Thursday, December 29, 2011
Simple Impact
I think this may be a year old, but it's new to me. I love how simple it is and that is gets the point across with so little effort on the viewer. I'm thinking that I want to continually speak to students, and parents in a way that moves people closer to Jesus without much effort on the part of the listener.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!
 |
| Underground Student Movement Christmas Party 2011 |
Merry Christmas!
I know you are shocked. A blogpost? What is this about? Well, I had a few things to say that 140 characters on twitter couldn't quite handle. Don't worry, this in not a New Year's Resolution post. I thought I would take a moment and express my gratitude for the team I serve with at LifePoint Church.
I have thought through the different aspects of this Christmas day celebration and have been overwhelmed at the blessings in my life. The birth of our Savior, Jesus, is an overwhelming thought. Without His birth, we would have no hope. None. Without Him, we are, to use John's words, "condemned already." As if identity, purpose and forgiveness were not enough, he also gives us Himself. Christ born in us, if we believe.
All of this got me to thinking about the few years we have on earth and those with whom we get to spend our time. It's pretty crazy to think that God not only offers us Himself through Jesus, but He also gives us true spiritual community. I'm so grateful that my community starts with my family. Some are not so fortunate to have a believing family. I'm so thankful to have a family that loves Jesus and is so supportive to the Good News. Additionally, my wife and two girls are so precious and are such a joy to know, love and journey through life together. What an adventure we are on!
Next, comes the people we do life with on an ongoing basis. For most of us, this is the random collection of people that we don't totally choose. We are merged with a group of strangers primarily by proximity. Then life has a way of growing us together, and in some cases those people become family.
Over the past nine months, we have been in "transition mode" since my good friend Lance Burch accepted the position of lead pastor at Shadow Lake Community Church in Nebraska. Filling his shoes has been no easy task. Lance and his family's absence have certainly left a void here. Fortunately, I have been so blessed to get to do life and ministry with a great group of people to come along side me and the UGR staff to continue the ministry. They are the volunteers of Underground Student Movement. I'm so thankful for their sacrifice and surrender to helping students and their families. Some of us were able to come together for a Christmas party last weekend. I was reminded again of how great it is to see God working around us.
It's so great to know and serve with a wonderful team of people that desire to see students find and follow Jesus. I am so grateful this Christmas for their dedication to Christ and making Him known.
I hope your Christmas season has been filled with deep meaning and purpose. Instead of thinking about all the things we need to change for 2012, let's spend the rest of 2011 remembering God working around us this past year.
Merry Christmas to all!
If you are so inclined, how has God been at work in your life this past year?
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Spring 2011 Update
I post things here from time to time. I'm focused on a few projects right now that are consuming my blogging time. I'm hoping to return to blogging before long, but until then, follow me on twitter here: www.twitter.com
I protect my tweets, but none the less, I would love to add you!
Thanks!
Jason
I protect my tweets, but none the less, I would love to add you!
Thanks!
Jason
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
My 35th Birthday
On May 22nd I'm turning 35. This year I have decided to try something a little different. I want to give up my birthday and try and raise $1000 for clean drinking water by June 30th.
Several years ago I went to Mexico to drill water wells for children at an orphanage. Since then, my awareness of the issue has been heightened, but my actions have been lacking. I think it's time I start doing something.
Will you consider joining me in donating a one time donation to help me raise $1000 for clean drinking water?
Go here for more info and how to donate.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, July 03, 2009
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Waiting On Baby!
Well, five days from today is the due date. May 7th, to be exact. Today we wait. We don't know when, but we are getting excited! We attended our childbirth class today and toured the hospital. We were afraid we might not make it to the class before starting labor. Our original date was set for a month ago, but had to be postponed until this weekend.
I'm not sure everyone is aware of the miracle that has happened. I choose the word miracle because from my vantage point, no other word does it justice. My wife and I have been married for 14 years this coming May 13th. Fourteen years is a long time to be married and to not have children naturally - assuming you a couple wants children. Rachel and I began questioning the possibility of infertility about 8 years ago. Our status was simple math. No birth control and no children for 8 years meant we should talk to a doctor. Our diagnosis was never definite or even very bleak. It was always, "regulate this, start that, lower this and then things will change." Eight years grew to twelve and still nothing. Until we met a new doctor.
Rachel and I moved to Maryland in 2005 and wanted to really focus on starting a family and decided to find some real answers. Even if they were not what we wanted, we still wanted the truth. Through a series of events, including a trip out of the country, we heard of a doctor at Johns Hopkins that might could help us. From the first time we met her, we knew she was who we needed to figure out what, if anything, could be done. Rachel had been reading up on her symptoms and attempting a self-diagnosis and figured on Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) being the culprit. Within days, our doctor confirmed this was indeed an issue.
This was quite a relief. It was the first time in 12 years we had heard that there was an issue and that it was treatable! We were excited. The baby we had been waiting on was actually a possibility now. We used this time to decide what our future would look like, even if we were not able to have children naturally. God seemed to bring us to the point where we made the decision to adopt, no matter the outcome of naturally conceiving. Rachel and I were on vacation back home in Texas when we found out that for the very first time, after 13 years, we were pregnant. We were so excited! We couldn't believe it! We honestly were thinking that time was running out and now we had made it!
Unfortunately, our excitement was short lived. Within a few weeks, we learned that the pregnancy was not viable. Honestly, it was a huge let down, and Rachel and I spent some time really questioning God's intention or even trying to figure out why He allowed such an event to occur. Ironically, the miscarriage did produce hope. I knew that even though we didn't have a viable pregnancy, that a viable pregnancy was really possible!
One year to the day that Rachel miscarried, we found out that Rachel was pregnant again. Rachel was so excited, I was tentative. I had already been down this road once and didn't want to get too excited too quickly. We had been waiting on this day for so long - and now we had another opportunity.
It's hard to believe, that after 14 years of not knowing, wondering and waiting, the time is finally getting very close. Here we are only a week out. It could be any day now. These days do seem surreal. It's hard to take all the emotion in. We have had so much love and support from so many people, its been overwhelming. We feel like we are in a stadium with so many people cheering us on. We can't thank our family and friends enough. We are so excited! We don't know if its a boy or girl yet, ahhhh the anticipation. We are so glad that so many of our friends and family are journeying through this with us. It makes it all the more special.
God, I am so grateful to you for each of the people you have brought to Rachel and I to encourage us and support us along this 14 year journey of faith. We are so grateful to you for your faithfulness to us. You have certainly heard our prayers. May we work hard to accomplish your desires for our family over the coming years.
Thank you for all those that are with us in this as we continue, waiting on baby!
In Him,
Jason
I'm not sure everyone is aware of the miracle that has happened. I choose the word miracle because from my vantage point, no other word does it justice. My wife and I have been married for 14 years this coming May 13th. Fourteen years is a long time to be married and to not have children naturally - assuming you a couple wants children. Rachel and I began questioning the possibility of infertility about 8 years ago. Our status was simple math. No birth control and no children for 8 years meant we should talk to a doctor. Our diagnosis was never definite or even very bleak. It was always, "regulate this, start that, lower this and then things will change." Eight years grew to twelve and still nothing. Until we met a new doctor.
Rachel and I moved to Maryland in 2005 and wanted to really focus on starting a family and decided to find some real answers. Even if they were not what we wanted, we still wanted the truth. Through a series of events, including a trip out of the country, we heard of a doctor at Johns Hopkins that might could help us. From the first time we met her, we knew she was who we needed to figure out what, if anything, could be done. Rachel had been reading up on her symptoms and attempting a self-diagnosis and figured on Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) being the culprit. Within days, our doctor confirmed this was indeed an issue.
This was quite a relief. It was the first time in 12 years we had heard that there was an issue and that it was treatable! We were excited. The baby we had been waiting on was actually a possibility now. We used this time to decide what our future would look like, even if we were not able to have children naturally. God seemed to bring us to the point where we made the decision to adopt, no matter the outcome of naturally conceiving. Rachel and I were on vacation back home in Texas when we found out that for the very first time, after 13 years, we were pregnant. We were so excited! We couldn't believe it! We honestly were thinking that time was running out and now we had made it!
Unfortunately, our excitement was short lived. Within a few weeks, we learned that the pregnancy was not viable. Honestly, it was a huge let down, and Rachel and I spent some time really questioning God's intention or even trying to figure out why He allowed such an event to occur. Ironically, the miscarriage did produce hope. I knew that even though we didn't have a viable pregnancy, that a viable pregnancy was really possible!
One year to the day that Rachel miscarried, we found out that Rachel was pregnant again. Rachel was so excited, I was tentative. I had already been down this road once and didn't want to get too excited too quickly. We had been waiting on this day for so long - and now we had another opportunity.
It's hard to believe, that after 14 years of not knowing, wondering and waiting, the time is finally getting very close. Here we are only a week out. It could be any day now. These days do seem surreal. It's hard to take all the emotion in. We have had so much love and support from so many people, its been overwhelming. We feel like we are in a stadium with so many people cheering us on. We can't thank our family and friends enough. We are so excited! We don't know if its a boy or girl yet, ahhhh the anticipation. We are so glad that so many of our friends and family are journeying through this with us. It makes it all the more special.
God, I am so grateful to you for each of the people you have brought to Rachel and I to encourage us and support us along this 14 year journey of faith. We are so grateful to you for your faithfulness to us. You have certainly heard our prayers. May we work hard to accomplish your desires for our family over the coming years.
Thank you for all those that are with us in this as we continue, waiting on baby!
In Him,
Jason
Monday, April 06, 2009
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Baby Room Day 1 & 95% Complete
Just 1 shelf, blinds, and replace closet doors then finished! Maybe I'll get that done before the baby's 5th birthday!
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Friday, April 03, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Pretty Neat!
This went up today! I like it! It will be up for a month, through our Easter series by the same title.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
BabyRoom Video Update 2
I got a text message or two during the blogcast that caused me to loose audio for some reason. It's toward the end and so I've decided to let it be as-is. Anyway, the rooms coming along! Take a look!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)