Do you ever feel like you need a break? Like you need to breathe?

I do too.

I am currently working my way through a book on Spiritual Disciplines. A challenge pierced through my heart and convicted me:

When people ask, “So how are you?” refrain from a litany about how busy you are. This simply reinforces that a revved-up existence is what matters.

Yikes.

How frequently have I fallen into this trap? To believe that being more productive is my calling? What if my calling was to “be still“?

I’ve got to slow down. I need to take longer showers. I need to read slower. To read for transformation instead of information. I need to insert margins for rest and rejuvenation in my day. I need to run more. And bike more. I need more time with my wife. And friends. And family.

I need to be fully present wherever I am.

How about you? Where are you at?

Blessings to you as you serve!

-Jonathan

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”  1 Corinthians 15:17

Creation could have happened in 6, literal days or over 6 billion years. If science were to prove something either way tomorrow, it would have no affect on my faith.

The Flood could’ve covered the whole Earth or it could’ve just covered where Noah and humanity inhabited.

I could be really wrong on a variety of my own interpretations of Scripture. I could have some mixed up views of who God really is. In fact, I am sure I don’t know a whole host of things about God.

But if Jesus doesn’t rise up from the grave, my faith is worthless. It all hinges on one moment. One piece of history. One moment of redemption – God making it so I could have a real, living relationship with Him – and have a full life here on Earth.

But I recently read that nearly 1/3 of Christians don’t believe in a physical resurrection of Jesus. And so I’m wondering – What is the basis of our faith with the resurrection gone?

Tim Keller writes, “If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all he said; if he didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said?”

Why live a radical life of sacrifice if Jesus wasn’t really the son of God? That wouldn’t make any sense.

It’s all or nothing for me when it comes to the Resurrection.

Jesus is either a nut job or he is Lord.

Without the resurrection, I’d enjoy a couple of quotes on peace and love from Jesus, but I’m not going to follow Him with my life. In fact, for me, I may not even believe in God’s promises. Or His love. Or His care for me. Or that I could be experiencing resurrection from all the death in my own life – or that I could be made whole.

I don’t know where I’d be, but I do know that my entire life trajectory has been altered by God’s son.

I believe it.

And I’m in.

I’m all in.

“God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” Acts 2:24

Where are you at?

Come.

Follow me.

My path is more beautiful than anything you can imagine.

Do you hear it?

As the Lord approached, a very powerful wind tore the mountains apart. It broke up the rocks. But the Lord wasn’t in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake. But the Lord wasn’t in the earthquake.

After the earthquake a fire came. But the Lord wasn’t in the fire.

And after the fire there was only a gentle whisper.

So the next time someone is tweeting in church, you are not allowed to judge them. They are simply doing what Scripture has “clearly” told them to do: Tweet. And read on their Kindle Fire.

Who knew?

(HT @Michael Hyatt & @Scott Williams)

My favorite part of Tim Tebow is not that he is very unorthodox in the option-style offense he runs. It is not in how he is playing the game right now.

My favorite part of Tim Tebow is not that he wears his faith on his sleeve (or more literally…on his face). Although the way he does it is equally impressive as his track record with winning. He is never obnoxious about his faith expression and you can sense the sincerity in what he believes. He isn’t doing it for a show, but because he honestly and wholeheartedly loves God. And he has backed it up with an unbelievable track record in serving those who need it most.

But what I love most about Tebow is not his ability to win, his ability to play the game different, or even his faith.

What I love most about Tim Tebow is his ability to handle the haters.

The truth is, everyone who succeeds at something in life has haters. Whether it is a business job, an NFL player, or even a pastor – you get haters.

And Tebow’s list of haters is longer than anyone I’ve ever seen. The attacks from both sportscasters and people of different faith backgrounds has been disheartening. And the worst part is that Christians (who have become so cynical and believe that the way they live out their faith is the only way…) have thrown their stones at him as well.

For me, every time that Tebow responds with grace, a smile comes across my face. Every time he chooses not to fire back at a snarky remark about his faith, I grin again. Every time Tim chooses to go prove the haters wrong with his actions rather than retaliate, I’m inspired.

That is why Tim Tebow is #winning. And why for me, it has nothing to do with football.

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What is most intriguing to me is that 70% of students would rather text than get a phone call.

What stands out to you?
Anything surprise you?
Is this what you expected?
How does this affect communication with teens in the future?

Calvary Assembly is hosting a FREE seminar on how ANY sort of church leader can use social media well – TONIGHT! This is not limited to pastors or “top” church leaders, but is available to ANYONE interested. There will be information that applies to the beginner and to the pro. I will be the teacher for the seminar and am excited about the discussion that will ensue tonight at 7pm.

Here are some of the topics we will cover:

The seminar starts at 7pm and will go just over an hour (including time for questions). As I said, we are looking forward to investing in anyone who is interested!

If you would like to join us, please RSVP to Calvary Assembly by 4pm today at 585.889.0190. We will have a binder full of information for you tonight!

I look forward to it!

-Jonathan

You can’t live for God until you learn how to live because of God. You can’t make good choices for God until you’ve read the Gospel that says the choices you make DON’T make you who you are. What Christ has done for you makes you who you are. Yes, there are consequences to our choices, the choices we make have ramifications about where we end up, but here’s the Gospel: Where we end up, is not who we are. Who we are isn’t what we do, who we are is what has been done for us.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The speed of the boss is the speed of the team.”

-Lee Iacocca

1 Peter 5:2-3 (NIRV)

² Be shepherds of God’s flock, the believers who are under your care. Serve as their leaders. Don’t serve them because you have to. Instead, do it because you want to. That’s what God wants you to do. Don’t do it because you want to get more and more money. Do it because you really want to serve.

³ Don’t act as if you were a ruler over those who are under your care. Instead, be examples to the flock.