a shout out to grandma

For the last 6.5 years of my life I have been pastoring in Independence and have met a whole bunch of people during that time.  Sometimes as I'm heading into QuikTrip or somewhere else around town, I will bump into someone whom I haven't seen in months or even years.  The other night I had one of those encounters.  As I was driving down 24 highway at 9pm on a Sunday night in Independence, I saw someone walking down the road who looked a lot like a student that I had met several years back at the church.  I quickly pulled over to the side of the road and saw that it was the guy who I thought it was.  I asked the young man where he was headed and if he needed a ride.  He told me he was heading home and that a ride would be nice.  During our 10 minute drive and interaction, I learned that Bret was living with his grandma because his mom was in jail and his dad kicked him out of the house a few years back.  He told me that his grandma was a cafeteria worker at a Jr. high school and she was helping him get back on his feet.

After dropping Bret off, I pulled back out of his driveway to make my way back home and I started thinking, 'what would this community do without grandmas and grandpas who were there to intervene in their children and grandchildren's lives?'  I know that may sound like a random and/or trivial thought, but in the last 6.5 years I have heard countless stories just like Bret's: parents who have given up on their children, parents who have disappeared, parents who have kicked their children out of the house, parents in jail, parents who are addicts, etc.  In fact, in the last month alone, I have heard 3-4 scenarios similar to this one.

While I was blessed to have parents who were present and invested in my life, I am realizing that my experience is slowly becoming a rarity and a minority in many communities.  If you have or have had parents who were present in your lives, please be thankful for them.

So as I write this, I want to give a shout out to grandparents who have:
-taken your own children back into the house as adults because of hardships they have fallen upon.
-taken in your grandchildren because their parents are either not present in their lives or because parents have given up on their children.
-sacrificed your own fiances, homes, vehicles, and resources to support your grandchildren when their parents have not done so.
-taken on the role of parents in their grandchildren's lives.
-chosen to keep working in order to financially support the children and grandchildren who have entered your home.
-Put up with loud music you would never listen to or watched tv shows you would never watch because you now have a 16 year old living in your house again.
-Stayed up late or set a key outside to make sure your grandchild gets in safely at night.
-And other examples like these...

I think the main reason I was compelled to write this is because I see something very Christlike in the behaviors I listed above.  I am one who believes that Christ never gives up on any of his children and has a heart especially for those who have been dealt a less than favorable hand.  Great job grandma and grandpa for welcoming, loving, and caring as Christ has called you to do.

observations from an 11th grader

I had the opportunity to sit down with one of my high school students just the other day (over some Pizza Hut!).  It was not hard to see that something was on his mind.  He had just gotten back from a seven day Caribbean cruise to Jamaica, Cozumel, and Cosa' Maya.  Without much prodding, he began to throw out some questions that had swimming around in his mind.  As we grow and progress as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to look at the world around us- our communities, our patterns, the way we live, etc, and hold them up alongside the words, teachings, and life of Christ.  I was ministered to by my younger brother in Chris the other day.

On his trip to Jamaica


"Jay, when we got to Jamaica, I was immediately shocked at the standard of living compared to that of Americans... I learned that lots of people in Jamaica will share homes with one another.  It is very common for grandparents and their children to live under the same roof and for people in a neighborhood to share everything.  Many people who were on the cruise were saying how they felt bad for the people but I noticed something special about them: everyone seemed like they were family with everyone else.  It is not that way back in America.  We all have our own separate houses, our own separate lawn mowers, our own separate cars... It is like be build our homes to keep other people out of them... There seemed to be something that was special about the way they lived."


On his family


"I'm beginning to wonder if I really believe in love.  My mom and dad were married for 30 years and got divorced.  What if the emotions I have for my wife begin to fall away after 20+ years or so?... Or, what if her love for me begins to do this same thing?  How can a marriage survive if it is only based on the emotions we feel and don't feel?"

The unexamined life


"I get frustrated with other people my age.  They don't question or seem to care about anything.  Everyone my age seems to just go through life believing and excepting everything that they are taught.  Doesn't anyone care about the deeper issues and meaning of life?  Are we here just to make money?  To someday have a big house? Isn't there more?  If there is more, why does it seem like everyone is o.k. with not pursuing more?"

-----

Isn't it funny how God  can teach us through people and in ways we least expect it?  Thank you brother for sharing your heart and your desire to strive after Christ in your life.

my conversion story

About six years ago, before Rachel and I were married, I thought I would be a good fiance' and surprise Rachel by bringing her a coffee at her work.  After purchasing the drink (it type of drink changed over the years), I would always have a small sip during the short drive from the coffee shop to Rachel's work.  Each time I would have a sip, I would think to myself, "how in the world to people actually enjoy this overpriced nastiness?"  Yet, each time I ordered a drink for her I would STILL have a sip thinking that just maybe this is the time I would find the drink remotely good.

Fast forward about 75 to 100 coffee drop-offs and about six years and something happened.  I had just bought Rachel an Iced-Mocha from the Filling Station and was on my way to drop it off.  During the 3-4 minute drive to Rachel's work I found myself drinking about 80% of the drink and leaving nothing more than a few sips left for my wife.  Rachel was not impressed.  On my next visit to the Filling Station uttered words that I never thought would come out of my mouth.

(Barista dude) So, another iced mocha, no fat no whip for the wife?
(Me) Yes........ But...... Could you actually make two of those?

I am not sure if I could really be considered an all out coffee drinker.  I order one of those things a week at most... and, at this point, an iced mocha is the only coffee drink I like.

the greatest obstacle to following Jesus

I recently had the opportunity to attend a great conference called 'Sentralized' in Olathe, KS a few weeks back that focused what it looks like for the Church to be a missional people. There were several speakers at the conference that I learned a great deal from.  One of the keynote speakers, Michael Frost, challenged people to 'listen to the heartbeat of your city' in order to find out how to be the hands and feet of Christ to them.  He went on to say that we must really know the inhabitants of our community in order to effectively minister to them and we must listen to their cries.

Here is my issue.  I understand what Michael Frost was getting at.  We must have listening ears and hearts in order to properly and effectively do the work of the Kingdom in our communities.  You don't start an 'Obesity Recovery Club' in a village that is starving nor do you offer English speaking classes for Japanese people in a town that is 70% Caucasian and 30% Spanish.  Listening with a prayerful heart is essential.

But what if the greatest desires, wants, and 'needs' of my community is a flat-screen to replace their 'old tv' from 2005?  What if what people desire most is a better car than the one they already have now?  A job that pays better so they can afford to go out to eat more and to support an excessive lifestyle?  Someone to repave their driveway so it looks as good as they neighbors new driveway across the street?

I hope my point is coming across.  What does ministry look like to a community and a people whose greatest desire to get more and have more than what they already have?  What does ministry look like to those who have been fully baptized into a lifestyle of consumption, comfort, and getting everything we want?


Before I go on, I thank God that I was not struck dead as I typed those last words.  I see the signs of consumerism in my own heart on a daily basis and I must bring that before the Lord in repentance regularly.

Alan Hirsch makes a great point in his book 'The Forgotten Ways' by saying the greatest obstacle in the Western Church when it comes to following Jesus is not Islam, Eastern Religions, New Age Spirituality, or whatnot.  Instead, the greatest obstacle is consumerism: the belief and desire that life is all about doing me and getting mine.  Consumerism preaches instant gratification and immediate results whereas the way of Jesus is found in pouring one's life out in servant love to one's brother and sister.  It is in the daily surrendering of one's own selfishness and asking God to renew our hearts to look more like that of our Lords.  It is the complete opposite of the consumer mindset.  The text that continually comes to mind is the descent of our Lord spoken of in Philippians 2.  We serve one who being in the very nature God made himself nothing (2:5-11).

So, what does ministry look like to those who have become entrapped in the ideology of consumerism?  

'when I became a christian'

I heard this a while back and just hunted it down.  Written by Adrian Plass

When I became a Christian I said, Lord, now fill me in,
Tell me what I’ll suffer in this world of shame and sin.
He said, your body may be killed, and left to rot and stink,
Do you still want to follow me? I said Amen - I think.
I think Amen, Amen I think, I think I say Amen,
I’m not completely sure, can you just run through that again?
You say my body may be killed and left to rot and stink,
Well, yes, that sounds terrific, Lord, I say Amen - I think.

But, Lord, there must be other ways to follow you, I said,
I really would prefer to end up dying in my bed.
Well, yes, he said, you could put up with the sneers and scorn and spit,
Do you still want to follow me? I said Amen - a bit.
A bit Amen, Amen a bit, a bit I say Amen,
I’m not entirely sure, can we just run through that again?

You say I could put up with sneers and also scorn and spit,
Well, yes, I’ve made my mind up, and I say, Amen - a bit.

Well I sat back and thought a while, then tried a different ploy,
Now, Lord, I said, the Good book says that Christians live in joy.
That’s true he said, you need the joy to bear the pain and sorrow,
So do you want to follow me, I said, Amen - tomorrow.
Tomorrow, Lord, I’ll say it then, that’s when I’ll say Amen,
I need to get it clear, can I just run through that again?
You say that I will need the joy, to bear the pain and sorrow,
Well, yes, I think I’ve got it straight, I’ll say Amen - tomorrow.

He said, Look, I’m not asking you to spend an hour with me
A quick salvation sandwich and a cup of sanctity,
The cost is you, not half of you, but every single bit,
Now tell me, will you follow me? I said Amen - I quit.
I’m very sorry Lord I said, I’d like to follow you,
But I don’t think religion is a manly thing to do.
He said forget religion then, and think about my Son,
And tell me if you’re man enough to do what he has done.

Are you man enough to see the need, and man enough to go,
Man enough to care for those whom no one wants to know,
Man enough to say the thing that people hate to hear,
To battle through Gethsemane in loneliness and fear.
And listen! Are you man enough to stand it at the end,
The moment of betrayal by the kisses of a friend,
Are you man enough to hold your tongue, and man enough to cry?
When nails break your body-are you man enough to die?
Man enough to take the pain, and wear it like a crown,
Man enough to love the world and turn it upside down,
Are you man enough to follow me, I ask you once again?
I said, Oh Lord, I’m frightened, but I also said Amen.
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen; Amen, Amen, Amen,
I said, Oh Lord, I’m frightened, but I also said, Amen.

the 'Jesus-Juke'

So what exactly is a 'Jesus-juke?'  Jon Acuff invented the phrase and has written about it here.  The word 'juke' is often referred to in football or another sport where a player is running/skating/moving in one direction and then all of the sudden they completely change directions and head somewhere else.  If you are a running back or receiver in football, being able to 'juke' people is very important.

The Jesus-juke is the ability to incorporate Jesus and Christianity into any topic and it generally communicates shame.  Also, the Jesus-juke is very good at producing awkward moments along with strange endings to previously good conversations.  Still not sure what the Jesus-juke is?  Allow me to give you a few examples... Some of them are made up, some of them are based on real life examples.

Jesus-Juke Scenario 1

(Mike) I can't wait for Saturday!  We are going to get to the stadium like six hours before the game.  I'm bringing my grill to cook up some burgers, we can play washers, and then as soon as the gates open, we can head on in. It is gonna be awesome!

(Todd) Yeah... But I was just thinking... What if we spent those six hours that we were going to tailgate and watch the game by going down to the homeless shelter and serving food?  When is the last time we got this excited about spending six hours in prayer? 

-Poor Mike, he never saw it coming.  He just got completely juked out of his mind by Todd.  My guess is that Mike's neck hurt for a few weeks after this juke.

Jesus-Juke Scenario 2

(Kate) I know, I haven't talked to you in awhile.  So, been' reading any good books lately?

(Lindsey)  Heck yes I have!  I am reading the 'Hunger Games' series which I am LOVING!  I have already ordered that new Sparks book, I forget the name... and my boyfriend was telling me to check out that baseball book that was made into a movie.  You know, the Brad Pitt one?  How about you, anything good you have been checking out?

(Kate) Yeah, I've been reading the Bible.

(Lindsey) Oh yeah? Nice.  Anything else?

(Kate) Nope, I just read the Bible.

-While this juke is a little more subtle than the first scenario, you can be sure that Lindsey just got completely juked.

Jesus-Juke Scenario 3

(Micah) I'm just really excited about what we have been able to do with our small group at church.  We have started tutoring some kids in the area to help them with their school work.  We have also organized this small flag football thing on Tuesdays to help encourage exercise and teach the kids about getting away from the television.  We are hoping by next month to get some computers so we can finally start using this literacy software we had donated to us.  We are really optimistic that these students can start performing better at school.

(Caleb) Sounds fun, are you doing any Christian things with the students?

(Micah) What do you mean?

(Caleb) You know, like more Jesus centered things.  Are you doing stuff that Jesus would do with them like study the Bible and start worship services with the kids?

(Micah) No, we haven't done anything like that yet.  We are simply trying to love and invest into the lives of these students... I think Jesus would like what we are doing.

(Caleb) *forced smile that communicates his disappointment that Micah is not doing REAL ministry*

-Just when Micah thought he could share his joy with Caleb, Caleb is quick to let him know that teaching the students to read, encouraging physical activity, and tutoring are smaller secondary activities compared to the true work of Jesus... Complete Jukage.  

So, got any good examples of the Jesus juke?

40 things before 40

I read of another blogger who created a '40 things before 40' list and thought it was a great idea!  With that said, here is mine.

1.      Become a father.

2.      Adopt a child(ren).

3.      Become an amazing model of a father, husband, and follower of Jesus for my child(ren).

4.      Maintain a healthy weight (175-185 lbs).

5.      Continue to make my wife feel loved and adored.

6.      Continue my success in not biting my fingernails.

7.      Become better at disc golf by having shot at least even or below at most courses.

8.      Pay off my student loans.

9.      Feel a sense of satisfaction that I am serving God faithfully in my vocation... Regardless of what that looks like.

10.  Become a better cook.

11.  To do something incredibly special for Rachel that she won’t be expecting (I’m not sure what this is, but to figure it out and do it).

12.  Continue to play on some sort of competitive softball team.

13.  Start an ‘after school disc golf club’ for students.

14.  Find new ways to minister to the less educated and lower class of my community.

15.  Go on another 7 day cruise to the Caribbean or somewhere else with my wife/family.

16.  Be incredibly involved in my children’s development by reading to and with them, helping with homework, etc.

17.  Become better at using my time in purposeful ways, waste less of it.

18.  Visit the Royals spring training facility in Surprise, AZ during in mid-February/March to watch them train. (I've already been to the Red Sox several times)

19.  Find ways to live on less money and ‘stuff.’

20.  Continue to write napkin notes to Rachel everyday that I pack her lunch.

21.  Be very intentional about planning date nights with Rachel.

22.  Take a hot-air balloon ride (this doesn’t have to be before 40, but at some point in my life).

23.  To become an ‘all round’ amazing father.

24.  Find a way to live closer to my family.

25.  Complete an MS Bike Ride of 60+ miles or more.

26.  Find a way to help serve and minister to those who go without daily necessities like food, water, medicine, etc.

27.  See U2 and/or Coldplay in concert.

28.  To find unique and fun ways to celebrate milestones in my family's lives (and to make sure we have photos/videos of those milestones).

29.  To help be a father figure to a few people around me who don’t have a father.

30.  To become angrier about things worth being angry over and less angry about the things that has more to do with my pride and ego.

31.  To visit three more major league baseball parks that I have not been to.

32.  To get a major league baseball for my child (from a game, of course).

33.  To teach my child how to disc golf and to go disc golfing regularly.

34.  Learn to do more ‘manly things’ like install dry wall, plumbing, simple construction and auto repair, etc.

35.  Be a chaperone for one of my child’s field trips at school.

36.  Own a Golden Retriever (and possibly name the dog 'Clancy')

37.  To not judge people as much as I do now.

38.  To help Rachel create her own ’40 things before 40’ list.

39.  Visit a continent other than North America.

40.  Throw out the first pitch to a major league baseball game.

I am sure that this list will change and evolve during the next 10 years, but it is a good start!  How about you?  What are some goals you have?

thoughts on the glbtq conversation

"The unexamined life is not worth living."  -Socrates-  I think any person that desires to walk faithfully in the footsteps of Christ must regularly and continually reexamine how they are living and pray that God would help them to live faithfully.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to join in some amazing conversation with some fellow believers about what it looks like to minister to those who are either gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and/or questioning their sexuality.  As I mentioned in a previous post a ways back, when 1,000 non-believers were asked to use 3 words to describe the Western Church, the number one response was 'anti-gay.'  Now, if we as a Church are to be the 'Body of Christ' to the world, shouldn't the words people use to describe the Church overlap with the same words they would use to describe Jesus?  If those same people were asked to give one or two words to describe Jesus, I am sure we would hear words like: loving, merciful, welcoming, compassionate, etc.  How many examples do we see in scripture of Jesus exercising his greatest expressions of love and grace to those whom the community had damned as the worst of sinners while at the same time, Jesus reserved his greatest anger for those who already claimed to have already 'gotten it.'

With that said, I do not understand homosexuality much at all, simply because I cannot relate to it.  I don't know what it is like to grow up attracted to other guys.  My guess is that it is extremely frustrating being told that your natural emotions and inclinations are morally wrong.

Do I believe that homosexuality was a part of God's original plan?  No, I don't.  I believe the science behind how homosexuality has gradually arisen among humanity is far beyond my mind and comprehension.  However, if I did have to throw out a guess, I would say the recipe includes human sin over thousands of years.  Never underestimate humanities ability to take something good and jack it up.

So, what is the role of believers in regards to the glbtq community?  I say that we simply look towards the life and teachings of Christ as our primary model.  Instead of looking at someone and labeling them with their sin, we must first look into the eyes of every person and be reminded that they are first and foremost a creation of God, which makes them good.  Instead of opening up your Bible in order to read a passage regarding sexual immorality, perhaps you should look at your own life first and realize that, just like the person standing in front of you, you are desperately in need of the same grace and mercy that they are.  Instead of you trying to preach to them and tell them how they are living in sin (just like every other believer that they have encountered in person, on the internet, tv, etc), consider loving and welcoming that person.  Surprise them with how you  love and affirm their humanity.  There may be a time in the future where through your friendship and the Holy Spirit that God delivers this person from their lifestyle.  On the other hand, that time may not come.  Either way, love the person in their brokenness because you are broken too.  

Final thoughts.  At the end of my life, I would rather err on the side of showing too much love, grace, and mercy to the homosexual, l, t, b, q(if that is even possible).  I would rather Jesus say to me, "Jason, you should have spoken up a little more in regards to their behavior ...." as oppose to Jesus saying, "I wish you treated them with more love and kindness."

David Platt's 'Radical'

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone that is currently content with where they are at in their faith journey and want to stay that way.  This book is like taking a nice and orderly deck of cards and throwing them as high into the air as you can.  As I am slowly but surely making my way through David Platt's 'Radical' and I must say that the book is quite frustrating to read, but in a good way.  Platt shares about his journey from a safe Americanized Christianity to something that is much more Christlike.  He talks about numerous trips around the globe where he met and encountered fellow believers that clung to and embraced the gospel in a manner that many of us in the West know little about.  Platt often highlights specific stories of these people and the amazing work that they are doing in their communities and countries for the sake of Christ.  It is impossible to read this book without looking at one's own life and how 'safe' many of us live.  The last thing most of us want is to have to sacrifice the comfortable and predictable way that we have become accustomed to living and give that up.  However, Platt states that an honest reading of the gospels and Christ's words show us that as believers we are called to be servants who do not find our comforts and joys in the treasures of this world.  Instead, just as Philippians 2 states, our attitude (and life) should be like that of Christ Jesus who humbled himself for the sake of others.

Again, this book frustrates me as I read it.  I sometimes dream of 'selling everything and moving to (insert 3rd world country)' in order to (insert act of service).  However, what is someone like me to do when I owe $30,000+ in school loans to the government and need to continue making money to pay off those loans?  Books like Platt's are frustrating because I don't know what radical obedience looks like in my life at this point.  Sure, I know I am called to be a faithful husband and pastor, but am I really making the most of my time and my life?

youth ministry and the family

I recently came across a documentary/book 'Already Gone'  featuring Ken Ham (answers in Genesis).  The book examined the mass exodus of many young adults from the church all across America and the reasoning behind it. Their primary conclusion is that youth ministries are failing to effectively teach and disciple students.  According to Ham and others featured in the documentary, youth ministries have become so focused on entertaining students that they have gotten away from genuine spiritual formation.

While I believe that there are points of truth to Ham's observation, I believe that the documentary is pointing the finger in the wrong direction.  As one who has been a youth pastor at the same church for 6.5 years, I have noticed a trend among the students who 'stick around' after graduating from the youth ministry and those who don't... In fact, the results are pretty much undeniable.  While there is a part of me that would love to believe that the youth ministry is the primary agent that shapes and forms the students who come through the door, it is the family that students come from that seem to have the greatest influence on whether a student 'sticks around' or leaves the church following high school.

It is extremely rare (in fact, I am struggling to think of more than one or two examples from my church) to find a student who sticks with the church following high school who has absolutely no support at home.  On the other side of the coin, as I look at all the students who continue to seek the Lord while being connected to a local church body and each one of them comes from a family with a mother and a father who I know are greatly invested in their child's life and rooted in their own local church.

Again, the ego inside of me wishes that it was my preaching, my ability to teach, the events that I plan, etc, that had more to do with the ultimate decision a student makes, but the reality is that parents and family have a far greater influence on the spiritual formation and shaping of their child than the youth ministry ever will.  This does not serve as an excuse to reduce the importance of having an effective and quality youth ministry, however, it is important to recognize that the 'end all solution' to raising a child is not simply making sure they go to the right school or that they are a part of the best youth ministry.  Instead, it begins at the home.  May we all recognize (especially those who are parents) that God has entrusted us with one of the greatest responsibilities that the world has ever known: raising a child in the faith.

a good word from stanley

I have slowly but surely been making my way through 'The Peaceable Kingdom' by Stanley Hauerwas (I think 'slowly' is the only way to read his writings while actually understanding what he is saying).  While talking about morality, he made a statement that I believe to be so true: "Most people want God to fulfill all of their desires but they are unwilling to allow God to transform those desires."  What a true and brilliant observation!  How else can we possibly explain the prosperity gospel that is so popular in our country?  We find ourselves skipping over or writing off passages and texts that talk about servanthood and simplicity while highlighting and underlining passages where Jesus and Paul talk about being blessed by God.

I know I am guilty of this very thing.  As believers, may we seek to come before God in honestly and humility and thereby have our very hearts changed and transformed.

evangelism and culture

It is not uncommon to hear statements like, "how come our church does not (fill in the blank) like my old church did?"  Recently, someone asked me, "I remember back in the day we used to go door to door with a Bible in our hand telling people about Jesus... Why don't we do that anymore?"

Some people look at their local church and are saddened by the changes they have seen take place... and some of those feelings are for good reasons.  However, it is also important to remember that in many ways we must always be changing and evolving to in order to better minister to the culture that we live in.  There really is no disputing this truth.  If I used a curriculum that we written in the 1930s, there is a very large chance that the content will be effective simply because it was written by a people writing to others living in the 1930s.  While the core truth and beliefs may not change, the method in which that truth is taught and conveyed must evolve and change if we are to effectively relate to a 21st century people.

The reason why evangelism must look different in the year 2011 than in did 10, 20, or 50 years ago is because people and culture change.  For example, it was much easier to go 'door to door' 50 years ago because in the year 1961, the pastor/priest and the American Church was not nearly the laughing stock that it has become today.  With constant news reports of sexual abuse, child abuse, money fraud, affairs, etc, how can we not expect the image of the church to change?  How can we expect people to not question the Christian faith when they turn on the television and watch Benny Hinn hitting people with his jacket as he fills them with the Holy Spirit?  With that said, the average household is skeptical at best when it comes to the American Church.  Therefore, evangelism must look different than it did even just 10 years ago.  Before we begin telling people about our faith, we ought to embody it with a servant heart.  We must engage in the slow work of building relationships and allowing our faith story to flow out of that relationship.  Because whenever someone is truly seeking to know and love Christ more each day, it is impossible for others not to see Christ in them.

turning 30

Well, in just over 2 weeks I will be turning 30 years old. While I realize the word 'young' is a relative term, I generally think of people who are in their teens and 20's when I associate people with being 'young.'  As I approach this new decade of my life I can't help but take a look back at the previous one.  While in my 20's I have: graduated from college, moved twice (to Michigan and then Kansas City), started and finished seminary with my M. Divinity, married my best friend Rachel, started pastoring my first church as a youth and associate pastor, gotten a great four legged dog Dunkin, met and made some amazing friends, and much more.  During my 20's I have grown as a man, a husband, as a pastor, and as one striving to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

For some reason or another, God has decided to bless me in so many ways.  I pray that if the Lord continues to blesses me with another 10 years that I may seek to serve God throughout all of it.

personal piety and more individualism

Having read some great books lately along with some great conversation, I have found myself rethinking some of the most basic questions that we as Christ followers must always be asking ourselves; one of those questions being, 'what does it look like to be a follower of Christ in my day, my neighborhood, my church, etc.'  What messes with me is when I look around, I see several different people who I believe love the Lord doing a number of different things...

(As I describe these different people, I am well aware that several of these groups and people may overlap with others listed... just allow me to ramble for a bit :-)

A good friend of mine who I greatly respect has decided that to truly heed the call and teachings of Christ means that he may no longer pay taxes to what he believes is, "a government that endorses poverty, war, and genocide."  For my friend, part of following in the footsteps of Christ is to denounce loyalty to his government.  He has grown frustrated with an American Church that will get more upset over someone dropping the F bomb in a sanctuary while perfectly fine allowing racism in its doors and turning a blind eye to the systemic sin in their city and country.

Just the other day I heard a husband and wife (again, people I look up to) tell me that God has been challenging them to learn the scriptures.  They attend several bible studies throughout the week and have placed learning God's Word at the forefront of their lives.  To be a Christ follower is to know, understand, discuss, and be transformed by the Word of God.

Then there are others who believe that to follow Christ is to wake up each day and say, "Help me to be an instrument of your peace and love."  These are people who desire God to strip them of their selfishness and sin day by day so that they may be a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led people.

Others believe that to follow Christ is to take seriously the call to social action and social justice.  These people look at the suffering, sin, and injustice in their communities and world and decide that they are going to try and do something about it.  This call is inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus throughout scripture.  Jesus seemed to be full of compassion for the suffering, hurting, and poor, therefore, we should do likewise.

All of that to say this...

The last few weeks I have begun thinking that to be a follower of Christ must mean and look like more than just one's own personal piety of praying enough, reading enough, and 'trying really hard to be like Jesus.'  Is the Christlike life really nothing more than a bunch of individuals trying to deny their sinful nature while striving to be and look more like Jesus?  While I definitely affirm that one's own personal piety is a piece of the puzzle, I don't think it is the whole puzzle.  I believe that there is a social and corporate aspect that we have been missing and neglecting as an evangelical church.

Chime in if you wish!

more of the same ;-)

I was reading about a well known pastor and author the other day.  While he is barely over the age of 40, God has already used this man to start a church, plant 8 other churches, and help establish a seminary.  Pretty awesome resume if you ask me.

I got to hear 'awesome resume man' preach a little while back and there is no doubt about it, the man is a gifted communicator.  However, the question I couldn't help wonder was what would happen to his church if he was gone?  How many people go to this man's church because he has become somewhat of a Christian celebrity?  What if God's word was taught just as accurately, but not as creatively and enthusiastically by someone else... would this cause a mass exodus from his church?

My question is this... Do we attend church for the central purpose of worshiping our risen Lord and Savior, or, for reasons that are a little more consumeristic?  How is it that we listen and place such emphasis on the preaching of God's Word and very little on any sort of response of worship and adoration?  Worship is secondary... the response has become secondary... optional.  To me, this is a sure sign that church has become more of a place where, "I learn, I meet with people I know, I find community, I drink coffee and donuts in a cozy atmosphere, etc," as oppose to the place where I humbly enter the sanctuary to worship and celebrate the risen Lord.

north florida jr. high camp

This past week (July 18-22nd), I had the opportunity to head on down to Tifton, Georgia to be a part of an amazing week of camp with the North Florida District Jr. High Camp for the Church of the Nazarene.  The entire experience from A to Z was absolutely amazing.  I wasn't too thrilled about going there in the first place, but I am glad that I did.  God's Spirit definitely worked and moved in the lives of students and adults.  My heart hurt for students who were not aloud to attend camp because of the incredible experience that they missed out on.

Here is what I spoke about:

Monday:  As people, we must come before God being real, honest, and with humble and confessional hearts... No masks, no pretending to be someone else. The text focused in Matthew 3 with John the Baptist preparing the people for their encounter with Jesus.  At the end of the service, students were invited to take a piece of yarn and tie it around their wrist as a reminder of the call to humility and to be real before God.  It was a great start to the week and helped to 'set the table' for the remainder of the week.

Tuesday:  Looking mostly in Matthew 5 and 6, the way of Jesus is backwards when compared to our current culture.  The Kingdom of God is the way of the servant, the way of the towel and basin, and the way of the cross.  The most amazing part is that we have been invited by God to be co-workers in helping to bring about God's Kingdom to our world.  Again, a great morning and night looking at God's Word.

Wednesday: If we are to be God's co-workers, something else must happen first... God desires to take up residence in our hearts and begin to clean us from the inside out.  We looked at several gospel texts that addressed heart issues.  By the end of the service, several teens welcomed and embraced Christ into their lives for the first time while several other believers stood up and expressed a desire for God to continue to do a cleansing work in their heart.  We looked at the importance of a prayer like Psalm 139:23-24 that petitions God to continue to expose the sin in our hearts and lives and to lead us in the way of Jesus.  Again, an incredible night of responding to God's calling on our lives.

Thursday: As God's people, we don't sit back and simply enjoy the blessings of the cross and resurrection.  We are called to be a people who go out into the world sharing the message, story, and hope that we have in Christ.  As individuals and as a Church, we are called to be living portraits of Christ.  While many people use words like 'hypocritical,' and 'judgmental,' may we be people who love and serve with humble hearts and live out what we say we believe.  At the end of the evening, students were invited to take a small rag with them as a symbol of their call to be servants.  We also partook in the Lord's Supper together.  Incredible evening.

Friday: We gathered just before leaving to remind us of three essential truths: 1. May our faith never rise and fall based on the emotions we feel... emotions can come and go. 2.  The only way we can live for Christ is by staying connected to a local church... we are created to be in community, worship together, encourage each other, rebuke each other, etc. 3.  May we incorporate a daily rhythm of prayer and scripture into our lives so we may establish deep roots and daily roots in Christ.

Each morning we also had services as well.  The morning services looked at the previous nights message and expanded on it while also incorporating a time of prayer that was appropriate to the message... Maybe I will add those services when I have more time than I do right now :-)

I was and still am so humbled that God uses unworthy instruments to do the Lord's work.

the big church

"The only way the Christian life is brought to maturity  is through intimacy, renunciation, and personal deepening." -Eugene Peterson-

For awhile, I wondered why it seemed like the bigger churches in our area of the country seemed to be getting bigger while the smaller churches seemed to be whittling down in terms of size.  My conclusion is that it is a whole lot easier to create a false sense of community and involvement in a larger church.  At the big church, one can enjoy the benefits (a great children/youth facility, a more aesthetically pleasing building, an impressive media system, etc), while not really ever experiencing any sort of intimacy.  In short, I would guess that it is much easier to attend a larger church than it is a smaller one.  At the small church, it is much more difficult to hide.  It is a lot more difficult to not know others and be known by others.

In the city I live in, there is the obvious 'big church.'  It is quite common to bump into people whom I haven't seen in a long time who tell me that they have begun attending the 'big church' across town.  In all those situations, I can't help but wonder what the motivation is for going there... What is it that they have found there that they did not find at their previous church?  What is the draw?

The only way we experience genuine growth as believers in Christ is when we open up our lives to God and to others... when we welcome God to search the very depths of our hearts and lives and allow ourselves to fully participate as members of Christ's body.

leaving a church

The idea of leaving a church family has always been an interesting one to me.  While I want to avoid making broad/sweeping statements, I believe that, in many circumstances, a lot of people leave churches due to a consumeristic and individualistic Christian faith.  Church exists to serve me... and if I feel as though I am not being served adequately, I will find another place that will.  In fact, this trend is not too shocking, especially when we look at the number of broken families and marriages in our country.  For so many people, divorce and separation is a convenient and easily accessible answer when a spouse is not meeting our needs.  Our country affirms the creed, "you can't enforce your believes and values on me.  I've got to do me.  I have to take care of me and my needs."

So why should anyone be surprised when people leave one church to find another church that, "better fits our needs?"  

Along similar lines, sometimes people who have attended a church for years will simply stop showing up and go somewhere else without any explanation.  Again, this is where the consumer says, "I don't owe you an explanation... I don't have to run my plans by you."  But if we truly believe that we are the Body of Christ and are family, wouldn't we want to be in conversation with our family if we were considering a departure as opposed to just disappearing?  

As I read through Acts today, I came across a passage where Paul and Barnabas found themselves in stark disagreement over a practical issue and decided to part company.  While this comparison does not perfectly fit this conversation, it has caused me to ask the question, "When is it appropriate and good to part company with a church family?  And if so, what is the proper way to do it?"

grace/mercy

While helping pastor the church here at Fort Osage, there have been several times where I have found myself thinking thoughts like, "why didn't we think about doing 'this' years earlier?"  Or, "Imagine if we came up with this idea five years ago, we could be much further along!"

I am currently having one of these experiences.  There is this amazing opportunity to serve our community and as I am dreaming and brainstorming, my thoughts have drifted to, "why didn't we start this years ago?"  As I pondered the question, I gradually came to a realization.  I am so thankful that we serve a God who is patient with his children and nurtures us along the long road of maturity and growth.  When I finished up college and seminary, I remember thinking to myself that it shouldn't be long until I reach full maturity as a pastor and leader.  Having that type of mindset naturally lent itself to discouragement as I would become increasingly aware of my limitations and shortfalls as a minister.

But may I say it again, praise God for his mercy and grace in our lives.  Thank God for continuing to speak truth and love to his children as we seek to grow and understand what it means and looks like to be faithful.

ordination

It looks like in August I will be receiving my ordination in the Church of the Nazarene.  To be quite honest, for a while I viewed ordination as simply a hoop to be jumped through.  However, as the process is coming to a close, I am quite humbled by the entire process.

There have been and will be times when people will look at me and question my abilities and calling as a pastor and a minister of the gospel.  There will be times when I will wonder I even bother being a pastor.  However, it is during times like this I will remember that my local church, my district, and the leadership of the denomination has looked at me and affirmed God's call, gifting, and graces in my life... and that will be what I need to keep going.

I thank God for all those ministers, pastors, teachers, men, and women who have gone before us in the faith for the sake of the Gospel and I thank God that I, along with many others, many continue to join them.

wednesday night

Our youth service finished up about 10 minutes ago and I am still sitting here in the room where we all gather together every Wednesday night.  This is one of those nights where all the students have left and I find myself wondering, 'Am I nothing more than a boxer trying to beat up the air?'  There are times when I think that pastoral ministry has to be one of the most humbling jobs out there... And after thinking about it for a little bit, I think the reason is because pastoral ministry cannot be reduced to a simple formula of A+B=C when it comes to seeking results.  There are times where you pour yourself into your job and your calling and sense little, if anything, to show for it.  It is times like these that I think the best thing to do is to take a step back, look with a broad lens, and unwind for the evening.  After 6 years of ministry, I have learned that nights/times like these come with the territory.

war and the Bible

I remember when I was a junior in college and sitting in a small group with some young adults from my local church.  While I forget the central text of the lesson, I do remember us reading a passage from the Old Testament that made me feel a little uncomfortable.  In the passage God had instructed the Israelites to kill their enemies and to show them no mercy... And not just the opposing soldiers... God also instructed them to kill women, and children too.  That's when a hand went up and a lady asked the group, "Does this strike anyone as odd?  Why in the world would God call the Israelites to kill other people when the Bible tells us not to murder?  Jesus talks about forgiveness and loving our enemies... How does this fit in?"  And while I am sure there were not crickets in the room, I could have sworn I heard them in the silence that followed.

To make matters worse, after not receiving any sort of coherent answer, she turned to me and said, "Jay, you're a religion major, right?  What is your take on this?"  My guess is that some combination of words came out of my mouth, but I know my response didn't satisfy her and it surely didn't satisfy me either.

Since this episode, I have asked this same question to a few other adults who are five times more intelligent than myself, yet, I am still not sure I have ever been able to find 'rest' with the whole issue.  I eventually got to a point where I was embarrassed to ask the question because I was nearing the completion of seminary and I figured I would sound dumb for not having found reconciliation with the issue.

What I have come to believe and witness is that a vast majority of educated Christians do not know how to address and respond to the issue of war in the Old Testament.  Most people and teachers within the local church try to leapfrog these difficult passages and conversations and skip to other passages that are much more 'postcard friendly.'  Many times these stories of violence and massacre are quickly skimmed over so we can quickly arrive to a 'listener-friendly' conclusion, like: "God helps us in life's 'battles,' or, "God will never leave us..."  The issue of God and war throughout scripture has become one of the 'elephant in the room' topics that many people avoid and pretend that it is not there.

For thousands of years, many Jewish and Christian traditions have shielded their children from reading the Songs of Solomon due to the sexual imagery in it's pages.  Parents are encouraged to only allow their children to read this section of scripture once they are ready to have the difficult, yet necessary, conversations that are soon to follow... But what about the war narratives in scripture? What are they supposed to conclude when they come across graphic texts like the slaughter of the Canannites in Joshua?  If we are not ready to have intelligent and informed conversations about the topic, we must be OK if our students conclude:

1. God has no problem with war and the loss of human life.
2. Our God is an aggressive God who is ready and eager to punish and kill those who do wrong.
3. God does not care about killing innocent children.
And so on...

And while there is still a part of me that may always struggle holding together a God who would call his chosen people to 'show no mercy' on a foreign people and a God who was willing to die for my sins, I have come to a few conclusions regarding the topic of war in the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament, we read of an immanent God who actively participated in normal human history.  The unfortunate truth is that war was a constant reality for most nations in the time of the Exodus and following.  Going to war was not something 'new' that God thought up. Warefare is a human institution and is evil in nature.  Throughout the Old Testament scriptures, we read about a God who worked and acted amongst a society and world that was all too familiar with war, territorial battles, etc, to achieve the ends of both judgment and redemption.

It is also important to note that God never rejoiced in the act of war.  While God used the human institution of war to achieve certain ends, we must also remember that throughout the Old Testament we read about a God who envisions a time when "swords will be beaten into ploughshares" (Isaiah 2, Micah 4).  Isaiah 53 also speaks of the suffering servant who will willingly lay down his life for the sins and iniquities of many.  In the New Testament, we see the fullness of God's face in the one who taught people to love their enemies, to turn the other cheek, who came to serve and not to be served, who washed the feet of his betrayer,and who didn't lift a hand at his own crucifixion.

emotionalism and youth ministry

This entry was written as a response to Paul Sheneman's article at Barefoot Ministries

There are some youth ministries (and churches) out there who believe that the level of emotion that one experiences in their worship, prayer times, testimonies, etc, is an accurate gauge of one’s discipleship and growth as a believer.  The equation is pretty simple: the greater/deeper emotional response = the greater/deeper encounter with Christ.  And while emotion should definitely not be suppressed or avoided, we must be careful not to blindly adopt this equation of ‘emotion = discipleship.’ 

I speak as one who was quite susceptible to emotionalism as a teenager in the youth ministry I was a part of growing up.  Discipleship and spiritual maturity was all about who generated the greatest emotional response to a sermon, music set, at a retreat, an alter call, and so on.  One particular night I remember my youth pastor challenging us during a time of corporate confession (around a bonfire of course) to "not hold back and be real before Jesus."  As students began to share, I was well aware of my sin and didn't want to leave that night still 'hiding my sins from Jesus.' So, as a 17 year old teenager, I confessed everything in front of the group... Everything I could possibly think of.  The mood had definitely been set by my youth leader and he later commended me for how open and honest I was.  While I believed I was being obedient to God at the time by airing out all of my garbage, I look back at the whole experience and cringe at how honest I was before them...  Not because confession is wrong but because of the young ears who heard all of those confessions.  I lacked the discernment that 'confessing everything' might not have been the best thing to do.

Fast forward several years and I find myself as a youth minister.  My first year at the church, we attended 'Acquire the Fire' because, as one student informed me, "that is what our youth group did every year before you became... It’s the best event that we go on."  With the help of smoke machines, loud bands, and youth speakers who can tell gripping stories filled with well-placed tears and effective pauses, ATF has mastered the skill of evoking an emotional response from teenagers... And just like all highs, it is, and was, just a matter of time until the crash.  How can we expect anything else?  How are the teens supposed to get as excited back at their local church when our ‘worship band’ consists of just Bob… a balding middle-aged man who is still learning to play guitar?  All that to say: I no longer attend ATF.  Every once in awhile a parent or student will come up to me and ask why we don't go to ATF anymore.  While my response varies depending on who is the one asking me, my most common response goes something like this, "Because discipleship is a marathon... It is a daily decision and a daily directing of our paths toward Christ.  It is not about getting emotionally hyped up for 24 hours and trying to ride it out for as long as possible… only having to try and duplicate the experience later… We don’t go to Acquire the Fire because I don’t want to teach our teens that their ‘level of emotion’ determines the truth of the gospel and the necessity to pursue a deeper walk with Christ, even when we don’t feel like it… Something along those lines.

Up until just a year or so ago, I experienced quite a bit of guilt and shame when I would compare the current student ministry I find myself in with that of the one I was a part of growing up in my teenage years.  I remember the emotion filled testimonies... I remember worshiping with my fellow teenage peers... I remember some great retreats that we went on together.  And quite honestly, I don't see that as much with the youth ministry that I am currently leading.  At times I wonder if I am in the wrong.  I wonder if I have become so cautious about not being manipulative that I have actually robbed them of something deeper.  However, what I have begun to see is something that has less highs and lows and something that appears to be more true and lasting.  

My conclusion is a very predictable one.  Emotions are some of the very fabrics that make us human.  As youth pastors/leaders, we must seek the healthy balance of not suppressing and avoiding a Christian faith that is void of emotions, which would be unhealthy and lacking.  Also,  we must make sure that our chief aim is not to simply seek out an 'emotional response' from our students because that has little to do with the gospel and more to do with adolescent development.  


May we all seek to honestly and faithfully preach, teach, and present the gospel in a manner that is accessible and understandable to our students.

the cross and the suburbs

I recently read through Lee C. Camp's 'Mere Discipleship.'  While I have never been the best at summarizing books, Camp believes that much of the Western Church has adopted a view of discipleship and Christianity that is not loyal to the way of Christ.  As a whole, the Church is much quicker to seek out self preservation, self maximization, financial/physical security, and self sustenance long before we consider the difficult words of Christ that call us to the way of the servant, to not store up treasures on earth, and to pick up our cross.  Bonhoeffer said, "suffering is the true badge of discipleship."  To follow Jesus in a real way actually costs something.

Well, here is my confession...  I struggle seeing any of this in my own life.  Please, I don't make a statement like this to evoke any cheap or cheesy encouragement, I am simply being honest.  My wife and I live in a wonderful little townhouse in Independence, MO.  If you were to compare our income to that of the entire world, you would find that we are filthy rich.  We own two vehicles and our fridge is fully stocked.  The last thing I worry about is a roof over my head, gunshots through my windows, what clothes I am going to wear tomorrow, or where my next meal is going to come from.  I don't wake up at night wondering if tonight is the night I will be arrested for being a minister (China, several parts of Africa, Middle East, southeast Asia).  All of our basic needs are fully provided for, and then some.  Yet, it is quite clear from Paul's writings that the suffering endured by the Messiah is paradigmatic for the disciples of the Messiah, for those who follow the footsteps of the suffering Christ will endure suffering as well.  

As for the local church I serve in... We are located in a very blue collar, predominantly middle class community.  While there are definite needs and struggles in our community that we strive to meet (family issues, clothing, lack of food, utility bills, etc), I struggle seeing and knowing what it means and looks like to be a radical disciple in my community.  Perhaps I am wrestling with guilt in knowing that while I am free, there are many others taking on a similar responsibility as mine who are very familiar with suffering.