Blogcation! Happy Holidays!

Our current sermon series--"A Time for Everything," which is largely based off Solomon's wisdom in Ecclesiastes 3 has been teaching me quite a bit about my current life and what God is calling me to live into in each season.  It's led me to ask the question, what is the point of the seasons God has created if I'm trying to accomplish all things for all people in every moment of my life?  Aren't seasons by the very nature of their definition marked by distinctions?  Fall isn't winter because there isn't typically snow.  Spring isn't summer because the temps haven't reached 100 yet.  Fall has falling leaves, Spring has blooming flowers, etc...  We're blessed by these seasons.  They make our lives rich and the various parts of our lives unique.

So why are we so often attempting to live seasonless lives beyond how we make it through the different times of the physical year?

Although it's been on my heart for quite some time, today I'm announcing a season in my life called "Blogcation."  After 177 weekly blogs, I'm feeling the need to step away for a while and let me heart and attention focus on other areas of life and ministry.  I've struggled with this because I'm afraid others will see as though I'm being lazy, or that I'll look like a quitter in comparison to some of the Blogging Giants who have blogged for years on a daily basis and have thousands of readers.  I'm also hesitant to take a break from blogging because I'm afraid others will perceive that I'm failing and my intuit that for their confidence in my leadership.

But in truth, I know I need not worry about any of these things.  It's easy to worry the tree is dying when it loses its leaves or that a plant is cooking in the summer heat, but in truth, each is living into its natural function during that season, and that is how it continues to live and thrive for many, many seasons yet to come.

So!  Here's to the seasons, and here's to "blocation!"  I'm looking forward to this new season.  If you are a consistent reader of my blogs, here's an opportunity to explore other blogs for a season.  I found a blog just today that may help you get started.  It's all about joy!  Joyless Christianity is Dangerous

More to come (after blogcation)!


Jason <><

A Time for Everything

This Sunday we started a new series in Ecclesiastes 3, focusing on the opening words:  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens..."

We talked Sunday about how those words that follow aren't from the perspective of taking the bad with the good, but rather that there are times in our lives when we are called to live into each of those times through out our lives:  a time to plant and a time to uproot, for example.  This is poignant, yet powerful for understanding the richness of the life God intends for us to live while here.

However, another powerful perspective comes from understanding what this chapter is saying not only about the places we'll be called to along the way, but also understanding the concept of seasons and times.  Often when I fall into a particular "season" in my life, I don't see it like I see fall, winter, or spring.  In fact, when in the midst of them, I often don't see the parts of my life as seasons.  Instead, I end up seeing them and believing that somehow they are fatal statements of the rest of my life.  For example, if I'm in a busy season of life at church, instead of embracing where I'm at and what's being asked of me, I become anxious and worry that my life as evolved into this new status and I may never leave it.

But that's why it's called a season, and that's why God breathed His words into life in Ecclesiastes 3--seasons come, and seasons go.  Some seasons last a week, some a few months, others a few years.  But no season lasts forever except the season of eternity with Jesus in heaven.  The rest, even the best, most glorious seasons, are here for only a time.  But that's often the best news we can hang onto when pursuing hope in the midst of challenging times--it won't be this way forever, and so I'll simply live it, learn from it, and find ways to point to Christ because of it.

That's when the richness of our lives comes to full life!  Embrace this season, even if it's not your favorite.


More to come!

Jason <><

Anywhere Christians

The other day I was reading through a list detailing signs of a mature Christian.  The list told me I'm on the right track, but that I have work to do.  One area I wasn't sure applied to me though was living into the concept that there are no "off-hours" of our faith lives, that it's a 24/7 thing.  As a pastor, I've seen what happens to pastors who treat their role with a sense of 24/7 priority--burnout, moral failure, and neglect of spouse and family.  I decided to ignore that one--or at least pretend it didn't apply.  For me, a sign of maturity is a healthy balance and to know the bounds of what I believe is personally in my hands to achieve or tend to.

Yet, I have ultimately concluded there IS wisdom in that sign and challenge that I couldn't ignore.  While I may not be in active ministry everyday--especially when I'm taking my weekly Sabbath or spending time with family, etc.--I'm still a pastor and have an example to keep.  Furthermore, even when I'm not actively in my pastoral role, I'm still a Christian and seeking Christ in and through my life.  There's a subtle difference between being a pastor and being a Christian, and that's where this sign of maturity comes into play:  regardless of whether I'm off or on as a pastor, am I the same Christ follower during my "on" days as I am during my "off" days?  Is my faith life a profession or a way of living?  What do I value behind closed doors?  How do people see me when I'm in a different city?  This matters.

The bulk of this wrestling came to a head for me just yesterday (Sunday 11/01) as I stepped up to the starting line of my first half-marathon--the Good Life Halfsy.  I was excited to be there and was proud to think about what this meant for people around me, at Horizons, and in my life:  I am an example that keeping fit AND being faithful is possible.  We don't have to choose to worship fitness OR Jesus; we can be fit AND keep our eyes on Christ.  Yet, there I stood at the starting line also just minutes away from our first worship service starting at Horizons.  In the back of my mind I also contemplated what example I was setting--am I saying sometimes there are more important things than being in worship??  That doesn't sound very good to me.  Nothing is more important than routine, joyful worship of our God.  Nothing.

So I decided there was only thing to do--be a fit, 24/7 on-call, running-but-not-preaching-today pastor AND Christian at the Halfsy.  If I'm going to miss worship, I'd better still be praising my God!  

I'm sure I was annoying to my fellow runners, and I'm sure many spectators chuckled as I ran by and thought to themselves "there's one of those guys..."   But regardless, I knew what my duty was:  not to run this for myself and my own goals, but to run and be a witness.  So I yelled along the way, in response to cheers and encouragement "It's all for Jesus!  I run for Jesus!"  That was my call and role Sunday.  Running came second.

In the end both the witnessing and running turned out.  I actually had more energy and enjoyment when I was busy shouting out my savior's name--I wasn't focusing on myself!  I also received several "amens" and "yeses"  along the way.  When I finally crossed the finish line (200th place out of 6,100 runners), I pointed upward to God.  He's why I run.  Of course Sarah, for a moment thought I was holding up a number 1 sign and was preparing for how she would gently break the news to me that I was not the first runner to cross, but quickly caught on and joined me in celebrating: this is why we're alive, no matter where we are--church or the finish line!

So that's what this 24/7 life in Christ looks like.  It's good.  Go live yours!


More to come!

Jason <><