jakerasmussen.com

For the first stage of the Tour de France I pick…..  Cancellara.  He is a stud and has proven himself to go the distance during long TT’s and this one starts out rough with along uphill climb.  Although, I would really like to see Zabriskie in yellow tonight, as it IS the 4th of July and he in an American TT monster!

I am excited to be an American for sure.  July 4th.  Fireworks.  Food.  Friends.  I am really looking forward to being with friends this evening at the Jackson’s clubhouse.  Being a Pastor I long to see relationships being built.  A lot of times the church expects deep relationships to be build by ensuring people are there on a Sunday morning or even at small groups, and while I do feel those are important, relationships are strengthened during special events.  When you are sipping a cold beverage, hot dog in hand, talking about the latest NBA trade and the daily results from the TDF; relationships are made.

I am also excited about the next series starting Sunday at Epic Church.  It is called Man to Man.  Preaching from the Bible, I will strive to bring a message from Jesus about how a Man should live.  If a dude was sitting eye to eye, knee to knee with God over a cup of coffee, what would God say?  And before all of you start Twittering or emailing me saying, “Isn’t a better title for this series ‘God to Man’, I know and maybe even you are right.  But, from THE man to A man is what we are looking for here.  I am jazzed about this Sunday though.  Looking at 1 Timothy 4!

I am super, super, super stoked that Starbucks Coffee Company is partnering with (Red) and giving a portion of every holiday drink sold to the Global Fund with a vision to “Make Poverty History”.  Buy Starbucks holiday drinks with confidence that they are giving back.

Because I am a partner at Starbucks I am excited this is happening but also because I am a Follower of Jesus, I am excited to see this happen.  Jesus Followers care about the “least of these” and we (together) can make a difference.  As excited I am for a huge mega company, Starbucks, to be partnering to help make our world a better place; I can’t help but to think if the Church, which is, Followers of Jesus would just be doing what that are “supposed” to be doing… would we even need something like (RED) or ONE or the Global Fund?

What part does Epic Church need to play in making our community, city and world a better place?

Read here for the article: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h8HCh-agGfWkC39bZJ218E0005nAD944FB8O1

I am thankful for each and every service man and woman sering in our Armed Forces and the USCG.

I have the awesome privilege of being the pastor of a few of America’s Finest. They are dedicated to their mission and work as hard as they can to excel in their position. I am grateful for their service and sacrifice. At Epic Church we have a service person serving overseas right now and at the moment I am in constant prayer for the safe return of this person.

I am also thinking of my father, William John Rasmussen. “Bill”. He served the United States of America in the Vietman war and received multiple commendations including a few Purple Hearts which I have one stored in my bedroom. My father was dedicated to his service when he was there. He was a wonderful solider. One who was promoted quickly and earned the respect of the men around him.