Distractions are a part of everyone's life. Distraction defined is "a thing that keeps someone from giving full attention to something else." Now I think about distractions more than most people because I am distracted more than most. You can call it ADD, caffeine overdose, at times even laziness, but the fact remains I get distracted more than others. (As I write this post, you can bet that I have changed the artist on my music player twice, checked the news three times, and checked with sadness and frustrations at last night's Mets scores wondering why they are always the most disappointing team in baseball OR at least waged war with myself to fight the urge not to do so.)
To be honest, it took me a long time to admit to myself that I had/have a distraction problem. People would hint at it or make jokes about my being attracted to "shiny objects," but the comments were met with a laugh and not much thought (probably because I was looking at something shiny). I used to make excuses that I was just "that busy and needed to change hats often." As a result the problem took deep root, which makes it that much harder to break. The distractions were not only time-related either. The distractions in which I would get caught were those that would draw my heart away from things that truly mattered as well.
In his book The Screwtape Letters (an absolute must read-if you are a Christian or not), CS Lewis, writes from the perspective of an older, experienced demon (Screwtape) teaching his young nephew (Wormwood) how to be a successful tempter. Screwtape advises Wormwood that no elaborate plan needs to be developed to keep the "patient" (a human) from responding to God's call but that the slight distraction of his appetite or the morning headlines are enough to completely pull him away from the pursuit of God in his life. I have found this to be incredibly true in my life as you may be finding it true with yours even now.
This past Sunday potential distractions were at an all-time high. I was sent to two churches to preach. As we were in the taxi on the way to the first church, the skies looked like rain. Most people in Jamaica do not go out in the rain, especially for Sunday church, as the paths flood and shoes would become muddy and tattered. Before we even began, my mind was racing as to whether or not anyone was going to show up. The first service went well with the rain holding out until about 15 minutes left in the service. However, it then started to rain pretty hard as we headed to the second church. Again the thought was...this is going to be a wash (pun intended). To our surprise and delight, the church was open with people waiting to worship the Lord!
As we began the service, distractions abounded! The rain on the zinc roof was so loud that I was screaming just to greet everyone and commence the service. When the rain slowed and I was able to speak in a normal voice, more people shuffled in, which was distracting. As I began to preach, candy was distributed to the children in the service, which caused a small feeding frenzy. As I was nearing the conclusion and application of the sermon, a girl in the back began to "faint." It took all my energy not to want to simply stop in the middle, call it quits, and/or laugh out loud. There were many things that were trying grab my attention, but I kept reminding myself of God's call for us to be faithful, not necessarily successful by our terms.
Here is the point: I have been thinking about how so many things steal our minds from that which we are called to be focused on and faithful to. Distractions are not always bad; in fact, God might use distractions to get our attention, but the distractions we choose to busy ourselves with often pull us away from what we have been given the responsibility of doing. We may, in our self-inflicted distractions, be creating a white noise that keeps us from the intimacy God desires in our lives. We are scared of quiet time with the Lord so we distract ourselves with being busy instead of truly resting and nourishing our souls. Remember the definition of distraction: something keeping us from giving full attention to something else. "Multi-tasking" is a euphemism for distracting ourselves; multi-tasking with Jesus is always a bad idea.
Join with me in an effort to fight against the temptation to busy ourselves with good things when God desires great things for us. As CS Lewis classically put it, "We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
There are many thoughts, activities, attitudes, etc. that can be distracting to us here in Jamaica, especially as our cultures are not the same. Pray with us that we will be focused on God in our hearts and minds so that we are not wooed by the headlines or other, lesser, appetites. Grace and peace be with you.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Lightning Bolt
Jamaica's Usain Bolt ran his first 100m race of the track season today with a time of 9.86. We were able to see him run a 200m race a couple weeks ago which was a real treat. Here is the video of it for your viewing pleasure... The quality is poor, but you get the idea.
In other (sad) news our pineapple, the joy of our yard, has gone missing. The only sweetness we tasted was the joy of watching it grow.
In other (sad) news our pineapple, the joy of our yard, has gone missing. The only sweetness we tasted was the joy of watching it grow.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Are you still there?
So, this is a long overdue post. We should probably pull out all the stops (pictures, videos, updates, announcements, etc.) to win back your affection and attention. We cannot promise all of these things today, but we will do our best to satisfy your hunger for the news in Buff Bay.
It is getting hot! I mean really HOT! Not only is the mercury rising but also the pace of our schedule. Kirsten and I have picked up some more classes/Bible studies to teach, which every night for at least one of us. Although we have to guard ourselves against burning out, we are enjoying the various ministries and find joy in them.
As the Bible studies, tutoring, and other activities progress, it is a joy to pass on the message that God has been growing us as well. On a relational level, Kirsten and I have become more dependent on God and each other. We are learning what it means to carry each others' burdens together in a more practical way. The two of us are also beginning to see a larger picture develop for our time here. We do not envision spending our entire lives in Buff Bay. Our purpose and plan has always been to support Pastor Allen and help to train others to come alongside him. As we hit the 6 month mark in June, the focus and means of this vision are becoming clearer. Please pray for us as we wait on the Lord's guidance and wisdom to press forward.
One of the classes that has me really excited is a young men's Bible study. There are 6 guys that I have picked out to disciple/train. These are young men who have shown some enthusiasm or ability to lead others. As Paul instructed Timothy to entrust the Gospel to faithful men so that they may do the same, so is the idea behind this Bible study. We are praying that these guys will take away from the study a sturdy foundation on Scripture and a hunger to serve the Lord.
Kirsten has also begun tutoring students. Many have great difficulty reading on a basic level, so English/reading instruction is a needed ministry. The difficulty many have in reading and comprehension plays out in an inability to study the Scriptures fully or in a deeper way. Please pray for this new arm of the ministry that Kirsten may guide and encourage those who have shut out the joy of learning due to the frustration of not being good at it.
As the summer approaches Kirsten and I have been planning on running a summer softball league for the youth fellowship. We hope that this will give the regulars an opportunity to practice evangelism while enjoying playing the game. We are also planning on carrying out a week or two of English camp. We are hoping that this will benefit many young kids, teenagers, and even some young adults. Please pray as we prepare for these ministries. We are hoping that God may bless these things and will draw people to Himself through them. We also are hoping they will be well received and people will have a blast!
Until next time...here are some pictures of the Jamaican sensation Usain Bolt, our pineapple, and (introducing) Liquid Metal and Super Bubble at youth fellowship Superhero Night!
More pictures can be found by clicking here.
It is getting hot! I mean really HOT! Not only is the mercury rising but also the pace of our schedule. Kirsten and I have picked up some more classes/Bible studies to teach, which every night for at least one of us. Although we have to guard ourselves against burning out, we are enjoying the various ministries and find joy in them.
As the Bible studies, tutoring, and other activities progress, it is a joy to pass on the message that God has been growing us as well. On a relational level, Kirsten and I have become more dependent on God and each other. We are learning what it means to carry each others' burdens together in a more practical way. The two of us are also beginning to see a larger picture develop for our time here. We do not envision spending our entire lives in Buff Bay. Our purpose and plan has always been to support Pastor Allen and help to train others to come alongside him. As we hit the 6 month mark in June, the focus and means of this vision are becoming clearer. Please pray for us as we wait on the Lord's guidance and wisdom to press forward.
One of the classes that has me really excited is a young men's Bible study. There are 6 guys that I have picked out to disciple/train. These are young men who have shown some enthusiasm or ability to lead others. As Paul instructed Timothy to entrust the Gospel to faithful men so that they may do the same, so is the idea behind this Bible study. We are praying that these guys will take away from the study a sturdy foundation on Scripture and a hunger to serve the Lord.
Kirsten has also begun tutoring students. Many have great difficulty reading on a basic level, so English/reading instruction is a needed ministry. The difficulty many have in reading and comprehension plays out in an inability to study the Scriptures fully or in a deeper way. Please pray for this new arm of the ministry that Kirsten may guide and encourage those who have shut out the joy of learning due to the frustration of not being good at it.
As the summer approaches Kirsten and I have been planning on running a summer softball league for the youth fellowship. We hope that this will give the regulars an opportunity to practice evangelism while enjoying playing the game. We are also planning on carrying out a week or two of English camp. We are hoping that this will benefit many young kids, teenagers, and even some young adults. Please pray as we prepare for these ministries. We are hoping that God may bless these things and will draw people to Himself through them. We also are hoping they will be well received and people will have a blast!
Until next time...here are some pictures of the Jamaican sensation Usain Bolt, our pineapple, and (introducing) Liquid Metal and Super Bubble at youth fellowship Superhero Night!
More pictures can be found by clicking here.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Some photos for your viewing pleasure...
Here are some photos of the team from Atlantic Christian School along with our homegrown pineapple and a bowl of Jamaica's national dish (aki and saltfish).
Enjoy (click here)!
Enjoy (click here)!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The young and the restless...
The past week and a half was a wonderful treat for us because we were able to host students from Atlantic Christian School. For some who do not know, this is the school where Kirsten and I taught for four years. Not only were we able to see our former students, but we were blessed to see how much they have grown as young men and women, especially in their relationships with Christ.
Their schedule was full and very ambitious. However, despite the obstacles of this intense schedule, extremely hot weather, and cultural barriers, the team worked tirelessly and very well over the past week. Their ministries were geared toward youth in Buff Bay. They hosted a soccer tournament, baseball clinics, and nightly church meetings with skits, singing, and short sermons. It is our hope that the youth in Buff Bay may experience God's grace and be saved.
From our vantage point, the youth in the Jamaican church are dwindling and being lured by "lovers less wild" than Jesus himself. The next generation of the church is thinning out as the culture is seemingly losing its Christian moorings. As many see this a problem, we see this as a wonderful place to begin. There is a fresh palate to which the Good News of Jesus may be applied. We can start at the ground up. That is what this past week was about.
Throughout the week we were able to meet, engage, reach, and show the love of God to the youth of Buff Bay. Some have expressed a desire to be saved and have already begun the process of learning more about Christ by getting involved in the church's instructions class. Others asked honest and sincere questions about the faith. In all, we probably interacted with about 200 youth from the community. Please pray for these young people and the ongoing effort to reach this generation. We hope that they will come to know, love, and serve Jesus with us!
We thank the ACS team, again! Until next time...
grace and peace.
Their schedule was full and very ambitious. However, despite the obstacles of this intense schedule, extremely hot weather, and cultural barriers, the team worked tirelessly and very well over the past week. Their ministries were geared toward youth in Buff Bay. They hosted a soccer tournament, baseball clinics, and nightly church meetings with skits, singing, and short sermons. It is our hope that the youth in Buff Bay may experience God's grace and be saved.
From our vantage point, the youth in the Jamaican church are dwindling and being lured by "lovers less wild" than Jesus himself. The next generation of the church is thinning out as the culture is seemingly losing its Christian moorings. As many see this a problem, we see this as a wonderful place to begin. There is a fresh palate to which the Good News of Jesus may be applied. We can start at the ground up. That is what this past week was about.
Throughout the week we were able to meet, engage, reach, and show the love of God to the youth of Buff Bay. Some have expressed a desire to be saved and have already begun the process of learning more about Christ by getting involved in the church's instructions class. Others asked honest and sincere questions about the faith. In all, we probably interacted with about 200 youth from the community. Please pray for these young people and the ongoing effort to reach this generation. We hope that they will come to know, love, and serve Jesus with us!
We thank the ACS team, again! Until next time...
grace and peace.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
What happened to March?
He is Risen, indeed! Happy (belated) Easter!
Our apologies for such a long delay in posting. We have been very busy with short term teams, a visit from dear friends, and of course the busyness of church during the Easter season. In all of these things we have been greatly blessed.
The teams that were here worked very hard doing vacation Bible schools, school devotions, and nightly meetings at two of the circuit churches. Two weeks ago, the meetings at the Tranquility church went really well. The last meeting was made sweeter when six people desired to surrender their lives to Christ. The meetings were a great springboard for us to begin an instructions class for people in that community. Essentially the instructions class is a fundamentals of the faith/assurance of salvation course. I have team taught this class with Pastor Allen in the Buff Bay church since our arrival, but now we have added the Tranquility church and another class in the Orange Bay church! This course is part evangelical (in that not all attendees are saved) and part discipleship. We are excited to see what will happen with these courses as we move forward. Please be in prayer for the students and classes.
After the team left we were pleased to have good friends come visit over their spring break. It was great for us to be with them, and together we enjoyed being tourists. I drove for the first time in Jamaica, which was a lot of fun. If you want a mental exercise: drive in the left lane and then make a right turn at an intersection without worrying if you are going to have a head on collision. Anyway, having Kate and Karen here was refreshing and encouraging to our hearts and minds.
On Good Friday, the youth fellowship hosted a "Stations of the Cross" activity. Instead of using traditional icons we used actual items (photos to come) such as a crown of thorns, purple robe, etc. to walk people through the Passion Week. There was a great mix of adults and young people who came to the event. We were very excited to see quite a few young people who do not come to youth fellowship. There was one guy I got to talk to after who did not want the event to end because he was so interested and moved by Jesus' passion. We are praying for those who walked through the event that the Holy Spirit may open their eyes to see and submit to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Please pray for those who heard the gospel message not just from the "Stations" event but also the Good Friday and Easter services.
Lastly, we are about to leave to go to the airport once again today to pick up our former students from Atlantic Christian School! We are very excited to see them and are looking forward to working alongside them during the week. Please pray for their ministry over the week. There will be nightly evangelical meetings that will be youth focused, a 6 v. 6 soccer tournament, and Bible school. The schedule is packed so pray for stamina for the team (and us) as well as empowerment from the Holy Spirit to share sincerely and lovingly the Good News of Jesus.
Grace and peace,
Jon (and Kirsten)
Our apologies for such a long delay in posting. We have been very busy with short term teams, a visit from dear friends, and of course the busyness of church during the Easter season. In all of these things we have been greatly blessed.
The teams that were here worked very hard doing vacation Bible schools, school devotions, and nightly meetings at two of the circuit churches. Two weeks ago, the meetings at the Tranquility church went really well. The last meeting was made sweeter when six people desired to surrender their lives to Christ. The meetings were a great springboard for us to begin an instructions class for people in that community. Essentially the instructions class is a fundamentals of the faith/assurance of salvation course. I have team taught this class with Pastor Allen in the Buff Bay church since our arrival, but now we have added the Tranquility church and another class in the Orange Bay church! This course is part evangelical (in that not all attendees are saved) and part discipleship. We are excited to see what will happen with these courses as we move forward. Please be in prayer for the students and classes.
After the team left we were pleased to have good friends come visit over their spring break. It was great for us to be with them, and together we enjoyed being tourists. I drove for the first time in Jamaica, which was a lot of fun. If you want a mental exercise: drive in the left lane and then make a right turn at an intersection without worrying if you are going to have a head on collision. Anyway, having Kate and Karen here was refreshing and encouraging to our hearts and minds.
On Good Friday, the youth fellowship hosted a "Stations of the Cross" activity. Instead of using traditional icons we used actual items (photos to come) such as a crown of thorns, purple robe, etc. to walk people through the Passion Week. There was a great mix of adults and young people who came to the event. We were very excited to see quite a few young people who do not come to youth fellowship. There was one guy I got to talk to after who did not want the event to end because he was so interested and moved by Jesus' passion. We are praying for those who walked through the event that the Holy Spirit may open their eyes to see and submit to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Please pray for those who heard the gospel message not just from the "Stations" event but also the Good Friday and Easter services.
Lastly, we are about to leave to go to the airport once again today to pick up our former students from Atlantic Christian School! We are very excited to see them and are looking forward to working alongside them during the week. Please pray for their ministry over the week. There will be nightly evangelical meetings that will be youth focused, a 6 v. 6 soccer tournament, and Bible school. The schedule is packed so pray for stamina for the team (and us) as well as empowerment from the Holy Spirit to share sincerely and lovingly the Good News of Jesus.
Grace and peace,
Jon (and Kirsten)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Our house in the middle of the...
Well it is clear that we are not planning on beginning a career in film-making, but we do hope you enjoy the tour! Grace and peace.
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