Author: Jason

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Portable Thoughts

Last night while I was at the Third Day concert at the Chattanooga Riverbend Festival, the conversation of some of the folks I was with turned to how advanced port-a-potties are these days.  That’s right!  The comments where even a little uplifting as they discussed how much better those smelly contraption are then the places they may get to utilize on some of the summer mission trips they will be leading over the next few weeks.  So for some reason that was stuck in my mind this morning, and I was sitting here thinking how much I love the Johns.

No, not the port-o-let version, the Johns – John, 1 2 and 3 John.  I actually remembered last nights conversation while I was reading a little bit of 1 John this morning looking for some motivation and realizing that I don’t have the same energy that I used to have.  Getting starting this morning after a “school night” concert is proving to be a little more to overcome than I anticipated.  But anyway, back to the John, well, back to 1 John.

5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5

I found this to be motivational today.  Realizing that the victory that overcomes the world is simply our faith! When its boiled down to that it becomes so simple, and yet so motivating.

So, I apologize for the bathroom humor today, I think I am still stuck on Man Day! However,  I hope you can look past that, and find motivation to tackle the day from the awareness of the victory that lies before you!  Also take a look at the whole of 1 John 4 and 5 and see where the leads you today!

57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15:57

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National Man Day

Yo Yo, Its National Man Day! Sorry ladies, it appears this is the day we can go unshaven, wear our shirts untucked, grunt, snort, brush our teeth with bacon and do all the manly stuff that, well, makes us men!

I am just not sure how to celebrate, but I can tell you I will not be reading Twilight or eating croissants. I am thinking that walking around the house in boxers and dark socks may be a good start.  Or maybe a good Chuck Norris movie, or how about unloading the fire arms in the back yard!

No matter how you spend National Man Day, here are a few things that all men should consider everyday:

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— Ephesians 5:25-29 NIV

2Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. …. 6Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.  Titus 2: 2, 6-8 (NIV)

Men, you can’t argue with that!  So go out and show your manliness, and make sure you are loving your wives, and living a life with integrity!

Get r dun.

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Keep Moving Forward

Last night, we finished off a great weekend by piling into the living room and watching an older Disney film called “Meet the Robinsons” on one of the Disney channels.  Its an OK movie, and I was really just halfway paying attention, messing around with some other things, eating ice cream, and just enjoying everyone’s company.  Anyway in this movie, the motto “Keep Moving Forward” appears as it tells the story of not letting failure keep you down.  It turns out this Disney film stole that motto from its founder – Walt ( I guess that’s not technically stealing is it?)

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.
Walt Disney

I think that a great way to start a Monday morning.  It sort of reminds me of another great Disney movie, The Lion King,  when Pumba says “You gotta put your behind in the past.”  To which Timon replies “No no no, sit down before you hurt yourself, you gotta put your past behind you”

13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:13-14 (New International Version)

Keep Moving Forward!!

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Go World

The Soccer World Cup starts today!  Isn’t the awesome!  I always think it is so amazing when the whole world gets together around one thing, even it is it sport.  Its good to see the people although they have their favorite team, still can realize that we are all people!

Its also interesting to think about this event taking place in South Africa.   A few weeks ago, I took advantage of pay per view to watch Invictus, the story of the South Africa rugby, but really a story about the power of forgiveness.  Its worth the watch, and its a really powerful story of the way people can work together to make things happen, but really it all started with forgiveness.

So as the world comes together today, putting aside their differences today to play futbol, how about taking a look around you and see how forgiveness can change the world around you.

36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:36-38 (New International Version)

Oh, and for all you Englanders out there, watch out, the Yanks are coming!

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Who Is It About

Yesterday, I was in the all day affair that I was flown up here for when I was asked my opinion about a direction or standard.  I replied with the acutal directional statement.  Its one that I believe in, but its still early in development.  A few minutes after this one of my coworkers in the room, responded provided her thoughts on this standards, and ripping it to shreds with a lot of emotion and frustration. 

As she was going through her “rant”, I dropped in to a dream sequence.  I saw myself.  I thought of the way I had handle situations like this in the past.  I thought about my response to her at this moment, which deep in side was probably a kin to reaching across the table and doing bodily harm! However, I also thought about wy I would want to do that, the value, the message, and how I could use this to show the transformation that I strive for everyday, and then as she finished up I thought about Colossians 3:7

7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

The comments were quickly deferred to a a more appropriate setting to address by another co worker, who beat me to the punch at saying that, and the meeting moved on.  However, her frustration with the direction continued the rest of the day.  And so, I continued to think about how to address this, and I realized that my job was not to defend myself, and to prove that I was correct.  It’s not about me.   My job is to make her better.  And that is what I will strive to do. 

What about you, what about your conflicts.  Who is it about?

12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Col 3 (NIV)