My Sermon: Peace and Justice

My sermon is online if you want to check it out.

http://www.crossroadschurch.nl/

The house, Bob, Jason, and Jeff Built

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/70642187.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUvckD_V_jEyhD:UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

This is the house we built for my parents good memories.

Wondering

Wondering, I am wondering about wonder. Why don't we wonder more? I don't mean curiosity, I mean wondering, in the sense of being in awe. I have learned anew from my girlfriend Cecily about wonder. Cecily is amazed at the smallest details and she gets this look on her face, like in the picture above and says, "isn't that amazing, its beautiful." She is a person who has not lost her sense of wonder and I love that about her. When was the last time you stopped to really look at the flower that has caught your eye? When was the last time you saw the sunset? Have you ever sat with a child to watch ants? There is so much around us.

Over the past year I have been thinking that the greatest crime one person can do to another is steal there ability to be in a state of wonder. I think this because if you wonder then you realize there is something more, something bigger, something...else, from what you know or think. A child is a great example of the power of wonder. Just watch a child see a duck for the first time. They are so amazed at this creature.

I remember in University, when there was a student from Africa who had never seen snow before. I remember walking to my room one night when it started to snow. This guy was running around, screaming, going crazy. I thought what is with this guy. I asked if he was okay. He said that he had never seen snow before, it was amazing. He was so overcome with wonder that he was literally running, dancing, singing, at what he was seeing. That experience helped me renew my sense of wonder at something I had been raised with, snow. I remember stopping and thinking, "it is amazing that it snows."

I don't know, maybe this is all hokey, but I think that wonder helps us to deepen our appreciation of the world. Wonder helps to drive us. If we never wondered...what would we do? What would life be like? If we reached a point where nothing caught our attention, if we were just immune to wonder. How awful a state that would be. Hopeless. Well I would challenge you to go and wonder. To stop the next time the sun is shining through the woods with brilliant rays of light. Stop when you see a mass of people going in all sorts of directions, wonder about where they are all going, what there doing? or just sit at you kitchen table, look out a window and wonder what's out there?

Doing the Right thing

http://videos.komando.com/2009/10/11/amazing-soda-shop/

I found this video very interesting. I don't fully know why, but his dedication to core traditional values, honesty, self-discipline, a high quality product, smart thinking and passion, these all really struck me. I have been reflecting on my life and wondering if I live out these values. Am I being honest with people, am I living a self-disicplined life, am I striving to a life of quality, not in a material sense, but in a sense of character, am I being smart in my decisions, wise if you will, and do I live with passion about what I am doing, my work, my beliefs, my life. I was challenged to look at myself through this guy.

24 Hours

My day of departure started early, meeting my parents for breakfast at the Original Pancake house in Eden Prairie, MN. We had a very nice last meal: we ate, we prayed, we cried, it was lots of fun. One thing struck me in particular at breakfast. I started realizing this move was going to be hard. I think it was seeing my mother cry and not knowing why. She was not just sad to see me go, there was a deeper element there. I realized it as well. This was not like last year when I left for my internship. Even though I will be home for Christmas in two months, this was harder. As I thought more about why, I began to realize that this is the first time I am leaving Minnesota as a home and not knowing if or when I will return. That was it. I know that this move is good and that God is in it, but it is still hard to leave your home and not know if you will ever move back.

I mulled this thought over the rest of the morning and spoke with my mother about it as well. We hugged and she cried, but I assured her that no matter where I am in the world Minnesota will always be my home. The day pressed on and as I finished some last minute packing and I became increasingly more stressed about everything I faced: my flight, customs, my shipment of books, clothes, etc. I knew I was entering a period where I couldn't fully trust what I was feeling. I had to gut it out and go and not look back.

As my brother and mother drove me to the airport, I was actively trying not to think about any of it. I was trying to clear my head and pray for trust in God. We got to the airport and said our good-byes through my mothers tears. I left them, went into the airport, checked in and headed to the gate. I was flying from Minneapolis to Chicago to Dublin to Amsterdam. I knew it would be a long flight, but that is not what worried me. What worried me was having a one-way ticket. Countries typically don't like to let people in who don't have a Visa to live there and don't have a return ticket. I had neither of those things. On top of this from Chicago to Dublin to Amsterdam I was flying Aer Lingus, and who has ever heard of Aer Lingus outside of Ireland? I had not. Well, I was preparing for a long uncomfortable flight and lots of trouble at the customs desk.

Thankfully, this was not what God had in mind. The flight to Dublin was half full, which meant I had two seats all to myself, and I discovered if the Irish are one thing it is laid back, charming and fun. Hearing laughter and the sweet Irish accent for six hours was more relaxing than anything. Although, I did get a funny look from the flight attendant when I didn't order a whiskey with my meal, haha.

I landed in Dublin and some of the stress was now over . My experience with Aer Lingus had been restful and relaxing, God had provided for me. Now to face the real stress: the Dutch. The Dutch are all about rules and regulations. The whole country runs “by the book” and frankly that is one thing I like about living here, you know what to expect all the time. The problem is when you are not by the book, which I was not on this particular occasion. I was flying in with no return ticket and no resident visa. As we lifted off from Dublin this fear and anxiety gripped me. I started thinking, “What am I doing?” “Why am I moving to Europe?” “What have I left behind?” It wasn't sheer panic, but it was close, and again, I gutted it. I was on the plane and at that point the only other recourse would be jumping out, which I was less thrilled to do. Instead I turned to my usual coping strategy to relieve stress and fell asleep.

I was awakened by the flight attendant as we were preparing to land. I looked out the window and saw the cloudy, lush, wet Dutch landscape, and suddenly all the fears and anxiety I had experienced were whisked away in a moment and I was filled with peace and joy. I was at peace, I knew this was right, I knew this is what God had for me and this is what I wanted. It was a great feeling. I got off the plane and, maybe it was because I was so tired, but I felt like I was walking on a cloud. I headed off to Passport Control and got in line, the whole time thinking, “Okay, God, if you want me here this is your chance.” I walked up to the agent and handed him my passport, and he asked, “Business?” “No,” I responded, “I am moving here.” He looked at me, said, “Do you have a Visa?” I said, “No, I am applying for one.” At this point I fully expected to be brought into a room and interrogated about every aspect of my work, life, financial records, personal relationships, everything, but no, not this time. The agent looked at me, shrugged his shoulders, handed me my stamped passport and waved me on. I couldn't believe it, not only was this easy, but this was the fastest I had ever made it through passport control ever in Holland. God had provided a second time.

As I walked through the halls on my way to get my bag, I started thinking. Is Cecile going to be there? Cecile is a woman from Crossroads Church who was going to pick me up and drive me to The Hague. I hadn't been in contact with her for a couple days and was wondering if she would find me, if there would be anyone there. Again, I was preparing for the worst. I found my bag and headed out of the baggage claim to the main hall. As I walked through the sliding doors, I heard a loud, “Jason!! Welcome back!!” There were about eight people from our church there to greet me. They had made a sign, they had balloons and were taking pictures. I can't say how nice and encouraging it was to see these friends of mine whom I had missed all summer long. It was more than I could have imagined or hoped for. We caught up briefly, hugged and took some more pictures. I was really glowing now.

But the surprises were not done there. I got into the car with Cecile and Miriam and we started driving to The Hague, and after about fifteen minutes Cecile placed a box in my lap. I said, “What is this?” She said, “Open it.” I did and saw that it was an iPhone. I have wanted one since they came out three years ago, but I could never afford one. Now I had one sitting in my lap and it was free. I thanked Cecile and she said it was no problem, she got it from work from someone who had given it to her. This was a new level of kindness. Up to this point the provision that I had received was necessary: getting through customs, surviving my flight, the welcome was needed for my spirits but this, an iPhone this was just God saying, “I love you.” I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. This was a true gift, something I didn't need but wanted. It made me so happy to see that God cared about something so small and unnecessary.

At this point if my day had been over and nothing else good happened I would have been amazed, but this wasn't even close to the end. Cecile drove me to the apartment where I would be spending at least the next year. We walked in the front door and I said, “Wow.” The main floor was amazing, but then we went up to my level, yes level. Russell, who owns the apartment, had given me the top floor of this three level apartment. I had floor to ceiling windows, a balcony, a T.V., couch and Cecile and a friend of hers had gone out and bought me a bed and closet at IKEA. I could not believe it. My room overlooks most of the city and is located right in the city center. I was just amazed. I couldn't believe that this is where I would be living for the next year.

At this point Cecile and I ran some errands, going to the bank, getting groceries, going to IKEA again, and then headed back to the apartment. By this time Russell had come home and I had a chance to meet him. Russell is a great guy, very generous and lots of fun. We were talking and he shared with me how he wanted to share what he had with God. I told him? He told me? that when I lay my head down on the pillow at night and look up and see the cross on the wall, that I should remember that God is working here. I was so thankful to have a such a great place, and such a Godly man to share it with. I really appreciated meeting Russell.

By this time I was exhausted and ready for bed. As I laid lay down in my new bed, in my new apartment, I felt an incredible sense of peace and gratefulness. I could not believe everything that had happened.

The next day, I woke up and decided to go into the office to check things out and say hi to everyone. I grabbed my iPhone, threw on some tunes and headed out. As I was walking to work I was thinking about some things that Russell had said about his own conversion to Christ. Russell spoke about his journey as one that started with looking for God, then amazingly finding God in Christ, and then realizing that you need to put Jesus at the center of your life. To just know about Christ is not enough. I was reflecting on how difficult it can be to put Jesus at the center of your life. The challenge is giving up the control of your life and handing it over to Jesus. From there my thoughts traveled to thinking about what God wants me to do here. I know I have a job and I am volunteering in a church, but I was pondering how I am to build God's kingdom in my personal life. I thought about this and had a strange sense of peace about it. It will come.

I got to the office and met Jess, our office manager, at the door, and she showed me around the new office. Everything was different from when I’d left in May, but it was good to be back. I saw a couple of the other pastors and then went into my office and started catching up on some emails. After about ten minutes my internet went out and I couldn't get it up and running again. As I was scrambling to get my email to work the door bell rang. I answered it. It was a man maybe in his, 40s who walked in. I said, hello and asked if there was anything I could do for him. He said, “are you open?” I said yes and he came in. We ended up talking for about an hour or so. He, Loren was his name, told me about his journey to The Netherlands back in 1991. He told me about how he started searching for God after his daughter was born with mental and physical disabilities. He told me that when his seven year old son was diagnosed with cancer he started looking more intently. I sat and listened, but felt God very present.

When Loren entered the office, I had a strong feeling about him. I felt God's presence in the room and kept thinking that I was to ask him to accept Christ. As we talked I looked for an opportunity to ask. Finally, at one point I asked Loren, “So, where are you?” thinking that this would get the conversation moving toward what he believed. But Loren said, “Well, I want to be born again, but I don't know all the formalities.” I paused, was quietly shocked and then said, “I can help you with that.” I talked to Loren about how to make Jesus the center of his life. All you have to do is ask, there is no magic formula, no chant, no dance. I told him God was a relational God and desires to be in relationship with him. Then Loren prayed and accepted Christ.

To be honest I have only “led” one person to Christ in my whole life. I have heard of conversions and prayed for people intently who had become Christians, but this was the second person that I had the pleasure of introducing to Jesus. Loren and I agreed to meet up and continue to talk about Jesus and everything that he brings. Loren said he was going to be at church with his family that Sunday, so I told him I would meet him there and welcome him to our church.

After Loren left, I was absolutely energized. I immediately went and told the story to Scot our worship pastor, then to Caroline our youth pastor, then I sat in my office and literally was beside myself. I could not believe what had just happened, from the somber breakfast with my parents back in Minnesota 24 hours earlier to leading Loren to Christ in The Hague. I was overjoyed, but also in complete shock. I remembered a lesson I had learned earlier that summer on a road trip. I had learned that I was limiting what God could do to me by not stepping out in a way where God had to show up. Well I had been praying that I would no longer hinder what God could do to me. This was it, the last 24 hours, I had not lifted a finger and I arrived safely in Holland, to a big welcome. I was living in an unbelievable apartment owned by a strong Christian man. I had an iPhone and now, someone had come to know Christ through me. All I did was show up. Still as I write this letter, I can't believe my own story. I am shocked. It is awe-inspiring to know what God has done. I am also so encouraged and hopeful to see what God will do.

I want to thank you all for your prayers, support and encouragement, they paid off. All I ask is that you don't stop now. Things happen when you pray and step into where God is leading you. Don't stop, keep praying, pray for bigger dreams, pray more boldly knowing God answers our requests, and pray knowing God loves each and everyone of you so very much.

Thank you all,
Jason

P.S. If you can, please pray for Loren as he journey's on his new found faith.

Injustice

I am done with my week here in Denver. This past week has been a lot of work, a lot of fun, and very encouraging. We all pulled some big days, 8 am - 8 pm for 5 days is a lot for any one, but it was good.

I have been sitting here in the Denver Airport letting the thoughts run through my head like leaves running down a stream, admiring and entertaining each one for a second then moving on to the next. I spent some time reflecting on the question, "what is the greatest injustice/crime of our time?" Aids, Slavery, greed. I was thinking about this in the context of what do I want to fight for in my life? What injustice do I want to try and make right? It is a big thought and a question to which we may not all agree on the answer, but I think it is an important question to answer for ourselves, because it till help to direct where are passions go.

I want to ask you, what is the greatest injustice in our time? And what are you going to do to try and correct it? It may help to see how we define injustice check out: http://dictionary.reference.com/

Peace,
Jason

Bare Foot Running and Living

I hurt my back about 3 years ago. Since then I have not been able to run, without pain, for more than 10 min. The most I have done in 3 years was about 3-4 miles, after that I just couldn't take the pain. Before my injury, I was running about 20-25 miles a week.

I heard about Bare Foot running from a friend who read the book, Born to run I thought he was nuts at first, but then he sold me on the idea. I did some research of my own and then changed my running style from Heel toe to running on the balls of my feet. The first time I did this, I had no back pain, but my calves hurt for about a week, I could barely walk the next day. I chalked this up to a change in style and it proved to be true. After running a couple times on the balls of my feet I decided to take the plunge and buy a pair of five fingers. Since then I haven't looked back. I have run on sand, dirt, tar, cement, no pain, except the good burn. I am able to run again.

I am writing this blog not just as an advert, but also as a challenge. I know I am confronted all the time with over thinking and conformity. In running conformity actually had detrimental results. If I had just run the way I was created to, chances are I would have been fine, but I was trained to run "the right way." Not that thinking is bad nor conformity, but I think they are bad when they no longer take into account the individual differences we all possess.

The past year I have run seminars helping people to figure out who they are and what they're particular strengths are in life. If we as people focus on our individual strengths to help us accomplish our goals we will be much more effective in our lives and experience less pain as well. I had a passion for running, but was running how others thought I should, when I stopped that and started running as I was individually created too, I had much less pain, and hopefully more success. In life, if we try to attain our passions with our own gifting I believe this will be the same out come.

I realize for some this may be a big jump, but I don't believe it is as far or a leap as we think. I you have a passion to teach, you have to bring your strengths to being a great teacher, you can't just copy a great teacher and expect the same results, because that teacher created a system or style based on their gifting, not yours. You can take from great teachers, but you always have to put your spin on it and in many cases just throw it out completely.

Is this more work, in the short run, yes, but in the long run, no. You will have to train yourself to work in a way that is life giving to you. Their will be a learning curve, just as my calves had a learning curve when they were asked to carry more of my body weight, a weight they were designed to carry, but never did. You will have some pain in adjusting, but once you do your life will be much better and you will be much happier. Once you learn to use your strengths toward your passion, you actually will be able to learn from others easier, because you will be more secure in how you are doing, because it will be natural to your life. As natural as my new running style is to me.

What the church should be...

I was up late the other night checking out different clips on You Tube and ran across one of my favorite stories from Tony Campolo. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWlMV-UmueM&feature=related

Facebook and Faith

here is an interesting article about how Facebook is engaging people's religious views.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/29/AR2009082902400.html?referrer=emailarticle

Forgiveness

This past weekend Rob Bell spoke at our church. I know he is a great speaker, but I didn't realize how good of a teacher he was. Rob's talk about forgiveness was so good. He was clear, engaging, and stayed focused on the point he wanted to make. I was impacted by the content of his message. Check it out if you have time.

http://www.whchurch.org/content/page_173.htm

The points I took away were, Forgiveness is personal, always personal. Forgiveness is not condoning something, its not forgetting what happened, its not necessarily reconciliation, and it does not wipe away consequences. Forgiveness is letting go, stopping the cycle of revenge. Revenge can be active or passive, either way it is about not aligning with God's justice, revenge is taking things into your own hands apart from God. Revenge is about give back what has been done to you, someone hit you, you hit them back, some one yells at you you yell back, you respond in kind.

I had forgotten about forgiveness and this message was a powerful wake up call and helped me to release somethings I was holding against other people. It was very freeing.

A Lesson from the Trip

I am home!! Back from 3 weeks on the road, driving through glorious mountains, freakishly hot deserts, the ocean and back through the mystical prairie land. It was an amazing trip and I had lots of good times. As we were driving through South Dakota on our way back to God's country (Minnesota), we were talking and reflecting on the past 3 weeks and I had this little challenge from God. On my reflection I felt as though God said "don't limit what I can do for you."

This was a challenging statement for me to hear, because it removes me from any control at all, other than to reject what is given. This has been a lesson I have been learning over the past year. Realizing what God can, will, and does do for me, its hard for me to come to a realization that I can do everything in my power and that is good most of the time, but when I am in a situation where its not good enough and the fact is we won't get there unless God gives us something that is a scary place for me.

I think the goal for me in the next year or lifetime is to become more comfortable depending on God to show up. Not that I work less or don't try as hard, but putting myself in situations where God has to show up or "we ain't gonna get there." This is a good word seeing as there are going to be new challenges in many areas for me coming up and I am sure for everyone else. The thing I am going to try and do this next year is not to be so safe. What I mean by that is not starting to jump off buildings or rob banks, but rather be more willing to put myself in situations where I know God has to show up. That is my challenge for the next year and with that to not reject the gift that God gives no matter what it is.

Hope you all are well,
Jason

Colorado

hey all,

We have begun our trip to LA for my Staff Candidate Orientation week next week. Yes, I could have flown, but driving is so much more fun, don't you think. Yesterday we went through Iowa, Nebraska and ended up in Colorado for the night. We are hanging out with my friend Mike L today. Mike took us on a killer hike, where we got up to about 9500 feet and over looked the entire valley and saw about 3 different mountain ranges.

It has been a good trip so far, but its also like heading out on a big adventure. It's weird to think I won't be in my bed for 3 weeks. I am looking forward to going places I have never gone and seeing people I have never seen. Also, getting more clarity on my job description is pretty exciting as well.

Hope you are all well. The thought for the day is what has happened in the last year to change the way you look at the world? Here is something I saw this morning that challenges my understanding of limits.

hair

the ball is rolling

ok, I need to get into a rhythm with this blogging thing. So here is my attempt to get the ball rolling. This last weekend, thanks everyone who signed up to support me, it was a very successful weekend.

Since then I have been running around meeting with people and trying to stay on top of all my details as well. This Monday I leave for 3 weeks for LA. Its a work trip and I will be stopping in Denver, Las Vegas, LA, Grand Canyon, Denver and then Gillette Wyoming. I am looking forward to it.

I do have a question for everyone. now that I am becoming a grown up I decided to start ironing my shirts...that is hard. Does anyone have any good ideas or techniques? Let me know if you do.

peace out

Intergration Day

ok, so I have been integrating myself today. Yes, Facebook, Blogspot, Twitter, Extender, books, music, news, its all integrated and so am I. I actually had a chip implanted in my brian that just uploads the daily news headlines so I don't have to read them, I just know them, cool.

Life has been crazy this last month, so much to do, and to think about. I am just trying to streamline everything. I started reading "Renovation of the Heart" again, I have read it twice before, but am reading it with a group of guys. I plowed through the first chapter, interesting, good stuff...I would like to say. Right now as I was reading it I kept thinking, "great, another thing to make myself better, as if there wasn't enough wrong with me already." I think that thought was less about the book and more about where I am at. The book is very practical, or at least claims to be and since I read it before I know it is. Its good stuff, but I think there are other things I need to attend too first, that will make this process of "bettering" myself more meaningful and effective.

ok that's all I got for now.

This is my re-newd blog, my everyday blog, thoughts, rants, dreams, anything goes. For a more comprehesive and orderly understanding of what's going on in my life, check out www.Jasoninthehague.blogspot.com

peace