Belonging ENABLES Believing

I've been a pastor for a long time. I started as an intern at Colonial Hills, where my youth pastors, Robert and Bart, and my youth sponsors (The Smiths, The Routens, and The Cochrans) invested in me greatly. I owe them all so much.

And over the years, I've served in all kinds of churches in various positions. I've been a youth intern, part-time Youth Minister in country churches, Youth/Music Minister in a country church and a couple small town First Baptist churches. I served as a Youth Pastor at a big First Baptist where the staff bailed and left me and a friend trying to keep the wheels from falling off! That was fun. I've been the Youth Pastor at a couple of big (1,000 members) churches, and am currently serving two churches that are very opposite. One averages around 800 in attendance on Sunday morning. I am the Associate Pastor there, working along side one of my closest friends and a great Pastor, Mike, whom I've known for almost the entirety of my ministry. The other church I currently serve in as Lead Pastor averages 20 people, meets on Sunday night in a coffee shop, and is composed mostly of friends gathered along the way. All that to say, "I've seen a lot of churches and a LOT of philosophies of being church." 

And one thing that keeps coming up is the shift in paradigm, or lack there of. In my generation, our culture had a basic understanding of church and to some extent Christianity. The general way most of us back in the day came to Christ was by coming to some sort of church activity. Even though I came to Christ through a friend sharing with me, I heard and experienced the Gospel at the Youth Events I was attending. In that day, you could say, "If you believe, you belong." And it was true. The moment I took a step towards Christ, the youth group embraced me and made a HUGE difference in my life. So many of those people I listed above were instrumental in that.

But the shift has come in this: most people aren't going to go to church to have their spiritual needs met. There is no longer a basic understanding between our culture and our churches. If anything, there is an institutional distrust of the church that permeates our culture. And yet, even here in Lubbock, TX., I watch church building after church building pop up in hopes that someone will be drawn there. Don't get me wrong! I am not anti building. I am anti "let's build a building so we don't have to go out there and be the church." Just this week I have gotten information from 3 new churches that are putting on a show, opening a building, and hoping to attract those who need Jesus. 

For those of you who don't know Lubbock, here's some statistics. Lubbock county is home to 255,000 people. Of those 255,000 people churches report around 120,000 are on their "role" as members. However, statistics show that the average church actually has about 37% of their membership in actual attendance, meaning that (and this is a high estimate) about 50,000 of the people of Lubbock County actually are involved with a church, leaving 205,000 people unchurched, dechurched, or poorly churched. Lubbock county has somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 evangelical churches last time I checked. Those 300 churches actually share the 50,000 attenders in one of the most prolific "church-hopping" communities I've ever been in. Bottom line: every new church that pops up with a building and hopes of drawing people to their "show" will only manage to segment the church hoppers and bight off their "market share" for a while.

Lubbock needs followers of Christ building relationships with the other 205,000 AND living Jesus-styled relationships with those they befriend. The paradigm is now (and Barry says has been for a long LONG time) Belonging ENABLES Believing. Think it through with me. Jesus was greatly criticized for being the friend of gluttons and sinners. He saw the value of reaching people by influence and relationship rather than the hopes that the local religious elite would homilize eloquently enough to draw them in. Where ever it is you are, whether it's Lubbock or China, Christ is calling you today to GO out to your spheres of influence and be Jesus for people. Build relationships. Be generous. Be sincere. Love deeply. Live passionately. And don't place your hope in a building or a program. Build a life that tells people they belong and includes them. In the words of St. Francis Assisi, "Preach the Gospel always and, when necessary use words."

Quiet

Today I am keenly aware of how noisy my life is.  I spent the weekend with some friends at a secluded cabin in the Sangre de Cristo mountains.  No TV.  No phones.  No Radio.  Of course, we went snow boarding, shopping in Santa Fe, and ate out quite a bit.  But when I walked in the door to my house yesterday, the TV was on and the kids were being kids.  The dog was barking and jumping.  My phone was dinging at me about text messages.  And as I sat on the couch after six hours in the car, I could feel myself becoming agitated.  That's when it hit me that the amount of sound around me was the source of my agitation.  I'm not faulting the kids for being kids, nor am I saying I couldn't have turned the TV off.  It was just an eye opening moment.  The fact of the matter is that I LOVE to hear my children playing, being kids.  There are many TV shows I enjoy.  And I even moderately enjoy our dog (some times).  But I need to have more of the quiet.  I need more of those moments in the recliner in front of a crackling fire reading a good book.  I need to turn off the phone/TV/computer/iPod more often.  It was good for my soul.  

And then I need to learn how to smoothly transition from stillness to necessary noise without losing my mind!

This Is The Heights

If you'd like to see what we do at The Heights Fellowship click this link:
http://www.theheightsfellowship.org/connect/page.php?id=45
There's 2 videos there to check out. I'm particularly proud of the THF Power Team. YIKES!

Great Timing!

I love Google Maps and their "man on the street" photos of actual locations. If you look my address up, and do the street view, you can see my truck, my father-in-law's old truck, and our house still has 3 trees instead of 2 in the front. But this one is classic. Be sure to move up the street until you are right beside the empty field. Then look at the two guys in the field:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=8+sampsonia+way,+pittsburgh,+pa&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.444078,68.730469&ie=UTF8&ll=40.457658,-80.007548&spn=0,359.977727&z=16&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=40.457682,-80.007441&panoid=5i_6kRv5DOq4JvJJ12sn9w&cbp=12,289.8533061684086,,0,5

GREAT TIMING!

Morning Bell

My friend, Ian Adams, is an Abbott in Oxford, England. He has a daily e-mail he's been doing called "Morning Bell." During the season of Epiphany, he's collected the thoughts and ideas of various theologians and shared his insight with me as a call to deeper spirituality. Today's really impacted me and I want to share it with you.

Metropolitan Anthony says: "we are a great deal more absent than God is."

See your prayer today as simply being present to God; who is closer than we can imagine.

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh [1914-2003] was the Archbishop of the Russian Orthodox Patriarchal Church in Great Britain and Ireland. To read more on Metropolitan Anthony, you can go here: http://www.metropolit-anthony.orc.ru/eng/

More about Ian: http://ianadams.info/Site/Welcome.html
Ian's Faith Community: http://www.maybe.org.uk

The Only Necessary Resolution

     Has it really been that long since I posted?  WOW!  The flu really kicked my butt for the last half of December into the first week of January.  I didn't really get over it until about 4 days ago.  Everything during that time is kinda a blur.

     Anywho, I'm excited about the new year.  I'm usually not a resolution person, so the New Year just brings a sense of anticipation for me.  But this new year was a little different.  I started contemplating what I could do differently.  I even thought it would be a good idea to see what the Scriptures suggest I do differently.  Boy, there's a lot!  But the more I began to dig, the more I realized that the changes I'd make are ones that God has to make...  It seemed pointless to me to make a resolution to do God's job for Him!  So, I really began to dig in for my part.  What can I really do?  I came across a Scripture I'd read before, but it jumped at me this time.  The Scripture is John 6: 28-29.  Some folks have come to Jesus and basically asked about making a resolution that would please God.  28Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"   29Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."  When you couple that with Galatians 5: 22-23, Philippians 1:6, 2 Cor. 5:17, Galatians 6:15 it becomes clear that every area of my life that could be better would be better if I'd just let God be God to me in that area.  If I would simply allow my belief in the one God has sent to consume my need to be my own deity, then those areas that need "resolution" would be resolved!  So, I made one resolution this year.  I will believe.  I will believe more, more passionately, more consumingly, more deeply.  I am resolved to believe!

Like Father Like Son

I found myself in the midst of a cool moment yesterday at Daybreak Coffee.

You just never know.

It's become a tradition for us to host our Asian friends at our home for Thanksgiving.  Last year, it was Ken & Miho, Richard, and Jack & his family.  I know those names don't look Asian, but everyone except Miho has taken a Western name to spare us the embarrassment of trying to pronounce them.  Anyway, this year, Jack's family couldn't make it, so we invited the new Yamagata chef, Lewis.  Lewis is a native of China.  He actually lived near Marcus and Kat.  Lewis and I were talking and it turns out his mom is from the city where Kat and Marcus live.  He was excited to meet someone who has experienced the Night Market!

Anyway, as they were leaving around 3 on Thursday afternoon, Miho stayed behind while the guys all piled into the car.  She stayed behind to tell us that Lewis' dad had passed away on Monday, and getting to share a family meal had meant the world to him.  She thanked us profusely, and then made her exit.

We never would have known of Lewis' loss if she hadn't told us.  It reminded me that every moment is an opportunity to impact someone's life.  We never really know what's going on with them.  By simply being hospitable, polite, or even generous, God can do things that we remain unaware of.  The author of Hebrews (I lean towards it being Luke, btw), wrote, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." (Heb. 13:2)  To do that means making the most of every encounter.  And to do that means laying aside yourself and your agenda for a higher purpose.  Our daily mantra needs to sound similar to what Jesus told His disciples in John 4:  "My food is to do the will of my father."  Especially in this holiday season, learn to breathe that simple phrase of obedience.  In doing so, the least you may accomplish is passing a test to see how you would treat a stranger.  The best you may do is to be Jesus in the life of someone who is hurting and desperate for hope.  Either way, you express the great love for Jesus that we say we have for Him.

Peace

When Good Choirs Go Bad

Holy Cow!  You've gotta check this out!  http://michaelkelleyministries.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/the-future-of-church-choir/.  If you thought "The Renewed Mind" was rough, you'll love this!  Try to catch these blue hairs ridin dirty.

A "New" Word

I'm reading "The Tangible Kingdom," by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay, and in my reading this morning, I stumbled upon a word that is not new, per se, but is just the word that I needed to read today.  It's a word that comes closest to expressing how I feel.  I've had this feeling for some time, and couldn't quite put my finger on it until just a few moments ago.  The moment was so impacting that I put the book down and came straight here to get this thought "on paper."  

The word is "tension."  Here of late I have had this feeling of unrest, imbalance, or an uneasy feeling that may even be pouring out through physical expression.  My pilgrimage over the last 3 years has brought me to a place of question and unrest.  I had hoped it would do just the opposite.  Yet I find myself more so there than when I began the current leg of my pilgrimage.  In spite of a new focus, new methodology, new resources and friends, I still have not seen people coming to Christ the way I had hoped.  And that has fostered this tension that I know understand.  Perhaps you feel it.  Perhaps you long for something different.  Maybe, like me, you have this gut-level tension that longs to see other Sojourners find faith and a community that brings them life.  

So, what do you do with tension?  I could get a spiritual massage, I guess, and placate the longing by thinking about the good we've done in the last three years.  But I think I am going to do the opposite.  Often times, after a good work out, my muscles experience a tension from the exertion.  And I have found, at least for me, that working the tension out in another workout helps.  Now, to figure out what that looks like spiritually...  Any thoughts?

"Life is an occasion. Rise to it."

I love movies.  And "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" is one that I will watch over and over.  Dustin Hoffman's title character captivates me because he embodies wisdom and play at the same time.  The funny thing is that his funny speech pattern was something he came up with as a joke, but everyone loved it so much that they kept it.  Anyway, Cayla (my 6 year old daughter) and I were curled up on the couch early Sunday morning watching Mr. Magorium when 2 things happened.  The first is that Mr. Magorium (who I've quoted before) is talking to his young protege, Mahoney (played by Natalie Portman) when he reminds her that "Life is an occasion.  Rise to it!"  I had to pause the movie and write that down.  The most awesome thing about the quote is that Jesus and Paul both taught the same thing 2,000 years ago.  Jesus reminds us that He has set us free and given us the ultimate life.  To live anything less is to miss the precious gift he provided for us in this life.  Paul said the same thing when he reminded us to train our bodies as an athlete running for the prize.  Finish Strong!  Don't miss out on the life that Christ has provided.  It was an amazing moment as Cayla and I talked about that very thing.  

Then the second thing happened.  Jason Bateman's character (they call him "Mutant") reminds Mahoney that she just needs to believe in herself and she will be successful.  Cayla looked up at me and said, "Daddy, she needs to believe in God and not herself to be successful."  Then, after a short pause, she nodded approval to her own thought, and went back to watching the movie.  Boy, she was RIGHT ON!  And there in lies the tension that I think we all live in.  Celebrating the life that Christ has given to us without ever taking our eyes off of Him.  If you are like me, when things are going right, or going well, you take the credit for it and revel in the achievement and recognition.  It's only when things get "not so good" that we look to Christ.  It seems like it's only in the dark times that I lift my eyes up and look away from myself.  Paul lived in the same tension.  He knew there were things he should be doing but wasn't.  He knew there were things he shouldn't be doing but was.  And in that tension, Paul lifts his eyes in recognition that the only resolution for this is to realize that any life he lived in his physical body was to be lived for Christ; lived out in faith and a tribute to the One who gave that life to him.  Good or bad, up or down, your life is an occasion given to you by Christ to rise to in honor and worship of Him.  My problem is that I usually only get half of the equation right.  My little girl's reflection on the movie is what I leave with you today:  don't believe in yourself...believe in the God who dwells in you and thru you who abundantly blesses and cares for you.  Believe in the Jesus of the Cross who sacrificed His life so God would be exalted and we would reap the benefit.  Have that mind in you that was in Christ, who richly celebrated life with service and who always rose to the occasion.

One of those days...

For me, as I've mentioned before, Sunday is "GO Day!"  Yesterday was no exception.  I was at the building at 7 a.m. getting the LIFE Group info table organized and moving some stuff around.  Band rehearsal kicks it at 7:30 a.m.  At 8:30 I grab a quick breakfast and pray with the band.  9:00 we do the music for the first service.  9:45 found me printing pictures for a booth I was manning for an annual gathering of local churches.  10:30 hugged my wife and kids since I hadn't seen them yet that day.  10:45 we started the next service.  12:30 I left the building to go have lunch with my students at Taco Bell.  By 1:45 I was at Calvary Baptist Church setting up the Ignite booth, which I manned until 5:00.  By 5:15 I was getting everything ready for The Journey's gathering at J&B.  7:30 we wrapped up and headed to dinner, which we do every Sunday night.  I was home by 9:00 and watching Seattle get trounced by Tampa Bay, and asleep by 1:00.  It was a crazy day, but in the middle of it all I got to talk to A TON of people.  And it wasn't just talk, there were some meaningful conversations, and the sharing of some lives that made the day really special.  I guess that's what gets me through those busy days:  I get so engrossed in the conversations that I don't realize I've been on my feet for 7 hours, or haven't eaten in 5 hours.  And the cool thing is that each conversation reminds me that people really do long to be connected, to be known, and to know others.  It's just a matter of being where they are to connect with them.  Even this morning, I had a great conversation with Rick and April at J&B.  Although yesterday was an 18 hour day, it was a great day.  I'm finding myself having more of "those days" than bad days, or even boring/uneventful days.  Don't get me wrong, just like my friend Courtney said last night, those days when we get a break are great.  But I get my batteries recharged with people...So, I'm off to have lunch with 10 folks right now!  Peace!

The Joy of Childhood

My kids LOVE to spar with each other.  They put on the gear and go at each other like mad, mini kung fu masters.  But they giggle and laugh the WHOLE time!

My Potato

I don't know a lot about Spanish, so feel free to correct me if this is wrong, but a friend of mine was showing me this shirt that says, "Mi papa lo arregla  todo."  The shirt is supposed to translate to say, "My daddy can fix anything."  But, if I am right, without the accent over the last "a" in "papa" (like this mi papá ) it really says either, "My potato can fix anything" or "My Pope can fix anything."  Whichever the case, isn't it funny how different the message can be if even one little piece is missing?  It reminds me to communicate clearly and take nothing for granted!  The sub-text says "For nothing is impossible for God," as it quotes Luke 1:37.  How true it is!  If God has given you a potato that can fix anything it really is miraculous.

See You At The Pole

As I stood across town video taping students at Coronado High, my children met at their flag pole and prayed for their campus.  They also prayed for students around the world who will be sharing Christ with those who need to hear.

Spontaneous Worship & Uprising

So, I've been sitting and thinking about a somewhat spontaneous (probably more instantaneous) worship event.  I'm wondering if there are some that would drop what they are doing with a days notice to be somewhere public to share in song, Scriptures, and prayer.  Are you one of those who would?  If you are, leave a comment and join the revolution.

Whatever Happened to Ray Boltz?

Many of you may be too young to remember Ray Boltz.  He authored several spiritual hits in the 80's and 90's.  Among them, "Thank You" and "I Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb."  Well, as I was reading Los' blog last night, I found a post about Mr. Boltz coming out of the closet.  So, I did some looking around, and found an article.  You can click here to read for yourself.

Asia Pictures

I've posted some of my pictures from Asia here:

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51745&l=1baf7&id=587850145

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=52779&l=94755&id=587850145

You can see the exotic foods video segment at my youtube site:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWlKKVFOXLY

Some Thoughts

I am sitting in Houston International Airport (or Bush Int'l, as it is now called), and it is 4:30 in the morning.  The rest of the team is sound asleep on the floor around me.  Someone had to stay up to watch the luggage, right?

Anyway, I wanted to put this down before I forget it.  The biggest thought or lesson I am bringing home from our Asian experience is that there are MANY people from our country who love God and have answered His Call to go to the corners of the world.  They sacrifice holidays with family.  They sacrifice their favorite foods.  They sacrifice television and radio that they can understand.  They live humbly and serve selflessly.  In some places, like the place we were in, they even have to maintain a low profile and work in secret.  Too often I take for granted what I have here in the States.  I can speak the name of Jesus without repercussions.  I can gather with my local church and lift up songs.  I can pray for and be prayed for openly.  I can engage in the work that Christ has called me to without worrying that it might cost me the chance to stay in this country.  I can share with people here without fear that they or their family could be imprisoned or killed if they say "yes" to Jesus.  And yet, there are days when I feel alone, stifled, like I'm the only one who gets it.  That's not true here, but for our friends in foreign lands, they are alone, stifled, and they know they will remain so.

So, here's to my heroes.  For all of you on the front lines, who give and give and give, who sacrifice and work to advance the kingdom at risk of peril, loneliness, and discouragement; THANK YOU!  You are an inspiration to me, and a constant encouragement to push harder, reach farther, and to never give up.  May God bless you with His presence and with the opportunity to see the fruit from the seeds you sow.  And know that you are in my thoughts and prayers daily.

And to all of us in open countries who feel like we've got it tough...maybe we do.  But it's nothing compared to what our friends overseas deal with daily.  So lift your eyes up and get to the task.  Let us run with endurance, knowing that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.  Strive for the prize.

J

The Asian Experience - The In-Between Day

Sorry!  I thought I sent this and just realized that I didn't!  This is the Thursday night and Friday morning update.  The one I just sent that is day 4/5 begins after this one!

What an exhausting day.  I will try to update you on the happenings, but may get things a bit blurry (just like my eyes at the moment).  At least the night before ended with a 1 hour massage.  I use the word "massage" loosely because it is more like a 1 hour torture session.  The really cool thing is that the environment is very festive.  There were 7 of us Maegorans (the Chinese word for Americans), and we all got to share a room.  The Chinese massage is a fully clothed event, so no issues with coed mingling.  There are 3 42" plasma TV's on the wall in this room where our 7 plush loungers are lined along one wall.  Each toruturer, err, I mean therapist comes in with a huge wooden barrel with water and spices to wash your feet.  The water is HOT, so my massage starts off with her boiling the skin off of my feet.  Then she lotions and spices my right foot and wraps it in a super heated towel and begins to BEAT THE FOOL out of my left foot.  For 20 minutes she pounds the mess out of my feet.  And now, 24 hours later, the arch of my left foot is so sore i cannot touch it!  She continues to massage my head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes, by rubbing, and then punching, and then slapping me.  It's amazing that I am still alive.  And yet, by the time the Grand Inquisitor is done with you, you feel refreshed.  It's pretty amazing.  And the best part if that the whole thing (including green tea) cost me 75 RMB, or right at $9.00 USD!  Absolutely amazing.

So, we get up this morning and head to the park as we have every day.  Our usual ti jienza group was there, so we jumped in.  Everyone that is traveling with me has improved at this sport.  I bought 12 or 13 of the shuttlecock to use with our kiddos when I get home.  As we parted ways with them after 45 minutes of playing, I asked where the lao sher (teacher) bought his traditional gae from and found out it was custom made by a local lady.  One of these folks spoke English, so he helped me find out how I could get a couple of outfits like his.  All of the people playing were sure she could make me some outfits, but that they would take extra material for me since I am fat!  They are very to the point here!  So, I made arrangements to meet my English speaking older friend, another friend, and the lady that makes the outfits back at the park at 2:00 that afternoon.  I handed out DVD's that have the story of hope, and brochures that share the story and we departed to go do some power walking at the campus.

After the park, Michael and Lindsey went to a local school to play with Chinese children.  They had a chance to play and speak with the kids.  Lindsey has some great pictures that I will insert once I get a few.  They had an incredible time.  Lindsey fell in love with one like pudgy boy named "Lewis."  Lindsey decided he as a chunky monkey and she just wanted to squeeze him to death!

We met back up for lunch, and then it was off to the park for my fitting.  While I was being fitted, the rest of the team made some appointments to have dinner with some of the University students.  I was very proud of them for heading off without me to do the things that needed done.  Dinner was filled with significant conversations as they showed the students how to make these beaded bracelets we have.   The beads help tell about Dad's plan for us, and his cost to help us overcome our birth condition.  From what they have told me, it was a good time, and the conversations were deeply impacting for a few.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of town, I was being told that the outfits would cost even more than they thought because of my girth.  I just love the Chinese bluntness.  My English speaking friend said he had the afternoon free, so I asked him to help me shop for Cayla.  He agreed, and we headed off into the city.  I must say at this point that I have really been excited about my ability to get around and take care of things while I've been here.  I was very worried about getting around, ordering food/buying things, but have done alright.  We've only needed to hand our cell phones to drivers a couple of times so our Chinese speaking friends could get us where we needed to be.

Anyway, as we shopped for Cayla, I shared about dad, and how His son has some wonderful things in store for us.  We talked for a bit about that, and about the son's teachings.  My friend said that he reads the book every day, and that he thinks that The Son is a great teacher, but that he just can't believe all of what he reads.  We camped on that issue for a bit, focusing on The Son as an honest man and good teacher.  If, then, he is an honest man and good teacher, then he must also be what he claims to be.  If he is not what he claims to be, then he is a liar and not a good teacher.  My friend agreed and said that he would think on this further.  We parted ways, and I headed off to finish shopping on my own and headed to the bank to exchange money for the rest of the trip.  I hope that he will think on that, and that he will find the truth.

Well, that's all for now.  I will post more later!
Peace,

Jase