Jason Bowman’s blog

"Why do we wear our hats on our heads when we pray?" the answer in the famous Fiddler on the Roof musical, "Tradition!"

I don't want tradition for tradition sake, but I do want the experience that motivated the first followers of Jesus to do what they did! They gave up all, sacrificed comfort, and radically proclaimed the validity of their experience with Jesus. I'm also interested in trying new techniques in our culture to declare this great Truth. However, I still hunger for the experience. I guess I don't just want to talk about Jesus and freedom, I want to live it!

Next time you are reading through the New Testament try to focus on what the author is trying to focus on. All too often we get sidetracked by what well intentioned teachers have taught us in the past. Try to, for a moment, let it all go and look for what the author is trying to get you to see. For example: Ephesians has a lot of "predestination" verbage and "free-will" talk too. So, a lot of time has been spent reading these passages in that light. However, we must realize the author wasn't trying to answer some of our questions. Rather he was putting us on a journey to be filled with the fullness of God!

- Look for repition.

- Look to Introductions and Conclusions.

- Look for grammatical "therefores" "and so's" and when the author emphasises something know it is important!

Let's live the life!

I like Coffee. However, I'm not over the top as some might think. For some reason I don't shy away from being known as someone who likes coffee. So, when brainstorming for a creative sermon illustration and the thought of drinking and Iced Americano during the sermon came up I was all in. I purchased my favorite summertime beverage Sunday morning on the way to New Life. I waited until the sermon began to begin my sipping frenzy, I had to have most of it drank by the time my 2nd point rolled around. As I discussed the letter from John to the church in Laodicia of Revelation 3 about how they were "lukewarm" and not "hot" or "cold" it was time for the illustration. I like iced espresso, and I like hot coffee . . however lukewarm coffee is spew-able! The message to the church in Laodicia was the same: hot water is good for calming, cool for refreshing they were spew-able too! Powerful.

I neglected one small element. I don't usually drink 3 shots of espresso during my sermon after my morning cups of coffee. The cafine rush was a bit much! One visitor said, "I enjoyed the service, the sermon was a bit manic but good." Manic maybe, more like Maniac. I set up the illustration too much. Then with the cafine blazing in my system I began to sweat. Now I'm excited, sweating, and enthusiastic about coffee. Hopefully something of the point translated! Truth is, in my zeal for coffee fueld by my caffine rush I forgot one of the main illustrated points. Espresso when mixed stays good, but if it just sits there it spoils in moments. The people at laodica were useless and indifferent . . they weren't mixing and they were spoiled.

Oh well, I will continue to brainstorm for creative personal sermon illustrations. yet, I will not be drinking espresso on a Sunday morning for awhile!

So, I'm Re-committing to my Blog!

Honestly the last 2 months have been a lot about Re-Meifying (not a word!). Results are in, I feel more like me than ever! I stood up at a prayer meeting and declared, "we are on the verge of a breakthrough and I know where it starts." pounding my chest for dramatic effect I said, "it starts right here." Boy was I right, and now I'm learning to be careful what I pray! Really though it has been a fantastic 2 months and I feel more alive than I ever have. Here are a few of the things I've Re-committed too:

-  Living for Jesus. No longer as a profession, but as a personal follower of His teachings devoted to seeking His Spirit's empowerment. I realized I was inviting people to my church and not to Jesus. I had the right motivation as I truly believe that if someone attends New Life they will find Jesus presented in a relevant way, but I'd stopped asking people to know Jesus! It's a slight difference, but it has made all the difference. More than just asking people to follow Jesus again as if it were just a recommitment to personal evangelism I'm finding my new again devotion so thrilling and so exhilarating it is just spilling over to those I'm around! The Bible has come alive again! Worship times and devotional times are like all the times! From the abundant life I'm living God is birthing fruit. It's easy and it's all happening quite naturally/supernaturally.

- Loving my Family. I am so in love with my wife and our beautiful children. Ashley and I have been married 5 1/2 years and I'm more in love with her now than ever. My boy is 3 yrs old and my daughter 3 months old. I find the most joy in sharing life with them. Honestly, this new re-me initially created a desire in me to love and give more to them not only to my relationship with God. However, I've found living out the new devotion most difficult. A bit of a confession here, but I wonder if it is true for others. I want to be the best husband and father but it seems so much stands against it. Not just my own personality flaws but the busyness and the business of life seem to rob the family first and most often. But, my re-relationship with Jesus has placed and uncompromising desire to put my family before anything else. All of it is a process but I'm committed and now re-committed to seeing them grow, and not just looking back at pictures without me in them. I won't tolerate the pressure to leave them behind while I move anything forward: not a career, not a church, nothing. I will look back at the end of my life and celebrate the times I was there, not wish I could have been. Even in the midst of church planting I will take time first for my family.

- Serving my church. We are revitalizing/planting a church in the St. Louis area www.thenewlifecommunity.com and I'm committed to it. More, I'm in love with the adventure of it. A couple of weeks ago I took the 4th of July weekend off and spent it with family (see above). Saturday night I woke from a dream where I had been preaching at New Life, I felt a deep sense of disappointment that I wasn't really there in that dream serving New Life. Cool thing was there were 55 people there, just like the last time I'd spoken. What impressed me the most was that I am truly excited about being a part of what God is doing now, not just what he will accomplish in the future. I love the process. And really since my Re-me adventure began things have taken off, we've turned a corner, we've had the breakthrough I knew we were on the verge of having! We've had someone give their life to Jesus every gathering for the last 2 months, prayer ministry has started, we've had over 70 for the last month, and the story continues to unfold!

So, these are just a few of the re-me details. I'm sure I will speak more specifically in the near future on more. Until then I pray that if you are reading this that the abundant life that Jesus spoke of in John 10 would be yours too.

Peace,
Jason

It's true. Life itself is "easier said then done." However, we press on. I love the moment in the teaching career of Jesus from Nazareth when the thousands of people who followed him around to hear his wisdom left. They left him, they stopped listening, it got to be too much. His teaching wasn't just "good" anymore, it was difficult, complicated, and well they gave up. Jesus turns to those who were closest to him, the twelve who hadn't left and I can imagine the sarcasm in his voice, "why are you still here?" "aren't you going to leave also? "and what about you?" Peter responds "where else can we go, you have the words of eternal life!" This is recorded in the sixth chapter of the story of good news written by John (who was there that day). What else is there? For them, nothing else would satisfy. His words were life to them. For me, I often wonder if I have what it takes, if I can make it, if God can use me. When I think of alternatives I can't find one, for me, what else is there? Not that it is easy. Right now we are doing whatever we can to revitalize New Life Community Church in the West County area of St. Louis. It's an adventure and a journey and it is difficult but we are already seeing great things! We need to see more. Regardless, what else is there for me to invest my time, talent, strength and zeal into other than partnering with God in sharing the good news with our culture? "where else should I go, He has the words of eternal life!"

It's true. Life itself is "easier said then done." However, we press on. I love the moment in the teaching career of Jesus from Nazareth when the thousands of people who followed him around to hear his wisdom left. They left him, they stopped listening, it got to be too much. His teaching wasn't just "good" anymore, it was difficult, complicated, and well they gave up. Jesus turns to those who were closest to him, the twelve who hadn't left and I can imagine the sarcasm in his voice, "why are you still here?" "aren't you going to leave also? "and what about you?" Peter responds "where else can we go, you have the words of eternal life!" This is recorded in the sixth chapter of the story of good news written by John (who was there that day). What else is there? For them, nothing else would satisfy. His words were life to them. For me, I often wonder if I have what it takes, if I can make it, if God can use me. When I think of alternatives I can't find one, for me, what else is there? Not that it is easy. Right now we are doing whatever we can to revitalize New Life Community Church in the West County area of St. Louis. It's an adventure and a journey and it is difficult but we are already seeing great things! We need to see more. Regardless, what else is there for me to invest my time, talent, strength and zeal into other than partnering with God in sharing the good news with our culture? "where else should I go, He has the words of eternal life!"

If it is one thing that people respond to it is a relationship. This should be no surprise, because I believe it is the one thing that all demographics respond to best. This phenomenon increases when we start talking about spirituality, most people who become followers of Jesus do so in direct relationship with someone who introduced the concept to them. Today, in an age of technological advancement, broken families, increased travel etc. there are many who are starved for relationship and community. We can help meet this relational need. And while we sometimes get it backwards I do believe that a community centered around Jesus should be the greatest community ever!

Many people understand this. They understand that church should be about community. Sadly, some don’t find the authentic community they are looking for in church. But, they find programs and policies ad infinitum, ad nauseum. So, if you are part of the creative team in a church, ministry or start up and people perceive you want them to be a part of your next great program you can forget it. But, if you can harness their desire for authentic heartfelt community then you won’t be able to contain the energy and passion and you will enjoy the friendships!

I went to a college ministry leadership conference to represent the seminary which I attended. I had a booth, with forms and applications, the same booth I had set up at many colleges and conferences. This one was different. The college pastors at the conference would walk by my table and instead of avoiding eye contact they would look right at me and ask me my name, and inquire of my story and then they were genuinely interested in what I was doing. If they were interested in seminary they would inquire of my materials. If not, they were honest but continued the conversation with me. My booth was located adjacent another booth set up by an area Christian bookstore with a young college student running the table. After the second intermission and rush of conversations he looked over at me with tears in his eyes and said, “I’ve never met so many people so genuinely interested in me.” These college pastors intuitively and naturally were relational. Why? Because if they weren’t their college ministries wouldn’t make it a month! But, it wasn’t just about their ministries they had learned to be first and foremost relational!

People respond to relationship. So, I want all that we do as ministries of Christ centered community to be about that . . relationship. We are still in the formative years of our revitalization project at New Life Community Church (www.thenewlifecommunity.com). With less than 100 people the relationships come naturally, we want to be intentional about maintaining that as we look to the future. We also canceled our Wednesday night service before Thanksgiving and even on Christmas Eve. I know Christmas productions are a common tradition among many Christians. We don’t currently have the volunteers and resource to pull off a production that would compete with those from other mainline denominations. However, that is not the reason we canceled. I want our people to spend the time with their families and friends building relationships! It’s the one time of year our entire culture seems to promote spending time with family! I don’t want our church to take away from that, I want to empower our people in it. Not just on Christmas but year round. Wouldn’t it be great if Church became more about the relationships we had everywhere than the programs we performed at one address? I think so. Let’s relate to one another this Christmas.

I’d like to discuss a term that may seem a bit subjective. I think it resonates with this generation.

I’d like to talk about the term “real.” You don’t have to be around young people long to hear them say. I like this or that because it’s real. There is usually a searching pause. “I like it because . .(searching pause) . .  it’s real.” Then a look of satisfaction as if they have just told you something profound, when in reality what is real to them, may or may not be to someone else! And what is real? Aren’t all people real? They are. They are real. So, one could dismiss the conversation as inconsequential. All the while ignoring the fact that it is so pervasive and it might actually be reflecting a deeper issue that is harder to articulate and summed up with “real.”

Listen, many people think Christians are hypocrites. For whatever reason we have said we were going to do one thing and have often done another! This is understandably a human propensity, but that doesn’t excuse it. Then, this generation sees through even well intentioned ministries that do the same thing week in and week out. As if to say the only reason we do what we do is because we do it. So, if you are going to start a ministry that appeals to young adults, don’t do it because it’s the latest trend. Young adults are gifted in discerning authenticity. Authenticity is not just applauded by the young; it is celebrated by all age demographics. And that is really what “real” is all about.

The good news, it’s not about a “coolness” it’s about a realness. All you have to be is: yourself! Be confident, but not cocky, humble but not totally self deprecating. The issue of authenticity or “realness” runs much deeper than externalities.

Are you willing to engage them on a philosophical level and proclaim truth in the midst of the tensions we all live? Or, do you have 3 easy to memorize answers that will make everything perfect! They heard that sermon and it didn’t work. They are looking for something deeper, something real, and someone who is also on a journey to discover it. They are hungry for someone who is willing to share victories and defeats and somehow create an approachable presentation of Truth. A Truth that is real. It doesn’t run from difficulties but explores the tensions and paradoxes of this life. Could you do that? Explore the difficulties instead of gloss over them. That makes a difference. It doesn’t always have to sound good. Truth sometimes doesn’t.  Sometimes it’s difficult, sometimes it offends. This isn’t an excuse to be offensive, but it is the Truth. When you express this journey, this mission, this passion from your heart with conviction everyone including the young adults will say. Now that . . that’s real. I liked it . . . because it was real.

Be real and keep it real.

Jason Bowman

Lead Pastor

www.thenewlifecommunity.com  

Content originally posted as an audio podcast that can be found at www.youngadults.ag.org

I wish I had the creativity and the time to articulate in a way that would communicate all I truly feel about God. And not just the religious sounding stuff. I love how the Psalms in the Bible reflect the ambiguously devoted nature of humans. There is often and repeated praise and declarations of faith and hope despite situation and difficult circumstance. I find it equally refreshing to read between the praise, the despair of the soul. Anguish and frustration that overtakes us all even when living for God. It gives me hope, to know I'm not the only one that struggles and wonders: How Long? Why? When? What do I do? It also gives me a great challenge to see the authors faith in the midst of such feelings.

Once again I am trying to revive a discipline I was taught when I first began to devote my life to following Jesus. Reading 5 chapters of Psalms every day. Not just any 5, I start with the date and then add 30. So, today is the 11th so I read Psalm 11, 41, 71, 101, 131. Then on the 31st I will read psalm 119, skipping it on the 29th because of it's length. It has always been amazing to me how all 5 seem to go together, as if they were supposed to be read together although separated from one another by so many pages.

My hope is not that I simply grow more committed or gooder in any way. But, really to inspire and provoke my life to dream bigger and dare to live more radically for God, to see His kingdom grow in me and through me. I desire to see His glory and Truth lived out in our time. So, while I may never be able to articulate in the way of a psalmist creatively, I desire to be a modern day psalm. I want to live a life full of complexity, full of creativity, full of the praise and faith to God!

"But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though i know not its measure." Psalm 71:14,15

Jason Bowman

www.thenewlifecommunity.com

After much encouragement I will attempt to once again blog. I am looking forward to it. Of coarse my technological abilities prove a frustration to me over and over again. In fact, the creation of this account took me 2 attempts and well here I am.

We have embarked on the mission that I hope defines much of my life. I will post the many great happenings of New Life Community Church www.thenewlifecommunity.com Our goal is to see a church with global impact and city wide influence. We are located in the Chesterfield and Ballwin areas of West County St. Louis, MO. We took leadership of the small struggling church in may of 2004. Together with the 4 families and a great leadership team who have also relocated to this area we are attempting a church revitalization. We do not see our impact as only local and pertaining to one campus. In fact, we seek to begin a revitalization movement! www.thenewlifeproject. Stay tuned for progress. .

We are a work in progress, but I am forever grateful for the passion of my friends who are on this journey as well. And I am forever in debt to my beautiful bride for her willingness to allow me to risk it all in this marvelous experiment!

Join us on our Journey

Jason

www.thenewlifecommunity.com