random thoughts

Back to the blog with random thoughts

Posted on October 17, 2011 by jon in random thoughts | Leave a comment

Hey everyone – I’m back after a brief blog-hiatus. Honestly, it was a great thing for me. Allowed me some time to clear my head, re-prioritize my time, and focus more on the right things. Good stuff.

A couple of things that happened during that time:

I finished my “Bible in 90 Days” Reading Plan from YouVersion. It was an UNBELIEVABLE experience, though probably not one I’ll do again. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but let me explain. Reading this plan is the equivalent of 12 pages per day – something that took an extreme amount of focus. I’ll admit, some days I failed miserably. But I always managed to find time to make it up so that I actually completed it 90 days from my start date. It was intense. It was worth it. BUT – it was a lot of reading, and with that amount of content it’s really hard to process and comprehend everything. It was great to get a complete overview of God’s Word, but I wouldn’t recommend this plan if you are planning to go deep and really focus on the meaning and interpretation of Scripture. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t check it out and do it. You can find it here.

Also, I made a job transition. I won’t go into all the details, but I will tell you that God is faithful. Let me repeat: GOD. IS. FAITHFUL.

So, now I’m back at it, although I’ve gained a bit of a different perspective on it. I’ve even been doing some songwriting again. More on that later. For now, just humor me with a few random Monday thoughts:

I realized that I’ve sort of neglected my Sunday Worship recaps here on the blog, so I’m going to start those back up again, but in an abbreviated form.
My wife and I took a much-needed mini vacation this past weekend. It was awesome with a capital “A,” baby.
Heard some amazing messages from some amazing people in the past 30 days.
God has been revealing things to me left and right, especially over the last two weeks. Big things. I can’t wait to see His plan fulfilled – not mine.
In a couple of weeks, I’ll have the opportunity to preach at Vertical Church. To say I’m excited is an understatement, because I believe that God has laid upon my heart a message that has the potential to be a defining moment of change in peoples’ lives.
I love my God. I love my wife. I love my kids. I love my church. I love my job. Thank you, Jesus, for blessing someone as undeserving as me.

And no. I didn’t get, nor do I have any desire to get, the iPhone 4S.

Why I’m leaving Facebook…

Posted on September 10, 2011 by jon in choices, culture, family, leadership, life, life choices, random thoughts, technology | 1 Comment

…temporarily. Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and other social media have started to take up a significant role in my life, and I’ve decided to give it all a rest for a while. There are mainly two reasons for doing this.

It’s taking up valuable time. As a father and husband, my family time is priceless. When I sit at a meal with my wife and I’m staring at my phone checking my Facebook messages and notifications, I’m losing valuable moments that are required for the nurturing of and intimacy in my relationship with my wife. When I’m typing a status update, only to look up and see one of my kids waiting for a response from me about a question I didn’t hear because I was preoccupied with my Twitter feed, I feel as though I’m doing them a huge injustice. Overall, this reason deals with me shifting my focus toward a higher priority. When I put down my Bible because of something I posted the night before and I need to check the comments on it, I’m basically interrupting time with the Creator for something I created. I have to make sure that I’m giving my wife, my kids, and my God the time, attention, and love they deserve.
It’s not about me. I have a history of wanting to be in the spotlight. I spent several years of my life being told how great I was at what I did, and that fed into a desire for everyone to look at me, affirm me, tell me how awesome I was, etc. After I came to Christ, that didn’t stop all at once. Especially when I became a worship leader. It was very easy to go to church and want everyone to look at me and tell me how great I did leading. I even had moments where I would come to my wife, downtrodden, and confess, “I wish someone just told me how good I did (grammar, I know).” This isn’t to say that affirmation isn’t a good thing. I mean, we all want to be affirmed and know we’re doing a good job. But at times, it’s become unhealthy for me. It’s become a mechanism for feeding my ego. The same, I fear, has at times been true of my usage of social media. I’ve been guilty of posting a status update, and checking back minutes later thinking, “I can’t wait to see who comments on this to tell me how funny or smart this is…” The same has been true a few times with my blog. I’ve wanted people to read my blog and think, “Wow – that guy is awesome. I should tell him that.” The truth is, It’s not about me. God has reminded me of that in an intense way, especially over the past few days, as I’ve spent more and more time in His Word.

Now, let me be clear on a few things.

First, I know that people do read my blog (I have reports to prove it, otherwise I’d highly doubt it), and I’ve made a ton of great connections and conversations on Facebook. While I won’t be using Facebook or my blog for a while, I still want to make myself available for those conversations, prayer requests, etc., should they come about. That’s why I’m not deleting my Facebook account, Twitter account or my blog completely. I’m just engaging in a social media “fast,” so to speak. If you still want to contact me via Facebook, go ahead. I’ll still have access to my inbox messages via e-mail should a prayer request arise, or anything else. Communication can still happen, and I hope it does.

Second, I’ll eventually return to it – I mean, in a culture where technology reigns the supreme connection avenue, it wouldn’t make sense to stay away forever – I’d be kidding myself. Initially, I thought about going through the rest of 2011 without any social media. I’m not sure if that will be the end result or not. Ultimately, it’s not about how long I can go, but how long I think I need. So, that said, I’m not really sure how long it will be. But that doesn’t matter in the least anyway, because it’s not about me.

Third, this decision wasn’t something I just decided to do all of a sudden. It actually has been something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and at a leadership conference this past week I was verbally “kicked in the tail” about the sacrifices leaders need to make for the sake of those they lead, family included.

Finally, I’m not telling you any of this so that you would feel sorry for me or want to mimic what I’m doing. My intent is not to make my burden yours. Actually, the only reason I’m typing this at all is so that people won’t have to wonder if something’s wrong with me (which is quite indicative of how much I use social media). I will, however, say that if you find yourself robbing those you love of the attention they need, and if you feel as though your motives for using social media aren’t “good” (loaded word there), you might want to at least reevaluate.

So that’s it. Hope this sheds some light on what’s going on. Catch you on the flipside.

-Jon

A prayer for our teachers and students

Posted on August 25, 2011 by jon in leadership, prayer, random thoughts | Leave a comment

Heavenly Father, today I pray for those in our education system who are charged with empowering the minds of others, from children to adults. You have placed upon them a call that requires many virtues: patience, wisdom, endurance, understanding, kindness, and love. I praise You for their acceptance of that call. May our teachers be built up and equipped through Your Holy Spirit, and remind them that Your mighty hand holds them in their celebrations as well as their tribulations. Guide their decisions every moment. I pray that You would make Yourself known to each of them in a vivid, powerful way this year. Help them to realize that by teaching, they are serving. Ultimately, I ask that you grow them as students of the Great Teacher.

For our students, Lord, I pray for submission. So many times, the older we get, it seems nearly impossible for us to submit to the leadership of others, but I pray that those who have been placed in a position to learn from a leader would approach this new year with an open mind, and would avoid distraction, for we know the enemy is seeking to devour those who secede to temptation, and I pray today in Jesus’ Name that You would draw every student nearer to Yourself.

I praise You today for the ways You have revealed Yourself to me in the areas of my own education, and pray that You would do the same for those who today find themselves nervous, afraid, or apprehensive. You are good, Lord, and Your steadfast love endures FOREVER. Teach us all in the ways that we should go.

In Jesus’ Name – AMEN.

Triumph over tragedy

Posted on July 10, 2011 by jon in culture, fear, life, random thoughts | 1 Comment

This is a post that has been weighing heavily on me over the past few days, so much so that I’ve started and stopped writing on several occasions. This will not be an easy post to digest for some, but I’ve realized that this is a message that is needed, and I pray that as you read this, you will find hope within.

Let’s get real here. If we’re being honest, everyone experiences tragedy. Now before I get into this any deeper, let me talk about the kind of tragedy I’m talking about. I’m not talking about the time you got an “F” on that test in World History class (guilty). I’m not talking about the time your fish died and you mourned for about 8 seconds. I’m talking about the kind of tragedy that completely and totally rocks you to the core, shaking the foundation of your life and leaving you battered and bruised with seemingly no hope for tomorrow. You suddenly lose a child. Your marriage abruptly ends. You’re involved in a tragic accident that forever changes your life. The list goes on and on. In this post, I want to take a few minutes to share with you a few of my reflections on tragedy: why it happens, how to come to terms with it, and how to triumph over it.

First off, you don’t plan for tragedy. When something happens that completely turns your world upside down, chances are you never planned for it. Since you never planned for it, you didn’t expect it. I mean, when you experience a death of a loved one, you expected it eventually, but even if you say, “This was bound to happen,” that’s not expecting, that’s suspecting – and chances are, that’s not the type of tragedy we’re talking about here. Tragedy is not planned. Tragedy is unexpected. Tragedy not only comes unplanned, but it completely alters the plans you already have in place. No one stands at the altar and boldly proclaims, “…from this day forward, until about 3 years from now.” No, tragedy is not planned.

When tragedy happens, our plans must change. Part of the reason I believe people have such a difficult time dealing with tragedy is because of the havoc wreaked on their plans. They immediately look to the future and the uncertainty produced by tragedy. But check this out: you are not guaranteed tomorrow. And, if history tells us anything, it’s that your long-term plans probably wouldn’t have come to fruition anyway! A wise man once told me, “If you ever want to make God laugh, show Him your 10-year plan.” Isn’t that the truth? Look back on your life 10 years ago. What are the odds that you’d be where you are right now? Not necessarily physically, but emotionally, spiritually, socially, personally, economically, etc. Trust me – God’s plan for you is MUCH BIGGER than the plans you have for yourself, regardless of how grand they may be. That isn’t meant to scare you, that’s meant to give you HOPE!

Next, tragedy is unavoidable. You may be reading this post and saying, “Well I’ve never really experienced any real tragedy. I mean, I’ve had a few hangups along the way in my life, but for the most part things have been pretty much smooth sailing. I’ve got a good job, good family, I’m good with God, etc.” I’ve got three words for you today: TRAGEDY IS COMING. Why? Because it’s unavoidable. Everyone experiences it. Chances are, some of the most “picture perfect” people around you have experienced or are experiencing a genuine, life-altering tragedy. It’s unplanned, and it’s unavoidable.

The Bible says that we will all experience hardships. But listen to what we read in the book of James:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4

Huh? Consider it “pure joy?” How does that happen? The Bible says that it is because your faith is tested. This is very important: it is not bad to have your faith tested. In fact, what we just read tells us that it’s quite the opposite. Persevering through times of tragedy will produce completeness, and we will be lacking nothing, as unlikely as it may seem.

Finally, tragedy has a tendency to make us feel alone. This can come in a variety of forms, but I think the most two common ways are through feeling physically/emotionally alone, and feeling spiritually alone – like we’ve been abandoned by God. We feel like, “No one can understand what I’m going through.” Or maybe it’s, “Now that he’s gone, I don’t have anyone to turn to.” Let me offer this to you: You are not alone, in any sense of the word. Why? Because like we just said – EVERYONE experiences tragedy. Everyone hurts. Everyone cries. Because of human nature, we all feel alone at some point in the midst of tragedy. And guess what? The God who created you will NEVER leave you. In John 10, Jesus says:

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. – John 10:11-14

Are you hearing Jesus say that you today? He is your shepherd. He cares for each of His sheep, including you. And even if you try to run in the other direction, He will be with you every step of the way. You’re not alone. Listen to me – YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Read Isaiah 43:1-13. The entire passage is a message of hope from God that says that He will never leave us. He has called each of us by name. He will walk through the fire with us, not watching from the sidelines, and the fire will not consume us. We are precious in the sight of God.

So why does tragedy happen? If I can use a cliche, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Here’s why: we live in a broken world. Ever since that day way back in the Garden of Eden, when the first two people on earth succumbed to temptation, sin entered the world and the world and everything in it was inherently broken. Today is no different. We live in a broken world where tragedy strikes, and we think, “I didn’t do anything to deserve this!” But again – we live in a broken world. A broken world yields tragedy. Unavoidable tragedy. Unplanned tragedy.

So what now? What do we do when the inevitable yet unplanned tragedy strikes? As loaded as that question can seem, the answer is only four words long.

Give it to God.

If you are not a believer in God, and you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, overcoming the kind of tragedy we’re talking about here will be nearly impossible, if not impossible altogether. But listen, if you profess to be a believer in Christ, there is NOTHING you can’t overcome. Why? Because you have on YOUR side the One who overcame the ultimate tragedy: betrayal, humiliation, and death on a cross! Jesus overcame the darkness! He defeated the enemy! The power of sin is broken! This is GOOD NEWS for us, especially when we’re in the middle of tragedy. In fact, God is IN the tragedy. He is IN the suffering. The problem is that we can get completely blindsided to the point that we remove God from the picture or even turn to putting the blame ON God instead of lifting the situation TO God. Nowhere in the Bible is it written that we will never suffer in this life – in fact, Jesus GUARANTEED that we would suffer! But here’s the catch: God never gives us more than we can handle. NEVER. Write this down: The only reason you would not be able to triumph over a tragedy is if you fail to rely on God to bring you through it. If you rely on your own strength, you will fail.

God will use your times of greatest weakness to demonstrate His great strength. There is NOTHING our God cannot do, and NO level of tragedy is too great for you to overcome through the power of God – that same power that overcame death.

Let me interject one quick thing here: the enemy preys on you during times of tragedy. He wants you to completely lose your faith in God. He wants to see you broken, disheartened, miserable, and alone. This is why trusting God is hard for so many people during these times. But let me offer the encouragement found in Romans 8:31: “If our God is for us, who can be against us?” Certainly not the enemy. We have GOD on our side!

As one of my favorite pastors, Perry Noble, said in a sermon several months ago, “Don’t let tragedy define you. Let triumph define you.” There is victory in Christ. I challenge you today to lay it all down at His feet, and He will renew you, make you whole, and provide the comfort and hope that only He can provide.

I can think of no better way to end this post than with the words of the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:20-22

Amen. God bless you.