Well Done

I was driving up to Raleigh to hear Bobby Conner speak. We were broke and I talked to God the whole way. “Hey, did I do the right thing leaving my job? Hey, are You still with me? Have I missed something? Why am I taking this trip, we cant afford it."

When I had been invited to the meetings, I'd asked Karen if I should go. We are a part of the Bethel network out in California and this was being hosted by a Bethel affiliated church. Karen and I felt that we were to be intentional about connecting with Bethel and Bethel people, so if there was a meeting that we could go too, well...

Karen responded to my question with amazing clarity, "Does it take more faith to stay home or go?"

To be honest, I had been pretty good – emotionally, mentally... Regardless of our circumstances, about 85% of the time I was encouraged and believed that I had heard Gods direction and we were in the center of His will. The other 15% of my time was spent trying to live in the 85%. That said, I was experiencing one of those 15% moments. We had just received our last paycheck from CHD and it barley took care of the month and that didn’t include our mortgage that was already two weeks late.

I was driving at about 70 miles per hour on two front tires that absolutely needed to be replaced. Spending the extra money for this trip on gas and food was ridiculous – tires, just stupid…

“I am being so stupid,” I thought … “God, am I being stupid? My kids will want to eat next week. God what am I doing?”

I felt God respond to my heart with “Do you have enough money for today?”

“Well, yes, I guess.” I grudgingly conceded.

After Bobby Conner’s spoke – he is the real deal by the way, he prayed for the group and it was awesome. I felt Gods presence but… and I need to be careful in how I say this because I don’t want to trade Gods presence for anything. It’s the most important, central and sustaining reality of my life – especially today as I write this.

But after the service was over, I found myself with 7 hours to kill before the next meeting. No one invited me out and everyone I spoke with seemed to have something to do. So there I was, alone and I got a little aggressive with God.

“God, it took faith to make this trip. Why am I here! I love Your presence but honestly, I didn’t need to come here to feel it. I can feel You at home. I need tires! Now I have to feed myself and buy extra gas and again – tires! What am I doing here?

God seemed unconcerned; He again responded to my heart by asking the question, “Do you have money today?”

“Yes” I said, slightly distressed and perturbed.

“Then go get tires.” He said to my heart.

I drove to a service center. After I was told two tires would cost $240 installed, I left in search of a Wal-Mart. I found one. I parked in the back parking lot, walked into the service area and bought the cheapest tires available -$140 for two tires installed. I walked back out to the van and proceeded to park it in the service lane directly in front of the garage doors. I got out of the van, handed the keys to the mechanic and then we stood there and watched as the left front tire deflated.

“Do you see this? I asked the mechanic.

“Yeah,” he said, shaking his head. You got somebody driving with you man!”

“Yes I do,” I smiled.

As I walked across the parking lot to wait at the Starbucks that offered free Wi-Fi, I asked God “What does it mean?”

“I got your back.” God replied.

I cried while I walked. There is nothing so sweet as hearing your dad say, “Son, I got you – I wont leave you stranded on the roadside. Your kids will eat.”

As I thanked God for His goodness, I also chuckled while remembering one of the thoughts I had at the service center. When my tire deflated in front of me, the first thought that shot through my mind was, “I got every last moment out of that tire.” I know its a little odd, but there was a sense of satisfaction with that thought. The fact that I hadn’t wasted even an ounce of rubber. I had taken all the ground that tire could handle - even to the last foot. I used it completely. It served me to its absolute last breath…

Well done, tire…

I have heard Bill Johnson say that his entire life is being lived for a 3 second moment with God. He figures that’s about how long it takes to say “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Driving down the road this morning on new tires, I reflected again on the trip and the flat tire. I don’t know if there was any other reason to take that trip except to know that God has our back. We are learning – even today – that when you truly know and believe God has your back, you can live fully for Him.

So this morning, as I drove, I prayed, "Father, it is my sincerest heart cry that when I see You in heaven, You would have the same satisfied thought I had about my tire. 'I got everything out of Jason. I used him to the absolute last. He took every piece of ground, every mile, every foot he was destined to take. He gave all that he was, well done.' ”


"Northern Lights" link...

To all those we love... to all those who love us, or like us...even a little - Senior Pastor Question & Answer

Karen and I are still praying about where we are called to give. While we have a confidence regarding how God sees us and what we are called too, we continue to investigate what this looks like practically. We have both looked at the possibility of planting a church - in several locations including where we now live - as well as candidate-ing.

We have looked at a few churches in areas that stir our hearts and that are searching for a pastor. That said, I recently filled out a questionnaire for a church. As I answered the questions, I gained more vision for what God is burning in my heart.

I have been teaching at our Church, The Branch, and have led worship when invited. I also am writing what I believe is the most important book I have written yet - maybe the most important book I will ever write. Its about our revelation of the Father and how it releases us into our identity as sons and daughters of a King - with access to all of our Father.

Well, much of that message that is burning in me, is evident in the answers I filled out in the church questionnaire. So, whether we are a fit for this church or not, I thought it would be a good blog post. I put some of the question and answers below.

Please keep praying for Karen and I as we seek and trust God in this new, exciting, and scary season. We love you guys and thank you for your continued support!


Please put in writing brief responses to the following questions and send with your application.

1. Please discuss your Christian testimony and faith journey.

I have attached my resume which includes my personal history in more depth. Briefly here, I grew up in a Christian home where Christ was the center. At age 5, I asked Jesus to be my savior my Lord and my best friend. I have been a follower of Christ since 1978.

2. Please outline your philosophy of church ministry and the role of preaching/teaching in your philosophy.

The church is the bride of Christ. We have one call and it is to establish Gods Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Every question mankind is asking is answered in a greater revelation of Father God, of His love. We (the church) through Jesus, have access to this “greater revelation”. To know our Fathers love and become love is the calling of the church. This one truth is at the center of everything I teach.

3. What do you feel has been your most significant success in your ministry?

My family.

4. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

My core value is Gods presence. I believe that as we encounter Him, we are transformed into his likeness. In everything I do, that is my one driving reality - we must know more of Gods presence. I believe that is a strength...

I am not a details guy. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the details, but I am a visionary and tend to see things from 30,000 ft. I work great with, and need these details people. And I can prove it with 15 years of marriage to a very beautiful details person.

5. Please describe a situation in the past where you have handled conflict and how you approached the issue.

How about this, I’ll give you my approach, if your heart leaps; I imagine we will talk more. I am committed to leading a free people. It’s about family. It’s about honor. As a leader, I am committed to releasing men and women into their identities as sons and daughters of the King of Kings. I want to raise up the kind of sons and daughters that all creation is eagerly awaiting. This means that my number one responsibility is to help people see the Father and then see themselves from His perspective. Sometimes this is uncomfortable and there is conflict.

I don’t mind conflict, that’s what happens where there is true relationship, and true freedom. Iron can’t sharpen iron if it never touches. With that understanding, Gal 6:1 says that we should be motivated in love and a spirit of gentleness.

Just so, I also have, and nurture, relationships with those who love me and will challenge me. And that’s just it, love must be the core value in the midst of conflict. Gods primary approach for repentance (changing the way you think) is kindness – a wonderful expression of love.

6. Are you more comfortable with an Arminian or a Reformed theological framework? Discuss why.

To be honest, I had to look these terms up - it’s been a long time since I finished Bible College. I would lean toward reformed. That said, God is infinitely wiser than me – and I’m good with that.

Here’s one thing I know, the bible says to make disciples of all nations, not some. So while I may not be absolutely sure regarding the predestined question (I'll leave that to my always good Father) I have my mandate - all.


7. Describe the governance role of a church, particularly as it relates to the role of Biblical Eldership and the function of the Pastor-Teacher Elder.

Corinthians 12:28 - And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

We live in a fatherless nation. The church is also experiencing fatherless-ness. I believe there is an apostolic model where the leader has one primary responsibility. To focus the churches eyes on the Father. Why, because our identity is determined by our Father.

When we know our heavenly Father, we know our identity, we know we are loved, we know we are protected, we know His provision, we know freedom - freedom to dream, risk and grow.

Every gift and ministry, prophetic, pastoral, educational, evangelistic - all of these gifts and ministries have grace and power when they are grounded in an always greater revelation of the Father. Its always about His presence first - that is what I believe is the biblical foundation for church governance and function.

9. Discuss your views of the Biblical purpose and role of the church and particularly speak to the role of morning worship service (i.e. Should the services exist for the edification of believers or focus more on evangelizing of the lost?)

The primary objective of the church and particularly the morning worship service is neither for edification of believers or for evangelizing the lost. The primary object of the church and the morning service is to glorify the Father and encounter His love. Edification and evangelism are by-products of encounters with Gods presence.

10. What is your understanding of the Global Outreach (Missions) mandate of Matthew 28 and the role of the local church in that mandate?

Jesus came for two reasons,:

First to buy back our identities. To remove the veil between us and our Father. The veil into the Holy of Holies (the representation of Gods presence) was literally torn in two.

Second, to reveal what we have access to when we know who we are as sons and daughters. Jesus came and lived 33 years on the earth to reveal what it looks like when a son can see his Father. He came to show us what we have access to now that the veil is removed - all that is God.

Jesus said he only did what he saw his Father doing. Jesus, love in human form, met every need that was presented to him. He healed the sick, lame, def, mute, and blind. He fed thousands, walked on water, calmed storms, and raised the dead. Everywhere he went, he set people free. John told us that if every story of Jesus life was written down, the world couldn’t contain the books.

This same Jesus told us that he would send His Holy Spirit and that because of the cross and resurrection, we would have the same access to His Father that he had. In fact he went even farther, he said that we could experience “a greater works than these (the works he was doing) lifestyle.”

Jesus also gave us our mission; he said pray “Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” Then in Matthew he puts legs on the message: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

“All authority” is the key. Because the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now lives in His believers. Jesus released that authority on His believers that we would look to heaven and release on earth what we see there. This is the calling and role of the church. It is our mandate to come into a greater revelation of the Father that we would know that everything our Father has is ours! And that we would then like Jesus supernaturally meet every need the world has. I am convinced that every question mankind has is answered in a greater revelation of our Fathers love.

Culture of Honor - Danny Silk

The truths in this book cultivate a culture in which the glory of God can be fully realized in the life of every believer. The culture is one of honor and promotes freedom. In fact, this book is all about freedom. It challenges all believers but leaders in particular to take the same risk God has and trust that what Jesus did on the cross was for freedom and it was enough. This culture of honor, as Danny says is "the core value for creating a safe place where people can be free." In other words, creating a safe place where believers can learn how to be dangerous.

In my (and my wife's) opinion, this book is a must read for everyone and particularly for leaders. The idea that leaders are meant to lead a free people may seem obvious but it's a rare thing in the church today. This book graciously and relentlessly contends that a free people in alignment with Gods heart can radically change the world.

A culture of honor is a beautiful place of intimate relationship with the Father, where sons and daughters know their identity, are committed to each other, and have one goal - to see Gods Kingdom established on earth as it is in heaven.

I highly recommend this book!

- Jason

A Portrait of Jesus

I will be teaching at the Branch's School of Ministry over the next four Wednesdays starting this week the 27th. Below is the heartbeat of the message. Come on out. www.branchchurch.org/school

If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” This is what Jesus said about himself. I believe Jesus lived to reveal the Father and that we live to reveal Jesus. Matthew 6:22 tells us that if the eye is single the body is full of light. Jesus revealed this in how He lived. His revelation or view of the Father is what released him to be the expression of the Son. In focusing only on what he saw his father doing he showed us how to live. We will spend four weeks focusing our eye on Jesus that we might know our Father and become transformed into his likeness. In my opinion, that’s the only reason to study Jesus!

The Philosophy Professor

I met a philosophy professor the other day. Well, actually I see him a few times a week. He frequents the same coffee shop I do. We have often caught each other’s eye over our laptops from across the room. It was just a matter of time before we struck up a conversation. He is a very nice man and very smart. Just like me, he is also writing a book and enjoys the coffee shop atmosphere.

I asked him what his book was about. He talked for a couple of minutes, and as best as I could tell, it seemed to be a book about nothing. At first I was impressed cause I’m pretty sure that writing a book about nothing is harder than writing about something.

I pressed him for a little more information. “Really, I am writing about the human condition,” he said. He then began to explain the state of mankind in such abstract terms that I really had a hard time following - “which is good if you are philosophy professor,” I thought.

“What is pain, what is joy or love?” He asked. “They are just feelings, particles bouncing off other particles - just chance. Nothing in this universe is sure; everything is determined by what you feel.”

“It really is a book about nothing.” I thought again…

He went on to say that man is the sum of what we feel - emotionally and physically. There is no great purpose or meaning to life and all our philosophies and theologies are simply the wild imagining of men who need to feel a sense of purpose. In the end life is simply about seeking joy and trying to avoid pain.

“So, it’s a book about nothing then?” I asked sadly. He smiled. It was a tired smile. “In a way, yes.” He said. I couldn’t think of anything to say, about his book. It was overwhelming, the idea of writing a book about nothing. I couldn’t even find a common denominator, as my sincerest prayer is that my book would be about something.

“So, how long have you been working on it?” I finally asked.

“For almost 20 years.”

He has been writing a book about nothing for almost 20 years! This broke my heart. That a man would write faithfully for 20 years is amazing. That a man can write about nothing for 20 years is excruciating.

It dawned on me as I stood there that if you’re writing about nothing, then its probably gonna take a long time. I felt sad for this tired man who seems to have been searching for some truth in a universe where he is convinced truth doesn’t exist.

I couldn’t take it anymore. So I asked him the question that should never be asked of a philosophy professor. “Where does God fit in.”

He was quick to both acknowledge that religion plays a role in philosophy but also that religion was for weak minded individuals.

“Good thing I didn’t tell him what I was writing about,” I thought.

But I hadn’t asked him about religion, I’d asked about God. He had done what many often do and confused the two as being one and the same. So I tried the same question from a different angle. “Where does love fit in?”

He looked at me - he seemed exhausted, as if this question was just too much, “Love is a subjective feeling.” He responded.

“But what if it isn’t…” I asked. “What if love is the very foundation of everything? What if Love is the beginning and the end and everything in between?”

He just looked at me.

What if Love created everything? What if Love saw what He had created and said, “It is good.” Which is something Love would probably say. What if Love has all authority but not all control, as Love does not control because Love is about freedom. What if Love set you free, free to be loved and to love? What if Love wasn’t just a feeling but a tangible expression of that same freedom? What if Love could be truly known by every person on earth? What if Love was a person who walked the earth and gave love away to any who would receive?

These thoughts ran through my heart. But I didn’t know how to express them any clearer than the questions I had already posed.

But thinking about it now, it sure would be a great idea for his book! Love. It’s a profoundly infinite and beautiful subject. Another writer once put it this way, “If every one of (the things Love did) was written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 22:25)

If only my new Philosophy Professor friend new this love, well, then he could know what it is to write with purpose. He could spend the next twenty years trying to fill the world with books about something.

Before he packed up to go he asked what I was writing about. I told him that I was writing about love and that I too would never be finished writing.

He said he would like to hear more about it sometime...

The Right Question

I have three kids, Eva is my youngest and she is at an age where I am beginning to get the questions. You know, like when I give her a bowl of soup and say “Honey do you want some crackers for your soup?”

“Why?”

“Cause these crackers taste good in soup.”

“Why?”

“Cause they are yummy soup crackers.”

“Why?”

“Because the soup cracker ferry made them yummy for soup.”

“What color is the soup cracker ferries dress?”

“Blue.”

“No daddy, its pink and purple.”

If you are a parent or have ever spoken to a child, you have laughed, sighed, had your patience stretched, and your heart expanded while answering a question.

If you are a parent or have ever spoken to a child, you know this next statement to be true. There is such a thing as a dumb question. You also know that if the question is sincere then there is no such thing as a dumb question. Its how children learn.

If you are a parent or have ever spoken to a child, you also know that the question reveals an awful lot about what your child already does and doesn’t comprehend and who he or she is becoming. You also know that when giving an answer, you have to speak in the language of your child. This is determined by their age and experience.

Lastly, if you are a parent or have ever spoken to a child, you have often responded to you child’s question with a question of your own. “

“Mom, how do you spell dog?”

“What says “da?” “da?”
or,
“A, B, C? …”

Why do we do this, because the question positions our kids for the answer. It’s meant to help them to learn how to process and find the answer themselves. It’s about helping them mature.

I have learned that when it comes to a sincere question, God absolutely loves them. This is evidenced in the life of Jesus. Have you ever noticed that Jesus rarely answers a question directly? When he is asked questions, often his response is to either tell a story –parable- or ask his own question.

Even when he was just speaking to someone, he almost always raised huge questions. He told Nicodemus that to enter the Kingdom of heaven, he would have to be born again. He told a large crowd that, unless they ate of his flesh and drank of his blood, they had no life in them. While we now know what Jesus meant, at the time, these were inconceivable thoughts that raised lots of questions.

So why did Jesus often respond to questions with either stories or questions of His own? I would like to suggest that questions are one of the best ways to communicate with a free people. And Jesus was absolutely intent on releasing people into greater freedom.

God loves, and when I say loves, I mean absolutely without even the slightest hint of deviation, our freedom. He will not compromise even a fraction when it comes to protecting freedom. It is the foundation upon which everything operates. Why is freedom so important, because it’s the atmosphere in which love can exist. And love is the whole point. Our freedom was what Jesus died to protect, it’s what the cross was all about. It’s the biggest thing that’s ever existed because it’s the soil in which love can be cultivated.

Jesus doesn’t tell free people the answer; he helps them devise a better question. So, He tells stories, He asks his own questions. Along the way He challenges how we think and if we are hungry for an answer, we begin to reform our questions until our mind is, in a word, renewed.

How do you get a renewed mind, you keep asking questions until your questions align with His question. Until at some point you ask the right question. The right question is the one that has power in it. It’s the question that releases the answer, transformation. It’s the question that resonates in heaven.

Jesus came to reveal the Father. That was the whole purpose of his years on earth. He told us that if we have seen Him, we have seen the Father. To truly see Him, we have to learn how to ask the right questions until our perspective is aligned with heavens perspective. Does that make sense?

There is a moment when you ask the question that aligns with the heart of God. And that’s the whole point of asking questions. It’s a search for what is in heaven, what is in Gods heart, so that we can live out His answer here on earth. When you ask God the right question, the answer comes with revelation and power. It sets you free to know His love in greater measure. That’s the whole point of freedom, that’s why it’s so huge.

I am learning that my whole walk with God is about asking the right questions. And God seems intent on helping me with questions of his own. I have learned that when I ask a question, if it’s sincere, it reveals what I know, what I’m missing and where I want to go. And when a question is asked in sincerity, it has power to transform.

For instance, years ago my family and I felt God call us into an unsalaried full time ministry position. While I was in a deep discussion with Jesus and with thousands of dollars in the bank I asked, “God, how do I pay my bills?” He answered like he almost always does, with a question of his own. “Do you trust me?”

I spent the next five years learning how to live in His question and along the way I asked many more of my own until one day I asked a question that shifted everything. I was deep in discussion with Jesus and with just four dollars in the bank I asked “Father, what is on Your heart for today?”

That was the right question and the answer was beautiful... If you are curious, part of it is happening as I write this.

One last thought…

The right question leads to a renewed mind, a renewed mind is the precursor to breakthrough. That word breakthrough, its one we all love, its a wonderful word. It’s the desire of all believers to experience breakthrough in every area of our lives. It’s a prayer prayed daily by millions, “Father release breakthrough in my family, my workplace, in my friends Fox Hollow Coffee house in Orting WA; Lord release breakthrough, I want all that is on your heart for today!”

I am learning that the way we experience breakthrough is by asking the right question. Please hear me cause I think this is big; breakthrough is a position or place in the heart of God. It’s a revelation birthed from God encounter after God encounter. It’s not found in a magic prayer or a good desire or hard work. Breakthrough is found in the process of asking the right question. The right question sets up God and positions our hearts for the answer. God knows we can’t handle a breakthrough until our hearts have become positioned in our Father, until our hearts have been transformed into the likeness of our Fathers.

God wants to answer the question! Everything in the heart of God wants to answer the question! And God values us so much that he waits until our hearts are positioned for the answer, until our question reverberates with the answer that is in His heart.

If its sincere, there's no such thing as a dumb question. Keep asking questions until your perspective is aligned with the heart of God. Keep asking questions until you get the answer that releases heaven into your life.

Love is Always an Encounter Before its a Decision

I read a Donald Miller blog years ago where he wrote about how his blog is the first sounding board to the book he is writing. I liked that and am endeavoring to do the same. Right now I am thrilled to be writing about our identities as sons and daughters of an always good and loving Father.

Over the coming months and probably years, I will post thoughts here. For me, I know I have something when I can communicate it in a way that releases life. That’s my heart; so if something I write seems harsh or off the wall, love me enough to tell me. I may disagree with you but I wont bite. Please know that I am writing opinions and suggestions.

Below are some thoughts that God is working in me regarding becoming love – which is really what this breathing oxygen is all about…in my opinion…

Love is Always an Encounter Before its a Decision

Love is always an encounter before it’s a decision. The encounter is the point, if its not, the decision to love can never be made. We love because He first loved us. Our love is a response to an encounter with His love. From our encounter we can decide to love but in all honesty, the decision to love is not the goal of a believers life, it’s the first stepping-stone to our destiny.

We were not saved by love so that we could decide to love. We were saved by love so that we could become love. If you become love, you don’t have to decide to love, its just who you are.

In many ways throughout my life, I have placed my focus on the decision to love. At these times I have almost elevated it above the encounter. What I have learned is that when I do this, I relegate, demote and dis-empower His love. A love birthed from a decision has less power to transform than a love birthed from an encounter.

I am not saying that the decision to love is bad, it’s absolutely astounding and we must perfect it. I’m simply saying that from my own experience, if I stop encountering His love, my decision to love becomes sterile. In fact, loving God or others becomes an overwhelming impossibility. I have learned that I cant fully love without first encountering His. We love because we are first loved.

I love my wife Karen, and yes, there have been moments in my life where I have not felt it and had to make a decision to love her. But that is not nor should it ever be the norm in a love relationship. As Karen and I grow in love, having to "decide" has decreased. I believe that before we enter heaven we will have so encountered love that having to make a decision to love will have long since gone extinct - at least, that's the goal, hey, its how God loves us...

I use my relationship with my wife to show what happens when two people chose to love each other like God loves. My heart here is to reveal that the power of our love is birthed in the encounter with love. If Karen and my relationship became solely about a decision, eventually we would stop having love encounters. A marriage without true love encounters is not fun and eventually deteriorates to nothing more than a legal partnership.

It’s the same with God; a relationship without true love encounters is simply religious formality. My prayer is that God would daily reveal his love to me. And not just that but also that he would give me eyes to see it and the heart to experience it...........