Debt is plaguing our nation. This is true of our government that has a current debt of approximately $15,500,000,000,000. The estimated population of the United States is 312,400,000, meaning that each citizen's share of this debt is almost $50,000. Think about that… $50,000 per person, including teenagers and children.
But it’s not just our government that has a debt problem. According to one study, the average household credit card debt (this doesn’t include mortgage, cars loans, etc.) is nearly $16,000.
There are several times that the Bible speaks to debt. One these is found in the book of Proverbs, where is says, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)
Why do we allow ourselves to become slaves to debt?
For many people, it’s the desire to live beyond their means.
Jesus might deal with the same issue in another way…
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:19-21,24)
Our society teaches us to become slaves to debt so that we can amass treasure in this world. How crazy is that? Even though God warns us not to be slaves to a lender and to serve money, many of us make decisions where we do both.
As many of your know, a little over a year ago, Michelle and I finished paying off over $33,000 in credit card debt. It was such a freeing feeling. Looking back, I know we spent a lot of money we should never have spent on things we didn’t really need.
One of my biggest fears for young people today is that they will make mistakes that lead them into debt. Our culture tells us that we form our identity based on what we own. We often allow our stuff to define us and at the end of the day, that means that our stuff owns us; we don’t own it.
Don’t allow yourself to become a slave. Remain free from the master that is debt.
I am convinced that one of the biggest obstacles for people who want to do good is debt. Instead of having money to give those in need, they have to make a debt payment. Rather then tithe at church, they are paying 10% or more of their income for the credit card’s minimum payment.
The less debt you have, the more you can do for the Kingdom. It often reduces your stress and releases your money for other things. Here is something to think about…
If the average household credit card debt is $16,000, and your minimum payment is 2% of the balance (a typical amount), your monthly payment would be $320 per month. It would take you 704 months (almost 60 years) to be rid of your debt and in that time, you will pay approximately $46,000 in interest.
Even if we disregard the original $16,000 that you spent, think about how much you could have done to serve others with almost $50,000. Your slavery to debt would have made you a servant to another master and your opportunities to serve the Lord would have been severely reduced.
Decide now what master you want to serve, and spend accordingly.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Rich toward God
Obey your thirst.
Life is short. Play more.
Just do it.
Hungry? Why wait?
All of these slogans above seem to focus on the same idea. Life exists for your pleasure.
While I believe that God desires for us to live an abundant life, I don’t believe we were created to live a life focused on entertaining and pleasing ourselves.
But you might think to yourself, aren’t those the same thing?
No. But our commercialized, market-driven, consumeristic society would want you to believe that. How else would they convince us to spend billions of dollars every year on things that we don’t really need?
Now don’t get me wrong. I am not advocating that we all have to go home and get ride of every television, video game system, cell phone, and every other item that provides us with entertainment and recreation.
Rather, we need to consider how our spending and consumption align with the Kingdom of God. God has not provided written rules about what you can own and what you can’t. The Bible does not tell you what level of financial accumulation is right and what level is wrong. But, God does have a lot to say about what we do with our blessings, including this parable told by Jesus in Luke 12…
“The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
The heart of the matter is, well, the heart. Life is not about taking it easy, eating, drinking, and being merry. Rather, life is about being rich toward God. And what does being rich toward God look like?
I would guess it looks a lot like the life of Jesus.
shine!
Jason
Life is short. Play more.
Just do it.
Hungry? Why wait?
All of these slogans above seem to focus on the same idea. Life exists for your pleasure.
While I believe that God desires for us to live an abundant life, I don’t believe we were created to live a life focused on entertaining and pleasing ourselves.
But you might think to yourself, aren’t those the same thing?
No. But our commercialized, market-driven, consumeristic society would want you to believe that. How else would they convince us to spend billions of dollars every year on things that we don’t really need?
Now don’t get me wrong. I am not advocating that we all have to go home and get ride of every television, video game system, cell phone, and every other item that provides us with entertainment and recreation.
Rather, we need to consider how our spending and consumption align with the Kingdom of God. God has not provided written rules about what you can own and what you can’t. The Bible does not tell you what level of financial accumulation is right and what level is wrong. But, God does have a lot to say about what we do with our blessings, including this parable told by Jesus in Luke 12…
“The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
The heart of the matter is, well, the heart. Life is not about taking it easy, eating, drinking, and being merry. Rather, life is about being rich toward God. And what does being rich toward God look like?
I would guess it looks a lot like the life of Jesus.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, March 11, 2012
The best investment
I have to admit that if I had been in the room when the woman poured that perfume on Jesus’ head I probably would have said the same thing. The Gospel of Matthew says that, “When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste?’ they asked. ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’” (Matthew 26:8-9)
Why is it that we so often value stuff over people?
I was raised to respect people’s property. It was one of the key values that I learned as a child. I still continue to live by that principle, but I have to be careful not to let the thing become more valuable that the person.
Living in a society where our value is often determined by our possessions really blurs the line. Rather than valuing the thing because it belongs to another person, we often allow ourselves to value the thing above the person.
Nowhere is this more true than when it comes to our stuff. How often do we allow our things to come between us and other people? Whether it’s coveting what someone else has or being so protective of our own things, we can allow what we have to become more important than another person.
In Act 2:44-45, Luke writes, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”
Imagine how much different things could be if we lived this way. What if instead of every person buying a lawnmower, a group of people bought one that they shared? What if a group of people decided to share a car instead of each of them having an extra vehicle?
Last year, I spent a weekend with the Rutba House community in Durham, North Carolina. This community lives in two houses near the campus of Duke University and they are committed to sharing life as a part of the New Monastic movement. In each of the houses you find a collection of people of different ages and life situations. From young singles to complete families, each house shares responsibilities, finances, and much more, and all under one roof!
I wonder what would happen if we could embrace some of these attitudes in our lives. Our society teaches us to build houses filled with empty rooms and furniture we seldom use. We own things that we could easy share with others, but we are led to believe that everyone needs one in their garage, kitchen, or basement.
We want to be self-sufficient and not have to rely on others, so we purchase possessions to enable us to take care of ourselves. How much consumption and accumulation would be unnecessary if we could change our views on stuff? Not only could it help us own less and be burdened by less, maybe it would help us learn how to live in connected community where we actually learn to value and depend on each other more.
shine!
Jason
Why is it that we so often value stuff over people?
I was raised to respect people’s property. It was one of the key values that I learned as a child. I still continue to live by that principle, but I have to be careful not to let the thing become more valuable that the person.
Living in a society where our value is often determined by our possessions really blurs the line. Rather than valuing the thing because it belongs to another person, we often allow ourselves to value the thing above the person.
Nowhere is this more true than when it comes to our stuff. How often do we allow our things to come between us and other people? Whether it’s coveting what someone else has or being so protective of our own things, we can allow what we have to become more important than another person.
In Act 2:44-45, Luke writes, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”
Imagine how much different things could be if we lived this way. What if instead of every person buying a lawnmower, a group of people bought one that they shared? What if a group of people decided to share a car instead of each of them having an extra vehicle?
Last year, I spent a weekend with the Rutba House community in Durham, North Carolina. This community lives in two houses near the campus of Duke University and they are committed to sharing life as a part of the New Monastic movement. In each of the houses you find a collection of people of different ages and life situations. From young singles to complete families, each house shares responsibilities, finances, and much more, and all under one roof!
I wonder what would happen if we could embrace some of these attitudes in our lives. Our society teaches us to build houses filled with empty rooms and furniture we seldom use. We own things that we could easy share with others, but we are led to believe that everyone needs one in their garage, kitchen, or basement.
We want to be self-sufficient and not have to rely on others, so we purchase possessions to enable us to take care of ourselves. How much consumption and accumulation would be unnecessary if we could change our views on stuff? Not only could it help us own less and be burdened by less, maybe it would help us learn how to live in connected community where we actually learn to value and depend on each other more.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Real hospitality
I believe that we often sell hospitality short. When most people think of hospitality, they think of someone decorating their house nice for some guests or providing a delicious meal. While this is part of hospitality, it is so much more.
Hospitality is an openness, a willingness to be vulnerable and available. This can be hard in a world that values privacy and private property. Let me share with you a paragraph from an essay I wrote a few years ago:
In our current society, hospitality has become a lost art in many ways. We live in a world of microwave ovens, text messaging, and iPods. Food can be prepared with little human interaction or need for others. We can communicate with one another without ever having to speak a word or look someone in the eye. We are able to enjoy our own, private entertainment without little need to consider the desires or tastes of others. In this world filled with self-centered, sometimes impersonal interaction, we must provide an example of authentic community. This requires us to display an openness towards everyone we encounter. We cannot and should not necessarily return to the specific methods of hospitality from centuries ago. However, we can show ways to engage in meaningful relationship that includes hospitality. In a world where people often close themselves off from others, we can be the ones who open our lives and make a difference in a world filled with loneliness and isolation.
Hospitality, at least in the Kingdom of God, requires us to open our lives to others. It cannot simply be something we do, it must become a part of who we are. We must strive to be people who open our lives to others.
This starts with an openness towards God. Are you welcoming God into every aspect of your life? Or do you only allow God access to certain parts? The more open we are towards God, the more open we will become towards others.
In a society that tends to build walls, avoid transparency, and cherishes the privacy of the individual, we have developed a high sense of loneliness. People are more opportunities than ever to communicate, but our communications are becoming more shallow.
If we are going to practice deep and significant hospitality, we must open our lives to God and other people. We must create margin in our lives and not be so busy. We have to have room for random, spontaneous moments where God can show up in powerful ways. Hospitality is more than serving up a fancy meal, it’s serving others through offering them all that you have and are.
shine!
Jason
Hospitality is an openness, a willingness to be vulnerable and available. This can be hard in a world that values privacy and private property. Let me share with you a paragraph from an essay I wrote a few years ago:
In our current society, hospitality has become a lost art in many ways. We live in a world of microwave ovens, text messaging, and iPods. Food can be prepared with little human interaction or need for others. We can communicate with one another without ever having to speak a word or look someone in the eye. We are able to enjoy our own, private entertainment without little need to consider the desires or tastes of others. In this world filled with self-centered, sometimes impersonal interaction, we must provide an example of authentic community. This requires us to display an openness towards everyone we encounter. We cannot and should not necessarily return to the specific methods of hospitality from centuries ago. However, we can show ways to engage in meaningful relationship that includes hospitality. In a world where people often close themselves off from others, we can be the ones who open our lives and make a difference in a world filled with loneliness and isolation.
Hospitality, at least in the Kingdom of God, requires us to open our lives to others. It cannot simply be something we do, it must become a part of who we are. We must strive to be people who open our lives to others.
This starts with an openness towards God. Are you welcoming God into every aspect of your life? Or do you only allow God access to certain parts? The more open we are towards God, the more open we will become towards others.
In a society that tends to build walls, avoid transparency, and cherishes the privacy of the individual, we have developed a high sense of loneliness. People are more opportunities than ever to communicate, but our communications are becoming more shallow.
If we are going to practice deep and significant hospitality, we must open our lives to God and other people. We must create margin in our lives and not be so busy. We have to have room for random, spontaneous moments where God can show up in powerful ways. Hospitality is more than serving up a fancy meal, it’s serving others through offering them all that you have and are.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Suffering
Sometimes suffering is a result of our decisions, sometimes it is the result of the decisions of others, and sometimes it can’t be explained. While the first two are easier to understand, the third one can be very challenging and difficult to deal with.
As we consider James 5:7-20 this week in our classes, I believe there are several lessons we can learn. The first is that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. I do not subscribe to the idea that God makes things happen so we can learn. However, I do believe that because of freewill, God allows things to happen. When they do, God can use them in several ways.
First of all, while God doesn’t will that things happen for us to learn, I believe he can use things that happen for us to learn his will. I once heard it said that the will of God is not what happens to us, it’s how we react to what happens to us. Difficult times will often force us to reconsider our priorities and change our behaviors.
In addition, God can use suffering to draw us closer together. When someone mourns, we mourn with them. When someone struggles, we help them with their burden. When someone hurts, we help bandage them up. Community is often strengthened through difficult times.
I remember watching the news coverage on September 11, 2001. On that day, as our nation suffered on the world stage, the members of Congress gathered together as a sign of unity. Democrats and Republicans stood together and sang together, putting aside their differences.
Maybe one of the reasons the Western church has lost its fire is because we don’t have to suffer much. I don’t mean that we don’t all have times of suffering. Loved ones die. Friends get sick. People lose jobs.
Rather, I mean that we don’t suffer much for our faith. While I believe it’s questionable if we live in a “Christian nation,” I also believe that we have it pretty easy. There is currently an Amercian pastor in Iran who may be executed simply for converting to Christianty and refusing to renounce his faith.
How would most Christians in America react if they were given a choice to renounce their faith or face execution? Many of us, if we’re honest, often renounce it a little bit at a time for significantly smaller reasons.
Let me finish by sharing James’ closing words in his letter…
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20)
shine!
Jason
As we consider James 5:7-20 this week in our classes, I believe there are several lessons we can learn. The first is that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. I do not subscribe to the idea that God makes things happen so we can learn. However, I do believe that because of freewill, God allows things to happen. When they do, God can use them in several ways.
First of all, while God doesn’t will that things happen for us to learn, I believe he can use things that happen for us to learn his will. I once heard it said that the will of God is not what happens to us, it’s how we react to what happens to us. Difficult times will often force us to reconsider our priorities and change our behaviors.
In addition, God can use suffering to draw us closer together. When someone mourns, we mourn with them. When someone struggles, we help them with their burden. When someone hurts, we help bandage them up. Community is often strengthened through difficult times.
I remember watching the news coverage on September 11, 2001. On that day, as our nation suffered on the world stage, the members of Congress gathered together as a sign of unity. Democrats and Republicans stood together and sang together, putting aside their differences.
Maybe one of the reasons the Western church has lost its fire is because we don’t have to suffer much. I don’t mean that we don’t all have times of suffering. Loved ones die. Friends get sick. People lose jobs.
Rather, I mean that we don’t suffer much for our faith. While I believe it’s questionable if we live in a “Christian nation,” I also believe that we have it pretty easy. There is currently an Amercian pastor in Iran who may be executed simply for converting to Christianty and refusing to renounce his faith.
How would most Christians in America react if they were given a choice to renounce their faith or face execution? Many of us, if we’re honest, often renounce it a little bit at a time for significantly smaller reasons.
Let me finish by sharing James’ closing words in his letter…
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20)
shine!
Jason
Monday, February 20, 2012
Blessed to be a blessing
This week in our student classes we encountered one of the most confrontational parts of James letter. He “gets in the face” of the rich and challenges them about the ways in which they use and abuse their riches.
Most of us would not consider ourselves rich. I mean, think about it, we don’t live in mansions. We don’t drive $100,000 sports cars. Rich people are people like Bill Gates and Mike Ilitch.
But think about this…
According to a recent statistic, more than 80% of the world’s population lives on less than $10 per day, or $3,650 per year. While we may not see ourselves as rich, I am sure that almost all of us live on more than $3,650 per year. That means we are richer than at least 80% of the world.
I think that James words speak directly to us and challenges us to consider our stewardship. While there are hundreds of ways we can help those who struggle to survive every day, I want to suggest one.
World Vision is an organization we have worked with for several years through our 30 Hour Famine. They also offer opportunities to adopt children and make a different in the lives of those who are not as blessed as we are. Here is some information from their website about sponsoring a child:
Child Sponsorship is an opportunity to personally connect with a child and walk alongside their family and community as they work on lasting solutions to the causes that keep vulnerable children from reaching their God-given potential.
When you become a child sponsor, you will be connected to one special child who will correspond with you, including sending a letter to introduce themselves. We encourage you to continue this relationship and get to know your sponsored child better by writing letters or sending cards. It is very exciting for a child to receive a letter from their sponsor knowing that someone far away cares about them and their future.
Your sponsorship donations will help build a stronger community and give children and their families access to programs that will provide greater opportunities. For just $35 a month, you will help your sponsored child and children in their community enjoy good health, be educated, cared for, protected, and participating in making their community a better place to live—and to love God and their neighbors.
The well-being of children is the focus of all the work World Vision does. Your donations, and the donations of other sponsors like you, work together within the community to address the needs and conditions of children and families and have maximum impact in the lives of children, families, and communities.
We help to change a child’s life by changing the world in which they live. The well-being of your sponsored child is tied to the well-being of their family and community. We work with the whole community to address issues that are important to them so they can better care for their children. The best solution to poverty, one that will last, is not about giving people handouts or doing the work for them. It is about working alongside them to build a better community. We work with many people that contribute to the well-being of a child, including their families, organizations, groups, churches within their community, and their government.
Each community that we work with faces different challenges and has different needs. Therefore, the way that we do our work is unique to each community. World Vision listens to the people in a community to understand what hinders their children from reaching their full potential. We then help to improve the lives of children by working with their community to address the needs they have identified.
As you consider the words of James 5:1-6 this week, consider whether sponsoring a child might be a way for your family to be a blessing to a child (and his or her family) living in poverty.
shine!
Jason
Most of us would not consider ourselves rich. I mean, think about it, we don’t live in mansions. We don’t drive $100,000 sports cars. Rich people are people like Bill Gates and Mike Ilitch.
But think about this…
According to a recent statistic, more than 80% of the world’s population lives on less than $10 per day, or $3,650 per year. While we may not see ourselves as rich, I am sure that almost all of us live on more than $3,650 per year. That means we are richer than at least 80% of the world.
I think that James words speak directly to us and challenges us to consider our stewardship. While there are hundreds of ways we can help those who struggle to survive every day, I want to suggest one.
World Vision is an organization we have worked with for several years through our 30 Hour Famine. They also offer opportunities to adopt children and make a different in the lives of those who are not as blessed as we are. Here is some information from their website about sponsoring a child:
Child Sponsorship is an opportunity to personally connect with a child and walk alongside their family and community as they work on lasting solutions to the causes that keep vulnerable children from reaching their God-given potential.
When you become a child sponsor, you will be connected to one special child who will correspond with you, including sending a letter to introduce themselves. We encourage you to continue this relationship and get to know your sponsored child better by writing letters or sending cards. It is very exciting for a child to receive a letter from their sponsor knowing that someone far away cares about them and their future.
Your sponsorship donations will help build a stronger community and give children and their families access to programs that will provide greater opportunities. For just $35 a month, you will help your sponsored child and children in their community enjoy good health, be educated, cared for, protected, and participating in making their community a better place to live—and to love God and their neighbors.
The well-being of children is the focus of all the work World Vision does. Your donations, and the donations of other sponsors like you, work together within the community to address the needs and conditions of children and families and have maximum impact in the lives of children, families, and communities.
We help to change a child’s life by changing the world in which they live. The well-being of your sponsored child is tied to the well-being of their family and community. We work with the whole community to address issues that are important to them so they can better care for their children. The best solution to poverty, one that will last, is not about giving people handouts or doing the work for them. It is about working alongside them to build a better community. We work with many people that contribute to the well-being of a child, including their families, organizations, groups, churches within their community, and their government.
Each community that we work with faces different challenges and has different needs. Therefore, the way that we do our work is unique to each community. World Vision listens to the people in a community to understand what hinders their children from reaching their full potential. We then help to improve the lives of children by working with their community to address the needs they have identified.
As you consider the words of James 5:1-6 this week, consider whether sponsoring a child might be a way for your family to be a blessing to a child (and his or her family) living in poverty.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Love is more than a feeling
This week we will celebrate Valentine’s Day. This is a day centered on the love. Everywhere you look you will see hearts and a variety of other symbols that express the concept of love.
While romantic love is important, it is not the most important type of love. Our culture often waters down love to be about feelings and passion. While those are important parts of love, real, life-giving love goes much deeper. Paul describes that kind of love like this…
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Another early Christ-follower, the apostle John, has this to say about love that is anchored in the character of God…
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 John 4:7-21)
As we hear a lot above love this week, remember that the love that emerges from the Kingdom of God is more than just a feeling; it’s a way of living life.
shine!
Jason
While romantic love is important, it is not the most important type of love. Our culture often waters down love to be about feelings and passion. While those are important parts of love, real, life-giving love goes much deeper. Paul describes that kind of love like this…
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Another early Christ-follower, the apostle John, has this to say about love that is anchored in the character of God…
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 John 4:7-21)
As we hear a lot above love this week, remember that the love that emerges from the Kingdom of God is more than just a feeling; it’s a way of living life.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Which wisdom?
There is a lot of “wisdom” in the world. All you have to do is go to a library or bookstore and you can find hundreds of self-help books telling you how to succeed, be transformed, or change your life.
The reality is that while some of these books contain good advice, the best advice comes from God. Before we try harder, read another book, or Google “becoming a better person,” we should turn to God for guidance.
The first key in gaining wisdom is to submit to God. As James says, “the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17)
While people spend millions – if not billions – of dollars every year seeking to discover wisdom, the best place to start won’t cost them much at all, at least financially.
I believe that the problem with some people is that they are willing to give up money for wisdom, but they’re not willing to give up their desires. We live in a world driven by desire and selfish ambition. According to the world’s standards, the wisest people are often the ones who know how to manipulate, scheme, and do whatever it takes to be successful.
In the Kingdom of God, things are the exact opposite. The first will be last and the last will be first. The greatest among you will be your servant. These are the signs of true wisdom; wisdom born of God.
Unfortunately, it seems as though many Christians subscribe to the world’s attitude about wisdom. We come to church asking what’s in it for me? We complain when the church doesn’t meet our needs. When we are not being served, we might look for a church that provides what we want.
I wonder how much different the church in America would be if followers of Jesus gathered to ask what they can give and what they can do for others. How would it affect our attitude about the hymns we sing, the programs we offer, and a variety of other issues that churches so often fight about? Maybe one of the biggest problems for the church is that we’re living according to the wisdom of the wrong kingdom.
shine!
Jason
The reality is that while some of these books contain good advice, the best advice comes from God. Before we try harder, read another book, or Google “becoming a better person,” we should turn to God for guidance.
The first key in gaining wisdom is to submit to God. As James says, “the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17)
While people spend millions – if not billions – of dollars every year seeking to discover wisdom, the best place to start won’t cost them much at all, at least financially.
I believe that the problem with some people is that they are willing to give up money for wisdom, but they’re not willing to give up their desires. We live in a world driven by desire and selfish ambition. According to the world’s standards, the wisest people are often the ones who know how to manipulate, scheme, and do whatever it takes to be successful.
In the Kingdom of God, things are the exact opposite. The first will be last and the last will be first. The greatest among you will be your servant. These are the signs of true wisdom; wisdom born of God.
Unfortunately, it seems as though many Christians subscribe to the world’s attitude about wisdom. We come to church asking what’s in it for me? We complain when the church doesn’t meet our needs. When we are not being served, we might look for a church that provides what we want.
I wonder how much different the church in America would be if followers of Jesus gathered to ask what they can give and what they can do for others. How would it affect our attitude about the hymns we sing, the programs we offer, and a variety of other issues that churches so often fight about? Maybe one of the biggest problems for the church is that we’re living according to the wisdom of the wrong kingdom.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Faith and works
It seems like people often swing back and forth between extremes in many areas of life. I believe this is true in the area of faith and works.
I am currently in the middle of watching a documentary about the life of Martin Luther. What I have watched so far has shown what led him to write his Ninety-Five Theses. (If you’re not familiar with what I am talking about, I recommend taking a few minutes to look into this. It’s one of the most significant events in the history of the Church). One of the biggest catalysts was his realization that our salvation is not based on our works, but on faith in Christ.
We have to realize that Luther came to this conclusion after years of serving in a church setting where everything was about doing enough works to deserve salvation. He was coming from one extreme of the spectrum.
Unfortunately, some have taken the ideas Luther espoused to the other end of the spectrum and would argue that our works have little or nothing to do with our salvation. They would say that all you need is belief.
The reality – as is often true – is actually found in the middle. While our works do not earn our salvation, they are certainly an essential part of our walk. Without them, we are dead. We are not dead because we didn’t do enough. Rather, we are dead because the fruit we bear (or don’t bear) reveals our attitude and the depth of our faith.
I like to say it this way: We don’t do works to be saved. Rather, we do works because we are saved.
If we have truly encountered God and seek a relationship with him, our lives should reflect the character and nature of God. Our works should naturally flow from within as the Spirit fills us and pours out into our lives.
We should not think of the Christian faith as a list of rules to follow. That is selling things way too short. But at the same time, the Christian faith is not simply agreeing to some idea so we can have the promise of eternal life.
The Christian faith is a life-long pursuit of God in which our lives should continue to bear more and more fruit of the Kingdom of God as we are transformed. Our works are not the ticket to eternal life. They are the evidence that we are living lives according the Kingdom that will reign forever.
shine!
Jason
I am currently in the middle of watching a documentary about the life of Martin Luther. What I have watched so far has shown what led him to write his Ninety-Five Theses. (If you’re not familiar with what I am talking about, I recommend taking a few minutes to look into this. It’s one of the most significant events in the history of the Church). One of the biggest catalysts was his realization that our salvation is not based on our works, but on faith in Christ.
We have to realize that Luther came to this conclusion after years of serving in a church setting where everything was about doing enough works to deserve salvation. He was coming from one extreme of the spectrum.
Unfortunately, some have taken the ideas Luther espoused to the other end of the spectrum and would argue that our works have little or nothing to do with our salvation. They would say that all you need is belief.
The reality – as is often true – is actually found in the middle. While our works do not earn our salvation, they are certainly an essential part of our walk. Without them, we are dead. We are not dead because we didn’t do enough. Rather, we are dead because the fruit we bear (or don’t bear) reveals our attitude and the depth of our faith.
I like to say it this way: We don’t do works to be saved. Rather, we do works because we are saved.
If we have truly encountered God and seek a relationship with him, our lives should reflect the character and nature of God. Our works should naturally flow from within as the Spirit fills us and pours out into our lives.
We should not think of the Christian faith as a list of rules to follow. That is selling things way too short. But at the same time, the Christian faith is not simply agreeing to some idea so we can have the promise of eternal life.
The Christian faith is a life-long pursuit of God in which our lives should continue to bear more and more fruit of the Kingdom of God as we are transformed. Our works are not the ticket to eternal life. They are the evidence that we are living lives according the Kingdom that will reign forever.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Taking it home
We added two new items to our Families with Youth newsletter this week that I hope will help families engage their faith at home.
In the “Pass It On” segment, I am inviting a different parent to write something each week where they can briefly share a way they pass on their faith to their children. Part of this comes from a passage in Deuteronomy that we discussed in our Parent/Student Meeting a few weeks ago:
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
This does not have to be anything complex or fancy. It might describing a weekly family devotional. It could talk about how a family prays together each day or week. They might share a special service opportunity they participate in as a family. It could be as simple as some way they weave faith into their everyday conversations. The options are endless.
Thank you to one of our parents, Laura Stewart, for her willingness to be my “guinea pig” by writing the first “Pass It On” entry. Parents are asked to email their submissions so I can include them in upcoming newsletters.
The second new segment is entitled, “Faith@Home.” In this section, I will be providing the title and description for our current series as well as the specific class topic for the current week. The “Talk about it” section of this segment will offer a few questions for discussion as well as an action point. Families may choose to read these questions verbatim or use them to formulate their own questions. In the action point, families are asked to put what they have discussed into practice.
As our ministry enters into this new season of helping the home become the center of spiritual formation, I am hoping these new resources will help our families along the way.
shine!
Jason
In the “Pass It On” segment, I am inviting a different parent to write something each week where they can briefly share a way they pass on their faith to their children. Part of this comes from a passage in Deuteronomy that we discussed in our Parent/Student Meeting a few weeks ago:
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
This does not have to be anything complex or fancy. It might describing a weekly family devotional. It could talk about how a family prays together each day or week. They might share a special service opportunity they participate in as a family. It could be as simple as some way they weave faith into their everyday conversations. The options are endless.
Thank you to one of our parents, Laura Stewart, for her willingness to be my “guinea pig” by writing the first “Pass It On” entry. Parents are asked to email their submissions so I can include them in upcoming newsletters.
The second new segment is entitled, “Faith@Home.” In this section, I will be providing the title and description for our current series as well as the specific class topic for the current week. The “Talk about it” section of this segment will offer a few questions for discussion as well as an action point. Families may choose to read these questions verbatim or use them to formulate their own questions. In the action point, families are asked to put what they have discussed into practice.
As our ministry enters into this new season of helping the home become the center of spiritual formation, I am hoping these new resources will help our families along the way.
shine!
Jason
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Coming out of the dark
The last fifteen months or so have arguably been the darkest season of my life. Looking back over the landscape of that time, I believe that this time even eclipses 1999, the year that Michelle and I both lost our mothers. You see, it is one thing to lose a close family member. It is quite another to walk with an entire church community through a host of difficulties while dealing with your own personal struggles.
I am not seeking pity or praise for the last year or so, but as I look back at what the last fifteen months have been, I have new appreciation for the words of the psalmist, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley..." (Psalm 23:4) I feel like I have walked through a valley and as I stand on the edge of that valley and look back at the path, I see death, destruction, and discouragement in the midst of the hell that the Rochester Church and I have journeyed through together.
The death of a mother of four (including a teenager still at home) after fighting a brain tumor for five long years.
The unexpected death of a friend and partner in ministry, a 31-year-old husband and father of three (one of them still in the womb at the time of his death).
The tragic death of a seven-year-old child in a freak sledding accident.
The death of a 21-year-old young man who had been in my youth group, and the long recovery for his twin brother, who suffered serious injuries in the accident.
These are only the tip of the iceberg for a dark and difficult season in the life of our church family.
I don't think you realize the weight of walking through a war zone until you escape it. I have never served in the armed forces nor have I been in a physical battle, but I have been through a spiritual battle in the last year or so. These have been some of the deepest, darkest days of my life, but only now am I fully realizing where I have been and the impact it has had on me.
It's funny how you don't really grasp how dark it is until light erupts on the horizon. I'm just now really beginning to understand how this has all affected me.
And in the midst of everything above, our church also went through a significant staff transition and I wrestled with my own calling in ministry. There were times I considered walking away from ministry. Other times I had no idea what to do. And in the midst of these upheaval and uncertainty, God spoke clearly to me and I returned to my true calling to minister to students and their families.
I don't share this to receive sympathy. Rather, I want each of us to realize that sometimes we are in the darkness and we don't realize it. Other times, we may get frustrated with others walking in darkness, but we need to realize they may not see it.
These past months have taken a toll on me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have gained back nearly half the weight I lost. I have not been the husband and father I should have been. My relationship with God has suffered. But today, I stand on the dawn of a new day. I look back at the valley, but just for a minute. Then I look to the future, to a new horizon.
In the early 1990's, singer Gloria Estefan was seriously injured in an accident. Following that accident and her struggles in the months after, Estefan penned the words to a song that made it all the way to the top of the charts. I think these words speak to a hope we all long for and a healing we all seek. While she wrote these words to her husband, I want to take these same words and direct them to the One who has ultimately brought me out of the darkness.
Thank you, Lord, for walking with me though the valley of death. Thank you for shining your light into the darkness. Thank you for bringing me out of the dark.
shine!
Jason
I am not seeking pity or praise for the last year or so, but as I look back at what the last fifteen months have been, I have new appreciation for the words of the psalmist, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley..." (Psalm 23:4) I feel like I have walked through a valley and as I stand on the edge of that valley and look back at the path, I see death, destruction, and discouragement in the midst of the hell that the Rochester Church and I have journeyed through together.
The death of a mother of four (including a teenager still at home) after fighting a brain tumor for five long years.
The unexpected death of a friend and partner in ministry, a 31-year-old husband and father of three (one of them still in the womb at the time of his death).
The tragic death of a seven-year-old child in a freak sledding accident.
The death of a 21-year-old young man who had been in my youth group, and the long recovery for his twin brother, who suffered serious injuries in the accident.
These are only the tip of the iceberg for a dark and difficult season in the life of our church family.
I don't think you realize the weight of walking through a war zone until you escape it. I have never served in the armed forces nor have I been in a physical battle, but I have been through a spiritual battle in the last year or so. These have been some of the deepest, darkest days of my life, but only now am I fully realizing where I have been and the impact it has had on me.
It's funny how you don't really grasp how dark it is until light erupts on the horizon. I'm just now really beginning to understand how this has all affected me.
And in the midst of everything above, our church also went through a significant staff transition and I wrestled with my own calling in ministry. There were times I considered walking away from ministry. Other times I had no idea what to do. And in the midst of these upheaval and uncertainty, God spoke clearly to me and I returned to my true calling to minister to students and their families.
I don't share this to receive sympathy. Rather, I want each of us to realize that sometimes we are in the darkness and we don't realize it. Other times, we may get frustrated with others walking in darkness, but we need to realize they may not see it.
These past months have taken a toll on me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have gained back nearly half the weight I lost. I have not been the husband and father I should have been. My relationship with God has suffered. But today, I stand on the dawn of a new day. I look back at the valley, but just for a minute. Then I look to the future, to a new horizon.
In the early 1990's, singer Gloria Estefan was seriously injured in an accident. Following that accident and her struggles in the months after, Estefan penned the words to a song that made it all the way to the top of the charts. I think these words speak to a hope we all long for and a healing we all seek. While she wrote these words to her husband, I want to take these same words and direct them to the One who has ultimately brought me out of the darkness.
Why be afraid if I'm not alone
Though life is never easy the rest in unkown
Up to now for me it's been hands against stone
Spent each and every moment
Searching for what to believe
Coming out of the dark, I finally see the light now
It's shinning on me
Coming out of the dark, I know the love that saved me
You're sharing with me
Starting again is part of the plan
And I'll be so much stronger holding your hand
Step by step I'll make it through I know I can
It may not make it easier but I have felt you
Near all the way
Forever, forever I stand on the rock of your love
Forever I'll stand on the rock
Forever, forever I stand on the rock of your love
Love is all it takes, no matter what we face
Thank you, Lord, for walking with me though the valley of death. Thank you for shining your light into the darkness. Thank you for bringing me out of the dark.
shine!
Jason
Monday, January 16, 2012
I have a dream
Today we are celebrating the life of a man who helped change the course of history. He stepped into a conflict dominated by hate and violence and offered love and peace. When others wanted to use bombs, guns, and intimidation to forward their cause, Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated peaceful marches and non-violent protests.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is about so much more than the Civil Rights Movement. Don't get me wrong, racism lost a lot of ground because of the efforts of King and those who marched with him. But what he stood for went much deeper than that.
In his famous speech in Washington, D.C., King said, "I have a dream..." But this wasn't King's dream. It was God's dream living through him. While I never knew him personally, I can tell by the fruit that he bore than Martin Luther King, Jr. was an ambassador of the Kingdom of God. He wasn't perfect, but he was certainly taking a stand for something that reverberated the echoes of the voice of the Creator.
Ultimately, his willingness to stand against the tide cost him his life. A voice of hope, peace, love, and victory was silenced too early. But not before he sounded a cry that would echo for generations to come. Much like the man he followed, Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, Jr. was willing to do what was right, regardless of the consequences.
When I consider the life that King lived I am both embarrassed and encouraged. I am embarrassed about the number of times I fail to live in way that reflects and advances the Kingdom of God. I am encouraged because I know that King struggled, too. When I read a biography of King's life, I learned that this larger than life man was just as human as I am. He made his mistakes. He had his regrets. And in that way, he and I are no different.
If a man like Martin Luther King, Jr. can take a stand and change the world, so can I. There may never be a holiday named after me and it's unlikely I will ever appear in a history book, but I can have a dream like God's that will change the world around me in a way that ushers in the Kingdom of God.
Thank you, Dr; King, for showing us a better way to live so that God's dream can become our dream, too.
shine!
Jason
Martin Luther King, Jr. is about so much more than the Civil Rights Movement. Don't get me wrong, racism lost a lot of ground because of the efforts of King and those who marched with him. But what he stood for went much deeper than that.
In his famous speech in Washington, D.C., King said, "I have a dream..." But this wasn't King's dream. It was God's dream living through him. While I never knew him personally, I can tell by the fruit that he bore than Martin Luther King, Jr. was an ambassador of the Kingdom of God. He wasn't perfect, but he was certainly taking a stand for something that reverberated the echoes of the voice of the Creator.
Ultimately, his willingness to stand against the tide cost him his life. A voice of hope, peace, love, and victory was silenced too early. But not before he sounded a cry that would echo for generations to come. Much like the man he followed, Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, Jr. was willing to do what was right, regardless of the consequences.
When I consider the life that King lived I am both embarrassed and encouraged. I am embarrassed about the number of times I fail to live in way that reflects and advances the Kingdom of God. I am encouraged because I know that King struggled, too. When I read a biography of King's life, I learned that this larger than life man was just as human as I am. He made his mistakes. He had his regrets. And in that way, he and I are no different.
If a man like Martin Luther King, Jr. can take a stand and change the world, so can I. There may never be a holiday named after me and it's unlikely I will ever appear in a history book, but I can have a dream like God's that will change the world around me in a way that ushers in the Kingdom of God.
Thank you, Dr; King, for showing us a better way to live so that God's dream can become our dream, too.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, January 15, 2012
True religion
What is true religion? What does it mean to be a Christian?
These have been questions that followers of Jesus have wrestled with for hundreds of year. The answers have not always led to good results. Churches have split. Denominations have been created. People have given up on God.
But at the same time, it’s the question that we must continue to seek an answer for. It is the question that tugs at our heart and cries out for a response.
James tells us, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
So, religion isn’t really a set of rules, a way of doing church, or anything like that. Are there commandments we are called to live by? Yes. Does God want us to meet in community for worship, encouragement, and accountability? Absolutely. But neither of those are the purpose. They are guideposts along the journey.
Ultimately, religion, true religion, is a call to live a life that echoes the story of God. A story of hope. A story of love. A story of redemption.
It is a way of life that demands we live according to a different rhythm than the one the world offers.
The world – and Satan – want us to base our religion on rules and doing church. When we do that, we miss the point, and evil gains a foothold in the world. While we focus on what happens for a few hours, one day a week, God is focusing on the world around us. A world where people are hurting and help captive by a variety of masters.
Do you really want to be religious?
Look after orphans and widows. Care for the unloved. Reach out to the untouchables. Acknowledge the ignored. Not just in some country on the other side of the globe or even in another city. Do it where you live. In your community. On your street. Maybe even in your home.
Keep yourself from being polluted by the world. This means so much more than don’t have sex, don’t get drunk, and don’t steal. It means live a life that reflects Kingdom values. How has consumerism taken you captive? Does having a good image trump doing the right thing? Do you gossip or look at members of the opposite sex as objects rather than people created in the image of God?
If we are going to practice true religion, we should stop worrying so much about what we do on Sunday mornings and focus on who we are on Monday mornings. Then we will live a life worthy of the calling we have received.
shine!
Jason
These have been questions that followers of Jesus have wrestled with for hundreds of year. The answers have not always led to good results. Churches have split. Denominations have been created. People have given up on God.
But at the same time, it’s the question that we must continue to seek an answer for. It is the question that tugs at our heart and cries out for a response.
James tells us, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
So, religion isn’t really a set of rules, a way of doing church, or anything like that. Are there commandments we are called to live by? Yes. Does God want us to meet in community for worship, encouragement, and accountability? Absolutely. But neither of those are the purpose. They are guideposts along the journey.
Ultimately, religion, true religion, is a call to live a life that echoes the story of God. A story of hope. A story of love. A story of redemption.
It is a way of life that demands we live according to a different rhythm than the one the world offers.
The world – and Satan – want us to base our religion on rules and doing church. When we do that, we miss the point, and evil gains a foothold in the world. While we focus on what happens for a few hours, one day a week, God is focusing on the world around us. A world where people are hurting and help captive by a variety of masters.
Do you really want to be religious?
Look after orphans and widows. Care for the unloved. Reach out to the untouchables. Acknowledge the ignored. Not just in some country on the other side of the globe or even in another city. Do it where you live. In your community. On your street. Maybe even in your home.
Keep yourself from being polluted by the world. This means so much more than don’t have sex, don’t get drunk, and don’t steal. It means live a life that reflects Kingdom values. How has consumerism taken you captive? Does having a good image trump doing the right thing? Do you gossip or look at members of the opposite sex as objects rather than people created in the image of God?
If we are going to practice true religion, we should stop worrying so much about what we do on Sunday mornings and focus on who we are on Monday mornings. Then we will live a life worthy of the calling we have received.
shine!
Jason
Friday, January 13, 2012
Reflections from Daytona
I have had a few days now to think about my trip to Daytona Beach and the National Conference on Youth Ministries and I wanted to share a few reflections from my week...
Receive the day
Each morning at the conference, Earl Lavender from Lipscomb University led us in a morning devotional. While the crowd was sparse, what Earl offered was very rich! His focus for the week was to receive the day. He pursued the idea of starting the day open to what God has in store for you.
I tend to wake up and start the day by looking at my iCal to see what I have planned. While I am intend to stick to my commitments, I am going to work this year to not let my calendar dictate my day. I am convicted that I need to leave margin in my schedule for God to reveal opportunities for the inbreaking of his Kingdom.
Each day should be an opportunity for an exciting, unexpected encounter with God and his creation. I want to echo in my own life the words we read from Psalm 5:3 last week, "In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."
Cherish the simple things
On our last morning there, our family went down to the beach to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean. As we sat there anticipating the breaking of the sun over the horizon, I was reminded of the beauty of simple things. In a world where Facebook, texting, hundreds of channels on TV, iPods full of music, and busy schedules dominate our lives, we need to appreciate the simple things.
A sunrise. A bird walking along the shore. The smile of a friend. The embrace of a loved one. These are the true treasures of our world. I so often get wrapped up in the complexities of life that I miss the beauty of creation. We have created a world that demands our attention and often distracts us from the more important things. I often miss hearing God because I'm focusing more on what we have created, and less on the Creator and his creation.
Slow down
This will require me to slow down. I am too busy. My schedule is too full. I struggle to receive the day and cherish the simple things by my own doing most of the time.
I have bought into the American philosophy that busyness is good. I have been taught to believe that my productivity determines my worth. I often measure my value by what I am able to do, not who I am. Chris Seidman asked a question the first night of the conference that has stuck with me. He asked, "Are you living from the blessing of God or for the blessing of others?"
I am convinced that I spend too much time living for the blessing of others and way too little time living from the blessing of God. God tells me that I am his child, highly valued, not for what I do, but for who I am. I am his. He created me. He loves me. He values me. If I only I could slow down long enough to hear his voice.
God is in the business of redemption
David Fraze reminded us that, "Your life, your story, no matter how chaotic, is redeemable."
I needed to hear that for my life. I can be an idiot sometimes. I allow my life to become too chaotic. I don't receive the day from God. I don't cherish the simple things. I don't slow down. Even on my best days, I usually well off the mark.
God created me for relationship. Relationship with him. Relationship with others. And too often, I forget that. I live like I am created for success, recognition, or my own self-aggrandizement. God forgive me for pushing him off his throne and trying to climb in it myself.
There is hope in knowing that no life, regardless of the chaos, is beyond redemption. Thank you for that reminder. I am a sinner in need of God's grace and mercy. This is not some formula that simply wipes my slate clean. It is so much more.
This redemption is about a God who repairs relationships, restores identity, and renews life. God has not just saved me from my sins; he is saving me from myself. I am in need of God who loves me regardless of the mess I have made in my life and embraces me no matter what.
And that is what I need every day.
shine!
Jason
Receive the day
Each morning at the conference, Earl Lavender from Lipscomb University led us in a morning devotional. While the crowd was sparse, what Earl offered was very rich! His focus for the week was to receive the day. He pursued the idea of starting the day open to what God has in store for you.
I tend to wake up and start the day by looking at my iCal to see what I have planned. While I am intend to stick to my commitments, I am going to work this year to not let my calendar dictate my day. I am convicted that I need to leave margin in my schedule for God to reveal opportunities for the inbreaking of his Kingdom.
Each day should be an opportunity for an exciting, unexpected encounter with God and his creation. I want to echo in my own life the words we read from Psalm 5:3 last week, "In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."
Cherish the simple things
On our last morning there, our family went down to the beach to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean. As we sat there anticipating the breaking of the sun over the horizon, I was reminded of the beauty of simple things. In a world where Facebook, texting, hundreds of channels on TV, iPods full of music, and busy schedules dominate our lives, we need to appreciate the simple things.
A sunrise. A bird walking along the shore. The smile of a friend. The embrace of a loved one. These are the true treasures of our world. I so often get wrapped up in the complexities of life that I miss the beauty of creation. We have created a world that demands our attention and often distracts us from the more important things. I often miss hearing God because I'm focusing more on what we have created, and less on the Creator and his creation.
Slow down
This will require me to slow down. I am too busy. My schedule is too full. I struggle to receive the day and cherish the simple things by my own doing most of the time.
I have bought into the American philosophy that busyness is good. I have been taught to believe that my productivity determines my worth. I often measure my value by what I am able to do, not who I am. Chris Seidman asked a question the first night of the conference that has stuck with me. He asked, "Are you living from the blessing of God or for the blessing of others?"
I am convinced that I spend too much time living for the blessing of others and way too little time living from the blessing of God. God tells me that I am his child, highly valued, not for what I do, but for who I am. I am his. He created me. He loves me. He values me. If I only I could slow down long enough to hear his voice.
God is in the business of redemption
David Fraze reminded us that, "Your life, your story, no matter how chaotic, is redeemable."
I needed to hear that for my life. I can be an idiot sometimes. I allow my life to become too chaotic. I don't receive the day from God. I don't cherish the simple things. I don't slow down. Even on my best days, I usually well off the mark.
God created me for relationship. Relationship with him. Relationship with others. And too often, I forget that. I live like I am created for success, recognition, or my own self-aggrandizement. God forgive me for pushing him off his throne and trying to climb in it myself.
There is hope in knowing that no life, regardless of the chaos, is beyond redemption. Thank you for that reminder. I am a sinner in need of God's grace and mercy. This is not some formula that simply wipes my slate clean. It is so much more.
This redemption is about a God who repairs relationships, restores identity, and renews life. God has not just saved me from my sins; he is saving me from myself. I am in need of God who loves me regardless of the mess I have made in my life and embraces me no matter what.
And that is what I need every day.
shine!
Jason
Thursday, January 12, 2012
I'm a character
One of my goals for 2012 is to blog a little more often. So here we go...
Have you ever watched a movie and noticed all of the people that appear in the scenes? I mean, sure, we notice the stars, the people whose names appear on the posters. The people who have all of the speaking parts and make the millions of dollars are hard to miss. They are the focus of most scenes.
But what about the supporting actors and actresses? And what about the extras? We might think they're unimportant - especially the extras, but are they really?
Think about those scenes on busy streets or in a sports arena. What would those scenes be like without all of those extras Would it be the same if a couple was walking down a sidewalk in New York City with no one else around?
What would God's story be like without the supporting actors and actresses and the extras?
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul reminds us that everyone is a part of the story. We are each a member of the body of Christ. We are all important.
Think about what happens when a part of the body is amputated. It becomes lifeless. It loses purpose.
The same is true when we are disconnected from the bigger story we are invited into.
It seems like I constantly have to remind myself that I am a character in a bigger story - God's story. The truth is that I forget this all of the time.
Sometimes my pride gets in the way and I think I am the lead character. I start to think I am God and act like it. Trying to be the lead in our own story is like trying to use my iPad and not bringing the charger along. It might work for a while, but eventually we run out of energy.
There are other times I feel so unimportant and inconsequential that I forget I'm even in the story. I might begin to think I don't belong in the story and that I am not in the picture. This is never true. While it may be true that our role is minor at time, it is never insignificant.
I must always remind myself that I am a character in God's grand story of creation. And the coolest thing is that I have the freedom to write my part. I should always listen to the Author of Life, but at the same time I have the pen in my hand. I get to fill the pages in my script. I can choose to write the story I want. This means I have the freedom to make the story revolve around me and loose its greater purpose. Or I can write myself out of the story and feel like I don't have a place. Or...
Or I can listen for the voice of God and allow Him to invite me into his grand narrative and find a place where my story finds it purpose and I can be more than I ever imagined.
shine!
Jason
Have you ever watched a movie and noticed all of the people that appear in the scenes? I mean, sure, we notice the stars, the people whose names appear on the posters. The people who have all of the speaking parts and make the millions of dollars are hard to miss. They are the focus of most scenes.
But what about the supporting actors and actresses? And what about the extras? We might think they're unimportant - especially the extras, but are they really?
Think about those scenes on busy streets or in a sports arena. What would those scenes be like without all of those extras Would it be the same if a couple was walking down a sidewalk in New York City with no one else around?
What would God's story be like without the supporting actors and actresses and the extras?
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul reminds us that everyone is a part of the story. We are each a member of the body of Christ. We are all important.
Think about what happens when a part of the body is amputated. It becomes lifeless. It loses purpose.
The same is true when we are disconnected from the bigger story we are invited into.
It seems like I constantly have to remind myself that I am a character in a bigger story - God's story. The truth is that I forget this all of the time.
Sometimes my pride gets in the way and I think I am the lead character. I start to think I am God and act like it. Trying to be the lead in our own story is like trying to use my iPad and not bringing the charger along. It might work for a while, but eventually we run out of energy.
There are other times I feel so unimportant and inconsequential that I forget I'm even in the story. I might begin to think I don't belong in the story and that I am not in the picture. This is never true. While it may be true that our role is minor at time, it is never insignificant.
I must always remind myself that I am a character in God's grand story of creation. And the coolest thing is that I have the freedom to write my part. I should always listen to the Author of Life, but at the same time I have the pen in my hand. I get to fill the pages in my script. I can choose to write the story I want. This means I have the freedom to make the story revolve around me and loose its greater purpose. Or I can write myself out of the story and feel like I don't have a place. Or...
Or I can listen for the voice of God and allow Him to invite me into his grand narrative and find a place where my story finds it purpose and I can be more than I ever imagined.
shine!
Jason
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Poor in spirit
Almost every aspect of our culture fights against the idea of being "poor in spirit." Pride is a virtue in the story of the Amercian Dream. Commercial after commercial seeks to convince us that we will not be happy without their product. We praise people who succeed at all costs. But this is not the culture of the Kingdom of God.
When Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," he is ushering in a new way of life. A life that lives and breathes humility.
James expresses the same idea in his letter that reflects many of the same teachings as the Sermon on the Mount. In James 4:4-6, he writes the following...
"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"
How would living according to this way of life impact your life? Your family? Your school?
So often, Christians focus on our behavior. Maybe we're starting at the wrong place. Instead of making Christianity a religion about outward appearance, perhaps we should make Christianity a way of life emerging from inward attitudes.
That means to we need to consider what story we are a part of. Are we part of a story focused on how God will bless us or how we will bless others? Are we part of a story focused on doing the right things or being the right people?
Jesus invites us into his story, a story built on self-sacrifice and humility. It's not just something did; it's who he was. And if we are going to be his followers, our story needs to be a part of his story.
shine!
Jason
When Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," he is ushering in a new way of life. A life that lives and breathes humility.
James expresses the same idea in his letter that reflects many of the same teachings as the Sermon on the Mount. In James 4:4-6, he writes the following...
"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"
How would living according to this way of life impact your life? Your family? Your school?
So often, Christians focus on our behavior. Maybe we're starting at the wrong place. Instead of making Christianity a religion about outward appearance, perhaps we should make Christianity a way of life emerging from inward attitudes.
That means to we need to consider what story we are a part of. Are we part of a story focused on how God will bless us or how we will bless others? Are we part of a story focused on doing the right things or being the right people?
Jesus invites us into his story, a story built on self-sacrifice and humility. It's not just something did; it's who he was. And if we are going to be his followers, our story needs to be a part of his story.
shine!
Jason
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
It's almost iChristmas
This is the last week before Christmas, so I wanted to encourage each of our teens to think about what they are planning to give for iChristmas. As we focus on the idea of love, it’s a great time to consider what is most important to us and how we can bless others.
Our society tells us over and over again that this is a season to want. What is on our Christmas list? What do you want for Christmas? We hear so many messages that our joy comes from what we get, that we can lose sight of what is really important. I believe that Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount have a lot to say to our culture of consumerism…
19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Where is your treasure? What are the things you consider most important? What do you really need and what is want?
Most of us are blessed beyond belief. Even those of us who consider ourselves to have little have more than most of the world. Our needs would be a dream to much of the world’s population.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying our blessings, but we must always remember to put things in context. It is important to remember that most of the things we “need” are really things we want. Real needs, such as food and shelter, are things that we take for granted, but that much of the world struggles to find on a daily basis.
Just as God gave to us, we are called to give to others. As we enter the final week before Christmas, take time to think about how blessed you are and, more importantly, how you can be a blessing to others.
shine!
Jason
Our society tells us over and over again that this is a season to want. What is on our Christmas list? What do you want for Christmas? We hear so many messages that our joy comes from what we get, that we can lose sight of what is really important. I believe that Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount have a lot to say to our culture of consumerism…
19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Where is your treasure? What are the things you consider most important? What do you really need and what is want?
Most of us are blessed beyond belief. Even those of us who consider ourselves to have little have more than most of the world. Our needs would be a dream to much of the world’s population.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying our blessings, but we must always remember to put things in context. It is important to remember that most of the things we “need” are really things we want. Real needs, such as food and shelter, are things that we take for granted, but that much of the world struggles to find on a daily basis.
Just as God gave to us, we are called to give to others. As we enter the final week before Christmas, take time to think about how blessed you are and, more importantly, how you can be a blessing to others.
shine!
Jason
Monday, December 12, 2011
People of peace
So often when we think of peace, we think of a lack of war. But that idea of peace falls well short of the peace God ultimately desires. God does not simply wish that we would stop fighting. Peace in the Kingdom of God is so much more.
God’s peace is about restoration and redemption. It is about making things right in the world.
So, as we consider the arrival of Christ into the world, we find God preparing to answer hundreds, if not thousands of years of prayer. After many promises, prophecies, and predictions, the Messiah is about to arrive on the scene.
But the Messiah was not the one many had hoped for. Instead of a king who would rise up and defeat the empires with an army, his weapon was a cross. Instead of killing, he healed. When he faced execution, he displayed humility and servanthood, even to the point of death.
This was a Messiah who was seeking to restore the world to what God had dreamed of since the beginning. A world where everyone would be loved and no one was excluded. A world where power, position, and possessions were not the defining markers of someone’s worth. This Messiah used his power without seeking attention. His position was one of a servant. His possessions were few and humble.
As we pursue peace, we must use the values of the Kingdom way to achieve it. We are not called to be people of evil or violence. Evil breeds evil and violence breeds violence. Instead, we are called to be people of peace. People who put others first. People who love the unlovable. People who not only talk about peace, but practice it.
The Savior of the universe, God in the flesh, entered the world in the most humble of circumstances. Born in a manger in a small village in Israel, God himself entered the world as a helpless infant. His parents fled to Egypt before their son could be murdered and they raised him as a carpenter in Nazareth.
Peace did not come with a loud trumpet cry, but instead with the cry of a newborn baby. Peace did not come with a large army, but instead with the presence of shepherds, the lowest of society. Peace did not come through a large palace, but instead with some hay in a wooden bed that normally served as a feeding trough for animals.
If we are to be people of peace, we must follow the One who showed us how to make peace. We must live in way that turns the world upside down though sacrifice and servanthood. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
shine!
Jason
God’s peace is about restoration and redemption. It is about making things right in the world.
So, as we consider the arrival of Christ into the world, we find God preparing to answer hundreds, if not thousands of years of prayer. After many promises, prophecies, and predictions, the Messiah is about to arrive on the scene.
But the Messiah was not the one many had hoped for. Instead of a king who would rise up and defeat the empires with an army, his weapon was a cross. Instead of killing, he healed. When he faced execution, he displayed humility and servanthood, even to the point of death.
This was a Messiah who was seeking to restore the world to what God had dreamed of since the beginning. A world where everyone would be loved and no one was excluded. A world where power, position, and possessions were not the defining markers of someone’s worth. This Messiah used his power without seeking attention. His position was one of a servant. His possessions were few and humble.
As we pursue peace, we must use the values of the Kingdom way to achieve it. We are not called to be people of evil or violence. Evil breeds evil and violence breeds violence. Instead, we are called to be people of peace. People who put others first. People who love the unlovable. People who not only talk about peace, but practice it.
The Savior of the universe, God in the flesh, entered the world in the most humble of circumstances. Born in a manger in a small village in Israel, God himself entered the world as a helpless infant. His parents fled to Egypt before their son could be murdered and they raised him as a carpenter in Nazareth.
Peace did not come with a loud trumpet cry, but instead with the cry of a newborn baby. Peace did not come with a large army, but instead with the presence of shepherds, the lowest of society. Peace did not come through a large palace, but instead with some hay in a wooden bed that normally served as a feeding trough for animals.
If we are to be people of peace, we must follow the One who showed us how to make peace. We must live in way that turns the world upside down though sacrifice and servanthood. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
shine!
Jason
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
A message of hope
What is hope?
This word has a variety of meanings.
The dictionary defines hope as, “A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” This might include examples like, “I hope that my team wins this weekend,” or “I hope that I get that job.” This is a desire for something that might happen.
But when we consider the meaning of the word hope in the Kingdom of God, we find a different definition. Consider what the author of Hebrews writes…
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:17-19)
Our hope is God is not something that might be there. It is a promise made by the Creator of the universe. The one who made us and gives us breath has promised us eternal life. This is our anchor, the thing that holds us in place, regardless of the circumstances. It is a hope that is built on trust.
But unfortunately, we often place our hope in other things. In his letter to Timothy, Paul addresses one of the things we often place our trust in…
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-29)
When we trust in something other than God as our hope, then we usually let go of God (or at least lighten our grip). I believe this is why Paul ends this particular passage of Scripture that when they are willing to hope in God then “they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Most of the things besides God that we turn to for hope are hollow. They might give us hope in the short-term, but they often fall short.
When Mary became pregnant with Jesus, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)
This is a message of real hope. The Father, through the Holy Spirit, conceived Jesus in Mary’s womb. The God of the universe stepped into a human body and became one of us so that he could save us. What the angels announced would change the course of human history. God made it clear through Christ that salvation is not something we might have available to us. Rather, it is something we can trust to be an anchor for us through even the most difficult seasons of life.
shine!
Jason
This word has a variety of meanings.
The dictionary defines hope as, “A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” This might include examples like, “I hope that my team wins this weekend,” or “I hope that I get that job.” This is a desire for something that might happen.
But when we consider the meaning of the word hope in the Kingdom of God, we find a different definition. Consider what the author of Hebrews writes…
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:17-19)
Our hope is God is not something that might be there. It is a promise made by the Creator of the universe. The one who made us and gives us breath has promised us eternal life. This is our anchor, the thing that holds us in place, regardless of the circumstances. It is a hope that is built on trust.
But unfortunately, we often place our hope in other things. In his letter to Timothy, Paul addresses one of the things we often place our trust in…
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-29)
When we trust in something other than God as our hope, then we usually let go of God (or at least lighten our grip). I believe this is why Paul ends this particular passage of Scripture that when they are willing to hope in God then “they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Most of the things besides God that we turn to for hope are hollow. They might give us hope in the short-term, but they often fall short.
When Mary became pregnant with Jesus, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)
This is a message of real hope. The Father, through the Holy Spirit, conceived Jesus in Mary’s womb. The God of the universe stepped into a human body and became one of us so that he could save us. What the angels announced would change the course of human history. God made it clear through Christ that salvation is not something we might have available to us. Rather, it is something we can trust to be an anchor for us through even the most difficult seasons of life.
shine!
Jason
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Thankful
This week all over the country, people will gather with their families to celebrate Thanksgiving. I would like you take time this week and think about what you are thankful for in your life.
I am thankful for my awesome God whose grace and mercy never cease.
I am thankful for my amazing wife who is patient and kind with me.
I am thankful for my wonderful son who exhibits passion and excitement.
I am thankful for my dad who continues to support and encourage me.
I am thankful for the rest of my family who loves me.
I am thankful for the students at Rochester Church who love God and each other.
I am thankful for the parents at Rochester Church who love their children.
I am thankful for the entire Rochester Church family who live out the Good News.
I am thankful for so many other friends around the country (and the world), who provide love, support, and encouragement.
There are many other things that I am thankful for, but the people listed above are at the top of this list. Yes, I have a house to live in, a car to drive, and food to eat. But it was in the Creation narrative that God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” So, as I list what I am thankful for, it is the God of Creation and the human beings created in his image that top the list.
Being created in the image of God means we are created for community. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have invited us into community with them. So as I celebrate this season of Thanksgiving, I begin be celebrating those who I have become a part of my existence. Without them, life would lack meaning and purpose. Without them, I would not be able to fully experience the abundant life that God promises. A life without relationships and community is a life without, well, life.
Thank you, God, for life.
shine!
Jason
I am thankful for my awesome God whose grace and mercy never cease.
I am thankful for my amazing wife who is patient and kind with me.
I am thankful for my wonderful son who exhibits passion and excitement.
I am thankful for my dad who continues to support and encourage me.
I am thankful for the rest of my family who loves me.
I am thankful for the students at Rochester Church who love God and each other.
I am thankful for the parents at Rochester Church who love their children.
I am thankful for the entire Rochester Church family who live out the Good News.
I am thankful for so many other friends around the country (and the world), who provide love, support, and encouragement.
There are many other things that I am thankful for, but the people listed above are at the top of this list. Yes, I have a house to live in, a car to drive, and food to eat. But it was in the Creation narrative that God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” So, as I list what I am thankful for, it is the God of Creation and the human beings created in his image that top the list.
Being created in the image of God means we are created for community. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have invited us into community with them. So as I celebrate this season of Thanksgiving, I begin be celebrating those who I have become a part of my existence. Without them, life would lack meaning and purpose. Without them, I would not be able to fully experience the abundant life that God promises. A life without relationships and community is a life without, well, life.
Thank you, God, for life.
shine!
Jason
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