not bad. Hobbies are not bad. Even video games are not bad. But if those things consume so much of our time and energy that we neglect our primary calling, we have gotten things out of order.
Maybe it's time for God's people to show the kind of dedication to spiritual training that I saw on the side of a road in the middle of winter. Maybe that's the change that will make following Jesus a lifestyle, not another activity on our calendar.

shine!
Jason

A New Year

At the New Year’s Eve party I talked about new beginnings. A new year is a chance to look ahead. This is a great time to consider where we have been and, more importantly, where we want to go. As we consider the past and the future, we should reflect in the words of the apostle Paul, who wrote the following:
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:12-14)
A new year is a time for a fresh start. Many people get caught in one of two traps at the start of a new year. Some will be unable to escape the negative memories of the past year. Others will look back at the previous year’s success and become complacent. Paul’s words challenge both of these missteps.
When we dwell on the mistakes of our past, it keeps us from finding the healing and hope that God offers us. We cannot act like the past never happened, but neither can we allow ourselves to be weighed down. God offers second chances and opportunities to change. A new year is a great time to look for a chance to change direction or reach for new goals.
On the other end of the spectrum, we can become lazy if we bask in the glory of previous triumphs. If we simply look back with pride with what we have done, it can cause us to stall in our growth and miss opportunities that God will put before us. Focusing on previous success can be a barrier to our future success.
Paul’s words of advice are as true today as they were when he penned them almost two thousand years ago. Don’t think you have arrived. Don’t dwell on the past. Look to the future and seek what God is calling you to be on the road ahead. When we are willing to trust God and look forward, we will receive the prize for which God is calling us.

shine!
Jason

God appears in a football stadium

God showed up at a football game...this is a great article for this time of year.
Click HERE to read it:

Mac Christmas

A little humor for your Christmas...

Stuck in the snow

I have not blogged in over a week and there are two reasons. One is because there were some software issues with my site (thanks, Brad!). The other is an ongoing frustration.
For some reason, I cannot access my blog from the church office. It's really weird. The only sites I cannot access at the office are WordPress sites. I can't get to mine. I can't access Patrick's either.
Yesterday I couldn't have blogged because I was out playing in the snow all day. There is a family in our church who owns a large snow removal company, and I am one of many from our church who are a part of their team.
For a few days I was anticipating the many hours I would spend in the snow yesterday. And then yesterday came. And snow it did! There was one point yesterday morning when the area I just shoveled would be snow covered again in a matter of minutes. It was crazy! Snow was falling at a rate of one to two inches per hour.
One of the most interesting sights yesterday was by a Rite Aid in Pontiac. Several semi trucks were attempting to go up a road with a fairly steep incline. But once one of them was stuck, it was all over. There must have been over two dozen vehicles stuck for at least an hour or two. The entire stretch of road was shut down, and evidently the police came shortly after we headed off to our next stop.
Isn't it funny how people sometimes try to take on something without the proper help? I watched these trucks take on a road that never should have been attempted until they were properly treated by the road crews. Instead, they tried anyway and got stuck in the process.
That can happen to us in our spiritual journey as well. Sometimes we tell God we can take care of it ourselves and plow ahead, regardless of whether or not God is with us. We try to conquer things that can only be conquered through prayer without taking the time to pray. We make big decisions without fasting or a period of discernment. We rush into situations where we know we will be tempted without considering the consequences.
Just like the police and the road crews that eventually helped everyone out, God will be there when we ask for help. But when we move forward without God, it will often result in frustration and pain. Wouldn't it be better if we were to seek out the wisdom of God before going down a road that might be a little difficult to travel?

shine!
Jason

SNL's take on Hillary

Here's a little humor for your weekend...

Hospitality

Have you ever had an 'a-ha' moment when something that has been right in front of you for a long time becomes obvious?

I had one of those moments yesterday during our church service. During the sermon, Josh Graves was talking about hospitality. In the midst of his words, I realized something.

My dad is one of the most hospitable people I know.

When we go to his house, he makes you feel like he really wants you to be there. He makes sure he has drinks on hand that we like. He makes food that he knows we like. He serves us while we're there. When he brings you something to eat, he waits for your reaction to see how much you enjoy it.

He has always been like that.

Thanks, Dad, for helping me learn what it means to be a servant and a host.

shine!
Jason

Getting some rest

I have been fighting a nagging illness all week. Every time I feel like I am getting better, I feel worse a few hours later. It is honestly pretty annoying.

I realize part of the reason is because I have not gotten enough sleep this week. Between my huge paper for my grad class and snow removal, most nights have been limited and broken sleep.

I have been reminded this week of the importance of rest. It is vital to remain healthy.

Rest can come in many forms.

Sleep is a necessary rest. I always find it interesting when teenagers are on edge because they have been texting half the night. They wonder why their emotions are frayed and they are on edge. Maybe they haven't gotten enough rest.

Quiet is a necessary rest. So many people today seemed to be stressed to the max. I wonder how many of them build quiet time into their day. There is value in turning off the TV, pulling out the earphones, and enjoying stillness and silence.

Vacation is a necessary rest. Workaholics can put in hours upon hours at work and seldom take a break. With cell phones, smart phones, and the other communication tools we have, it is pretty easy to never leave your work alone.

Seek opportunities to slow down and take a break.

I don't think God took a Sabbath because He needed rest. I believe God wanted us to realize the importance of rest.

In today's "on-the-go" society, it can be challenging to build rest into your schedule.

Confession time. I am a work-a-holic who always feels like he needs to be busy. I have a really hard time just sitting still and being. I either want music in the background or a TV on. If I start to get restless, I will find something to do.

Not a day goes by when a teenager doesn't tell me or text me, "I'm bored." We have lost the fine art of rest in our world. We entertain and work ourselves to death. Maybe part of the cause of more cancer and illness is because we don't give our bodies time to rest.

I remember when I was a teenager, the local police department bought extra police cars. Before, the different shifts would share cars. That would mean that a car was being driven all day and night. By getting extra cars, they found the number of hours a car could drive would increase.

If cars are less effective when they don't get rest, shouldn't it be even more true for the human body? The next time you feel overwhelmed or stressed, don't increase your stress level by accelerating your speed. Take a few minutes to be still and enjoy the rest God intended you to have.

shine!
Jason

Giving for a change

The craziness of Christmas is now officially in full swing. This past Friday, millions of people camped out for hours in the cold, waiting to be the first line of invaders into stores.

For the next month – and to be honest for a while before now – we have been told that we need that certain gift. We have been shown in commercial after commercial that a specific brand name or product will bring us happiness, make our marriage better, or improve our lives.

While it is true that some things can help make our lives better, we have to be careful not to buy into the lie that those things are the ultimate source of satisfaction in our lives.

Jesus himself warned us about this very thing.

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:28-34)

Stuff is not the source of our problems. It is the unhealthy desire for stuff that causes so many struggles. People steal so they can have someone else's things and make their life better. Others cheat in school to get better grades to make more money someday, and thus have a "great life."

In this season that is so focused on getting, let’s do all we can to focus on the attitude and action of giving. True life, true freedom, and true joy are not found in how much we can accumulate. Rather, the more we give away, the more life we experience, the more free we feel, and the more joyful we may become.

It’s not always easy – and if we are honest, it’s not always enjoyable – but it is the path to peace and fulfillment.

Be open during the Christmas season to new ways to give. Time. Energy. Attention. Money. Possessions. Love. They are all things God has provided for us. But He has not given them as things to be hoarded. Instead, He wants us to give away all that we can, and in the process, change the world one transaction at a time.

Giving should not be something we do. It must become who we are. We should do all we can to make giving as natural as taking a breath. Watch what God can do with a heart like that.

shine!
Jason

Ending the moratorium

The moratorium is officially over. In the Steckel house, we do not begin listening to Christmas music and putting up decorations until after Thanksgiving. But after Thanksgiving, it's Christmas 24/7. :-)

If you want Christmas 365 days a year, you can drive an hour north from my house up I-75 to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan. (It's a pretty cool place. If you've never been there, it's worth the trip.)

Many people have their own family traditions regarding Christmas and when they begin celebrating the season. Some enjoy Christmas music in October and November. Others wait until the week of the big day. Which ever one you prefer doesn't really matter.

But I also see a lot of Christians who treat their walk with Jesus like I treat Christmas music. They treat their week like I treat Christmas from January to November. They consider it a time to take a break from things that focus on Christ. The music of their life is whatever they choose, but Christ-focused living is packed away in boxes until the next Sunday.

Then it's time to pull the decorations out and get ready for church. Time to put on the Christian mask and start using church-speak. Time to celebrate Christ for a day until it's time to put things away until next weekend.

On Monday, it's back to living for self-centered agendas and forgetting the life worthy of the calling we have received. Just like I pack up the Christmas decorations and my home returns to normal, some will pack away the things they sang about on Sunday morning.

This is not what we are called to do or be. Consider these excerpts from Ephesians 5...

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.

So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

So be careful how you live.

Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.

Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

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.

We all need to live our lives like Bronner's celebrates Christmas - 365 days a year. Being a Christian isn't something we should celebrate once a week; it should be something we live every day of our lives. When we assemble on Sundays, it shouldn't only be a reminder about God and His work in the world. It should be a time when God's people come together to celebrate how they have been caring out the work of the Kingdom of God all week long.

shine!
Jason

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for so many things....

A loving God

A wonderful partner in my wife Michelle

An amazing son in Matthew

A great dad who is also a wonderful grandpa

A church family at Rochester that is a constant source of blessings

A great youth group

A church staff that is second to none

A supportive group of elders

A house to live in

Food to eat

The grace and mercy of Creator God

The sacrificial life of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

The gift and outpouring of the Holy Spirit

The ability to love

What are you thankful for?

shine!
Jason

If it feels good...

Have you ever heard someone say they did something because it "feels right?" Emotions are a powerful thing. They have started wars, ended marriages, and changed the dynamics of families.

So how do we know when to listen to our emotions? Whether it's your "gut instinct" or one of those "I've got a feeling moments," how can we determine when to listen to that voice inside?

First, I believe we should be very careful about letting our emotions take control. This can be very challenging for us today. It was only a few decades ago that our culture frowned on emotions. Just think about some of the phrases that still remain in our lexicon:

"Real mean don't show emotions."

"You want me to give you something to cry about."

"Crying is weakness."

"Why are you so emotional?"

Obviously, times have changed. We now have an entire teen subculture named after being emotional. The pendulum seems to have swung the other way. This is even true in many churches.

If you think about the songs and style of worship, much has changed. The "old hymns" seemed to carry a deeper, internal emotion that was to be displayed. They told stories or proclaimed truths about God. They were designed to stimulate our minds much more than our hearts.

Today many of our songs are praise and worship songs that touch our hearts (sometimes to the neglect of our minds, I fear). Emotion appears to be much more accepted in today's church.

So what does all of this have to do with listening to our emotions? First, we must acknowledge that we are often handicapped because the previous generations don't have the experience to help us sort through all of this. Many who are my age and older have parents who did not live in the world we live in. Their world wasn't as open to a public display of emotions.

Second, we have to understand that God created us to be a holistic person. That means that emotions and facts are both important, and neither can stand alone. They must both have their place at the table.

Without emotions, we make decisions that look at the "cold hard" facts. This can cause us to hurt other people and ourselves because we are blind to the emotional aspects of our actions.

On the other hand, decisions made without engaging our mind can lead to foolish decisions that didn't consider the consequences. Proverb 15:14 says, "The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly."

So how do we find a good balance? Why not ask the One who designed us in the first place. Let's consider the words of the Apostle Paul...

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Philipians 1:9-11)

True balance comes through having the right perspective. Paul's prayer was that their love would abound in knowledge and depth of insight. How do we listen to our emotions and our mind? We seek the heart and mind of God.

I have found in my life that the more distant from God I become, the more my balance gets out of whack. Sometimes I will make decisions without engaging my emotions and other times I will act on my emotions without thinking. Both can have damaging results.

If I have a "gut instinct" or a feeling about something, I will begin by considering the heart and mind of Christ. That means I need to be in tune with the heart and mind of Christ. Without that connection, the discernment is much more challenging.

I realize that some of us may be overwhelmed by emotions or emotionally numb. (And sometimes both at the same time.) Those extreme situations may require professional help or at least a long period of working through things. That can be a long, challenging journey, but it is worth it.

In today's "if it feels good, do it" world, we are in a battle for our hearts and minds. If we can seek that balance that is centered on God, then we can be "filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ."

shine!
Jason

Shhh

Music… TV… Cell phones... Text messages... Internet... Movies... Earphones.

Silence…

We struggle with silence. There are so many things that distract us and keep us from simply being still. For many, it has gotten to the point where being silent is extremely uncomfortable.

One of the biggest barriers that keeps many people from growing closer to God is the lack of silence in their lives.

Consider the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 46:

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see the works of the LORD,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
    he burns the shields with fire.
Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth."
The LORD Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

In the midst of our trouble, we should be still. When defeat seems inevitable, we need to be still. When trouble is before us, we must be still.

If we want to experience God and hear His voice, maybe we need to quiet the hundreds of other voices that can drown His out.

The problem is that we like the noise. It helps us try to cover the pain, confusion, and hurt that many of us hide below the surface. Maybe it’s time for you to be still and know that He is God. Let Him be your fortress instead of settling for a bunch of inferior, noisy alternatives.

shine!
Jason

 

Welcome home

This is a great video...

The church?

What do you think of when you think of church? A building? An activity? Worship?

I think that the early Christians would look at our meanings for the word "church" and wonder what we are talking about.

Constantine did the body of Christ a huge disservice when he essentially hijacked it for his purposes. When he decried Christianity as a "socially acceptable" religion, he opened the door to the institutionalization of the church.

While I believe God used this to aide his purposes, I also believe it began the distortion of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

No longer was following Jesus a risky proposition. Instead of a conscious decision to follow the way of Jesus, regardless of the costs, following Jesus became a part of the Roman Empire. The orders of one man took a counter-cultural movement and integrated it into the mainstream.

So what does that mean for us?

It impacts us in many ways and forces us to evaluate what it means to be a "Christian." Consider some of the things Paul wrote:

"Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?" (1 Corinthians 6:19)

"Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." (Ephesians 4:15-16)

"He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs." (Acts 17:24-25)

I often hear people say things like "you can’t say that in church" or "you can’t do that in the church building." How would our behavior change if we acknowledged that we are the "church building?"

We are the temple of God and the body of Christ. We are called to be the presence of God wherever we find ourselves. It doesn’t matter if we are in a building with a sign out front that says "Church of Christ", sitting in our living room, at work, or walking the halls of our school. If we are a baptized believer, then we are the church. We are the dwelling place of God in this world. The only building that really matters is the body that you live in every day.

shine!
Jason