I'll be on mission in Honduras this next week (July 26-3rd), I'd appreciate your prayers (see 2 posts below for specifics). any calls or emails will be returned after July 4th. Stay Classy Columbus....

white, skinny, and so dang sexy....especially because this was taken after we'd hiked 4 miles on the beach in 90 degree heat carrying 30+ pound packs in 1 hour and ten minutes.

the last 3 weeks

it has been a little while, but since June 5th I...
1. took a trip back to MD with the graduating senior guys, a great time of hiking and camping in the mountains and on the beach as well as catching up with my family,
2. had the privelege of sharing at my first wedding ceremony for a dear friend from back in MD (another cool part was my sister being the wedding photographer, her first time as well, I'll post pics when I get them)
3. giving the message for the citywide SIP kickoff at Linworth which was a blast, a great night of worship,
4. throwing a bachelor party which physically scarred my great friend Brian who I was a groomsmen for last weekend (the wedding was still beautiful, as was he).
5. sharing a couple messages with the Heritage summer interns including one on what it means to be "a church for the poor," which I was really excited about.
6. hearing Ryder give a great message at CT
7. traveling to Pittsburgh to visit Arian and her family before she jetted off to NYC for the summer
8. found out I'm preaching on John 6:60-71 at Heritage during the 8:15 service July 10th. (wake up early and come support a brother if you can)
9. Reading through the book of Luke and loving it, very challenged....
10. falling in love with my new roommates and the sweet classic video gaming room we set up which includes Atari, Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and Sega CD. If anyone has a Super Nintendo they'd like to contribute, we'll gladly accept donations.
11. crying over the Pistons loss to the Spurs. (but the O's and Nat's are still in first place baby!!!! It is a Baltimore/Washington Renaissance)
12. Dissapointed by Coldplay's latest effort but completely rocking out to the Foo Fighters 1st disk from their new album.
13. not throwing up at Cedar Point for the first time in 3 years!
14. now I'm packing up to leave for Honduras Sunday morning June 26th through Sunday night July 3rd and trying to tie up all the loose ends with HSLT.

I'd appreciate your prayers, there will be a team of 15 of us going to build a tortilla factory, love on orphans, share the gospel, and provide for the physical needs of the people of Limon. thanks

Peace,
Jed

Ephesians 5:11-20

Don't waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

Wake up from your sleep,

Climb out of your coffins;

Christ will show you the light!

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.

soul coughing

There is more than I can handle on my plate, I'm about 2 weeks behind on emails and phone calls and somehow today I spent an hour working on a project not due for a month and a half. Welcome to my life.

God give me the focus and determination to struggle through the small tasks which present themself today that I may be free to dream again and not be consumed by thoughts of what I should have done or need to do. shine your light that I might just see the steps you want me to take today and no more. Help me to rest in the fact that this world has unending needs and I'm not Superman, but also move me to action on the things I have not been diligent in accomplishing. Help me to honor those around me by fulfilling the responsibility I have to them in a timely manner. Thanks for your grace - give me strength. love ya...

catch your breath

so tonight was a fabulous victory for the 4-0, A Squad, at "The Grove Broomball Throwdown." The A Squad consisted of ethan, suzi, ashley, nate england, laura Y., eric, and myself. We held it down with pride, Ethan coming through big in the sudden death finale versus the McCrone led squad and contributing an amazing full body stretch save, laura kicked in 4 of our 13 goals, Suzi was shutting down the wingmen on defense and shoving the boys to the ice, Ashley was attacking in her D, Nate all over the place, Eric smoothly maneuvering across the rink, and me chipping in where chipping was needed. After the Bartley/Frabot boasts on Tuesday night this was a much needed victory.

Competition definitely makes me come alive, I love the challennge of outthinking the other team, encouraging teammates on in their battle, exploiting weaknesses, and getting to work together with intensity towards a common goal. certainly a good night with a great team. I'm off to see Star Wars - Peace!

Confess

It is amazing the healing that comes from confession. It is one of those true tangible steps of trust that we can take to honor God but like honoring the Sabbath perhaps one of the hardest to understand how it will work out. (see 1 John 1) Tonight was a night where I had to confess something to a dear friend and I will see the effects of my neglect in their life, that will continue to hurt, but there is a real freedom that comes with confession and once again I'm amazed at my friends grace.

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Oh...

Has someone taken your faith?
Its real, the pain you feel
The life, the love
You die to heal
The hope that starts
The broken hearts
You trust, you must
Confess

Foo Fighters - The Best of You

the end is the beginning is the end

let it be....

back in the saddle

so it has been far too long since I've posted, strangely I've felt no draw to spew out my thoughts. It has been a whirlwind month since my last post in April. I've taken two trips home to Maryland which were both rich times with friends and family. Thanks to those of you who prayed for the memorial service, my Dad did a great job, God was definitely honored.

Lately I have been thinking about the Sabbath while reading the Sacred Way by Tony Jones. Last night our "Claddagh," group had a great discussion centered on the fact that honoring the Sabbath is a central command in the scriptures and yet we seem to toss it away. It is emphasized in the creation account, the ten commandments with 2 different and compelling reasons for honoring it given in Exodus (20:8-11) and Deuteronomy (5:12-15), and Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah all include it as a major tenet for God's blessing remaining on Israel. Listen to these words from Isaiah.

If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken

I wonder if the combination of our high speed, task centric culture combined with the idea that we have to produce in order to feel significant has caused us to simply sweep this call of God under the rug. We complain about not having enough time, but if what Jesus said is true that "the sabbath was made for humankind," should that affect our decision making and cause us to trust God and set aside a day simply for worship, prayer, family time, lovemaking, naps , and walks? (Jones) I think this is what it comes down to for me, will I trust God that he can provide the time and energy for me to complete all the tasks which surround me if I take a day centered on him, rejoicing in my release from sin and the worlds systems, enjoying his creation, and anticipating the season of peace which will come with his return?

"To act as if the world cannot get along without our work for one day in seven is a startling display of pride that denies the sufficiency of our generous maker." Dorothy Bass

the great divide

this is from an interview with Dan Haseltine, the lead singer of Jars of Clay. I thought he had an interesting thought in response to the question, "what's wrong with the Christian music industry today?"

"There’s a lot of different things that don’t seem to be working that should in the music industry. It’s a hard thing—selling the Christian message [in pop music], because pop music is telling people what they want to hear and packaging it in a way that’s familiar to them.

The Gospel is the most offensive thing anybody would want to hear. It’s telling you that apart from God you are nothing, that you need God in order to exist, in order to have life. And pop music would say, "Yeah, you’re amazing." It wants to build us up when the Gospel wants to tear us down in a way that says 'You need God. With God you are everything, without God you are nothing.' How do you marry that with pop music? It’s a contradiction in and of itself."

poisoned

so I've been bedridden the last day and a half after eating some lethal hot dogs at Ryders place.......

being sick is so frustrating, especially this week as its already been shortened by my trip home to MD for my great grandmothers funeral. This afternoon I've been slowly reentering the real world. The only plus about being sick was that I got to watch a couple episodes of "Sports Night." It is definitely one of the best sitcoms ever. It is more a dramedy and I definitely was a little choked up after one episode which is surprising becuase I'm not that much of a crier. Some of it is probably feeling beat up physically and being sad about Grandmommy's passing but the show certainly moves me. I'd encourage you to watch it, you can find it on DVD.

you can be in prayer for my dad, Bruce, as he prepares for the Memorial service this Saturday. Most of my mom's side of the family are not followers of Jesus so this is a special privelege for my dad to be able to lead the service and proclaim the truth and love of God. Afterwards, folks will be coming to our house, so there will be a lot of great chances for us to be a comfort to an entire family that carries only fear at the prospect of death.

why two are better than one

so this morning I was turning onto Spring off of Nicole and I saw a guy riding a unicycle crash into a tree.

then he glared at me.

there is nothing less intimidating than a man in really short bicycle shorts picking up his unicycle off the ground.