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It is something that cannot be fully understood. To an outsider it looks as if we are talking to thin air. If we are praying in “our head” (as my 6year old daughter says) we often think, “Are we going nuts, talking to ourselves?”

I am preaching a series on Prayer at Epic Church. I am taking some of my conversations with my daughter about prayer and preaching about them. This week I am preaching about, “Praying Like Jesus Prayed”.

Can I be honest here? Ok. Even though I am a pastor I mess up. Sometimes I mess up big time and others they are small enough that no one really notices. But, when I mess up and yell at the crazy driver in “the other car” my daughter is quick to point out. “Daddy, Jesus loves that person too. You really should be nicer to them.”

She is 100% correct. Well, when it comes to prayer and me teaching my daughter how to pray and the importance of prayer she insightfully asks, “Daddy, how did Jesus pray?” And my theologian of a daughter also cocks her head and asks, “If Jesus was God then why did he pray?”

These are the questions I am wrestling with as I prepare this weeks sermon on prayer. I hope you are seeking your Father in Heaven this week though prayer. Drop me a line if you have any insight into these questions or even how you have dealt with them with your kids.

Just about to play hide and go seek and waiting for Epic Church to start online.  Here is a short video blog post.

You can find more about Epic Church HERE or check us on on:

Well, we made it to OKC at about 3:30am this morning.  I woke up and went for a run.  HUMIDITY is of the devil for sure.  47% here today.  Anywho, we are helping my Sister-in-Law (Lyndsay) and Brother-in-Law (Alvin) with housing projects over the next few days.  I have NEVER textured drywall but I am going to give it a shot today.  And if it works out, I have YOUTUBE to thank.  This is were I got all my training:

Video Blog Post - 05_05_2009 from Jake Rasmussen on Vimeo.

Great Job John!  I am happy I got you hooked on Jedidiah Stuff!

Jedidiah Community: John Houchin from Jedidiah Clothing on Vimeo.

A Vulnerable Brotherhood By John Houchin

Vulnerability has devastated my life, and built it up again. I told the truth. I shined light on the darkness in my life and exposed parts of me that no one knew. I spent years covering up my problems, careful to never let anyone see the parasitic creature that was embedded in my soul. I believed the lie that I could get rid of it by myself. So I tried. I made promise after promise to be better and to change. And each promise was met by a depressing failure. I could not do it on my own. I was exhausted. Then, in an instant, I was faced with a decision: let loose the pain of the truth or keep living in darkness. A miracle happened. I confessed to someone whom I loved and trusted. What I told this person was extremely painful for both of us, but I was set free from the ever-present torture that I clung to for so long.

I set out on a slippery journey towards freedom. This isn???„?t the type of freedom where one is suddenly free forever; instead it???„?s a continuous battle that I must fight for the rest of my life. Confessing to someone was only the first step. There were a few others placed in my life that I knew I could confide in. After I shared my experience with them they began sharing their own similar stories with me. I suggested for us to start meeting weekly to check up on each other and continue sharing our struggles, and they agreed. Now that I am not alone with my junk, it???„?s become harder to fall and easier to make good choices. When we fall, unconditional love picks us up.

This has inspired me to seek out others who are hurting and let them know that it is ok to be vulnerable. Now I pass on the grace that I???„?ve been shown and the love I???„?ve been given. Because of a strong community I have found my true identity. Through vulnerability I am no longer a slave to darkness. Through vulnerability I am finally seeking things that I am passionate about. Through vulnerability I found brotherhood.

This is a repost from www.lofitribe.com I am not smart enough… yet… to come up with something like this myself.  Check out the original post here:  http://www.lofitribe.com/2008/02/07/10-reasons-why-church-planting-sucks/

1. It’s harder than you think - but not in that ways you expect. I expected it to be a lot of work and I expected there to be discouraging times and I expected there would be times I would want to quit, but I didn’t expect that I would spend most of my time doing stuff that I don’t love and doesn’t excite me …

2. It’s more fun than you think it’s going to be. Strap on your helmet, but it is fun. You’re building something from scratch and fighting and winning and failing …

3. There are people who don’t want you to succeed … Identify these people and ignore them …

4. There are people who desperately want to you to succeed … Identify these people and seek them out …

5. It is not easy to figure out who are #3 people and who are #4 people.

6. Weather will kick your ass … There’s not much you can do but be ready for it …

7. You will also schedule something no one will show up for …

8. This is not the church you built in your head … Trying to be the church in your head will kill your joy for the church you have, so kill the church in your head …

9. Don’t take anything personally. People will come to your church and go, and friends will choose to be a part or not … If your confidence and self image depend on the “success” of your church, you are screwed as a pastor and will be a terrible person to live with …

10. Settle the failure question before you start …

So many people have asked me, “Jake, what is Jedidiah and why do you wear clothing from them ALL the time?”

I first become connected to Jedidiah when I was just entering into vocational ministry as a youth pastor almost 10 years ago.  I was sitting at a table in Southern California with a mid-20’s dude that was wearing this brand, Jedidiah.  It looked rad and I asked where I could get me some.  He told me his passions about clothing and making a difference in the world.  When I first started buying Jedidiah clothing for myself and others it was just screen printing on Haines shirts.  Now they have their own brand.  Here is a video that share a snapshot of their story.  Post a comment here and let me know what you think:

Jedidiah Clothing: Who We Are from Jedidiah Clothing on Vimeo.

It has been awhile since I have posted something new on this blog.  I am not sure if I have lost my passion for this online thing or if I just don’t have anything I feel is worth saying… or I am just too lazy.

I guess I don’t view this place as a place to really process though my “feelings” but rather a platform to share my thoughts and ideas.  So, maybe I don’t have any thoughts or ideas really.

With that being said I think I am going to try to post a new entry here at least once a week.  Until I “find my voice”.

I am scared to death.  I can’t stop praying.

I am putting together my message for this Sunday and am broken to the point of tears sitting in Starbucks for the devistating stories about porn in our community.  For God’s sake, the line: “it isn’t hurting anyone what I do on my own”.  That is so full of crap!  It destroys marriages, relationships with children, self image, view of the other sex, and creates a massive gap between our heart and the one who created us, God.

I am scared to give this message becuase it is so important and I feel that I will not present it in a way that is full of grace and with a call to repentance.

Oh Jesus, please place protection about my heart as I am preparing and delevering your message to our community this Sunday.  Jesus, please allow the Holy Spirit to radically work in the lives of all who will enter the movie theater this Sunday.  Please use me and my voice this Sunday to present clearly the facts about porn in our culture and community.  - Amen

Every year there are approximately 500 refugees resettled in Tucson.  They come from countries like Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Russia, Vietnam and Cuba.  Some of them speak English.  Most of them are Muslim.  Many have left behind everything when they were forced to flee their homeland.  All of them deserve a friend like you to come alongside them and show them the unconditional love of Jesus as you build relationships and share your life with them.

To learn more about this oppertunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus please contact  Cherie Gray at cherie@tucsonrefugeeministry.com