Reconciliation

is a topic that has been on my mind for a few weeks now. Timm talked about it most passionately, and I have come across it in my quiet time.

It is a very powerful thing.

I had heard that before, but I never really took the time to let that stew. I never attempted to really grasp the act of reconciliation and how Jesus used it so beautifully for US! I like the way Timm put it, a man sinless, perfect, without fault trades his perfect life for our battered, sinful, miniscule existance. He takes on the pain and agony WE deserved. Could you find a better Amen moment? (for those of you not down with Christian lingo that would be our “get er done”)

This is a man who took all that on and gave his life, not risked it by going into a burning building, or being on the steets in the line of fire. Not to downlpay any of that as unheroic but he straight GAVE his life to offer us the chance for salvation.

I begin to wonder how I could let something like this not impact me. How is it possible for me to miss something so monumentus and meaningfull?
Which then begs the question what other truths am I overlooking? All the more reason I need to stop slacking on my quiet time and start pursuing God with everything I’ve got.

Yeah I’m not perfect but I was traded for a life that was.

State of Flux

Yes I stole that from JJ, what of it?!

So I opened up my blog with the intent of writing and I then began to read through all of my previous posts, and I just have to say I am pretty sure I am the funniest guy you know,

or think I am at least.

Seriously though I didn’t realize how much I had written. My first post was October 28th 2007. It has almost been 2 years since I started this thing. Going though all my posts made me realize how much has really changed here lately. In the past 2 years I have come out publicly about my struggle with porn, changed church’s, read a few books on leadership, Made a lot of new friends and family, stepped into a leadership position at RPC, started but didn’t continue Office Thursdays, attended catalyst twice!!, and in the process grew a lot. I really just got blown away by everything I have been through. God has been molding me these past two years, it has been a wild ride.

Not to mention the past few months, Chris and Megan moving to Polk County! The church staff has been revamped, JJ and Beth, and their awesome kids have joined RPC!!!, started Merge Student Ministires, and my father got into a Major motorcycle accident.

My life is a complete blur at the moment, I am constantly on the go, but I am loving every moment!! I thank God for the people he has put around me to live, laugh, and grow with. Transparency has never had more meaning to me than it does right at this very moment. Things are always changing, and I have learned in a very difficult way, that change, though it may hurt in the process, always leaves room for great things!

Till next time,
stay cool blog world, stay cool. (I realized that I said this way too often, and how very nerdy it is but I think it is soo funny)

P.S.
We start Vintage this week at RPC and it will be off the chain!

The Cry For Help

Alright, I need your help once again.

I have a couple ideas for some graphics and such for some stuff I am working on, I just need your help to put it to action.

Here is what I need you to do, for those of you who go to RPC, comment and leave me a one word (or couple word phrase) describing what ridgepoint is. For those of you who don’t go to RPC, give me some describing your church or what you think church should be?!

Examples:

Honest, Exciting…..Nerdy (ha ha thats for timm!)

Ok now get to commenting will ya!

Help I need somebody….

Ok I am asking for your help and participation on this!

I realize that I am not very down, or hip I should say, with being up to date on what’s new and fresh and cool. So I am in dire need of some support. I manage the playlist that plays music while people are walking in to church and leaving. Also I usually pick the songs for the sermon series. So here is my request, comment or email me at jamisoncsmith@gmail.com, and let me know what you guys are listening to. It can be christian, not christian, rap, blue grass, country ( i need help there because I don’t like country but I do understand we are in auburndale) whatever.

Now please try to make it clean stuff, not eff this and efff that or any of that I want to sex your body stuff. Let me know what you want playing and what you like singing along to.

I already know Michael wants me to put “all the single ladies” on there.

What are you listening to?

The First Born

Wow I feel uber geek for that title and this post.

I would like you all to meet someone… her name is Eva…

I am pretty sure I will be repenting for this later..

The Follow Through

For the 3 of you die hard fans who have not completely given up on me ever blogging again.

This one’s for you!

For those of you who have been going to RPC pretty regularly lately, please raise your hands……… I’m sorry little japanese guy could you raise it a little hig…… oh sorry that’s as far as you can go.

Anyway, for those of you who were around for translate, Timm talked about some really intense stuff (I’m sure your asking, when isn’t Timm talking about intense stuff but go with me here) mainly translate was about translating the word and lessons we hear into our every day lives. ( I am sure those of you who were there are all hurry up already… well please stop being rude and I will) Then today Chris was talking about differences decisions. To water that down for ya, he was talking about how life is full of decisions and usually the easy choice is the wrong decision.

So I wrote all that to say butterflies and fairy farts…………

or what I really wanted to say was, I know how much Timm and Chris have tried to convince you that applying this to your life is well worth the trouble. What I have wrote all this today to tell you is, it seriously is. It is really easy to hear that you need to apply these lessons, and let that go in one ear and out the other. Yet when you get on the other side and actually begin to see them take affect, you experience a life that is full. This is the part of being a christian that a lot of people miss. The part where you grow closer to the maker, which I don’t know about you, but I am pretty sure that’s better than any home run, hole in one, or prize catch I could ever imagine!

This may not be as big a deal as it is to you, but knowing the choices I have and making the hard but right decision, is a really big deal for me.

So how about you? Are you seeing the harvest yet?

i(insert random apple joke here)

As most of you already know, I now have an iphone. I know I know it’s like the time Jim and Pam finally got together. We have always meant to be and now we finally are.

So for those of you out there that have had iphones and have had a lot of time to play with them, I would like to get some input from you.

What applications have you found that you just can’t live without? Are there any out there that you recommend I get?

Also if you know of any cool tricks or interesting things that you have discoverd you can do with your iphone, lemme know.

Im not

I’m just

not.

.

.

.

But

You

are.

I couldn’t

not post this…

Hey God

I know I am not very good at this and that I should do it more often. I know you deserve better and a lot more time than I give you. I am really excited about what our church is doing to show your love to the world. What they have planned to help those that are hurting and in desperate need of you. That’s why, when I do come to you, I find it difficult to tell you how I feel. Too many people die everyday because they don’t have what I use to keep my lawn looking nice. Too many kids start out life without a chance.

I’m spoiled rotten.

I don’t appreciate what you have given to me. I take for granted everyday that I’m not getting what I deserve. When there are people out there who don’t even know what you did for them. Yet I let my insecurities be my downfall. I let my selfish ME attitude keep me from showing people that

You.

Are.

Love.

A love I don’t deserve. A love I can’t comprehend. So when I come to you God, and I say that I am hurting and that I feel lonely. I love the fact that You love me. Amongst  all the BS I bring to the table. You still love me.

I know I don’t put my faith in you enough. I know how tiny I make you out to be.

Thank you for being bigger than I am.

I pray tomorrow my actions and the actions of your church will make you smile.

I pray we can put our faith in you and stop trying to fit you in the little god box we made for you, your one massive God…. no that wasn’t a fat joke…. ok now it was. But seriously I pray we can collectively share Your love with those who need it most.

I guess I need to sleep now.

Good night God. I wasn’t serious about the fat joke, I guess I will answer for that one day.

Amen