by Jason Joyner | Feb 12, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
Wow. An actual day of rest. Usually Sundays are pretty hectic around here, at least in the morning. Doesn’t seem to matter what time we get up, we are always on the run getting to church. Beccy warms up with the worship team while I teach the adult Sunday school class. Then church, where my love leads worship and I do assorted things, whatever needed during the service. Sound board, usher, nursery – just point me in the right direction. Often in the afternoon we take it easy, but we’re usually worn out by that time.
Today the boys and I were all fighting colds, so we decided to save our friends at church the company of our germs. Bec still had to go, so it was a boys’ day. It was nice.
The boys asked me to draw them some superheroes, so we tried our hand at Spiderman, Batman, the Flash, among others. Whoa, I can still draw, somewhat. Later on they watched a DVD rental of Justice League while I soaked in a relaxing bath reading Relentless.
In the afternoon the boys entertained themselves while I worked on a short story I’ve been writing for a little while. Beccy ran home for lunch, then went off to a scrapbooking date with some other ladies. I missed her, but again it was just a restful day.
There’s something to this “day of rest” thing. I wonder if we partake of it enough?
by Jason Joyner | Feb 9, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducting The Longing Season (Bethany House July, 2006) by Christine Schaub.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Christine Schaub is the author of the MUSIC OF THE HEART series, including Finding Anna, the “rest of the story” behind the writing of the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” (October 2005) and The Longing Season, the story behind “Amazing Grace” (July 2006) with Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Books.
ABOUT THE BOOK: All of the books in the MUSIC OF THE HEART series are based on a hymns and their histories. The Longing Season is about one of the greatest redemption stories of all time: John Newton and his song, Amazing Grace.
Nature conspires against him, tossing the ship like a toy. Directionless–just like his life. It seems his odyssey will end here, in the cold Atlantic.
Grief and terror grip his heart, but he will not surrender…not yet.
She reads the sentence again and again.
The first day I saw you I began to love you.
He’d written the words, sealed and posted them, then vanished.
She has a choice–turn toward the future, or wait, wating and hoping.
And so begins her season of longing.
by Jason Joyner | Feb 9, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducting The Longing Season (Bethany House July, 2006) by Christine Schaub.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Christine Schaub is the author of the MUSIC OF THE HEART series, including Finding Anna, the “rest of the story” behind the writing of the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” (October 2005) and The Longing Season, the story behind “Amazing Grace” (July 2006) with Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Books.
ABOUT THE BOOK: All of the books in the MUSIC OF THE HEART series are based on a hymns and their histories. The Longing Season is about one of the greatest redemption stories of all time: John Newton and his song, Amazing Grace.
Nature conspires against him, tossing the ship like a toy. Directionless–just like his life. It seems his odyssey will end here, in the cold Atlantic.
Grief and terror grip his heart, but he will not surrender…not yet.
She reads the sentence again and again.
The first day I saw you I began to love you.
He’d written the words, sealed and posted them, then vanished.
She has a choice–turn toward the future, or wait, wating and hoping.
And so begins her season of longing.
by Jason Joyner | Feb 8, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
One of my favorite speakers, Tom Brock, is in town for a couple of days. He always brings a word that is encouraging, yet convicting at the same time. He never fails to call us up into the destiny that Jesus has for us as His church.
One of his favorite phrases is, “Are we waking up saying, ‘Good morning God!’ or, ‘Good God, it’s morning.'” Last night he shared how we are to be more than survivors, just getting by in this ol’ world. He noted that people will say, “Oh, I’m doing pretty good, under the circumstances.” Tom says that we shouldn’t be under the circumstances, because that is not the place that God has for us!
He spoke something pretty profound: Often times in the church we focus on being “better fellowshippers” with God. You know how it goes: “Oh Lord, I just wanna be closer to You.” Tom suggests this might be the problem.
We are not here to sit in church to learn how to be perfect people. We are sent as Jesus was sent (John 17). What was Jesus sent for? “To save the world through Him” (John 3:17). We are not called to hole up in church until Jesus comes back for us. We need to engage the world, reaching out around us to the lost. When we do that, we are in the purpose of God for our lives, and we are doing more than just “making it” in this world.
Tom’s back for more tonight. Maybe I can share a little more profound and pithy at that time!
by Jason Joyner | Feb 8, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
One of my favorite speakers, Tom Brock, is in town for a couple of days. He always brings a word that is encouraging, yet convicting at the same time. He never fails to call us up into the destiny that Jesus has for us as His church.
One of his favorite phrases is, “Are we waking up saying, ‘Good morning God!’ or, ‘Good God, it’s morning.'” Last night he shared how we are to be more than survivors, just getting by in this ol’ world. He noted that people will say, “Oh, I’m doing pretty good, under the circumstances.” Tom says that we shouldn’t be under the circumstances, because that is not the place that God has for us!
He spoke something pretty profound: Often times in the church we focus on being “better fellowshippers” with God. You know how it goes: “Oh Lord, I just wanna be closer to You.” Tom suggests this might be the problem.
We are not here to sit in church to learn how to be perfect people. We are sent as Jesus was sent (John 17). What was Jesus sent for? “To save the world through Him” (John 3:17). We are not called to hole up in church until Jesus comes back for us. We need to engage the world, reaching out around us to the lost. When we do that, we are in the purpose of God for our lives, and we are doing more than just “making it” in this world.
Tom’s back for more tonight. Maybe I can share a little more profound and pithy at that time!
by Jason Joyner | Feb 4, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
Yeah, I’m posting this 1 1/2 hours before the game, but I already know of winners of today’s big event.
Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith are two men who deserve to be coaching in the Super Bowl. They exemplify character and strength. And they are both committed Christians.
“God is the center of my life,” Smith told the media during a Super Bowl press conference earlier this week. “It controls all that I do. I hope I don’t have to spend my time telling my players I’m a Christian. I hope they see it in my life every day.”
I’ve always been a Dallas Cowboys fan, but I am relieved that we are rid of the Big Tuna, Bill Parcells. He is seen as a coach in control, but it is by intimidating and berating his players. In contrast, Tony Dungy has this to say of his sideline rival for today:
“He does things the right way,” Dungy said of Smith after the Colts and Bears each won their conference championship games. “No profanity, no intimidation, just helping his guys the best he can—and that’s the way I try to do it. I think it’s great that we’re able to show the world not only that African-American coaches can do it, but Christian coaches can do it in a way that we can still win.”
I don’t care who you root for in this game. I really don’t have a strong opinion who wins in this one. But I would like people to know about the great type of men that will be coaching their teams this Sunday.
“The Lord set this up in a way that no one would believe it,” Dungy said after the Colts and Bears advanced to the Super Bowl. “The Lord tested us a lot this year, but he set this up to get all the glory.”
All quotes are from the Christianity Today web article “Christian Coaches Face Off for Super Bowl XLI”.
