by Jason Joyner | Jun 5, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
(Best read while listening to King’s X)
In less than a month, I will be posting in southern Germany! I am leading a team from my church to the Calling All Nations event in Berlin on July 15. It is a worldwide worship event, with a call to missions. We’ll spend the first several days in southern Germany, in the Bavarian Alps. We’ll spend a night in Salzburg, Austria, before heading to Berlin for the last part of our trip. We will participate in worship and intercession prior to the main event.
We’ve been planning this for over a year, and I can’t believe it is almost here. I know that is always the case when something major is coming. We’re taking our three boys, and I know that promises to be an adventure. We are believing that it will be a great adventure with them. There’s three more women, one of whom is taking her teenage daughter, and another man joining us. We all feel called to go, even if we’re not fully sure what we will be getting into!
If any of you out there think about it, we’d appreciate your prayers. I’ll give a couple updates as we prepare to go, and hopefully I’ll be able to post from Germany, including pictures! And no, I won’t make any of the World Cup football games, although I’d love that! And if anyone out there happens to be going, we DO happen to have an extra ticket…
by Jason Joyner | Jun 2, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
One of my summer duties is mowing the lawn. Seems like a guy thing to do, not trying to be biased or anything. I always grumble about having to do it, like it is some kind of punishment. But so far this spring/summer, my wife has done most of the mowing! I was wondering if I was being replaced. True, my schedule is a little different this year, but I was a little worried.
Then I found out the truth:
“If I mow the lawn you have time for other projects.”
A-HA. Now I knew. I have new responsibilities waiting for me.
Turns out that I have missed mowing the lawn. I’m walking around, getting the blood pumping a little. The loud motor insures that I have peace in my mind even if the boys are running around like banshees behind me. During this time I can let my characters from stories talk to me, tell me what THEY think should happen. I mentally set up scenes and see where it will take me. It really is relaxing and enjoyable when it comes down to it. Now I just need to get my old job back, and pencil in some writing time afterwards!
by Jason Joyner | Jun 2, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
One of my summer duties is mowing the lawn. Seems like a guy thing to do, not trying to be biased or anything. I always grumble about having to do it, like it is some kind of punishment. But so far this spring/summer, my wife has done most of the mowing! I was wondering if I was being replaced. True, my schedule is a little different this year, but I was a little worried.
Then I found out the truth:
“If I mow the lawn you have time for other projects.”
A-HA. Now I knew. I have new responsibilities waiting for me.
Turns out that I have missed mowing the lawn. I’m walking around, getting the blood pumping a little. The loud motor insures that I have peace in my mind even if the boys are running around like banshees behind me. During this time I can let my characters from stories talk to me, tell me what THEY think should happen. I mentally set up scenes and see where it will take me. It really is relaxing and enjoyable when it comes down to it. Now I just need to get my old job back, and pencil in some writing time afterwards!
by Jason Joyner | Jun 1, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
I mentioned that I am studying Romans and teaching it for our adult Sunday School class. I was reading about Romans 1:16-17, where it says “it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes”.
One of the books I’m using is The Finished Work of Christ by Francis Schaeffer. Excellent book! In it he discusses that we tend to think of salvation in terms of being born again: “Hey sister, when did you get saved?” He explains that what we mean is really “when did you get justified?”
Now we’re getting into some of those heavier theological terms. Salvation actually describes the whole experience of God’s saving work. It speaks of justification, our being made right in God’s eyes due to Jesus’ sacrifice. It speaks of sanctification, the work of the Holy Spirit to make us righteous and walk with Him in the present life. It speaks of glorification, being raised up with Christ when we go to heaven.
Salvation deals with our past, present, and future. It’s not just getting our sins forgiven and punching our heavenly ticket. It’s not just doing good things in this life. It is the whole package. When we follow Jesus, he cleanses us, but He also wants us to walk with Him and persevere until we are reunited with Him, whether by passing through to the other side or meeting Him in the air.
Don’t sell yourself short by thinking getting “saved” is it. It means so much more.
by Jason Joyner | Jun 1, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
I mentioned that I am studying Romans and teaching it for our adult Sunday School class. I was reading about Romans 1:16-17, where it says “it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes”.
One of the books I’m using is The Finished Work of Christ by Francis Schaeffer. Excellent book! In it he discusses that we tend to think of salvation in terms of being born again: “Hey sister, when did you get saved?” He explains that what we mean is really “when did you get justified?”
Now we’re getting into some of those heavier theological terms. Salvation actually describes the whole experience of God’s saving work. It speaks of justification, our being made right in God’s eyes due to Jesus’ sacrifice. It speaks of sanctification, the work of the Holy Spirit to make us righteous and walk with Him in the present life. It speaks of glorification, being raised up with Christ when we go to heaven.
Salvation deals with our past, present, and future. It’s not just getting our sins forgiven and punching our heavenly ticket. It’s not just doing good things in this life. It is the whole package. When we follow Jesus, he cleanses us, but He also wants us to walk with Him and persevere until we are reunited with Him, whether by passing through to the other side or meeting Him in the air.
Don’t sell yourself short by thinking getting “saved” is it. It means so much more.
by Jason Joyner | May 30, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
I’m slowly getting the hang of this blogging thing (I think). At least I’m fooling some people, as I just signed up to help with the Christian Fiction Syndicate. What is this, you ask? Anything with the word “syndicate” in its name can’t be good, right?
The CFS was the brainchild of TL Hines, and was created to boost a book’s profile in the blogosphere. With multiple blogs linking to the same book, it bumps up the book’s listing on all the uber-geeky sites like Technorati and what not. Brandilyn Collins was the focus of the last blog tour, and she describes what it did for her book Web of Lies here and here.
It is an awesome idea and I was excited to participate…except one little hitch. I signed up last week, and it turns out that the next tour is RIGHT NOW. It is for The Hidden by Kathryn Mackel. Since I had such little lead time, I unfortunately didn’t get to read the book or find out much of anything about it. However, just by linking to it, I still fulfill the requirements of the Syndicate. Also, I unabashedly point to Becky Miller’s post on this book to give some useful info on this book.
I should be able to be a full participant next time…should. 😛
by Jason Joyner | May 30, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
I’m slowly getting the hang of this blogging thing (I think). At least I’m fooling some people, as I just signed up to help with the Christian Fiction Syndicate. What is this, you ask? Anything with the word “syndicate” in its name can’t be good, right?
The CFS was the brainchild of TL Hines, and was created to boost a book’s profile in the blogosphere. With multiple blogs linking to the same book, it bumps up the book’s listing on all the uber-geeky sites like Technorati and what not. Brandilyn Collins was the focus of the last blog tour, and she describes what it did for her book Web of Lies here and here.
It is an awesome idea and I was excited to participate…except one little hitch. I signed up last week, and it turns out that the next tour is RIGHT NOW. It is for The Hidden by Kathryn Mackel. Since I had such little lead time, I unfortunately didn’t get to read the book or find out much of anything about it. However, just by linking to it, I still fulfill the requirements of the Syndicate. Also, I unabashedly point to Becky Miller’s post on this book to give some useful info on this book.
I should be able to be a full participant next time…should. 😛
by Jason Joyner | May 30, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
I just harkened to a website called Ship of Fools thanks to the Decompose blog by Mike Duran. Of course, the first thing that caught my eye was the “Biblical Curse Generator”. Another random phrase maker on the internet, but one that is straight from the mouth of Old Testament Prophets. How can that not be as fun as turning into a pillar of salt? My favorite one was:
Harken, thou wayward winebibber, for you will have more mother-in-laws than King Solomon!
I don’t know if the rest of the site is cool, but I couldn’t resist that!
by Jason Joyner | May 30, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
I just harkened to a website called Ship of Fools thanks to the Decompose blog by Mike Duran. Of course, the first thing that caught my eye was the “Biblical Curse Generator”. Another random phrase maker on the internet, but one that is straight from the mouth of Old Testament Prophets. How can that not be as fun as turning into a pillar of salt? My favorite one was:
Harken, thou wayward winebibber, for you will have more mother-in-laws than King Solomon!
I don’t know if the rest of the site is cool, but I couldn’t resist that!
by Jason Joyner | May 26, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
I’ve been waiting for a while to discuss the name of my blog: Spoiled for the Ordinary. What on earth does that mean? I can imagine that it sounds fairly strange. Sounds like a little kid who is terribly picky, doesn’t it?
“Spoiled for the ordinary” was a phrase I first heard and experienced when I was with Youth With a Mission (YWAM). I went to their Discipleship Training School at their base in Lakeside, Montana when I was 18. I spent 3 months in Montana learning about who God is and what He is all about. I learned about His character and ways. I was with a group of 30+ people: men, women, singles, families, kids, and couples. Then we split into two teams and went on a 2 month outreach. My group went to Thailand, and the other group went to Taiwan.
These 5 months changed my life. I went there as an insecure boy, and left a renewed man. More than ever, my focus was on God’s will for my life and being a disciple every day, with a special interest in reaching people for Him. I experienced a world greater than my own little niche, and saw the great need of people outside of America, and how blessed and over-indulged we are here.
YWAM was an awesome opportunity, and I would never trade it for anything else. However, to be spoiled for the ordinary, one does not specifically attend one of their numerous schools and outreachs (although it would be incredible if you could). Any program or time where you can spend devoted to God’s purposes for an extended period of time ought to give a similar result.
The reason I was spoiled for the ordinary was that I walked with God every day. He wasn’t someone I thought about only in a 15 minute devotion in the morning, or on a Sunday at church. He was real and alive to me. More than that, I depended on Him, along with my teammates, in making it through the day. We had a plan when we got to Thailand, but we quickly learned to follow His plan.
We depended on Him for guidance and provision. Half of my team did not have the funds 2 weeks before we left. All but one received the necessary funds and were able to make the trip. The one left behind? He joined us in 3 days, having his own particular journey with God that touched him where he needed it. We realized that life is an adventure in faith that Jesus calls us too. He says that He only does what He sees the Father doing (John 5:19). We can do the same thing: listen to God each day and go where He directs us.
After living like this, “ordinary” life won’t do. Sure, I have to go to work, pay bills, and have dental work done. But I know that there is so much more to this life. We can live this adventure. Once you’ve tasted God, REALLY walked with Him and see Him move on your behalf to provide, open doors, keep you safe, and make you victorious, then you won’t want to live any other life. You walk in the same physical realm as everyone else, but you see another world as well. Your desire is to make that your reality.
You’ve been spoiled. Ruined for the ordinary.
