A Blog in the Break!

It's been several months since I last posted to this site.  I doesn't necessarily mean I'm back to a normal routine of posting, but in a conversation today I realized there was something worth sharing rolling around in my heart.  So I decided to write.

We're all coming off from the 4th of July weekend, and at least in the offices at church, our minds are almost as foggy as the subtle firework mist still lingering in the air this morning.  It was truly an exceptionally great weekend--and that for many reasons:  family, friends, celebrations, and church events that truly rocked.

The event most specifically sticking out in my mind this morning was the church's first Independence Day picnic and firework display on Sunday night.  Thanks to Brett Ferguson, an active leader at Horizons, who offered to provide and direct the display, not only did we have hundreds of folks join for food and lawn games, but we also had the privilege of sitting in awe and amazement as Brett and friends orchestrated the evening display of colors, crackles, and booms.

At one point, during a particularly colorful burst and flutter of fireworks, I remember thinking to myself, this moment needs to last... 

This is important because of what we often do instead of letting moments last.  More often, once something good is over, we either slide back into routines of everyday life in an attempt simply to keep things going, or we move from that moment waiting for the next big thing to dazzle our lives.  In all truth, neither of these two behaviors really keep us tethered to the wonder and blessings of God.

If you think about it, all through both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, the Israelites and even early Christians leaders continually referred back to the same stories of God's activity for their meaning and proof.  The most told told and retold story in scripture is that of God delivering His people from Egypt, into the promised land.  Many times as I've read these recalls of an ancient act, I've thought to myself, man, God's done a ton since that.  Couldn't they have been a little more thoughtful or creative and recalled other accounts of God's works instead of always going to the same old story??? 

But that's the point.  I'm thinking those thoughts as one who often misses the chance to let something have a full life in my memory and living.  On the contrary, God's people in the Bible hinged on that story as people continuing to be moved by one single event--knowing that it WAS ENOUGH for eternity to inspire, direct, and prove.

So as I watched Brett's display light up the night and the faces of many onlookers, and as I thought to myself that this moment needed to last, I decided to fight back my normal habit of letting the moment fade while I returned to the routines and went in search of the next dazzling moment.  Like the day God freed His people from slavery for all time, the celebration of God freeing a young man today, which was being displayed by a firework show Sunday night, will be a story and moment that will last for a long time.  This is how I know God is good, that Jesus is mightily working still today, and that He faithfully leads us always.  This is my story, and I'm hanging onto it--it's worth letting last.

Thanks Brett and the many others who helped make Sunday's party amazing!  Praise God!

More to come--at such occasions that similarly inspire! 


Jason <><

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 <><

Whining Isn't Winning

Sarah and I love to play games--card games, board games, mind games, etc.  We've been learning and teaching them to each other since we started dating.  But I can still remember the first game Sarah set out to introduce to me:  Phase 10.  Not only was it a comical yet somewhat frustrating evening, it was also an introduction into a silly dynamic that is now an ongoing part of our relationship.

This is how that day went early in our relationship when Sarah taught me Phase 10:

Sarah had made a special trip to Bellevue that day to hang out, and while I was finishing a project, she had cleared a spot in the living, laid out a blanket, and set up a picnic lunch for us.  I finally joined her to let the learning begin.  What Sarah hadn't yet learned about me and one of my family traits is that I tend to be a tough learner.  Not necessarily a slow learner, but to be sure, a tough learner.  It's something I inherited from my dad.  When it comes to learning new things, the initial "hump" may be a bit more challenging to get over for us than most.  It just doesn't come to us immediately, and an immediate feeling of defeat and frustration quickly sets in.  

And so, as the teaching began and my lack of success at the game bloomed like a hibiscus before us, I grew sour and frustrated--just like clockwork.  Sarah's feelings were hurt and she too began to grow frustrated--it's just a game... she would patiently repeat from time to time--why are you making such a big deal?  The more Sarah excelled at the game and seemed to run further and further ahead of me, the more soggy and whiny I became--like father, like son.  Finally Sarah gave me the ultimatum I needed:  if you can't learn to play this game without making such a big deal about it, then we aren't going to play.  I agreed I'd settle down and we made it through our first game of Phase 10.  Sarah won by several phases, and I felt like a failure.  Nevertheless, we began another round.

As round two began, Sarah again started to pull ahead right from the start.  I did my best not to start whining, but it seemed as though I could hardly control it.  Sarah looked at me and asked are you really still doing this?  It's a game.  Somebody has to lose.  I agreed but still complained about about the fact I was losing even though I was just learning.  Yet we plodded forward, with Sarah beginning to feel more and more guilty with each successful turn--I'm sorry J, this is just how it's turning out.  

Finally I hit my lucky streak.  One successful turn led into another great turn.  Soon I had caught up.  Sarah was happy for me and said See?  Now you're getting the hang of it!  By the close of that game, I had pulled ahead and won the game.  Sarah asked if I felt better and if all the previous commotion was worth it.  I agreed it wasn't and apologized.  We ended up playing two more games of Phase 10 that day.  I ended up winning both of them with significant margins.  By the end I was feeling quite good at the game and was enjoying myself immensely.  Sarah on the other hand, was beginning to feel frustrated:  you mean to tell me I felt sorry for you, and now I can't win a single game?  I felt badly.  I lost one game and made a big stink, while she lost the next three and was being a good sport about it.  We didn't play anymore Phase 10 that day, or for a while.  

We eventually laughed about our first Phase 10 experience, but it has seemed to haunt us as a reminder that my whining doesn't translate to winning.  The kicker is now Sarah rarely wins against me in Phase 10.  In fact, we've been through this similar process in many new games--she pulls ahead quickly, I whine immediately, and right when Sarah feels bad about winning so greatly I go on to become very good at the game, rarely allowing her the victory.  This happened to us again just the other night during Skip-bo.  I was sulking because I was behind, and yet I eventually pulled ahead to win three of our four games.  

Ultimately, however, no matter how many times I win the game, when I whine my way to final victory, I'm not really winning at all.  It does no good.  My poor wife Sarah is the true winner, no mater how many times she loses a game, because of her patience and willingness to play again and again for the shear sake of spending time with me.  She continues to have much to teach me in her patience

.  I have much to learn.

So as we begin our days today, regardless of our losses, let us each remember that our whining never leads to true winning!

More to come!

Jason <><  

No Solicitation Please!

Today's thought is short and simple--no need to sell the Gospel!

Yesterday as I was delivering my message in church, I noticed how hard I was working to present God's word in an ultra-attractive manner--highlight the drama, connect every aspect to our personal lives, add humor, reinforce with other cites of scripture, provide numerous examples, and sound convincing.

Really?  Is this necessary?

It's funny how this happens without even noticing.  Fear creeps in, and I begin to worry no one will find interest, that others won't make the connections, that it doesn't apply to our lives, etc.  How foolish we can often be.

The truth is, God's word has clearly stood the test of time and relevance.  It's the most widely printed, translated, and distributed collection in all of history.  God's story has the capacity to change the very course of our lives as well as the very course of our entire existence.  It has saved more lives than all rescue teams combined, and has changed more lives than have cumulatively filled all football, soccer, and other major sporting event arenas across the globe.  It is powerful, it is full of life, and can break through any barrier.  How could we ever doubt it?

Yet, Satan enjoys the easy attack, and at least for a moment convinces us that God's word alone isn't enough, that its success in the world and in our churches is ultimately in our control and under our responsibility, and that personal failure is worse that failing to trust God.  

Ultimately, we end up trying to doctor up God's word because we're struggling to believe in it ourselves.  This is why so many of us are terrified to speak in a church.  This is why many of us swear we have not been called to be evangelists in the world.  

But the powerful truth, whether it's in regard to preaching or sharing with others, is that God's word doesn't need elaborate proofs, heart-throbbing stories, or knock-dead presentations.  It doesn't need smooth talkers, debate pros, or holy sales professionals.

All it really needs is an honest heart, a true story, a simple trust in God's power and work, and a willingness to let go of control and fear.  God's word will sell itself, and it will be the best heard yet.

More to come!

Jason  <><

Too Much Pain?

One of the most powerful acts of love and sovereignty Jesus demonstrates in His three short years was healing.  Massive crowds resulted from His grace, touch, and miraculous power--so much so that they often threatened to crush Jesus.  To say healing in Jesus' ministry was important is an understatement.

That healing power continues to be a focal point for our faith relationships yet today.  We continue to praise and seek God in part because of this power and His promise to heal and relieve our pain, worry, stress, anxiety, and discomfort.  We cling to Peter's words in his letter and to Paul's in many of his letters encouraging us to embrace our pain and know that it will be healed for God's glory.  These words and encouragement truly resonate with us in our current time.

Yet, today I dare to ask the question, how much pain is too much ?  I love listening to K-Love and other Christians stations as I drive--especially because my CD player is toast!  However, the other day on a longer drive I noticed a consistent theme in the lineup of songs:  pain--pain of living, pain of losing, pain of stress and disappointment, etc.  I do understand how difficult our lives can be and how much stress we often carry on our shoulders.  And it will ALWAYS be a crucial part of our worship and praise as we exalt God's healing strength.

However, I'm concerned we may be making too much of our pain--that our tolerance continues to erode to the point that anything outside of what we consider intended, anticipated, likely, favorable, predicable, desirable, or pleasant becomes a significant source of "pain" in our lives.  We make jokes about "1st-world" problems and the moans of entitled whiners because of this syndrome.  In fact, it's at this point that we begin to make pain an idol.  We sing about it, we focus on it, we make everything about Sunday morning and our practices of seeking God and praying to Him mostly about relieving our pain and the pain of others.  We've become so obsessed with pain we often neglect any other aspects of our faith, of who God is, or of what God wants for our lives.  It's just like an itch or rash--the more we scratch and pay homage, the greater of a "thing" it becomes.

So today I encourage each of us to take a reality check regarding our own worship of pain.  How focused are we on it?  How often do the stories and reports of our pain get shared with others?  How often do we allow ourselves to feel pained on a daily basis by the inconveniences of life?

It may sound rough, but maybe God's inviting us each today to "get over it," to quit letting that be the only thing that we focus on, and to toughen up a bit.  Christ is our strength so that we may withstand more, not so that we have no strength on our own.  Here's to His gift of freedom in our lives today!





More to come!

Jason <><