Brewster

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

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

Here we GO!!!

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

I wanted to let everyone know whats going on with the Nicholas Family!!

Well here it is…

At the end of May we will be moving to NY!

I have recently taken a job at First Baptist Church Brewster in Brewster, NY. I have actually been flying back and forth since January but we will be moving up as a family at the end of May. I was hired as the Worship Arts Pastor but have recently been made the Associate Pastor. I am still over the Worship Arts Department but I also oversee Education (small groups, youth, kids ministry)!

The Village of Brewster / The Town of Southeast

The Village of Brewster is 58 miles outside of Times Square in the town of Southeast. It is in the New York City Metro area. The Pastor of First Brewster is actually a southerner too! Rick Julian is his name and he is from Greenville, SC and he spent some summers in Canton, NC which is pretty close to Franklin. Small world…. I am very blessed to work with someone like Rick. He is truly a Pastor and he is unlike anyone I have ever met. His wife’s name is Rachel and they have two kids, Abby and Brooks.

We are very excited about this humongous and scary faith step but we know were headed in the right direction. NY is nothing like NC when it comes to church’s. In case you didn’t know there is not one on every corner in the North. Actually a bible believing, bible teaching church is few and far between. A lot of them are avenues for the Pastor to share their political views or discuss what is going on in the news. The opportunities to reach people here are unbelievable. This area could truly be considered a mission field… Forget that, it is a mission field. 

Did you know that there is around 800 languages spoken in NY?

And,

1 out of every 16 people in the United States lives within a 75 mile radius of Times Square!!

Dang… Thats a lot of people.

One of the things that we loved about the church was that it actually had a variety of people. It really is a church for everyone. From Homeless to the top of the Corporate ladder and everything in between you name it and First Brewster has it. It is a regional church which means some people drive up to 1.5hrs just to come to church!

We are very excited about the ministry possibilities here. They are pretty much endless and I feel God has some really amazing things in store for my family and I. We know God is going to use us to make a difference in the North East!

One thing I would ask of you is this:

PRAY FOR US!!

We would love to have you praying for us! Prayer works and we need it!

A few immediate ones are,

  • Easy Transition for the family
  • Find a house
  • Find the right school for the kids
  • Make good connections

Would you commit to pray for us once a week?

If that’s something you are interested in would you email me at jnicholasfamily@gmail.com and let me know! We will send you more updates and keep you posted with whats going on. I have some really awesome stories I look forward to sharing with you!

Excited about the adventure,

Jason, Brandi, Jonah and Jada

Here is a few video links:

Here is Pastor Rick

Hear is our Easter Egg Hunt from last week!

And Heres one we made for Easter Sunday

Brewsterchurch.com