Be yourself...like everyone else?

The other morning I was on the elliptical at the gym. My normal routine is to listen to music on my headphones, my eyes bouncing from television to television taking in the morning news and sports updates.

The other morning, a car commercial caught my attention. It included the following quote from Oscar Wilde.. "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." Great quote. Not sure about the application.

This is the story of our age. Be yourself, just like everyone else. Be unique, dress like everyone else. Show your individuality, do what everyone else does.

It's an honest struggle. Most of us want to be individuals, but we want to fit in. We desire to find our own voice, our own place in the world, but want want to be a part of a group.

Figuring out who we are boils down to two approaches. We can find a group and then find ourselves based much on that group's identity. Or we can find our identity and then discover relationships where we can thrive. The reality is that life is a give and take of both.

But as we grow and mature, I believe we must rely more on the latter and less on the former. When we are young, we rely on our parents, our family, and our close friends to help shape who we are. But as we gain wisdom and understanding, we should make the shift to finding who God has made us to be and look for communities where we can most fully embrace our uniqueness.

Imagine if a trumpet player showed up to try out for a string quartet. How would he fit in? Would he be able to fully use his gifts to bless others? Would he even be able to play the music written for the quartet?

But imagine the same trumpet player walking into a bar where a jazz band was having a jam session. He could walk onto the stage and let his abilities shine. He could play his heart out and join in to add something wonderful to the music that was already being played. He would add his own unique notes to the beauty.

We all need to figure out what our "instrument" is. We need to find our voice, our special wiring. As we do that, we can find a place to play that will not only allow us to be all we can be, but also provide us the greatest opportunity to bless others and add something amazing.

The apostle Paul wrote, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

We are God's masterpiece, but each of us has to find the place where we best fit.

Let's not settle for being ourselves like everyone else. Even in the church I see this struggle to be like everyone else. If you are a Christian, you have to look like THIS. If you don't fit in the box, then you may not belong.

I believe the opposite is true. There is room in the Kingdom for plenty of diversity. God can use engineers and artists. Public speakers and introverts. Conformists and rebels. Successful people and those who struggle.

God is not looking for a group of people who have it all together. He is an assembling an unlikely, messy family of diverse people who are discovering who they were made to be and how they can work together to bring redemption and restoration to a broken world.

The church doesn't need a group of people who are themselves like everyone else. The church needs a group of people who are themselves, unlike everyone else.

I believe that too often, the church settles for comfort over community, conformity over compassion.

We should all strive to look like Christ, but we don't need to look like each other. If God worked through the liar Abraham, the deceiver Isaac, the coward Moses, the lunk Samson, the adulterer and murder David, the impatient Peter, the terrorist Saul, and many other imperfect people, should we question who God can work through today?

Each person listed above was a life-long work in progress. They all had their moments or failure. They each contributed to God's mission in their own, imperfect way.

Let's strive not to point fingers, but to extend hands. Let's reach out rather than stepping back. Let's embrace each person's unique story so that together we can be a part of God's incredible project of making all things new.

shine!

Jason

Freedom to soar

When I disobeyed as a child, I would often find myself sitting in a chair or my backside encountering an accelerating wooden spoon. My parents were seeking to mold me and shape me, to teach me right from wrong. They were preparing for me for that day when I would become an adult and live the life I was made to live.

The longer I live, the more I realize that our journey with God is much the same. When we are young in our faith, the law exists to instruct us, mold us, and shape us. It prepares our hearts for a lifetime of living the life we were made to live.

One of the greatest struggles we seem to have as followers of Christ is moving from law-based living to grace-based living. From what the apostle Paul wrote a few thousand years ago, this problem doesn't seem to be new...

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” (Galatians 5:1-6 NLT)

When we continue to live trying to follow the law, we will limit our ability to grow in Christ. If we still live trying to check boxes and follow rules, we will be burdened down by our focus on performance. When we discover the freedom of grace to be who God made us to be, we will be uplifted by the freedom to soar.

As I reflect on my recent zip line experience, I remember the freeing feeling when I trusted my equipment and my guide and stepped off that platform. I was terrified when I took that first step, but as I flew through the trees, 100 feet above the ground, I experienced joy and freedom.

Grace is like that. We cannot continue to stand on the ground and allow the fear to keep us from living with reckless abandon. Grace allows us to leave our mistakes in the past and live for the future. We can never forget where we have been, there are always lessons to learn so we don't repeat past failures. But with grace, the past is passed and the future lies before us.

As Paul says in the passage above, and I am paraphrasing, continuing to live by keeping the law is life taking, but living in the freedom of grace is life giving. When we can express our faith in love rather than extinguishing our faith by working even harder to obey the law, we will discover what is truly important.

I continue to wrestle with this struggle on a daily basis, but I am learning to let go. My performance can never be good enough, but when I let go, trust God, and focus on the future, I will be able to live through my failures and use them to become a better, albeit flawed person who can enbody the power of the gospel for those around me.

shine!

Jason

Hope wins

Today, I was blessed to officiate the wedding of a very special young woman. Here are some of the words I shared today...

Hope wins. That is this day in a nutshell.

I cannot tell you how excited and honored I am to be a part of this special day.

I remember seven years ago when we would sit and talk and you told me this day would never come. Well, here we are.

I never had a daughter, but if I did, I would be proud to have one like you. Through the ups and downs, good times and bad, you have survived and now you are thriving. You are a champion and today you receive one of the greatest rewards from all your efforts.

This is not the end of the journey, but it is certainly the start of a new, amazing chapter.

Alex, I know that you know what a precious gift you have in Rachel. I know that you know the road she has traveled and the journey she has made. Protect her. Care for her, Love her. I know Rachel well enough to know she will do the same in return.

Now I know you are not the religious type and I promised Rachel this ceremony wouldn't have a boring sermon, but you know I had to slip something in here, right?

In Revelation, the apostle John attempts to describe a vision from God. While there are a lot of strange visions that John tries to describes (I actually think you would enjoy the strangeness), at the end he describes a vision that explains the return of Jesus Christ...

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.””
Revelation 21:1-5 NIV

Making all things new. This has been your story.

While the tears, the crying, and the pain are not gone, I can see that they are less than they used to be.

While I do believe that there will come a day when Jesus will return and make all things new, I also believe that he is already in the process of doing this now. The Kingdom of God is not yet here, but aleady breaking in. God is already starting to make things new.

And you, Rachel and Alex, are a part of that work that God is doing. Today, you are taking another step in both of your lives of making something new, something beautiful.

It will not always be easy. It will not always be fun. But is life ever that way?

What you are doing today is starting a new chapter. Making a new commitment. Starting a new journey, together. Today, hope wins.

Facing fear

For years it had mocked me. That near 300 foot tall monster had gotten the best of me and my fear of heights kept me from riding. The Power Tower was my nemesis. I had conquered the 300 foot high Millenium and the 420 foot high Dragster, but for some reason, I was afraid of the Power Tower.

But Friday night that all changed. I was sent with a group of three kids because the youngest wasn't sure if he would be tall enough to ride. We knew it would be close. But when he measured and was tall enough, I had a choice. Once again, I could yield to my fear and stand there to watch them ride. Or, I could finally face my fear and ride.

I rode.

I waited in line, anxiety building in the gut of my stomach. And in a cruel twist of fate, I ended up standing in line next to a teenager who was just as afraid of me who had ridden before and expounded on how this was even more awful than the Dragster.

Then the time came. I sat down and strapped in. I thought about sitting in a chair, almost 300 feet in the air, with nothing between me and the ground but air and a restraining bar.

As we started up, something happened. My fear was fading and my awe was building. What a free feeling. What a beautiful view. And even as we shot down from the top, the rush was exhilerating.

Was I still afraid? Yes.

But I was no longer paralyzed by my fear.

Dorothy Thompson said, "Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live." Truth.

There is a healthy fear, a respect, that we must all have. This is good fear. Respect for things that can truly harm us. This is the fear that keeps us from doing harmful things, things that are not good for us.

But there is another kind of fear that can stop us in our tracks from doing what we should. It's the fear that keeps us from living. Fear of what people might think. Fear of what people might say. Fear of what might happen.

Jesus told his followers several times to not be afraid. He was teaching them that fear will keep them from accomplishing great things. Fear caused Peter to sink in the water. Fear overwhelmed them at the Transfiguration. The women who came to the tomb were afraid when they saw the resurrected Jesus.

The funny thing about fear is that we are often afraid of the very thing that will set us free. We allow our fear to be the lock on a door that leads to freedom.

On Friday evening, I grabbed the keys and unlocked the door to a fear that kept me from enjoying a fun ride at Cedar Point. In the grand scheme of life, that's not much to rejoice about.

But what fear is keeping you from stepping through a doorway that will lead to something much more significant? Only you know the answer and only you can open that door and walk through to the freedom on the other side.

shine!

Jason

Masks

When I was a teenager and young adult I used to like wearing a hockey mask and pretending I was Jason Vorhees (from Friday the 13th) for Halloween. Ok, maybe I still have the mask and maybe I still wear it from time to time.

I remember one Halloween in college when I wore it to a party. Everyone kept asking who I was. People would say, "That's Jason." I would chuckle to myself because they thought I was Jason, but they they were referring to a different Jason.

While it may be funny at a Halloween party, wearing masks in real life is no laughing matter. When we wear masks, people may look at us and say, "That's Mike," or, "That's Amy," but they don't know the person behind the mask.

We like masks. They make it easier for us to hide things. Fear. Pain. Ambition. When we wear our masks people see us for who we want them to see us as, not who we really are. They allow us to create an identity that we can mold and shape.

But masks come with a price...

Masks make it difficult to breathe. Physical masks often only offer a small hole to breathe through, and the masks we wear in our lives can be suffocating emotional, relationally, and spiritually.

Masks make it difficult to heal. While physical mask can create an environment where wounds could have a more difficult time healing, the masks we wear in our lives can hinder us from finding the healing we may desparately need.

Masks make it difficult to be authentic. Physical masks can allow us to hide our feelings and portray ourselves with whatever expression is on our mask, and the masks we wear in our lives allow us to avoid authenticity and display whatever expressions we want.

Masks are easier, in the short term. We can avoid things we don't want to deal with and create the illusion of a world that is different than reality.

But eventually, masks wear out, they begin to crack. Then we scramble to repaint the mask, repair the cracks. Or maybe we even put on a different mask over the one we already have on.

That's when masks really take their toll. They become harder to maintain and add to the stress and pain we are already trying to hide.

We need to take off our masks. We need to let the world see the real us, scars, imperfections, and all. And, let's be honest, we need to become people who accept others when they take off their masks as well.

That's one of the biggest problems with masks. When we're wearing a mask, we love to point out someone else who isn't. We find some kind of satisfaction in pointing out someone else's flaws while continuing to hide our own. I think Jesus said it this way...

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5 NLT)

So let's all agree to something. Let's all agree to work on the hard task of taking off our masks. For some, you are already well on the journey. For others, you may not even realize you're wearing a mask. Most of us, if we're honest, know we're somewhere in between and still have a lot of work to do.

shine!

Jason

What will you write?

Have you ever watched a movie and yelled at a character as they did something or went somewhere they shouldn't? Then in the next moment the bad thing happens to them and inside you're thinking, see, I told you.

That can be entertaining in a room full of people at a movie theater when everyone is yelling at the screen, but it's not so entertaining when it's your story...

This morning I went for a walk. It's the first time I walked from my house to the intersection down the street since April 17, 1999. That was the day after my mom was killed at the intersection and the day I walked to that corner and had one of the most brutal, honest conversations I have ever had with God.

Today, as I walked past that intersection, I stepped into the middle of the quiet street, and stood at the location where my mom was likely hit by the car that ran the stop sign. As I stood I there, I had a moment like watching a movie. If I was watching, what would I have yelled at the screen? Mom, don't drive that way. Slow down a little. Look to your left.

Why did that happen? That's not fair.

That's life.

As the sun sets on our day, the ink dries. The story has been written. We can watch it a hundred times and it's won't change a thing. We can't undo that decision. We can't unsay those words. We can't unsend that text. We can't relive that moment.

And yes, it is true that sometimes people step into our lives and add a plot twist that is unforseen. Things happen to us that are beyond our control and unavoidable. But those things are not the main character in our lives. We are.

Every morning we arise to a new day with a blank page. Yes, the pages before have been written and there is nothing we can do to change them. But we have the ability, with the pen of our lives in our hand, to write a new chapter, add a plot twist, or come up with an alternate ending.

Our story to this point has already been written. We can't change it, but we can learn from it. We can't erase our mistakes, but we can strive to not repeat them. We can't dwell on our victories, but we can remember how we achieved them. Our hurts, joys, pains, and celebrations are the ink that fills the pages behind us.

Don't let the ink of the past trap you from writing a better future. Don't let the victories of the past keep you from striving for better adventures ahead of you. We only have one life, we only have one pen, and each day we only have one blank page before us.

What will you write today?

shine!

Jason

Letting go

I begin this post with an apology. An apology to anyone who learning this news here as opposed to from a phone call or face-to-face conversation. I know that the time has come for me to post something, and I have not been able to talk with everyone I would have liked to have spoken with...

We all come to these points in our lives. Crossroads. Times when you face an intersection and you are forced to make decisions. Forced to stop, look, and choose a path. I stand at one of those crossroads today.

If you don't know yet, I left Edward Jones two weeks ago.

At this point, I do not have another job and I am not currently looking for one.

I have been traveling the path leading to this place for a long time, but I have seen the signs along the road for over six months. They started coming into view when my dad passed away last December.

Death does funny things to you, especially the death of your last surviving parent. It causes you to look into the mirror and realize a number of things...

You're next. There is no one older standing between you and death. I am the next in line in the procession towards the end of this life. My grandparents are all gone. My parents are gone. The next person to add a year after the dash is me.

I only have a limited time. We only get one trip and that trip has an ending. We only have so much time to get it right. We only have so many days to be who we were made to be. There are only so many moments to find and embrace a life of significance.

The past is passed. I cannot change what has happened. I can't undo my parents' deaths. I can't bring them back. And more importantly, I can't change my past. I can't reverse my poor decisions, my mistakes, or my wasted time. Once the sun sets on a day, the ink dries and the page turns.

Today is a blank slate. I only have the power to change today. I hold a pen in my hand that allows me to write today's story. As I have said many times, we can't change the past, but we can change the present to make a better future.

So, here I stand today, staring at the blank pages that are the rest of my life. I don't know on what page the story will end, but I know that between now and that last page, I will use the pen of my life to write a different story, a newer, better story.

I am using this time to catch my breath, assess my life up to this point, and decide which turn to make at this crossroads. To some this may seem crazy and irresponsible. Others may wish they could do the same thing. For me, this is the right thing to do. This is my sabbatical, my chance to stop, breath, listen, and then move.

There is so much more to say, and over time I hope to share what I am learning so it might be a blessing to others. But for now, I just wanted to let people know that I am okay. I am at peace with where I am right now.

It is scary? A little.

Am I lost? Kind of, but mostly by choice.

What do I need? Prayer, wisdom, and discernment.

What am I hoping to find? Shalom. A deep contentment that every day I live from this moment forward will be lived with reckless abandon from a place of peace and wholeness.

I acknowledge I am not there yet. That's the point of this journey. Let me end with an analogy...

In the Raiders of the Lost Ark trilogy (I have not seen the more recent one, so I am just talking about the first three movies), Indiana Jones circles the world looking for artifacts that the world see as valuable. He risks life and limb to hold in his hand some of the world's greatest treasures.

But at the end of the final movie, Indy is faced with a reality. A reality that at the end of the day, there are treasures more valuable than any gold. Any material items. Any power to be gained. And it is not until we are willing to let go of those things that we can find true life.

This is my letting go...

shine!

Jason 

Under construction

These last few weeks, our house has been under construction. The furniture is moved, things are covered as rooms are painted, and many of our possessions are boxed up somewhere in the house or a storage unit. Our house is a mess. If you've ever been there, you know how disorienting this can be.

Now think about how it feels when someone's life is under construction.

Someone is watching their elderly parent suffer from Alzheimer's.

A teenager's parents are in the middle of a divorce.

A man just found out he lost his job.

A woman's husband struggles with alcoholism.

Like my house, which looks fine from the outside, but is an absolute mess on the inside, we encounter daily those whose lives are messy under the surface.

Remember that person who bit your head off at work the other day? Maybe they just found out their sister has cancer.

That teenager who was rude to you? Maybe one of his parents screams at him and calls him demeaning names.

The older man who seems gruff every time you seem him at the store? Maybe his wife is losing her memory and he is helplessly watching his life-long companion fade away.

We never know the mess that might be inside a life that looks fine from the outside.

I have often heard the saying, "Hurting people hurt people." I have found this to be true. When people are in deep pain, pain is often the only language they can speak. They may not know any other way to express what they are feeling.

As citizens of the Kingdom, we are not called to bring more hurt, rejection, and pain into those situations, but rather love. We should strive to bring healing, not hurt. Acceptance, not rejection. Hope, not despair.

The apostle Paul offers this advice...

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:14-21 NIV)

There is plenty of evil in the world, often right around us. It often impacts those we see every day, even when it may not appear that way on the outside.

As you encounter those who seem angry, combative, hurtful, or distant, remember, their lives may be under constuction. While the outside may look just fine, on the inside there might be a mess.

Our job is not to judge, but to love. To offer peace and blessing to those who may seem to deserve it the least, but may actually need it the most. But really, isn't that what God does for us?

shine!

Jason

Spring is in the air

Over the last week, I have watched the snow slowly disappear from my yard. The temperatures have risen and winter has melted away. And as winter begins its transition into spring, things begin to change.

Birds chirp. Green emerges from the ground. People seem to have an extra spring in their step.

There is something about new life that feels right to us. It brings hope and refreshment.

The seasons of nature remind us of the seasons of life. We all experience times of winter in our lives.

Death.

Divorce.

Debt.

Depression.

Disaster.

The list is endless, but almost all of us can relate to something on the list. We have all gone through those seasons of cold and darkness.

God never promised that we wouldn't go through winter; God did promise spring.

I can handle the cold of winter, because I know that the spring thaw is coming. In spite of the ice, short days, and need for heavy coats, there will be a day when I can wear shorts and enjoy longer, warmer, sunny days.

We can endure seasons of difficulty because they won't last forever. It does't mean we won't feel down and discouraged at times. But, Jesus promises us that even in the midst of death, there is the promise of new life. Paul said it this way...

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:3-4 NIV)

The resurrection promises new life. Renewal. Restart. Rescue.

Paul reminds us that, "he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14 NIV)

We have all had moments of darkness, times when we felt as though we were in a pit of cold and dispair. But into that pit reaches a hand offering help. A Son bringing warmth and light.

Spring is in the air in northern Ohio, but it may not be in the air of your life. When your life feels like the middle of a bitter, cold winter, Christ offers an opportunity for renewal.

The journey may not be easy and the path may not be clear, but Christ calls out to us, "follow me." If we take his hand and follow his lead, Christ will guide us to a place of hope and new life.

shine!

Jason

Together in unity

Have ever been to a middle school band concert? Having spent over thirteen years in youth and family ministry, I have been to my fair share.

The students sit dow, the director steps to the podium, raises his baton, and they begin playing. Sometimes the sounds that come forth from the band are less than, shall we say, harmonious. Not everyone is playing the correct note, following the director, and controlling their volume.

Now, picture you have tickets to hear the Cleveland Symphany Orchestra at Severance Hall. You settle into your seat, the conductor stands before the group, and as he lowers the baton you are overwhelmed by a rich, harmonious sound that sometimes reaches to the inner core of our emotions.

While you hold that image in your mind, let these words from the Psalmist pour over you...

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. (Psalm 133:1-3 NIV)

While most of us can't relate to the idea of oil being poured over a priest's head, we can understand the sounds of a world-class symphony orchestra. The wonder. The richness. The amazement of so many individuals coming together creating beauty.

In the church, like the orchestra, not everyone plays the same instrument, sounds the same note, or uses the same rhythm. Each of us is blessed with certain gifts, using them in certain ways at certain times. We will have times when we are called to work hard and moments when we should rest. Some of us are more delicate and others more bold. Neither is wrong, just different.

Unity isn't about agreeing on everything or doing everything the same way. It's ultimately about following our leader, our conductor, our Lord. Paul states it this way...

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:1-4 NIV)

If we want true unity, we need to focus less on agreeing about everything, and more on agreeing about one thing: that God is God and we are not. We should exercise humility and love as we work together to accomplish Christ's mission, not ours.

Will we be wrong about some of the specifics that we believe and practice? I guarantee it. There are more times than I can count where after study, experience, and prayer, I have changed my opinion on my specific understandings of what it means to follow Jesus. But one thing that has never changed is that I am following Christ wherever he leads me.

And like a good orchestra, when all of God's people keep their eyes on the conductor, something beautiful will emerge. When we embody and exhibit the love and humility of Christ as a body, then the world will take note.

shine!

Jason

Performance and ratings

This weekend, my son participated in the Lorain County Solo and Ensemble competition. Throughout the day, students performed vocally and instrumentally in groups and as soloists. After each performance, students receive a rating based on how well they performed.

It seems as though many people view Christianity the same way. Each day, God rates them based on their performance and how well they did. If they messed up a lot, God marks them down, and if they do well, God rewards them with a superior rating.

But the reality is that no one can do a enough to salvation from God. The apostle Paul writes, "There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:22-23 NIV)

No matter how well we perform, we will fall short. Our performance will never be documented so we can present it on the day of judgment as our ticket to eternity. Paul continues his thoughts... "and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24 NIV)

We are saved by grace. Wild, outrageous grace. Grace that forgives things that you and I would find almost impossible to forgive.

Imagine that you met an ISIS terrorist who had killed some of your close friends and relatives. This man had brutally murdered people who you loved and cared for deeply. If you knew they had decided to give their life to Jesus, would you be able to forgive them for their unimaginable acts of terror?

Now picture the man who penned the words above. The apostle Paul had made it his goal to persecute as many followers of Jesus as possible. In the book of Acts, we read that Paul approved the killing of Stephen. But this murdered of Christians suddenly found himself forgiven, embraced by the God who could even forgive the worst of sins.

But are you and I really that different than Paul? I doubt that many of us have murdered someone, but how many of us have killed someone's spirit through our words and actions or caused serious damage to someone's life by what we have said or done?

If we start to compare our sins, we fall right back into the same performance trap. Except this time, we are measuring who is more unworthy for God's love and mercy. But again, it's not about who does the least amount wrong. We have all done enough wrong to be disqualified from receiving the prize of eternal life.

But God's grace takes away the need to perform. Our efforts are not what determines our citizenship in God's kingdom. Through grace, we are set free to pursue with reckless abandon the mission that God has placed before us. Our performance isn't about what we can do to earn anything; rather, it's an opportunity to share the blessings we have received.

As I watched my son perform, I was nervous for him. I wanted him to do well and receive a high rating. But the reality is that once he sang or played that last note, I loved him the same regardless of the rating he received. His performance made me proud, but it didn't change the fact that he is my son who I love dearly.

I often find myself still wanting to impress God with my performance. I struggle with the desire to earn my salvation and remind God that I am good enough. But then I mess up again and remember this journey is not about my being good enough. No. This journey is about a God who is good enough. A God whose goodness is so incredible that he was willing to humble himself, take the form of a human, and live among us, so that we might finally understand how amazing his grace truly is.

shine!

Jason

Ambassadors

This weekend, our family watched the movie Thirteen Days, which tells the story of the Cuban Missile Crisis. One of the movie's pivitol scenes is the showdown in the United Nations between U.S. ambassador Adlai Stevenson and Soviet ambassador Valerian Zorin about the missiles in Cuba. Stevenson was there to represent President John F. Kennedy and the United States government to the world.

In a similar way, followers of Jesus are called to be representatives to the world for God and his Kingdom.

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his followers on several occasions. Here is John's telling of one of these encounters...

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:19-22 NIV)

The Father had sent Jesus into the world and for three and half years, he went from town to town teaching about the Kingdom of God through words and actions. Now, as he was preparing to return to the Father, he sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the living God that we receive to empower us as ambassadors of the Kingdom.

We are sent to continue the work that Christ embodied. Jesus came to make all things new, but we will not see the complete fulfillment of that work until Christ returns. Until then, you and I are called to continue the mission of ushering in the Kingdom of God. The apostle Paul describes it this way...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NIV)

God has entrusted to us the continuing mission of Christ and empowered us with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We are called to be a part of something bigger than us, something that requires us to work together and trust in God.

We are in a battle significantly more important than any nuclear confrontation between two countries. This is a battle where we impact lives now and forever. Evil is alive and well in the world and only God's grace, mercy, and love can overcome.

And we can't forget what our Kingdom is all about. Grace. Mercy. Love.

God didn't come into the world and overcome through cohersion, violence, anger, or hate. He didn't pound people into submission or argue with them (unless they were religious leaders). Jesus loved his enemies, showed compassion to sinners, and gave everything he had, including his life.

There is much to learn from Jesus. We will not bring people to the Kingdom of God with cohersion, violence, anger, or hate. We cannot force people to our way of thinking. Rather, with an open heart and mind, we must listen people into freedom and extend to them the same grace and mercy that God has extended to us.

We aren't any better than those we encounter in the world around us; we are just more familiar with the Jesus who embodies and extends God's love. If we know him like we say we do, shouldn't we act like him as well?

shine!

Jason

You are what you eat

Have you ever heard the saying, "You are what you eat?" If that was true, as a child I would have turned into a giant pizza.

While you don't literally turn into the food you consume, what you eat does have an impact on your health and the way your body fuctions.

The same is true mentally and spiritually.

What we allow our mind to consume will likely have a significant impact on our emotions, our thoughts, and our actions. So here is a question to ponder:

What is your mind eating?

Let's go back to the idea of eating food for a minute. If someone wants to be in good physical health, they will mostly eat foods filled with nutrients and other things their body needs. Many of these people will allow themselves to enjoy desserts and junk food from time to time, but I highly doubt many of them eat something that is poisonous or might cause serious illness or death.

But when it comes to what we allow our minds to consume, how many of us "eat" things that could be poisonous or even deadly?

I am not advocating a legalistic approach that says we only watch "Christian" movies and listen to "Christian" music. I don't think we need to spend every day reading the Bible and nothing else. But, we need to be discerning about what we do watch, listen to, and read.

The apostle Paul had this to say...

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

We are what we think. Our mind is the engine that shape our values and actions. What we allow to shape our minds will determine who we become.

While there is nothing wrong with mental junk food from time to time (isn't that why YouTube exists?), we shouldn't consume things that poison us. We need to be intentional about what informs and transforms our mind.

Obviously, the Bible must be a part of our mental diet. It is a significant and essential way that God speaks to us and transforms us. But there are many areas of our life where we use our own judgment to determine what we consume.

As Paul rightly acknowledged in the passage above, our goal should be to understand God's will so we can offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. If we want to remain true to our calling, what is the benefit of filling our minds with images, words, and thoughts that contradict the very Kingdom we are called to embody?

So where do we start? Rather than looking for a legalistic list of things to watch and not watch, we should embrace the freedom we have in Christ, be honest withourselves, and make the choice that is best.

shine!

Jason

Never alone

It was a Thursday night, December 4, to be precise. My dad had been in the hospital since Sunday morning and the prognosis was not good. Michelle, Matthew, and I had been visiting with dad most of the evening, and were preparing to leave.

Michelle sensed that Dad wanted someone to stay, so she asked him. While he struggled to speak full sentences, he was able to confirm that he wanted someone to stay.

We decided I would spend the night in Dad's room. After Michelle and Matthew left, I prepared my sleeping arrangements.

Dad and I visited for a little while and then I lay down where I could have eye contact with him.

Over the next hour or two I was lying there, unable to fall asleep. Everytime I opened my eyes and looked Dad's direction it seemed he sensed my glance and looked my way for a second, displaying a look of relief that I was still there.

For over forty-four years, this man had always been there for me. From lunches at Markley's in downtown to Sandusky to watching him videotape testimony for local attorneys, I was his sidekick. From high school marching band to selecting a college, he was there to support me. He took pictures at my wedding (because no one else would have done it right...lol) and spent every Christmas at our home watching Matthew open presents.

After all that, on this night the tables had turned. What a blessing to be there for the man who had been there for me so many times.

But we weren't the only ones in the room. There was a palpable presence of Another in the room with us. The God to whom my dad had surrendered his life a few days earlier was assuring us that we were not alone. God was with us, even in the the darkest of times.

Through the prophet Isaiah thousands of years ago, God said to his people, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

I am with you.

Words of comfort.

Words of assurance.

Words of hope.

Words of peace.

My dad had found peace for the rest of eternity, and in the last hours of his earthly life, the peace that was with us in that room was undeniable.

I finally fell asleep sometime after midnight and slept soundly for several hours. Around four in the morning, I awoke and would spend almost every minute of the next seven hours with my dad.

Shortly after eleven that morning, my dad breathed his last breath and left this world. In that moment, an overwhelming sense of peace surrounded me as I said goodbye to the man who had been there for me since the day I was born.

shine!

Jason

The dream

On Monday, our nation honors Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential people of the 20th century and in the history of our nation.

As I reflect on King, his mission, and his legacy, I am reminded of the words he spoke as he stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial...

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

While I believe progress has been made towards this dream, there is still much to do. We have passed laws, but laws have not been, and never will be, the ultimate weapon against racism.

Dr. King understood that as well. While he fought against a legal system that often supported racism, he knew that the real battle was about more than laws.

King said, "Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless."

Racism is sin. And like every other sin, you cannot pass laws that get at the core of the problem, changing someone's heart. No matter how many laws we pass, we cannot eliminate racism.

Should we pass laws to restrain racism? Absolutely! But don't think that a few laws will win the war.

The war against racism is a part of the war against sin. And sin can only be overcome by the power of Christ. 

Unfortunately, the church at times has been a participant in racism. But the imperfection of the church does't change the message of Christ.

The apostle Paul wrote, "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28 NIV)

In Christ, there is race, but no racism. Sexes, but no sexism. Differences, but no division.

One day, there will be a world where there are no divisions or hate. But until that day when Christ returns, his followers are called to be ambassadors of light, striving to partner with God to make all things new. This was Dr. King's dream. This is God's dream. And it should be the dream of every follower of Jesus.

shine!

Jason

I'll never regret

Less than two years ago, I stood before my Michigan church family and tearfully announced our plans to move back to Ohio.

Months earlier, my sister-in-law had tragically lost her husband to a heart attack. My wife had spent several months in Ohio caring for her sister and walking through those dark days by her side. In addition, my widowed dad was now in his mid-seventies and as an only child, I was becoming more and more uncomfortable living several hours away from him. After a time of prayer and discernment, it became clear to us that God was calling us home to care for family.

So I found myself standing before hundreds of people who we had known as family for over seven years, telling them of our plans. One of the things I said that day was that I would never regret the time my son would have with his grandpa. Little did I know how prophetic those words would be.

We moved back in early 2013, and that fall my dad ended up spending a few weeks in the hospital and almost two months in a rehab facility. It was at that time that Dad's doctor asked us to move in with Dad to care for him. For the next eleven months my wife, son, and I experienced the challenge of living in someone else's space and my dad dealt with having to share his space with us. At times it was very difficult for all us, trying to learn to live together, respecting each other's privacy, and finding a delicate balance of give and take. Some days it was agonizing and other days it was wonderful. There was laughter and there were tears; we experienced conflict and compassion.

But now, less than two years after we moved home and less than a year after we moved into my childhood home, we walk every morning past an empty bedroom, a constant reminder of a missing family member.

There is something that helps fill the emptiness. Even in the midst of loss, I find comfort. While my dad will never again sleep in that bed or walk the halls of this house, the memories linger like a gentle mist, like the fragrance of a candle.

Those words I spoke nearly two years ago continue to echo in my mind... "I will never regret."

Was it difficult to move away from a place we love and people we care deeply for? Yes.

Was it difficult to give up our freedom and move in with my dad? Yes.

But it was all worth it.

It was worth it to spend some time with my dad.

It was worth it to know that we brought some joy to my dad's last days.

And most of all, it was worth it because we were able to plant seeds that provided an eternal harvest as my dad accepted Christ in his last days.

shine!

Jason

If I were Ray Rice

I've been thinking about the latest turn of events in the ongoing Ray Rice situation and how things could unfold.

If you're unfamiliar with the situation, here is a thumbnail sketch: Ray Rice is a professional football player who was caught in video hitting his then fiancé (now wife) in an elevator. He was suspended for a few games and then later given an indefinite suspension which was overturned this week.

There are several principles at play in this situation. First of all, it is never acceptable to strike a woman. Ray Rice must be held accountable for his actions. We cannot be a society that allows violence, especially toward women, as a normal part of human interaction. If Ray Rice doesn't face any significant consequences, then we are signaling that entertainment value trumps human decency.

At the same time, we live in a culture that values second chances. As a follower of Christ, I belong to a kingdom built on grace and mercy, forgiveness and second chances.

So how do we balance the two?

Yes, Ray Rice should face appropriate consequences for his actions, and the opinions about those consequences are endless. However, should those consequences be permanent, without an opportunity for redemption and renewal?

At the end of day, I believe the best resolution to this issue cannot come from Roger Goodell, the NFL owners, other players, or even the fans. It must come from Ray Rice.

Ray, the ball is in your court. To use a football analogy, you have been handed the ball; where are you going to run?

Ray could run the victim direction, pleading to be signed to a team because he was unfairly punished. But I believe that sends the message that what he did wasn't that bad and everyone just needs to move on.

He could also go the entitlement route, reinforcing the idea that athletes and entertainers live by a different standard; as long as they win, off-the-field behavior is simply a distraction from what really matters.

There is a third option that could end in both redemption and renewal. Ray could admit he was wrong, apologize for his behavior, and commit to taking the rest of this season off to focus on his family and personal struggles.

This doesn't sweep it under the rug while also providing an opportunity for a second chance. It acknowledges that wrong that has been done, but gives the wrongdoer a chance to change, a healthy balance of justice and mercy, consequences and grace.

Ray could have a fresh start next season while making a statement about what really matters. With one simple but difficult decision, he could display humility and repentance, something that is sorely lacking in our society, especially amongst those who entertain us and often influence our children.

For those crying for justice, this may not be enough punishment. But Ray Rice isn't the first person whose violation of a societal standard brought forth condemnation and cries for punishment. Before you condemn Ray forever, remember the words of Jesus as he spoke to a crowd ready to stone a woman caught in the act of adultery: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” (John 8:7 NIV)

But as Jesus stands in the midst of public opinion, he would not just speak to those holding a stone in their hand, ready to bring forth retribution. He would look squarely into the eyes of the man who was caught abusing his future wife and say, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11 NIV)

What's your move, Ray?

shine!

Jason

Pride and imperfection

This week at Men's Fraternity, we were asked to share and discuss our Life Verse. Mine is found in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5:16... Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

One of the major reasons this verse speaks into my life is because I have always struggled with pride. I often think more of myself than I should. I'll dig into that a little more in a few minutes, but one of the biggest side effects of pride is disappointment. When we place our trust in ourselves, we look at our shortcomings as failures and follow that to the end result of considering ourselves failures.

But this is not about me. It's not about us. We are not the beginning or the end of what we do and who we are. We are recipients and conduits of all we have and are. Here is what the apostle Paul says about that...

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart....

For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:1, 5-7 NIV)

We are not living for ourselves or from ourselves. We are reflectors of the light that comes from God, the goodness that brings light into the darkness. Our lives are a living sermon designed to speak forth the wonderful gifts that God has lavished upon us.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and in the midst of the Creation story we encounter the pinnacle of God's creation, mankind, embodied in Adam and Eve. But it doesn't take long for pride to creep into the picture. Adam and Eve are deceived to believe that they can be like God. Instead of relishing the role they were given in God's world, they wanted to be "more." And in the process, they gave up the wonderful blessings God had given them.

Since then, God has been in the business of restoring the world. Through prophets, priests, and other people, God worked to make his creation the way he intended. This plan culminated in the coming of Jesus Christ, the ultimate, perfect human who showed the world what it means to fully live into our purpose and mission, making all things new.

While Christ's life, death, burial, and resurrection brought forth something new, our work is not yet done. Until Christ returns again, we are God's partners in making all things new. Paul describes it this way...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NIV)

When we are in Christ, we are conduits of the new life. We are made to offer glimpses into how things will be on that great and wonderful day. Renewal and restoration is not only something that will come when Christ returns; it is our daily mission now. We are Christ's representatives in this world, engaging in the work of reconciliation. Reconciliation in our homes, our families, our workplaces, our communities, and ultimately, the world.

But if we depend on ourselves to accomplish this, we will fall right back into that trap of pride. Yes, we are all blessed with various gifts and abilities, but they are not from us, but for us to use to bless others. Pride tells us that we are self-made. But in the kingdom, we learn that we are formed by God and given these gifts to care for, develop, and use for the betterment of the world and the expansion of God's kingdom.

As Paul begins to conclude his letter to the Corinthian church, he talks about his own weaknesses and shares these words...

But he (Christ) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV)

As I said earlier, I have struggled with pride most of my life. I often think more of myself and my gifts and abilities than I should. But Matthew 5:16 reminds me that I am a reflector, not a source of light. The goodness I display is not my own and the good works I perform are not out of my strength. God has been so good to me and blessed me so richly, but I continue to struggle with giving him the glory and the honor. I still find myself wanting to take credit at times.

God, thank you for your grace and mercy that I so often take for granted. Thank you that even in the midst of pride, you take the broken jar of clay that is my life, pour in your power, and make it possible for me to partner with you in the ongoing mission of making all things new, shining your light into this world that is filled with darkness.

shine!

Jason

One binge away

Over the last several months, my wife has dedicated herself to a weight loss plan and has lost nearly 30 pounds in the process. She still has a ways to go on her journey, but she has already accomplished a lot.

Several years ago, I made a similar journey where I lost over 50 pounds over the course of a year. Since then, it has been an ongoing battle to keep the weight off and stay in shape.

As I reflected on these two journeys, I was drawn to a scripture and as I read, I reconsidered how I have always understood, and even taught, this passage from Hebrews 12:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

I have usually thought of this throwing off as a singular action. Today, I will throw off my sin and follow Jesus. But as I reflect on this passage, I am more and more conviced that this throwing off is a lifetime event.

The author of Hebrews continues this passage with words that seem to support this idea...

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. (Hebrews 12:1-13 NIV)

When we decide to follow Jesus, our struggles don't instantly go away. Yes, I have heard of individuals who have experienced a supernatural removal of addictions and other sinful habits. But those are the exception rather than the rule.

For most of us, and even those rare exceptions, this battle against sin will never end this side of the grave. It will require that discipline described above.

Even though I lost over 50 pounds, every day I face decisions and temptations that could result in gaining back that weight. And in the four years since my weight loss, there have been a few times when I have gained back 5, 10, and even 20 pounds.

Whether we're talking about weight loss or a variety of other addictions and struggles, most people are one binge away from falling back into their old habits. Yes, it usually gets easier as time goes on and new habits become more deeply entrenched, but the danger is always present.

Our walk with Christ is much the same. While we make an initial decision to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, we will spend the rest of our lives continuing to throw off those things.

Following Jesus doesn't remove temptation and struggle, it provides a new direction, a new path to follow. But even along that new path, voices will call us to wander and speedbumps may trip us up. But when we focus on Christ and follow the way that he has placed before us, and when we are open to accepting the discipline that God provides, we will find healing that can only be found in the victor's circle surrounding the throne of God.

shine!

Jason

Transcending time and space

Last night, Michelle and I want to see the movie Interstellar. (There are no spoilers in this post, so read on.) At an emotional, pivotal point in the movie, two of the characters are having a intense conversation and one of them speaks these words that have stuck with me since I heard them: "Love is the one thing that transcends time and space."

Can love really transcend time and space?

If so, that leads to an even more challenging question: What is love?

To many in the world, love is an amorphous concept that involves emotions and relationship. Here are the first three definitions I found for love in the dictionary:

1) Strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties

2) Attraction based on sexual desire; affection and tenderness felt by lovers

3) Affection based on admiration, or common interests

But love is much more than an emotion; it is a person. Consider these words penned by John...

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 NIV)

Twice in this passage we read the words "God is love." While there are many places in Scripture where we read that God loves, these three words - God is love - are a game-changer. No longer is God just one who loves, God is the embodiment of love itself.

Love is much more than an emotion, it is a person. At it's core, love is someone rather than something.

So when the character in Interstellar says, "Love is the one thing that transcends time and space," she is absolutely right.

But God's eternal nature alone doesn't make love eternal. Love can't be love unless there is someone to share it with. Love cannot exist without more than one being present. This is where God becomes the embodiment of love: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit living together in perfect community. God is community, the soil in which love grows.

As beings created in the image of God, we are invited by God into community with God and each other. Through those relationships we are called to embody love. Love God. Love others. If God is love, then as image-bearers we must strive to be ambassadors and agents of love.

Yes, love does transcend time and space, but it also descended into time and space through the person of Jesus Christ. In Christ, we see what it means to be love from the one who is love. As members of Christ's body, we are partner's with God in bringing love into our relationships and communities.

shine!

Jason