Home Sweet Home
Friday, August 20th, 2010
Not long ago I was in another country for a few days. It was a blast but as I returned home my entire being seemed to sigh…”AHHHHHHHHHHH”! When the fridge is full and love is in the house there is no better place on planet earth than HOME sweet HOME!
“HOME” was God’s idea! And He has given us all the info we need to build homes that are marked by “Shalom” peace. Home is to be a place of rest and refuge from frigid winds of everyday life in a world that can be less than peaceful!
As a church family we’re jumping into a three week focus we’re calling “LOVE in the house”! I’m praying that this focus will push the love levels in our home up and too the right! As I’ve thought about this theme it’s caused me to thank the Lord again for my mom and dad who worked and prayed to provide a home filled with the Shalom peace that God’s presence brings. He is the “love big” professor that will bless your home if you let Him – “Now about brotherly love we do not need to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.” – 1 Thess.4.9.
Have a great day loving big!
Jon
Cat back on a leash
Monday, July 26th, 2010
In the last blog I shared our “cat story”. Midnight is now enjoying “heaven on earth” as he is living “unleashed”! But what if we woke up to find him leashed up in our garage? What would posses a cat to do that? I’m guessing it would be his love for Jessie. He would rather spend his life leashed to her than run free without her.
The Apostle Paul writes, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Eph.4.1). What would posses a guy like Paul to lock himself into a “prison”. It’s all about who is with him there in prison. When you meet Jesus and experience His love and the joy doing life with him and the hope He offers…there is only one place to be… “leashed to Him”!
Each day we wake up we have the choice of doing life without Him or walking with Him. Leash me up to HIM every-time! It’s when I start living unleashed that I end up in the swamp of suffering.
I hope you enjoy “living leashed” today!
Jon
Cat on a Leash
Friday, July 16th, 2010
What’s up with the cat on the leash?
It all began with the dream of a cute little white puppy. Our kids wanted a dog. We did our best to delay the day. But all the hydraulic power of the Mississippi can’t touch the power of a daughter’s “Please daddy”! So we found a dog that was packing more than “cuteness”. It had an attitude. It bit Jessie twice. We weren’t playing baseball – 2 strikes was an out!
So what do you do with a heartbroken little girl? You get her a fish! But grandma came through with a cat. I didn’t grow up with a cat. Cats spook me. But this cat seemed to erase the memory of the dog and so we adopted it, named it Midnight (it’s black) and gave it a place to stay on the back porch.
Approximately four years later I’m here to tell you that cat is one of the coolest creatures I’ve ever met!
If ever there was a LOVE BIG cat…Midnight is it! It actually hugs Jessie when she holds it. Jessie and her friends would do the unthinkable… dress it up in doll cloths and push it around in the stroller… and the cat seemed to actually enjoy entertaining them! Midnight became part of the family.
But all good things come to end. We moved into a neighborhood that doesn’t allow cats to roam free. Jessie loved midnight and didn’t want to give it away. SO we opted to keep him on a lease in the garage. Thus, the cat on a lease… Jessie’s LOVE won’t let it go!
When I pulled into the driveway last night the cat was gone! Jessie in a moment of LOVE BIG passion made the decision to give the cat to a family who can let him run “leash free”! Midnight never knew it could be so good! Thankfully Jessie has visitation privileges.
Question – What’s more messed up than a cat on a leash? Answer – a human on a leash! And I’m not talking about the kid at Disney. Full grown humans leashed up. Jesus points to the reality in John 8.34 – “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” As humans we’re born “leashed up”. But Jesus also said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Question – what are we set free to do? On Sunday we’ll be talking about it!
I hope you can join us as we celebrate our being “leash free”!
Jon
WHAT to do?
Friday, July 9th, 2010
So what do you think about Lebron James rolling to South beach to team with D-Wade and C-Bosh? WOW… that’s going to be a fun to watch.
If you watched the interview did you sense the decision making agony that Lebron has weathered over the past couple weeks? I think I saw gray hair popping out of his 25 year old head!
He mentioned having trouble sleeping and struggling with the emotions of it all! With the hopes of an entire city riding on his decision… that would be tough for guy like Lebron who seems to genuinely care about people!
So what was his decision making grid?
Was it the weather? A life time of February’s in Cleveland is enough to make any human run for Miami!
Was it friendship? Maybe so… the joy of just playing ball with a buddy seemed to seep from all the talk.
Was it family? He definitely appreciated the green light his mom gave him on decision day!
Was it money? I’m pretty sure he won’t be living on Mac-n-cheese with the salary he’ll bring home.
Was it winning? It did seem to come down to the simple question – “What will lead to a win?”
As followers of Jesus what’s our decision making grid?
It comes down to the simple question – “Is this loving to God and others”?
God gives us this simple grid again and again in the Bible – “Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph.5.1,2)
In this world of complexity it’s so sweet to hear the simplifying whisper of God… “JUST LOVE BIG!”
On Sunday we’ll be talking about a habit that will help you LOVE BIG. I hope you will join us!
What to do? LOVE BIG!
Jon
UP
Friday, May 21st, 2010
Have you seen the movie “up” yet? It’s still on my “to watch” list. The preview looked good! I’m assuming much of the plot has to do with the main character experiencing some sort of redemption while being in the state of “up”.
God talks a lot about “up”. Through James (4.10) He says, “Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Where do you suppose “up” is? If you could ask God, “Where is up?” What do you think He would say? I can imagine Him smiling and saying… ”It’s one place you don’t want to miss!” Jesus talks a lot about “up”.
The pathway to “up” is to humble ourselves before Him! Simple concept… tough to live out! So the way up is down. It means laying down my wants… demands… desires… dreams before Him. When we lay it all down He promises “up”.
I have a friend who every time I ask him, “What’s up?” he tells me… ”the ceiling”. Hopefully one day he’ll start to answer that question… ”you and me thanks to HIM”! :-)
Your brother,
Jon
WITH FACTOR
Friday, May 14th, 2010
A little quote that I’ve put in my wallet is… “The one who has God plus many things is nothing more than the one who has God alone.”
I love this quote because it’s a daily reminder that having a relationship with HIM is everything. Each day is struggle against the amnesia of the soul to remember… HAVING HIM I HAVE IT ALL! When I remember that He is WITH ME the day is filled with joy and peace. When I forget the day is filled with frustration and stress.
His promise to Jeremiah is transferable to us: “Do not be afraid of them, for I am WITH you and will rescue you.” (Jeremiah 1.8)
If He is WITH US it’s all good!
May He help us live in the joy of His presence!
Jon
Spurs
Saturday, May 1st, 2010
This week a verse that’s been pumping me up is Hebrews 10.24: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
Last week I mentioned that I was planning to run a mini-marathon in Louisville. It was a pain-filled blast! Along the way I encountered so many “spurs” that helped me run the race!
SPUR moment: It was a motivating moment just to gather with thousands of other people who were crazy enough to wake up at 5:00ish into order to make it to the start line by 7:30 and run 13.1 miles!
SPUR moment: Near the top of one hill someone made a sign and stuck it in the ground…”Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
SPUR moment: At the water stations people were continually cheering us on. It was fuel in the tank!
SPUR moment: A guy twice my age passed me near the end of the race. It was inspiring and energizing!
As I experienced all these “SPURS” I couldn’t help but think… that’s the beauty of getting together with other Jesus followers! Our goal is to just help one another run the race. When we get together our goal is to encourage one another, distribute hope and share love!
SO carry on my fellow runner! With HIS help we’re going LOVE BIG!
Jon
Age Issues
Friday, April 23rd, 2010
On Sunday we’ll be talking about age issues. It ain’t easy growing up and older! 
It’s been fun to see what God has to say about navigating the aging process. It’s also been fun to talk with other aging humans about their experience on this river of time.
This weekend I’m hoping to run the mini-marathon in Louisville KY. It’s always inspiring to see people much older than I am out there pounding the pavement and often passing me in the left lane! During one race I was bonking horribly just a little gray haired grandma passed me like I was standing still. It inspired me to keep on!
God calls us to run the race of this life in such a way as to get the prize (2 Cor.9.24). Cool thing – there’s no age limit!
Who is your inspiration when it comes to aging well? Who are you inspiring?
I hope you have a great day running with HIM!
Your brother,
Jon
“Flipped”
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Yesterday I received a text that read: “Dude, my dad just got 3 final four tickets for the semi-final games on Saturday night! They’re right below the press box. Can you come with?” Being on the Butler bandwagon my world “flipped”… this was a once in a life time!
When I found it was April foolery… my world “flipped” again.
Today we remember the time our Lord took our sin and went to the cross to die in our place. His followers thought that He was going to establish the earthly kingdom in their day. To see their King hanging on a cross… their world must have “flipped”.
Three days later their world “flipped” again. Their King was back in the game and better than ever!
One day soon your world and my world will “flip” for the good when we see Him face to face! It will be a “reality altering” experience like no other! And it will be no April foolery! He said, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” – Revelation 22.12
Are you ready to “flip”?
Your brother,
Jon
Love’s like a Hurricane
Friday, March 19th, 2010
If you need a song to remind you of God’s love for you especially as we near Easter David Crowder’s song, “O How He loves” is a great one. I’ve been listening to it while having my morning cup of coffee with the Lord and it’s been filling my tank with joy! The phrase, “Loves like a hurricane” captures the immensity of God’s love for us. I picture the palm tree swaying in the wind…the guy from CNN in a yellow rain suit doing his best to stay vertical!
May the joy of His torrential love leave you dancing today!
Your brother,
Jon
Jesus is Life
Friday, March 12th, 2010
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6.35
As a Jesus follower I can say… “Jesus is life!”
A friend of mine who loves hoops blew knee cap recently. He is bummed but he still signs his e-mails “Jesus is life”.
Malcom Muggeridge writes:
I’ve tasted fame, success, pleasure, power… yet I say to you, and beg you to believe me, multiply these tiny triumphs by a million, add them all together and they are nothing… less than nothing… against one teaspoon of that living water that Christ offers to the spiritually thirsty. What, I ask myself, does life hold, what is there in the works of time, in the past, now and to come, which could possibly be put in the balance against the refreshment of drinking that water?
Enjoy Him today!
Your brother,
Jon
1st Steps
Friday, March 5th, 2010
One of our friends has a boy named Liam who just took his first steps. It was so fun to watch him think about taking that 1st step. He thought about it for quite a few days. What must have made the decision hard for him is that he can make amazing progress on his knees. He can crawl the 40 in 4.8! So why walk?
But the day finally came that he took the step! His family cheered and his mom and dad are probably talking about buying some new running shoes to keep up with him!
The spiritual life is learning how to walk again. One of our motto’s around our church is “We fall on our feet… we fly on our knees.” In the spiritual realm we make progress when we go in prayer or “on our knees.” I wonder if heaven watches us like we watch our kids learning to walk. I wonder if the conversation runs… “Did you see so & so? She’s about to take her 1st step!”?
I hope you have a great day learning how walk… run… fly!
Your brother,
Jon
12.30 Flat
Friday, February 26th, 2010
Have the Olympics inspired you to break out the ice skates and take a record setting lap around the pond or pull out the red sled and break the speed record of 12.30 seconds at the Ellis park hill (unofficial time from top of hill to drinking fountain across the road)?
One word that comes to mind as I watch the athletes compete is “wholehearted”. They are spending it! It’s the way God calls us to follow Him.
Mark 12.30 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
May we spend our time, energy, abilities and life in an all-out effort to love HIM! Life lived like that is golden regardless of your speed records at the park hill!
ALL for HIM!
Your brother,
Jon
FROSTED…
Friday, February 12th, 2010
This morning we woke up to one of the most beautiful landscapes I can remember. There’s a layer of frosting on every limb of every tree! It’s a surreal scene. It’s the kind of beauty that’s hard to describe or completely digest! It makes me want to sing with the song writer in Psalm 98…”Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things!”
But frost is cosmetic. By noon is will likely melt. And it will be back to the dull colors of a Midwest winter.
Jesus can change a life at the deepest level turning it a beautiful that is beyond description. He can do it in a moment! And when He changes a life it goes way beyond cosmetic! He is about internal/eternal soul transformation (2 Cor.3.18; 4.16-18)! And He uses things as odd as a frozen cloud to create beauty out of our messed up lives…things like big problems.
Sunday we’ll be celebrating the incredible gift of life transformation through faith in Christ. If you’re in the area I hope you can join us!
Forever FROSTED by His grace!
Your brother,
Jon
Bulletin Board Material
Friday, February 5th, 2010
That was funny to hear what Saints coach Sean Payton had the waiter serve defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in Miami this week: 2 jars of peanut butter, saltine crackers and a glass of sand. Gregg gave the Colts some bulletin board material when he talked about giving Peyton Manning some “remember me hits”.
There have been some days I wish I had eaten a breakfast like that if would have helped me keep my mouth shut!
The QUESTION: How do we keep from saying things that create more harm than good?
I’m so thankful God has given us tip after tip to help us use our tongue in a way that helps the team and make Him look good rather than hurt the team and make Him look bad! One thing I’ve noticed is that the tongue and the heart are closing connected.
Ephesians 4.29 is one example: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” And then one verse later he points to the heart and says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with ever form of malice.”
What if we carried a jar of peanut butter around with us? Whenever we felt a non-beneficial word about to exit our mouth we took a bite? We would need to run an extra 8 miles a day to work off the calories but those around might appreciate it! But better than peanut butter would be start everyday making sure our heart is aligned with God’s heart.
A great prayer to start the day, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in YOUR sight.”
Have a great day spitt’in words that LIFT!
Jon
Red Bull
Friday, January 29th, 2010
God calls us to “Consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds”. I was spurred in a big way on Wednesday while sitting in Weaver Funeral Home listening to family and friends describe the life of George Springer. The minister described his life as a life well lived. He LOVED with all his heart…He ENJOYED life to hilt…He left a rich LEGACY!
George loved his wife for over 60 years. The primary reason he held on so long was her. She was the apple of his eye. He loved his kids, his grandkids, his friends and family with all his heart. He lived with a smile that reflected a heart full of joy. His life birthed a library full of inspiring stories.
How do you live that kind of life? George walked with Jesus. He tasted the “living water” that satisfies the deepest longings of the soul. He tasted the “bread of life” that energizes us to live strong even through tough times. He followed the “light of the world” that led him through the maze of life and filled his soul with the hope of a home in heaven that is beyond comprehension in its beauty!
Unless you’re into horses “spurs” aren’t something we deal with daily. Maybe a good word for the culture we live in would be “caffeinate or energize”. Let us consider how we may “caffeinate…energize…red bull” one another on toward love and good deeds!
The life of George Springer was red bull to my soul and I didn’t have the privilege of meeting him. You never know how your life might “red bull” someone.
My prayer today: “Lord help my little life be red bull to someone’s soul helping them LOVE BIG and do good for YOUR glory!”
Have a great one LOVING BIG!
Your brother,
Jon
The NAME
Friday, January 15th, 2010
Hey Colts fans how are you feeling right now? It’s pregame jitter time in my stomach. I’m feeling like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs…jittery! I can’ help but wonder why in the world a game of little eternal impact would affect my nervous system this way?
I think it might be about the “name”.
It’s about the name of the team – “Colts” – not historically known for huge amounts of respect out there in the world of media. This week the story line is all about their history of choking. I want them to win so the name “Colts” will have its appropriate place on the shelf of “respect.”
It’s about the names of Peyton…Dallas…Reggie…Jeff…Dwight the guys I’ve come to appreciate and respect. I want the rest of the football watching world to see what I see and respect them the way I do.
The BIG QUESTION do I have the same desire to see the NAME above all NAMES lifted up and respected? Isaiah writes, “Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts” (26.3).
My prayer today is that His name would be respected a little more by the way I live for Him. And that my primary “jitters” would flow from my passion to lift up the name above all names…the name of Jesus!
A jittery fan of the Greatest ever!
Jon
SGS
Friday, January 8th, 2010
I sure hope you’ve avoided the flu bug this season. It’s scary what a microscopic bug can do to the human body! It motivates us to sanitize everything we touch with the hope of destroying that cruel worthless virus!
Have you heard of the virus – SGS? It’s a virus of the soul that can do big damage to our lives. SGS stands for the “Shrinking God Syndrome”. While under the influence of SGS we lose sight of the greatness of our God! Rather than a cough, runny nose and fever the symptoms include destructive decisions, debilitating anxiety and unnecessary stress!
So what do you take for SGS? Down two table spoons of Isaiah 40.21-31 then join us on Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30 as we’ll we launch a message series entitled: How BIG is your God? Hopefully all cases of SGS will be treated and cured!
Celebrating in His shadow,
Your brother,
Jon
Success
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
So what is success? For the Colts on Sunday it was a hard question!
Is it to win the game and make a run at the history books or to stay healthy for a shot @ the Super bowl!
I could almost hear a collective groan across Indiana as Peyton Manning came off the field in the third quarter. I’m guessing success for most fans meant beating the Jets and remaining undefeated!
What is success in the game of life? It’s not always an easy question to answer.
On Sunday we’re going to kick off 2010 chasing that very question! Our goal is to form a template for a personal life mission statement that will help us live in such a way that our Audience of ONE doesn’t groan but smiles as we live for Him!
Happy New Year!
Your brother,
Jon
Merry Christmas
Friday, December 18th, 2009
Are you Christmas partied out yet? My sugar intake is already pegged and Christmas dinner is still on the cooker! Speaking of Christmas dinner if you could invite anyone in history to join you for Christmas dinner who would it be?
I’m sure if we compiled our list of names it would be long and varied…
- Moses
- Lebron
- Oprah
- Michael
- Miley
- Aristotle
- Elvis
- Mom
- Peyton
- Rachael
- David
- Abe
- Etc.
The joy of Christmas is that the NAME above all NAMES is with us… Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
He is the Creator, Sustainer and Treasure of life. And for those who believe He gives the promise of His presence, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb.13.5)
May the JOY of His presence fill your cup again and again this Christmas season!
Have a wonderful Christmas loving big,
Your brother,
Jon
Love BIG Pump Up
Sunday, December 13th, 2009
Our team theme this year is “LOVE BIG”!
I hope you’re having fun pushing your LOVE BIG limits!
The other day I heard of a thirteenth century theologian named Anthony of Padua who opened every class with the phrase, “Of what value is learning that does not turn to love.”
What a great way to start a class or for that matter start a day! Each new day is another chance to live out our love for God as we pursue the good of those around us! Paul writes, “The only thing that matters is faith expressing itself in love.” (Gal.5.6) Another time he says, “The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal.5.14)
May God continue His work of enlarging our hearts to love as He loves!
Your brother,
Jon
The Preposition
Friday, December 4th, 2009
What’s your favorite preposition? I’m sorry if the mention of prepositions is dragging you back to the pain of freshman English! I can’t say I had a favorite until about 2 years ago when a certain preposition jumped from the pages of Scripture again and again. It’s a little word that has a big impact on life!
Beginning Sunday and running through this Christmas season we’re going to chase that preposition through the Christmas story! I think it will fill your stockings with joy!
You’re probably wondering…which one is it… “in, up, around, under”?
You can find it in Matt. 1.23.
Have a great week loving BIG!
Jon
It’s HOOPTIME!
Friday, November 13th, 2009
It’s HOOPTIME! I love it when college basketball rolls around each year. One of my favorite games to watch is Indiana and Kentucky. Lately it’s been painful to watch. And our friends who are Kentucky Wildcat fans are the antithesis of Advil when to relieving the pain! But believe it or not something good did come from a Kentucky wildcat! One day a player pulled out the sharpie and put these letters on his hooping shoes, “BHP-FHG”. The letters stand for …By His Power…For His Glory! I love that. Every step he takes is by the power of God and for the glory of God! That’s living in the zone!
John was living in that zone in John 3.30 when he said, “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Paul was praying we would live in the zone in Eph. 1.18,19, “I pray that you may know…his incomparably great power for us who believe!”
Well the Sunday after Thanksgiving is a day you don’t want to miss! We’ll be unveiling one more 3 letter pump up! It’s doesn’t come from a Kentucky wildcat…it comes from a running Israeli named Jonah. The letters are WHH. If you can guess them by Sunday you win Snickers!
Have a great week loving big,
Your brother,
Jon
“Lifted”
Friday, November 6th, 2009
One of our motto’s around here that has to do with prayer is, “We fall on our feet… we fly on our knees.” Prayer matters. I was reminded of that while reading the story of Hezekiah in Isaiah.
God told him to get his house in order because his days on earth were about over. Hezekiah prays. He asked God for more life. From his perspective he had more living to do. So God gifts him with 15 more years of life on earth. Some think the 15 years were not all that great. That brings to mind a great Garth Brooks song, “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers!”
That brings to mind what a friend of mine recently said about a job interview, “I’m just praying for God’s best because my perspective is so limited.”
But what jumped out @ me in the prayer was the 3 word description Hezekiah gave of his life as a reason that God should answer his prayer: FAITHFUL, WHOLEHEARTED, GOOD. That’s a sweet life summary. It made me wonder, “What is my 3 word life description?”
What is yours?
The other day on the treadmill I think I found my 3! But that’s the subject of another blog!
Have a great week loving big,
Your brother,
Jon
