as winter gives way to springtime

I’ve been doing a lot of running on the road lately.  During the week I’ll run from the FLC, through downtown, cut over to College Ave., down to Bergfeld Park, around the park a time or three, and then Broadway all the way back to downtown.

This time of year the Azalea District is beautiful.  It’s the second week of May and everything is green and in bloom.  As I ran this morning both the weather and the scenery were absolutely perfect.

A few months ago however, the Azalea District didn’t look like it does now.  The trees were lifeless.  The grass was brown.  The flowers were nonexistent.  Dead leaves covered the ground.  Harsh wind and cold rain was more the norm than sunshine.

I wonder where you are spiritually right now?  Which one of these contrasts portrays your heart before God as you read this?  Or are you somewhere in between?

As winter gives way to springtime the weather will often go back and forth.  Warm for a few days and then another cold snap.  Nourishing, healing rain and then, an unexpected freeze that sends many out to cover their azaleas (or roses, this is Tyler you know).

Too often we waver in our faith and faithfulness.  Teeter-tottering between winter and spring.

Through Jesus we are called to spiritually live in the springtime.  As we thrive in Christ.  As we grow spiritually.  As we are spiritually filled and nourished by Him.  Leaving winter behind.

And so here’s my question: What’s holding you back?

Glory to God!

Jason

outside the box

This Sunday at WE we begin a weekly study of the book of James.  I believe that James is an often overlooked letter.  For whatever reason, it doesn’t seem that much of our conversation centers on this letter from Jesus’ brother.  And I really don’t know why….

We often speak of reaching out to the lost.  We often consider how we might impact the world around us.  We often engage in discussion as to how the relevance of Christ might be readily evident in us as His people.  And yet, somehow, no dialogue from the book of James.

James is a letter of faith.  It is a letter of action.  It is a letter of practicality.  And it is a letter of relevance.  Isn’t that the answer to communicating the message of the Gospel in what many cultural anthropologists are calling a “post-Christian” culture?

Faith.  Action.  Practicality.  Relevance.

I’m excited about our journeying together side-by-side through this powerful, wonderful, often overlooked, letter.

James will ask, “Are you facing difficulties in life?  Does everything seem to be coming apart at the seams?”  And then contend, “Let me point you to the One who is bigger than all of that!”

James will probe, “Oh, you think you’re a follower of Jesus because you believe?  Big, whoop-de-do!  Faith is more than belief.  It is opening your eyes and doing something that’s beyond yourself.”

James will question, “Who are you fooling?  You claim to be a disciple of our Lord and yet still have areas of your life that you’ve failed to give Him Lordship over?  Does that really sound like discipleship to you?”

We’re going to call our study: “Outside the Box.”  Because James opens our hearts and minds to a whole other world.  A radical faith that simply cannot be contained.

Glory to God!

Jason

those who mourn

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4

God’s divine favor and comfort, amidst tragedy, grief, and mourning.

Please be in prayer for those impacted by the terror at the Boston Marathon.

And for all of those in West, Texas.

We are a people created for a Kingdom not of this world.

Our King is the Great Healer.

Glory to God!

Jason

getting off the ladder

When we are children, we think about what we will become.  Who we will become.  We dream of who we will be.  What we will do.  The things we will accomplish.

It’s doubtful that we’ve all become cowboys, astronauts, and racecar drivers.  We learn to adapt.  We change our minds.  We face setbacks.

All of this thinking, however, is on a physical level.  No matter how high we climb the ladder our view is seriously impeded until we begin to see life through spiritual eyes.  Only when we get off the ladder and begin to ascend the mountain of God does the view ever change.  Only when we ascend the mountain does our perspective change.

The Psalmist exclaims to God, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:13).

The Apostle Paul pens, “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).

And in Ephesians 2:10 he affirms, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Regardless of vocation.  Regardless of situation.  Regardless of circumstance.  Regardless of victory or defeat.  To begin to see every moment of life as God-ordained.  Christ-centered.  Spirit-filled. And Kingdom-embracing.

God meets His people not at the top of the ladder, but upon the mountain (Hebrews 12:22).

Too often we assess our value as to where we are on the ladder (physical), rather than how we are living up to our calling as believers (spiritual).

When we get off the ladder and begin to climb the mountain of God it is then that we not only begin to become acutely aware of our calling in life, but it is then, and only then, that we begin to achieve the very things that our Father has created us and purposed us to do.

Glory to God!

Jason

heaven came down

My kids know my whistle.  I don’t necessarily whistle all that loudly or all that long.  But if I want to get their attention amidst distraction, I just whistle.  When we’re all in the Family Life Center on Wednesday evenings and there are people talking and kids everywhere and I need to get one of my boy’s attention in the sea of children on the basketball court, I just whistle, and their heads turn.  Not in a fearful way or a worrisome way.  They just know my whistle.  When we’re at home and they’re playing outside with other kids, and in one of their friend’s back yard, and Tiersa and I need them to come home, I just step out on the front porch and whistle, and I soon here a, “Coming!…” from a few houses down.  The whistle is sort of like “Heads up!” or “Hey, look this direction!”

John the Baptist came proclaiming the Kingdom is at hand!  The Kingdom is close.  The Kingdom is near.  Heads up!  Pay attention!  It’s near!  The Kingdom is near!  And then, the Kingdom (the reign and rule of God) is made a reality in Jesus.

As the old hymn declares, “Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.”

The Kingdom of heaven.  The reign of God as His Spirit rains down upon human hearts through divine will.  The Kingdom of heaven.  Heaven coming down.  Glory filling our souls.

That’s our reality.  Here’s my question: What was John’s role?  What is John the Baptist’s task in this?  Fulfilling the will and purpose of God?  Yes.  “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him” (Mt 3:3)?  Absolutely.  But ultimately, John’s God-ordained position is to announce.  To call attention.  “Heads up!”  “Hey, look this direction!” (cf. Jn 1:29,35).   “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near!” (Mt 3:2).  The Kingdom is near!  Heaven is coming down!

Calling people wherever they were in life to come, and to be a part of the Kingdom.

Our role, our task, our purpose is the same….  To call people wherever they are in life to come, and to be a part of the Kingdom of heaven.

Glory to God!

Jason

the imagery of forgiveness

Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.”

Micah 7:19, “You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”

Jeremiah 31:34, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

God reveals relationship in vivid metaphor.  Sin removed as far as the east is removed from the west.  The stark contrast of scarlet and snow.  Sins plummeting to the depths of the sea.  An all-powerful, all-knowing God choosing to forget, and remember our sins no more.

The imagery of forgiveness.

Our Father forgives.  He heals.  He restores.  He delivers.  He rescues.

Through divine prerogative and divine covenant and divine eyes He sees us not for our sin, not for our shame, not for our rebellion, but for who we are through Jesus.

He sees us clearly and in such a way we often find it difficult to see ourselves.  As whole.  As holy.  As righteous.  As forgiven.

Galatians 3:27, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

He sees us through Jesus.

Glory to God!

Jason

giving up our rights

“Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3).

“He must become greater, I must become less,” John the Baptist (John 3:30).

“Paul, a servant of God….” (Titus 1:1).

Humility is elusive, because just when you think you’ve got it… you don’t!

For some humility is a gift.  It comes extremely naturally.  To very few humility is second nature (my grandmother is like this).  However, for most, humility is a daily choice that runs contrary to our nature.  A decision that is willfully made.  Day after day.  Moment by moment.  To humble ourselves and be ever so willing to become obedient to death, even death on a cross (connect Philippians 2:8 with Luke 9:23) whether that cross is physical or metaphorical.  To give up our rights and die to ourselves so that Christ might be lifted up and exalted through us.

When someone is being questioned in regard to a crime by a governmental official they will first be advised of their rights before any questioning begins.  The Miranda warning reads, “You have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law.  You have the right to have an attorney present prior to and during any questioning.  If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one to you.  Should you choose to begin answering questions, you have the right to terminate the interview at any time.  Do you understand you’re rights?”  When the answer comes back, “Yes,” the next question asked is, “Will you voluntarily waive your rights and answer some questions?”

In Christ, humility demands that we give up our rights.  We give up our rights to be first.  We give up our rights to be center stage.  We give up our rights to be heard.  To be proven right.  To be exalted.  In order that He might be first.  Center stage.  Heard.  Proven right.  And exalted.  The cross of Jesus requires that we give up our rights, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.  That we would willfully empty ourselves of self.  And that in turn, we would be filled by Him.

I wonder how this God-ordained approach my impact some of our struggling relationships?

Glory to God!

Jason

Jesus doesn’t answer

“Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’  ‘Yes, it is as you say,’ Jesus replied.  When He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He gave no answer.  Then Pilate asked Him, ‘Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?’  But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge – to the great amazement of the governor” (Matthew 27:11-14).

Pilate is amazed.  He’s dumbfounded.  His gears are seriously jamming.  Jesus won’t defend Himself against His accusers.  He answers Pilate when he asks, “Are you the king of the Jews?”  But he won’t answer those who oppose Him.  And Pilate doesn’t get it.  He can’t fathom why in the world Jesus doesn’t answer them.  But that’s precisely why.  Because His Kingdom is not of this world.  And so He refuses to answer.

Jesus doesn’t answer because He is in complete control.  Of Himself.  Of the situation.  It may seem as if things are spiraling out of control, but they are far from it.  God is sovereign.  Jesus doesn’t answer because “as a sheep before his shearers is silent he did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).  Jesus is fulfilling the plan of God, the purposes of God, in every way.  And He knows it.  Though His actions He’s fulfilling prophesy.  Intentionally.  Jesus doesn’t answer because His critics wouldn’t listen even if He did.  Would it change their minds?  Their hearts?  No.  And so He doesn’t answer.

One more crucial reason that I believe Jesus doesn’t answer is because He knows who He is as He stands before the Father.  He is complete.  He is whole.  He is without blemish.  Without defect.  Without fault.  And ultimately, it matters not what the critics think of Him; of who they believe Him to be.  What matters is that He fulfills the will of the Father in His life.  Beyond that, does anything else really matter?

Who we are in the Father’s eyes matters more than everything else.  When it is all said and done, it’s really all that matters.

Glory to God!

Jason

preoccupied with preoccupation

Recently in our Wednesday evening class we discussed these words of the Apostle Paul from Philippians 4, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11b-13).

In an extremely genuine and experiential way, the Apostle unveils his secret.  The secret to life.  The secret to a life that can weather the storms.  The secret to being content.  To being satisfied.  The secret to joy in life.  The secret?  Jesus.

So many are preoccupied with preoccupation.  What I mean by that is it is so remarkably easy for us to con ourselves into thinking that existence is life.  That the things that constitute our day somehow constitute life.  The full life that Christ offers.  Aren’t our lives bigger than that?  Jesus would put it this way, “Aren’t you much more valuable than those things?” (Matthew 6:26).

So many of us grew up singing the song: “I’m all wrapped up, tied up, tangled up in Jesus” but now find ourselves “all wrapped, tied up, tangled up in life.”  But in reality it’s not life.  It’s existence.

The secret to life is Jesus.  The secret to a life that can weather the storms is Jesus.  The secret to being content is Jesus.  The secret to being satisfied is Jesus.  The secret to joy in life is Jesus.

The Apostle Paul says with a smile (I picture him with a smile), “I have learned the secret… Jesus.”

When the believer finally let’s go of the preoccupation and reaches to “Him who gives me strength,” it is then and only then that contentment will become an ever present reality.

Glory to God!

Jason

faith and affirmation

“The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21).

Nathaniel Hawthorne came home from his job at a custom house (a building housing the offices that process legal paperwork) devastated that he had just been let go.  When he broke the news to his wife, however, she responded with joy!  “Now you can write your book!”  Puzzled, he asked, “And what shall we live on while I’m writing it?”  Mrs. Hawthorne walked over to a drawer in the kitchen, slowly reached inside, and then retrieved a stack of money she had been saving unbeknownst to him.  “I always knew you were a man of genius.  And that you’d one day write your masterpiece.”  And because of the faith and affirming words of Mrs. Hawthorne toward her husband, every library in the world has a copy of The Scarlet Letter. 

Faith and affirmation.  I wonder if you realize how much power God has given you?  I wonder if you realize that you have the ability to turn the tide in someone’s life through faith and affirming words?  Not solely faith in God (certainly that’s where it begins as God works in our hearts) but by placing faith in others.  By telling them, showing them, that you believe in them.  By affirming to them that you believe they can accomplish great things.

Isn’t that what God has done for us through Jesus?  “I believe in you Jason,” the Gospel declares.  But what about us?  Do we speak a word of hope into the lives of others?  Whether to the children that we tuck in bed every night in our all too comfortable homes, or to the man who sleeps in his car at the corner of Elm St. and Bonner Ave.  Do we demonstrate faith in them and affirm them in such a way, that they begin to believe that God has something more in store for their lives than what they can presently see?

James, the brother of Jesus, affirms to us, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do” (James 2:18).  Later on he confronts us, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men… my brothers, this should not be” (James 3:9-10).

With our words we build up.  With our words we tear down.  With our actions the Kingdom is furthered.  And with our actions the Kingdom is hemmed in.

“The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21).

You, have the power of life and death….

Glory to God!

Jason