Joyful Anticipation

My kids got up early this morning and Macy said to Maddy, "Maddy, it's finally Christmas Eve!" Oh, that we would all once again revel in anticipation of something more than the next episode of our favorite TV show, the next juicy news from Hollywood, or the next big sale at a department store. Today I choose to be joyful because I am loved beyond reason.

Tangled Mess

If you are a leader in the church, you are supposed to have your act together. That's what everyone expects...yet they expect you to be real and able to identify with them. This is not an easy place to be. Too often I end up looking like my Christmas decorations. In the box with the ornaments for the tree was a nice little tin can with a wreath painted on it. It was a perfect little Christmas tin (I think someone gave us fudge in it several year ago). I opened it up and the picture above was what I found. It made me think of my own life - I try to keep it nice and neat on the outside, but on the inside I am more often than not, a tangled mess.

My staff and I are starting to read together a book called Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli. I don't know about you, but my spiritual life is not quite as clean cut and neat as I would like to think that it is. Maybe everyone else doesn't have any problems, but I get distracted, disinterested, and often discouraged with my own ability (or inability) to keep up on my spiritual disciplines.

If you are a church leader or simply a follower of Jesus, let me encourage you - You are deeply loved even in the midst of your tangled mess. You may not have it all together and you may not be the "best" at praying or devotional reading or worship. But you are deeply loved by Jesus. While He wants you to grow in your ability to relate to Him, your tangles don't scare or offend Him.

I never did get the tangled mess of ornament hooks unraveled, but when I needed one, I could always pull one out. Maybe there is another lesson there...Don't try to untangle your whole life, just work on the hook/part you need right now. You will get to the rest as you need them.

Under the Mercy,

Jason

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The Book of Ezra and Christmas

It’s not very “Christmassy” but lately I’ve been reading the book of Ezra. What strikes me about this great OT book is the tenacity and diligence God’s people show in trying to honor God through re-building the Temple. They face adversity, opposition, and even outright persecution, but they keep pressing on.

There are a lot of connections we could make to our situation today, but one I’d like highlight this week comes from chapters 4-6. In this section the ruling nation of the day (Babylon) has several changes in the Kingship. Those opposing the Israelites try to use this opportunity to get the new king to put a stop to their plans. Yet the Israelites quietly work within the governmental system to not only maintain their plan, they use it to gain more momentum and even funding.

Here’s my quick takeaway: Governments change and shift. They do not define us. The letter after the name of the President does not define my faith or me. During this Advent season, my eyes are focused on the “Coming King” Jesus. That is the point of Advent – to celebrate Jesus coming (2000 years ago as well as His continual coming in us and future coming in glory).

This Advent season, don’t get muddled up in the stress of buying the right stuff or going to the right parties. Keep your mind focused on what we are celebrating…not how.

Under the Mercy,
Jason

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Kary Oberbruner - author and soon to be speaking at Terra Nova!

In two weeks (11/23/08) Kary Oberbruner from Grace Church in Powell, OH will be teaching at Terra Nova. Kary's new book "The Fine Line" will be released soon. This year, our Christmas series will be based around the concepts Kary sets forth in his book - and he is going to kick off the series! How cool is that?!

To catch the first installment of Kary's BLOG TOUR, click here.

One more reason I love being part of Terra Nova!

Under the Mercy,
Jason