Moving Through the Deep Waters – Who Are We Catching? January 30, 2007
Posted by Jackson in : Uncategorized , add a commentTuesday
This past Sunday in Luke 5 we talked about Peter going with Jesus to the deep waters. It was in the deep waters that Jesus revealed His deity to Peter. It was Peter having a glimpse of Jesus as God that awed him. It was only when Peter was fully convinced of Jesus being God that he would lay it all down to follow Him. It is only when we believe Jesus is God that we will follow Him. If he was only a good teacher, I would follow only when it made sense to me. Just a religious man, so were many others.
No, it is Jesus being God that separates Him from all others.
Jesus’ challenge to Peter was to become a catcher of men. He was to lay his nets down and do a different type of fishing. Jesus was going to spend a couple of years investing in Peter. Investing in others was Jesus’ method. There was no greater priority for Him than to leave behind men and women who would follow Him and pass it on to others.
Jesus’ method is our method. We are to spiritually invest in others. On Sunday we called this spiritual coaching.
Parents our first place of investment is our homes, our children. They are our first disciples.
How are you investing in your children? What is your spiritual plan of action for them? Do you pray for them, dream for them, think of ways to help them understand the truths of Christ?
Many of us are busy. Sometime to busy to focus where it matters most. What choices do you need to make to ensure your kids are your first disciples? What do you need to say no to in order to say yes to spiritually coaching your children?
The Gospel According to Jack Bauer January 26, 2007
Posted by Jackson in : Uncategorized , add a commentI confess, I am a 24 junkie. Jack Bauer is the man. You can beat him, shoot him, torture him, leave him for dead and he has more lives than a cat. No one wants to be on the bad side of Jack. He will find you and it won’t be pretty. You have something tough to do? Send in Jack.
In the first episode of this new season Jack is handcuffed to a drain pipe waiting for a terrorist to come pick get him. The president of the USA has exchanged Jack for what he believes is a worse threat to America, another terrorist.
After Jack’s friend handcuffs him he apologizes for having to leave him there. Jack looks at him and says, Don’t you understand there is a difference between dying for nothing and dying for something. Today I can die for something . . . My way, my choice.
When I heard Jack say those words, I pushed rewind and listened it to several more times. A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DYING FOR NOTHING AND DYING FOR SOMETHING.
WOW, I thought, what am I living for that is worth dying for? What am I investing in that I would lay my life down for it? What is that something in my life?
It has already been modeled for me. Not just by a fictionally character named Jack Bauer, but by God Himself. God stepped into time and became a man. This man lived a life of perfections and yet died the death of a falsely accused criminal. Yet, it was through His death that He has given us life. Jesus died for something. He died to redeem us and rescue us. It was HIS WAY and HIS CHOICE.
Jack Bauer, you have nothing on Jesus Christ.
Take the Challenge With Me January 8, 2007
Posted by Jackson in : Uncategorized , 2 commentsTAKE THE CHALLENGE
Monday
I wonder how many followers of Christ have read the whole Bible. I mean have read the Bible from cover to cover. Not just what we may think are the easy parts – the narratives or the Psalms. The whole enchilada – all 66 books. My guess is that less than half of us have ever finished the whole Book.
We say these are the very words of God given to us through inspiration of God’s Spirit and inerrant in their original manuscripts. But, we have neglected so much of it. All of it speaks of God. All of it tells us about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All of it encourages and confronts us about our lives.
Take the challenge with me this year. Read the whole Bible from cover to cover. Choose a method – an OT reading, NT reading, Psalm and Proverb each day, or read it chronologically (my personal favorite) or just start in Genesis and read to Revelation. You can find any number of ways on the web. This year Donna and I are reading through the Bible by reading each day an OT passage, NT passage, Psalm and Proverb.
As you read look for the gospel of grace that starts in Genesis and moves through to Revelation. The Gospel of grace that finds it fulfillment in the Gospel of Christ. Underline, circle key words, write in the margins. Make each book your own. Engage with what you read. Ask the hard questions. Know you will not understand everything. Some things will leave you shaking your head. Some passages will cause you to fall to your knees humbled. You will be awed by the God of the universe and struck by the love of His son. Some truths will cut you to the very core of your thoughts and value system.
Read, reflect, journal, pray it back to God, share with a friend. But, engage God’s Word.
An engaged reader will become a changed reader.
I Dare You . . . I Double Dare You January 4, 2007
Posted by Jackson in : Uncategorized , add a commentThursday
I dare you . . . I double dare you
God has graciously given us a couple of times a year for us to pause and take a look at ourselves. These are times that invite introspection. Times that says, so . . . how am I doing? The start of the school year is one of those times. So is the beginning of the summer. BUT, the granddaddy of them all is at the new year.
Each new year begs for us to take a look at ourselves and make some decision to do something different or better. Or to stop doing something or slow something down.
Here is my challenge to you. My dare, my double dare to you. Invite a few people who know you, love you and are committed to you to give you some feedback on YOU. Think of one or two questions to ask these friends and family members. Ask them all the same questions. Compare their answers.
Many times those close to us see what we need to work on better than we do. They may not be courageous enough to share it or are just waiting for an opportunity to do so.
Don’t ask just for areas to improve. Ask for feedback on areas you excel. Things you do really well.
I sent out an email to several staff, elders and friends at Park asking them to give me feedback on two areas of my life. I asked them share what I was doing well in each area. I asked them to share with me one thing I could improve on in each area.
After I receive all of these back I will sit down and look for themes. What were the common areas of strength and growth? My plan is then to journal how I can polish my strengths and work on my weaknesses.
I dare you to invite folks into your life this new year. I dare you to invite them to speak into your life. What do you have to loose or gain? Just growth.
I LOVE MY JOB December 18, 2006
Posted by Jackson in : Uncategorized , add a commentMonday
I love my job. I LOVE WHAT I DO! Because of my role I have this incredible opportunity to hear stories about life change, about folks taking steps of risky obedience, about reconciliation and forgiveness, about all kinds of very important Spiritual life issues.
I find great encouragement from how God works in your lives. YOU motivate me.
Being a follower of Christ is more than just having our eternity secured. Please understand IT IS ALL THAT! But, it is MORE THAN just that. Because of our relationship with Christ we should live differently. We should care differently. Other people should matter more to us.
Here is one story I received last week that reminded me why I LOVE MY JOB!
I use this story with the permission of those involved, but I have changed the names.
After nearing completion of a study on the book of John, Bill - our brother who recently met Christ - excitedly told me “Josh, my nephew needs to read the book of John and hear about Jesus…he’s in Cook County jail…want to go with me?” So last night Bill, another small group member, Jim, and I went to Cook County and we met Josh. Bill told Josh through the thick glass that Christ changed his life and he’s mailing a Bible to him (per Cook County policy) with verses highlighted that he wants Josh to read. “It will change your life, too” Bill told him confidently. Josh responded to us with a smile “Well, I certainly have some spare time to read these days.” Let’s pray that God will meet Joshin his time of need. We hope to return again soon on another visitation Wednesday in the future!
I love my job. Thanks for living out the Gospel for me to watch.
God of the Impossible December 12, 2006
Posted by Jackson in : Uncategorized , add a commentOn Sunday at Park, we talked about two folks from the Bible, Mary and Zechariah, as the coming of Jesus and John the Baptist was foretold in Luke. To listen to the message, click here…to watch, click here. After that message about how God is the God of the impossible, I received this email yesterday and was very touched by it. This from one of us in the congregation learning to believe God for the impossible. I asked the person who emailed this to me if I could put it on my blog. I share this with their permission.
“First, last night was one of those nights were I’m sitting in church thinking about everything under the sun, one of those night where I can’t focus on what Jackson is preaching, one of those nights I’m praying for the Holy Spirit to meet me here, and it’s just not happening. And the Jackson starts yelling about a box, and how big our concept of God is and that if we don’t believe that God can do amazing things now, we have dead faith. And Wham, the Holy Spirit stirred inside me, inside our little church. My sister Laurel in New York came to mind, the thorn in my side, the defiant unbeliever, the sister that called me an A**hole this summer in an e-mail, the sister who, doesn’t want to hear about my Jesus S***, the sister that I prayed for 6 months, the sister in my circle of three, that I want to be at the great feast in Heaven. Did I really believe that God can move mountains? That He will work within my sister’s life to free her from the bondage of this earth, to allow her to be loved and to love? No, last night I confronted this… this disbelief about God. In my heart, I saw that I believed that He could save me and the world, but he could not save my sister. How strange? How sad? I had given up on her.
Then communion, Jen this is where you come in, I got to the head of the line not sure I should even take communion, me, Zachariah, was I in the place to lay it all before God again, to restate my vow to follow Him, to love my neighbor. And then Jen, by the Spirit you moved me in such a simple way. You said “broken for you, Meredith.” I have never heard my name before at communion like this. This changed communion for me forever! Broken for me, Meredith. Broken for you, Jackson. Broken for you, Jason. Broken for you Jen… and Broken for you Laurel….. It is so simple. I had lost track of it. And He called me back into alignment. Jesus saves. I’m called to love and believe that God can move mountains. That he has created. He was and is broken for everyone…
So I left there filled with the Spirit and knowing that I can love Laurel if I chose to, that I do love Laurel. And at 8:30 she called me our of the blue because she was filling out HR forms and wanted me to be the beneficiary of her life insurance. She needed my social. How strange and how timely. We haven’t talked in about a month. We have had two live conversations since this summer’s name calling, and none of them over thirty minutes. And last night we talked and laughed for an hour and half. No, she did not accept Christ, and we didn’t even talk about Him, but we were together and I listened and enjoyed hearing about her life. I can see for the first time how God is moving in it. And how my listening and laughing, I am engaging with her again. I am reinvested in prayer for Laurel and I do believe that she will accept God’s love someday.
Broken for you, Laurel.”
What name is on your lips as you pray what seems like an impossible prayer? GOD IS NOT DONE YET!
Spiritual Business Bib December 11, 2006
Posted by Jackson in : Uncategorized , add a commentMonday
What do people really see of our lives? How much do we reveal or share with others? How much of below the water line do we let others see?
There is a new invention called the Business Bib. It is an all-in-one jacket, shirt and tie that easily slips over your upper body and attaches with Velcro around your back. You can now roll out of bed, sit at your computer screen and video conference with your pajamas on underneath and no one will be the wiser.
How many of us live with a Spiritual Business Bib on? Showing just enough to others to look good, to look put together when really we are just a spiritual mess underneath.
Living in authentic Biblical community means allowing folks to look behind the Business Bib. It is inviting folks to know we are not perfect. Everything is not great. Living in authentic Biblical community means extending and receiving grace as we all seek to grow and be transformed into the character and likeness of Christ. Until I am willing to be known, to be asked the hard questions, and to have others walk with me on my journey I am liable not to experience deep Spiritual change.
Are you wearing a Spiritual Bib? What keeps you from letting folks know you? Are you willing to engage with others beyond their Spiritual Bib? This is where life change will happen.
THOSE WHO MENTOR US December 7, 2006
Posted by Jackson in : Uncategorized , add a commentThursday
A couple of weeks ago I met with a pastor friend of mine, Daniel Hill. Daniel is the pastor of River City Church here in Chicago. River City is a multicultural church leading the way for many of us who have much to learn about doing multi-cultural ministry. Daniel is more than a few years younger than I am. Yet, when I meet with Daniel I come with pad and paper in hand.
He is a blend of a thinker and a strategist, humble yet with a great Gospel confidence. I liked Daniel right away. As a neophyte to the city no question has been too simple for Daniel to answer for me. He is quick to share the lessons he has learned from leading in the city. The faux pass he has made are shared honestly and openly so I might be a student and learn from him. I have been very grateful to Daniel for his mentoring of me. And he is mentoring me whether he knows it or not.
God is up to some great things at River City. We need to pray for Daniel’s leadership and the work God has given River city to do.
We should all be so lucky to have a few Daniels in our lives.
I think Jesus is . . . Coming Again. Are you a man of faith? December 6, 2006
Posted by Jackson in : Uncategorized , 2 commentsWednesday
I saw my friend standing outside having a smoke. It is when we often talk, while he smokes. He steps outside from his job to take a smoke and we catch up for 10 minutes or so. Our friendship has been developing over the past 2 and half years. In some ways we could not be more different. We share very different values on several fronts.
As I headed back from feeding quarters into the parking meter I saw my friend in his usual place. I had been wanting to ask him to finish the statement – I think Jesus is . . . As I saw him standing there lighting up God graciously brought the question to mind to ask him. As soon as the thought hit my brain my stomach got that feeling. The feeling that says rejection is coming. Resistance is just around the corner. There is no way this is going to go well.
I gathered up my courage and walked across the street. After catching up on a couple of things I turned to look my friend in the eyes and said, our church is taking an informal poll of what folks in Chicago think. Would you do me a favor and finish this statement? He looked at me with a little bit of a surprise and said, sure.
I think Jesus is . . . Without hesitation my friend answered COMING AGAIN. His answered surprised me. I asked him if he was a man of faith? He responded that he use to be. That he use to have a faith, but he had walked away from it in the last 10 years. He went on to share with me that he is revisiting his faith because of some volunteer work he has been doing with a organization that is feeding the homeless.
His smoke was done and he headed back into work. Strange how often I deal with fear of rejection and it never comes. Why am I so cautious to engage folks about Spiritual things?
Our brief conversation gave me much to pray about as I think about my friend. I look forward to following up at his next smoke.
The Movie - THE NATIVITY December 1, 2006
Posted by Jackson in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so farFriday
I just went with our whole staff from Park Community Church and saw the movie THE NATIVITY. I would encourage you to go see it. It is based on the first 2 chapters of the books of Matthew and Luke. The director and produces worked hard to put the movie within the Bible’s historical context. For the most part, they did a great job. A place in Israel called the Nazareth Village helped with the recreations. The Nazareth Village is working village that reacts the life of a village in 1st Century Israel.
One of the most powerful moments in the movie for me was when the shepherds came to the Christ child still in the manger. It struck me that Jesus, the great shepherd would be the savior for these shepherds of the hills. That lamb who came to take away the sin of the world was worshiped by those who’s job it was to protect their lambs. That the Passover lamb was born and laid in a manger amidst other sheep.
GOD BECAME A MAN! The God of the universe came to earth to make right what we have messed up. Born, not in a palace but a smelly manger. Not welcomed by kings, but by shepherds. Not born into wealth, but into a humble home of a poor carpenter.
Who could have made this up? God, thank you for coming to us. For taking the initiative to know us and to call us by name.