Awaken Ministries

Good morning! Continuing with what I began last year, here are my remarks to our school’s 8th grade class at their promotion ceremony (slightly edited for your reading and student and teacher names were removed or changed):

Tonight, I want to talk to our 8th graders about being Peacemakers. Note that I said peacemakers and not peacekeepers. What is the difference you ask? A peacekeeper is someone who follows one or a group who already did the work to bring about peace. The peacemaker is someone or a group who has to get their hands dirty and work in and with difficult situations to bring about a positive solution or compromise.

Being a peacemaker costs you something—sometimes even your life-but just think what the world would be like without them. Almost every evil action in the world today will continue until it is confronted by one or more peacemakers.

So, do we have peacemakers in this country now? Eric Metaxas said recently in a Breakpoint commentary, “Being the author of biographies on William Wilberforce (who helped bring an end to the slave trade in England) and Dietrich Bonhoeffer (who, as a Christian, stood up for Jews and against the Nazis in his native Germany during World War II) makes it especially tough for me to witness what a nation of spectators America has become. You see, both (Wilberforce and Bonhoeffer) looked at the condition their societies were in, and did something. They didn’t simply curse the darkness, as the saying goes. They lit candles.”

What are we doing to develop peacemakers right now? In schools today we are told to focus on college and career readiness. That’s great, and we all need to develop certain skills to earn a living. But, the danger in focusing only on college and career readiness is that you could avoid agonizing–and it is agonizing–over the most important questions that all people have. Questions like, “What is the purpose of my life?” “How can I live a life of significance that builds a legacy after I’m gone?” Now, thankfully in our school, we certainly do teach the skills needed for college and career readiness—but we also are not afraid to tackle the issues that our students will confront in life. In 5th grade we begin to have meaningful conversations with students and teaching them to ask themselves and their parents about life’s big questions. In 6th grade, we explore racism and its roots in our country and how peacemakers have tried to change minds and hearts. In 7th grade, we learn about the Holocaust and the rise of the Nazis. Students learn how easily evil can rise in a society and they learn what the cost is to defeat evil. In 8th grade, students complete a social issues project. The students get to pick a topic to research (some examples have been abortion, terrorism, murder, modern-day slavery, mental health issues, and child abuse).

Through these projects our students learn that it is hard to be a peacemaker unless you have seen the darkness in the world and have been moved to take action by it.

We are not shying away from guiding our students into thinking through difficult issues. We shouldn’t tell them what to think about these issues, but we should help them to begin to think through the difficult issues of the day. One of our 8th graders entered and won the Barnes and Noble “My favorite teacher” essay content. This quote is from their winning essay, “Every day I look forward to going to English class, which is ironic because it’s usually the class we have the most homework in. The things we learn, discuss, or share in class is very raw or real as well. Mrs. Smith (not her name) doesn’t sugar coat things, and lets students talk and debate about serious situations. It’s very pleasant to know an adult is willing to discuss serious topics with you (a teenager) and is willing to listen or answer your questions.” Isn’t this one of the core values of a school?

Some look at this generation and are pretty worried. I can’t speak for the whole generation, but for these students here in front of me I can see people who are developing into people who will change the world as peacemakers. In this class before me, I see students that will impact future generations. Students, the future is in your hands. What will you make it? Will you be someone who is not afraid of doing something hard….I mean something very hard that most people want nothing to do with. Will you choose to live the difficult, yet rewarding life of a peacemaker? I think many of you will. I see it everyday when you are at school. You see, I have been doing this job long enough now to know that when I look out at you I see engineers, doctors, electricians, plumbers, pastors, teachers and tech specialists. This next sentence is meant for many, many years down the road, but I also see students that will become faithful mothers and faithful fathers, people who will have hopes and dreams for their own kids. Now, I know I just fast-forwarded through a large part of your life and you have a LOT of good decisions to make between now and then…. but you need to know that myself, your parents, your teachers, and others see more in you than perhaps you see in yourself right now.

More to come…
Jeremy

Good morning!

Part of what I like to do is share with you what others are doing as part of their ministry.

This week, I want to let you know what a fellow believer–and my favorite high school teacher–is doing with his blog. Rich Schurter’s blog “Schurter Travels and Musings” is a great read!

Friends, we only tend to focus on the negative things going on, but one-by-one there is a counter-cultural movement of people that are doing the Lord’s work of redeeming the times for Christ.

More to come…
Jeremy

I hope Mother’s Day was great for you! We had a fun day (my wife’s first as a mom!) playing our little one. It is truly amazing how a child can brighten your day!

Mother’s Day since 2008 has always been a day of reflection and contrasts. That was the last Mother’s Day my brothers and I got to spend with our Mom. ALS took her life way too early.

I think one never really gets over losing a parent. There are just some days that are better than others. I REALLY wish I could ask my Mom questions about parenting. I have a little daughter that has my temperament and I would love to have some insights into how my Mom dealt with me when I did many of the same things my daughter is doing now.

But, I was blessed and have many great things I learned from my Mom. So, here’s 5 lessons learned from my Mom–A Mom would had to have the patience of Job to raise 3 boys who thought they knew it all!!

–I learned that kids don’t get to decide if they get to go to church when they live in your house. There were four phases to this for me. First, I went to church because that is where she was going. Second, I went because she made me. Third, I went because I wanted to. Fourth, I went because I loved Jesus.

–I learned that raising your children means that sometimes the kids are allowed to fail.

–I learned that a woman’s purse is not something to be trifled with! One time, I got caught trying to steal money from Mom’s purse. I don’t exactly remember what the punishment was, but what I do know is that as a 41-year-old man I ask for the checkbook if it is in Laura’s purse instead of searching through it myself.

–I learned that family is special and even when things are rough, you stay together! My Mom was very close to all 5 of her siblings and her parents. There weren’t any gulfs between them that they allowed to keep them apart.

–I learned that love and lessons are things that have to be taught to the next generation. If you just magically think it will happen you may be out of luck!

Thank you Mom and I love and miss you!

More to come…
Jeremy

Can you think of a time when someone was presented with the facts of a situation but yet they still tried to spin their way into getting you to think that wasn’t really what happened? I can think of many times I have witnessed this and it always reminds me of the line in the Switchfoot song “Selling the News” that goes, “The facts are just one option to choose”.

It seems in our fallen culture that many times facts are really just one option to choose. I am so glad that I follow one that is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”! I think we need to tell people about Jesus in our culture today. Not in a way that bludgeons people over the head (I say that being fully aware that some do need to be bludgeoned to get the point) but in a way that is real and personal to them. We need to be disciple-makers.

Yes, this can be extremely difficult. It is difficult for me because I am naturally selfish and disciple-making requires my focus to be put on others needs. It is also difficult because my best friends are Christians. I love talking with and being with my fellow believers. But, when Jesus says, “Go and make disciples” that means I probably need to also make sure I am investing in those who are not yet disciples.

Yes, we will be like sheep among wolves, but Jesus says that He will be with us. Does that mean everything will have happy endings? No, but it means that we will be faithful and that is the most important thing!

There are many in our culture today that want Christians to just keep their faith private. But, that isn’t what Jesus tells us to do. Instead, let’s use the power that Christ has given us (Acts 1:8) to bring the world the Message that it needs so desperately.

Because even though to some the facts are simply one option to choose, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and in the future so we should live knowing that Truth is still Truth!

More to come…
Jeremy

Today, guest blogger Mike Illuzzi ushers us into Holy Week with “A Plaque, a Pastor, and a Prayer”:

Would you tell the guy sitting next to you about a person, Bible verse, or prayer that has been an important part of your faith journey?” asked Bill Allison of Cadre Ministries at a men’s conference a few years ago. I have considered that question many times since the conference, and as I think about Holy Week and the joy and reassurance of Easter, I’m asking Bill’s question again.

How about you?

What guidance, prayer or scripture do you carry in your heart to start your day, end your day, or share with others? We now have access to an amazing selection of Bibles, apps, and publications for study and contemplation. However, what guides you in the dark of night, at the stoplight, before a tense work meeting, or during that family conflict?

My answer is a plaque, a pastor, and a prayer.

A Plaque

When I was a child my mother gave me a plaque that said, “Prayer Changes Things.” Don’t even know what happened to the plaque as I grew up and left home, but those words have never left me.

A Pastor

My first study Bible was recommended by Pastor Roane Deckert who confirmed both of our sons and helped an overwhelmed thirty something find a way to be a husband and dad, keep up at work, and deepen his faith. Roane taught me to read and study the Bible. I found my way to Habakkuk 3:17-19. The NIV text notes describe this passage as “one of the strongest affirmations of faith in all of scripture.”

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go to the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

A Prayer

During a meeting with a Christian counselor, she showed me the entire “Serenity Prayer.” I had never seen the words after “difference.” Later that day I volunteered at the church’s Celebrate Recovery program and heard all the words to the “Serenity Prayer” a second time that day. The complete prayer twice in one day…I got the message!

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking as He did this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to his will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with him forever in the next.” Amen

As we prepare for Holy Week, I pray that each of us will remember those who have shown us The Way, that we will trust in the Lord every day, and that all of us will rejoice in our RISEN Savior.

Mike Illuzzi

More to come…
Jeremy

The title for this blog is from 2 Corinthians 5:9. It sounds so simple, so pure…so why do I have such a hard time doing it?

I should probably correct myself here. The more accurate question for me is, “Why don’t I do it more often?” Why do I have a heart that so desperately seeks Him, but yet I keep dealing with the same sinful tendencies. Yes, I said the word, “sin”. I know that isn’t a very politically correct word in 2015 in many circles, but I don’t know what else to call it.

If you are reading this blog, you too are most likely someone who is desperately seeking to please Jesus. You also probably experience many of the same struggles that I do. Struggles with distractions and sometimes becoming so “busy” in our day-to-day life that we find ourselves experiencing a drift in our relationship with Christ.

So, how do we combat this “drift”? I like what Oswald Chambers said, “It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us. It means holding ourselves to the highest priority–to be well pleasing to Him”

I’m sorry if you were looking for an easier answer. I know I was. But, we are called to engage our hearts and minds and strength in our relationship with God. To do anything less, would be to expect what Bonhoeffer called a “cheap grace”.

We have a guest blogger–Mike Illuzzi–next week for Palm Sunday. He has written a blog that contains prayers and Scriptures that can be useful tools in helping us to daily strive towards a greater focus of our highest goal. He is one who lives his life that way and I think he can help all of us!

More to come…
Jeremy

Now, I have never been hit over the head with a command from God like Moses was in Exodus chapters 3 and 4, but I am comparable to Moses in how I respond when I get “lesser” commands from God.

God was having a conversation with Moses and He was trying to get Moses to understand that if he just did what He was telling him to do, then everything would go fine and the Israelites would be heading out of Egypt soon. We would like to think that if we were Moses and God Himself was giving us a very clear plan that we would listen, but instead here are just a few of the comments Moses made to God: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”, and then the kicker, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

That last comment made “the Lord’s anger burn against Moses”! I don’t want to be too hard on Moses as I’m sure this command caught him slightly off guard. I mean, come on, he was just tending his father-in-law’s flock when all this happened–not exactly a prized internship under the current CEO of the company, “How to Free Your People Now, Inc.”.

Again, I haven’t been asked by God to do anything so big and drastic, but doesn’t that mean I should have fewer excuses than Moses? Instead, anytime I feel that God is calling me to do something–very soon after my initial excitement wanes–I hear these voices in my head, “No, that is not what God is calling ME to do. I doubt very much that He wants me to do THAT. Here are 7 very good reasons why this isn’t going to work right now.”

Friends, if you are like me in this we have to stand up and be strong and courageous! (see the Book of Joshua!) I DON’T WANT GOD TO LIMIT WHAT HE MIGHT DO THROUGH ME BECAUSE I WAS NOT READY FOR IT!

I don’t want to get to the end of my life and wonder–“What if?” What would have been different in my life if I was truly obedient to God?

That is our challenge this week. Take time to pray about what is God calling YOU to do for Him?

I don’t know where that will lead you and me, but I do know that we won’t want to miss it!

More to come…
Jeremy