Hey all,
My oh my, what a long title. Many of you know this year we hae been hosting the Upwards program at CWC. At the end of last year God really put it on my heart that if we do it again that I wanted to coach a team. Well God definitely answered that prayer this year as I am now coaching the 5th/6th grade boys basketball team.
It has been so awesome watching kids who might not normally come to church memorizing scripture and getting involved. My prayer is that this will spill over into families coming to know Christ in a greater way. In this day and age it is so wise to meet our culture where they are at. When it comes to kids sports many parents will support their kids no matter what (as well they should)
I say all this to say that in all of this I have benefited so much spiritually. In the families I have met, and many of the people I have gotten a chance to work with this year. Now if you have seen me coach I think I get more a workout than the kids (hint: I'm jumping all over the place). It is hard to contain the excitement of seeing a kid finally come out of any shyness he has and shooting the ball (i had that happen last week). It was awesome!
Isn't it funny how when you go, "out on a limb" so to speak and do something completely different that God shows you how awesome he is? Take a look at aspects of you r life and ask God where can I be stretched. Yeah, I know it is a dangerous question because as with most things we may not know th results, but praise God that he walks with us through these bold new challenges!
May God Bless you and Heaven Smile on you!
Pastor Jason
PS: "Go Aces"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
From the Inside out
Hey all,
As I sit here and think and type I find myself so hopeful right now. Pastor Mick has said time and time again that, "Now will be our finest hour"! Those of you who know me know that I have a flair for the dramatic, and that phrased has been a guiding force for me in recent week. I have seen and talked to people who have indicated that right now in their lives they feel like they are going through the worst time in their life. Whether the problems are economic, or just despair with situations, we all need to be reminded that God is there! Yes, God is there thought the hard times, we are not alone.
Tomorrow is uncertain and the guilt and pain of yesterday can and will dominate if we don't surrender to God. Many ask me about our youth all the time. How are they? Are they putting their hope in Jesus? The answer is yes, and if we are doing what we should do (praying and seeking God's wisdom) then the answer is clear. We are to put our hope in Jesus from the inside out, that is, with our entire being.
I know this is tough especially during the rough times, those times that we don't do what we know we should. So get back up and try again. Don't give up! The glorious one, our great God wants no less of us.
So as you go about your day today, remember that. Whether you are taking the kids to school or out, having dinner, life journaling, don't forget what a great God we serve. He is everlasting!!!
"His light will shine when all else fails
neverending his glory goes beyond all things
my heart and my soul
I give you control
consume us from the inside out"
"From the Inside out" Hillsong
May God bless you and Heaven smile on you!
Pastor Jason
As I sit here and think and type I find myself so hopeful right now. Pastor Mick has said time and time again that, "Now will be our finest hour"! Those of you who know me know that I have a flair for the dramatic, and that phrased has been a guiding force for me in recent week. I have seen and talked to people who have indicated that right now in their lives they feel like they are going through the worst time in their life. Whether the problems are economic, or just despair with situations, we all need to be reminded that God is there! Yes, God is there thought the hard times, we are not alone.
Tomorrow is uncertain and the guilt and pain of yesterday can and will dominate if we don't surrender to God. Many ask me about our youth all the time. How are they? Are they putting their hope in Jesus? The answer is yes, and if we are doing what we should do (praying and seeking God's wisdom) then the answer is clear. We are to put our hope in Jesus from the inside out, that is, with our entire being.
I know this is tough especially during the rough times, those times that we don't do what we know we should. So get back up and try again. Don't give up! The glorious one, our great God wants no less of us.
So as you go about your day today, remember that. Whether you are taking the kids to school or out, having dinner, life journaling, don't forget what a great God we serve. He is everlasting!!!
"His light will shine when all else fails
neverending his glory goes beyond all things
my heart and my soul
I give you control
consume us from the inside out"
"From the Inside out" Hillsong
May God bless you and Heaven smile on you!
Pastor Jason
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Who would have thought.... It figures God shows up!!!
Hey all,
Well as I preached on Sunday, getting rid of the clutter is not the easiest thing to do. This is my first full week of FASTING from Television (as most of you may know I am an avid LOST, and Law and Order fan. I gotta tell you I have had some of the most amazing conversations this week. As you can see by the picture above God really blessed our youth lockin. In today's hard economic times we were blessed by God working through our teensw to collect over $2000 for World Vision and for our church, My Brother's Keeper, that we support in Detroit.
As I have been reflecting on this time it is definitely a time of practicing what you preach. Looking to God in all things, and heeding the words of Jeremiah 29:11. I believe that it is when our faith is tested with obstacles, it totally figures that our Great God is there with us to guide us through situations. Blessed be his name.
As I was talking to some people this week it was so cool to have them speak life, into my life. That is, to have those real "meaty" conversations that I believe each of us desires to have. Don't miss those opportunities. They are there. In today's fast paced world, we just have to look a little deeper for them. I praise God for helping me get rid of the clutter. As you read this I hope you think on those things that you need to get rid of. Pray about it, and moreover do something about it.
I pray these words find you well. Seve God with all your heart this week!!!!
Pastor Jason
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The one thing that I don't Question!
Hey all,
I hope this week finds you snowy but well. I was reading and preparing my message for this week and came accross 1 Thessolonians 3: 6-10. In it, you see the response to Timothy sharing the good news of Christ. It is really an awesome set of scripture when you stop to think of all the drama Timothy, much like Paul had to endure in this journeys.
I think to myself, the one thing that I don't want to ever Question is God's love for me. His infinite love, the love that is so characteristic in I Corinthians 13. That is the type of love that I want to share with people every week. I think that we all need to be reminded that, although we may mistakes, God forgives us in a way that is sometimes hard to understand. Because we live in such an unforgiving world that makes it that much harder.
Of any time of the year January and February are the hardest months for me to get through. I love Spring and Summer, and can even take Fall on a good day, but these months are what I like to call the Dog Days of Winter. Ironically, I find that I am more focused during these months as I read and pray over scripture, and now with the addition of my Life Journal, God has been giving me new insight into what I am reading. Isn't that just awesome how God works. I think of Timothy and what it must have been like for him to see just a glimpse of the spiritual fruit that (even for the smallest moment) was evident in the lives of the Thessalonians.
As we look at our families, and our friends my prayer is that each of us is willing to receptive to those moments of insight, and know that the one thing that we should never Question is that God will always be there!
May God bless you and heaven smile on you!
Pastor Jason
I hope this week finds you snowy but well. I was reading and preparing my message for this week and came accross 1 Thessolonians 3: 6-10. In it, you see the response to Timothy sharing the good news of Christ. It is really an awesome set of scripture when you stop to think of all the drama Timothy, much like Paul had to endure in this journeys.
I think to myself, the one thing that I don't want to ever Question is God's love for me. His infinite love, the love that is so characteristic in I Corinthians 13. That is the type of love that I want to share with people every week. I think that we all need to be reminded that, although we may mistakes, God forgives us in a way that is sometimes hard to understand. Because we live in such an unforgiving world that makes it that much harder.
Of any time of the year January and February are the hardest months for me to get through. I love Spring and Summer, and can even take Fall on a good day, but these months are what I like to call the Dog Days of Winter. Ironically, I find that I am more focused during these months as I read and pray over scripture, and now with the addition of my Life Journal, God has been giving me new insight into what I am reading. Isn't that just awesome how God works. I think of Timothy and what it must have been like for him to see just a glimpse of the spiritual fruit that (even for the smallest moment) was evident in the lives of the Thessalonians.
As we look at our families, and our friends my prayer is that each of us is willing to receptive to those moments of insight, and know that the one thing that we should never Question is that God will always be there!
May God bless you and heaven smile on you!
Pastor Jason
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