At a recent gathering, one of the major dialogs that precipitated the greatest amount of “intense exchanges” was the tension between “technology” and “presence.”
It seems that in a world that’s becoming increasingly technological, to the point of being bound to our PDA’s and cell phones, the idea of being “physically present and fully engaged” is becoming lost.
It doesn’t take a great deal of discernment to realize that many people are sitting through meetings spending half of their time scrolling on their cell phones and PDAs rather than fully engaging with the speaker. It also isn’t hard to see that people will quickly send an email telling someone that they’ve been thinking about them than literally going to share the same “space.”
I want to talk about this more in coming days because I think it’s a critical issue in our culture.
Jesus came to be among us for a reason and that same “incarnational” value needs to be returned and restored in every one of our lives.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Dear Friends
As you reflect on your life, are there people you look at and say, with unconditional certainty, that they are a “dear friend”? That’s someone that knows just about everything about you there is to know and still loves you, or has walked with you through most of life’s most difficult moments and has encouraged you.
“Dear friends” are people that you call when you don’t know who to turn to and who love you when you don’t deserve it, even in your own eyes.
I don’t think that many of us have more than a few of those kind of people in our lives, but when we do have them it’s good to let them know that that’s the role that they fill.
I’m thinking of one “dear friend” right now who I know would step up to the plate for me at any time. I know that he would put my interest before his own in every circumstance and our friendship is truly a gift that I know the Lord allowed me to experience at a time when I needed it most.
I hope you have someone like that and if not, why not be that for someone who may have that need.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
“Dear friends” are people that you call when you don’t know who to turn to and who love you when you don’t deserve it, even in your own eyes.
I don’t think that many of us have more than a few of those kind of people in our lives, but when we do have them it’s good to let them know that that’s the role that they fill.
I’m thinking of one “dear friend” right now who I know would step up to the plate for me at any time. I know that he would put my interest before his own in every circumstance and our friendship is truly a gift that I know the Lord allowed me to experience at a time when I needed it most.
I hope you have someone like that and if not, why not be that for someone who may have that need.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Teamwork
One of the most rewarding gifts of the season that we’re in is the rather profound sense of teamwork that we’re enjoying with our staff right now.
We often talk about being one church.many locations.all generations but I want to quickly say that fulfilling that rather lofty vision is another thing entirely.
In fact, the only way that I see it playing out well for us is through a “team” made up of highly creative and energetic young men and women who are guided and encouraged by those of us with more years and perhaps some added wisdom and experience.
Teamwork is possible at all levels but works best when it’s across generations because it accesses qualities that are needed that only come as you integrate as one team.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
We often talk about being one church.many locations.all generations but I want to quickly say that fulfilling that rather lofty vision is another thing entirely.
In fact, the only way that I see it playing out well for us is through a “team” made up of highly creative and energetic young men and women who are guided and encouraged by those of us with more years and perhaps some added wisdom and experience.
Teamwork is possible at all levels but works best when it’s across generations because it accesses qualities that are needed that only come as you integrate as one team.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Monday, April 27, 2009
My Two Sons
It’s not my normal practice in this space to talk about my family. I have tried my best to let them live their lives according to God’s plan and not drag them into the pages of mine!
However, I’m really looking forward to today as it’s the beginning of a couple days with my two sons, David & Jonathan, in a very relaxed and new environment for us all.
In the ministry, far too many men have sacrificed their sons (usually not knowing that they’re doing so). In my life, not that I’ve been a perfect dad, both of my boys love the Lord and have a passion to serve Him as well as enjoying our adult relationship.
I’m not sure if I deserve that, but I certainly feel blessed to be able to share such a time with them.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
However, I’m really looking forward to today as it’s the beginning of a couple days with my two sons, David & Jonathan, in a very relaxed and new environment for us all.
In the ministry, far too many men have sacrificed their sons (usually not knowing that they’re doing so). In my life, not that I’ve been a perfect dad, both of my boys love the Lord and have a passion to serve Him as well as enjoying our adult relationship.
I’m not sure if I deserve that, but I certainly feel blessed to be able to share such a time with them.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Friday, April 24, 2009
Anticipation
It’s a beautiful day today and there’s a certain “buzz” in the air about the upcoming Car Cruise season.
If you’re not from this area, you wouldn’t know that we have an event every Friday night on our Wexford campus that draws 3,000 – 5,000 people and it’s all about a “bigger than life” car show with all the wonderful accoutrements that go with it (oldies music, greasy food and lots of friendly people!).
However, we’re not starting the cruise next week as planned but on May 22nd for a number of reasons. The blessing in it all is that the anticipation is so great that people will be ready to “explode” by the time we begin. The difficult thing is to help people learn to wait that long.
This is true about most good things in our lives. It’s always about the balance between anticipation and discipline. If those two things are working well then each event has a special sweetness to it that cannot be missed.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
If you’re not from this area, you wouldn’t know that we have an event every Friday night on our Wexford campus that draws 3,000 – 5,000 people and it’s all about a “bigger than life” car show with all the wonderful accoutrements that go with it (oldies music, greasy food and lots of friendly people!).
However, we’re not starting the cruise next week as planned but on May 22nd for a number of reasons. The blessing in it all is that the anticipation is so great that people will be ready to “explode” by the time we begin. The difficult thing is to help people learn to wait that long.
This is true about most good things in our lives. It’s always about the balance between anticipation and discipline. If those two things are working well then each event has a special sweetness to it that cannot be missed.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Thursday, April 23, 2009
This "Rhythm" Thing
Most all of us have either heard or read about the need for a healthy “rhythm” in our lives.
This has to do not only with the pace of life but the balance of ways that we invest the limited time that we have.
The more I walk with the Lord the more convinced I am that there is something to this.
When we’re young we tend to ignore some of the flashing red lights that indicate we’re out of balance, but as we mature we are much more aware that God has put them there for a reason.
As for me, when I’m out of rhythm, I tend to rely much more on my own thought processes than waiting on the voice of God through His Spirit to direct and lead me. It’s a pretty uncomfortable confession for someone who believes so strongly in waiting on the Lord but it is a function of a rhythm of life that needs attended to.
I’m taking a little time next week to get into a different rhythm to help re-evaluate and continue to learn from those around me about what really matters.
Blessings!
Dr. Jay
This has to do not only with the pace of life but the balance of ways that we invest the limited time that we have.
The more I walk with the Lord the more convinced I am that there is something to this.
When we’re young we tend to ignore some of the flashing red lights that indicate we’re out of balance, but as we mature we are much more aware that God has put them there for a reason.
As for me, when I’m out of rhythm, I tend to rely much more on my own thought processes than waiting on the voice of God through His Spirit to direct and lead me. It’s a pretty uncomfortable confession for someone who believes so strongly in waiting on the Lord but it is a function of a rhythm of life that needs attended to.
I’m taking a little time next week to get into a different rhythm to help re-evaluate and continue to learn from those around me about what really matters.
Blessings!
Dr. Jay
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Reflecting Back
Though my schedule, much like yours, prevents me from having long times of “reflecting” I made a point of doing that on my birthday, which just took place.
During that time, I feel like God revealed to me a number of things that need to change as I move into the next year of my life.
I’m sure that you’d like to know some of the details of those things and in the coming days I think I’d like to share a few of those with you and maybe get your feedback on how you’ve approached them.
I just want to say that I think it’s vitally important that we take time to “examine ourselves” (II Cor. 13:5) because if we don’t we’re likely to miss some important changes that need to take place to cause us to continue in our journey of faith.
I also want to thank the many of you that have responded to this communication and many other forms that let me know that it does matter to you that our lives are open and our journey is shared.
The last thing I want to be is “religious” and in order to stay fresh some reflection helps to keep us far from that trap.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
During that time, I feel like God revealed to me a number of things that need to change as I move into the next year of my life.
I’m sure that you’d like to know some of the details of those things and in the coming days I think I’d like to share a few of those with you and maybe get your feedback on how you’ve approached them.
I just want to say that I think it’s vitally important that we take time to “examine ourselves” (II Cor. 13:5) because if we don’t we’re likely to miss some important changes that need to take place to cause us to continue in our journey of faith.
I also want to thank the many of you that have responded to this communication and many other forms that let me know that it does matter to you that our lives are open and our journey is shared.
The last thing I want to be is “religious” and in order to stay fresh some reflection helps to keep us far from that trap.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
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