If you go to Forefront, this is another chance to show people love in a real/practical way.
Hampton Roads Church Leader? We are looking to partner w/ as many churches as possible to make the biggest impact and answer the need.

Jason *over and out*

In July we will have a new addition to the family. Yes sir, my beautiful wife is out of her first trimester and we’re on our way to playing man to man defense with two little ones this summer.

Love this photo. This was hours after Chloe was born- and it was so amazing. Cannot wait for her to have a little brother (we don’t know yet, but a guy can hope- and you fellas out there can pray real hard for it to come to be).
So excited about another child. Now to make room for a family of four. Oh my.

Jason *over and out*

Nothing brings me more joy than to see my little girl smile.
Being a dad is the best. Now, for all you parents out there…
“What do you love to do w/ your kids to make ‘em smile?”

Jason *over and out*

In the hallways of our office I had a conversation today that reminded me of a post I wrote awhile back, but never published. Figured with 2010 on the horizon it’s not bad timing to let it fly and share some thoughts on the church today. But first, the beach…

I grew up with 55 degree east coast mornings. Riding my bike over the Rudee Inlet and heading to 1st Street to catch the morning surf on an easy summer day. There is nothing like it here in Va Beach. The thing I enjoyed most wasn’t always the surf, friendships, or morning ride. It was the walk along the shoreline. In between sets or taking a break with no surf, I’d spend time walking along the foam covered sands of the ocean front shore to see the things left behind by the ocean’s currents. Old cans, shells, bottles, little fish, scattered debris, birds running up to the water only to scurry fearfully as the tide rolled back in quickly to the shore.

It was a motley crew of objects.
But one thing was always constant- the beach.
Everything else- changed constantly.

The items on the shore would get swept back out to sea.
Treasures from a time gone by would slowly get buried beneath the wet sand.
Shells that some would count as beautiful would be destroyed beneath the crashing of the waves.
Even the sand was shifting ever so constantly with every touch of salty liquid that moved across it’s surface.

The beach still remains beautiful and it’s an amazing thing to be a part of, but the things that interact with it never remain the same. As it is with God’s Church.

As we keep our eye on the church today, we watch as:
People come. People go.
Lives are changed. People are offended.
Marriages are restored. Relationships crumble.
People love being a part of the community. Things change and they move on.
The church sees roaring numbers. People walk away in droves.
Addiction is beat with God’s help. Turn back to another hit.
God please help my weary spirit. Why do you let this happen, I cannot stand you!?

The movement of people through God’s church is something you have no control over. All you can do is submit to Him and His guidance to love everyone who you interact with. One of the biggest lessons learned in 13 years of ministry is, “Other than God’s mission/goal/love for the church, nothing else stays the same.” It’s okay if people come in and decide to go to another church instead. If a guy whose been addicted to drugs for years finally walks through the door and loves the church, but decides to go to a recovery program elsewhere, thanks alright too. When a couple who outgrew or became disconnected with their church come out and decide they feel connected at your church, don’t rush them away because you’re a new church that’s “all about the new person.” Because those people need a place for community too. And there will even be some people who come, check out the church you are a part of, hate it, and never go to church again. God clearly talks about the message of Jesus offending people too. That’s a hard part of the ebb and flow for many people who love Jesus. You might even be like me and see some of it happening in the home/family you grew up with. It’s hard to come to terms with.

As Christians, we need to understand, that just like the ebb & flow of the ocean’s shoreline we’ve come to love so much here at the beach- the face & community we look at as “the church” is always changing. People, ministries, ideas, perspectives, lives, it’s all changing. But, the good news is that it’s still beautiful in God’s eyes. God is still moving in places we cannot see. People will come and be saved and continue their journey at the church you attend, while others will decide it’s time to transition to something else.

If we look at the Church as more of a collective group of believers & servants and less from the perspective of the name that graces the cover of our programs and bulletins… ministry and loving God becomes beautiful in it’s simplicity. It’s not about the things we like or don’t like about a church or competing with area churches for numbers, status, and popularity- it’s about changing lives. It’s about being okay with ebb & flow of God’s church changing as people’s journey continues.

As we enter into 2010, I’ll wrap up with a question and maybe we can talk this through a bit more…

“How can the local church make sure to keeps it’s focus, energy, and time on being available to God so it can help the global church & kingdom of God growing?”

I have some ideas, but I’d love to hear yours…

A few snap shots of 2009 Christmas & Holiday Break.
Hope all of you had an amazing time with friends & family.
Jason *over and out*

Wrapped up work.
Headed to Famous Uncle Als for dinner with the family.
Spent quality time with Chloe actin’ a fool.
Layed down to rest and watched *Wayne’s World & **Footloose.

And I cannot sleep.
Not a wink.

My mind is racing. Moving and I cannot stop thinking. Christmas is on the brink, people are out losing their minds trying to find gifts, families are traveling to visit loved ones, and I am living in fear of a flat planet. I love what the Church (capital C, universal) is doing with serving projects, Christmas Eve services, etc. But, I don’t think it’s entirely working. I think it’s falling flat. We’re on the verge of a flat planet. A place where every time the church tries to immitate the “cool new thing” it falls flat because it’s been done before and usually better and more professional by the secular media/market.

Around us, every year, we see, hear, and are communicated to with the same message in our churches: “Christmas is not about consumerism. Why can’t everyone remember the true meaning of Christmas?” Turning the status quo and flipping it on it’s end takes a lot more than gatherings with songs or serving one time a year. The wow factor or shock and awe of the events churches are doing isn’t cutting it. Neither is trying to be like SNL or the latest thing on FunnyorDie.com. It’s falling flat. The God I serve is bigger than those ideas. The wave of ideas needs to change, but it cannot stop at simply ideas.

It takes a culture shift.
And… I believe it’s happening.
I’m watching it take place through the community of Forefronters.

I’ll share more with you tomorrow. Until then,
Jason *over and out*

Footnotes:
*Wayne’s World is a fantastic movie and glad it was on cable.
**Footloose is a guilty pleasure. Judge me if you must, but I just want to… DANCE! Ha.