Church

Almost Time!

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

In one week we officially begin at Elevation Church!! We are so excited that its finally here! This past weekend we were able to go as a family and the kids loved it! There were over 18,000 at all the campuses for the weekend experience. Yes, you read that right!!! I am still blown away that God would allow us to have a part in something like Elevation. Thank you to everyone that has been willing to be in this with us. We couldn’t be here without your prayer and support!

We had to wait in line just to get in!!                            In line

Concrete Jungle,Bird Funerals and You

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

Our church parking lot which is also our “yard” has turned out to be the local hang out of 2 -25 kids at any given time. At any moment there could be a Basketball game, Lacrosse, soccer, water gun fights, Nerf wars, hide and seek, tag or all of them going on at the same time. You can image 20 or so kids with bikes at one time……its cray cray.

As a follower of Christ we talk about living out the Gospel and walking out our faith and a lot of time if were honest, it really is talk. I think these kids have really helped my family and I walk it out and live it even more.  It took some time to build relationships with them and we really started to see them grow when they would invite other neighbor kids to come and play. I think we doubled in numbers every couple of days. Now there’s a knock on the door  almost everyday from someone , kids are waiting for our car to pull up so Jonah and Jada can come play. In our house we will have boys playing Xbox or girls doing nails and makeup. We have even had a funeral for a bird that was taken out by one of the kids.

If there’s one thing I can see in all of them it’s that these kids crave attention and love. In some little way I really believe my family has loved them. They come to our house to have me fix their bikes or to help work out fights. Little kids yell across the street asking If I can come to their house and play!  I’ve seen my son and daughter be an amazing example to these kids and they don’t even realize the growth and training they have gotten from it. This is in no way a pat my family on the back because were awesome post. There are times where I wish I was there Dad so I could whip them (don’t freak out and yes I spank my kids). There are times where I have to go talk to parents. There are times where I don’t want to play or I don’t want them in my house but I have to remember it’s not about me. These kids love being around our family. I am bias but I think my family is special, they love the people who some would call un loveable. Brandi and I have tried to be and example of what a Mom and Dad should be to their kids and how a family unit actually looks like. It’s not easy and it takes time but we are doing our best to love them.

So what is this all about anyway?

Is your house the one the kids run to or run away from? Are you the person that complains about what they have done or are you giving out the full size candy bars on Halloween?

Here’s a quote from Maya Angelou that can summarize it all up.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

People want to feel loved, especially kids.

Bottom line….

If you can impact your Neighborhood, You can Impact Nations.

 

J

Jada

Bird Funeral

Bikes

Emotion

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

Music evokes emotion.

Could be good, could be bad. It can bring up memories of all sorts of things. Maybe its an old song that reminds you of your glory days, maybe its a song that reminds you of a girl or guy, heartache, love or a God moment.  I dont know about you but I love music.

My wife and I had the chance to go see Mumford & Sons (one of my favorites) in concert at the Iconic forest Hills Stadium in Queens. Dang….First there was 17,500 people and It was way over packed. Yea I saw drunk people and there were plenty of weed smokers but I also saw people worshiping. I know what your probably thinking and no they werent worshiping the devil. They were letting go and singing at the top of their lungs. They were jumping with their hands raised just all out letting go! It doesn’t matter if its Mumford or a guy on a home made drum set on the street, music evokes emotion.

Something to realize—-

Worship leaders you have the chance to set the atmosphere for an entire service. How you’ve prayed, practiced, prepared and planned will show up on Sunday. You have a short time slot in someones life each week and we as worshipers should make the best of it and never take it lightly.

What would you do differently if you knew that all you had was one chance to impact someones life on a Sunday Service? What would you add, what would you not do?

J

 

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Trick or Treat….DON’T HIDE!!

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

Tonight is Halloween. ooohhhh aaaahhhh

Guess what? You probably don’t know your neighbors but tonight they are going to come to your house. That’s right they are coming to you!

Please… Don’t turn off the lights, Dont’ hide, and don’t disappear to a Hallelujah party or a fall festival (yea I said it).

Turn your lights on, sit on your front porch or open the door every time someone knocks.

Give out candy….Good candy…Don’t be cheap or stingy.

Heck, If you have kids, go Trick or Treating. Meet your neighbors… Talk them (oh yea, I said that too)

It’s not going to be evil, you’re not going to go to hell and your kids aren’t going to worship Satan after the nights over.

You will meet new people, your kids will see you being friendly and you might have the chance to invite someone to church. Better yet you will have the chance to talk to people and show that you are normal.

Do yourself and the “church” a favor and get out there where the people are.

Here is a great little video for you to watch too!

Jesus Verse The Devil

J

Me, Strippers, Pimps, Gays, You, Drug Dealers and Jesus

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

You know when you read a book that changes you? One that really messes you up? I just read that one, Its called Jesus is____? by Judah Smith. He doesn’t give some new theological statement or discovery he just lays some things out plain and simple. One of those things is that Jesus is a friend of sinners. Now I know that may come as a complete shock to you and think im whack but its true- very true. So true that the “religious” ones in the bible had a fit that he would be seen with people like tax collectors (Mark 2:16) or a woman who had been sleeping around (John 4). I really think that if Jesus was walking the earth today churches and “church” people would be freaking out because who he was hanging with.

How many of us have friends outside of our Jesus bubble? Anyone know a drug dealer? Anyone have  friend that’s a stripper? How about a homosexual friend? When’s that last time we had a conversation with some one that wasn’t in your group? We talk about being the church and loving on people but it seems we’re better at loving on the people who are more like us. Yes it’s true and I know I’m guilty. 

Is that what its all about? I’m not talking about standing outside a gentleman’s club with a sign telling them their all going to hell, Heck to the NO!! If we as the church can’t imagine having “those” people in our service then we should just stop now and not plan on having any more services altogether.

Lets be different. Like for real…

We don’t need to talk about, heck we don’t even need to pray about it. Look outside of your comfort zone rather than surrounding yourself with the people that make you feel good.

We’re living in a hurting and dying world.

Talk is cheap.

Lets put actions behind our words.

Loving on them and being a friend to them doesn’t mean you agree or support their lifestyle. ( I know someone will take it that way)

People can tell if your being real to them and if they see Christ’s love coming through you. So don’t try to pick someone as a project… find someone to love on.

Be a friend, a friend to sinners.

Someone took the time to be a friend to you!

Now its your turn.

GO FOR IT!!

J

Ebenezer…What the heck?

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

I have been learning some new (to me) hymns lately.

Now for years I heard my Grandmother tell me I needed to sing more hymns because “the young people needed to learn them”. I will agree that there are some great ones to be learned so my Grandma had a point. Actually, I wish I would have listened a long time ago because there are some hymns that I wish I would have learned a long time ago.

A couple of weeks ago was one of those times but I came across some words in a song that I had no idea what it meant.

As a worship leader it is always great to expand your vocabulary and this was one of those times.

As I was studying what it meant I realized that this could be a teachable moment for myself and the church! I bet most people who have sung this don’t  know what it means either. Ever happened to you?

The song we sang is Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing which has the line “Here I raise mine Ebenezer” in it. When I first read the line I was like….What the heck is that? So I did a little studying!

In 1 Samuel 7:12 it says:

Then Samuel took a stone and called its name Ebenezer for he said, Till now the lord has helped us.

The Hebrew Translation of Ebenezer is “Stone of Help”

The Israelites had finally defeated the Philistines and had taken back the Ark of the Covenant.

Samuel set up a marker stone to identify and remind people of Gods faithfulness.

God  has been faithful in the past, In our present and He will be in our future.

So on that Sunday we passed out rocks. Now if you think they may throw them at you then you might want to rethink it. 🙂

We took our little stone as a reminder of His faithfulness. We all have battles. We’ve been through them, we may be going through them now and they’ll come. We need our Ebenezer. We need our reminder.  When things seem to really suck our first reaction or thought is to quit or give up. What would happen if the first thing we did is remind ourself of Gods faithfulness? Remind ourself that God had been faithful, that He has saved you, that He sent His son to die for you. I guarantee you can think of at least one thing to remind yourself of His faithfulness.

Ebenezer

Its time to raise your Ebenezer! Its time to set a reminder.

Worship leaders its time to expand your vocabulary, its time to get creative. Use rocks if you have too.

Heres the video of it. It was filmed on an iPhone!! Ebenezer Video

J
Ebenezer