Happy Birthday to Me!!!

My wife got me a birthday present... Even though it's not til Saturday... We have been talking about it for a while. It is the most beautiful instrument I have ever played... I am not kidding... We kinda sold some of my other music gear that I do not use much as well as my other acoustic guitar to get ready for it. It was hard to part with that one as it has been with me all over the world but it was too nice to get played as little as it would have. I believe she went to a good home though... he seems as though he would take great care of her...

It's tough to explain but I feel like this new guitar has been mine for a long time... I do feel a strange bond to it already... and I do not feel as though my old guitar is upset about it... almost like she was happy for me... (you could be thinking this is wierd that I am assuming these guitars have feelings... to you I have no comment... you may be right)

We picked it up today from Harry's... great people here... if you like music, guitars, basses, amps, and accessories... then shop here...

I do believe owning something this nice comes with an expectation of using it well and wisely... Kinda the "to whom much is given, much is required" deal... I take that very seriously and pray God would give me a song to sing worth singing... songs that can both lead our community/God's Church in *worship and create things, thoughts, and emotions that only music can... (I also hope I have a lot of fun playing great music with it... filled with times of many dances)

*(I do not believe you have to have an acoustic guitar, a band, or any music at all for that matter for those in God's church to worship... on the other hand that is part of what we do and part my calling in life - sorry for the disclaimer, but it needed to be said)

sorry for the interuption... back to the post
I am thrilled to have this guitar... I am thrilled to have a wife who would want me to have something like this... I am even more thrilled to have a wife, family, and friends to think through with me if this was a good investment of our resources...

Here is a pic of the new addition to the family... (He/She doesn't have a name yet... any suggestions???)



Cheers!!!

-J

and on a side note... Diana and I have a new house...

find the pics here...

beautiful house... downtown... not exactly the safest neighborhood downtown.. ok, could be considered the "worst" in some regards... but only if you count things like "drug dealing" and "crime" as "bad"... Diana and I, on the other hand, are considering it a blessing to live life with people that are not exactly like us... that we would have the opportunity of not just seeing life as clean all the time... we are hoping it would change us... and that in some way we could offer change...

We hope in some ways this can speak to the idea of the gospel being counter-cultural... that we don't "need" to live lives isolating ourselves from those who are different... we are also convinced, for us, it is easier to pretend the world is better than it is by avoiding "broken places"... as a church we talk about the importance keeping ourselves around need and around the broken in an attempt to keep us sensitive to the world around us... we are certain, that without a doubt, this will keep need in front of our eyes like never before...

If I were honest, I selfishly... for the Kingdom's sake (if that makes sense) pray this would allow for others to want to do the same... I believe (in the core of who I am) it is possible for love to win in environments where people only know drugs, or hate, or crime, or prostitution... I believe the gospel calls us to live life free of fear and full of love for everyone on this earth and in every neighborhood...

my mom is nervous... mostly because she is the most loving mother a child could have... and she flat out loves me... she says she doesn't know if one family can make a difference... I told her that is ok b/c there are 2 families making the trip into the house...

yes there is a reason why I am saying we... yes it is more than just Diana and I... yes there is an explanation why these pics are on Jeff's blog too...

more to come...

-J

Still in Michigan.. It is still cold...

The conference so far has been amazing... The teaching/discussion this morning was on how we as God's Church are to be broken and poured out for the world... just as Christ was broken and poured out for us... This was put in context of Paul claiming we find life in our death... "strength" in our weakness... admitting we can be broken... seeking "Humanity over perfection"... even realizing if we are in fact allowing ourselves to be broken... we need to find ways for us to be put back together... so much depth to this conversation and I haven't been able to shake it all day...

Honestly I have taken notes all day and do not feel like writing much so maybe more once I get home... Jasen summed up a bit of tonights session here.

Shannon and I have had a blast... a whole lot of laughs... It's been great catching up with Jasen and Amanda... The time here so far, even though only a day, has been good for my soul... Here's a few pics from today...


Jasen and Amanda


Shannon parking entirely too close to a snow bank...


Shannon refusing to admit he was entirely too close to the snow bank...



me excited for snow and for the free books we got today...

Love you guys... Diana, I miss you babe...

-Jason

I have never been to Michigan before... it is cold...

I am up in Michigan for a conference at Mars Hill. Shannon Smith made the trip up with me and I am excited to hang out with him for a few days. Wish we hung out more back home...

Also here in Michigan is my bud Jasen and his lovely wife Amanda. They came up from Houston for the same conference. So good to see them again... It's only been since Christmas yet seems so much longer...

Last night when we landed we picked up the Ashdown's and Headed over to Mars Hill to catch their 6 o'clock gathering. Afterwards we went over to Red Robin to catch dinner, a beer, and watch a little football...

Hats of to the Colts... a surprising comeback... it just might be their year...

More updates from dates from Michigan coming soon...

The updates will probably begin with something like this... this is my 2nd day in Michigan... and it's still cold...

Much Love,

-J

Benefits...

I took these pictures this morning before I left house... This is one of the benfits of living in the house of one of your best friends... you get to see their kids looking this cute from time to time... Seriously... this is incredible... can't imagine it getting much more adorable than this...

I was gonna make a joke about how cute she was - and then mention how Abigail looked cute too... but I couldn't even do that... too adorable...

Just thought I'd share the picture...

Have a great weekend!

-J

No plans tonight?!?!?!?!

Tonight... Go to Lincoln Theatre and see these guys... They are good for Raleigh, good for the music scene, and good for the ears... They put on a great show... It will be a good time... Rock-n-Roll is good... oh, yes... it is good!!!

Cheers...

-J

For a brief moment...

Allow me to step out of my mode of "we live in a world of excess" to tell you of a new thing that is really cool...

Apple has done it again

News released yesterday... comes out in June...

remind me that I don't need one...

thanks for the support,

-Jason

ps
thanks to all who have helped solve and add to the fun of the Apple Pie Crisis on the previous post... you have led to much ammusement for many as well as seen a snapshot into my life and unfortunately my life... honestly, it's a heck of a lot of fun!!!

This was interesting...

Brandon Guy asks me this morning if I ever got my apple pie that he made for me. Rest of conversation went as follows:

Me: no, when was I supposed to?

Brandon: I gave it to Jeff to give to you... I know it's your favorite and you asked for one a while back...

Me: interesting... he never mentioned it... when was this?

Brandon: just before Christmas... maybe you were out of town so he ate it...

Me: ok, well I will look into it...

Brandon: well, ask him if it was good b/c it was a new homemade reciepe I found...

Me: well... I will ask him...


Next conversation

Me: Jeff... did Brandon guy ever give you an apple pie to give to me???

Jeff: well... yeah, but you never mentioned an apple pie..

Me: what???

Jeff: well you never told me you were expecting one.... so I thought I should take care of it...

me: it was a gift to me.. i didn't know he was making it for me...

Jeff: well, i just figured you didnt appreciate it... He said you asked for one...

me: I didnt know I even had it!!!!!! how was I supposed to be appreciative...

Jeff: He said you asked for it... you never told me that...

me: I dont tell you everything I like... why do i need to tell you if someone is getting me something... he told you it was for me!!!!

Jeff: Well... you were out of town for Christmas when we ate it... we served it at our Christmas Eve get together at our house... I didnt want it to go bad...

me: Jeff, seriously... we came home on Christmas day... that is one day after you ate it...

Jeff: well, you didnt mention to me you were getting one so I didnt know you appreciated it... and i didn't want it to go bad... It was a bit undercooked anyways... really good, but a bit undercooked...

me: unbelieveable...

Jeff: (smiling at me)

_______________________________________

Just thought I would share this with you... I am still uncertain at Mr. Ramsey's logic through this whole situation and also wondering why I was never even told I was given an apple pie...

Perhaps someone can shed some light on the subject for me...

Well... have a good weekend... and I encourage anyone given an apple pie to give to someone else... please.. please... make sure they at least are given a piece...

Happy Times...

-Jason

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