Posted on May 24th, 2013
0
Hey Westpoint family.
So thankful to be back with you Sunday morning. Jen's brother graduated from Samford University last weekend. It was a special time. I watched him graduate and kept looking over at Caleb thinking about how quick that time is going to come for him. Trying to cherish our kids more and more. I encourage you to do the same. Don't just bring leftovers home from work to give to the ones that matter most to you. It isn't just a cliche. Time goes by so fast, and we look back and wonder where it went.
Sunday morning, we will conclude the FLUENCY series, remember what Jesus did with communion together, and conclude with an announcement for the church family. Please try to be there if you are in town! Always meaningful when our little local church expression gathers on Sunday as well as any other time of the week.
By the way - another chance to hang is coming up. And it is gonna be funny. I found out that Tim Hawkins, the comedian, is performing Sunday night, June 2nd, in the auditorium of First Baptist Sweetwater up by Wekiva Springs. Our kids think he is hilarious. You probably will, too. Let me know if you are gonna go. We can all try to grab some ice cream after! :) You can get tix here:
http://brushfire.e-vent.info/Events/TunafishProductions/Events.aspx?ID=28599
And a timely confession - we have been letting the start time of Sunday gathering creep further and further toward 10:20. So, we are sorry for that. We value fellowship, and that is why we give some "worship together" time for it. However, be looking for the start time to be truer to the time on the sign out front. 10:00AM. And please remember Sunday gathering isn't just for you personally. Your presence before the kickoff is important, because the fellowship time encourages both those who are a part of the church family as well as those visiting. So try to be there early if you can. I am being encouraged to do the same :)
Love y'all. Grateful to be your pastor.
-jason
< scripturing. eating. neighboring. together. >
parent SENT kids
So thankful to be back with you Sunday morning. Jen's brother graduated from Samford University last weekend. It was a special time. I watched him graduate and kept looking over at Caleb thinking about how quick that time is going to come for him. Trying to cherish our kids more and more. I encourage you to do the same. Don't just bring leftovers home from work to give to the ones that matter most to you. It isn't just a cliche. Time goes by so fast, and we look back and wonder where it went.
Sunday morning, we will conclude the FLUENCY series, remember what Jesus did with communion together, and conclude with an announcement for the church family. Please try to be there if you are in town! Always meaningful when our little local church expression gathers on Sunday as well as any other time of the week.
By the way - another chance to hang is coming up. And it is gonna be funny. I found out that Tim Hawkins, the comedian, is performing Sunday night, June 2nd, in the auditorium of First Baptist Sweetwater up by Wekiva Springs. Our kids think he is hilarious. You probably will, too. Let me know if you are gonna go. We can all try to grab some ice cream after! :) You can get tix here:
http://brushfire.e-vent.info/Events/TunafishProductions/Events.aspx?ID=28599
And a timely confession - we have been letting the start time of Sunday gathering creep further and further toward 10:20. So, we are sorry for that. We value fellowship, and that is why we give some "worship together" time for it. However, be looking for the start time to be truer to the time on the sign out front. 10:00AM. And please remember Sunday gathering isn't just for you personally. Your presence before the kickoff is important, because the fellowship time encourages both those who are a part of the church family as well as those visiting. So try to be there early if you can. I am being encouraged to do the same :)
Love y'all. Grateful to be your pastor.
-jason
< scripturing. eating. neighboring. together. >
parent SENT kids
Posted on May 4th, 2013
Hey Westpoint family!
Here's a quick intro into our second SCRIPTURING series of the year kicking off this Sunday. The title is "FLUENCY _ learning and living the language of 'on earth as it is in heaven.'" So excited about our equipping focus in May.
____________
I know French.
I took French from 3rd grade through 11th grade. Won two consecutive Louisiana state championships in foreign language academic competition. Tested out of 15 hours of college French. Took a translation class in college on which we translated letters for French dignitaries doing business in America. I know French.
But I am not FLUENT in French. If you ever get to go to Montreal with me, you will watch me often understand what is being said, but very rarely if ever be able to respond "en Francais." I cannot think in French. I cannot express emotion in French. I cannot share from the depths of my heart in French. Therefore, I am not fluent in French.
What would it take for me to be fluent in French?
I have taken courses. Passed tests. Won competitions. Even translated it in written form. I know French. But I am not a French thinker, a French speaker, a French liver.
To be fluent, I would need immersion. By immersion, I don't mean more time studying French, more time reading French, or more time in a French classroom. By immersion, I mean actual time in a culture with a people whose hearts and minds and lives move to the rhythm of the French language. Then, and only then, would I be able to experience fluency in French.
Isn't this true of the language of the Kingdom of God? Isn't this true of the living Word, the message communicated through the Scriptures and then through Messiah and now through His followers who are His disciples making disciples? Fluency in "on earth as it is in heaven" requires immersion in "on earth as it is in heaven."
Immersion in the Scriptures is required for Scripturing, but Scripturing is required for immersion.
In other words, learning not just reading. Living not just studying. Engagement with people not just inculcation of curriculum. In order for the language of the Gospel-giver to become a rhythm of our lives and a flow of our conversation, the flow of our conversations and the rhythms of our lives have to become immersion zones of Gospel-giving.
Jesus, we pray for fluency. May we learn AND live Your language of "on earth as it is in heaven."
____________________
Grateful to be scripturing together. Love y'all.
-jason
[ scripturing. eating. neighboring. together. ]
PS _ don't forget to RSVP for the women's retreat! :-) Comment below and we'll pass it along!
Here's a quick intro into our second SCRIPTURING series of the year kicking off this Sunday. The title is "FLUENCY _ learning and living the language of 'on earth as it is in heaven.'" So excited about our equipping focus in May.
____________
I know French.
I took French from 3rd grade through 11th grade. Won two consecutive Louisiana state championships in foreign language academic competition. Tested out of 15 hours of college French. Took a translation class in college on which we translated letters for French dignitaries doing business in America. I know French.
But I am not FLUENT in French. If you ever get to go to Montreal with me, you will watch me often understand what is being said, but very rarely if ever be able to respond "en Francais." I cannot think in French. I cannot express emotion in French. I cannot share from the depths of my heart in French. Therefore, I am not fluent in French.
What would it take for me to be fluent in French?
I have taken courses. Passed tests. Won competitions. Even translated it in written form. I know French. But I am not a French thinker, a French speaker, a French liver.
To be fluent, I would need immersion. By immersion, I don't mean more time studying French, more time reading French, or more time in a French classroom. By immersion, I mean actual time in a culture with a people whose hearts and minds and lives move to the rhythm of the French language. Then, and only then, would I be able to experience fluency in French.
Isn't this true of the language of the Kingdom of God? Isn't this true of the living Word, the message communicated through the Scriptures and then through Messiah and now through His followers who are His disciples making disciples? Fluency in "on earth as it is in heaven" requires immersion in "on earth as it is in heaven."
Immersion in the Scriptures is required for Scripturing, but Scripturing is required for immersion.
In other words, learning not just reading. Living not just studying. Engagement with people not just inculcation of curriculum. In order for the language of the Gospel-giver to become a rhythm of our lives and a flow of our conversation, the flow of our conversations and the rhythms of our lives have to become immersion zones of Gospel-giving.
Jesus, we pray for fluency. May we learn AND live Your language of "on earth as it is in heaven."
____________________
Grateful to be scripturing together. Love y'all.
-jason
[ scripturing. eating. neighboring. together. ]
PS _ don't forget to RSVP for the women's retreat! :-) Comment below and we'll pass it along!
Posted on April 21st, 2013
Hey Westpoint family.
Looking forward to a great weekend / day of togetherness this weekend!!! Some of you like our family can only make it out on Saturday. Others will be camping all weekend. It is gonna be special!!! Westpoint will be multi-site for the first and only time ever this Sunday as those camping will be together Sunday morning as well as those who gather at the school! Josh and Selby and others will lead the campers. Tyler and I will be with you at the school Sunday morning as we continue our TOGETHER series this month focusing on "the after effect on our together lives of a unifying love" from Ephesians 2:11-22. Can't wait!!!
In this "note from Jason," there are two resources and one story, all hopefully to encourage and equip us as we live SENT lives.
But first, please be praying for:
:: Dwight Bernier and his family and the local church expression they are cultivating for in downtown MONTREAL. Healthy marriages. Unity of leaders. Connection in family-like relationships. Their presence on the McGill University campus. And their service opportunities in the city. May many people believe in the One who was sent as they are living sent to downtown Montreal!!!
:: ExponentialConference.org in town this next week on the campus of First Baptist Church Orlando. Over 5000 followers of Jesus from all over the world eager to be sharpened as disciple-makers and sent back into their contexts. Jason and the team work a lot behind the scenes and lead the local volunteers. Anyone want to come out? Please reply and let us know! ALSO - there is still a need for HOUSING for a few volunteers coming into town. If you have an extra bedroom or two you would be willing to open up for them from Monday through Thursday, please reply and let us know that, too. Thanks!
RESOURCE _ check out http://MissionalParenting.com (aka http://SENTkids.com). We just launched this site to encourage and equip parents to grow kids with grace and send kids with gospel. Reply back with any suggestions.
RESOURCE _ or really more hopefully just some encouragement. I posted on my blog a poem and a hymn both of which I wrote recently that I just wanted to share. Praying they encourage folks to keep depending on Jesus daily. You can check them out at http://www.JasonCDukes.com.
STORIES of SENT LIVES (anonymous) _ My husband and I have so enjoyed living sent on our street to our neighbors. On any given afternoon, we have an additional four to five neighborhood kids in our home and yard! We hope they feel welcome, accepted, and loved. Many times, one or two of them will join us for lunch or supper, which includes prayer and family time. Several families on our street are believers and active in their local church families and in our community. Some are unchurched and are not believers, including our immediate neighbors. Thru loving on the kids, God is opening the door to love on the entire family. Through these neighboring relationships, conversations about God and faith have been initiated.
Awesome! So cool to hear of both the simplicity and the impact of living SENT lives. Let's keep learning and living the ways of Jesus together, going near as He so graciously came near to us!
Love y'all. Grateful to be your pastor.
-jason
< scripturing. eating. neighboring. together. >
Looking forward to a great weekend / day of togetherness this weekend!!! Some of you like our family can only make it out on Saturday. Others will be camping all weekend. It is gonna be special!!! Westpoint will be multi-site for the first and only time ever this Sunday as those camping will be together Sunday morning as well as those who gather at the school! Josh and Selby and others will lead the campers. Tyler and I will be with you at the school Sunday morning as we continue our TOGETHER series this month focusing on "the after effect on our together lives of a unifying love" from Ephesians 2:11-22. Can't wait!!!
In this "note from Jason," there are two resources and one story, all hopefully to encourage and equip us as we live SENT lives.
But first, please be praying for:
:: Dwight Bernier and his family and the local church expression they are cultivating for in downtown MONTREAL. Healthy marriages. Unity of leaders. Connection in family-like relationships. Their presence on the McGill University campus. And their service opportunities in the city. May many people believe in the One who was sent as they are living sent to downtown Montreal!!!
:: ExponentialConference.org in town this next week on the campus of First Baptist Church Orlando. Over 5000 followers of Jesus from all over the world eager to be sharpened as disciple-makers and sent back into their contexts. Jason and the team work a lot behind the scenes and lead the local volunteers. Anyone want to come out? Please reply and let us know! ALSO - there is still a need for HOUSING for a few volunteers coming into town. If you have an extra bedroom or two you would be willing to open up for them from Monday through Thursday, please reply and let us know that, too. Thanks!
RESOURCE _ check out http://MissionalParenting.com (aka http://SENTkids.com). We just launched this site to encourage and equip parents to grow kids with grace and send kids with gospel. Reply back with any suggestions.
RESOURCE _ or really more hopefully just some encouragement. I posted on my blog a poem and a hymn both of which I wrote recently that I just wanted to share. Praying they encourage folks to keep depending on Jesus daily. You can check them out at http://www.JasonCDukes.com.
STORIES of SENT LIVES (anonymous) _ My husband and I have so enjoyed living sent on our street to our neighbors. On any given afternoon, we have an additional four to five neighborhood kids in our home and yard! We hope they feel welcome, accepted, and loved. Many times, one or two of them will join us for lunch or supper, which includes prayer and family time. Several families on our street are believers and active in their local church families and in our community. Some are unchurched and are not believers, including our immediate neighbors. Thru loving on the kids, God is opening the door to love on the entire family. Through these neighboring relationships, conversations about God and faith have been initiated.
Awesome! So cool to hear of both the simplicity and the impact of living SENT lives. Let's keep learning and living the ways of Jesus together, going near as He so graciously came near to us!
Love y'all. Grateful to be your pastor.
-jason
< scripturing. eating. neighboring. together. >
Posted on April 12th, 2013
Hey Westpoint family.
Can I give you three reasons why walking in SENT life with a few others is so crucial to both our own salvation as well as others experiencing Christ's saving grace?
One _ because without intimate relationships, can we really learn the Gospel? I am not sure it is possible. In order to actually learn the good news of Jesus coming near to us as well as the security that Gospel bears upon my self-perception as well as the compelling love that Gospel moves me to give freely into my everyday friendships, I need community. I need the exposure of my weaknesses that an environment of intimacy provides. I need the edification of my becoming who Jesus is making me to be that the encouragement and sharpening of others offers. I need the tastes of conflict and grace and forgiveness and restoration and growth. This interaction provides me the space to believe I am fully loved as I walk with an otherwise selfish group of people who are uniting around a forever, selfless Love.
Two _ because without life together, how could I know when someone's life is falling apart? Isn't it irrational to think that some professional clergy can discern when a congregant is depressed just because he or she shows up for gathering on a Sunday morning? Isn't it ridiculous to assume that one "church member" could know how to meet the need of another "church member" without walking in deep friendship together. Very few people cry out for help. Rather, they isolate themselves either to come out again when they hopefully feel better, which may never come, or to die a slow, lonely death. An emphasis upon community and a reorientation of our otherwise busy, suburban lives toward SENT life together is necessary in order to discern when each other is hurting. It is necessary in order to reach out and touch and care and simply be there to help. Jesus modeled this both with those seemingly healthy as well as those showing signs of dysfunction. Both the lost and the found. He lived like family with those who weren't His literal family. He loved even the least of these.
Three _ because without each other, how can we live sent? This has often been a criticism of the live sent message we have emphasized - when are we gonna care for one another? The answer is found in the new command of Jesus from John 13:34-35. There, Jesus makes it clear that others will know we are His disciples (insinuating they would thus witness a glimpse or taste a small portion of "on earth as it is in heaven") when we have love one for another. In other words, we love each other as we are going in daily life loving others. We care as we are caring. These small groups of people living SENT life together become family pictures in the here and now of what God's family will be like in the not yet. A glimpse of Kingdom found in little pockets of Kingdom all across the community.
Jen and I are not doing this to the fullness with which we would like. We are learning, too. But we are becoming more and more convicted that SENT life with a few is essential for us to learn and live Jesus, for our marriage to embody the gracious, Gospel love, for our kids to see the reality of resurrection life, and for our neighbors to experience "on earth as it is in heaven."
It also frames the purpose of our Sunday gathering. We gather to equip for the sending together. Nothing more. And it frames the motive of our together generosity. We give time and money and muscle because we want to share what we have found to be worth giving up everything else for. The pearl of the Kingdom, here and now.
May we not expect this to come as easy as a sign up sheet. May we look for and initiative SENT life with a few from the Westpoint family and then together with a few of our everyday neighbors.
This is the church.
The intention of Jesus for His people. The mission to which He is calling His church to exist for, not the mission that He is asking His church to add on top of everything else that we do.
May we think and live like missionaries in Lake and Orange Counties, family-like pockets of "on earth as it is in heaven" who happen to value and appreciate gathering together to be encouraged and equipped at an elementary school on Sunday mornings, gracious environments of friendship who generously give themselves away into one another as well as into neighbors and nations.
Love y'all. Praying to learn how to live this as well as equip for it better.
-jason
< scripturing. eating. neighboring. together. >
A BIG PS FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE HURTING _ the exponential network posted a blog post with resources and links for those depressed or struggling with mental illness who are ready to ask for help. In light of Pastor Rick Warren's son taking his own life this last Friday, we pray for those hurting right here among us. Hope these resources help - http://blog.exponential.org/2013/04/mental-illness-resources-for-the-church/#more-5696
Can I give you three reasons why walking in SENT life with a few others is so crucial to both our own salvation as well as others experiencing Christ's saving grace?
One _ because without intimate relationships, can we really learn the Gospel? I am not sure it is possible. In order to actually learn the good news of Jesus coming near to us as well as the security that Gospel bears upon my self-perception as well as the compelling love that Gospel moves me to give freely into my everyday friendships, I need community. I need the exposure of my weaknesses that an environment of intimacy provides. I need the edification of my becoming who Jesus is making me to be that the encouragement and sharpening of others offers. I need the tastes of conflict and grace and forgiveness and restoration and growth. This interaction provides me the space to believe I am fully loved as I walk with an otherwise selfish group of people who are uniting around a forever, selfless Love.
Two _ because without life together, how could I know when someone's life is falling apart? Isn't it irrational to think that some professional clergy can discern when a congregant is depressed just because he or she shows up for gathering on a Sunday morning? Isn't it ridiculous to assume that one "church member" could know how to meet the need of another "church member" without walking in deep friendship together. Very few people cry out for help. Rather, they isolate themselves either to come out again when they hopefully feel better, which may never come, or to die a slow, lonely death. An emphasis upon community and a reorientation of our otherwise busy, suburban lives toward SENT life together is necessary in order to discern when each other is hurting. It is necessary in order to reach out and touch and care and simply be there to help. Jesus modeled this both with those seemingly healthy as well as those showing signs of dysfunction. Both the lost and the found. He lived like family with those who weren't His literal family. He loved even the least of these.
Three _ because without each other, how can we live sent? This has often been a criticism of the live sent message we have emphasized - when are we gonna care for one another? The answer is found in the new command of Jesus from John 13:34-35. There, Jesus makes it clear that others will know we are His disciples (insinuating they would thus witness a glimpse or taste a small portion of "on earth as it is in heaven") when we have love one for another. In other words, we love each other as we are going in daily life loving others. We care as we are caring. These small groups of people living SENT life together become family pictures in the here and now of what God's family will be like in the not yet. A glimpse of Kingdom found in little pockets of Kingdom all across the community.
Jen and I are not doing this to the fullness with which we would like. We are learning, too. But we are becoming more and more convicted that SENT life with a few is essential for us to learn and live Jesus, for our marriage to embody the gracious, Gospel love, for our kids to see the reality of resurrection life, and for our neighbors to experience "on earth as it is in heaven."
It also frames the purpose of our Sunday gathering. We gather to equip for the sending together. Nothing more. And it frames the motive of our together generosity. We give time and money and muscle because we want to share what we have found to be worth giving up everything else for. The pearl of the Kingdom, here and now.
May we not expect this to come as easy as a sign up sheet. May we look for and initiative SENT life with a few from the Westpoint family and then together with a few of our everyday neighbors.
This is the church.
The intention of Jesus for His people. The mission to which He is calling His church to exist for, not the mission that He is asking His church to add on top of everything else that we do.
May we think and live like missionaries in Lake and Orange Counties, family-like pockets of "on earth as it is in heaven" who happen to value and appreciate gathering together to be encouraged and equipped at an elementary school on Sunday mornings, gracious environments of friendship who generously give themselves away into one another as well as into neighbors and nations.
Love y'all. Praying to learn how to live this as well as equip for it better.
-jason
< scripturing. eating. neighboring. together. >
A BIG PS FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE HURTING _ the exponential network posted a blog post with resources and links for those depressed or struggling with mental illness who are ready to ask for help. In light of Pastor Rick Warren's son taking his own life this last Friday, we pray for those hurting right here among us. Hope these resources help - http://blog.exponential.org/2013/04/mental-illness-resources-for-the-church/#more-5696
Posted on March 29th, 2013
Hey Westpoint family.
Three suggestions. :-)
One _ take some time to BE STILL, either alone or with your family, at some point before Easter Sunday and pray about / process / converse about the significance of resurrection. Why resurrection? So what resurrection? And where is resurrection needed in your life, your relationships, your daily? Thank You Jesus that we are not permanently entombed but rather graciously being called out of our self-absorbed tombs.
Two _ join me on GOOD FRIDAY EVENING (tmrw night) at 7PM on the campus of Windermere Prep as Kensington Church remembers the cross. Their pastor Kevin Valentine invited the Westpoint family to gather with them on this special evening of remembrance. Grateful for how God is using Kensington here in our community.
Three _ who is someone that you have been on journey with for whom resurrection might be an encouraging, even transformational conversation topic? Invite them along with you SUNDAY for our EASTER celebration. I'm really excited about our time together remembering that He lives.
Love y'all. Grateful to be your pastor.
-jason
< scripturing. eating. neighboring. together. >
PS _ today through Sunday, I have embedded four short films on my blog just to encourage you during the Easter season. One a day. Hope they will encourage you as they have Jen and me. So grateful for a resurrected, near God. Link to my blog below...
http://www.jasoncdukes.com
Three suggestions. :-)
One _ take some time to BE STILL, either alone or with your family, at some point before Easter Sunday and pray about / process / converse about the significance of resurrection. Why resurrection? So what resurrection? And where is resurrection needed in your life, your relationships, your daily? Thank You Jesus that we are not permanently entombed but rather graciously being called out of our self-absorbed tombs.
Two _ join me on GOOD FRIDAY EVENING (tmrw night) at 7PM on the campus of Windermere Prep as Kensington Church remembers the cross. Their pastor Kevin Valentine invited the Westpoint family to gather with them on this special evening of remembrance. Grateful for how God is using Kensington here in our community.
Three _ who is someone that you have been on journey with for whom resurrection might be an encouraging, even transformational conversation topic? Invite them along with you SUNDAY for our EASTER celebration. I'm really excited about our time together remembering that He lives.
Love y'all. Grateful to be your pastor.
-jason
< scripturing. eating. neighboring. together. >
PS _ today through Sunday, I have embedded four short films on my blog just to encourage you during the Easter season. One a day. Hope they will encourage you as they have Jen and me. So grateful for a resurrected, near God. Link to my blog below...
http://www.jasoncdukes.com
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