Thursday, April 30, 2009

Thursday Thinkback

Here are some random thoughts as I prepare to fly home today:
  • Today I fly home from Louisiana after 8 days.
  • I can't wait to get home.
  • I really miss my family.
  • 8 days is WAY to long to be gone.
  • I am planning on some fun with the boys this weekend.
  • Sometimes I wonder if the 8 days of work here was valuable.
  • I hope it was!
  • I am listening to Pastor Dave's message from Sunday, right now.
  • I wish I could have went to the men's fishing trip. Sounds like fun, cold, but fun!
  • Traveling is very expensive.
  • I am really tired. It has been a looooong week.
  • Total travel time today, door to door, is 15 hours.
  • Yes, I get to be at work tomorrow by 7'ish.
  • I got hung up in the TSA security. Apparently my backpack had to much stuff to see it all in the scanner. They had to remove half of it and rescan it.
  • I guess I over prepare sometimes.
  • Did I mention I miss my family?
  • New Orleans is a beautiful, really sinful, but beautiful place.
  • For being in the south, I really feel like New Orleans needs God in a whole new way.
  • This month I will be teaching at a new church plant.
  • I am excited for their church plant and being a small part of it.
  • See ya on Sunday!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Care to Comment?

What do you do if you have bad service at a restaurant? The line takes to long at the pharmacy? The coffee consistently has grounds in it when you buy it? Do you say anything?

What do you do when the service is great? How about when the coffee is out of this world? The server remembers you by name from your last visit? Do you say anything?

I hope the answer to both questions are the same!

I am one of those that consistently fills out comment cards, visits the company's website customer service. I make comments to the manager. If they ask I will tell. If they don't ask, I will tell. Why? I think, for the most part, management truly wants to know how the business is doing in meeting the customers needs. When I visit, they have 2 options, "Surprise" or "Demise". I plan to tell them which one they picked.

The key, though, is that I tell them regardless of which way they go. I think it is even more important to congratulate them on success then it is to criticize their failure. It seems that most are quick to criticize the bad and not complement the success.

Don't we do this as Christians? We are quick to find fault with other denominations or other churches. They are too big. They are too small. The music is too loud, the music is too traditional.

The reality is we need to be excited for other churches. If they are doing something great for God then lets celebrate with them. If they are reaching the lost, lets let them know how they are doing.

How about you?

Monday, April 27, 2009

Social Behavior

As you know I am in the middle of a trip to New Orleans. I am here for 8 days for business. One of the things that I tend to do while I am traveling is watch people. OK, I always watch people, but I tend to do it more when I am traveling.

I think that when you are out of your element, or perhaps in an area that you haven't been before, you tend to be more aware of your surroundings. You are cautious and in constant watch of what is going on around you. Which of course plays in to my habit of studying people's social behaviors.

In New Orleans, while spending the evening on Bourbon Street, it was sad watching people's behavior. As you have seen (or heard) about Bourbon St. and Mardi Graus, things occur here that don't occur anywhere. As young women were prompted and encouraged to do inappropriate stuff, I really didn't enjoy it and tended to move another way.

As I was sharing with a friend about that, he reminded me that they are some one's daughter. That was when I realized why I was so saddened by the behavior. I think that one of the "side effects" of growing as a Christian is the fact that you grow in your passion to see the lost saved. As you grow in Christ, you grow more like Christ. Christ cares about the hurting and the lost.

How about you?

Friday, April 24, 2009

NOT Funny Friday Fun

Every Friday I post a video that is funny or fun or just plain enjoyable to watch. Enjoy! This time, though, I thought I would share a video that I saw that was simply scary. It is worthy of the 3 minutes it will take to watch.

Disclaimer: This is meant to be something enjoyable or educational. This is not necessarily my opinion, but it is something that makes a point. If you don't like it, then please turn it off!


Thursday, April 23, 2009

Walkway Etiquette

Have you ever been to an airport on large venue where they have moving walkways. They are like a conveyor belt for people. Did you know that there is walkway etiquette when using them?

That's right. If you use one and decide not to continue walking while on it, then you stand to one side that others are able to pass you who choose to continue walking. How do I know that? I learned it when I attended airport/walkway etiquette school... OK not really.

It is one of those traits that you just learn through doing and becomes something you do. The funny part about it is that I get really annoyed with someone who doesn't have walkway etiquette and stands right in the middle, when I am trying to get by. Do they not get it? This is what you do? Do they need to go back to the beginning of the walkway for remediation?

I was thinking as I was zipping past people on the walkway this morning, and I was wondering how often I do this...or the "church" does this. There is no formal training on how I "do" church. However, through doing and being an active part of your church you develop those skills and experiences of how you "do" church.

The question is, do the guests visiting your church now them? If not, do you get annoyed because they are "standing in the middle", or are you patient enough to help them understand? More importantly, are you taking those rituals out of your church so they aren't even an issue?

I think I probably get more annoyed than I should. It is definitely something to work on. Take a look at what you do each day, and decide are you expecting people to stand to the side of your walkway? If so, do they know it? Just food for thought!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Thank you Guys!

This is one of those posts that is rarely written but I am grateful to write.

In the church today we find way to many splits, divides in congregations, etc. In denominational church, I think this is more common, because there is usually great amounts of heritage, history, habits, traditions. Call it what you want, it simply is people do not want to change and they like things the way it is. As a result, there are no clear and open discussions and the end result is all to often church splits, or churches that are destroyed... all over "non-essentials".

Every now and then we get to learn about disagreements or differences of opinions and how to work through them in a Godly way. Today is one of those days.

If you have not heard, then you need to go here and here and learn about the decision that Perry Noble, Tony Morgan and NewSpring Leadership made this week.

Thank you gentlemen! Thank you for giving us yet another example of leading the church God's way! Your integrity and your seeking of God in this process is amazing. This could have been an easy way for the devil to destroy the church, but you didn't let it!

I Pray that God multiplies both your ministries through this experience and I KNOW that God will be glorified through this process...he already has!

Thank you for setting the example for the rest of us in dealing with staffing/leadership differences!

God Bless you both!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Anticipation

It is Monday and on Thursday I fly out to New Orleans on business for 8 days. The week of is always an interesting time.

I love to travel. I love to fly and visit new places, it is partly how I am wired. Yet, for some reason the week of the flight I begin to build a little anticipation of the flight. I know Jesus, so I am not scared to die (not that I am ready to go yet!), and I feel flying is very safe (more likely to die in a car than a plane); however I am always a bit ency before my flight.

I haven't quite nailed it down, but I think that maybe it is the unknown. Although I am "prepared" I don't know what will happen. I don't know what the next 8 days will have in store for me.

If you know me, you know that I like a little structure in my life, and when I travel there is to much left to the unknown.

So, today as the anticipation began to set in I was thinking about people like me who haven't found Christ. Do they have a hard time putting there faith in a God when they don't have all the answers. When they don't know exactly what to expect. How do you reach someone like that...someone like me?

I am not sure. I know that Love is involved somewhere, and maybe some Grace...but I think that to reach people like me, there has to be a deliberate effort made. I haven't figured it out yet.

Any thoughts?

Friday, April 17, 2009

Funny Friday Fun

Every Friday I post a video that is funny or fun or just plain enjoyable to watch. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: This is meant to be something enjoyable, if you don't find it funny or enjoyable, then please turn it off.I didn't make them, I simply shared them. Chill out a bit will ya!




Friday, April 10, 2009

Funny Friday Fun

Every Friday I post a video that is funny or fun or just plain enjoyable to watch. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: This is meant to be something enjoyable, if you don't find it funny or enjoyable, then please turn it off.I didn't make them, I simply shared them. Chill out a bit will ya!





Monday, April 6, 2009

One of those days

Today is one of those days...

You know the kind...

Great weekend, did something special with my wife, hung out around the house, had a small group meeting on Sunday with friends staying late. The wife and I then stayed up even later to unwind from such a wonderful weeekend.

Add to that, a teenage daughter who needs a ride to school first thing in the morning....when you add everything up you get:

Sleepy and tired this Monday afternoon.

As I was thinking about what to blog today, I couldn't believe how tired I was. It often amazed me that life always seems to hit hardest when we are trying to change something big, something that may require a lot of will power.

As Pastor Dave preached yesterday about being alive and having great expectations from God, I began thinking why I couldn't have the same big expectations from my marriage and my family. I committed to living every day with great expectations from God and in his ability to touch every part of my life.

Do I still believe it? Of Course, but that doesn't mean it is easy to do, especially when I am exhausted! Yet, because I have a mighty God I am going to push through it, knowing that I can't do this alone!

Thanks God...I need you more than I know!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today, 11 years ago, a young girl made the best decision of her life....she married me!

Do you buy it?... Yeah, me neither!

Actually I was the lucky one who got to marry her. Most of the time, you hear people talking about marrying someone better than them. Marrying up....well, I married someone out of my league.

Has our marriage been perfect? Absolutely not. In fact, I would be scared if it was, because that meant we were not being real. We have really great times and there have been difficult times. However, the one great thing I can count on, is that we can always talk things out. We are not only husband and wife... but we are also best friends!

In fact, here are a few comments from others as well:

Hello Jason and Autumn,

Happy Anniversary !!!
Please consider this your card. We all can bask in the knowledge that we are helping to save our planet. GO GREEN!! LOL! I just quack myself up! However, on to bigger and better things.

Can you believe that you've been married that long? Now you know how I feel, being married 37 years to your Dad! (Mouth hangs open in disbelief!) You all know one of the rules of being married to someone is COMMUNICATION! You must have these as well: FAITH,TRUTH, LOVE, PATIENCE, TRUST, AND BE PRETTY!! I'm sure there are a few more.

You both are doing a good job of bring your boys up. The way in which you chose to raise them giving them faith and to know the love of God is great. Autumn home schools the boys. The boys are very smart also! I'm real proud of you both. Group hug! Come on Jason, you know you want to! LOL!

You both have a great sense of humor and a wonderful way of telling a story and you bring out the best in each other.


Happy Anniversary,


Paul & Roberta
[Autumn's Parent's]

Thanks Paul & Roberta...you are great in-laws to have....no really Ro, I mean it. hahaha
I also want to take a moment and let someone else say a few words....

To my Dearest Jason and Autumn!!!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY with big capital letters!
I am so proud of both of you. Marriage is not an easy road. There are no maps that tell you which way to go. Communication is the key. But if the communication is not all about your true feelings, then it really doesn't matter.

I thought your Dad and I had the perfect marriage. A shock to me after 37 years, was that he still wasn't happy. So now, I can not give you advice except for what I have experienced. I always gave up my passions to please your Dad. He was the money maker and I felt I needed to please him. I think what happened over the years, was I lost my self and he lost respect for me.

Please, Please, Please---don't lose control of who you are. You both have feelings and wants, that are important only to each of you. Share these thoughts and work through them. You have two beautiful boys (sorry handsome boys), that need you.

Just know that I wish the two of you , all the happiness in the world. I hope you can survive this crazy world.

Your forever loving MOTHER---a.k.a. MeMa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Judy [Jason's Mom]

So, as I wrap up this post today dedicated to our Anniversary. I want to take a moment and say that we are only where we are because of one thing. We both love God first. If we did not have God as the center of our marriage, I am not sure where we would be. God has given us strength to communicate, to love, to forgive, to be forgiven, to be patient, to be vulnerable....all when maybe we didn't want to.

Granted it has only been 11 years, I expect there to be 50 more to follow. The key to this great success...God and a beautiful wife!

I Love you Autumn, more and more every day!

Happy Anniversary, my betrothed!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Funny Friday Fun

Every Friday I post a video that is funny or fun or just plain enjoyable to watch. However, this week I am going to change things up. Tomorrow Autumn and I celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary.

In honor of that this weekend my blog is being taken hostage and becoming a tribute to Autumn. Each day will be some thoughts or pictures that I may have about Autumn, our marriage, or the journey we have been on.

Please join me in this journey, as I think it will be fun!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Thursday Thinkback

Just a few random thoughts that I want to dump today:
  • We spent this last weekend at our friends cabin.
  • My buddy and I did a 6.9 mile hike on Saturday. It felt great!
  • We found some amazing things on our hike.
  • You can check out the pics here.
  • We missed church on Sunday.
  • I am bummed that I missed the kick off of the Alive series.
  • I think this is going to be an amazing series.
  • I can't wait until Easter.
  • In case you missed my post yesterday, I think something amazing is going to happen on Easter at New Life.
  • My daughter had her first break-up with her first true love.
  • Our baby is growing up to be an amazing young woman (but not quite yet!!!)
  • This Saturday Autumn and I celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary.
  • I love her more today, then I did when we got married.
  • I didn't think that was possible.
  • God and Autumn surprise me every day!
  • My boss lost his brother on Monday morning.
  • That was a surprise to everyone. Please keep the family in your prayers.
  • This has been a very busy week as a result... a good busy, but busy.
  • I can't wait for Sunday. I am excited about the Alive series.
  • See ya all on Sunday!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Alive is here!

I talked about it a few times over the last month. I am really excited about Easter this year. I am certainly not nearly as involved this year as I have been. In fact, I am not involved in the creative planning at all. I am excited I get to run sound in Venue2, though. Yet, for some reason, I think this is going to be one of the most impactful Easter Sundays we have had at New Life.

Why, I am not sure. Call it a hunch or call it excitement. What ever it is, you need to be there.... and you need to invite everyone of your friends. God is going to be there and it is going to be amazing.

We have 6 services you can attend. Check out the graphic below, and send it to all your friends!