As we at the Rochester Church strive to explore what it means to be a community, I am about to embark on a new adventure that I am inviting the families in my ministry to join with me. I want to be more intentional about engaging in dialogue about how God is working in our lives individually and as a community.
One of the ways I will be doing this is by sending out an email to several members of our ministry every week with the following question:
“What is God doing in your life today?”
All I ask is that they respond to the email. They can answer with a sentence or write a number of paragraphs. I will also ask whether if it’s ok for me to share the responses. Unless they request otherwise, any responses I am allowed to share will be anonymous and I will change any necessary details to keep them that way.
We usually don’t have a problem talking about our school activities, our hobbies, our sports teams, and other parts of our lives. For some reason, our conversations are generally absent of discussions about how God is moving in us, around us, and among us.
I will be sending these emails to parents and students. I will typically not email two members of the same family in the same week. I want to hear from as many people as possible.
In Mark 5, Jesus encounters a demon-possessed man and commands the demons out of him. After this happens, we see the following interaction between Jesus and the man:
As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. (Mark 5:18-20)
I hope our families join in the conversation as we seek to go to our friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for us, and how he has had mercy on us.
shine!
Jason
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Singing with the big kids
I am cleaning up my emails and came across something I wanted to share. A group of teens led Kids' Worship earlier this Fall. The younger children at church go to Kids' Worship during the sermon in what I fondly call "Big Church."
I wanted to share some feedback we received from a few parents of the children who were in that Kids' Worship:
"I just read your note about the teen praise team that led our youngsters in kids worship last week. I was finally able to make sense of some of the conversations I’ve had with my 3 year old! I just wanted to let you know that he LOVED it! He has talked about the “big kids singing the same songs we do in big worship” for two days! "
"Just wanted to let you know that EmmaKate really enjoyed the "singing with the big kids" on Sunday. She mentioned it a couple of times throughout the day. She also told me that she would be able to sing to the little kids when she "gets bigger".
So often, I think teenagers fail to realize how much younger children look up to them. That can be a blessing or a curse.
From the comments above, it's obvious that something as simple as leading worship for children can have a huge positive impact. Both children talked about the impact of what the teenagers were doing. One even commented that he wanted to follow their example.
Unfortunately, that desire to follow their lead isn't limited to good examples. If they see teenagers doing things like texting during worship or treating adults disrespectfully, they will often seek to emulate that as well.
I am proud of our teenagers for the example they set for the children at our church in Kids' Worship. This is a good time for teenagers (and adults as well) to remember that "little eyes" are often watching us. What we say and do has an impact. We should live every moment like someone is watching.
shine!
Jason
I wanted to share some feedback we received from a few parents of the children who were in that Kids' Worship:
"I just read your note about the teen praise team that led our youngsters in kids worship last week. I was finally able to make sense of some of the conversations I’ve had with my 3 year old! I just wanted to let you know that he LOVED it! He has talked about the “big kids singing the same songs we do in big worship” for two days! "
"Just wanted to let you know that EmmaKate really enjoyed the "singing with the big kids" on Sunday. She mentioned it a couple of times throughout the day. She also told me that she would be able to sing to the little kids when she "gets bigger".
So often, I think teenagers fail to realize how much younger children look up to them. That can be a blessing or a curse.
From the comments above, it's obvious that something as simple as leading worship for children can have a huge positive impact. Both children talked about the impact of what the teenagers were doing. One even commented that he wanted to follow their example.
Unfortunately, that desire to follow their lead isn't limited to good examples. If they see teenagers doing things like texting during worship or treating adults disrespectfully, they will often seek to emulate that as well.
I am proud of our teenagers for the example they set for the children at our church in Kids' Worship. This is a good time for teenagers (and adults as well) to remember that "little eyes" are often watching us. What we say and do has an impact. We should live every moment like someone is watching.
shine!
Jason
Stuck in the middle trying to figure it out
This is a powerful highlight clip from last week's episode of Law & Order where they deal head on with the issue of abortion (You'll have to sit through a brief commercial first):
Saturday, October 24, 2009
An uncommon promise and common people
Last Sunday in our Student Spiritual Formation class we discussed Jesus’ genealogy. Our primary text was Luke’s genealogy, but we also used Matthew’s. It was interesting to hear some of the things our students observed during this study. Here are a few that I remember:
Even in something that may seem boring to many, there are a lot of things we can learn about God. In the few verses of Jesus’ genealogy we learn some important lessons. We learn that God is faithful and keeps His promises. In Genesis 3:15, God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head,?and you shall bruise his heel.” In Genesis 15:5, God told Abraham, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. So shall your offspring be.”
In addition to His faithfulness, we learn that God can work through common people to accomplish His purposes. Even people who feel like they have messed up are important in God’s Kingdom. From prostitutes to adulteresses to unknown ancestors, God used a variety of people to fulfill his promises. Imagine what God can do through us if we look to Him and allow ourselves to be a part of His unfolding story.
shine!
Jason
Luke starts with Jesus and works back to Adam, and eventually God. Matthew, on the other hand, starts with Abraham and works forward to Jesus. We talked about the significance of how Luke traces Jesus’ lineage all the way back to the original man while Matthew starts with the man to whom God made promise that found fulfillment in Jesus. Luke seems to pointing towards the importance of Jesus as the Savior of all mankind, while Matthew wants to remind his readers about Jesus fulfilling the promise made to Abraham.
There are 77 people in Luke’s geneaology while Matthew has three groups of fourteen. We noted that the number seven was significant to the Jewish people as a symbol of perfection. If it’s more than coincidence, Luke seems to be saying that Jesus is perfect perfection by the use of 77 people. Matthew has three groups of double perfection. One of the students even commented about the seven days of creation.
We also noticed that Luke’s genealogy simply gave people’s names, while Matthew often provides a description of who he is talking about. Several of those descriptions point out the women in Matthew’s genealogy (none of whom appear in Luke). We find mention of Tamar (a woman who became pregnant after she posed as a prostitute to have sex with her father-in-law), Rahab (a prostitute), Ruth (a Moabite), and the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba, who committed adultery with King David).
Even in something that may seem boring to many, there are a lot of things we can learn about God. In the few verses of Jesus’ genealogy we learn some important lessons. We learn that God is faithful and keeps His promises. In Genesis 3:15, God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head,?and you shall bruise his heel.” In Genesis 15:5, God told Abraham, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. So shall your offspring be.”
In addition to His faithfulness, we learn that God can work through common people to accomplish His purposes. Even people who feel like they have messed up are important in God’s Kingdom. From prostitutes to adulteresses to unknown ancestors, God used a variety of people to fulfill his promises. Imagine what God can do through us if we look to Him and allow ourselves to be a part of His unfolding story.
shine!
Jason
Saturday, October 17, 2009
A week of reading
This past week on vacation, I had the opportunity to read five books. I wanted to share with you something I learned from each book.
Raising Boys to Be Like Jesus by Sharon Norris Elliott
I was reminded of the importance of relationships. Throughout this book, the author consistently focused on the importance of character in the midst of relationships. Whether it was his relationship with his mother, his father, or others he encountered, we see an integrity and character that we all should strive for in our lives.
Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
Faith is more than belief; faith is action. Whether it’s a Rabbi who dedicated his entire life to one community in New Jersey, or a drug dealer and convict turned pastor, who pours his life into a ministry to the homeless in Detroit, faith is something we must live out. I was reminded that God works through the most unlikely people and faith is more about God than it is about us.
A Brief History of the Future by Jacques Attali
History repeats itself. Never before has this fact been so reinforced as it was in this book. As the author reviewed history and speculated about the next century or so, his insights (some of which are already unfolding) reminded me that history is cyclical. There is much to learn about our future by examining our past.
A Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore
Prejudice is alive and well I our country. While things are improving, people still judge others by the way they look. Whether it’s skin color, clothing, or the way we speak, we often jump to conclusions about someone before we get to know them. In this book, I was reminded that some of God’s greatest blessings come from our diversity and willingness to listen to those unlike us. As a rich art dealer and a homeless man develop a rich, warm relationship, God is able to work in incredible ways.
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
You never know the last time you will talk to someone you love. Life takes strange twists and throws us curveballs. We should cherish every moment and treat it like it could be our last. Life is too short to waste time and relationships are too valuable to neglect.
This was a diverse stack of books, but each challenged me in a different way to live life more fully. May God call you to do the same.
shine!
Jason
Raising Boys to Be Like Jesus by Sharon Norris Elliott
I was reminded of the importance of relationships. Throughout this book, the author consistently focused on the importance of character in the midst of relationships. Whether it was his relationship with his mother, his father, or others he encountered, we see an integrity and character that we all should strive for in our lives.
Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
Faith is more than belief; faith is action. Whether it’s a Rabbi who dedicated his entire life to one community in New Jersey, or a drug dealer and convict turned pastor, who pours his life into a ministry to the homeless in Detroit, faith is something we must live out. I was reminded that God works through the most unlikely people and faith is more about God than it is about us.
A Brief History of the Future by Jacques Attali
History repeats itself. Never before has this fact been so reinforced as it was in this book. As the author reviewed history and speculated about the next century or so, his insights (some of which are already unfolding) reminded me that history is cyclical. There is much to learn about our future by examining our past.
A Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore
Prejudice is alive and well I our country. While things are improving, people still judge others by the way they look. Whether it’s skin color, clothing, or the way we speak, we often jump to conclusions about someone before we get to know them. In this book, I was reminded that some of God’s greatest blessings come from our diversity and willingness to listen to those unlike us. As a rich art dealer and a homeless man develop a rich, warm relationship, God is able to work in incredible ways.
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
You never know the last time you will talk to someone you love. Life takes strange twists and throws us curveballs. We should cherish every moment and treat it like it could be our last. Life is too short to waste time and relationships are too valuable to neglect.
This was a diverse stack of books, but each challenged me in a different way to live life more fully. May God call you to do the same.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Submission and respect
Why do we have such a hard time with submission? It is a lack of respect?
It seems like our society is replete with people who don’t respect others. Think about the number of marriages destroyed because of a lack of respect. People illegally download music off the Internet, stealing it from musicians who invest their life in making music. Students cheat in school showing a lack of respect for teachers and themselves. Television, from reality shows to dramas to sitcoms, shows people treating each other with disrespect.
Paul has some advice for Christ-followers struggling with respect…
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:16-33)
Relationships are built on the foundation of respect. Respect for covenant and for the other person. This is the foundation of Christ’s love for the church.
Love and respect go together. Whether it’s a parent, a friend, or a spouse, love and respect are essential to a lasting and healthy relationship. Without them, relationships will struggle to survive.
shine!
Jason
It seems like our society is replete with people who don’t respect others. Think about the number of marriages destroyed because of a lack of respect. People illegally download music off the Internet, stealing it from musicians who invest their life in making music. Students cheat in school showing a lack of respect for teachers and themselves. Television, from reality shows to dramas to sitcoms, shows people treating each other with disrespect.
Paul has some advice for Christ-followers struggling with respect…
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:16-33)
Relationships are built on the foundation of respect. Respect for covenant and for the other person. This is the foundation of Christ’s love for the church.
Love and respect go together. Whether it’s a parent, a friend, or a spouse, love and respect are essential to a lasting and healthy relationship. Without them, relationships will struggle to survive.
shine!
Jason
Friday, October 09, 2009
Remembering Bill
This week a number of my friends are gathering in eastern Ohio to celebrate the life and mourn the death of a servant of God. Bill Covan, who was 66, passed away Tuesday morning, September 29, 2009, from complications following open heart surgery.
Bill served as the minister for the Struthers Church of Christ. I knew him as one of the co-directors for Senior Week at Northeast Ohio Christian Youth Camp.
There are a few things I will always remember about Bill...
His smile. As soon as Bill saw you, his face greeted you before you said a word. His smile would speak volumes and you could feel his warm, sincere love from a distance. I'll miss that smile.
His sense of humor. Bill was a jokester. He was always good at making you laugh or getting into mischief.
His love for teenagers. There was never a doubt in my mind that he loved every teenager at camp. You could see in his eyes that there was a deep compassion. Some of what I learned about loving teenagers, I learned from Bill Covan.
His love for God. Bill was a man after God's own heart. His smile, his sense of humor, and his love for teenagers were all products of his love for God. Bill was a conduit for God. He not only preached God's love; he lived it.
Bill and I didn't agree on everything, but we agreed on the things that matter most: love God and love others. This philosophy defines Bill Covan. Once you met him, you knew this was a man who was serious about following Jesus.
The last time I saw Bill was this summer. He was doing what he loved doing, telling teenagers about God. I was visiting NOCYC and Bill was speaking that evening. You could see the pure joy as his smile, his humor, his love for teenagers, and his love for God were all there.
Bill has touched countless number of lives, and I am blessed to be one of them. He will be missed, but his mark will carry on into eternity.
shine!
Jason
Bill served as the minister for the Struthers Church of Christ. I knew him as one of the co-directors for Senior Week at Northeast Ohio Christian Youth Camp.
There are a few things I will always remember about Bill...
His smile. As soon as Bill saw you, his face greeted you before you said a word. His smile would speak volumes and you could feel his warm, sincere love from a distance. I'll miss that smile.
His sense of humor. Bill was a jokester. He was always good at making you laugh or getting into mischief.
His love for teenagers. There was never a doubt in my mind that he loved every teenager at camp. You could see in his eyes that there was a deep compassion. Some of what I learned about loving teenagers, I learned from Bill Covan.
His love for God. Bill was a man after God's own heart. His smile, his sense of humor, and his love for teenagers were all products of his love for God. Bill was a conduit for God. He not only preached God's love; he lived it.
Bill and I didn't agree on everything, but we agreed on the things that matter most: love God and love others. This philosophy defines Bill Covan. Once you met him, you knew this was a man who was serious about following Jesus.
The last time I saw Bill was this summer. He was doing what he loved doing, telling teenagers about God. I was visiting NOCYC and Bill was speaking that evening. You could see the pure joy as his smile, his humor, his love for teenagers, and his love for God were all there.
Bill has touched countless number of lives, and I am blessed to be one of them. He will be missed, but his mark will carry on into eternity.
shine!
Jason
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Harwell, Albom, and faith
This is a great testimony by Ernie Harwell, the 91-year-old former Detroit Tigers broadcaster who was recently diagnosed with incurable cancer.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Living love
This past Wednesday in ARISE Connections, we focused on the importance of love in all relationships. Here is what we centered our thoughts on:
Love…
is patient
is kind
does not envy
does not boast
is not arrogant
is not rude
does not insist on its own way
is not irritable
is not resentful
does not rejoice at wrongdoing
rejoices with the truth
bears all things
believes all things
hopes all things
endures all things.
It was evident to me that the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully in some students’ lives Wednesday. If you were there Wednesday night, take a few minutes to review the list again and ask God to continue to move in you. Think about what you heard from God and ask yourself what you have changed or want to change in light of what you heard.
If you were not there, ask someone who was how God spoke to them. Consider the list above and ask yourself which aspects of love are the most difficult for you to live out in your life.
The reality is that we all struggle with embodying authentic, God-centered love. But the good news is that love doesn’t start with us. John writes, “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
Let’s rejoice in God’s love for us and share that love with those around us.
shine!
Jason
Love…
is patient
is kind
does not envy
does not boast
is not arrogant
is not rude
does not insist on its own way
is not irritable
is not resentful
does not rejoice at wrongdoing
rejoices with the truth
bears all things
believes all things
hopes all things
endures all things.
It was evident to me that the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully in some students’ lives Wednesday. If you were there Wednesday night, take a few minutes to review the list again and ask God to continue to move in you. Think about what you heard from God and ask yourself what you have changed or want to change in light of what you heard.
If you were not there, ask someone who was how God spoke to them. Consider the list above and ask yourself which aspects of love are the most difficult for you to live out in your life.
The reality is that we all struggle with embodying authentic, God-centered love. But the good news is that love doesn’t start with us. John writes, “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
Let’s rejoice in God’s love for us and share that love with those around us.
shine!
Jason
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Spirit-filled relationships
Relationships are at the core of our identity as human beings. Without relationships, it is hard to imagine what our existence would be like.
Whether it’s family, friends, or those we date and marry, much of what happens in our life is determined by friendships. And the best friendships occur when we live lives that are filled with and controlled by the Spirit. Who wouldn’t want to have relationships filled with the following traits?
Love.
Joy.
Peace.
Patience.
Kindness.
Goodness.
Faithfulness.
Gentleness.
Self-control.
So, ultimately, our relationships are the best when we are in relationship with God. In Romans 8:5-6, Paul writes…
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
We can choose to have relationships full of life and peace, if we live according to the Spirit. What does that mean? It means we submit to God’s will. We allow the Holy Spirit and the word of God to shape who we are. What if we don’t? Then imagine relationships full of the following: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. (Galatians 5:19-21)
We can ultimately decide what our relationships are like by what we allow to shape us. If we want to have relationships that bring wholeness, peace, and fulfillment, let the Spirit fill and lead you.
shine!
Jason
Whether it’s family, friends, or those we date and marry, much of what happens in our life is determined by friendships. And the best friendships occur when we live lives that are filled with and controlled by the Spirit. Who wouldn’t want to have relationships filled with the following traits?
Love.
Joy.
Peace.
Patience.
Kindness.
Goodness.
Faithfulness.
Gentleness.
Self-control.
So, ultimately, our relationships are the best when we are in relationship with God. In Romans 8:5-6, Paul writes…
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
We can choose to have relationships full of life and peace, if we live according to the Spirit. What does that mean? It means we submit to God’s will. We allow the Holy Spirit and the word of God to shape who we are. What if we don’t? Then imagine relationships full of the following: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. (Galatians 5:19-21)
We can ultimately decide what our relationships are like by what we allow to shape us. If we want to have relationships that bring wholeness, peace, and fulfillment, let the Spirit fill and lead you.
shine!
Jason
Monday, September 21, 2009
Have you been with Jesus?
This week our students start a yearlong journey through the Gospel of Luke. I am excited to see what we will experience and learn about Jesus throughout the next year.
My experience has taught me that some Christians know the Bible well and others not as well. But even for those who know the Bible fairly well, there are many who may not know Jesus very well.
One of the main purposes of spending a year in Luke is to get to know Jesus better. In his follow up to his gospel, Luke says the following about Peter and John:
The officials were amazed to see how brave Peter and John were, and they knew that these two apostles were only ordinary men and not well educated. The officials were certain that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
The officials weren’t amazed because of the Peter and John’s education. It wasn’t because there was something special about them. As a matter of fact, it was their ordinary nature that made their bravery so unique.
Imagine how much different we might act if we knew Jesus. Obviously, we can have the same experience as Peter and John, but there are four accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry to help us better understand who this Jesus really was. By spending a year traveling with Jesus from birth through the resurrection, we are hoping to get a better glimpse of the man from Nazareth.
Here is how Luke opens his account of the Life of Jesus Christ:
Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us. They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened. So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus, I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard. (Luke 1:1-4)
My prayer is that this year, we can join Jesus through the words of the gospel of Luke. Hopefully we can walk alongside Him and see people the way He does. Then maybe people can say about us that we have been with Jesus.
shine!
Jason
My experience has taught me that some Christians know the Bible well and others not as well. But even for those who know the Bible fairly well, there are many who may not know Jesus very well.
One of the main purposes of spending a year in Luke is to get to know Jesus better. In his follow up to his gospel, Luke says the following about Peter and John:
The officials were amazed to see how brave Peter and John were, and they knew that these two apostles were only ordinary men and not well educated. The officials were certain that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
The officials weren’t amazed because of the Peter and John’s education. It wasn’t because there was something special about them. As a matter of fact, it was their ordinary nature that made their bravery so unique.
Imagine how much different we might act if we knew Jesus. Obviously, we can have the same experience as Peter and John, but there are four accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry to help us better understand who this Jesus really was. By spending a year traveling with Jesus from birth through the resurrection, we are hoping to get a better glimpse of the man from Nazareth.
Here is how Luke opens his account of the Life of Jesus Christ:
Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us. They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened. So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus, I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard. (Luke 1:1-4)
My prayer is that this year, we can join Jesus through the words of the gospel of Luke. Hopefully we can walk alongside Him and see people the way He does. Then maybe people can say about us that we have been with Jesus.
shine!
Jason
Friday, September 18, 2009
Lord, save me from myself
There is a sign hanging in my office that I made early in my ministry. It reads as follows...
I have to admit that for the better part of the last ten years, this sign has been more of a decoration than a description of my life. If I were to remake the sign according to the reality of how I have lived, it would read like this...
Yes, I intended to list ministry twice, because that's more like the way it has been. I have allowed ministry to define me, shape me, and give me much of my identity.
I have gotten it all wrong.
Over the last several weeks I have listened to God in my life like I never have before. I have a long way to go, but I believe that God has been trying to speak boldly into my noisy life. Here is what I think he is trying to say:
Repent of your "savior complex" and let me (God) be God. For too long, you have been trying to be the savior. You have tried to do what only I can do.
Repent of your primary identity as a youth minister. Youth ministry is a calling, not an identity. Your identity is as a human being, one created in my image.
Repent of your need for affirmation from people. Affirmation from others is good and necessary, but your first source of love and affirmation should be from me. I created you. I know you. I saved you. I was there when you were created and I will be there when you die. I will never fail you. I will never just tell you what you want to hear.
Repent of your misguided priorities. After your relationship with me is your relationship with your wife. I have made you one flesh. You dedicated your life to this woman. Return to the vows that you made and make her the top human relationship in your life. Stop being distracted at home. Give her your attention. Your second most important relationship is with your son. Molding and shaping his image of me and of the world starts with you. Show him he is more important than everyone else except your wife. Make time for him.
Repent of your busyness. There is nothing wrong with working hard, but make time to be quiet. Make time for rest. I included the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments for reason. You must make time to recharge.
Father, forgive me for neglecting our relationship. I have tried to sit on your throne for too long and it is wearing me out. Save me from my selfishness and desire to seek my ultimate fulfillment from anywhere other than you. I have let important relationships suffer because of my own selfish desires. I have permitted my calling to become my identity, and in the process, I have sometimes forgotten who and what that calling is about.
Father, forgive me for allowing my ministry to distract me from being a better husband and a better father. Save me from my desire to receive the praise of men before your praise. Help me to see that when my relationship with you is stronger and my relationships at home are stronger that I can be a better servant of yours.
Father, forgive me for all of the times in the past I have gotten lost along the way. Thank you for your years of patience as you watched me struggle along. Thank you for speaking to me, even when I wasn't listening. Thank for you giving me a wife with supreme patience and a heart of gold. Thank you for giving me a son who loves me, even when I am not as attentive as I should be. Lord, thank you for loving me, even when I frustrate you and let you down. Save me from myself so that I can be more whole.
My Priorities:
1) My God
2) My Wife
3) My Family
4) My Ministry
I have to admit that for the better part of the last ten years, this sign has been more of a decoration than a description of my life. If I were to remake the sign according to the reality of how I have lived, it would read like this...
My Priorities
1) My Ministry
2) My Ministry
3) My Wife
4) My Family
5) My God
Yes, I intended to list ministry twice, because that's more like the way it has been. I have allowed ministry to define me, shape me, and give me much of my identity.
I have gotten it all wrong.
Over the last several weeks I have listened to God in my life like I never have before. I have a long way to go, but I believe that God has been trying to speak boldly into my noisy life. Here is what I think he is trying to say:
Repent of your "savior complex" and let me (God) be God. For too long, you have been trying to be the savior. You have tried to do what only I can do.
Repent of your primary identity as a youth minister. Youth ministry is a calling, not an identity. Your identity is as a human being, one created in my image.
Repent of your need for affirmation from people. Affirmation from others is good and necessary, but your first source of love and affirmation should be from me. I created you. I know you. I saved you. I was there when you were created and I will be there when you die. I will never fail you. I will never just tell you what you want to hear.
Repent of your misguided priorities. After your relationship with me is your relationship with your wife. I have made you one flesh. You dedicated your life to this woman. Return to the vows that you made and make her the top human relationship in your life. Stop being distracted at home. Give her your attention. Your second most important relationship is with your son. Molding and shaping his image of me and of the world starts with you. Show him he is more important than everyone else except your wife. Make time for him.
Repent of your busyness. There is nothing wrong with working hard, but make time to be quiet. Make time for rest. I included the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments for reason. You must make time to recharge.
Father, forgive me for neglecting our relationship. I have tried to sit on your throne for too long and it is wearing me out. Save me from my selfishness and desire to seek my ultimate fulfillment from anywhere other than you. I have let important relationships suffer because of my own selfish desires. I have permitted my calling to become my identity, and in the process, I have sometimes forgotten who and what that calling is about.
Father, forgive me for allowing my ministry to distract me from being a better husband and a better father. Save me from my desire to receive the praise of men before your praise. Help me to see that when my relationship with you is stronger and my relationships at home are stronger that I can be a better servant of yours.
Father, forgive me for all of the times in the past I have gotten lost along the way. Thank you for your years of patience as you watched me struggle along. Thank you for speaking to me, even when I wasn't listening. Thank for you giving me a wife with supreme patience and a heart of gold. Thank you for giving me a son who loves me, even when I am not as attentive as I should be. Lord, thank you for loving me, even when I frustrate you and let you down. Save me from myself so that I can be more whole.
Monday, September 14, 2009
What's the big deal about Kanye's stunt?
I have to admit, I am pretty culturally clueless much of the time. Well, maybe that is a bit extreme, but I don't spend a lot of time keeping up with celebrities and popular culture. When I am in line at Wal-Mart, I often look at People or Us and wonder who these people are on the cover.
I say that to set the stage for what I am about to talk about. I have been intrigued over the last twelve hours or so to hear about what Kanye West did last night at the MTV Video Music Awards. Honestly, if it wasn't for every third or fourth Facebook status mentioning it, I would have probably never known what happened. But, since everyone seems to be talking about it, I thought maybe I should do a little research. (Side note: I have been trying over the last couple of weeks to be more intentional about having some clue about pop culture without spending too much time in that world.)
Well, first, I watched what happened. I have to admit that I thought it was pretty rude. Here is this young woman who just won an award and some other guy comes up on the stage, interrupts what she is saying, and basically insults her by saying someone else should have won.
After I watched the video, I reflected on what people were saying (primarily via FB statuses). I saw people really getting down on Kanye for his behavior, his attitude, and his apparent intoxication at some level.
Well, in the spirit of research, I invested a little time this afternoon watching all of the videos that won awards - or at least the ones on the MTV website. Before I get to my point, I have to say I was intrigued by the artistry some of the artists displayed in their videos and music (Whether I agree and appreciate the lyrics and messages or not).
As I reflected on the videos I just watched and then thought back to the Kanye incident, what's the big deal about what he did? Seriously.
I watched videos where women paraded themselves around as sex objects, sang about the sexualization of their bodies, and engaged in movements and actions that hinted (sometimes not very subtly) at sexual activity. I watched one video where Britney Spears is in a sauna naked (with carefully concealed breasts) singing a song that includes the following lyrics:
Does anyone else see the irony in her displaying her body in a way that displays her as a sexual object while deriding a man for treating her like one? (To be fair, maybe Britney intended this irony. But it seems to me that she undermines her point even if that is her intent.)
Ok, so back to where we started. When videos are being shown that could be considered soft pornography and men and women sing about women as sexual objects, what's the big deal about what Kanye did? When musicians are using their craft to teach our culture - especially young minds which are still forming their value systems - that women should use their bodies to get what they want and men should use women's bodies to get what they want, what's the big deal about what Kanye did?
Sure, we should be offended that Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift's moment in the spotlight. But shouldn't we be more concerned about the messages that are shaping our culture's approach to the way we view our bodies and how we live as people created in the image of the Creator?
shine!
Jason
I say that to set the stage for what I am about to talk about. I have been intrigued over the last twelve hours or so to hear about what Kanye West did last night at the MTV Video Music Awards. Honestly, if it wasn't for every third or fourth Facebook status mentioning it, I would have probably never known what happened. But, since everyone seems to be talking about it, I thought maybe I should do a little research. (Side note: I have been trying over the last couple of weeks to be more intentional about having some clue about pop culture without spending too much time in that world.)
Well, first, I watched what happened. I have to admit that I thought it was pretty rude. Here is this young woman who just won an award and some other guy comes up on the stage, interrupts what she is saying, and basically insults her by saying someone else should have won.
After I watched the video, I reflected on what people were saying (primarily via FB statuses). I saw people really getting down on Kanye for his behavior, his attitude, and his apparent intoxication at some level.
Well, in the spirit of research, I invested a little time this afternoon watching all of the videos that won awards - or at least the ones on the MTV website. Before I get to my point, I have to say I was intrigued by the artistry some of the artists displayed in their videos and music (Whether I agree and appreciate the lyrics and messages or not).
As I reflected on the videos I just watched and then thought back to the Kanye incident, what's the big deal about what he did? Seriously.
I watched videos where women paraded themselves around as sex objects, sang about the sexualization of their bodies, and engaged in movements and actions that hinted (sometimes not very subtly) at sexual activity. I watched one video where Britney Spears is in a sauna naked (with carefully concealed breasts) singing a song that includes the following lyrics:
Womanizer
Woman-Womanizer
You're a womanizer
Oh Womanizer
Oh You're a Womanizer Baby
You, You You Are
You, You You Are
Womanizer, Womanizer, Womanizer
Does anyone else see the irony in her displaying her body in a way that displays her as a sexual object while deriding a man for treating her like one? (To be fair, maybe Britney intended this irony. But it seems to me that she undermines her point even if that is her intent.)
Ok, so back to where we started. When videos are being shown that could be considered soft pornography and men and women sing about women as sexual objects, what's the big deal about what Kanye did? When musicians are using their craft to teach our culture - especially young minds which are still forming their value systems - that women should use their bodies to get what they want and men should use women's bodies to get what they want, what's the big deal about what Kanye did?
Sure, we should be offended that Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift's moment in the spotlight. But shouldn't we be more concerned about the messages that are shaping our culture's approach to the way we view our bodies and how we live as people created in the image of the Creator?
shine!
Jason
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Community
Why are so many people of all ages getting into Facebook? I am convinced one of the reasons is because they crave community. In a day and age where families (aunts, uncles, grandparents, and even adult children) are spread all over the country, we are starving for a place to belong.
For most of history, families were in the same community and often the same house. Today, that is no longer the case. As we become more and more of a transient society, the hunger for connection becomes even more acute.
So how do we respond to this need as followers of Jesus? In a word… community! Our theme for the 2009-2010 year in the ARISE Ministry is COMMUNITY. The focus of our events, activities, and ministries will be designed around this theme.
Last year’s theme, “Arise,” helped us develop an understanding of a life of service. From the 40 Hours of Service, to the drive for 2009 hours of service, to monthly service time at God’s Helping Hands, to the 30 Hour Famine, we were very intentional in creating venues and motivation to integrate serving into our lives. We even adopted ARISE as the new name of our ministry because it became a focus to get outside of ourselves, let our let shine, and rise to face the challenges God has put before us.
This year, as we strive to create stronger community, we will engage five areas of community: God, youth, families, church, and world. God is community. In the Trinity, we see Father, Son, and Spirit living as three persons in absolutely unity. God said, “Let us make humankind in our image.” (Genesis 1:26, emphasis mine) Our identity and primary community call us into relationship with the Trinity, the perfect community of the Creator. This will occur through a variety of avenues, including, but not limited to, a more intentional interaction with the Scriptures, times of reflection, and a call to prayer.
Beyond that, our students will have ways to experience community with one another in small groups and a variety of events.
While peer interaction for teens is important, there is a crucial need for students to connect with parents and other age groups in the church. We will be seeking ways for families to grow closer together and imagining new ways to bridge the gaps between generations, from children all the way up to senior citizens.
Finally, if we are true to our calling, we must find ways to engage the world. When we are “being rooted and grounded in [God’s] love,” (Ephesians 1:17) we can build community with all who share in the common heritage of being children of Adam and Eve. God made us for community with all who are created in their image.
shine!
Jason
For most of history, families were in the same community and often the same house. Today, that is no longer the case. As we become more and more of a transient society, the hunger for connection becomes even more acute.
So how do we respond to this need as followers of Jesus? In a word… community! Our theme for the 2009-2010 year in the ARISE Ministry is COMMUNITY. The focus of our events, activities, and ministries will be designed around this theme.
Last year’s theme, “Arise,” helped us develop an understanding of a life of service. From the 40 Hours of Service, to the drive for 2009 hours of service, to monthly service time at God’s Helping Hands, to the 30 Hour Famine, we were very intentional in creating venues and motivation to integrate serving into our lives. We even adopted ARISE as the new name of our ministry because it became a focus to get outside of ourselves, let our let shine, and rise to face the challenges God has put before us.
This year, as we strive to create stronger community, we will engage five areas of community: God, youth, families, church, and world. God is community. In the Trinity, we see Father, Son, and Spirit living as three persons in absolutely unity. God said, “Let us make humankind in our image.” (Genesis 1:26, emphasis mine) Our identity and primary community call us into relationship with the Trinity, the perfect community of the Creator. This will occur through a variety of avenues, including, but not limited to, a more intentional interaction with the Scriptures, times of reflection, and a call to prayer.
Beyond that, our students will have ways to experience community with one another in small groups and a variety of events.
While peer interaction for teens is important, there is a crucial need for students to connect with parents and other age groups in the church. We will be seeking ways for families to grow closer together and imagining new ways to bridge the gaps between generations, from children all the way up to senior citizens.
Finally, if we are true to our calling, we must find ways to engage the world. When we are “being rooted and grounded in [God’s] love,” (Ephesians 1:17) we can build community with all who share in the common heritage of being children of Adam and Eve. God made us for community with all who are created in their image.
shine!
Jason
Monday, September 07, 2009
God's ongoing story
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the present that we fail to learn from our past or dream about the future. Others either become trapped by their past or consumed by the future.
I believe God calls us to a healthy combination of past, present, and future. In the community of the Trinity we see how God wants to be involved in every moment of our life.
In the Father, we find that all in the past has brought us to a particular moment. Through His dream we were created. Our past is a place where the Father looks to teach us. It is a place where we can look to find wisdom. We should look at failure not as a place of ending, but rather as a place of beginning. Through our past, especially mistakes, the Father is the anchor that shows us grace and mercy.
The Holy Spirit is always seeking to break the future into the present. It is through the Spirit that God moves and acts towards God’s preferred future. It is through the action of the Spirit that God’s dreams – not ours – take shape.
The Son is where the past and future come together. It is through the incarnation that God’s past and God’s future meet. The Father, who has been our Rock and our Refuge, provides a launching pad of sorts. We are able to look back into our past and ask questions like, “What is God teaching us?” We can ask those questions without fear, but rather with hope, because of the Father.
This frees us to be open to the leading of the Spirit into the future. We are able to ask God what His dreams are. What is it that God is calling us to? It is important to remember that God’s dreams are bigger than any one person’s past or future. We are a community that God is calling together into the unity of the Spirit.
The lessons of the past and the dreams of the future find themselves meeting in the present. While Christ serves as the perfect embodiment of God’s present, each of us is called to continue living as this embodiment. We are not individuals seeking personal salvation. Rather we are part of a living, breathing organism known as the body of Christ. We are each a part of God’s dream for this world. We are invited by God to join in His dreams and to hear His voice.
The abundant life Christ speaks of in John 10 is not something He simply spoke about. He lived it out and was the ultimate illustration of how it looks when God’s past and future come together to live in the present.
shine!
Jason
I believe God calls us to a healthy combination of past, present, and future. In the community of the Trinity we see how God wants to be involved in every moment of our life.
In the Father, we find that all in the past has brought us to a particular moment. Through His dream we were created. Our past is a place where the Father looks to teach us. It is a place where we can look to find wisdom. We should look at failure not as a place of ending, but rather as a place of beginning. Through our past, especially mistakes, the Father is the anchor that shows us grace and mercy.
The Holy Spirit is always seeking to break the future into the present. It is through the Spirit that God moves and acts towards God’s preferred future. It is through the action of the Spirit that God’s dreams – not ours – take shape.
The Son is where the past and future come together. It is through the incarnation that God’s past and God’s future meet. The Father, who has been our Rock and our Refuge, provides a launching pad of sorts. We are able to look back into our past and ask questions like, “What is God teaching us?” We can ask those questions without fear, but rather with hope, because of the Father.
This frees us to be open to the leading of the Spirit into the future. We are able to ask God what His dreams are. What is it that God is calling us to? It is important to remember that God’s dreams are bigger than any one person’s past or future. We are a community that God is calling together into the unity of the Spirit.
The lessons of the past and the dreams of the future find themselves meeting in the present. While Christ serves as the perfect embodiment of God’s present, each of us is called to continue living as this embodiment. We are not individuals seeking personal salvation. Rather we are part of a living, breathing organism known as the body of Christ. We are each a part of God’s dream for this world. We are invited by God to join in His dreams and to hear His voice.
The abundant life Christ speaks of in John 10 is not something He simply spoke about. He lived it out and was the ultimate illustration of how it looks when God’s past and future come together to live in the present.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, August 30, 2009
A living kingdom
I wanted to share with you a passage from The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer that I came across this past week:
May God challenge us with these words and may we find a deeper understanding of what it means to have faith and be a follower of Jesus in this world and at this time.
shine!
Jason
One of the greatest hindrances to internal peace which the Christian encounters is the common habit of dividing our lives into two areas, the sacred and the secular.
…Our trouble springs from the fact that we who follow Christ inhabit at once two worlds, the spiritual and the natural.
This tends to divide our total life into two departments. We come unconsciously to recognize two sets of actions. The first are performed with a feeling of satisfaction and a firm assurance that they are pleasing to God. These are the sacred acts and they are usually thought to be prayer, Bible reading, hymn singing, church attendance and such other acts as spring directly from faith. They may be known by the fact that they have no direct relation to this world, and would have no meaning whatever except as faith shows us another world, “a house not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens.”
Over against these sacred acts are the secular ones. They include all of the ordinary activities of life which we share with the sons and daughters of Adam: eating, sleeping, working, looking after the needs of the boy and performing our dull and prosaic duties here on earth. These we often do reluctantly and with many misgivings, often apologizing to God for what we consider a waste of time and strength. The upshot of this is that we are uneasy most of the time. We go about our common tasks with a feeling of deep frustration, telling ourselves pensively that there’s a better day coming when we shall slough off this earthly shell and be bothered no more with the affairs of this world.
…Let us think of a Christian believer in whose life the twin wonders of repentance and the new birth have been wrought. He is now living according to the will of God as he understands it from the written Word. Of such a one it may be said that every act of life is or can be as truly sacred as prayer or baptism or the Lord’s Supper. To say this is not to bring all acts down to one level; it is rather to lift every act up into a living kingdom and turn the whole life into a sacrament.
May God challenge us with these words and may we find a deeper understanding of what it means to have faith and be a follower of Jesus in this world and at this time.
shine!
Jason
Friday, August 28, 2009
A new language
I had to share this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
“All Christian thinking, speaking, and organizing must be born anew… The day will surely come when humankind will once more be called to so utter the Word of God that the world will be changed and renewed by it. It will be a new language perhaps quite non-religious but liberating and redeeming as was Jesus’ language. It will shock people and yet overcome them by its power.”
Monday, August 24, 2009
The world will go on
Last week I took three days to spend at home with my family. For the most part, I avoided email, Facebook, texting, and all of my other distractions. It was nice to just take a break and “get away.”
I don’t do this enough, and if most of you are honest, neither do you. We are surrounded by a world that clamors for our attention.
Phone calls.
Text messages.
Emails.
Television shows.
Billboards.
Commercials.
The calls for our focus are endless, and in the end, we might end up focusing on nothing at all.
Even Jesus struggled with this. He always had someone who wanted to get healed, ask Him a question, or follow Him around. After the feeding of the 5,000, He managed to find a chance to rest.
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. (Matthew 14:22-23)
We would do well to follow Jesus’ example. What are some ways we can find rest?
Turn off your cell phone and/or stop texting, especially when it’s time to sleep.
Dedicate certain days or evenings to avoid the internet, television, or even listening to your iPod.
Find a day to go somewhere as a family without any distractions. In the summer, a water park could be a great option. You can’t take any technology with you in the water, so it is a natural way to get away from electronics. You could also find a park, leave your phone in the car, and go for a walk.
If the Son of God felt it was important to have time away, shouldn’t it be important for us? If the world can carry on while God is taking a break, I think it can survive without us for a few hours.
shine!
Jason
I don’t do this enough, and if most of you are honest, neither do you. We are surrounded by a world that clamors for our attention.
Phone calls.
Text messages.
Emails.
Television shows.
Billboards.
Commercials.
The calls for our focus are endless, and in the end, we might end up focusing on nothing at all.
Even Jesus struggled with this. He always had someone who wanted to get healed, ask Him a question, or follow Him around. After the feeding of the 5,000, He managed to find a chance to rest.
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. (Matthew 14:22-23)
We would do well to follow Jesus’ example. What are some ways we can find rest?
Turn off your cell phone and/or stop texting, especially when it’s time to sleep.
Dedicate certain days or evenings to avoid the internet, television, or even listening to your iPod.
Find a day to go somewhere as a family without any distractions. In the summer, a water park could be a great option. You can’t take any technology with you in the water, so it is a natural way to get away from electronics. You could also find a park, leave your phone in the car, and go for a walk.
If the Son of God felt it was important to have time away, shouldn’t it be important for us? If the world can carry on while God is taking a break, I think it can survive without us for a few hours.
shine!
Jason
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Simplify
Today at my retreat, I have been challenged to begin simplifying my life. I have already taken my first step.
I am an admitted iPhone addict (technology addict in general). My phone often distracts me in conversations and other contexts that require my full attention. At the break, I changed the setting on my phone so that when I switch to silent my phone will no longer vibrate. My phone was set to vibrate when it was in silent mode and that vibration would distract me.
In the words of Randy Harris, who is speaking to us today, I want to be "fully present to the people in front of me and to God." I believe this is a step towards realizing that in my life.
shine!
Jason
I am an admitted iPhone addict (technology addict in general). My phone often distracts me in conversations and other contexts that require my full attention. At the break, I changed the setting on my phone so that when I switch to silent my phone will no longer vibrate. My phone was set to vibrate when it was in silent mode and that vibration would distract me.
In the words of Randy Harris, who is speaking to us today, I want to be "fully present to the people in front of me and to God." I believe this is a step towards realizing that in my life.
shine!
Jason
Saturday, August 15, 2009
More than a feeling
Love. It is the topic of countless stories. It is the theme of many songs. There have been hundreds, if not thousands, of movies built around the idea of love.
So why is love such a significant part of the human experience?
Consider what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13. You may have read this or heard it hundreds of times. But take time to read it carefully and answer the questions I have inserted…
Love is patient and kind. Am I?
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Am I?
It does not demand its own way. Do I?
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. Am I?
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Do I?
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Do I?
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Did you stop to consider the question at the end of each line? If not, stop, go back up there, and read each line. Then ask yourself each of those questions.
Because this passage is so familiar to us, we often glance over it and miss the power behind the words.
The same is true with our understanding and approach to love. We have been so immersed in a culture that tells us so many lies about love and redefines what the word means.
To our culture today, love means I get what I want if you love me. Love means that we have sex because we are attracted to each other, not to seal a life-long covenant between two individuals. It means that I set aside all reason and chase an emotion.
True love, the kind that Creator God embodies and envisions for each of us, has been pushed into a corner. Rather than love being an unconditional, unselfish commitment to others, it has become an excuse to follow our passions and pursue our own interests. It has been used to give us permission to follow our desires and often ignore what is best for others and in the long run. Maybe we would do well to seek out love from God’s perspective and make that the definition of love that we live by.
shine!
Jason
So why is love such a significant part of the human experience?
Consider what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13. You may have read this or heard it hundreds of times. But take time to read it carefully and answer the questions I have inserted…
Love is patient and kind. Am I?
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Am I?
It does not demand its own way. Do I?
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. Am I?
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Do I?
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Do I?
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Did you stop to consider the question at the end of each line? If not, stop, go back up there, and read each line. Then ask yourself each of those questions.
Because this passage is so familiar to us, we often glance over it and miss the power behind the words.
The same is true with our understanding and approach to love. We have been so immersed in a culture that tells us so many lies about love and redefines what the word means.
To our culture today, love means I get what I want if you love me. Love means that we have sex because we are attracted to each other, not to seal a life-long covenant between two individuals. It means that I set aside all reason and chase an emotion.
True love, the kind that Creator God embodies and envisions for each of us, has been pushed into a corner. Rather than love being an unconditional, unselfish commitment to others, it has become an excuse to follow our passions and pursue our own interests. It has been used to give us permission to follow our desires and often ignore what is best for others and in the long run. Maybe we would do well to seek out love from God’s perspective and make that the definition of love that we live by.
shine!
Jason
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