Life

Love, Lead and Play

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

IMG_9942 

Being a Dad is hard. You have to learn when to discipline, when to encourage, when to love, when to play, when not to embarrass, when to embarrass and do all of those at the exact same time in different ways, in different places for your different children! As Father’s we are helping shape our children (either good or bad) whether we realize it or not. Much responsibility is placed on the Dads in our culture and rightly so. When people excel they thank their Dad. When things go wrong they blame their dad (Same can go for Mom’s too but since its Father’s day you get a break).

 

These statistics show just how important Fathers are in our society. (Now I understand that there are single moms that have no choice because of a father leaving and are doing an amazing job raising children without a dad!!)

  •  78% of the nation’s jail and prison inmates grew up in a fatherless household.
  • 80% of young gang members are out of fatherless homes.
  • 64% of girls are more likely to have premarital sex when there is no father figure.
  • 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes.
  • 80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes.
  • 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes.

That is sad….

Now there are always exceptions to those stats of people who got out of theses situations or decided they wouldn’t allow family to dictate their future but for the majority having a Dad matters. I’m not talking about a Dad that was man enough to help create you, I’m talking about a Dad that is man enough to be a Father and that is there for you.

If you’re a Father, or  if you ever want to be a father, take responsibility now. Learn to communicate with your children and wife and learn to say I’m sorry. Being a Dad and a Man are 2 different things. Your children (and even wife) need to hear you say you’re sorry for things. Asking my children for forgiveness for blowing up or for saying something hurtful is very humbling. It also shows them I care for them, love them and I’m leading the way in being willing to apologize.

I have 2 children. Jonah is 12 and Jada is 9 and they are so different. I can see my strengths and my weaknesses in them. Everything I do or say can influence them now and for the future. Whether we like it or not, we as parents, are raising mini me’s everyday!!

What to do now….

Love, Love and Love some more. Men, the way you love and treat your wife will be an example to your son. He is learning how to treat a woman from you. Your daughters will look for a husband that loves and cares for her as we do.   It’s ok to have feelings and to show them to our kids.

Lead strong. It’s not too late to start no matter what age your kids are. Lead them to Jesus, lead them to church, lead them with everything you are and even with the things you are not.

Play, wrestle, do nails, Xbox, dolls, sports and everything else your kids like to do; let them win some too. Sometimes Dad’s are tired and we just don’t want too, but for me those are the times where I end up having the most fun.

Just be encouraged on this Father’s Day to be the man, the father and the dad that God created you to be.

Go Dad Go,

 

J

 

If you need any kind of photos you need to get Spanglish Studios!! Follow the link to the website!

Photo by Spanglish Studios

 

 

 

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

Be Real

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

If  you claim to be a follower of Jesus, or if you don’t… Be Real. Your not better than anyone no matter your social status or your check book. Be a Man/Woman of your word. Be honest. Treat people the way you want to be treated.

Have no other debt but to love….

 

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

Why I love her/She must be crazy/I was a kid

Posted on by Jason Nicholas


I absolutely adore my wife.

Today is 13 years that we have been married. Honestly its crazy to think that. Yes its cliché to even say it but oh so true… why she married me is still a mystery.

I was a punk, I had white hair from bleaching it so much. An eyebrow ring, 5 or 6 earrings and really was not her type. Forget that, I know I wasn’t her type. I was a kid and she was a woman.

How or why or what (besides God) that helped her make the decision to marry me is still crazy.

I know she didn’t know what she was getting into and neither did I. Thankfully she didn’t or she might have said no!

I worked construction, was in a band and helping out at a youth group. She was a college graduate and had good job. Yea…We didn’t really go together. I still can remember what she was wearing on our first date! I know people go crazy talking about love at first sight but this girl had my heart after our first date.

Did she know that marrying me would mean living in Charlotte or in a fishing village in Thailand, or now moving to Metro NYC?

I would say  NO. Actually… I know so because she told me. 🙂

I love that she thinks I’m cheesy, I love that she calls me Jas, I love her smile, I love her laugh, I love her Hazel eyes, I love the way she loves me, I love that she love Jesus, I love that she has stuck with me through the good and the bad, I love that she supports me, I love that she believes in me, I love she is willing to go wherever we feel God is sending us, I love the way she loves our children, I love the fact this blog will embarrass her, I love how creative she is, I love her style, I love she knows me better than I do, I love when she’s stubborn, I love that she is more gorgeous today than when I met her(seriously), I love that she is adventurous, I love she can be a city girl and still love the outdoors, I love that we trust each other, I love to make her laugh, I love to hear her laugh, I love that she loves teeth, I love she is always singing or humming, I love she lets me dream big, I love love to love her.

I know for a fact that I didn’t love her this much when we got married. She had my whole heart then and apparently my heart has gotten bigger because she has even more of it now. I am truly grateful that she chose to spend the rest of her life with me.

I love you Brandi Nicholas. I love you with every part of me.

You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.

DatingWedding2013

The Family

These Pictures prove that she has only gotten more beautiful!!

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

Grandad

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

When I was younger my Grandad took me all over to different army bases. He was an Army Captain in WW2 so he had lots of stories and back then he had clearance to do some crazy things. I got to drive tanks, shoot some crazy guns and go and hang out in some “off limit” areas. As a kid I though that it was the greatest thing that could ever happen. My Grandad and I were close and I spent a lot of time with him.

Last night I watched a movie about a war veteran that was telling his young grandson all about it. He was talking about different things that happened, friends he lost, battles he won. It totally made me think of HIm. Made me think about how much I miss. Grandad passed away a little over 2 years ago. 

He is a man that changed my life. He taught me how to be a man, how to treat my wife and kids. Most importantly he set a Godly example for me. One that never swayed. He is someone that I hope to be like.

Grandad didn’t always have lots to say, but when he spoke…People listened. He had wisdom that I hope one day I can have. 

 

We’re Not Alone

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

Sometimes encouragement can come from places you never expect. Today it came for me from a song from Phillip Philips. Yes he was the guy that won American Idol last year but I have to say I like this guys music.

Traveling back and forth from “home” can be tough. Today was one of those days. Now I don’t get discouraged easily but I really just missed my family and felt anxious at the moment. I turned on my radio and his song “Home” came on. Here is the chorus….

Settle down, it’ll all be clear
Don’t pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m gonna make this place your home

For me this was good! It was I needed to hear at that very moment. I thanked God right then for the encouragement knowing that God has sent us, He is in control, and I am not alone!

God can speak to you through all sorts of ways. Are we listening? Are we paying attention? Do you realize that you are not alone?

Make it a point this week to be more attentive to hearing from God. We don’t have to be the ones doing all the talking!

J

 

Time To See The Beauty

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

Last week my family and I were in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for a night.

Pigeon Forge is a place most people have visited for one reason or another. To me, it’s kind of like Myrtle Beach without the beach. It has stores, shops,outlet malls and everything in between.

That morning I decided to go for a run through the town. When I was running I noticed how easily distracted I was by all the things around:lights, flashing signs, cars, and people everywhere.  If you have a short attention span it could drive you crazy. Running through the town I seemed to get lost in everything around me that was wanting my attention.

Pigeon Forge is in the Smoky Mountains and the mountains are truly beautiful, especially this time of year. If you looked beyond the city you could see the mountains. The problem with seeing the beauty is all the junk that was distracting me. 

I like to talk to God when I run and I felt him speaking to me that morning.

I knew God was telling me that it’s time to look beyond what is around me. Its time to stop being distracted by the pointless things that are wanting my attention but aren’t of Him and look beyond to what was greater.

I knew He was saying “It’s time to see the beauty”.

  • How many of us let things drag us down or take us away from the beauty?
  • How many times have I (I’m sure I’m not the only one) chosen Facebook or Twitter over quiet time with God?
  • How often do we easily loose our focus because of a good thing not a God thing?

Don’t allow little things that can wait to take you away from the beauty.

(No I’m not talking about your children or spouse)

Be strong and look past the distractions.

Look beyond and see the beauty.

Even if you don’t think you can see it… Its there!

J

Put To Shame

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

Last night my kids embarrassed me. Actually they put me to shame. I guess really they put most of you to shame.

We took our kids to a Braves game for Jonah’s Birthday and after the game we were heading to our van and we came across a homeless gentleman.

Now I don’t have a problem giving money to someone on the street so I reached into my pocket and gave him what change I had.

Jonah (who’s 10) asked me for his money and was going through it.

He passed his ones, then his ten and went straight to the twenty-dollar bill. Thats right, he gave the dude TWENTY DOLLARS!! Talk about putting me to shame.

At that same moment I became overwhelmed with how awesome my son is and at the same moment I realized how lame I am.

But It continues…

I took a wrong turn heading out and went into downtown ATL. People were sleeping everywhere. Really, if you haven’t  been out of your small town you have no idea what im talking about.

Next up to the plate….JADA

She looked and looked and asked questions and then just kept saying she couldn’t stop thinking about them.

Here heart was moved with compassion and she just couldn’t understand. She was really worried about them. Brandi’s parents were with us so Pam prayed with Jada and talked to her about it some.

How many of us see those situations and walk by or drive by and judge them or even question what they are going to do with the money we give them?

Jesus said “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Luke 18:17

THE POINT

Forget all your adult mumbo jumbo junk and have a child like heart.

We have complicated almost everything. Really…We have!

Jesus knew that…thats why he told us to have a childlike heart!!

FINALLY  –   Stop analyzing everything and just love.

J