Go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last-- and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." John 15:16

Last Saturday, the Inland NW area hosted a student leadership day. We gathered student leaders from Gonzaga University, Washington State University, and Whitman College to give them a vision for how God might use leadership in their own lives and how He might use it to transform the lives of others back on campus. As I prayed for the day (and continue to pray for the student leaders), this verse from John keeps running through my head. God calls up to bear fruit that will last.

I find it tempting to do things in ministry that might look good on the outside but not produce long-lasting results. Honestly, I am tempted by these things to satisfy my own internal desire to be successful. I want to know that what I do day to day matters. I want to know that I'm making a difference.

As I've stepped into being area director, God has been consistently pointing me to invest in the things within the ministry that produces long-lasting fruit. He points me to solutions instead of quick fixes. He shows me the big picture instead of snapshots of success. I'm thankful for the clarity. I also struggle with the timeline. I wonder, "Why does this take so long God?" And God points me back to "bear fruit that will last."

Will you join me in praying that the Inland NW will be an area that bears fruit that will last?

This week I'm praying for the funding in our area. My staff work diligently to invite and partner with individuals and churches across the area. I'm thankful for their faithfulness and the generosity of so many. I also realize that our area still needs $46,500 for all staff to be fully funded. Being fully funded means staff being paid at 100% of their appropriate salary range and having expense money to host student events. Staff often function at 80-90% of their funding, which translates to receiving a lower paycheck and buying supplies out of pocket for student events. This short-term fix can leave staff feeling unsupported and questioning the value of their work on campus. I feel that part of bearing fruit that lasts is having an area staff team that feels supported, valued and is focused on campus. If you are praying with me this week, would you comment below and let me know? I appreciate your partnership in the gospel.

If we only do one thing this year...

2 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

These verses have been running through my head since June. At National Area Director training, we studied the book of 2 Timothy. While it's always a treat to study scripture with InterVarsity staff, this study felt like a reminder of one of the core InterVarsity values that drives me: student leadership development. 

In 2 Timothy, Paul reminders Timothy of his legacy of faith which starts with Timothy's grandmother Lois and then his mother Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5) Paul reminds Timothy of the things that Paul himself passed onto Timothy: "fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (2 Tim. 1:6). 

And what is Timothy to do with this legacy? He is to entrust it to others who are qualified to pass it on.

My job as an area director is to pass leadership on-- from staff to student leaders, from student leaders to student members. I am always looking to entrust God's good gifts to reliable people who will then entrust it to others.

I felt like once this job description clicked in my brain, all the other strategic planning fell into place. I always need to be thinking how to pass on what we do to the next generation. I always need to ask how to lead and teach in ways that others can replicate. Nothing in this job is about me, building a program or structure that I can run or feel successful in doing. I build with eyes to give away.

To that end, I've asked my staff to have one primary focus in the next year: develop student leaders who will find and develop two others. 

I sometimes stop and laugh at myself because I feel like I have the same job description now as I did when I was an intern with Intervarsity almost 15 years ago. And yet, that's also what I love-- the ministry we do isn't magic. It doesn't take a special personality or years of training. Instead, we "entrust to reliable people who will teach others."

Thank you Paul for the constant reminder of the lessons of ministry. Thank you to my fellow new ADs for the scripture study.

To God be the glory.

"When Jesus interrupts our plans"

talk given at Whitman College Large Group
September 21, 2017

Welcome to WCF and InterVarsity. I’m so excited to be here with all of you tonight. This feels like a special kind of homecoming for me. I graduated from Whitman many years ago and was deeply influenced by my time as a student with InterVarsity. I can still remember some of my freshmen small group discussions in Prentiss where I felt like I was learning about Jesus from Jesus himself through scripture study

After graduation, I moved to Moscow, ID (about 2.5 hours north) to work with InterVarsity, to help start a new chapter at the University of Idaho. I got to lead some of those freshmen bible studies, helping to introduce people to Jesus, the Jesus we see in scripture, just as I had been introduced to him here at Whitman.

I never intended to work for Christian organization after graduation. And yet, with the perspective of 15 years, I can’t imagine a better career for myself. Tonight, I want to tell you about the Jesus I discovered in scripture and how that Jesus changed my life’s purpose.

Before we get there, I want to talk about the classic question, “What do you want to be when you go up?” I have little kids and I’m amazed how early others start predicting what they might do in their adult lives. My son is 2.5 and he loves to bang on drums/tables/any flat surface. I’ve had multiple people say, “I bet he’s going to be a drummer when he grows up?” I smile and nod but internally I’m thinking-- he just likes to make noise-- this is just developmentally appropriate behavior-- nothing savant like about it!

When I was five, I wanted to be a ballerina.  Classic little girl story, right?  I carried about a teddy bear dressed like a ballerina and listened to the Nutcracker while falling asleep at night. I have no idea why I made this my career aspiration at such a young age-- there was just something magical about ballerina.

Turn to your neighbor and tell them one of your childhood dreams.  I’d like to hear a few from the audience.  

By the time I was a freshman in high school, I hadn’t taken ballet lessons in almost ten years so I moved onto a new dream: be a lawyer.  I took this career aptitude test in high school-- do they still do that?  Well, ‘lawyer’ was in my top 5. I job shadowed a lawyer for a project freshman year and I was captured by the power and prestige of being a lawyer. When I say that out loud it sounds selfish like I wanted to be a lawyer so I could be powerful. That’s not how I felt. I felt like I wanted to be a lawyer because I wanted to change the world and lawyers seemed to have the power and the position to change the world. And so, when I came to Whitman, I thought I would graduate and go to law school. Jesus interrupted my plans.

Tonight we are going to get in the shoes or the boat of Simon Peter who had a clear career path until Jesus interrupts him.

v. 1-3 SIMON PETER.

For us, this is a strange scene.  In a modern era, Jesus would just get a microphone but given the lack of technology in Jesus’ day—Jesus gets into a boat so the water will act like a natural amplifier and more people can hear his message. It's a very practical solution.

I’ve often wondered why Simon lets Jesus get into his boat.  But, what does Simon get out of it?  Maybe he’s just being a nice guy?  Maybe he’s honored to be asked by this rabbi he’s about it?  

Letting Jesus into their boat is a small step toward the most amazing moment of their lives. And yet, maybe it’s accidental. Maybe it’s just luck.

The same is true for some of you. Coming here tonight is like letting Jesus into your boat. Checking him out. It’s being brave and courageous, especially for those just checking out faith or maybe trying to figure out what you believe, not what your parents do but what you truly believe. I remember those first encounters with Jesus-- they felt a little bit crazy. I didn't grow up in church. I wouldn't have called myself a Christian. I was the poster child for being 'spiritual and not religious.' And yet, a persistent friend kept inviting me to church. When I said yes, I was captivated by what I experienced there. The Jesus they talked about was not what I expected.

v. 4&5 Jesus, what do you know about fishing?!  Remember, this is Peter’s career, what he has spent his life up to this point perfecting.  What could this rabbi know about the ins and outs of fishing especially in Peter’s lake-- the place he’s been fishing most of his life. In these spots Peter probably had fishing down to the a science.

Up through v. 5, this is just a nice story. A chance encounter between two average people just living their lives. But there is nothing average about what comes next… this is miraculous:

Vs. 6&7  

DREAM

Growing up, we all have dreams.

• As a little girl, I thought the ultimate dream of a ballerina was to dance the role of the sugar plum fairy in the Nutcracker
• For me, when I was thinking about being a lawyer, I thought about arguing a case in front of the supreme court
• If you are a Basketball player….March Madness. National Championship game. 3 seconds left, you are down by 2, 3 point shot, all net! Dream comes true.  

Peter is about to see a dream for a fisherman realized.  A catch for the record book.

v. 7 This is the dream catch. This crazy dream IS happening. Their boats ARE sinking.

Simon got his dream because he let Jesus into his boat. This isn’t the way dream are achieved, right? It should be hard work mixed with just a bit of luck. Did Peter work hard? Yes but it had nothing to do with this catch. Could this just be luck?

So often, especially if you grew up in church, you walk around thinking you KNOW Jesus—what He can and can’t do.  Jesus doesn’t just teach us to pray or study the bible. Jesus is an expert on your major, your career, your dating life, your summer internship, your hopes for grad school.   You may try to tell yourself that you know better than Jesus how to handle these important topics.  Simon tried to play that game.

Once Jesus is in our boats, he will NOT be relegated to the few things we already think he ‘does.’ He wants to transform and redeem all parts of my life   

C.S. Lewis quote

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to?

The explanation is that He is building a different house from the one you thought of —throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

Many of you here want a few minor adjustments to your life.  “Jesus, fix this little thing.” My friends, Jesus is turning your cottage into a mansion!

Let’s look at Simon Peter’s response:

In v. 9, they were amazed at the genius catch. Their dream had come true!  But now, standing on the shore, they have a new, life-changing choice.

Option A. This is my dream catch! Go with the pile of fish and sell it at the marketplace. I have always wanted this. I will be the talk of the town

Option B. Go with the Dream Fulfiller Himself.

v. 11 Simon chooses wisely. Later Simon becomes a world changer, leader of people, willing to die for Jesus and the Gospel.   

In a few minutes, I’m going to give you a chance to respond, a chance like Simon Peter had when faced with the miraculous catch of fish, to believe that the fulfillment his dream was the pinnacle to having an awesome life or to follow the one who is the Dream Fulfiller himself.

I thought I had my life figured out-- I would change the world through the legal system-- righting the world’s wrongs through the courts. I came to college not knowing how that would work but very sure it would. Jesus interrupted my plans and asked me to trust in Him to right those wrongs. And then, He started the righting the wrongs within me. You see, I thought that all the brokenness existed out there but Jesus gently showed me that I had to start dealing with brokenness inside me first. I thought I said yes to following Jesus so I could have a decent little cottage. Yet Jesus started building a castle inside of me: a life full or purpose, adventures and peace where I followed him. What might He be inviting you to tonight?

From Jeremiah: Hello, Goodbye

Re-posted from Gen 26

It was sadness and anticipation that I am announcing that this is my final school year with InterVasity. I have accepted the Director of Family Ministry position at Moscow First Presbyterian Church, beginning June 1^st and will be continuing my seminary education with Fuller Theological Seminary. Donan has accepted my current Area Director position and will also begin June 1^st.

At a later time, I will post more about my new job and future hopes. I am very excited to work with families and have experienced multiple points of confirmation concerning this calling. For the time being though I would like to look back on the past 13 years (17, including my student involvement). InterVarsity has been my primary community and I am deeply grateful for every student, supporter, and staff partnership I have had. I hope these memories drip with the gratitude I feel to God and to my friends.

A Christian Community. I had no interest in Christian community entering college. Four years of Christian High School left me burned out on faith and skeptical that grouping Christians together was ever a wise proposition. Dan, Monica, Shamieko and Scott became the foundation of a community that challenged my assumptions. I accepted the invitation to a “Co-Ed Naked Bible Study”, along with a cold cup of lemonade on a hot day (I should note there was a footnote on the flier indicating that we would indeed remain clothed). These new friends flipped much of what I assumed about faith. They swore. They laughed. They confessed sins vulnerably. They cried. They prayed for each other. I slowly came to the realization that I was becoming one with them. By Thanksgiving I began to use the dreaded term “Christian” to describe myself.

Bible Boot Camp. After completing my freshmen year, I attended “Frosh Project” in the Tacoma Hilltop neighborhood. Frosh Project was described to me as “Bible Bootcamp”, an unfortunate name for what was essentially my Christian Confirmation course. As a community we worked (I worked for a low-income housing project), we cooked together simple meals (sorry for not soaking the lasagna noodles), we slept on hard church floors together and we cannonballed into the Sermon on the Mount. It was this bible study that messed me up. The somewhat ambiguous high call of Jesus came into stark clarity. To have life, I would need to lose it. I wasn’t sure I wanted that. I became so convinced that I didn’t that I packed all my stuff in the dark of night to leave. As I prayed in my stuffed car I heard Jesus invite me to stay. The next day I shared this story with friends. Annie began to cry. I was sure she was angry with me for thinking about leaving. She choked out: “I am just so happy that Jeremy chose Jesus”.

Me? A Leader? Shockingly, InterVarsity asked me to be a leader. For the next three years I would lead and live in different dorms throughout WSU. I collaborated with Megan, Terri, Becky, Julie, Zac and Jon. For three years I wandered halls knocking on doors, inviting myself to parties and gathering people bible study. I led weeks where no body showed up. I led weeks where 20 people showed up (the “Bible with Balls” was quite the hit in Waller). I clumsily attempted to disciple younger students. I saw friends become Christians! I saw friends leave angrily. I loved people well and authentically. I led people poorly and manipulatively. I tearfully prayed for some people. I avoided others. I was led by Shawna, Steve, Alex and Mae, who each in their own way shaped my leadership. I spent hours with Mike, Chris and Justin in discipleship, attempting to sort out what following Jesus should look like. And how to date girls without being a-holes. Quite a bit of time on that second one.

China. I spent six weeks in central China. Yes it was on this project that I met a beautiful, thoughtful, feisty Whitman woman that I quickly decided I wanted to spend as much time as possible with. But since we had a “no falling in love in China” rule, I will gloss over meeting my wife. What I won’t gloss over was how transformative it was to see my Chinese roommate begin to weep while singing “At the Cross”, or that amazement I felt when he wanted to pray to Jesus. In America, it is almost impossible be with someone when they first grasp the idea of God dying so that they can live. I also remember praying deep (and I mean DEEP) into the night with Eli. I should also mention Jen and Shamieko. These two women of giant faith were my friends throughout all of college. We traveled the world together and prayed together. I fought with both them and was sharpened by their wisdom. Jen challenged me to be more of the person God called me to be. Both her and Mike (they would later marry) never allowed me to get by on charm. They demanded substance of me. It was (is) an amazing gift. Shamieko chose to be an honest black woman in predominately white chapter that was attempting to open its eyes to injustice and race. Shamieko rarely lost patience with me and challenged me to see WSU not as a white dude, but to experience the campus from the margins (and such see my faith from the same perspective). Shamieko gifted me with honesty and modeled perseverance. These two women were “there” for every major college story I have.

Idahome. In 2003, Donan and I accepted an invitation to intern with InterVarsity at the University of Idaho. It would be impossible in overview form to write enough about Amy and Eli Awtrey, so I will keep it short: Donan and I based our marriage and ministry work on what we saw and learned from them. They demonstrated faith lived well. Sometimes we loved them for it. Occasionally we hated them for it. But we were always watching and learning. The student leaders when we arrived at Idaho were John, Adam and Audrey. They are my friends to this day. The believed in something that didn’t yet exist. I am always inspired by students who can do that. Now time to bullet point my favorite Idaho memories:

•          Worship at Fall Conference 2003. I started that conference more interested in catching up with my WSU friends. By Saturday night I was weeping watching my UI students singing to Jesus.
•     Eli teaching me to throw a better forehand (frisbee throw)
•  Feasts at Merv (the trailer)
• Playing Tiger Woods golf with Amy and Eli
• Shalom Conferences. Idaho students engaging in multiethnic worship and sitting under the feet of teaching they could have never expected
• Urbana 03
• Working graveyard to pay the bills
• Singing the Idaho and WSU fight songs at my wedding reception
• Sarah coming to intern
• Breaking my leg playing frisbee
• John coming on staff
• Jesustherevolution and a month straight of 24/7 prayer in my basement
• Tutoring in the CAMP program with Erik

Return to WSU. In 2009 I was really, really going to leave. But “they” (Scott and Kim) pulled me back by inviting me to staff with WSU chapter. Within my first week I met Andrew and Taylor (who would be the foundation of the next generation of leaders), walking around campus wearing nothing by short shorts and a pizza box, talked with 60 freshmen about sex and the bible and began to see the beginning of a chapter. I am so thankful for being able to partner with John (again), Donan, Erin, Tyler, Annie, Amy and Jessica. Pullman Presbyterian Church and specifically Matt and Amy McNelly have been foundational friends and partners. Simply put…an incredible chapter of my life.

•           Forcing Andrew to walk around campus with me in a pizza box
•           Inviting to Summit by smashing a piggie bank
•           Preaching on Woman at the Well by smashing a jar
•           Our community becoming “4^th circle” Christians
•           First Summit with WSU
•           Coffee/Settlers every week with Abigail and Kelati
•           Spending the night on Andrew’s dorm floor
•           Every time Alex came to Andrew’s bible study
•           A year of study and discipleship with Jesse and Brandon
•           LaFe!
•           Inn Dinner!
•           5 weeks of Summit leading with Donan (and infant Moira)
•           Amanda’s Summit mohawk
•           Taylor, Amanda, and Rebecca’s apartment. For two years, these women of God used their hospitality to make God’s love known to dozens of students. Amazing faith and sacrifice.
•           Everything about Summit with Tyler, Brandi and John. All stories have been sealed to protect the innocent.

The Best Co-Workers I will Ever Have. This is getting long. Really long. 13 (or 17 years) is pretty long. I am going to mention some people I have worked with. This is not exhaustive.

•           Shawna: you taught me to pray and how to love. You saw me in mighty armor…and saw that I was actually using it to hide, not to battle. You invited me out into the world instead. Thank you.
•           John: you’ve been my student, my intern, my landlord, and my colleague. Mostly though, my friend. You are my go-to for crazy hypotheticals for over a decade. You are probably the kindest of all of us.
•           Sarah: wisdom. You are wise.
•           Erin: You’ve been “shooting your shot” long before it was a thing.
•           Dale: You gave a year to help me get well. Thank you.
•           Nick: I have missed your enthusiastic passion
•           Tyler: I have missed your tireless desire to learn
•           Annie: I wish that I could be a student in a small group you lead
•           Amy L: I boldly predict that in your lifetime you are going to open a restaurant and plant a church. I would gladly go to both.
•           Jessica: Been a fan since Summit.
•           Vince: You are my soccer Yoda and my big, bleeding heart conscious.
•           SL: I want to keep praying with you.
•           Daniel: You have taught me to begin to see the world as artist
•           May: You decided to trust me. That is one of the great honors of my life.
•           Adri: You are one of the most trustworthy people I know
•           Angela: You showed me that it is possible to melt cynicism with love, not just smash it with logic.
•           Marshae: Leading intercession with you was a privilege.
•           Adam B: If the measure a person is saying “yes” to God no matter the cost, then you are one of the most complete people I know
•           Tim: I glad California gave you to us.
•           Scott: I am sorry for the late PCard Report. Your humility and willingness to keep learning helps remind me that there is always hope for the church.
•           Brandi and Benita: Leading Summit with you was one of the great privileges of my staff career. I hope you know that you “led up” and taught me so much.
•           Alex: Not sure if you remember leading evangelism training at Fall Conference together, but to this day it is most in sync I have ever felt with another staff. Thanks for the Sports Illustrated’s.
•           Christian: I respect your courage and the fight you gave to see your vision come to reality.
•           Joel: You’re in a lot of staff pictures with me. I am glad we have been on the same track. I am also glad that you always take my call, even though you have no idea what level of emotion is coming from the other end.
•       Debbie: Thanks for letting me teach your students and believing that I had something to bring. You're a great friend.
•           Ellen: I don’t know anyone who couldn’t benefit from you as a life coach.
•           Kim and Pauline: Thanks for believing in me.

An Interdependent Life. Finally, I would like to thank my supporters, both in prayer and finances. As I give you into Donan’s care, I am grateful for 13 years of dependency on God’s provision through you. Despite all the names listed above, staff can be very lonely. You have supported and encouraged me. You risked on God’s work in the Inland NW. You have sacrificed. I know that most of you give not out of abundance, but out of sacrifice. I have felt an obligation to live a life worthy of God’s call and your sacrifice for 13 years. Thank you.