Sometimes the simple things....

Shelly and Jason Tennessee Trip 2008

Well Memorial Weekend was "sweet-awesome (how about that for wording:) Shelly and I went to visit her family in Tennessee. What a time we had. I spent some time helping her uncle tear down a tree (as promised to my teens here are some pictures to prove it). In addition I also visited Gatlinberg Tenn. and got to see many wondrous sights. It was such an exciting time as Shelly and her parents got to show me around, and an exciting time for me to just ,"be still".

Sometimes I think we forget how much the simple things matter. To be able to look in the distance and see the beauty of the mountains is something we should never lose touch with. To share with those that you love how much they mean to you is priceless!!!

It was so awesome for me to celebrate 6 months of marriage with Shelly. As we reflected during the drive down and back, how time flies. We often said how awesome it is for all the married couples to reminince how they met, etc.. As we were driving along Shelly and I began doing just that. How we love one another and how God has blessed both of us in ministry. All I can say is wow, what a great God we serve.

As the days are longer, and the sun is warmer. Amidst the graduation parties and pool parties. While you are cutting the grass, or maybe just sitting in the backyard sipping a bit of Sweet Tea (the only kind of tea really:) As you do all these things remember the simple things around you that God has blessed you with. And be thankful!

May God bless you and Heaven smile on you!

Pastor Jason (The Ebon-skinned Cowboy:)

PS: Ah yes, I finally made it to a Sonic Restaurant!!!!!!! Enjoy the pictures!

Praise the Lord!

Well where to begin. What a tremendous night in ministry with our teens on Sunday night. Our church showed up in full force, 300+, and with donations we raised over $1200 to help teens attend youth camp this year. PTL. God is really moving through the hearts and minds of people in support of our youth. As youth pastor I was humbled and Thankful to God for the outpouring!
If you have not had the chance please check out video on the church website (communitywc.com) of the teens from Crossroads and GAPP giving of their time and talent to help their peers attend camp. Not only was the support awe-inspiring but the work that went into all the behind the scenes set up and tear down was phenomenal. There were so many adults who poured their time and effort into this our first Talent Show. I am reminded of the words in John 10 where Jesus talks about the Shepherd and the sheep. For a time such as this our teens are like those sheep, needing direction, and needing spiritual nourishment. I never take this responisbility lightly. They are indeed our future. So pray for them, support them, and encourage them especially when they are very discouraged. This generation needs God, and needs to know that they are loved by God. So as you see our teens at CWC, or as you may be a parent to a teen, or know of teens in your neighborhood. Say a little prayer for them.
May God Bless you and Heaven Smile on You!!!!
Pastor Jason

In times of Heartache

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

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

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

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!!!!!!

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