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