Soiled Saints

Recently, Larry Burleson, our worship pastor had his annual “Christmas in August,” in which he debuted choral music that he plans to unveil at Christmas time. I just happened to be out of town (more on that in an upcoming blog post) in New York City, so I couldn’t attend.

However, Larry’s event, coupled with the fact that I recently read where retailers ARE ALREADY MAKING PLANS for Christmas, and are eagerly anticipating this season of shopping, led me to think deeply about Christmas over the past week.

I remember back to Christmas’s past where I was so excited to see what “santa” brought me. 1983-5 were good years for raking loot in (I’m 2/5ths ashamed to even type that but unfortunately, it was the truth. I was (and sadly still am at times) a carnal little tyke.

I also remember Christmas 1998. I was getting married two days later. Mandy to this day is still my best Christmas present ever. (And before you type back and rail on me for brownie points, flattery doesn’t cut it with her. I know what my brownie points are: Vacuuming the floor and rubbing her feet…….and not even in that order).

We are in this series on the New Testament book of Titus called “Sweat the Small Stuff,” and we finished off Titus 2 with looking at the gift of God’s grace.

Our main point for the verses was this:

When you receive the gift of Grace, you will be gripped by it and will grow in it.

Jesus has come to save all sorts of people. The Kingdom of God is so diverse, with all types of people. Heaven will not be boringJ!!

Grace grips us by training us (educate-challenge-encourage-discipline) to renounce (Say NO) ungodliness or worldly passions.

Grace grips us by training us to live a certain way that points to God as all-satisfying( say YES) in ways that demonstrate self-control, uprightness, and godliness.

This way of living is not a burden, rather it’s a privilege. Think about this: You and I get to represent the King of all Kings. It’s not “I gotta do this” with a look of glum. It’s “I GET to do this” with a look of absolute glee!

I think a lot of problems that people attribute to the devil are not because of the devil. I think he’s a scapegoat for our utter lack of discipline and self-control.

The overwhelming privilege is this: God doesn’t need me to do anything as if He is incomplete. Yet He lovingly invites me to be a part of the Story He is writing throughout history. To think: my life contributes to God’s glory?

That’s why we live this out in “this present age.” Don’t wait to live for Jesus until you’re “ready.” You never will.

Paul talked to Titus about waiting for our blessed hope. It reminded me of waiting for Christmas day two weeks out. You thought it’d never get here, but the more you waited, the more you got pumped.

Take that and multiply it by 10000 and you begin to scratch a very deep surface of how Paul is eagerly awaiting Jesus’ return.

Why should we live expectantly here and now? Because Jesus willingly gave Himself as a sacrifice for us. No other “god” did or does that.

We’ve been saved: From our sin. From God’s wrath. By Christ’s death/resurrection. For God’s glory as displayed in Good works.

We are actually according to Paul “God’s poem” in Ephesians 2:10, getting to display God’s good work by our good works.

Are we zealous, jumping at the chance to display God’s good work?

-So, how do I know if I’ve been gripped and being gripped by this gift?  Are you saying no more often?  Are you saying no more to those attitudes, actions and mindsets that strip away your amazement at grace?

-So, how do I know if I’m growing in this gift?  Am I sharing it freely with others?  Am I more and more eagerly jumping at the chance to display God’s good work with my good works?  If not, why?  If so, how?

SOME NOTES:

-We had30+ people not here who usually are. It looks like we need to move to a 2 service format soon.

-Coming up this week now that I’m back in (somewhat) the saddle will see blog posts on: my experience in NYC with Rendered Heart and some fantastic people. I’ll also return to my blog series on the people who have touched my life. You’ll get to meet the “real” Bo Jackson, some kids who now are fully grown adults (I’m getting old), and some other key people who have influenced me in major ways.

-Plus, I’ll have a cultural barb or two. Especially about the Dallas Cowboys’ new church…….i mean stadium.

Love and grace,

Jason

Nobody likes being sick….at least I think.

However, I’m grateful that I’m (hopefully) on the mend.

Lots to say.  and Lord willing i’ll say it.

Jason

There are more students I’d like to share with you…..

Sabrina and Tonya: Sabrina has changed her last name (due to being married) Tonya has not. Both of these great ladies were not only sweet, but very fiery…..expressed differently. While Tonya was rather quiet (at least around us), you could see her fierce determination. Sabrina was equally as fiery and could show it with tone of voice and face. I was challenged often by both of them (not like hey I challenge you to a duel but I had to look at my life and make adjustments due to watching them).

Janelle Henderson (Former Snow): My little sister. She loves weird candy (Violet Crumble?), and is a proud mom and wife. I’ve enjoyed my friendship/big brotherness with her for nearly 20 years. WOW. I’m old. She’s a great mom, godly wife, and a trusted friend.

Mike Rugged-love-seat: Who do you trust with marrying someone who’s a little sister to you? Well, I trust Mike. He’s a godly man who I respect, admire, and could hang out with forever.

More to come.

Jason

The KCC student crew that I’m referring to are a bunch of people.  This also may have to be multiple entries….

-Rhoda Lambert (Ryan):  Rhoda is an amazing encourager who seemingly had never-ending energy.  She had two stints in the ministry, one in middle school, one in high school.  Rhoda was a strong student leader who never failed for a laugh, an encouragement and a jolt of passion in your walk with Christ.

-Kim Coleman:  Kim was a mom to her friends.  She was so full of grace and peace that one had to know her sources of those two things came from the same place:  God’s spirit.

-Victor Lugo:  BEAK-TOR!!  Victor was and is a passionate worshiper.  He has inspired, encouraged and convicted me ever since I first met him in 1992.  More on Vic and other members of his family in a soon-coming post.

-Mike Janik:  Mike Janik to this day pees “cool.”  Everything about him screams “cool.”  Hair, voice, looks.  Mike is cool, and if I were to major in man-crushes, I’d have on on him.  But the coolest thing about Mike?  His desire to follow Christ.

-Ryan Bradford:  The scholar.  The poet.  The thinker.  That’s Ryan.  I still remember a sermon he preached about us being God’s “poem-a” (God’s workmanship) from Ephesians 2:1-10.  If it’s true that we forget 90 percent of what we hear after 3 days, Ryan’s sermon was other-worldly, since he preached it 12 years ago.

-Kristina Bradford:  Ryan’s sister. (or should I say Ryan is her brother…)  She was steady, faithful, and watching.  She learned much and served more.  She’s now a missionary serving Christ’s cause globally, and I’m thrilled for her and the global church.

Each of these now near-30 somethings has touched and marked my life in ways I’m still unpacking.  A blog post or 20 can’t do them full justice.

I’ll cover the rest of the student crew in a following post.

Jason

NEXT:  Zappasodi’s, Lugo’s, Snow’s that turned to Henderson’s, and much more.

-today was a good day. Good, long, and tiring, which is what a Sunday should be.

-We continued to track/trend upwards in attendance, which for the summer slump is a sweet kiss from God.

-Today we looked at “sweat the small friends.” How do and should we relate to other generations within the church?

-I spoke at a camp recently where the youngest kid was 11. ELEVEN.

-Holy cow. I’m 36. I was scared. I could be his father. In a non-hickbilly-only see these Appalachian types on a discovery channel documentary-on Mormon fundamentalism type of way.

-I could be his father legit.

-Instead of celebrating our ages and working together I was scared. Culture separates generations. It shouldn’t be that way at church.

-So we need to Counter the culture by investing in Christ-pointing, inter-generational relationships.

-This is What the world needs to see demonstrated.

-Older men need to invest in younger men. And younger men need the wisdom of older men.

-Both can be arrogant and prideful, thinking that they don’t need the other. And they are wrong.

-And they need to repent. And invest.

-As a (still) younger man I need to see sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled men who are sound in faith, love and endurance.

-And they need to re-learn those lessons through mentoring punks like me.

-This doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when we dwell on the Gospel in how God reached out to us while we were yet sinners NOT LOOKING FOR HIM.

-Maybe a younger guy isn’t looking for a mentor. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t need one.

-It’s the same with older women. They need the younger and the younger need the older.

-I would argue that being a housewife is NOT A CRIME.

-I would also argue that husbands should love their wives to the point that the wife is like, “I’d love to submit to that guy. He loves me so much.”

-The culture needs to see now more than ever proper examples of Godly motherhood.

-imagine if we had older mentoring younger. Actively seeking them out. Culture would be countered. Life and learning would happen. God would be glorified and we would be satisfied.

More to come,

Jason

Okay. Back from Austin and downtown Houston.

Many thanks to Sam, Cynthia, and the counselors-students at Camp Challenge. Great time was had by me, and hopefully all.

Many thanks to Phillip and Tydon at Pillar of Truth. Great folks there at that great church.

My next few posts:
-Sunday Summary from 8.2.09

-Back to the people have radically changed my life. We’ll be looking at a family named Downs who have been one of the greatest “ups” in my life.

-Sunday Summary 8.9.09

-Observations about our whacked culture.

May God give us greater glimpses of His grace in the coming days.

Jason

Camp Challenge was amazing. The kids, the atmosphere, the Holy Spirit.

All amazing.

Numerous kids weeping and confessing/repenting of sin. Numerous kids placing faith in Christ to make them right with God to enjoy God.

God is quite good.

And a drive from Austin to Pillar of Truth Christian Center…where we had 13 fired up people. Sure the crowd was small….but their hearts were large for God.

I was JUST as blessed to be there as at Camp. Praise God!

More later.
Jason

Well, in about 1.75 hours, we’re back in session. I’m (hopefully) going to equate God’s great love displayed in the Gospel through the pacemaker story.

Camp’s been good. Missing my family. But I’m glad God has seen fit to have me here.

You know, I’m really thankful for my church family. In the past month, we’ve seen God do some great things…..such as…

-Give nearly 900.00 to the cause of the unborn as we gave to ministries that help women in holistic ways NOT just threatening endeavors outside of abortion clinics.

-Seen us partner with another church (predominately African-American) for VBS!! What a beautiful expression of the kingdom of God!

-We gave a car load of school supplies and back packs to the apartment complex Mandy and I live in for their school supply drive along with Houston Area Apartment Assistance MInistries………….along with a $2,000.00 check for more stuff!! The staff at the complex and the apt. president were blew away!!

Praise to the great God!!

Pray for tonight……

Jason

I’m here at Camp Challenge, Ft. Bend Community Church’s middle school camp with 120 middle schoolers and 20 counselors.  Texas has amazing hills, you just gotta get out of Houston to find them!!

Please pray as over the span of camp we’ll be tackling issues such as:  Hypocrisy, true knowledge, love, forgiveness and ultimately the Gospel.

Pray for me, that I would be Gospel-drenched as we seek Christ.

I’ll have (semi) live blog updates as I continue, but for now:  it’s time for more delicious camp food (and I’m serious).

Jason

NEXT:  I’ll have a quite full Sunday Summary in addition to camp updates.  Plus, I’ll have the privilege of showing just how God is moving and working in our church family to reach out beyond the walls of our building.