Author: Jason

Categories
Daily Post

The Return of Captain Zoom

Do you know that chances are if you know someone, that person is born in September.  That’s right, more birthdays in September then any other month!  And since you know me, you know someone else with a September birthday!

When I was a little guy, I guess lower elementary school age, my big sister bought me a flexible record with a personalized birthday message from Captain Zoom.  It went something like this “Hey Jason, it’s your birthday…” etc.  I played that think every birthday until I think I left for college, or until I got rid of my record player (last year… no not really!)

When I was in high school, two teachers in the school shared my birthday.  During my freshman year, just a few weeks in to the school year, these two teacher came bursting into one of my classes, with a large cake in hand, singing and dancing.  And right then and there, we had a birthday party.  Little shy freshman Jason, was a little bit unsure of how to handle that situation.  This continued each of my 4 years of high school, some time during the day in one of my classes the door would burst open and well, party time!  I think this is one of those simple little events that help move me from little shy Jason to someone with some confidence – odd I know.

This may seem like a narcissistic post, or just a way to get some attention, but actually there is a point here.  These birthdays gone by have taught me several things about birthdays.  First, it showed me that I really really liked the attention on my birthday 🙂 – even though it goes against some of my basic principles.  But more than that,(and here is the real point of all of this mess) I think it has taught me that people, no matter who they are, like to be made to feel special and loved – no matter if it is their birthday or not.

So, today is my birthday, thankfully, my Facebook wall is going nuts, I have found the birthday song as an MP3, and I am taking the day off from the mill.  This morning, in a birthday text message exchange with my sister-n-law, after I told her I was trying to figure out how to spend the day, she replied “WWJD”.    Instantly, I replied “Go to the synagogues and teach, or retreat to the mountains and pray”.   And there you have it.  What would Jesus do on his birthday.  He would spend the day reaching out to others, or spend the day drawing closer to his heavenly father.

And that sort of my message today.  Birthdays are great, and with this day I am reminded how important it is to reach out to others, to lift others up, and to encourage people, if it’s there birthday or not.  And mostly I am reminded “to do unto others as I would have them do to me” (Luke 6:31)- birthday or not.

Eat some cake!

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Philippians 2:3-4 (New International Version)

Categories
Daily Post

Rooted

Woot, woot! Man, I have so many things to be pumped about today. We had a great relaxing soccer filled weekend as a family. We explored the Sequatchie Valley on a beautiful day on Saturday. The Mountaineers won, my fantasy team won ( as a matter of fact, my bench alone almost beat my opponent). It’s just so great. But you know what really makes today great. It’s the fact that I have been given another day to delight in what the Lord has provided. More than the wins, more than the sun, more than the weekend. Check it in the first Psalm:

1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.Psalm 1 (NIV)

It’s being rooted by a source of food and energy that has me excited today. Like a tree by a stream, His law provides the nutrients for us to produce fruit. Let’s be rooted in Him. Watch the fruit the we will produce.

Categories
Daily Post Talk Like a Pirate Day

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day

This was originally sent as an email on Talk Like a Pirate Day 2008 ( Friday September 19, 2008)

Me hearties,

Tis ‘talk like a pirate day!’.  Me thinks it be a jolly day t’ scrub th’ poop deck an’ gather me some Doubloons!
I be not aye to be doin’ this for t’ whole email, so me reckon me will translate t’ verses today into pirate talk.”

Pray fer e’eryone an’ share th’ loot with e’eryone ye can this day
Heartly enjoy!.

No Quarter!

Jason

Acts 2:38
Repent an’ be baptized, e’ery one o’ ye, in the name o’ Jesus Christ fer the fergiveness o’ yer sins. An’ ye will receive the gift o’ the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor 9:19
Though I be free and belong t’ no scurvy dog, I make meself a slave t’ everyone, t’ win as many as possible.
Acts 3:5-6
5So th’ scurvy dog  gave them his attention, expectin’ t’ get somethin’ from them. 6Then Peter said, “Pieces of eight I do nay be havin’, but what I be havin’ I gift ye. In t’ name o’ Jesus Christ o’ Nazareth, walk.”

Categories
Daily Post Talk Like a Pirate Day

Yo ho yo ho Talk like a pirate day’s for me 2009

TLAPD 2009

This was originally sent as a email on Friday, September 18, 2009  to the bible class I was teaching:

Argh me hearties!

Ahoy, ‘tis Friday, one day before speak like a scurvy pirate day, but I ain’t be passing by th’ opportunity t’speak wit’ ye buckos ‘n share Christ wit’ a wee flair.

Me hearties, the old salt was marked with the Black Spot. Avast, he was made to kiss the gunner’s daughter, and wast given a taste o’ ye cat o’nine tails. After the flogging he be left t’ dance with ol’ Jack Ketch.   Arr, he went t’ Davy Jones’ locker fer ye. But, he didn’t stay like buried booty.  Smartly, he didn’t stay in the bung hole.  No, begad he beat that ol’ scurvy dog th’ Devil and came back t’ life. – fer ye an’ fer me. Now you don’t have t’ be a bilge rat. You be as beautiful as th’ sea herself. Yo-ho-ho!  Forgiven, Shiver me timbers, Grab you bosun, alert the Cap’n, it be time for a shantey.

So heartly enjoy th’ day.

Remember t’ come out fer tavern on Sunday mornin’ after a great hour ‘o worship. Arrr, th’ speaker gunna be great. Aye, me parrot concurs.

Me must get back to swabbing the poop deck,

No quarter!

Jason

(if you be confused to parts of this email, be clicking your landlubber self to here for some translations: http://www.tide-mark.com/pirate_dict.html)

Romans 6:3-5

(Pirate Version)
3Or don’t ye be knowin’ that all o’ us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his Davy Jones’ treasure chest? 4We were tharfore buried wit’ him through baptism into Davy Jones’ treasure chest  in order that, just as Christ was raised from t’ went t’ Davy Jones’ locker through t’ glory o’ th’ salty sea-do ‘o a Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united wit’ him like ‘tis in his Davy Jones’ treasure chest, we gunna certainly also be united wit’ him in his resurrection.

(New International Version)

3Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

Categories
Daily Post Talk Like a Pirate Day

Yo Ho Ho

Sink Me!

Avast ye scurvy landlubbers!  ‘tis be day me hearties ’n me have been itchin’ fer many a fortnight.  Tis be th’ shore leave o’  talk like a pirate day.  Shiver me timbers! That’s correct, Sunday be Talk Like A Pirate Day.

T’ celebrate, I gunna be reposting some scurvy pirate speak from 08 ‘n 09 through th’ shore leave.  Also me gunna be tellin’ ye a tale.

If ye be thinking me be addled, belay that ‘n handsomely use ye deadlights to read on.

Lads and Lassies, We have been giv’n much loot and have much t’ g’ve.  Take ye a gander at what th’ old salt Paul says in Galatians. Blimey!

Arr, ye, me brothers, war called t’ be free. But do not use your freedom pillaging, looting and chasing swag; rather, swab th’ decks with ye buckos in love. T’ entire law be summed up in a sin’le command: “Love ye mateys as yeself.” Galatians 5:13-14

Avast, me don’t think we just lay ‘bout and become shark bait.  Gar, me hearties, press on smartly ‘n honor th’ pieces of eight ye have been given

No Quarter!

Fair Winds to ye now ye dogs!