Love God. Love People. Turn The World Upside Down.

Jason *over and out*

Easter Sunday:

Week Before Easter:

It’s true.
Clothing logos. Status updates. Bumper stickers. Sports team jerseys. Eye wear. Blogs. Auto Email Signatures. Billboards. TV Commercials.
Everybody’s communicating something.

Sometimes it’s things we agree with and love, other times it’s things we are against and disagree with. A few decals on vehicles I see everyday on my way to work as I drive through the neighborhood:
- Calvin urinating on a Redskins logo
- PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals)
- Terrorist Hunting License: Let’s Kill Their A**es!
- Don’t Blame Me, I Voted For BUSH
- Keep Honking, I’m Reloading…

It’s easy to be negative.
It feels good to let out frustration on another person.
When we don’t get what we desire, we throw fits. Get angry. Shout louder.
My daughter hasn’t liked a meal in almost two weeks. Every time she pushes her food away and screams “I want pizza!!!”
She’s not getting pizza. Period.
And… she’s acting foolishly. But she doesn’t know that yet.
Because she is only a child.

As the news of health care reform being voted through spread across the air waves…
Christians began to respond in ways that I prayed they wouldn’t.
It broke my heart.
I believe it broke the heart of God as well.
I have a plea.
A word of encouragement.
(following is an excerpt from a recent response, see full article here)

- Instead putting our “hope” in healthcare, let’s  put our HOPE in the power of Jesus to save, heal, and deliver. We must transition from fairy tale subscribers, to true witnesses of the life changing power of God. When a world is dying, a building is burning- the call is to the church. Let’s be like Jesus in this hour!

- Instead of labeling people liberal or conservative, why don’t we see them as people who are far from God in need of Jesus? Without forgetting, that aside from God’s grace & love we would ALL REMAIN dead in sins. Love mercy, do justice, walk humbly.

- Instead of lobbying for schools to teach creation, why don’t lead our children into encounters with the creator, settling all doubts.

- Instead of being divided within the church over as to what our role is in the political process, whether it be to be activist, or pacifist, how about we work together to advance God’s work here on the earth, following the example of Jesus. The message of Jesus transforms hearts, transformed hearts transform the culture.

So glad to be serving at Forefront.
Where we strive to Love God, Love People, and Turn The World Upside Down.

Jason *over and out*

Photo by Jessica Riehl | www.jessicariehl.com

It breaks my heart.
This boy is in the middle of chaos and looks so confused.
Westboro Baptist Church is touring VA for the next three days.
Their goal is communicating their love for God… through hate.
They are protesting and picketing everywhere.
High Schools. Performing Arts Centers. Soldier funerals. Holocaust Museum.
I received 28 emails asking, “What are we going to do about this in Va Beach?”
Pray. Write. Educate.

PRAY: Pray for the people protesting, the people protesting the protesters, and for the people who come into contact with this mobile circus of confusion. Going out to the protest and protesting the protesters can add to the chaos (and according to an interview with some of the protesters, it reaffirms their ideals &  position). Don’t fuel the fire. Pray for all the people involved.

WRITE: Write the organization. In love, let them know you are praying for them and that God outlines a different idea of love and how to communicate that to people who are far from God.

EDUCATE: Talk with your kids, neighbors, co-workers, etc. Let them know the heart God has for them. When things like this happen in culture, it’s a great way to invite positive conversation about Jesus and let others know God is not like that.

It’s moments like these we have an opportunity to share Jesus and crush people’s misconceptions of God. Praying you get to have some challenging conversations with people about this happening in here in Hampton Roads. Let me know how it goes…

Jason *over and out*

“He stood on a box, yelling into a microphone, and beside him was a coffin with a fake dead body inside. He talked about how we are all going to die and go to hell if we don’t know Jesus.

Some folks snickered. Some told him to shut the hell up. A couple of teenagers tried to steal the dead body in the coffin. All I could do was think to myself, I want to jump up on a box beside him and yell at the top of my lungs, ‘God is not a monster.’ Maybe next time I will.”
- Shane Claiborne