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[revjasonjnelson]

Don’t Hold Your Breath

More than any other time in my life I hear people saying things like, “I can’t relax.  My mind is restless, my body’s tense; my shoulders hurt, my back aches.  I can’t sleep and when I finally do get to sleep I eventually wake up in the middle of the night because my mind is racing all over the place.”  Does this sound familiar?  "Oh yeah!”

So why are people so restless these days?  What’s the problem? In a word, anxiety (and you thought I was going to say Covid)!  Anxiety is in the air today and it is thick.  Like smoke, anxiety billows up from the burning, anxiety-generating events around, engulfs our lives, and clouds our judgment. In many situations, throughout this far too often hostile world, there’s an absence of peace.  Watch the news, read the newspaper, or look to see what’s trending within social media venues and you’ll quickly see that this world has many issues.  Additionally, we’ve got some highly anxious people using highly anxious language, which is taking the already existing, natural level of anxiety to an even higher level.

So yes, anxiety is definitely in the air.  In fact, it has created an addictively potent atmosphere.  Instead of staying below the fumes of anxiety, people seem to uprightly enjoy inhaling them.  And unlike physical breathing, which involves one thing in and another thing out, when anxiety is inhaled it’s always exhaled as well.  Is it any wonder then that many people are suffocating from the emissions of anxiety?  

So what do we do?  We can’t just hold our breath can we?

Nope!  

Don’t hold your breath.  

Instead, do your part to purify the air!

It’s time create real climate change.  It’s time to stop feeding our culture’s fascination with negativity and gossip so they can stop filling our lungs with toxins.  It’s time to silence the airwaves of society’s problem finding vernacular and start voicing, rather loudly, the one and only Answer to all of the hostilities in the world.  It’s time to put anxiety, and fear, and paranoia in their proper place.  In other words, it’s time to preach Christ, the Prince of Peace, more boldly than ever.  It’s time to proclaim Jesus as King of Kings and claim his peace in the midst of the most hostile and anxious of situations.  It’s time to breathe in the peace of Christ and then, breathe it out again... So that we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can breathe life into a dirty, decaying culture.  

[revjasonjnelson]

The Female Mind

The female mind is magnificently brilliant, creative and productive!  As a father of four daughters, I know this to be absolutely true.  It is a holy honor and tremendous joy to raise these precious gifts from God. I have had the privilege of sitting back in awe and amazement when they ask me random questions of great profundity.  Not a day goes by when sparks don’t fly from my daughters’ minds and land fiercely hot upon mine, challenging me to think differently about the world, about life, and even about God.  

Moreover, I am continually humbled to have been raised by a sagacious mother who has taught me so much about life, from balancing my check book to giving me insight on parenting.  She has an amazing abundance of God-given talents, which she creatively engages for the edification of her family, friends, and church.  The way this woman (I have the privilege of calling mom) continues to model how to be a thoughtful, smart, caring, and humble human being is astonishing, to say the least!

Furthermore, some of the very best leaders I have the privilege of knowing work within the context of my profession; they are female pastors.  To say that I am impressed with them is an understatement!  My sister is one of these pastors.  Her devotion to the calling upon the church is inspirational.  Her spiritual leadership, communication, and organizational skills are top notch!  She, along with my other female pastor colleagues, continue to shine as the brightest stars in the orbit of our lives.  I follow their lead in so many ways and take every opportunity possible to learn how to further develop as a serious thinker by studying their processes of thinking and decision making.

I am also continually amazed at how God employs the talents within my wife for The Kingdom.  She is the most fascinating and gifted person I know.  She’s overcome breast cancer and continues to help me prevail against any challenge that comes my way; and, God is empowering her to make an impact in our local church at Rose Hill UMC, within our community, and around the globe.  I thank God every day for bringing her into my life.  She is a brilliant light and an inspiration to me and so many others.

However, although so many of us today recognize the tremendous capacity inherently residing within the brilliant female mind, we often forget to verbalize its equal (or arguably higher) standing to the male mind.  Our culture might herald the importance of making gender equality in the world (and especially within the workplace) a reality, but unfortunately we still have a very long way to go. We are constantly having to engage and combat popular culture’s notion that beauty surpasses brilliance.  Therefore, with determination we must put an end to the exploitation of woman and demand their exaltation for their honor and for the glory of God!

So as we diligently work together to communicate and live into the reality that we are all created equal… and as we tirelessly proclaim (as God’s Word states) that we are each fearfully and wonderfully made in the Imago Dei (the Image of God), I want to continue to encourage all God’s daughters in this world, and within the workplace, to embrace this Divine proverbial truth as a source of strength for the uphill climb you continue to take:

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.  (Proverbs 31:25-26)

[revjasonjnelson]

Praying for France... How?

Praying for France!

This is a popular post today, which is good. I'm glad you are praying for France! But what do you mean? What are you praying for?

Like you, I was saddened to watch Norte-Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris) being consumed by flames. The destruction of any sacred place or space of worship is always disheartening. I can't even begin to imagine the number of souls who connected with their Savior within the walls of this magnificent cathedral. She has been a sanctuary for worship and a place of solace for over 700 years, who's spire has pointed to the heavens. So... I pray God will comfort those connected to this cathedral, in any way; and, at the same time, I pray God will empower the people of France to rebuild her with resolve. But... I pray for more.

When I was a child I learned the Biblical definition of Church through a silly activity using hand gestures. I was taught to make motions with my hands while saying, "This is the church. This is the steeple. Open the doors and see all the people." The Church gathers in sacred places (sanctuaries) to worship God. Over time we have referred to these places as, "Church." However, according to Scripture, the Church is not a building; it is made of people, specifically the people of God in Christ.

Now, unfortunately, the Church in France has been on the decline (crumbling) for a couple centuries, pushed to the periphery of existence by secularism. As a nation, France has one of the highest rates of atheism in the world (30%); worship attendance is one of the lowest in Europe (6-8%); and 80% of French people have never owned or even seen a Bible.

So, here's what I am praying... Not only am I praying for God to comfort the people of France who mourn the loss of relics and over the ruins of Notre-Dame de Paris... not only am I praying for the Cathedral, itself, to rise from the ashes and, once again, reflect the majesty of God... but, I'm also praying for the Church in France to rise, for the Holy Spirit to set the Church in France on fire so they can recommit themselves to their national commitment of 498:

“The kingdom of France is predestined by God to defend the Church of Christ Our Lord. This kingdom will be great among all the kingdoms of the earth. In as much as it is loyal to its calling, it will be victorious. If it proves unfaithful in this, it will be punished harshly. Nevertheless, it will remain until the end of time.”

-St. Remi at King Clovis’ baptism in 498.

[revjasonjnelson]

You’re a Star!

When was the last time you looked up into the night sky?  How long has it been since you took a moment one evening to look up, gaze at the stars and wonder…  Why so many?  Why so far away? Why so large and hot... so brilliant and bright? How old are they?  Why do they exist?  How did they get there? Are they still shining or did their light become extinguished millions of years ago?

For thousands of years humanity has been starstruck.  We’ve been involved in the practical and/or mystical exercise of stargazing, for many reasons.  Stars have provided direction for so many people in so many different ways.  Sailors have depended upon them for navigation.  Existentialistic minds have pondered their importance with the hope of finding in them some sort of direction… some kind of meaning and purpose.  Astronomers have studied them expecting their existence to teach us more about the physical realm and the origins of the universe.  Theologians have discussed their metaphysical relationship to the heavenly realm and have pondered all that happened… In the beginning.

As Christians, we sometimes approach the subject of stars differently and don’t claim to have the answers to all these galactic questions above; but we do believe, “the heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1).  And we do believe there was one particular star of extreme importance.  It was one the magi spotted from their eastern home.  It was the one they followed on their long laborious journey to Jerusalem at the expense of their reputation and resources.  It was the one that lit up the night sky to light the way to the child we call Christ the Lord.

So this Christmas… go outside on a clear, cool evening and look up at the stars!  Take in their majesty and mystery. Listen to them sing their praises to God. Celebrate their light and life.  Remember the One who placed them each there by hand and command.  Then, take a few moments to reflect upon the star on the top of your Christmas tree, or someone else’s; let it once again point you to Christ, who is the Light, not just of the world, but of all of existence!  And then, pray for God’s divine light to shine through you this Christmas, for in many ways, you too, are one of His shining stars!  You are wonderfully made. You are… a Star of Wonder!

[revjasonjnelson]

What Are You Drinking?

I love this ancient Jewish proverb, “Follow the rabbi, drink in his words, and be covered with the dust of his feet.”  This proverbial notion encompasses the ancient Jewish model of discipleship.  See Disciples, in the ancient Jewish context, followed their teacher, their Rabbi so closely that they would literally be covered with the dust kicked up by the rabbi’s feet; and because they followed the rabbi so closely, they were also covered by the rabbi’s instruction, with his wisdom and knowledge, and at the same time, they learned from the rabbi’s example.  

This is the model of discipleship that Jesus employed over 2000 years ago.  Jesus covered a bunch of 12 ordinary, average, knucklehead men with his dust; he covered them with his wisdom and knowledge as they walked behind him throughout Galilee, Judea and Samaria.  And because these disciples walked in the dust of their rabbi they learned how to talk like Jesus and walk like him, and be like him.  As modern day disciples, we are still called to, “Follow the rabbi, drink in his words, and be covered with the dust of his feet.”

One of the best ways to do this is to become, what Augustine, Aquinas, and Wesley claimed to be… a person of One Book.  Like the Primitive Church, these leaders drank deeply from the well of the Apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42).  They opened up their scroll/book that contained Holy Scripture, immersed themselves in the writings of the four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and lived in the shadow of their teacher via the Holy Text.  They reflected theologically on the circulating letters/works of the other evangelists, whose interpretation of the Christian witness became so important that the Spirit led church leaders to canonize these writings, as we know them, in 363 A.D.  These three devoted pupils, along with millions of others, have done the same for over two millennium… they have gulped down Jesus’ words and walked in his dust as he healed the sick, embraced the poor, and raised the dead; and the result of this sort of spiritual saturation of Scripture and the Spirit led to personal and social transformation during their lifetime.  It lead to further advancement of the Kingdom of God!

Friends, I know many of us claim to follow the Rabbi of Rabbis, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings but when was the last time we took time to really drink in his words and be covered with the dust of his feet?  When was the last time you sat at the feet of Jesus, forgetting time and the trivial tasks that are demanding attention off in the periphery of your life, and instead, bathed yourself in his wisdom and love, his peace and infinite grace?

Need to get away from the rat race that is our life?  Thirsty for Truth?  Need to get a little dustier? Hear your teacher say, “Come to me, all you weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  Divine rest!  Now, I don’t know about you, but I’d gladly drink down these words and I’d like to be covered with rest!

[revjasonjnelson]

How to P.R.A.Y.

P.R.A.Y. This acronym is one of the takeaways from the last sermon series I preached, Define: Church.  P stands for Praise.  It's important to begin our prayers with exaltation, remembering who we’re talking to and recognizing the reality that God is God in heaven and here are we on earth.  No matter what's going on in life, God deserves our praise for who God is and what God has done.  

R stands for Repent.  We fall and fail but God is faithful to forgive.  When we confess our sins to God, God clears the air so we don’t have to choke on the smog of our sin.  It’s important to admit fault so we can freely accept God’s forgiveness, which flows down to us so powerfully from the cross of Christ.  

A stands for Ask.  I'm pretty sure we can ask God for anything.  Now does this include requesting the winning lottery ticket? Uh... probably not.  So what should we ask for?  Jesus invites us to ask Him for those things we believe align with the will and way of God.  

Y stands for Yield.  We’re taught by Jesus to pray, "Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done." Last time I checked, you and I don't personally posses any kingdom of any kind so "my kingdom come" is nonsensical and "my will be done" sounds selfishly ridiculous.  So, let's work on humbling ourselves and submitting to the authority of Christ the King.

P.R.A.Y.  Try it.  Then, watch the flood gates of heaven burst open!

[revjasonjnelson]

It’s Not About You!

Eudaimonia (happiness)... the ancient Greeks said attaining this was the purpose of life. It seems like not much has changed, from the majority perspective. “The pursuit of happiness” is still believed to be the meaning of life for many; after all, it’s the American Dream!

Well, it’s not the purpose of life. 

Ok. Right now some of you might be thinking, “Wait? What? Come on Jason, like usual you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Maybe. Maybe not.  

But think on it... How can achieving happiness bring purpose? Happiness is relative and individualistic.  You might define it one way, I another. I might be happy; you might be miserable.  For something to be considered as purpose, wouldn't you have to transcend subjectivity and aim for something beyond yourself? You would, which means when it comes to purpose, it’s not about you... it’s not about me! 

And, do you really even want happiness to be the foundation of your life? Isn’t happiness an emotion? It is (search your feelings... you know this is true).  So, since it is an emotion, a feeling (and nothing more), it’s not lasting; If you think it is then you really are... dreaming! I don’t know about you but I want to live for something that’s not here one moment and gone the next! I want to live for something that is concrete not easily collapsible, accessible not elusive!

So what is that? The glory of God!

I want to live for that, no matter how I feel. And I can (and so can you) when you’re happy and even... when you’re suffering. What?  Yes! In fact, oddly enough, when we do live for the glory of God, we can even “glory in our sufferings... (Romans 5:3).” What a comfort it is in life to know that there can yet be purpose in our pain.

Soli Deo Gloria (for the Glory of God alone)!

[revjasonjnelson]

Covered in Mud

I don’t like getting dirty!  I never have.  Now don’t get me wrong-it’s not like I freak out whenever I get a little mud on my shoes or some fish slime and blood on my hands.   And I don’t mind working out in the yard (pulling weeds, mowing the lawn, or trimming trees) even if it means getting a little dirt under my finger nails and stains on my jeans.  I’ll do those sorts of things cause I have to (or in the case of fishing… because I love it)- but the truth, is I just don’t like getting dirty.  And that’s probably one of the reasons why I played quarterback between the ages of 6 and 22.  

See, we quarterbacks have one major goal in mind when it comes to playing football—stay off the ground; we want to walk off the field wearing a clean jersey.  Now, this was a pretty easy goal to meet during the week because every practice, as quarterback, I got to wear the red jersey.  Wearing the red jersey meant that no one was allowed to tackle me, or even hit me, which meant that I stayed off the ground, which meant that I never got dirty… but that was during practice.  On game days, it was a whole different story.  Quarterbacks don’t get to wear a red jersey on game days.

There was one game I played in back in November of 1998 that my college teammates still refer to as The Mud Bowl.  It was a Saturday afternoon; we were playing in Chicago and the temperature was like 39 degrees.  On top of that, it was pouring down rain.   Awful conditions… my jersey-did not stay clean.  By the end of the first quarter, I was completely drenched and so was the field.  It became so badly torn up and was transformed into one big mud pit.   On the very first play of the second quarter, I took the snap and rolled to the right to pass.  Now I’d like to tell you that I made some perfect, super star, prime time pass through the wind and the rain that was caught by my teammate for a touchdown.  I’d like to tell you that’s what happened, but that’s not what happened.  Just as I threw the ball, some linebacker hit me… hard!  So the ball flew about five yards over the receiver’s head and I went flying through the air.  I hit the ground hard and then went slip n’ sliding face down through the mud for about 8 yards.  

When I got up I was completely covered in mud, from head to toe.  I had mud in my helmet, mud in my hair, in my eyes, in my mouth, up my nose and down my pants.  And that wasn’t the only time that happened; and I wasn’t alone.  By halftime, every player on the field was soaking wet and caked in mud.  You should have seen the locker room at half time!  What a mess! There was mud everywhere.  My teammates were desperately trying to wipe themselves off with towels and rags and cloths (and whatever else they could find), which really didn’t help much and actually created more of a mess; some of them changed socks and put on fresh t-shirts; but even after that, they were all still shivering from the cold and still really, really dirty.  So at this point I looked around the locker room and thought to myself, “This is stupid!  If I’m going to be wet than I might as well be warm… and clean.”  

So I put my helmet back on, walked over and then into the locker room showers, and turned on the hot water.  For 15 minutes, with all my pads and equipment still on, I stood in the shower and let the free-flowing hot water from the shower warm my body and wash away all the mud that was on me the first half.  And as I watched the dirty water funnel to and then down the drain, I felt renewed and reinvigorated and ready to get back on the field.

On much greater scale, and in a deep spiritual sense, I can imagine this is how King David felt after God’s unfailing love and free-flowing mercy showered down upon him, washed away his iniquity and cleansed him from his sin.  See, David had also found himself covered in mud—the mud of his sin.  He had sinned against God, and in so many ways.  2 Samuel 11:27 says that David had “greatly displeased the Lord.” Uh… yeah!  You think?  That’s the understatement of the millennium!  David had immersed himself in sin.  He abused his royal powers and violated God’s commandments!  He lusted after Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba.  He coveted her; and then, he acted upon that sin and committed adultery with her.  When David found out she was pregnant with his child, he killed Uriah by sending him to the front lines of battle where “the fighting was the fiercest.”  Next, David covered all this up by making Bathsheba his wife; and then… he looked at the prophet Nathan and lied to Nathan’s face about all that he had done.  Wow!  This was one big pile of sin David stepped in!  How did it get so bad so fast?  Here’s how.  

David experienced the strong, natural progression of sin that first begins after it penetrates an unguarded, unprotected mind.  See, instead of setting his mind on God and the things of God, David carelessly allowed his mind to wander aimlessly and recklessly.  This is dangerous!  It’s dangerous because when the human mind is unguarded, unprotected, when it’s allowed to wander aimlessly and recklessly, when it’s not completely surrendered to God on a daily basis, then the unthinkable will become the thinkable, the thinkable will become the talkable and the talkable will become the doable.  This is what David experienced.  He got caught up in this movement, this progression of sin!  He rode the waves of this tsunami of sin; he fell face first into the mud pits of life.  Fortunately for David, God used Nathan to help David see the errors of his actions and his thoughts; and once David’s eyes were opened to the reality of his wickedness, he realized that he was covered in the ashes of his sin, coated with the dust and dirt of his transgressions, and caked in the mud and muck of his guilt and shame.  And in this state of filth, David became fully aware that no number of towels, or rags, or cloths could wipe him off and make him clean.  No amount of water (hot or cold) could wash away his sin!  So David did what all sinners must do when they come face to face with their sin… he cried out to God!

Psalm 51 is David’s cry; it is David’s sincere and beautiful prayer of repentance.  And if we boil it down, we can see that David’s prayer is simple but powerful: “God, cleanse me, restore me, and use me!”  That’s his prayer in a nutshell.  Can you picture David face down on the ground screaming out to God in desperation?  Can you hear him yelling out to God? “O God, cleanse me! Wash me, scrub me, erase the stains of my sin, blot out my iniquities, wipe away my transgressions, rinse away filthiness in my mind and bathe my body in your holiness!”  Can you hear David crying out to God?  “O God, restore me!  Renew me, revive me, reinvigorate me with your love, replenish me with your sense of justice, reinstate me as your humble servant and renovate the innermost places of my heart and my mind.”  Can you hear David screaming out to God?  “O God, use me!”  Send me to teach others about your mercy, strengthen me so I can speak of your goodness, employ me as a servant of righteousness, empower me to sing of your love, and move me to declare your praise!”  Cleanse me. Restore me. Use me.  This is David’s prayer.  This is the cry of a king whose heart has been broken and shattered from the weight of his sin.  This is the plea of a penitent man who hungers for holiness and thirsts for righteousness!  This is the request of a man completely covered in the filth of his sin, guilt and shame.

I don’t like getting dirty… and I know you don’t either, which is why you’re still reading this.  None of us like getting dirty!  None of us like being covered in the ashes of our sin, coated with the dust and dirt of our transgressions, or caked in the mud and muck of our guilt and shame.  And even though we strive every day, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to keep our minds clean, avoid sin, do what is right, and live clean, holy lives… there are times, unfortunately, when we fall flat on our face in the mud pits of life and still sin.  But (and here’s the good news) when we do find ourselves entangled in sin, we can embrace the truth of these words found in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  When we do fall face first into an unholy mess, we can rise from the ashes and stand beneath the free- flowing, cleansing fountain of forgiveness that showers down upon us from the cross of Christ.  When we do find ourselves caked in sin, we can go to God, repent, and be made clean, for as 1 John 1:7 says, “The blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin!” In other words, through the precious blood of Jesus, we can put on the red jersey and stay clean!

God, cleanse me, restore me, and use me… by the blood of the Lamb and through the power of the Holy Spirit!  Let this be our Lenten prayer!  Let this be our lifelong prayer!

[revjasonjnelson]

So... Now What?

Have you ever wondered what the disciples did immediately after Jesus ascended to heaven?  In Acts 1: 9, Jesus goes up into the clouds above and then… hello! He’s gone!  Can you imagine?  Can you visualize the look on their faces?  Can you picture their expressions? Jaw dropping, right? I wonder, did the disciples laugh or cry or ooh and ah like we do at fireworks on the 4th of July?  Maybe there was complete silence?  Crickets.  And, if there was silence, then who was the first one to break it?  Taking a stab in the dark here I’d bet it was Peter.  He always seems to have something to say!  Or maybe the disciples weren’t silent at all but, instead, began praising God at the tops of their lungs! 

 Man, I wish I had been there, don’t you?  What a sight to see!  We didn’t see Him go up but I hope to see Him come back! I hope we get to see the return of the King in our lifetime; and He is coming back.  The angels said, “Jesus will return in the same way He went up to heaven (Acts 1:11).” The truth is that after Jesus’ left the ground we don’t know what the disciples did immediately afterwards; but we do know that the disciples didn’t just look at each other and ask, “So now what?”

They knew what they had to do!  After all, Jesus had just told them.  Right before He took His place at the right hand of God the Father, Jesus gave His disciples work to do; He assigned them a job; He gave them a task, laid out their life’s mission, really.  Jesus’ last words to them are recorded in Acts 1:8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Well, we can see from the book of Acts that the disciples took Jesus’ final words on earth to heart!  Shortly after Jesus’ ascent, the disciples went back to Jerusalem to pray… and plan… and wait for God’s power.  Then, once they “received the power of the Holy Spirit,” they got after it and did exactly what Jesus told them to do!  They became His witnesses; they spread the message and love of Jesus “in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Fast forward a couple millennium plus some.  It’s 2018.  Rosehill just got a new pastor… yours truly.  And many of you are wondering, “Who’s the new guy?  What’s he like?  Where does he come from? Which direction does he want us to go? Does he have a vision for this church? Why his is accent so weird? I’m sure these are just a few of the many questions most of you might have; and in time, I hope they’ll get answered.  In the meantime, I’m certain that we don’t have to look at each other and ask, “So now what?”  We know what to do!  We’ve been given a divine agenda.  We have a royal decree.  Our King has given us an important task.  As followers of Christ, we have received the power of the Holy Spirit and are called to be His witnesses.  So, where do we go from here?  Well, in our context Jesus’ mandate might look something like this: “You are to be my witnesses in Rosehill, in Tomball and Magnolia, and to the ends of the earth!”

Church… let’s get after it… Let’s reach up to God, into our community, and out to every corner of the globe!

[revjasonjnelson]

Pastors and Politics

As an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, I am called to share the love and message of Christ.  I believe I am continually being empowered by the Holy Spirit to communicate the euangelion (good news/gospel), which is a great responsibility and one I take very seriously.  I find so much meaning and joy in professing and proclaiming the love of God in Jesus Christ.  Why?  Because I wholeheartedly believe that Jesus’ descriptions of himself in the Gospel of John are ipsissima verba Jesu (the exact words of Christ).  So I fully believe Jesus really is, “the Way and the Truth and the Life” and that real life comes through Him.

As a preacher, I also enjoy theological discourse.  Pondering the mysteries of the Trinity and this reality we call the universe, which was created ex nihilo (out of nothing), is mind-bogglingly fun!  Discussing all things Divine is a tremendous exercise for the mind, great nourishment for the soul and, as St. Anselm affirms, the highest intellectual endeavor one could ever pursue.  This means, of course, that any topic of discussion outside of (and actually beneath) the realm of the theological is open to discussion by all of humanity, which includes preachers/pastors.

The notion that preachers should be silent on any non-theological matters (in particular, politics) is exclusionary in nature, inherently nonsensical, and extremely unconstitutional.  The First Amendment is a freedom for all citizens.  Moreover, this idea of a “wall of separation between church and state” is a Jeffersonian notion that is nowhere near the realm of Common Sense.  Faith isn’t something we compartmentalize; it encompasses all of life; and all of us, by the way, have faith in something or someone so it makes sense that Faith would be a part of every facet of life.

Furthermore, before there was even a “shot heard around the world” there was a preacher proclaiming the Word and, at the same time, heavily involved in political discourse.  Reverend John Witherspoon (the sole clergy member to sign the Declaration of Independence), penned these politically powerful words:

“Whatsoever State among us shall continue to make piety and virtue the standard of public honor will enjoy the greatest inward peace, the greatest national happiness, and in every outward conflict will discover the greatest constitutional strength.”

Throughout US History, preachers have engaged in political discourse for the purpose of acknowledging the necessity of piety and virtue in government.  This has been the case because… not only are preachers people too, but also because preachers work hard to point out the reality that God created all things, is above all things, has control over all things, and has a say in all things.  

In fact, God’s say in all things, which is relevant to the topic at hand, is specifically revealed in Scriptural passages such as these words from Micah 6:8:

“God has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

So for those of you who don’t believe preachers should be involved in politics in some form or fashion… to those of you who might fuss over our political outspokenness, I want to be crystal clear with you:

This preacher/pastor will not allow anyone to push me to the periphery of any dialogue of any kind.  I will praise those who exhibit piety in politics.  I will support those who are virtuous in government regardless of party affiliation.  I will stand with and by those who act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. And… I will speak out against those who don’t, not just because we all have freedom of speech but also because I, like all those who have placed their faith in the Lord, am REQUIRED to do so!  And, like so many of you reading this, in every aspect of my life will strive to do my best to live out the Greatest Commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and mind, and soul, and strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

[revjasonjnelson]

You Talk A Lot!

You talk a lot.  So do I.  We all do (some more than others).  We speak hundreds, sometimes thousands, of words each day and likely listen to about the same or more, depending on how much TV we watch.  Language is a gift from God; and the ability to communicate is just one of many great attributes we possess as beings created in theImago Dei.  So, language is one of life’s greatest essentials and is a powerful tool that creates culture.  When used appropriately, language can create communities that honor God and respect others.

Communication is key and everything communicates, which is why so many of us work so diligently to enhance our communication skills, which includes both the art of rhetoric and the discipline of listening.  Efficacy in academia, in the workplace, and within any of our relationships depends upon the words we speak and the manner in which they are spoken.  Unfortunately, we live in a world where there is a lack of tact when it comes to communication.  Without question, our public and private communication skills are desperately in need of massive injections of humility to combat the insanely high dosages of hubris.  

But how do we get better?  How do we improve the way in which we use language respectfully?  How do we enhance the way we communicate in a manner that demonstrates respect and grace and truth?  We begin with God.   If we want to improve upon our communication with each other we must first remember/realize that the effectiveness of our communication is primarily dependent upon the value and time we devote to commune with God, which includes speaking and listening.  

Communication is key but prayer is life… and our lives depend upon it.     So today… this week… for the rest of your life… choose your words wisely, speak your words honorably, listen to the words of others intently, and use a good percentage of your words in prayer… Make it a point to talk a lot to God; and listen even more.  If you do, you’re communication skills will improve overall and your life will become more balanced than ever before.

“I am better or worse as I pray more or less. If my prayer life sags, my whole life sags with it: If my prayer life goes up, my life as a whole goes up. To fail here means I fail all down the line; to succeed here means I succeed everywhere.” ~E. Stanley Jones

[revjasonjnelson]

Got Baggage?

There is not a person reading this who is not weary and burdened by one or more of the countless results of living in a world tainted by sin and death; and as a result of going round in circles on this celestial ball we call earth, we don’t always deal with the effects of living (or spinning) in this world.... we simply bag up the things that weigh us down, thinking the ridiculous, “oh yeah, that will lighten my load?”.  Well, that’s stupid thinking!  Solidifying our concerns or bagging up our burdens makes our situation worse... cause, hello... We still have to carry it; and what is it we’re carrying, exactly?  Well it’s some sort of sin or stressor, depression or anxiety, guilt or fear, heartache or pressure, or ... (you fill in the blank). Well I don't know about you but I'm tired of carrying around all this garbage, which is good news because we don’t have to bear this load, even though... EVEN THOUGH... it’s our load to bear.  

Thank God for Jesus! He calls us to hand it over, to give our baggage to him and then collapse into his arms for the rest that sustains!  In this place, Jesus not only teaches us about who He is, but He also fills us with Himself and lifts the weights of this world off our shoulders!  Wow!  Sounds like a big job.  Pu... lease... this is nothing for Him to do, after all, He has already lifted the weight of sin off creation…so he can handle our daily burdens. Let him do the heavy lifting.  

And let’s not forget who we’re talking about now.  Jesus is the calmer of storms who can whisper into the chaos of your life with a commanding peace.  He can provide a rest that vacations and weekends cannot.  He can carry loads that are impossible for us to even pick up.  When the rest of life is flying by, He is the Constant.  And the good news, we don’t have to go anywhere to find Him, we just need to take time to meet with Jesus… to obey Him and come to Him in the chaos of day or the calm of the night.  

Wake up man and step out of craziness and into Meaning. Get away for a few moments each day, go to a place of solitude and fall into Christ.  You will come out with a rested, refreshed and filled spirit.  You will leave carrying less.  By placing yourself in His embrace you are saying, “You are Lord and in Control; you can handle whatever burdens I give you.”

Listen up:

Matthew 11:28-29: Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.

[revjasonjnelson]

Memorial Day(s)!

February 19, 1945. This was a date my grandfather always remembered, a date that changed his life. It was the day his older brother, 2nd Lt. Ernest J. B. Nelson, was killed in action over the Pacific Ocean, just off the coast of Asia. Bud, as his family and friends called him, was flying on a mission as a co-pilot on a B-29 when it crashed and he died.

I’ve read the war report of the incident. Reading it was quite the experience — a time-freezing experience. As I read the names of the 11 patriots who perished on the Pacific war front for the Stars and Stripes, time seemed to stand still.

As a kid, Grandpa taught me how important it was to reverently remember these men, along with the countless other men and women who gave their lives in service to this country. And every May, on the designated day of the month, he would be the first to thank God for those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. But I believe, in his heart, February 19 was Grandpa’s memorial day (this Purple Heart is proof)!

And herein lies the lesson for us this Memorial Day. This weekend, as we remember, honor, and celebrate those who died in service to our country, let’s not forget that every day of the year is a memorial day for somebody. Let’s become aware that acknowledging, honoring, and remembering the sacrifice of others is just as important the rest of the week…as it is on Monday. No day is exempt.

[revjasonjnelson]

Join the Fight-Mental Health

There are countless people today who struggle with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.   Today, there are also many people who openly profess their compassion and tolerance for the countless who live with constant storm clouds that hover overhead; and yet, the many don’t really understand the countless, for the countless really understand and are only understood by the others, who are part of countless and not the many.  So, as a member of the countless, I hope to shed some light on the subject both for the benefit of the countless and the many.

Depression and anxiety are real.  They aren’t conjured up or created; they both develop over time, and yet, are inherently, situationally spontaneous.  They have the ability to lure people into the wilderness of the mind and, at the same time, push them over the cliff.  They can both take the wind out of one’s sails and, at the same time, violently blow one off his or her course of life.

They’re not made up as a result of a pessimistic thought life and so they aren’t magically erased with some false power of positive thinking. They don’t just prey on the weak, in fact, they often attempt to take down the fiercest of today’s titans for no other reason than in this world, they simply can.  

These two thorns in the sides of the countless aren’t associated with intelligence.  I.Q. is a non-factor; it is irrelevant.  Depression and anxiety aren’t concomitantly linked to a certain level of comprehension; they both feed on the sage and the ignoramus.   Furthermore, when it comes to emotions, these two culprits can rob both the introvert and the extrovert of the joys of an abundant life.

Depression and anxiety aren’t always prayed away!  What?  Yes, it’s true.  Medicine is a critical and crucial component in the lives of the countless.  God... yes, God... has given us the ability to join in the battle for the brain, not solely with our prayerful petitions, but also with tiny chemical weapons, which have proven themselves to be very effective in the war for sanity.

Finally, these two terrorists evoke fear into the lives of both the countless and the many.  Together, they certainly make up a fierce opponent, whose attack is both random and predictable.  The sad and unfortunate reality of the day is that this opponent is taken far more seriously by the countless and not the many, which explains why so many of the countless have been silenced or isolated to deal with depression and anxiety alone, in likes to a gladiator stepping into an arena of highly probable death.

So, regardless of what group you associate yourself with (the countless or the many), will you answer the call to arms and join the fight against these two debilitating mental health diseases?  I hope you will; and I pray you will vouch to stand with the countless... and kick some cerebral ass!

[revjasonjnelson]

Do We Have the Same Power the Disciples Had?

Yes!

Absolutely!

As Christians, it doesn’t seem like we spend a whole lot of time talking about pneumatology, which is a theological word for the study of the Holy Spirit. We really don’t talk much about the Holy Spirit these days, at least not in a whole lot of detail, except during certain times or days of the year, like Pentecost. For many churches around the world, the Holy Spirit is given the back seat, so to speak, with God the Father in the driver’s seat and Jesus riding shotgun. To be Christian, however, is to be Trinitarian, which means we worship one God in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power. 

And the reality is that since the dawn of Creation, the Holy Spirit has been moving throughout this earth with power, blowing life into Christ’s Holy Church like a mighty wind and setting people’s hearts on fire with a love for our Savior and for others. From the time that time began, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit has been moving throughout the earth, maneuvering over the empty, dark and formless places and spaces of this unique ball of creation. From the beginning, the Holy Spirit has been hovering over the surfaces of the deep and over the waters of the world.

The Holy Spirit was actively involved in the world throughout the Old Testament, formally appearing in these sacred writings 88 different times, each time giving distinctly different divine gifts to the prophets, to certain Hebrew kings and to God’s people as a whole. For example, the Holy Spirit was actively involved in the creation of the universe and everything within it, actively involved in forming us from the dust, from the dirt, from the earth and breathing life into us. So the Holy Spirit is life giving. The Holy Spirit offered spiritual nourishment to Hebrew people time and time again, and offered them hope in times of despair. So the Holy Spirit is life sustaining. The Holy Spirit provided power to the prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Elijah. So the Holy Spirit is spiritually and physically and intellectually empowering. The Holy Spirit instilled insight, instruction, wisdom and guidance to kings like Saul and David. So the Holy Spirit is enlightening. And the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament directly communicated God’s Word to humanity with boldness and clarity. So the Holy Spirit delivers and distributes Truth. In all these cases, as well as the 264 times the Holy Spirit appears within the New Testament, there is a supernatural, formational and transformational work that is being done throughout the earth because the Holy Spirit is on the move, hovering (to use the words from Genesis 2:2) and looking to fill the earth with the presence and power of God!

And do you know what? 

Nothing has changed.

 From Genesis to Revelation, from Revelation to today, the Holy Spirit is still moving throughout the earth. For those who feel void and empty inside, the Holy Spirit is still life-giving and life-sustaining. For those who have tough decisions to make regarding work or school or some sort of complicated family matter, the Holy Spirit is still empowering believers with insight and instruction and wisdom and guidance from above. For those who are seeking answers to tough questions in life or are struggling with skepticism or wrestling with doubts, the Holy Spirit is still enlightening and still delivers and distributes Truth; and what’s most amazing of all, because of what Christ has done for us on the Cross and because of what God did for us in the grave, the Holy Spirit isn’t just hovering over waters of this world, but the Holy Spirit is now within us, hovering over the waters of our souls, ready to fill the empty places and spaces of our lives with power from on high, ready to form and actually transform us more and more into the image of Christ, ready to do through us all the same things the Holy Spirit did through the disciples! And you thought you were just an ordinary person!

[revjasonjnelson]

Put on a Happy Face and Lie!

Put on a happy face and lie! This is the message I have been bombarded with most of my life and even more so as a pastor.  Reality check… pastors are people too!  Did you know this?  Many people fallaciously assume their pastors have their act together resulting in some default position of having their shepherds in residence elevated to a standard no human being could ever maintain and subconsciously placing them upon a de facto pedestal that solely belongs to Jesus.  

Moreover, there are even some pastors who have naively convinced themselves that they are actually whole and holy and deserving of such a position of supremacy.  These ignoramuses seem to take delight in this facade and enjoy hovering over their flock with an air of perfectionism.   I don’t care how amazing their sermons are, pastors who bathe in hubris and feed off of applause, accolades and admiration, inevitably possess an unhealthy ambition, which neglects to “seek first the Kingdom of God” and drives them to construct a kingdom of their own.

 And finally there are pastors who recognize the reality that congregations do have an inherent tendency to perceive pastors as these perfect spiritual guides who have some sort of special access to direct divine lines or heavenly channels; and to add to this charade, these pastors are actually encouraged by their congregations and colleagues to allow this spiritually superficial show to go on.  

 Well, I am tired of living within this lie.  I’m exhausted by this system we have set up.  It isn’t biblical and it certainly is not theologically sound.  Christ is perfect in every way, but the Body is not.  None of its members are, including pastors.  Yes, I believe in the divine blessings ontologically present within the Wesleyan notion of Sanctifying grace but when it comes to being perfect… I know I’m not.  And frankly, I’m disappointed when I’m discouraged from being more publically open about my wounds, faults and failures.  I become borderline apoplectic when I’m encouraged by other pastors to sweep my baggage under a rug, put on a happy face, and fake it till I make it, acting like everything is A-OK!

 In the past, I was passed up for some key leadership roles because I was labeled as being ‘too Captain Americaish.”  Furthermore, some people over the past few years have actually called me the ‘Golden Boy.’ Well, even though I love Captain America, I look and am nothing like him; and though I have blue eyes and blondish hair, I’m metaphorically more like lead, at best, not gold. It’s a shame these titles, and others like it, are even used to describe leaders within the church because they reinforce culture’s obsession with appearance and because they’re never ever true.

 I know this is the case because, you see, I struggle with depression and have struggled severely for many years.  My doctors have told me my depression is partly genetic and partly the result of deeply seated wounds stemming from feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. Research proves that people who have had concussions are more likely to experience greater degrees of depression. Well, because I played football through college, I’ve had more concussions than I can count on one hand. Many times depression comes at me like a tsunami and can literally take my breath away; in those moments it’s hard to get out of bed or there’s a longing to get back in bed.  Most of the time, though, my depression moves in and out like a cold, dark, and heavy damp fog.  In either case, I have to be mindful to put on the full armor of God, as Paul says in Ephesians 6, and recognize that in those moments I am extremely susceptible to spiritual attacks. I also have anxiety, which always increases when I find myself in high-pressure ministry settings where I become one of the first responders.  From my experience, anxiety also maneuvers and manipulates my mind with the same mannerisms as depression.  

 To deal with the depression and anxiety, I am developing a fairly holistic plan to help me sustain my ability to be productive.  I consistently take a few medications, which helps me tremendously—my doctors are great. I also see a therapist on a regular basis to talk through some of the external reasons for my overwhelming feelings of despondency.  Furthermore, the support system around me is spiritually solid.  I have a mentor who I’ve met with for about 10 years.  He knows everything about me (the good, the bad, and the ugly).  He prays for me and supports me.  His investment in me is… priceless.  I also have the prayers, love and support of my parents, in-laws, siblings and of course, my wife.  I can’t even begin to imagine where I might be today were it not for God’s grace working in and through them.

 I write all this to communicate a couple of points:  

 1. I am a pastor and by the Grace of God, I am what I am.

 2.  I understand what it feels like to feel dead inside.  I know what it’s like to be in a place that St. John of the Cross refers to as, “The Dark night of the Soul.”  There have been days when I doubt the wonder working power within me and times when I don’t feel the movement of the Holy Spirit within my soul.  But I know that I have to remind myself that no matter how I feel, no matter how much darkness and despair come my way, I stand on the gospel of Jesus Christ; and what’s even more significant than the medicine, what’s even more substantial than the therapy, what’s even more important than the great support system I have around me is the knowledge that Jesus is alive and he’s alive in me!  I know, no matter how I feel, that the love of our Lord, flows down from the heavens to my heart and courses through my veins and arteries to the depths of my soul like a rushing river flowing to the sea.  And because of this faith I have, I know I am a temple of the Holy Spirit, no matter how wounded and jacked up I might be.  And so are you!

 In Christ you are a temple of the Holy Spirit, so no matter how you feel, no matter what comes your way, no matter how much you have to endure, no matter where you are in your spiritual life (or life in general), whenever you find yourself in “The Dark Night of the Soul” remember who you are in Christ and never ever forget that you are a member of the Body of Christ; and even though none of us… not one of us, including pastors, is perfect, we are loved unconditionally by Christ and are being transformed more and more into his likeness, even in those moments when we find ourselves walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

 Depression is a real thing and it’s time to be real as a Church; it’s time to acknowledge the reality that many people fight depression and despair daily, including many pastors who feel pressured to hide behind the veils of this life.  Remember, pastors are people too!  We also have wounds in need of divine healing, and we’re also sinners in need of a savior!  We all have deficiencies and struggles, whether we admit it or not (ranging from depression to pride, from anxiety to ambition, and from insecurity to fear), which means pastors need just as much prayer and support as any other Body part so that we can lead and feed our sheep with authenticity and integrity and absolute transparency.

 Church, it is due time that we stop playing the game, living within the realm of the dangerously delusional, and pretending that everything and everybody, especially us pastors, are always A-OK!  

[revjasonjnelson]

Who Are You?

I remember my wedding day like it was yesterday.  I can still close my eyes and picture myself standing in the front of that little Georgian Church on that early July day.   Wow! It was hot!  And not just outside.  Someone forgot to turn on the air conditioning in the church that morning so the sanctuary was like a sauna.  I was sweating so badly, but I didn’t care.  I was too excited—overwhelmed with joy and anxiously anticipating the opening of the doors in the back of the sanctuary.  When the bridal procession finally began, the people stood, the doors opened and there she was… the love of my life, my bride, standing in the archway in all her beauty and brilliance—she took my breath away.  

Ever since that day, I have tried, to the best of my abilities, to show my wife just how much I love her.  I’ve worked hard over the years to give her the love she deserves, from simple acts of love like doing the laundry, cooking a meal or doing dishes… to the more painful acts of love like sitting through sappy romance movies with her.  Now, I admit, there were days when I lacked the strength to love her as I should (and as she deserves); there were moments in our marriage when I selfishly put my needs above hers; but I’m learning more and more each day to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit so I can love without limits and even now I’m just as committed to our marriage as ever before, which is why I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt—I love her more than life!  I love her more than my life and I would die for her if my life were ever on the line.  And I know many husbands who would do the same for their wives.

 But this life-giving love I have for my bride (and that many husbands have for their brides), though it contains a lot of depth, is really shallow in comparison to the love Jesus Christ has for His Bride, the Church.  Unlike my love, or any other husband’s love for that matter, the love of Christ is infinite.  It’s pure and perfect.  It never fails or falls short.  It is sacrificial and selfless all the time.  The love of Christ is both death conquering and life giving; and the reason why it’s both death conquering and life giving is because He has already given his life for the Church and He continues to breath life into it!

 Now, when we talk about the Church we’re really talking about us.  We are the Church, which means, we are the Bride of Christ.  Jesus gave his life for us so that we, as his Bride, could stand before this world in all of our beauty and radiance.  But unfortunately there are times when we, as the Bride of Christ, forget who we are; and in those moments of forgetfulness some of our beauty fades and a little of our radiance becomes diminished; but by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are learning to walk with our Lord and become more and more the church Jesus spoke about in the gospel of Matthew when he told Peter that the Church will powerfully prevail over the gates of hell! That is powerful.  And that is who we are!  A Christ like, Holy Spirit empowered force of love.

 This is the Apostle Paul’s message in the letter we call Ephesians.  It’s basically two-fold.  One, our identity and our purpose is in our risen Lord, Jesus Christ—we are his Church, a united body of believers recreated to do good works; and two, as people who live under the reign and rule of our Lord, we have the responsibility to live a life worthy of Christ, which is a life that promotes unity in the Body of Christ.

  So you see, the message of Ephesians is simple… but it’s profound and the words of this massage makeup a masterpiece.  Read it… reflect upon it… and allow it’s brilliance and glory to saturate your soul so that you are reminded of who you are In Christ!