Thursday night shortly before GAPP I recieved a message letting me know that a precious child, 14 years old, from a youth group in our district had died. Furthermore, she had committed suicide. My heart immediately felt broken. I had met her at Family camp last summer and again at NEXT (the Wesleyan Youth Leadership weekend). She was a delightful young lady, and as I reflect upon her my heart is filled with sadness that many of our teens may be struggling with these feeling too.
As I spoke to GAPP it became all too apparent that there are so many things in this world that try to overwelm us. We spent quite a bit of time at the altar looking for understanding, for clarity and for something to ease the breaking of hearts. Over 90% of those teens had been touched in some way by suicide. As I write this, some statistics say that somewhere, somewhen a teen will kill themselves. Again, my heart fills with sadness.
As I stood at her funeral and talked with God, my prayer was this, that God would strengthen us all to be ambassador's of his word. To take the living Jesus to the decaying world that is out there. As I minister with teens I continually realize one thing, many that I come into contact with would never say they need Jesus, but deep down they know they do.
So as you continue on this journey this week, be mindful of those around you who need a touch from Jesus. Are you willing to be that vessel?
I am reminded of the scripture that accompanied the services for this young lady. I pray that you are blessed by this:
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and recieve you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also" John 14: 1-3
May God Bless you and Heaven smile on you!
Pastor Jason
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The Right Direction
Well this last week has been an interesting one. I spent a few days at the Willow Creek Youth Leadership Conference. What an awesome time! Just understanding the workings of the generation I minister too (that is funny in and of itself, because do we ever fully understand?). Hearing many youth pastors and teens speak of how God has been ministering to them was way cool. How we are all on a road and want to make sure we are going in the right direction.
As I think back on this week I remember a little box of Christian sayings that Shelly gave me when we dated. One that comes to mind is this, " Father, help me not to give up to quickly on those that I seek to influence toward your way"
What an awesome and profound prayer that is for each and every one of us. that is, the people we come into contact with every day are positively influence for Christ. I have kept that little card close to my heart for quite some time now and reflect back on it every now and again.
I think that in many of our undertakings we desire to do the right thing. We also desire to know that we are headed in the right direction. Children, want that assurance, teens want it, and adults want it too. that assurance is found in the salvation offered by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (I am hearing the song Blessed Assurance in my mind right now). That is what the world needs and that is what we need to "shine" for all those around us to see. Will the road be hard, yep, will people betray/hate us, yep, but the eternal reward and love that Jesus has for us should give us hope. And that Hope is what drives us into the arms of Jesus, the right direction revealed!
May God Bless you and Heaven Smile on ya!
Pastor Jason
Friday, April 4, 2008
This is why we Praise Him!
God's word! I believe that it provides us the comfort and the safety that this world will never give us. Ephesians 5: 18-19 says it so eloquently as we are instructed to worship, " speaking to yourselves in Psalms, Hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord"
As I have said many times I am so stoked that each week I get to see teens lay all their cares down before God. Living out the words of Psalms 34:1. That is truly something beautiful. I had a teen come up to me last night at GAPP (Sr. High) and reveal to me how awesome it is that for at least 2 hours a week a youth group they can come and be themselves, not worry what people thought of them, etc.... I shared with her and I share with you, "YOU CAN HAVE THIS PEACE ALL THE TIME". I think we put God in a box in thinking that our weekly meeting, or Sunday morning is the only time to meet with God. In truth we have ALL ACCESS, ALL THE TIME!
In that same way it is time we mobilize and start talking to our friends and family about Our Great God. We come up with so many excuses. so many days are spent chasing obligations in nothing special seems to stand out as worth remembering. But think of the challenge of sharing the Hope of our Great God with everyone we come in contact with! That has ever been my challenge to the teens and to everyone I come in contact with.
One prayer that has been on my heart is this:
"Lord, it's so hard to pray for this world, this era, my family, my friends, the mistakes I make
They seem so big and so overwelming and complicated. Help us to know what and how to pray through your spirit"!
And that is where God will begin a work that you could never imagine!
May God bless you and Heaven smile on you all!!!
Pastor Jason
As I have said many times I am so stoked that each week I get to see teens lay all their cares down before God. Living out the words of Psalms 34:1. That is truly something beautiful. I had a teen come up to me last night at GAPP (Sr. High) and reveal to me how awesome it is that for at least 2 hours a week a youth group they can come and be themselves, not worry what people thought of them, etc.... I shared with her and I share with you, "YOU CAN HAVE THIS PEACE ALL THE TIME". I think we put God in a box in thinking that our weekly meeting, or Sunday morning is the only time to meet with God. In truth we have ALL ACCESS, ALL THE TIME!
In that same way it is time we mobilize and start talking to our friends and family about Our Great God. We come up with so many excuses. so many days are spent chasing obligations in nothing special seems to stand out as worth remembering. But think of the challenge of sharing the Hope of our Great God with everyone we come in contact with! That has ever been my challenge to the teens and to everyone I come in contact with.
One prayer that has been on my heart is this:
"Lord, it's so hard to pray for this world, this era, my family, my friends, the mistakes I make
They seem so big and so overwelming and complicated. Help us to know what and how to pray through your spirit"!
And that is where God will begin a work that you could never imagine!
May God bless you and Heaven smile on you all!!!
Pastor Jason
Thursday, March 20, 2008
His Passion... His Love....
Well it has been awhile since I wrote. I was off to school for one week in Stroudsburg, Penn (and a visit to NYC). For those of you who don't know I am currently taking Ministerial Classes through the FLAME (Fellowship of Leaders Acquiring Ministerial Education) through the Wesleyan Church. I had an awesome week (Shout out to ET and the FCW Crew!)
Upon returning home (and you know I was recharged and ready to go) We began Holy/Passion week with Crossroads/GAPP watching the movie, "The Passion of the Christ". What an awesome night as about 30 teens and a few adults came out to view this film. In a world that fills our teens heads and tries to occupy most of their time with AIM, MYSPACE, as well as all the daily drama at school, what an awesome time of prayer we had. Teens falling on their knees, pouring out their hearts after having seen vividly the suffering Jesus Christ went through. Ladies and Gentleman, THE TIME HAS COME FOR OUR TEENS TO TAKE A STAND FOR CHRIST! Whether or not you have teenagers is irrelevant we have a lot of them at our church, you need to be on your face praying for them.
John 1:1 illustrates this, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God"~~ that is who our savior is. Be reminded of this, this week Holy/Passion week begain on Palm Sunday with many of the people welcoming Jesus into Jeruselem singing "Hosanna in the Highest", and laying Palm branches at his feet. Today (Thursday) and Tomorrow (what we know as Good Friday") the same crowd was yelling, "Crucify Him". but Praise God that SUNDAY he did for me, and for you, because he loves us so much HE ROSE! AGAIN! That is the heart of the story, the GLORY of his LOVE!
May the Grace of the Lord be with you all!
Pastor Jason
(PS: Midtown Comics (above) was AWESOME!!!!!!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Can you imagine?
Ha, more thoughts from me! Can you imagine what it will be like when we see our savior face to face. I know that the song, "I can Only Imagine" comes to mind, but have you ever really given it much thought.
Lets take a look at this. If there is one certainty in life it is that one day we will all die. What really matters most in life is how we serve the one True God, how we live our life, the relationships we forge, the family and friends that we love. these are the things that really matter.
Have you ever stopped to think about the things that really matter? Sure we get caught in the everyday trials and tribulations, but when it all boils down, it is about us and God. I tell the teens all the time, what really matters is that God loves you and this is so true for all of us. Truth be told whenever I hear the song, "I can Only Imagine", I always think, Pastor Jason Fullum what will you do when that day comes, when Jesus comes back. Will I bow down, will I cry, will I sing songs of praise. all I really know is that there will be such a joy to finally see my savior face to face. That is our hope and joy. hold onto it, because the world wants nothing more than to rip it from you. but God is ever faithful, and if you don't know that joy, then I think it is time that you give Jesus Christ a try. I promise he will never fail you!
Have a blessed week!
Pastor Jason
Lets take a look at this. If there is one certainty in life it is that one day we will all die. What really matters most in life is how we serve the one True God, how we live our life, the relationships we forge, the family and friends that we love. these are the things that really matter.
Have you ever stopped to think about the things that really matter? Sure we get caught in the everyday trials and tribulations, but when it all boils down, it is about us and God. I tell the teens all the time, what really matters is that God loves you and this is so true for all of us. Truth be told whenever I hear the song, "I can Only Imagine", I always think, Pastor Jason Fullum what will you do when that day comes, when Jesus comes back. Will I bow down, will I cry, will I sing songs of praise. all I really know is that there will be such a joy to finally see my savior face to face. That is our hope and joy. hold onto it, because the world wants nothing more than to rip it from you. but God is ever faithful, and if you don't know that joy, then I think it is time that you give Jesus Christ a try. I promise he will never fail you!
Have a blessed week!
Pastor Jason
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Something Beautiful!
There is something beautiful about that first spark of Christianity for people. That is, when they come to the point of realizing the majesty of God.
In the old testament when you read of people like Moses, from the burning bush to the plagues to the Exodus from Egypt (see Exodus 1-20) I sometimes think to myself, "I wish God would show up in amazing ways like that". I mean who can deny a voice coming from a bush on fire, or 10 plagues that are obvious physical signs.
So thinking through further, (and you know that I love to do that), I wonder what miraculous signs of God are we missing as a community of people. Well, I go back to my first statement. There is something beautiful and miraculous about the person that has lived a life of Alcohol and Drugs that comes back to you. The recognizes that without God there is no satisfaction. With so many temporary fixes, I desperately desire that people latch on to the real thing.
You want more:
this morning as I woke up I heard birds chirpiong and as i looked outside the sun was sitting up there like a big bowl of yellow and orange fire. who made that happen? Sure scientist's will argue and debate atmospheric pressure, and the natural configuration of planets (I used to be a scientist so I could go on and on about how we try to figure out everything) but the bottom line is that it is God. He orchestrates a symphony of beauty every day and we go on in our own little world, with it's drama and trials and forget to acknowledge him. Just watch the trees will soon begin to flower, and the snow will be gone, the air will get warmer, and still we ignore him. We put God on the back burner for the things that are temporary.
I tell the teens each week, after reading a book that is awesome (so that means get a copy) called "It all goes back in the box",when all is set and done all the "toys" go back in the box. All the school drama, money, gf/bf, all those things that we think are more important will go back in the box so to speak. At that point we will stand before God. The things that God did in the bible are awesome and beautiful but don't think he is not working today!
Don't miss it people.
Don't miss the BEAUTY of each and every day.
Don't miss the BEAUTY that a true authentic relationship with God holds for you!
That is totally and truly something beautiful!
May God Bless You and Heaven Smile on You!
Pastor Jason
In the old testament when you read of people like Moses, from the burning bush to the plagues to the Exodus from Egypt (see Exodus 1-20) I sometimes think to myself, "I wish God would show up in amazing ways like that". I mean who can deny a voice coming from a bush on fire, or 10 plagues that are obvious physical signs.
So thinking through further, (and you know that I love to do that), I wonder what miraculous signs of God are we missing as a community of people. Well, I go back to my first statement. There is something beautiful and miraculous about the person that has lived a life of Alcohol and Drugs that comes back to you. The recognizes that without God there is no satisfaction. With so many temporary fixes, I desperately desire that people latch on to the real thing.
You want more:
this morning as I woke up I heard birds chirpiong and as i looked outside the sun was sitting up there like a big bowl of yellow and orange fire. who made that happen? Sure scientist's will argue and debate atmospheric pressure, and the natural configuration of planets (I used to be a scientist so I could go on and on about how we try to figure out everything) but the bottom line is that it is God. He orchestrates a symphony of beauty every day and we go on in our own little world, with it's drama and trials and forget to acknowledge him. Just watch the trees will soon begin to flower, and the snow will be gone, the air will get warmer, and still we ignore him. We put God on the back burner for the things that are temporary.
I tell the teens each week, after reading a book that is awesome (so that means get a copy) called "It all goes back in the box",when all is set and done all the "toys" go back in the box. All the school drama, money, gf/bf, all those things that we think are more important will go back in the box so to speak. At that point we will stand before God. The things that God did in the bible are awesome and beautiful but don't think he is not working today!
Don't miss it people.
Don't miss the BEAUTY of each and every day.
Don't miss the BEAUTY that a true authentic relationship with God holds for you!
That is totally and truly something beautiful!
May God Bless You and Heaven Smile on You!
Pastor Jason
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