jasongcarrier.blogspot.com

The Tokyo Health Spa, A Place to Grow, and The God Who Sees - Part 2

2012-02-25T21:54:00.009-06:00

The entire Tokyo Health Spa incident got me thinking. In effect, the church is in a unique position of having to faithfully uphold Scripture’s two central commissions. The Great Commission Matthew 28:18-20 needs little commentary. It is an imperative to invest into others, to share the good news of Christ, and to train people to be passionately loyal to the Great King. The Adamic

The Tokyo Health Spa, A Place to Grow, and The God Who Sees - Part 1

2012-02-21T22:09:00.014-06:00

The irony was blatant.A known hot spot for prostitution with rumored ties to human trafficking, the Tokyo Health Spa sat feet away from our church’s entrance. With these seedy sins on our doorstep, it felt as if the enemy was flaunting the Rebellion of Adam on a daily basis. And though our sign reads, “A Place to Grow”, our influence couldn’t grow a mere fifty feet beyond the property line.The

breaking silence, life in the city, and blooming late

2012-02-07T07:47:00.013-06:00

It’s been roughly two years since I’ve really tried to write. Oddly enough, in moving past the self-imposed silence I’m struggling with where to begin. For starters, this month marks the one-year anniversary of our relocation into the city of Springfield. Imagine New York City. Take away 8 million people, the skyscrapers, the international appeal, and engaging nightlife and you’ve got

MLK Day

2012-01-16T13:36:00.008-06:00

Long before M.L. King Jr. became a global figure, he was a new pastor in Montgomery, AL weighing whether or not to continue into the madness.Certainly as hindsight would afford, this particular bus boycott would put King on his iconic path. But on the night of January 27, 1956, he wasn't privy to such information - he was simply a weary pastor, husband, and father.I guess house bombings would do

Peppers, Pierce, and the Plebeians

2010-07-06T15:31:00.008-05:00

Just for fun, pick one of your favorite players and crunch the numbers!http://espn.go.com/espn/thelife/salary/index?athleteId=5355466Its' odd to think that after working 600 years, I still couldn't match Ryan Howard's annual income. Or that after playing roughly one minute of an NFL game, Julius Peppers could pay my bills for an entire year. At least Paul Pierce would have to play an entire

IMO

2010-06-28T09:54:00.002-05:00

...this is an intersting concept - your thoughts? http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2010-06-27-panera-pay-what-you-wish_N.htm?csp=usat.me

It's been awhile...

2010-06-24T14:02:00.006-05:00

but just watch the clip! Good stuff... http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/frontfell.asp

Leftovers

2009-11-05T16:18:00.034-06:00

I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined to me and heard my cry. He lifted me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock and established my steps. He also put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

2009-10-29T13:32:00.006-05:00

At this moment my boys would prefer an outline of either Elmo or Barney. But soon, very soon, they will learn to appreciate the finer privileges of being a male. Feel free to take a look at the most amazing Jack O'Lantern ever constructed!Speechless

Al and Bernard on Pride

2009-10-28T16:06:00.031-05:00

Vanity, definitely my favorite sinWith this statement, the 1997 film The Devil’s Advocate sharply concludes. After failing to corrupt the protagonist with the obvious allure of gluttony, greed, power, and lust - Al Pacino, playing The Deceiver, resorts to a most subtle ploy. Entomb the good man in his own pride.Having only seen the end of the movie on TNT, I’m not commending it for viewing

...

2009-10-23T22:08:00.019-05:00

But now thus says the Lord, He who created you,O Jacob,he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,and the flame shall not consume you.For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of

Evening Prayer

2009-10-21T15:08:00.013-05:00

…and when Jaden and Judah get big, let them fight the bad guys… AmenAs long as I’ve been praying with the big boys this request has been a constant. I desire for them to be men of keen biblical discernment, willing to openly address those who distort God’s truth, justice, and grace. I desire for them to become men who, from either cathedral or corporate ladder, clearly detect the Spirit and move

Death Row

2009-10-19T14:47:00.033-05:00

While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8 He is monstrous. Even those who unknowingly share in his Rebellion shudder at the crime, it's nature so vile

Paper or Plastic?

2009-10-15T16:54:00.010-05:00

While recently standing in line at our local grocery, Jaden eyeballed a particular magazine with great curiosity. Needless to say, Cosmopolitan prefers plastic.In seconds he elbows Judah, leans in, points directly at the woman’s carefully sculpted silicon, and with one hand covering his mouth - the whispers began. They both erupt into boyish laughter. Trying to keep a straight face and wanting to

Derrington!

2009-10-14T22:01:00.017-05:00

One time in junior high Mike Derrington hoodwinked me into trading my Scottie Pippen and Patrick Ewing rookie cards for a bunch of nobody baseball players. Eighteen years later I can easily recall the exact moment when Mike looked me square in the eye, smiled, and confessed to ripping me off. How can it still feel like yesterday? Jerk.Just kidding, sort of.I was out thirty bucks. Comparatively,

Bath Time, Pit Row, and Captain Caveman

2009-10-14T14:05:00.017-05:00

Bath time at the Carrier house has recently been streamlined; both big boys in the shower, both little boys in the tub. Efficiency is everything, especially when I regularly try to outdo last night’s time. Being determined to win, the Master bath transforms into pit row. And being just minutes away from “mommy and daddy” time, EVERY second counts! Scoff if you will, but its’ the little things

Life Comes at You Fast

2009-10-13T16:34:00.023-05:00

Having a strong appreciation for great signage, I found this particular display to be absolutely incredible. With one campaign, Nationwide nailed it.Whether through an unexpected phone call or while waiting in a practitioner’s office, life can certainly come at you fast. Bearing a name synonymous with suffering, Job got this. In one day his life quickly unraveled as bewildered messengers relayed

Put Down the Rum!

2009-10-08T21:05:00.006-05:00

A good bit of Captain Morgan is the only possible explanation for the following: PARIS - Somolia pirates in two skiffs fired on a French navy vessel early Wednesday after apparently mistaking it for a commercial boat, the French military said. The French ship gave chase and captured five suspected pirates. (Full Story)All I know about pillaging and pirating I learned from Captain Jack Sparrow.

"Hi Ho, Hi Ho..."

2009-10-07T16:21:00.010-05:00

Provided is a quick read for those interested in eyeballing an article that is both articulate and informed. In seeking to contextualize our current economic downturn along historical, political, and theological lines, Malanga’s piece on our nation's work ethic is insightful. If time allows, the entire article would be worth it. Take careWhatever Happened to the Work Ethic? Quick ReadWhatever

Mom, Where's My Clothes!

2009-10-01T13:28:00.012-05:00

The following is an insert from 20 Centuries of Great Preaching, Volume 1, Origen Admantius, pg. 29-30His parents supplied him with both Christian education and Christian example…In addition, his father taught him the Scriptures; to learn a passage of Scripture a day was a routine part of Origen’s life as a boy…When Origen was sixteen, a violent persecution erupted against the Christians. His

First Snow

2009-09-28T16:02:00.009-05:00

"To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring."during orientation for chaplaincy it was presented as a possible scenario.I hoped beyond hope that winter wouldn’t fallfour weeks in, the beeper broke my slumberthe chill had begun to setdriving to the hospital it echoed in my mindslowly details of orientation broke through the dread:

Psalm 139...On Surveillance Tape

2009-09-23T14:46:00.008-05:00

"Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them."Those are the words of Psalm 139:16 from the written word, here is Psalm 139:16 caught on tape. What an unbelievable video! This month, September the 12th, was the one year anniversary of Josiah's accident. Empirically speaking, nothing should have worked

Good Soil, Part 2

2009-09-22T12:41:00.006-05:00

I invite you to spend nine minutes listening to this particular video by Dr. Bob Lupton, The Poor Change Me. With a strong mix of humorous stories and core biblical truths, he will give you reason to pause. If nothing else, a cup of coffee says you'll laugh. For those interested, I further recommend Lupton's plenary address at the 2000 Christian Community Development Association gathering.

Good Soil

2009-09-21T15:13:00.002-05:00

'The development of a tree dependson where it is planted.'Edward Joyner Wayne Gordon, John Perkins, Michael Emerson, Ray Bakke, Robert Lupton; I'll say that several years ago these names meant very little to me, yet of late they’ve taken a predominant role.Though at first seemingly provocative, I've found untold enrichment through their collective expression of the gospel. In accentuating

2009-09-17T15:51:00.011-05:00

"To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier stateof mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring."George Santayana