Election Day Musings

I’m sitting at the church watching the RV’s come and go today - covered in election/political signs.  Each one is filled with young men and women trying to look serious and official while hiding their giddy excitement about being involved in something so much bigger than themselves.  

Whether you are Republican or Democrat or Libertarian or Constitutional or Independent or whatever, as an American, you have the distinct privilege of participating in the governing process.  There is no precedent in Scripture to look to if you want to know “how to vote.”  In the First Century, the Church had no say in the governmental process and eventually became objects of its wrath.  It wasn’t until after 300AD that Christianity had any influence in the Empire.

Here is what I find interesting...the Church flourished and grew when she was oppressed and suffering.  Once she had influence and power in the world, she really stopped flourishing.  There were (and are) pockets of faith communities growing and thriving in healthy relationships, but those became less and less the norm.  

Even today, the Church in America is very visible and stable, but I wonder how truly vibrant and transformational she is.  I am constantly thinking about who much it DOESN’T cost me to be a follower of Jesus.  I wonder how much stronger my faith and my relationship with Christ would be if I needed it more.  

Living in America is a great privilege that I do not take lightly.  Yet, if I am honest, I must confess that such a great blessing can also serve as a my greatest curse.  I have never had my faith tested in such a way that my life truly depended on it.  I might never experience that living in America.  And so I wonder how strong my faith really is.  

This election day don’t forget to vote, but also take a few minutes and remember that we live in a society that makes it easy to be a Christian.  While this is great on some levels, we can never forget that Christ’s call of discipleship was a call to come and die.  While you might never face that reality in our culture today, don’t ever get complacent with your faith and your relationship with Christ.  Take time each day to stop and connect with God lest you forget that your relationship with Him is built on a bloody cross, not in a voting booth.

Viagra for your Faith

I'm so tired of getting spammed with messages about growing certain parts of my body.  Apparently enough people click through those ads to pay them to keep sending them.  Well, maybe we can turn this viral craziness into something good!

This Sunday we are starting a new series we are calling "Big Faith."  We are going to explore 5 things that God uses to grow your faith to ginormous sizes!  These are things that you don't "do" but things that you experience and God uses them as catalysts to expand your faith.

While this list is not some list quoted from the Bible, it is based on things we see in the Bible - as well as some things I've observed over the last 17 years of ministry.  I do want to give credit to Andy Stanley for giving such great titles to these 5 things (I couldn't come up with such catchy phrases).

1. Practical Teaching
2. Providential Relationships
3. Private Disciplines
4. Personal Ministry
5. Pivotal Circumstances

God's desire for you is that you become more dependent on your relationship with Jesus.

If you are hoping to see your faith grow... join us for this series.

Sundays (beginning June 27) at 11am.

Under the Mercy,
Jason

A Brief Story of our BuildOUT Campaign

Miraculous Developments...

This Sunday, Terra Nova will have our first ever "Pledge Day" for our BuildOUT Capital Campaign.  We are trying to raise $90K to pay one year of rent and the build-out costs for a new location.  This new space will more than double our capacity to reach people in Delaware County.  The whole process has been a roller coaster ride of faith, doubt, fear, amazement, and ulcers!  Here is a taste...

The process of acquiring this building (5542 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center OH 43065) and figuring out what the space would look like has been far from easy!  Here are some of the highlights of the hard work the Leadership Team has put into this project as well as times God intervened in a miraculous way.  

Over 1 year ago, we called about this property...the owner was not interested in talking to us.

We pray...

Over the course of the year, we see several new families attending TN who have some expertise in areas of lease negotiations, construction, and such.  Four months ago, we called again (on a whim...) and the owner not only wanted to talk, he was willing to take half of the asking price for rent.

Conceptual drawings are started.  The costs are overwhelming and almost kill the project.

We pray...

We cut every “extra” we can trying to get down to the bare minimum of what it would take to get into the building and still be able to hold services.  

The Health Department informs us that there is no way we can have a church there because the septic system cannot handle the sewage.

We pray...

After multiple emails, phone calls, meetings, and revisions to the plans, we meet with the Health Department and EPA at the site.  They discover a section of the septic system they did not have record of existing and decide to simply “keep an eye on it” with the understanding that the landlord would pay to tap into the public sewer system in the very near future.

Construction estimates are still beyond our budget.

We pray...

Some tough cuts are made in the drawings trying to make the space useful, economic, and expandable as we grow.  

The owner is approached by another potential renter...with a lot more money than us.  

We pray...

In order to close the deal, we agree to the owner’s updated timeline for the commencement of the lease knowing that God will have to work with the government agencies to expedite permits and such.  Initial signs from these agencies are very positive.

We ask the congregation to commit to giving $90,000 over the next 6 months to pay for the build out of the new space and the first year of rent.

We pray...

BuildOUT Pledge Day

What will God do through you?  Keep watching and see!

If you would like to make a donation to our project please send checks to 

Terra Nova Community Church

825 Houk Rd. Suite 215

Delaware, OH 43015

Philippians 1:27-30

Philippians 1:27-30
27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don't be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

As I write this it is a bit ironic because my wife and oldest daughter are watching American Idol and the performer is singing "The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel.  He is singing about a fighter who is beaten and bearing scars, but he still remains standing.  As I hear those words, I read these verses...


"Don't be intimidated by your enemies..."
"For you have been given the privilege of suffering for him."
"We are in this struggle together..."


There are days, lately, that I have begun to feel a little bit more of the struggle and fight of being on the front line of "fighting together for the faith."  I am in no way saying that I have been persecuted like too many of our brothers and sisters around the world, but lately I'm simply feeling the struggle of living out my faith.


What does this struggle mean to you?  Have you felt the presence of the enemy in your life?  How are you in this struggle with?  Who do you look to as an example to inspire you?


Under the Mercy,
Jason

Philippians 1:20-26

20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better.23 I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.   25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.

 This passage almost always gets me thinking!  Can I honestly say that for me, TO LIVE MEANS LIVING FOR CHRIST, BUT DYING IS EVEN BETTER?  Really?  Is my concept of being with Christ so palpable that I can almost taste it?  Am I living my life with so much faith that death is even in the realm of possibility due to my living out the Gospel each day?

One issue that I find myself working through as I read this passage today is this: do I believe that God is actually using my life to "continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith"? 

What questions does the passage evoke in you?

Under the Mercy,
Jason

Suggested Resources:

Philippians 1:8-19

As I look at today's text I can't help but ask myself a couple of questions...

• Is my determination to share the Gospel anywhere near as focused as Paul's when he says that even his imprisonment is a chance for the advancing of the message?
• Do I see setbacks and obstacles as simply new opportunities or do they discourage me?

As you meditate on today's text, think about your commitment to the Gospel.  Paul was facing people who were trying to make him look bad, but as long as the Gospel was being proclaimed, he didn't care.  Maybe you don't have anyone trying to get you trouble by talking about God with others, but what is going on in your life that you might need to work on your attitude and focus in light of what God wants to do in and through you?

Let God's Word transform your mind today.

Jason

Some Suggested Resources:

Philippians 1:3-7

In these verses, Paul let the Philippians know how he is praying for them.  As you consider this text, here are some questions to get you thinking...

• With whom do you have a close enough relationship that they are praying for you like this?
• Who are you praying for like this?
• With whom do you have a "partnership in the gospel"?
• What good work is Christ doing in you?  
• What will it look like when He completes it?  
• What role do you have in the process?
• What other areas of the text jump out at you?  Why?

I thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.  As your pastor, my prayer for you is that "your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God."

Under the Mercy,
Jason