I have stumbled onto something new...

It has occurred to me that apartments downtown are considered more "upscale" and can chage more by having two street names in their title... for example... The Dawson at Morgan (on the corner of Dawson St. and Morgan St.)... very upscale and trendy... on a corner... two names in the title... another is The Glenwood at West... up and coming apartment/condos...

You can say, "well Jason that is only 2..." well to that I say, "I am forgetting one and... and... all the better to get in on the front side of this trend..."

So... my good friend Chris Boyette and I have decided to get in while we can... we have found some older apartmet style dwelling places on the corner of... get ready... Mayo and Morgan... Wow... what a ring to it this has...

You may be wondering... isn't that right next to some kind of prison... and the answer is, well... yes... but we are convinced that nothing can slow down the current market trend for double st. named apartment condos...

Ok folks... you heard it here first... I stay over at "The Mayo at Morgan"... REPLY: "Really... I heard about those... they sound so cool... I would pay alot to live to there..."



If you want on the waiting list now... it is not too early as these will go very quickly...

Ok for now that is all... until next time...

-Jason

post script
I am in no way serious about investing in mayo and morgan currently... this blog post was only an attempt at humor by engaging a slight trend/exsistence in the downtown market and revealing a comical conversation between myself and Mr. Chris Boyette... I am also in no way mocking anyone living in a cool, trendy place like the ones I mentioned above... If the timing were different it is possible I too would live in one of these dwelling places...

It is time...

every year diana and I come to her parents house for Christmas with her family... and every year we prune the apple trees...

in certain cultures before one enters war or his unavoidable fate, he would write a poem, or song, or a story as a statement of acceptence...

and now... it is christmas... i am here... it is that time... i move forward with adandon... it is my fate... i except it... the trees are calling...

______________________________________________

trees... be weary...

trees... be afraid..

for you must know yourself... today is not your brightest day...

my pruners shall come... your extra limbs shall fall...

but the fruit you shall soon bear... will certainly be worth it all...

______________________________________________

enjoy... and happy day to you,

-Jason

So it's late...

I just got home... and my wife is already asleep... She is so beautiful... how am i so blessed... 3 and a half years of marriage already... So incredible...

Thoughts from a worship leader...

So as many of you know I act as, among other things, "worship leader" for our church community here in Raleigh. (mind you i have always thought the word is wierd based on my views of worship - prolly a different post) Well last night my home group and I (Visio Dei consists of a number of homegroups. These groups are where we live life together with a communtiy of people on mission to become who God has made us to be, find authentic community, and to live out the Way of Jesus) cooked dinner for a friend of ours Linette and her children Smith, Joylett, Jaylin, Jodie, Jessica, and Jennifer. We met Linette through another friend of ours that is apart of our church. Afterwards some of the women in our home group took her out shopping for her children while the rest of us stayed back and played with the youngins'. (I had very little to do with any of this happening from a logistical stand point)

Now here's the deal... I started thinking last night that as chruch planter and a pastor I couldn't ask for a more beautiful thing to be happening in that moment. We cooked dinner and were watching the children at our church building and we were also hosting an AA meeting in the "main gaterhing room". Then I started thinking of how we met this family and it had to do with someone else from our church stepping out to meet some folks that may need a bit of encouragement and love... then we got to meet this family... then i started thinking of the amazing stories I have just been hearing about how people in our community are reaching to meet needs of people around them.. and I was honestly a bit overwhelmed... overwhelmed by people who are realizing they have been blessed to be a blessing... and their blessing is overflowing into the lives of those around them... this to me is more important than having a church of 100 people.. 1,000 people... or even 10,000 people... (although 10,000 people living this way would be something to celebrate...)

SO from a worship leader who desires to create environments for people to encounter, experience, celebrate, and worship their God... last night I was led in a way, by our community, like never before to a place of worship... worshipping a God who moves... who opens the hearts of people like us.. to care about things bigger than ourselves... who opens our eyes to a better way of living... a life of love, compassion, and beauty...

God I thankyou for showing us how to live.. i thankyou for allowing us, as a community of people, to point each other towards your Kingdom... May we constantly realize your blessings in our life... may we be a blessing to those around us... May we live lives of worship...

Thanks to all who are apart of this journey... Thanks for leading me and those around you in worship... i couldnt ask for a better place to be in life...

Much love,

-J

Cheers...

So we took this picture for a present for someone as a joke and I thought it was funny...

I could say many things here... could get emotional about how we started a church together but that's not completely true cause so many others are involved... but either way, we were having a beer last night (cause we live in the same house and well we do that sometimes) and were talking a bit about how crazy things have been and how great our community is... even about how yesterday was an incredible time worshipping God together as a community... and I found myself thinking of how blessed I feel...

So anyways... kinda random post... but none the less...here's to good friends, love, life, community, family, and to following our God together...

Much Love,

-J

Great Band (and a funny video at bottom)

(if you dont like music just Watch This - it's hilarious - it is at the bottom too if you want to engage the whole post - I just said engage? hmmm... odd...)


Last week I went to the Brandtson and Love Drug show at the brewery... I love the passion the Love Drug brings but I gotta tell you... Brandtson stole the show... I prolly should have wrote about this last week but I didn't... Their energy was incredible and I could not stand still... Their music has gone to a Pop Rock meets dancetronic with a bit of funk crazy thing.... loops all over the place... so crazy... I was thinking the whole time... "I am at a rock show, but i want to dance..." so much fun... They put on a great show, have been around a while, and seem like great guys... very talented...



I actually went to the show in a bad mood and tired... and when they got on the stage I was taken to a different place... thank you music... thank you Brantson for making good music... thank you Lord for making it all... sooooo good!

So their new CD (Hello, Control) is incredible... buy it... track 2 and 3 are my favorite so far...

And now... what reminded me to post about these guys... Emily Aldin showed me this video... who was shown by Elizabeth Ivey... who was shown by Sean Pratt (how's that for Blog Ettiquette) This is track 2 from the CD.. This video is hilarious... I think I want to make one of these with some friends around here... where is Davo when you need him... Brandon Guy, help!!!

If you want in on the video, let me know!!!

Have a great weekend...

Much Love

-J

You have to Watch This

I have always made fun of church signs...

But here are a couple of shots of ours...





Disclaimer:
So these are lousy photos but it was cold out and i didn't have a cap for my bald head... sorry... (I will get Rebecca Blog Flickr to take a few later this week and get them up)

Also they don't really do the sign justice... but they will have to do...

Post:
We got our signed delivered today (we being us as a church... not sure why churches have signs.. well i guess to let people know where they meet? - ok, not my point) and its kinda wierd.. not the sign, but having one... I am not a big "sign guy" but the sign itself looks amazing... i went out there tonight to look at it cause it is backlit from the inside and honestly... it looks sweet...

Well this post is not just about a sign.. signs are prolly less important than we realize but its about where we are as a community. All through the Bible people built alters or stacked stones or raised an "ebenezer" as a sybmol for what God has done... to keep reminding us of all God has done... Well when I saw the sign tonight for the first time I got this sense of.... "Look at where I have brought you... I am being faithful to you as my people.." ans its not because we have a "sign"... but because we have a place in His story... he has called us to be His children and we are... So AMAZING... I have friends and family I would never know the way I do because of what God has done for us... and when I saw it tonight I was reminded of that in some ways...

So we have a sign... but more than that we are blessed that what our sign says is true... we are a church community... His Church...

In a world that is more broken than we can even imagine (I have heard today some of the most horrible tales of genecide, brutality, hurt, and injustice one could ever imagine) we still have hope...

Lord... thank you for allowing us to experience your Kingdom... may we, as Visio Dei, and as a part of Your church play a role in ushering in Your Kingdom... May we realize where you have brought us... what You have brought us out of... May we have moments of "remembering" or seeing "signs"... May we be compelled to share that with the brokeness or the world around us... May we share it with one another... May we bring You glory...

Love and Peace,

-J

Looking to find a sabbath... Wanting to make it Holy...

So last week was Thanksgiving and I had a great time with my family and closest friends. Even got to spend time with my boy Ashdown who is residing currently in Houston (Texas has snow right now and we don't... don't get me started...). These times were beautiful... I have more great family and friends than any one man, espeacially myself, deserve...

Well I was looking forward to this holiday b/c I had no plans... not traveling... no expectations.. nothing.. a little something I would call a break... and I was looking forward to it... like no words can explain...

You see my wife and I and, well, about 130 of our closest family and friends (to make it simple) are planting a church right now... well kinda (it's kinnda been a community for a while now but just moved stuff)... but really we did cause we are really seeking what it looks like to be the "Church" God would have us be and we are moving in directions we have never gone in before... we are leading and yet empowering in areas like never before... we have also recently aquired a beautiful new building in the heart of Raleigh that we have completely (almost, well not really, but done alot of work) remodeled... mostly by all of our own community, which was beautiful to see... on top of all that I am desperately seeking to really find my specific role within the context of our church...

So all that to say.. I have been a bit "busy"... I like being productive... i love things moving forward into uncharted areas... I am always searching for what's next and we are in a great place to be searching for that... so much so that a strange thing happened on last Friday when I tried to just relax...

On my day off... that i had so looked forward to... it happened... so stinking crappy... By 11:30am... I was no joke... sick to my stomach (but not food poisining kinda sick... ) I was bored, angry, frustrated, impatient, and stale.. I opened my email but it was Thanksgiving (no one is emailing me)... I had my stuff ready for Sunday morning cause I was gonna "not work" on the end of the week for Thanksgiving... My wife had to work and none of friends would return my phone calls as all already prolly had plans or something... I went to our new building to find something to clean... it was all done form the week bfore... SO i decided to try and write music... only problem was I was mad, burnt out, and completely uninspired... by 5:00pm I realized something... I have completely forgotten how to rest... I in all honesty got extremely frustrated... and borderline paniced... dead serious...

pause.. fast forward to Monday...

I was listening to this podcast by Rob Bell... He spoke of how Jesus wants to save us from "life happening to us"... From things just going by and us missing them... He spoke of rhythym of life and rhythym of creation... he spoke of the sabbath and reminded us not to treat it as a bunch of rules or "law" b/c we are not made for the sabbath, but to delight in it... enjoy it... take it... b/c the sabbath was made for us... for me... dang it... (Mark 2:27 paraphrase - New Living Jason Gore Translation - NLJGT - 39.95 Best Buy)

He talked about how when he and his wife first decided to take a sabbath a couple years ago... by 1:30pm they fealt like commiting suicide they were so bored... (I didn't feel as wierd when he said this) He just said it seemed so strange to phisiologically rest... like really get away from any stimulus that represents work to you...

He actually made mention of how even in zoos, Zoologists have noticed about a 6 day limit on the animals that are out on "disply" before their activity decreases substantially... did you catch that... the animal kingdom has a built in 6 day on, one day off rhythym... AMAZING!!! (and I am so stinkin much smarter than animals that I wont even slow down enough to realize how I was created... ok, well I know technically I am an animal kinda... and that is my point... kinda)

Anyways... So through this podcast and a few days of pondering... I have realized this... I have lost all sense of a rhythym in my life, in this world, in our days, even in my year... I have no idea where I am and maybe even how I am... I know I am busy and that is it... and honestly I am borderline ready to say screw it all... Not because I am burnt out... I am disciplined and dedicated and can work witht he best of them... but because I know I am missing out on the life God wants for me... I am missing the beauty that is right in front of me everyday... this, when I think of it this way, makes me want to cry... I live my life to tell people and to show the world the great life we can have following the Way of Jesus... yet I know so little of it... I know in my soul it is the best way to live yet I miss this part everyday... I am a follower of the Way yet am not enjoying the path I am following... (I have this image in my head of walking through a huge field full of flowers and birds.... streams and lakes... rolling hills all around and mountains in the distance... cool breeze right at my back... yet I am just walking briskly... not looking to the left or right... only concerned with walking forward.... forward... forward...) (sorry for the image if you are not a feeler... I am... prolly why all this hurts me so much)

WOW.. this was long.. Funny thing is, I feel like I could keep typing... but for the sake of any who kept reading this far... I will stop...

To those close to me... pray for me... pray I find some rhythym... pray I find The Rhythym... pray I can be disciplined enough to find a sabbath... find a way to make it Holy... maybe look yourself to find one if you feel the same burden...

I gotta believe our Creator knows what is best for us... I want to know the very best God has for us... may we not buy into the lie of our culture and socitety... not selling out to only busyness and productivity...

Lord I know I am no where near where I should be... I confess that... thank you for forgiveness and grace... I beg for wisdom... for direction... and for discipline... help me to find my sabbath...

Well... searching... following the Way... wanting all God has made us for...

Shalom,

-J

Great Thanksgiving

I have had a much needed break... seriously, much needed... more to come...

Last night... Myself, my wife, my brother, Julie, Jasen and Amanda, and Matt and Allie went to Helios... We drank coffee... a beer... talked about life... music... worship... how emo Matt looked... it was fun... I love these people... I am glad my brother and Julie live here... I wish Jasen, Amanda, Matt and Allie did too... too much time in between visits...

Happy Late Thanksgiving...

Until Later...

-J

Amsterdam...

Amsterdam is one of Europe's major air gateways from North America, and the city has enjoyed a reputation for tolerating visitors' idiosyncrasies since the heady, hippy-dippy, hash-happy days of the 1960s. Whether you're a backpacker seeking cannabis or an Upper East Side socialite who collects diamonds, you'll find what you're looking for in Amsterdam.

In Hendersonville...

So... me, diana, John, and Eliz Ivey came out to he mountains... I have a wedding tomorrow so we came out last night and we'll be back late tomorrow night but for now... we are here. Hanging out at Diana and John's parents place (well, mine in - laws)...

It is so peaceful here... I love it... absolutely love it...

Only bad thing is we will not be home for Rebecca's Frankfurt Friday party tonight... have a good german brew for us... so thankful we have a great community back home...

Love you all,

-J

The Fray

So I just bought 5 tickets to see The Fray on Jan. 21st. I happened to find out (through Jeff) their tickets went on sale this morning and when i checked they were almost sold out. I figured some folks would want to come so I bought extra... The tickets are like $37 plus all the extra charges for who ever all gets a cut is ~ $45/ticket... ($44.something)

Jeff is going... my wife is a maybe... So I have 3-4 tickets.. first come first serve... i do unfortunately have to extend the price of the ticket to you... let me know if you want to come...

Say yes to Pop-Rock!!!

CHEERS!!!

-J

The Motion... Tonight...

Not sure what you're doing tonight.. but go see this band... Top notch music, top notch musicians, top notch guys... Do yourself, them, and the local Raleigh music scene a favor and go to The Brewery tonight... (I am heading over just after my homegroup... let me know if you want to meet up...)



The Motion

Support your local musicians and artists!!!

much love,

-J

So our first Sunday has come...

It's crazy to step back and look at whats gone on... The journey God has taken us through as a community over the last three years has been incredible.

Jeff mentioned in his blog (that I am ticked he got up before me) that it seems odd to say our church started this past week cause many of us have been living life together for the last 3 years. Some of us even longer... but this "ministry" started 3 years ago as what many called "Hungry"... So i guess it seems like we have been a church together for a while now...

None the less... our first "official" wprship gathering as Visio Dei occured this past Sunday... it was probably one of the most beautiful things I have ever been apart of... and honestly, it couldn't have been more "us"...

The manager who was supposed to show up and let us in somehow didnt show up (no big deal if you end up reading this... it worked better than we could have ever planned.) So after we found a door unlocked and debated for an hour as to if we should just go in or not (again if you are the manager and reading htis then ignore it) we decided to just hold the our first gathering ever outside in the parking lot...

My brother went and picked up his generator... and we set up shop outside... Rebecca started making some phone calls and told everyone to call everyone they knew and somehow we ended up with well over a hundred chairs, lounge chairs, blankets, dining room chairs, futon cusions, and even a big inflatable monkey(?)... We had our childrens ministry out in the grass on our safety mats... everything just went on like it was supposed to.. we didn't miss a beat...


It turned out to be far greater than anything we could have planned for ourselves... We are there in the parking lot, worshipping God, bright blue skys, sun coming up over everyone, and two huge hawks flying over head... I was in awe and could barely speak, much less sing (which is totally fine unless people expect it from you...)


(Jeff, you're so wise...)

I have said from the beginning I would be a bit dissapointed if our story was simple... easy... explainable... I dont believe the God we follow is that way and I don't believe He would lead His church to those places... it was so great to have friends remind me of that on Sunday... this is the path we are choosing... this is the path we have been given... I owe so many a huge thanks for being willing to follow God the way you do...


I pray together we will learn what it means to follow Jesus and that we could be used to bring God's Kingdom... May this story continue for all eternity...

Love and Peace,

-J

I woke this morning wanting to go back to Kyrgyzstan...

I miss the people... the simpleness... the beauty... I am ready to go back...

Amazing...

Amazing how the sound of your wife's voice brings a smile... how a message from a friend can light up your day... how conversations can lead you to an appreciation and a desire for life...

Tonight I find myself thankful and amazed... Lord, I pray I could be as much a blessing to the world as my friends and familiy are to me...

Goodnight...

-J

So we made it to Miami...

Jeff and I made it down to Miami. We've got tickets to the Dolphins/Packers game for tomorrow and are coming back home Tuesday. Lookin forward to some much needed rest. We talked about going to South Beach and Coconut Grove but honestly sushi, wine, and quite sound pretty good to me right now...

We got to the airport this morning at 6:45am to find out our flight was delayed til 10:30am... that's cool... then we had to fly to Cincinatti Ohio before we could fly down to Miami, Florida... sounds right?!?!? - hah... again not a big deal just seems a bit odd... but then again I am not a flight direction engineer guy...

Anyways all joking aside I am glad to be here although I already miss my wife and am bummed about not seeing our friends for few days... but then again I do have Jeff...

Thanks for all I can call a friend... much love...

-J

New Coffee Spot...

So me and my boy Chris found this new coffee spot downtown... and I thought so highly of it that I would let you all know about it... added to the amazing company (Mr. Boyette) was friendly folk, great design, and super cool vibe...

You must check it out...








Outside store front...

Chris Chessin'

Little flowers on the table...

Would love a wall like this in my house...

Nice vibe...

Plenty of space...

The endings of a beautiful morning...

Hope friday is going well...

Peace and love,

-J

The Fair...

So Diana, Rebecca, and I hit the fair up last night...

Diana is always a big fan of the exhibits so of coarse we hit those up. And I mean all of them... I love you babe...

Then we enjoyed a nice dinner consisting of a Giant Turkey Leg and Polish Sausage between the three of us...

We then headed over to the ferris wheel for Rebecca's first ferris wheel ride ever... We are honored to have been apart of such an occasion...

Then rootbeer floats and fried dough for dessert... Dang, it was the best rootbeer float ever... This same couple goes every year and it is a staple of my fair journey year in and year out... Please forgive me Lord for my over consumption...

Here's to good times with good people...


The girls and some fried dough...


The best rootbeer floats ever... This couple is here EVERY year!!!



The Ferris Wheel...


Pretty cool stuff with a camera...

I can't take credit for the pictures... They're all Bec's... Check out other pics from the night at her Flicker site

Have a good one...

Much Love...

-J

Lost = Really Good Writers

So glad this show is back on... I can say I am honostly not a big tv watcher (other than football) but this show is so good... granted i get mad cause sometimes i feel like not much happens in an hour show but then some episodes are like last night and i'm like... YES!!!

No idea what's really going on but I have some confidence the writers do and that makes me happy...

They also ask some great questions about life with some touchy one liners... love that as well...

"We're the good guys..." (doesn't everyone think they're the good guys... who is good then? why?)

"It's not who he is, it's who you're not" - ouch - that just hurts.. but there is a ton to unpack there if you take some time...

Oh well... Lost = Really good writers and a great cast... I like it...

Much Love,

-J

ps
the office is very funny too...

Wassup Blue Ridge...

I would imagine that most of you who read this already are in the know as to the happenings of Visio Dei... for those who don't and have inquired... thanks! You're thoughts and prayers are so much appreciated.

I feel as though after the last post of not knowing where we were gonna meet for our first Sunday of our prelaunch with only 5 days until... I should now offer a word of excitement for how everything fell into place.

On thursday we finally got everything lined up for the next 4 weeks for us to meet at Blue Ridge Cinema in Raleigh... for those of you who don't know, Blue Ridge cinema is a fine establishment here in Raleigh... it is the only $1.50 theatre on the east coast...

I am certainly happy with how our first Pre launch meeting went... very simple... very straight forward... seemed like good family time... (Thanks for everyone for chipping in and helping out - you guys are awesome) if you couldn't make it and would like to hear the podcast, it's on our website (which isn't finished yet). www.visiodei.org - 9.17.06 - learners, lovers, and givers

Not sure how long we will be at Blue Ridge for our Sunday morning gatherings... We would definately like to find a perminate space down town for obvious reasons but I am wondering if this kind of flexibility is what it is going to take to be an urban church... maybe to be in the area we feel led to be in it's going to take a different approach to what we do... (maybe more thoughts on this later) I am sure our God will lead us...

Hope everyone is having a great start to their week...

Live alive!!!

-Jason

In a strange turn of events...

We have a church gathering in 5 days and we do not have a place to meet yet... in a word... awesome!!!

So about 3 months ago when we were working through details of planting a church things seemed to be working out very quickly. We had this sweet building working out downtown and everything looked awesome. I just figured it was because Jeff and I have never thought location was super important and a building is well, just that, a building...

We even had conversations like this:

Jeff: It's kinda a bummer... I always hoped our story would be a little more exciting... not knowing until the last minute...

Jason: yeah, something like...We don't know where we'll be next week... make sure you check the website when you get up Sunday morning...

Jeff: oh well, guess it's not our story...

So now here we are... that building still hasn't happened... one of our definite back-ups is not so definite and we are 5 days away... fate? chance? prolly a big joke in heaven.... I mean they could really be laughing this up... espeacially considering the personality types of Jeff and I...

That being said... it is extremely exciting... I have said all along I feel certain it will all work out at the right time... I have reminded myself and others that the God we follow has a whole book full of Him showing up for a people of faith in Him at, in our minds, the last possible minute and in a way we did not expect...

Now as we approach what is in my mind the last possible minute I wonder how this will work out... In some moments I am worried to unrest and others I am experiencing great peace... (I think I am at peace when I am by myself and worried when I consider I am kinda strange and don't worry about things I prolly should - knowing others are gonna worry or think i'm doing a bad job)

Granted we have some options that look like they are opening up... stuff that hasn't even been a possible option until, well, today... yet, still nothing close to being set in stone...

All that to say... I am convinced all is going to work out... maybe not the way I think or anyone else thinks maybe... I know at the end of the day, as a community, we will follow God, we'll look to let God's healing overflow into the world, and we will love each other...

It's been a blast so far... in a sense it makes me feel like we are following the right God, ya know... the same God we read about in the Bible... that maybe we are in the right place... (even if we have no idea where that place is?)

That being said... I am praying and doing all I can do to answer the question... "Hey J, do you know where we are gonna meet on Sunday?" For all those planners out there who are on board with us, let me apologize for Jeff and I opening our mouths a few months back... I do offer this, if everything made perfect sense I would be even more nervous than I am right now...

My prayer is that God would continue to go before us... lead us exactly where he would have us... allow Jeff and I, our wives, and other leaders within our community to lead boldly even when we are unsure and a bit uncertain... focused on who is calling us rather than wondering "where" we are being called... I also ask that we could enjoy the ride... this is too great to miss the joy of all that is going on...

Thanks for all who are journeying with us... Whether in prayer or movement...

What a great start to a story...

-Jason

In a strange turn of events...

We have a church gathering in 5 days and we do not have a place to meet yet... in a word... awesome!!!

So about 3 months ago when we were working through details of planting a church things seemed to be working out very quickly. We had this sweet building working out downtown and everything looked awesome. I just figured it was because Jeff and I have never thought location was super important and a building is well, just that, a building...

We even had conversations like this:

Jeff: It's kinda a bummer... I always hoped our story would be a little more exciting... not knowing until the last minute...

Jason: yeah, something like...We don't know where we'll be next week... make sure you check the website when you get up Sunday morning...

Jeff: oh well, guess it's not our story...

So now here we are... that building still hasn't happened... one of our definite back-ups is not so definite and we are 5 days away... fate? chance? prolly a big joke in heaven.... I mean they could really be laughing this up... espeacially considering the personality types of Jeff and I...

That being said... it is extremely exciting... I have said all along I feel certain it will all work out at the right time... I have reminded myself and others that the God we follow has a whole book full of Him showing up for a people of faith in Him at, in our minds, the last possible minute and in a way we did not expect...

Now as we approach what is in my mind the last possible minute I wonder how this will work out... In some moments I am worried to unrest and others I am experiencing great peace... (I think I am at peace when I am by myself and worried when I consider I am kinda strange and don't worry about things I prolly should - knowing others are gonna worry or think i'm doing a bad job)

All that to say... I am convinced all is going to work out... maybe not the way I think or anyone else thinks maybe... I know at the end of the day, as a community, we will follow God, we'll look to let God's healing overflow into the world, and we will love each other...

It's been a blast so far... in a sense it makes me feel like we are following the right God, ya know... the same God we read about in the Bible... that maybe we are in the right place... (even if we have no idea where that place is?)

That being said... I am praying and doing all I can do to answer the question... "Hey J, do you know where we are gonna meet on Sunday?" For all those planners out there who are on board with us, let me apologize for Jeff and I opening our mouths a few months back... I do offer this, if everything made perfect sense I would be even more nervous than I am right now...

My prayer is that God would continue to go before us... lead us exactly where he would have us... allow Jeff and I, our wives, and other leaders within our community to lead boldly even when we are unsure and a bit uncertain... focused on who is calling us rather than wondering "where" we are being called... I also ask that we could enjoy the ride... this is too great to miss the joy of all that is going on...

Thanks for all who are journeying with us... Whether in prayer or movement...

What a great start to a story...

-Jason

Overwhelming but peaceful?

So right now there is a lot going on around me...

My best friend (most of you probably know him as Jeff - hah) just had heart surgery yesterday... Everything went well and he is doing as good as can be expected today... Honestly when I saw him yesterday after his surgery, still unconcious from the anestesia, I almost started crying like a baby... from relief of coarse... we've dreamed big dreams together, ya know... I love the guy... There was definately some tenseness in the days leading up to the surgery... Thank you God for all the ways you offer healing...

Some other friends (Mike and Karl) are in Africa right now and they are on my mind a lot. I know there eyes are being opened to a side of the world many of us will never see... never fully understand or comprehend... I know it will change them... probably for the better... I have heard Karl is a bit sick and I am sure Mike is homesick... My thoughts and prayers are with them on their journey... God, may you work in their hearts and use them to bring your Kingdom to Africa...

Also, on what seems in some ways to be on the back burner, we are involved in this small thing called planting a church (sarcasm of coarse)... We are less than 10 days from our prelaunch and about 6 weeks from our launch... We have an amazing community of people and are sold out on our mission... There are also, on the other hand, many details that have not yet been worked out/revealed... Very stressful or overwhelming at times... more things going on/needing to get done than one would ever imagine...

I will say this... I am commited to trusting God each step of the way... in the midst of craziness, planning, surgerys, world travels, and sickness... I know God has lead us here... God will continue to lead... I find peace in that... I also find meekness... I am forced towards humility... "God, we are dependent on You... we are not in control... this is not about our glory... may you bring glory to yourself... may you guide our steps"

I finding that peace which transcends all understanding not in things working out the way we want but in knowing our creator is on our side... Not seeing him, yet still experiencing his love, grace, peace, and salvation... That brings peace... that brings joy...

God bring your salvation... bring your kingdom...

Much Love,

-J

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9

It's 2:30am... Can't sleep...

Please don't let the invisible fire burn my friend...

for some reson that line just popped into my head... good gosh that's a funny movie...

Thanks to all that made it over to hang last night (or tonight - whatever I should say)... We're so blessed...

also, I added some new photo links on the side bar... Rebecca has a great eye for photography... Jon and Meredith update alot and Shannon and Kim have some fun pics regularly as well... Carly, well she is Carly... I also wanted to put up a link to Amy Hathaway's photography but I can't find it right now...

and... the books I am reading right now are good (current reads)... read one of them if you want a good book to read...

ok, maybe sleep...

Love and Peace,

-J

It's almost like Christmas...

I couldn't sleep last night... I can't think straight today... Tonight is my fantasy football league draft... How I am supposed to work (I don't need any cheap shots here)...

Ok, seriously... it's a big night... what happens could have drastic implications on the Fall season... on my ability to rest easy... to enjoy the Sunday afternoons I am so longing for...

oh the pressure... oh, the excitement... oh, the joy...

-Jason

Since we last spoke...

-I have taken a day vacation with my beautiful wife
-I have learned my body doesn't respond to demeral or certain medications doctors use for drowsyness...
-I have had a camera placed in an uncomfortable location... (yes, the uncomfort and the lack of response to demeral are related... I wouldn't think about it too much)
-I have been visited by some great friends after the camera and demerol incident
-I have babysat some really cool kids
-I have upset a friend
-I have made things right with that friend (love ya much homie)
-I have shared in a full day of prayer with some of my favorite people in the world...
-I have had a cookout with some of my favortite people in the world
-Some great people have created a new email list sign-up for our new church... www.visiodei.org (full site is under construction)
-I have had a couple busy and somewhat stressful days...
-I have looked many times for a space for our new church to meet...
-I have realized a sense of blessing in the relationships, passion, and peace that are in my life...
-I have also found my iPod
-I have done many other things that I am missing here (it was just time for an update)


Life is Good... We are loved...

Love you all...

-Jason

So a mini crisis...

I woke this morning and went to the gym... very typical Friday... pulled into my normal spot... opened the back hatch of my Ford Explorer (which is low on gas again-go figure)... Reached into my gym bag... and...

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..............

no iPod....

I went back home (which is to Jeff's house)... checked my office... double checked my car... back to Jeff's... now my office again.... nothing...

not sure what to do... I am still in a bit of shock... I don't want to do anything thing crazy or irrational... right now I am just trying to breath and control my heart rate... I feel like I got a wild cougar on me...

Where are you little buddy... where are you...!!!

The Next 50 years: the birth of human machines

From a post on the blog of Alex McManus

The Birth of Human Machines
Rodney Brooks, professor of computer science and director of the Artificial Intelligence lab at MIT, writes that within the next fifty years, we will adopt robot technology, silicon and steel into our bodies not to fix something but to improve it.

This is a massive, galaxy-quaking shift in history. No longer will humankind submit to Darwinian evolution. “Now,” writes Brookes, “we will have the option of participating in explicit ways in that evolution.” This would definitely take man yet another step apart from his cousins within the animal kingdom.

Brooks tells us that the widely held assumption in the field of molecular biology is that “humans are machines”. Every living system is a product of molecular interactions. In fact, writes Brooks, the thirty year goal at MIT is to so control the genetics of living systems that “instead of growing a tree, cutting it down, and building a table out of it, we will ultimately be able to grow the the table.”

Imagine a world in which we breed bacterial robots to repair or improve human bodies at the molecular level. Darwin’s revolution placed man in the animal kingdom. The 21st century may see man placed in the world of machines.

Will future generations long for the good old days when Man was just an animal?
Will “Humanity 2.0″ be characterized by self-determined evolution that resembles today’s software upgrades?

What do you think? Would you enhance your IQ, your memory, your reading speed and retention? Would you enhance your kids to give them an advantage in the world? Welcome to the future.

Crazier than my mustache in the previous post...

-J

How Long...

I believe this is a statement of class and prestige.

How long do you think my wife will let me keep this jewel... I only post because it's possible she will have it removed by this evening...

Moving - Need Help!!!

So Diana and I are moving tonight... If you're free, have a truck, or want to just have dinner after - come to my place ~6:45 - 7:00pm... We don't have a ton of stuff left to move but we need to get our bedroom stuff (Bed, dresser, night stands) to Jeff's, a few last boxes to our storage unit, and a couple boxes to the camper . I already have one trailer and a few other people... Everything will be ready to go and should not take much time at all... Any takers? - Dinner after...

Also, Rebecca is moving Sunday. She is planning on starting at about 8 or 9 in the morning. I am trying to get some extra help for her as she will be moving everything on Sunday (Again, it will not take that long.) Anytime that day would be helpful but it would be nice to get it done before the afternoon when it starts getting hot. Also, it would be nice to get most of it done before Hungry Sunday ngiht. If you're available let me know here, send me an email, or give me a call.

Thanks...

Much Love,

-J

Updates...

We got it...
Saturday Diana and I became the owners of a beautiful 20" iMac. It really is a great machine and we look to many years of computing together.

The move has begun...
Diana and I have started our move out of our condo. We are renting a storage unit that costs way too much money. $119/mo for 100 sq. ft. (and this is one of the cheapest) - That is more than a finished apartment per sq. ft. - This angers me almost as much as gas prices. We have started to move boxes out and pack as we go. Our "final move" should occur on Friday as Diana's parents bring the pop-up camper into town and we move the rest of our stuff into the Ramsey's. For clarification's sake we will move into Jeff's and have the pop-up camper at my mom's place as a refuge/when Jeff kicks us out from time-to-time. (small fact: Diana and Jason maybe the only married couple in America to own a new iMac while living in a pop-up camper - someone call Apple as we should be in a commercial)

Property Owner Meeting...
We met with a property owner of space downtown this morning and I think the meeting went well... Please be in prayer that this works out as I knw he has other options... We are trusting God to do something big here as we know he can...

Other news...
We are both happy and sad to move out of our current place... It's the only place Diana and I have lived as a married couple so, well, it's our home... We are excited on the other hand for the next step of our life and where God is taking us... We are also, on the other hand, sad again because we are moving out and we have one of the best roomates in the world right now... it has been a blessing to get to know Emily and have her around... but then, it's happy again, to know Rebecca (the other best roommate in the world) is moving into our place to live with Emily. She is like a sister to me so it's great to know they are staying at our place together. (as far as renting your home - it doesn't get musch better!)

A lot of love...
Just wanted to say thanks again for all those we call family and friends. You know who you are and we couldn't/wouldn't be taking the steps in our life right now if it weren't for your prayers, love, and support... Much Love to each of you...

Love and Peace,

-J

AHHHHH!!!!!!!

I awoke this morning with a crappy feeling... Something telling me that I may not absolutely need a new iMAC... I mean of coarse I don't need it... But I really can justify it pretty well... but this morning... oh, the woes of this morning... I had this sense of "is this the best investment of x number of $$$ right now..."

So horrible... I have been dropping subtle hints to my wife, mother-in-law, friends for some time now... everyone understood... today was the big day... TAX FREE WEEKEND!!! I am supposed to meet Diana at Crabtree after work... it was all set in stone - and now it has come to this... I can't pull the trigger... or will I... I just don't know... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe by 5pm I will have my "sense of entitlement" back... maybe this will all go away... AHHHHHHH!!!!

Oh conscious, where did you find me...

-J

Decisions...

OK, so tomorrow begins the tax free weekend... Diana and I have been talking about getting a new computer for a while... I am on the fence... portability vs. power... as well as the usual decisions when it comes to this kind of purchase...

so anyone out there have any pros and cons for me to mull over... please let me know... any inside info on what's working well... what is going to be outdated sooner...

the iMac....


or the MacBook...


Any guidance or input would be well taken and appreciated... Except for negativity... Diana does not need any negative influences on this decision... PLEASE!!!

Cheers!!!

-J

Happy Birthday Kyle...

Happy Birthday Kyle!!!

To everyone else...

Cheers!!!

-J

I slept like 3 hours last night...

Crazy... I'm not that tired though... maybe it will hit me later today...

Weekend Updates...
Great weekend this past week. A lot of times with good friends. Between the wedding rehearsal and wedding there were definately some good times had!!!

Chapps is married - let me say he and Lauren are beautiful people... I am sure they're having a blast right now in Jamaica! (I will try and get some pics up later from the fun weekend)

Our worship gathering Sunday night was awesome... my buddy Steve shared about his life, journey with God, battles he has had to fight, and how he has became the person he is... SO GREAT!!! this guys is hilarious too... if you know who he is you have got to talk to him sometime...

Last night we had a property A and D meeting for the church we are planting... Such a great team... I think I ended up eating 2 dinners though because Diana got me a Subway sandwhich that I ate before the meeting and then Rebecca made some pork tenderloin that I ate after the meeting... weird... I will tell you this... it was good!

Diana and I (well, really our entire community here) have a lot going on right now with the church plant and getting ready to move out of our place to somewhere, just not sure where yet, so we really appreciate all the prayers... thanks for all the love... this really is an exciting time for us...

Hope you're having a great start to the week...

Love you guys...

-J (and Diana)

New Family Member and Happy Birthday Ashley...

Yesterday was the first day in the life of my new baby cousin...

My cousin Steven and his wife Amanda (also my cousin - right? - well, I love her either way - hah) had there first child... She was only 8 months pregnate and due to some health considerations they decided to have the baby now... We were a little nervice about everything as it was a bit early but, alas... Welcome to the world - at 4 pounds and 13 ounces... lying at 17 inches long... My new baby cousin.. Brady Luke Rhodes... Can't wait to get to know him!!!

New baby Brady...


My cousin Steven... Look at that proud daddy grin...

AND...

Yesterday was also the birthday celebration for my good friend and favorite firefighter... Ashley Apt... Happy B-Day!!!

A bunch of us ended up over at Flying Saucer to celebrate... Dang, we've got some good friends... I feel like we should all have more nights like last night... really days like yesterday... days of celebration and happiness... Just something too right about it to ignore... especially when you compare it to what's on TV, the paper, and the internets... people killing each other... people dying... all that stuff just feels wrong... Anyways... I am thankful for a great day of celebration and life...

Fish and Pat... of all the pics of Pat I have... he looks absolutely crazy in all of them...



Love and Peace,

-J

ps
Here is what happens when you ask three crazy people to bring you your camera because you left it at your house....





Craziness...

People I Love...

I am sitting in a room with people I love... Our band just finished playing the second service/gathering at Hope Community Church... It's been a great morning so far... still our Hungry Worship Gathering tonight... Can't wait... not just for the gathering's sake but just to see everyone... Tons going on right now within our community...

Anyways - It's a blessing to have friends like these... it's amazing and exciting to be on mission togther...

Lord, thankyou for people to live life with and thankyou for something to live for...

-J

Long Day...

Yesterday was a long one... Some friends and I (my brother, PRATT, and Sneeden) went over and helped Lauren and Aaron move her stuff out of her apartment and into his grandma's basement... They have 8 days til the big wedding day... CRAZY!!! - I will say this... he was mad organized... all the small stuff was gone already... big stuff - in the garage, cabinet doors taped, pillows off the couch... definately could write a book on how to maximize a movers time and effort (this could potentially be a later post explaining the how to's of moving) - Aaron - Nicely Done!!!

-on a side note... Chris Sexton drove out to meet us in Apex cause he got off work late... That was awesomely cool but then none of us had our cell phones on... Since he couldn't find the complex we were in he had to drive back... Awesomely bad... sorry Chris...

Then band rehearsal last night... after the move... YES!!! - I think music is something for me that no matter how tired... I would still do it... Simply said... I love playing music with people... glad we get the small things ya know...

But once rehearsal was over... the bed... ah yes the bed... The bed was ever so sweet to me last night... - (poetry moment)
I could feel her beckoning me as I proceeded down the highway... Line after line on the wicked asphalt... Toils and tares of delaying stoplights... But wait... there is hope... Alas, I arrived... sleep was then engaged...

...ofcoarse after I checked my email and had a late night snack...

Have a great Friday...

Peave and Love...

-J

Fun Week so far...

Diana and I had Shannon and Kim over for dinner on Monday... Such a treat for us... It was the first time they had ever been to our place (and we've been friends for how long?) - anyways - Thanks for talking life with us... We needed it...


Tuesday we had dinner with Josh and Grace... So good to hear how God is moving in the lives of people and in the world... It's so cool to inspire and be inspired be simply speaking of what God is doing... - Thanks for dreaming with us...

I also had a meeting at Cyclo' with our design team after dinner on Tuesday... I can't believe I get to work with such talented people...
This is a funny picture from that meeting...



I got to talk with Corrie on the phone today... thanks for the words... Also, I have made communication with Ashdown twice in 2 days... Love ya dog...

Tonight we had dinner with Jon and Christy... We went out to eat at Red Room downtown... Tapas restaurant off of Glenwood... Amazing food... I seriously almost felt guilty... - Thanks for taking a step of faith with us... it's more encouraging than you know...

I praise God for love, laughter, and life... I am thankful for being able to have friends and to be able to dream... may we keep our passion...

much love,

-J

Busy Last Week...

Dear Blog,

I miss you...

-Jason

ps
not as much as Jeff misses his...

A Beautiful 3 years...

It's July 5th at 2pm... Exactly 3 Years ago this hour and this day I was standing on the altar at First Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, NC. Since that day my life and our journey together could not be summed up with words. Possibly a painting that I have never seen but would know if I saw it could do it justice... maybe a song but not only the lyrics... it would take more than that... or perhaps just a feeling that could not really be explained... the closest I can come up with would be... Beautiful... Simply beautiful...

Together we have had to make tough decisions, we've enjoyed blessings, we've made sacrifices... we've loved until it hurt... had friends that we love dearly move away, made new friends close by and far away... we've lost loved ones, watched our friends bring other life into the world... and trusted God in situations that we had no idea what was going on.

My eyes fill up with tears even now as I think of some of the moments we've spent together. Sharing moments with friends and family, and sharing moments alone together we would never speak of to anyone else...

What a journey it has been. I can do nothing other than give thanks to God for bringing us together and allowing us to love together... I am sure we have so much to learn... I find that out more everyday... we are constantly learning what real love really is... love that's patient... love that is kind regardless of the situation or emotion... I can honestly say I couldn't dream of another I would rather learn with...

Thanks to all who have been apart of the journey so far... We love you much...

Most of all, thanks to my beautiful wife... my princess... my love... its more beautiful than I ever thought possible...

-J

Camp Tukaway...

Back from camp tukaway in Virgina (outside of Blacksburg)... Such a great time... I had the opportunity to go up and lead worship for their Sr. High week of camp.

I took my dad with me to hang at the camp and we had a blast... On Thursday we went over to the Dixie Cavrens... crazy formations inside of caves... really dark when they turn the lights out... Overall I had some great times with my pops...

Well... I had a great time hanging with the kids, spending time with my dad, and just being out in nature a bit...

here are some shots from the weekend...


Here is Steve sharing with the kids at one of the sessions by campfire... Hanging with Steve was definately cool... great guy... fantastic teacher...


Some of the kids after the last session... The campers were awesome this year... so much fun...


Here some cool shots of the caverns... sorry about the images looking bad... not the best lighting in caves...






Hope you have a great weekend...

Love and Peace,

-J

No place like home...

So good to be home...

Well if you followed my blog while i was on the way down to Florida, you know the travels were a little crazy... and they lost our bags... Well, the way back was twice as interesting... Yesterday we sat on our plane from 9:20pm until close to 1am waiting to takeoff... thats right... over 3 hrs. on a full plane... before takeoff... YES!!! and then... they lost our bags again on the way back... YES!!!

We got home at around 2:30 am and I had to get up at 6:30am to head to the church building... I managed to keep myself busy there all day until our Hungry Worship Gathering... Then some fantastic dinner afterwards at Gypsy's with some great friends...

But now... oh yes now, I am at home... home sweet home... this has been a well traveled spring and start to summer... next week we'll be leading worship at a camp in Virginia but then things slow down for a while... I am looking forward to it... it has been a season of busyness... I am looking forward to a little rythym...

I also had the priviledge to teach (not sure this is the best word) at Hungry tonight... I really enjoyed it... It's really an honor to be able to share with people you love what God is doing in your life...

God, thankyou for this community I get to live life with... thank you for all that you're calling us towards... may we have the passion to live our lives as we were created...

Hope you guys have a great week...

Much Love,

-J

I WILL SEE THIS MOVIE MORE THAN ONCE!!!

As long as you are not easily offended, you should watch this trailer (I say this b/c it is typical Will Ferrell - some people don't like him...) - Maybe it is a short coming of mine - but I can't sit still b/c I laugh so hard... (too much info... maybe... for that, I apologize)

I believe it could make you laugh very hard... Will Ferrell is very funny... Would love to know if this at least makes you smile... Feel free to leave other things that are worth laughing about (videos, etc.)...

-J

PS
Florida is hot today...

PSS
I can't control my heart rate... I've got a wild cougar on me...

In Florida...

Diana and I are down in Sunny Florida. We got in last night (this morning) about 3am... Seriously, I love my wife so much... There are not to many people that can go through 2 delayed flights... lost luggage... rental car mishap... one hr. long drive at 2am... and two 24 hr. McDonalds that were closed (how is this possible) when we hadn't eaten dinner... and still be laughing... We honestly had so much fun... What a night!

We'll be down here until Saturday. I have the priveledge of marrying one of my friends from Highschool tomorrow night and a bunch of us are gonna play golf in the morning (should be fun as I've played golf once in the last 2.5 years)... I let you know my score... Really, I am just looking forward to seeing a few old friends...

Hope everyone is having a good end of the week...

Love and Peace,

-J

When I grow up...

I want to be just like Cam Ward (now is where you can make fun of the fact that I am obviously already older than he is - or a joke from Shannon about how I have less hair...)

On a more serious note... Wow... they really pulled it off... We won a Stanley Cup in Raleigh, NC... Insane... Such a good game last night.

These guys played their hearts out. They look like a team, play like a team, and talk like a team... everyone of their players seems like a class act... Brind'Amour is a flat out leader (maybe a presidential campaign coming up - him or Jack Bauer - as Chuck Norris is getting some years on him...) As good as Cam Ward is you get this feeling he would even be bummed if he saw his name mentioned here before the team was... such a team player...

I have said it before... there is just something about people really wanting something and passionately fighting for it that is compelling... you can't help but in a way want to jump on board... There is probably something to learn in there somewhere... what a story...

Well, I have truly enjoyed the playoffs and especially the finals. Thanks to all who have been hangin' at my place to watch the games together. It wouldn't have been the same without celebrating together.

Now if I can just hold off until football season...

Blessings,

-J

(all photos courtesy of cbssportsline.com - I stole them... but I am giving them credit)