Great Dating Tip #1
As much as dating has some to do with location… What you talk about, your presence, your focus on who you’re with makes so much difference.
“(un)Learning Christian-nese”
On a harder note, I’ve been thinking long and thoroughly these past few days on the nature of “my job”, my calling, or what it is that I do. For the past month I havepreached every single Sunday… over and over again, read a Biblical text, exegete it, contextualize it (while keeping the purity and integrity of the Word intact), and I present it to the congregation at Cornerstone.
Now rounding off my 3rd year as youth pastor I have come across a very valuable observation that continues to convict and remind me of the sensitive nature of speaking publicly.
Your words need substance. AND… people can be easily fooled by trends without substance.
What am I getting at? There are tons of great, inspiring, and motivational Christianleaders, speakers, singers, lead worshippers - and so very similarly to their secular counterparts, audiences from around the globe perceive these public figures and within the private spaces of their own contexts emulate and seek to recapture the lingo, the verbage, the tone, the fashion, and the hype that each of these figures display.
The awesome and yet dangerous thing about emulating our heroes or idols (figures we look up to) is that we can easily fall prey to what my hermeneutics professor coined as “christian-nese”. For example, we pray, but we pray theology that we do not know of. We sing, but we sing of a God whom we do not understand… AND YET, it’s sounds and seems as though we do!
Even deeper, how often have we heard phrases like,
“God helps those who help themselves”
“Let go, let God”
“Accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior”
(I’ll let you guys wrestle with these examples and why they’ve been brought up)
But here’s the truth… As diligent believers, our duty and our calling is to proclaim the gospel of Christ, to love who He is and love the people He loves… but if our understanding of the Bible goes no further than what the latest pop-preacher or pop-worship group presents to us, AND we do not have the knowledge to back what we say… how are we any different than the pagans that Jesus refers to in the gospels (Matthew 6:5-15) as those who pray meaninglessly without substance or understanding…
Instead our prayers, worship, sermons, teachings should serve as a response, an echo from our soul testifying our relationship with our savior. Authenticity then becomes (or more appropriately is revealed as) something that the latest pop-icon lingo cannot pass on, but what you as a disciple of Christ develops.
“You shall have your reward… your eternal reward!”
Remember that one scene from Aladdin when Jafar tells Al to throw him the lamp and then in one grim moment, he says, “you shall have your reward… your eternal reward…” ? Well this post is about something like that…
Last night my mentor (JonRit) stayed over and we had a talk about life. We talked about beliefs and conversion… and I remember telling him that a distinguishable moment in my Christian walk was when I recognized that the unjust, the unrighteous, seemingly skim through life without the same worries of righteousness and justice that people of the Christian faith live by. Confused? Well, I’ll get around to what I’m talking about.
JonRit posed a few rhetorical questions…
- Do the corrupt enjoy riches and less affliction in this life (maybe even more so than Christians)?
… Well, sure …
- Do the corrupt have “nice” lives and care-free living?
… Well, yeah…
Will it last very long?
… Probably, but what about things eternal…
So why be a Christian if living away from it is so easy and care-free?
Check out this passage:
16So we do not lose heart.Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18…
Dear Christian,
Life as a believer will be tough and seemingly less rewarding than that of our worldly counterparts… but with all encouragement and compassion I charge you to keep moving forward in your walk with God. Though it may seem that we are hard pressed and suffering for our faith, let us look to the eternal weight of glory that Paul expresses is something beyond all in comparison.
May God bless you as you make a stand for TRUTH in your faith in this life.
5 THINGS I ASK GOD FOR IN THE MORNING
One of the things that spurred on my desire to blog/journal about this topic was the need for more quality time with the Lord. Last night I had the opportunity to be truly blessed by my brother RJ Ganaden, we were able to share more about our desires in our personal relationship with God and in our lives - and out of response, this morning I decided to meet with God and get some good ol’ one on one time with him and I came up with this…
5 things that I ask God for (during my morning devotional time)…
- CHARACTER - Lord, help me to continue to grow in good character as the day progresses. Help me to make the right choices, and when I say “right choices” I mean making choices that please you, edify my soul, and are contagious to others. Lord, make me the man that you want me to be.
- WISDOM - kinda tied in with character… Father, give me discernment and right knowledge through the reading of your Holy Word and the seeking of the Holy Spirit.
- SURRENDER - Lord help me surrender to your will and lay down my personal / selfish desires. Help me to place my time in your hands, to do what you want me to do.
- BLESSED MARRIAGE & FAMILY - Lord help me to love Annie in unique and wonderful ways. Give me drive and energy to show her even just an ounce of that unconditional love you’ve given me. For Aubrey Jane, make me an example, role model, AND model (:D), no, but really, most importantly, make me into the father that she needs. Help me to instill morals and values into your precious child.
- BLESSED MINISTRY - Lord, for Cornerstone, may your bride be led by you. May she be honorable, pleasing, pure, and holy to you. May you continue to lead me in the responsibility you’ve called me to as pastor of your people. For personal ministry - God give me divine appointments throughout my day. Lord help me to reach those in my grasp and teach, or just show them who you are. Help me to be an embodiment of your love, mercy, grace, and power!
*** What are some of the things that you pray for in the morning? I would love to hear your thoughts and jack some great ideas from you!
God bless,
Jason
The Character Challenge
I just got off the phone with my mentor and good friend JonRit. One thing I know I shall never regret in my life is the fact that I have constantly surrounded myself with Godly men who are committed to supporting me throughout my entire life. As a tangent, I would say that every believer needs this sort of small group community to really help them get through life’s toughest and greatest moments. We spoke on different issues of life that challenge my growth and character… one word - humbled. I was strongly reminded of my need to recognize the areas of my life that God desires to change and mold and the need for me to humbly lay down my comforts and adjust my focus to his standards. As we spoke I could sense the Holy Spirit’s encouragement and peace, it’s unheard of, for people who don’t have faith, it sounds ridiculous - “holy spirit?” “guidance and encouragement from an invisible being?” Yes, at face value faith and spiritual talk sounds like meaningless gibberish… but I sensed hope through the overwhelming process of uncovering areas of need for growth. The truth? I was strongly reminded of how much I needed a savior. What does the future look like without a savior? I’m guessing a lot of self-sufficiency and stress.
Forgive my ambiguity.
Notes from a sermon I took 3/2/07
** You can take this to the bank **
- The debt that we owe to others (based on Romans)
The debt we owe to others… due to our renewal, comes recognition that we ought to share the reconciliation of Christ with others.
- God turns garbage into glory
Romans 8:28
God will because God has done so in the past
** God is more concerned about the process than the goals… **
Who is God transforming me into?
Who can I show thankfulness to?
“Because you’re mine”
A couple of months ago at a leadership retreat, Annie made a connection between her thoughts as [then] a soon-to-be mother and her relationship with God. She said something along the lines of God loves does not change even through the many things we may do for him, how much we please him, or even more difficultly through how much we may fail him, his love doesn’t change because of any of those things, but because he we are his.
I carried my daughter for the very first time two weeks ago. These past two weeks of time off have been utterly intense. From changing diapers, to soothing songs sung at past 2 in the morning - parenting is tough. A further parallel that I pulled so far as a new parent in relation to my walk as a believer:
Aubrey can fuss, whine, cry, and kick around all that she wants. She can wake me up at any hour of the day [Annie too!] - but I don’t see it as negative. I don’t groan getting up or having to provide for her because I love her. Just like my love for Annie, my love for you is not dependent on what you do for me, how you make me feel, or even what buttons you may press on me to make me angry… my love for these women stems from the fact that they are mine and I am theirs. We are a family.
I sense that God’s view on us as His creation is somewhat similar (more perfected of course). We may groan, get angry, and poop on him all that we want in this particular stage in our life, but his love for humanity is not contingent necessarily on our response to his love. He loves those even whom may not love him back.
The question isn’t whether God loves you or not… I’m thinking that the question is whether or not we are willing to surrender to his great purpose for our lives and trust in his vast love for us.
Merry Christmas,
Jason, Annie, and Aubrey
How Long Could This Possibly Last?
I was thinking a lot about the word “religion” and how easily it is for believers, Christians just to be more specific to get caught up in the idea of religion and faith that you lose the meaning all together. I have this bad habit (just like all of us do I’m sure :D), but I fall in love easily with “ideas of things”. What I mean is that, for example, I’ve fallen in love with the idea of doing a triathlon, only to find out that in order to become successful in triathlon training I’d need to dedicate my entire being to the values and everything else that is a part of being a triathlete. What I’m getting at is that there are tons of believers out there who fall “in and out of the faith”… and I guess my question is why?
Reading through the book of Acts, I came across an easily overlooked story in the midst of all the miracles and works of the Holy Spirit. In Acts chapter 5, this guy named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, a man involved in the council that held Peter and John as prisoners, comes forward to talk to the council. At this moment in Acts, the council becomes angry at the preaching and teaching coming from Peter and John so much so that the passage says that they were “cut to the quick and intended to kill them.” But this man Gamaliel, begins to start sharing stories of movements and leaders of movements before Peter and John, and in every single circumstance these leaders caused a ruckus and tension with the council. But when the leaders had died and passed away their movements went with them. In one stunning statement, Gamaliel says this…
“So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” (ACTS 5:38-39)
Is your faith founded on just a movement, something temporary, something other than God? If it is, it won’t last… I can promise you that. When we talk about being Christian, everything that we do, if it isn’t fueled by our relationship with God and the leading of the Holy Spirit, how long can we possibly hope the footprints of “faith” that we leave behind will last?
If our plan or action is of men… it will be overthrown…
If our plan or action is of God… we will not be overthrown…
Doesn’t this just stimulate a burning in your heart to continue to ask God continually,
“is this where you want me to be, and is this what you want me to be doing?”
Time… Never Enough of IT…
I never notice how much time passes by, and how fast it passes by (to add) when i’m busy. This week in particular has been a lot slower compared to the past couple of weeks. When I have the time to think about time and all the things i’ve done over the past days, weeks, and months, I always end up feeling like I wished I had more - more time to spend with friends, more time with Annie, more time cleaning the house, more time to run errands, get the laundry done that’s been waiting for me for seemingly weeks - and finally at the end of it all, I wished I had more time to spend with God… well, maybe.
I believe at the heart of my desire for more time with God is something even deeper - I just want good quality time with God. I want God to be the priority of my life, to allow and invite him to trickle into all the little cracks and dents of my life, to invade my heart and allow me to “feel” him throughout my day. When a busy week comes a long, it seems like I ALWAYS forget to invite God into my “busyness”. And it’s almost a pattern or cycle - I forget about asking God for quality time with him throughout my day, something goes wrong, I feel discombobulated (oh big word!), and then I drag my feet back to the Lord.
Don’t you hate it when you run out of time and at the end of the day you feel like you’ve just wasted your day? Friends, family, my prayer is that I personally find more time to squeeze God into every area of my life. I can’t get enough of him and I know I need him in my life. One of the ways I will challenge myself to grow in spending time with the creator? reading the Word at least a paragraph a day, reflecting on it and letting it sit on my heart. What will you do?
10 THINGS I REFUSE TO HAVE SCREW WITH MY FATHERHOOD
FATHERHOOD REFUSAL #1 - I REFUSE TO GAIN WEIGHT BECAUSE “THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL FATHERS”…
I think i’ve had it with people whom I’ve heard say that fatherhood means getting fat. I will get heavier, but I refuse to let myself go to fatty foods that will serve to destroy my health. Annie and Aubrey need me - and I need them - so I refuse to eat uncontrollably post baby birth just because that’s the way it is.
FATHERHOOD REFUSAL #2 - I REFUSE TO GET BUSY WITH LIFE SO MUCH SO THAT I LOSE MY LIFE WITH MY FAMILY…
Family is a huge passion of mine (didn’t get the hint? get to know me more). I refuse to be a father that provides for the family solely on a monetary basis. I refuse to not provide my family with the physical, emotional, and spiritual intimacy that every family needs (yep, every family needs it).
FATHERHOOD REFUSAL #3 - I REFUSE TO BE PRIDEFUL
H as your father ever apologized to you when he has made a mistake? Do you really think that’s a sign of weakness?!? Really? Well I refuse to become a parent who lets his pride get in the way of developing character. This also applies to being prideful to everyone around me (I refuse it!)
FATHERHOOD REFUSAL #4 - I REFUSE TO LET MY WIFE STARVE FOR MY ATTENTION AND AFFECTION
I will most definitely hit a mid-life crisis someday. I will be a total bonehead at times and act selfishly. But I refuse to watch my wife starve for the attention and affection that she needs. She married a man, not an absent “girly man” along with that…
FATHERHOOD REFUSAL #5 - I REFUSE TO NOT PURSUE MY FAMILY WITH ALL MY INNER BEING
Some women might be turned off to the idea that the man is the head of the household. Could it be because some men today lack the initiative to show women how valuable they are (ever more increasing with age I may add) by pursuing them selflessly for the rest of my life! I made a commitment to Annie as well as my family and I intend on keeping my commitment to them until my body is dead… seriously.
FATHERHOOD REFUSAL #5 + 6 - I REFUSE TO GIVE COMMANDS TO MY CHILDREN THAT I DO NOT HOLD AS VALUABLE AND I REFUSE TO GIVE COMMANDS THAT I DO NOT LIVE BY.
Take out the trash while I sit here and sip my tea…? Heck no! I want my children to see that I am just as actively involved and experienced in doing the things that I ask them to do. I plan on telling my children to live a Christian life - and I plan on reinforcing this belief by… *ding ding ding!* yep, living it out for them to watch and learn.
FATHERHOOD REFUSAL #7 - I REFUSE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HOUSEHOLD CHORES AND REPAIRS
If I am living in this home, when things need to get done, they need to get done, even if that mean I need to get up at midnight to go to home depot to buy a plunger to unclog the turd my kids leave in the toilet.
FATHERHOOD REFUSAL #8 - I REFUSE TO LET GADGETS AND GIZMOS DEFINE MY IDENTITY AS A GROWING MAN…
Forget the latest James Bond titanium alloy diamond studded watch blah blah blah. I don’t need a flashy car or a stunning tux to define who I am as a father. I want to be a father defined by the legacy of faith and character I exemplify in my private and public life. Gadgets and gizmos are cool - but they’re not me.
FATHERHOOD REFUSAL #9 - I REFUSE TO HIDE MY ISSUES AND GET HELP WHEN I NEED IT
Weakness is not allowing other people whom I trust and whom I believe are safe to help and guide me through tough situations in my life that I cannot control or even handle on my own. It’s going to take selflessness, but I promise to get help and be vulnerable to my accountability when push comes to shove.
FATHERHOOD REFUSAL #10 - I REFUSE TO STAY DOWN WHEN I MESS UP
Hey… I’m never going to be perfect - I might just hit some screw up spells and mess things up. I might mess up and forget some of these refusals… but I refuse to let my mistakes and mess ups deter me from the truth that I need these boundaries and I value these boundaries… they’re timeless… they’re significant for my spiritual growth.
