Posts tagged Jacob’s Well

Merry Christmas Jacob’s Well!

Dec20
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Nate Ray

Dear Jacob’s Well,

This Sunday we won’t gather together for worship as a church. But remember:

We are the church.

We may not gather corporately this Sunday for worship, but we can worship. We can always worship.

Worship is much more than singing; much more than a Sunday Gathering. Worship is remembering the extravagant love shown to us through Jesus and living all of life in light of this reality. That is worship.

We can always worship.

So remember and celebrate this as we gather with our families, friends, and loved ones. We can worship as the church while we scatter and when we gather.

May you all have a blessing and hope filled Christmas, and may we all root ourselves again in the story of Christmas, which points us towards the story of the death and resurrection of our God – forgiveness of sin and new life offered to all and given to all who follow Jesus!

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Worth the price of admission.

Nov10
2011 1 Comment Written by Nate Ray

We don’t actually charge admission when our LifeGroup gathers on Wednesday nights, but if you bring food for our meal, it helps.

Matt is my LifeGroup leader, and last night he said something worth the price of admission.

Matt said:

“I used to think the Bible was a book written to me. Now I realize the Bible was not written to me, but written for me.”

I could’ve left right then (but we had a great discussion afterwards on Colossians chapter 1)!

But what Matt said is where good Biblical interpretation (and then application) starts. Application always follows interpretation. This book is not written to us, but for us. It was written to a specific audience, in a specific time, in a specific place. And that is where we all must start.

Thanks Matt for leading our LifeGroup well. I appreciate you brother.

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Katy’s Baptism!

Jun03
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Nate Ray

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How Should a Jesus-Follower Respond to News of Usama Bin Laden’s Death?

May02
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Nate Ray

John 3:16 (HCSB)
For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

1 Timothy 2:4 (HCSB)
(God our Savior) wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Ezekiel 33:11 (HCSB)
11 Tell them: As I live”—the declaration of the Lord GOD —”I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent, repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?

Luke 6:27-36 (HCSB)
27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks from you, and from one who takes away your things, don’t ask for them back. 31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

These are just a few verses that should shed some light on how followers of Jesus should respond to the death of Usama Bin Laden. His death is not cause for celebration. We are called to follow our God, and the Scriptures are clear God does not take delight in the destruction of the wicked. If we claim to follow this God, neither should our delight be in the destruction of the wicked.

It is true, God is just, and He will right all wrongs and deal with all injustice. God does not ignore it. We are right to appreciate justice. But we must realize that Osama’s fate is the fate we all deserve: death. Apart from the mercy and grace of God, apart of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, this is what we all have coming. But thanks be to God, He will pardon ANYONE who trusts in His Son. He has dealt with our sin in His Son. He will punish all injustice, either in the death of his Son for those who believe, or in the death of those who don’t believe.

During this time, we must call one another to remember our Savior is Jesus Christ. He is the One worthy of all our allegiance. Our Savior is not our country, it is not our government, and our saving is not even the result of the death of Usama Bin Laden.

Let us not celebrate these things and others as saviors, but let us celebrate Jesus as Savior today.

Jesus Christ is the hope of the world. The hope of the world is not the death of Usama Bin Laden. The hope of the world is not the world power of the United States of America. The hope of the world is not these or anything else.

Jesus Christ is the hope of the world.

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Pray for Christians in China!

Apr28
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Nate Ray

Here’s the thing: Christians in China have to worship “underground.” They are not allowed to share their faith in Jesus. And if they do, they risk persecution. And here, HERE, at the University of Minnesota, over 3,000 Chinese students are here for school. 3,000 who, most likely, have never heard the Gospel — that Jesus is the hope of the world and the hope of their lives. And we don’t run the risk of persecution for telling them. And one day, most of them are going back to China. What are we going to do about it?

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In a room with 3 major players in my life last night

Oct19
2010 2 Comments Written by Nate Ray

Potential titles for this entry:
“God Orchestrates.”
“God Blesses Obediance.”
“The feast of brotherhood.”

Last night I sat in a room with 3 other men: John Weirick, Brian Kalwat, and Seth Ray. We have been shared more of life together in the past 7 years than some will share in their lifetime. Our friendship has stood the test of distance and time.

We now live far away from one another, but these type of friendships are the lifelong friendships. The type of friendship where you could not talk in two months, or see each other in a year, and still pick up where you left off last.

The type of friendship that seems magical. How does something stand the test of time, stand the test of distance, and still stand stronger than some (not all) relationships where people live in the same city?

7 ½ years ago, my dad listened to the call of God on his life and at the beginning of the summer of 2003, our family moved from southwest Iowa to Rochester, MN.

My dad has always said, “I don’t believe God just calls me, but God calls the family.”

Because of my dad’s obedience, I ended up in Minnesota. One of the hardest times of my life, but in hindsight, the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

Because of my dad’s obedience, and my family’s obedience, my brother met 2 guys named Derrick and Brian soon after he started school. Derrick and Brian knew John. They played music. Seth told me I needed to meet them. I met them a few weeks later. Good musicians.

But who in the world could’ve guessed 7 years ago what the future held for us…

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, 
so are my ways higher than your ways 
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Noteworthy things:

Brian, John, and Seth initially were friends and I was older
Seth and I grew closer than we ever would have if my family would not have moved
Seth has spent a year in Texas back in 2006-07
Brian spent a year in Virginia 2005-2006
Relationships outlasted those distances
John and Brian were 2 of the original 6 core team members of Jacob’s Well.
Now Brian lives in Pullman, WA
John lives in Medford, OR
One of the original 6 of JWell’s core now lives in the slums of India
I have held few men as I have held these 3, in tears, as they know a thing or two about “just being there” when a friend is hurting and also know a thing or two about not saying something dumb when no words will help the situation…
We have visited very dark places and very good places in life together
John, Brian, and I were robbed one time… I got an iPod jacked, Brian lost a laptop and a camera… all less than a month before JWell launched our Sunday Gatherings for the 1st time
This weekend is the 1st time in a year the 4 of us have been in the same room

Somehow, God is the growth, reason, and sustainer of these deep relationships that should have dissolved when distance came into the picture, or its been a few months since we last talked…

When I think of these men, I echo the prayer of Paul as he writes to the Philippians (1v3-11):

I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I deeply miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this: that you love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

God has started something. And He is at work to complete it.
God knew He was going to send us. And He will bless our obedience.
He has orchestrated.

He delights to give His children good gifts.

How blessed we are.

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Opinions?…

May28
2010 1 Comment Written by Nate Ray

Design 1:
Wireframe_v1

Design 2:
Wireframe_v2

Design 3:
Wireframe_v3

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Some people are prophetic

Mar30
2010 1 Comment Written by Nate Ray

I’m not talking about fortune telling.

I’m talking about a truth-telling or truth revealing type of word.

Today, I met with a friend named John. We had lunch and a great convo. As we were parting, he said,

“Don’t let no one still your joy.”

If there were a third party eavesdropping over our entire conversation, that comment would’ve seemed so left-field. But it wasn’t. And it was the last words I heard from John, and I was encouraged. A truth that I should live, but because of his words, I’m now reminded to live and reminded why I live.

I have another friend. She texts me Bible verses sometimes and other encouraging words sometimes. Again, to the initial observer, left field. But its not. Truth revealing, truth retelling, truth reminding is more like it. I’m encouraged and exhorted.

And I consider these folks and their actions prophetic. Again, not in the future-telling sense, but in the other sense.

I think we all need some more prophets. And perhaps some of us should step up to the plate and be prophets ourselves?…

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Part 3 of a Multiple Part Posting on church Planting – Rethinking Success

Mar21
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Nate Ray

I read an article about a year back in Leadership Magazine about Dave Gibbons. Dave Gibbons is pastor of New Song Church, a church with 4 campuses and 4,000 people.

Dave took a trip to Bangkok and it changed his life. On this trip, he was learning about the Evangelical Covenant’s network of churches in Bangkok. He learned that there were 400 churches with a total of around 4,000 people. So on average, about 10 people/church. He says in that moment he heard God whisper, “which is stronger? Your 4,000 over 4 campuses? Or their 4,000 over 400 places?”

The answer to that question is obvious, but it changed Dave Gibbons.

Here’s the truth: We love our numbers. We, as in “church culture.” We hold in high esteem the churches that have 1000s of people, the churches that experience tremendous growth. Our heroes are those who “began pastoring a church and grew it to 6,000 people.”

But allow me to introduce a scenario:

The University of Minnesota is one of the ten largest universities in the country with an enrollment of just over 51,000 people across 3 campusus – the West Bank, the East Bank, and the St. Paul campuses. The east bank alone subdivides into the Stadium Village area where most freshmen and sophomores live, the actual campus, the Dinkytown area where many juniors and seniors live and the Como Neighborhood just north of the Dinkytown area. Most people walk or bus everywhere, especially with students rates for city bus passes.

So the big question: How is the University of Minnesota and how are its people best introduced to Jesus and His Message? Is the answer one big church gathering on Sunday nights in the Stadium Village area of campus? (because by the way we spend our time and energy, it may seem that way).

But what about those in Dinkytown? They live a 15 minute walk away. Or the people in Como who are at least 10 minute bus ride IF they catch the correct bus time, or a 25 minute walk. Or what about those in St. Paul or the West Bank who are even further?

Here’s a few things to consider with our scenario: if we’re concerned about reaching churched people, then MAYBE, just maybe, they MIGHT be willing to make the venture over to the Stadium Village area of campus for a church gathering.

But what if our goal is to introduce the message of Jesus to people who need to hear it? The unchurched and dechurched?

So to clarify, our big (and I would argue more important) question is: How is the University of Minnesota and how are its unchurched and dechurched people best introduced to Jesus and His message?

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Part 2 of a Multiple Part Posting on Church Planting – PowerPlant

Mar04
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Nate Ray

After my second year at RCTC, I landed a job leading worship through music with an organization called PowerPlant. It wasn’t what I had planned. I had applied to lead music for an organization called World Changers, which creates contruction and community based mission trips for high school youth groups in different cities all over the country.

PowerPlant, I guess, was a partner ministry of World Changers and in its early stages. I was tell people I’m a PowerPlant Calvinist, because I didn’t choose PowerPlant, it chose me (for those who don’t know what I just said, I apologize for the cheesy theology joke).

“PowerPlant – Engaging Students in Church Planting” is the tagline I read on the website of this organization I would be working with. I would be leading music in the evenings for high school youth groups, but during the mornings, the youth groups would learn about church planting and reasons to do it, and in the afternoons youth groups were paired to work alongside new churches in the city they were.

I was exposed to some things I had never been exposed to before.

Check it out:

This is straight from a Tim Keller article on church planting, but these ideas were brand new to me at the time.

When the United States was being settled, new churches were popping up everywhere. Because as a new city was formed, it needed a church. New settlement, new church, new city, new church, new village, new church, new community out west, new church out west. You get the idea.

The growth of Christianity from the time of the first Indepence Day to the beginning of the 19th century in the United States was tremendous.

But allow me to introduce another set of facts I learned the summer of 2005 (from Ed Stetzer’s Planting Missional Churches).

The younger a church, the more effective it is at introducing unchurched and dechurched people to Jesus and His message and reaching them.

If a church is:

-3 years old or younger it takes 100 of its people to reach 10 people
-Between 3-15 years old it takes 100 of its people to reach 5 people
-15 years old or older, it takes 100 of its people to reach for 3

These are just the facts. Of course there are exceptions to every one, but the reality is in most cases, the older a church, the more internally focused it becomes.

Everything has a life cycles: they have a beginning, middle, and end. Flowers start from a seed, bloom into a flower, and die, scattering seeds. People are born, get to live for a while, if they’re lucky grow to old age, but their body will shut down eventually and they will die.

Jesus intended His Church to last forever, but churches have lifecycles just like everything else (more on Church and church later).

So, back to our story. The United as experienced this tremendous growth in Christianity from the time of Indepence Day until the early 1900s. I (and Tim Keller) would argue a big reason for this was the church planting movement that was happening.

But as we just saw, the older a church the less effective it is at reaching people, the more internally focused it becomes. But the problem was, since the United States had no more final frontiers, since it was all settled, and there were churches already in all these places, the thought was, “well this church is enough for this city, and this church is enough for that city.”

Only problem? What we just saw: no new churches = less and less people being introduced to Jesus and His message. And older churches becoming more and more internally focused.

When you’re a new church, you are forced to be externally focused. That’s “all you got.”

If the tremendous growth in the Jesus movement was a primary result of a church planting movement, should we not once again look to church planting as a way for Jesus to change people with His message today?

I also learned during the summer of 2005 that in 1900, there were 27 churches for every American. And today, there are less than 11 churches for every 10,000 Americans.

Though the number of churches in America has increased by 50% since 1900, the United States population has increased by over 300% since 1900. The number of churches is not keeping up with the population growth.

Needless to say, in the summer of 2005, my eyes were opened to the tremendous need to plant more churches. And my eyes were also opened to Scriptures and their mandate to be doing this the whole time.

The entire New Testament is a church planting document, written for new churches, about new churches, and to new churches.

I came back from my summer knowing I was supposed to be part of a movement of new churches being started so more people can know about Jesus and follow Jesus.

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