Yesterday Tera and Chad Blahak came up to share their story and struggles along their journey to having a family. They witnessed to the heartbreaks of infertility and miscarriages, to being angry with, yet trusting God, to trusting each step they felt they were called to take, and to God's eventual responses to their needs in His time.
Simply put, it was a beautiful Sunday.
What I love about these moments just as much as I love what is said in particular is how God works through those stories and words. They affect us greatly, give us powerful insights, help us grasp truths we otherwise begin to doubt, and encourage us by knowing we share similar stories with others.
What I also love about these moments is the reality that no matter how eloquently I may try to profess the same truths that others do in their Real Life stories, there are some things I simply can't say to the same affect.
Am I complaining? No! I'm marveling. This church is a community. This church is comprised of the leadership and teaching of many. God doesn't give only one person the ability to speak His truth, but rather He gives it to many, in particular forms.
Ultimately, we each contain a unique and powerful piece of God's truth within us and within our stories that no one else can say, teach, or share as we can. The more we can share and hear each others' stories, the more powerful and present the full truth of God's love will be.
SO! Speak up! You have the words within you that no one else can say about who Jesus is in our world today. Tell this story to the world around you and let others catch another piece of who God IS.
More to come!
Jason <><
Monday, January 27, 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014
Simple as That!
In a moment neither Sarah nor I were exactly anticipated, we both came upon today in a bit of surprise. So far 2014 has been busy for both of us, and neither of us had talked much about Martin Luther King Jr. Day and what that meant for our calendar lives.
It was a delight to wake up this morning reporting to each other that we did not in fact have to go to school or work. Amen! So we took advantage of the day catching up on some quality time, which had already run into a deficit since the turn of the new year. What did we do with our precious time? We went shopping.
And it was some of the best shopping we'd done recently because we were able to be together!
But, this day hasn't been beautiful just because of that. It's important to share the rest of the story. Today is a day we pause to remember and pour fresh life into the dreams, pain, progress, and equality represented in a man and leader. What King stood for and believed in continues to be of vital importance in our world today, and we are fortunate to have our history and our story marked with his courage.
I didn't hear all of it, but on our way from store to store, I caught a brief comment from a radio DJ reminding us that among many other things, King taught each of us the lesson of not giving up on things we believe in. We all need that reminder and encouragement today.
And so, as if Jesus himself were speaking to me, I have been reminded not to give up on the things I believe in. I believe in my faith, the One who sets me free, who gives us life, and who directs our steps to things that really matter. I believe in the covenant I made with my wife and the importance of spending time together as a way of both witnessing and honoring God. I believe in the call God has given me to serve him, and the direction God has given me to lead a beautiful people, church, and ministry. And I believe in the need to share the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus Christ with all I have the chance, in the hopes that His life will also fill those around me.
I believe in these things, and I will not give up! Happy Martin Luther King Jr. day! Thank you God.
More to come!
Jason <><
Monday, January 13, 2014
Don't Look for Awesome, Be Awesome
Who doesn't love being awesome and being a part of something awesome? It feels good to walk into a space or be around people and get the sense that EVERYTHING is in order here or with these people. It makes us feel good, our trust levels increase instantly, and we're much more willing to be a part of wherever we're at or whoever we're with.
But the reflex action of latching on to awesome things can hurt our growth if we're not careful. Here's what I mean:
The more we continue to follow or trust only the things that are already awesome, the more we run the risk of lessening our creativity, self agency, and capacity to lead as God has called us. We run the risk of migrating toward a greater population of followers rather than leaders.
Here's the setting we find ourselves in, and what happens to us along the way: In life we often create lists of the things lacking in our situations--the things we believe we need to find in order to be complete. We want what we want, and because someone, somewhere is offering it without requiring our hard work or participation, we begin to believe that our true quest in life is no longer to be creative and productive, but rather, to be seekers and needers, looking for the next thing that will satisfy our shortcomings and holes in our souls.
The problem? Because we're so used to having things handed to us, we often forget that we have the powerful gift to build and create the future we have been called to seek. We forget that our hands and minds are useful, healing, and strong.
The problem? We lose our agency and freedom in exchange for the spoonfeeders are offering us and to which we become subjects. We need them, and we suddenly realize we have no choice but to take what they give( unless we're brave enough to move on in search of the next feeder before we starve).
The problem? We lose the in-dwelling of God's Spirit and Jesus' life-giving redemption that are borne within us and instead constantly beg from above for God to come and care, love, and protect us.
So I say, love awesome, but don't need it. Learn from awesome, but don't depend on someone else to create it. Be and create awesome whenever and however you can, just as God has given us each the ability to do so.
More to come!
Jason <><
But the reflex action of latching on to awesome things can hurt our growth if we're not careful. Here's what I mean:
The more we continue to follow or trust only the things that are already awesome, the more we run the risk of lessening our creativity, self agency, and capacity to lead as God has called us. We run the risk of migrating toward a greater population of followers rather than leaders.
Here's the setting we find ourselves in, and what happens to us along the way: In life we often create lists of the things lacking in our situations--the things we believe we need to find in order to be complete. We want what we want, and because someone, somewhere is offering it without requiring our hard work or participation, we begin to believe that our true quest in life is no longer to be creative and productive, but rather, to be seekers and needers, looking for the next thing that will satisfy our shortcomings and holes in our souls.
The problem? Because we're so used to having things handed to us, we often forget that we have the powerful gift to build and create the future we have been called to seek. We forget that our hands and minds are useful, healing, and strong.
The problem? We lose our agency and freedom in exchange for the spoonfeeders are offering us and to which we become subjects. We need them, and we suddenly realize we have no choice but to take what they give( unless we're brave enough to move on in search of the next feeder before we starve).
The problem? We lose the in-dwelling of God's Spirit and Jesus' life-giving redemption that are borne within us and instead constantly beg from above for God to come and care, love, and protect us.
So I say, love awesome, but don't need it. Learn from awesome, but don't depend on someone else to create it. Be and create awesome whenever and however you can, just as God has given us each the ability to do so.
More to come!
Jason <><
Monday, January 6, 2014
I Knew That Guy!
The other day I posted on Facebook that we often make Jesus more of an idea than a person. I think it's helpful to remember Jesus actually lived and breathed and treaded the dust of the earth just as we do.
Let's put it this way. Most of us have lost a good uncle, brother, father, grandfather, husband, son or other loved person in our lives. It's easy to tell others what that person was like, recall stories, talk about what he or she stood for, embrace what made him or her come alive. We can tell about the best things, the most frustrating things, the way he or she laughed, and about how he or she died and what that was like. Ultimately, we can proudly say, "I knew that guy! Yeah, that sounds like something he'd say."
Why don't we do this with Jesus? He too lived and breathed and loved, told stories, and lived for something. We have plenty of stories of our own and from countless others about how his life affecst our lives. Much of what he stood for has already been put in a book!
In reality, the only differences between that guy and Jesus is that Jesus came back to life and lives today in the hearts of the people and in the Spirit of God, and that Jesus, being of God all along, has even cooler stories to tell than your great uncle. (I may be simplifying a tiny bit, but the point stands.)
So why not tell those stories? Why not tell about That Guy Jesus, who lived just like any other? Most would say it's because Jesus still seems too hard to really know, given that he's not really here anymore in human form.
And I guess, to that point is my point exactly. Get to know That Guy. Learn about his stories. Invite him to reveal himself to you today. Let the stories roll!
More to come!
Jason <><
Let's put it this way. Most of us have lost a good uncle, brother, father, grandfather, husband, son or other loved person in our lives. It's easy to tell others what that person was like, recall stories, talk about what he or she stood for, embrace what made him or her come alive. We can tell about the best things, the most frustrating things, the way he or she laughed, and about how he or she died and what that was like. Ultimately, we can proudly say, "I knew that guy! Yeah, that sounds like something he'd say."
Why don't we do this with Jesus? He too lived and breathed and loved, told stories, and lived for something. We have plenty of stories of our own and from countless others about how his life affecst our lives. Much of what he stood for has already been put in a book!
In reality, the only differences between that guy and Jesus is that Jesus came back to life and lives today in the hearts of the people and in the Spirit of God, and that Jesus, being of God all along, has even cooler stories to tell than your great uncle. (I may be simplifying a tiny bit, but the point stands.)
So why not tell those stories? Why not tell about That Guy Jesus, who lived just like any other? Most would say it's because Jesus still seems too hard to really know, given that he's not really here anymore in human form.
And I guess, to that point is my point exactly. Get to know That Guy. Learn about his stories. Invite him to reveal himself to you today. Let the stories roll!
More to come!
Jason <><
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