jasonsteckel.net

Tony Snow, former White House Press Secretary, conservative columnist, FoxNews host, and man of many other roles and talents, died last weekend after a battle with cancer. Christianity Today had recently interviewed Tony about his experiences dealing with cancer and facing death. I encourage you to read this profound interview.

CLICK HERE to read the article.

shine!
Jason

Last night in our youth gathering we had the first lesson in a six-week series titled "commUNITY." Each week we will consider an aspect of our Christian identity and how it shapes us as individuals and a community. Last night’s lesson was about worship.

I am teaming up with six different students to co-teach each lesson. In addition, one of our teens is leading worship.

Anthony did a great job last night. He recently returned from Camp Electric, a music camp featuring some well-known Christian musicians. This camp was a blessing for Anthony and what he has learned and continues to learn is a blessing for our ministry. It has been incredibly cool to watch him develop his gifts and grow as a Christian and a musician.

I was impressed with how Ari did in her co-teaching role. We worked together to develop a lesson on worship and how it affects us as a community and individuals. The lesson preparation started when Ari wrote down some points she wanted to discuss and then we built a lesson around that.

The main focus of the lesson was the paradox of worship. This idea that worship is an individual expression of our praise in the midst of community. We talked about the fact that worship is more than some songs we sing on a Sunday morning; it’s a life dedicated to God.

However, there is something special that happens when God’s people gather for worship. When we lift our voices to God as a community, God’s is a present in a unique and special way.

We also need to remember that it’s not about us. Worship is vital to the Christian community where we find ourselves.

Imagine how much different churches could be if teenagers would sing the "old songs" without complaining because they are a blessing to other members. How much different would things be if older members would sing the "new songs" without grumbling because they are a blessing to the younger generation?

We have to acknowledge that we come together with a variety preferences. When we as a community can develop humble attitudes that embrace a multitude of styles and songs, we will be blessed. I will end with the words from a song we sang last night in the middle of the lesson - Heart of Worship by Matt Redman.

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless your heart

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worhip
And it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is yours
Every single breath

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worhip
And it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus

shine!
Jason

As I write this article, I am sitting in my garage in the middle of a garage sale. I don’t really like having a garage sale, but I like having had a garage sale. Let me explain.

Sorting stuff, setting up tables, and pricing stuff is not fun at all. I really don’t enjoy waking up at 5:30am to go out and finish getting ready.

However, there is a freeing feeling to watch stuff leave my yard. Things that have filled boxes in the basement. Items that have not seen the light of day for years. Slowly, over the period of a day or two, you get to see unnecessary junk disappear.

Maybe for some of us, it’s time for a spiritual “garage sale.” There might be something in your “basement” that needs to go.

Are you carrying unnecessary guilt?

Do you need to unload some unconfessed sin?

Is there a source of pain in your life that you need to expose?

Are there negative feelings you need to unload?

Jesus offers us a “garage sale” for our sin.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Don’t let things weigh you down any longer. You don’t need to carry that burden. Open up the doors and let God in so He can take it away.

shine!
Jason

I feel as though I am seeing a full-blown spiritual war going on right now.

I have never in my entire decade of ministry, witnessed so much spiritual warfare going on around me. Suffice it to say that Satan is hard at work. The areas of warfare include possible divorce, significant conflict between family members, various addictions (alcohol, drugs, pornography, and more), various forms of abuse (physical, verbal, and sexual), depression, cutting, and a variety of other stressful situations.

Over the years, I have wondered about how active Satan is in the world. After my experiences over the last several weeks, I am more and more faced with the stark reality of Paul’s words to the churches around Ephesus:

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Our battle is not with people. It’s not with the culture. Sure, they can and are used by the forces of evil to bring pain into the world. However, our battle is against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

We can no longer take Satan lightly. He is not a guy in a red suit with horns. He is not someone we can simply tell to "sit on a tack." He is real. He is powerful. He is evil.

I know that for whatever reason, he has his target set on us. Maybe he is aware of the healing that is taking place in some people’s lives. Maybe he realizes that we are reclaiming some of his territory. Whatever it is, we have sure garnered his attention.

This is not a battle to be taken lightly. Lives are at stake. Souls are up for grabs. It seems like every day there are people around me crying out for help. They know they are in the middle of a war zone, but they aren’t always sure where to turn.

Here is my simple request. PRAY! Unleash the powers of heaven in this situation. Bathe our church, our families, and our community in prayer. In the words of Paul again, "Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion."

I know I am not in this alone, but I also realize that I am on the front lines. I am so thankful every day for the people in the trenches with me. My wife. The staff here at Rochester. The shepherds who lead our flock. The volunteers who serve in our ministry.

We may grow weary. We may feel overwhelmed. But I also know that the battle belongs to the Lord. This battle is not mine to win. But, God calls me to fight. God is the one who will bring the victory. We are the servants who He is calling into service. Let’s be faithful so that He can work through us.

shine!
Jason

Last weekend our nation celebrated its independence. Over 200 years ago, a group of men were willing to stand up and declare their independence from the nation of Britain.

Since our nation was founded, it seems as though many people have lost the point of our freedom. While freedom does enable each person to strive to be the best they can be, there is also a responsibility with freedom to consider what is in the best interests of the community.

For many in our nation today, it appears as though individual liberty has become a reason to do whatever is best for the individual. This misses the point as far as I am concerned.

I feel like sometimes the church has suffered the same misconception. We have been convinced that our freedom in Christ is something that sets us free to do as we please. But I don’t think that is exactly what Jesus had in mind. Our freedom is not freedom to do as we please. Paul himself wrote, You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24)

As a community of believers, God calls us to put the needs of others first. Our freedom is not a license to live as we please. It is permission to be all we can be, free from the bondage of sin. We no longer need to focus on our mistakes. Rather, we can focus on serving others.

God never intended for His Law to be a burden. Starting with the story of creation in Genesis 1, and throughout the rest of the Bible, God desires for us to live life abundantly.

As we reflect on our independence as a nation, let’s remember two things:

As a citizen of the United States, our freedom does not exist exclusively for our own benefit. We are also required to care and show concern for our fellow citizens. We should also use our freedom – and the other blessings we enjoy as Americans – to bless those around the world. Our freedom shouldn’t be so self-centered that we look down at the rest of the world.

As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are called to use our freedom as an opportunity to sacrifice our lives for others. Jesus was God in the flesh, but He never used that as a way out of His responsibilities. He willingly went to the cross, even though he could have called down an army of angels at any time. Jesus showed us through His actions what true freedom looks like.

shine!
Jason

I am back from my 20-year class reunion. What an interesting weekend.

On Saturday we drove down to Ohio. We had to stop at my dad’s house to drop off Matthew because Saturday evening’s event was just for the grown-ups. I am not sure who was more excited, Matthew or my dad. It’s been a few months since we saw my dad (a little longer than usual). Matthew had been pretty much constantly excited about seeing his grandpa for a few days.

We visited with dad for a bit and then headed downtown.

When we first got there, we parked and started walking towards the Huron Yacht Club (location of the reunion event). On the way, I saw these three girls at a bit of a distance who looked vaguely familiar. I didn’t want to look stupid - although I do it often enough - so I didn’t walk over to them. However, I overheard them talking and realized it was who I thought it was.

They started walking towards us and we started talking. Once we were all standing there, I had this thought run through my mind, do I look that much older, too? It wasn’t that they looked old, but they looked older. If you have ever had one of these moments you know what I mean. I had seen myself grow older one day at a time over the last 20 years. I hadn’t seen many of these people in 10 or 20 years. And so here they are, all grown up, not far from the big 40. I think it was one of the first times I really thought about how old I am.

So after a few minutes of talking we walked into a bar nearby where everyone is waiting for things to start. We had about 30 minutes until the yacht club would be ready for us. It was a surreal experience. Suddenly I was standing in the midst of a few dozen friends, many of whom I had not seen in a long time. My first considerable conversation was with Greg. Greg was one of my better friends, especially in my younger years. Greg was on my bus route and we had played together often. Greg was now married with two young children. The most compelling part of Greg’s story was the heart attack he had suffered last year. He talked about that whole experience and how it impacted his life. He had to change his diet, stop smoking, and just live a little smarter.

After we got to the yacht club, I connected with a bunch of people. The two couples we spent the most time with were Dan and his wife and Steve and his wife. Dan and Steve were two of the guys I spent a lot of time with in high school. Dan grew up a few houses down the street from me and Steve played tuba with me in marching band. Neither of them had really changed that much. Dan was still the gregarious guy who always had a funny comment to make. Steve was the more reserved type. The six of us spent quite a bit of time sitting at a table and catching up.

Among others, I was also able to talk with Shane, who is now a lawyer, and Kim, who is an executive with a non-profit organization that helps parents of young children. Kristin, whose brother now works with my sister-in-law, was there as well. There were a lot of people who I was able to interact with and connect with as well throughout the evening.

I was also able to connect with Mari for part of the evening. Mari was the main organizer of the event. She did a great job, especially considering how she did it at the last minute. No one else had stepped up, so she grabbed the reins and put something good together.

Mari is a Christian and we have had good conversations via email about our faith. It was really cool on Saturday night to sit down with Mari for a little while and talk about faith and the like. It was weird though. Here I am, the guy who was the atheist/agnostic in high school, and now I am a youth minister talking about God.

Saturday night ended with a nice surprise. There was a great fireworks show down in the boat basin that we were able to watch. The fireworks were almost literally right above us. We had great seats, and of the three fireworks shows I saw this past week, this one had the best grand finale.

On Sunday the fun continued. Sunday morning we attended worship in Amherst, Ohio. This is the first church where I served in full-time ministry. From 1999 until 2002, I was the Youth & Family Minister there. It was so good to see some people I had not seen in years. Their pulpit minister recently announced he was leaving and several of the people there wanted to know if I was coming back. While I love the people in Amherst and really miss them, I know that God has me where He needs me in Rochester.

Sunday afternoon we headed off to the family picnic portion of the reunion weekend. There were not a lot of people there, but in some ways that was really nice. I was able to have some good conversations with a few people. Chris, who still lives in the area, filled me in on his life. I was able to hear some really entertaining construction stories from Chuck, who works with his family business and brought his two sons with him. Ingrid, who is also friends with Michelle, was there as well with her family. She and Michelle talked for a long time. And Mari and her husband were there with their two children. Matthew made some new friends and had a blast. He was pretty excited that he has friends from the Seattle area now.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this reunion. It brings back memories and feelings from long ago. It is an odd experience to talk with people who were so important in your life 20 years ago. So much has changed in twenty years. Some of them have been married and divorced. Many have children. There were some people who have come to faith. Others have left their faith. At least one flirted with death. Some have changed a lot and others very little.

I was reminded this weekend to make the most of every minute, but never take life too seriously. There were girls there this weekend who I was nervous every time I was around them in school because I liked them. I look back and wonder why I was so silly. Why did I let that affect me so much?

At the same time, I heard positive comments about how people viewed me back then. Things like a smile and a kind word are the things that stick. No one told me they remembered my fine tuba-playing skills or that I was president of the photography club. No one brought up who I dated or how I dressed. But several people commented that they thought I was one of the nicest people they remembered from high school and that I always seemed to have a smile on my face.

If that is what people remember twenty years later, maybe those are the kinds of things we should all focus on in our lives.

shine!
Jason

Ok, so today I am heading home for my 20-year class reunion. I think that officially makes me old.

There is one really cool thing about this trip. I have been having an email dialogue with one of my classmates who I have not talked to since graduation. We have been having a really interesting conversation via email about faith and the like. Apparently, God has been working in the lives of several of my classmates.

I am really looking forward to seeing what God will do in the midst of thinning hair, stories about old times, and the drinking - and likely drunkeness - that will ensue.

Watch for more early next week…

shine!
Jason

Every once in a while I am asked a certain question. Here are a few versions of it…

When do you think you will look for your own church?

How long until you will be a pulpit minister somewhere?

When will you move up into the pulpit?

My answer, depending on who I am talking to, goes something like this…

I really don’t feel called to move into that role. In all honestly, I would consider pulpit ministry a step down. This is no offense to pulpit ministers. I work alongside one of the best preachers I have ever known. But for me personally, any other ministry would require me to step out of my calling.

I believe that the ministry I am engaged in is the most important one there is. (Ok, maybe Dana’s ministry to families with children is a really, really close second.) ;-)  But, I believe that God has positioned me to have an impact at a crucial time in the lives of these teenagers. In a world where brokenness surrounds us and pain has become commonplace for many students, God has uniquely allowed me to help families who are hurting.

Parents are hurting. Teens are hurting. Families are often struggling, and often hiding it too.

I don’t have all the answers, but I am blessed by the fact that God uses this imperfect pilgrim to speak into the lives of families with youth. I am blessed that God has equipped me for this ministry. I am blessed that God makes it possible for me to do this as a full-time profession. I get paid to do what I love to do. How many people can say that?

Sure, there are plenty of people around me who live in bigger houses, drive nicer cars, and have more than I do, but I can do without all of that as long as I have a relationship with God, my wonderful partner, Michelle, my incredible son, Matthew, and the knowledge that what I am doing makes a difference in the Kingdom of God. You can never put that in a 401(k), but a 401(k) doesn’t give you peace and purpose anyway.

And that is why I do what I do…

shine!
Jason

I came across this video. The fact that Ben Roethlisberger is my favorite football player on my favorite team makes it even better, but it is an amazing story regardless of what team or athlete you cheer for.

Well, I had intended to post a few other updates during the week, but didn’t really have a chance. Whenever I was back in my room I was exhausted. But don’t feel bad for me. This isn’t a bad exhaustion; it’s the really good kind.

If I am going to be honest, I feel completely spent by God. But it feels really good!

If you have ever been there, you know what I mean.

This week I was able to hear the stories of teens who were able to share their struggles - some of them for the first time.

I was also able to witness the spiritual rebirth of some teenagers.

Elevate 2008 was a week I will remember for a long time.

I was reminded once again that today’s teens don’t want a simple, shallow answer. They don’t want to be simply told what to do. My experience has been that they want the journey to be meaningful and real.

This week I was able to have some deep - and often challenging - conversations. Did I offer my thoughts and advice? Sometimes. But usually it was after a lot of listening. That can be hard for me.

One of the biggest lessons God has taught me over the last decade of working with teenagers, is that they often learn more when you say nothing than when you try to tell them everything. Often they just need an ear to hear them out and help them work through things.

The theme for this year was "Unashamed." If we really want this generation of students to be unashamed, we need to be willing to hear them out. Listen to their fears. Feel their pain. Be a safe place. And offer advice, but only after we have really listened to them and tried to understand their situation as much as possible.

As I have said before (and I am sure will say again), teenagers today live in a world that is vastly different than the one I grew up in twenty years ago.

We cannot just tell them, "I was a teen once, and…"

Yes, all adults have been a teenager. Yes, we understand some of the basic emotions they share with our experience. But, we are not in their schools. We didn’t live in a culture exactly like the one they know today.

I know there are still things about their world I will never completely understand. But every day I strive to listen a little better, learn a little more, and love with reckless abandon.

I was reminded again this week that those three things are crucial in our calling to help teenagers grow in their relationship with God and bring the Kingdom of God to life in this world.

shine!
Jason