NathanJeter.com

Can your wife (or husband) do this?

nathan — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:20:46 +0000

There are many simple truths in my life. One of them is this: I do not brag about my wife enough. I usually take the time near her birthday, our anniversary, Mother’s Day and Christmas to do something nice but that’s not nearly enough.

Robin is remarkable. She is patient, kind & truly a beautiful woman. Her “straightforward/direct” approach to life balances & refines my “let’s think about it/ put it off” technique. I could go on and on about her virtues and perhaps I should but this time, I’m going to focus more on the SHOW than the TELL.

Simply put, can your spouse make something as beautiful as this? Mine can. Amazing! and she did it in like a day. Okay, maybe not in a day but it didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it would. & best of all? I get to use it! Woo-hoo!!! It’s beautiful, babe and you’re incredible!

Enthusiasm – almost always wins

nathan — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:58:55 +0000

Thoughts for a Monday

This weekend I was reminded of something: Enthusiasm almost always wins. Enthusiasm trumps experience. Enthusiasm can trounce excellence. I’m not saying that it always works but it almost always buys you at least a second chance.

Enthusiasm is infectious. Enthusiasm is contagious. And the best thing about enthusiasm is this: IT’S AN ADDED INGREDIENT! Nothing is lost when you add enthusiasm. It doesn’t take away from experience. It doesn’t take away from excellence. The only things lost when you add enthusiasm is boredom, complacency, dullness.

Whatever you do this week, add a healthy dose of enthusiasm to it and watch what happens.

Three things I learned (part two)

nathan — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:02:58 +0000

A few days back, I wrote about our vacation (a trip back home for me) and mentioned that there were three things that I learned. Here’s the second:

My parents live at the top of the hill. For whatever reason, it’s always seemed to be a magnet for stray dogs and sometimes even cats. Sure enough it happened while we were there. Twice! Now the first time it was a beautiful little black/tan dachshund. The cutest little thing that you ever did see. My parents had a min-pin for several years and had been resisting the urge to get another dog for some time. To keep this short, let’s just say that by the end of the day, they had a new dog and were thrilled.
Now here’s the rub: The next day another stray showed up. This dog was ugly, bony and growled when you got near. Nasty thing and I led the charge in trying to shoo it off. But it wouldn’t leave and neither of my parents were in any condition to do anything about it. Worse, my wife, daughter, and son all expected me to do something to help out this mangy cur.
Do you see the rub? Pretty dog shows up…. HEY, WE HAVE A HOME FOR YOU RIGHT HERE! Ugly dog shows up…. GET LOST YOU MANGY CUR!
While I didn’t see it that way immediately, my family did and boy, did they work me over. So one morning, I coaxed the dog into the back of my dad’s truck, and then gave it some food and water. Meanwhile, Robin did her best to find a shelter where we could take the animal. (a story for a different time)

This experience left quite a mark on me and as a pastor, it’s made me ask this question: Who are we really trying to reach? Who are we trying to contact? Whose life is worth changing? If we’re honest with ourselves, we probably won’t like the answer to that question. Are we willing to do what it takes to reach the people that nobody wants to reach? You know who they are.

Statistics say that you reach the people that you are most like. You can reach up a little. You can reach down a little. You can reach across a little.

I say those statistics exist because that’s where we’re comfortable reaching. We’d be a lot more successful reaching others if we saw them not with our eyes but through the eyes of God.

Heavy topic I know but I can’t get away from it.

Don’t be an a– all your life!

nathan — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:25:57 +0000

Hmm, should I use that as a title? Should I rely on shock value to get someone to check out this post? Hmmmmmm…..

Let me think on that one for a while but while I’m thinking, here’s the reason for the title. Once, I was in a meeting discussing long-term strategy for a large successful business. There were four people in the room. One was in charge (not me) and the rest of us answered to him. Only one person in that room was enjoying any measure of success that year and it was me. Me. ME. ME! And in my actions and comments I was letting them know it. This was an emotional meeting. Jobs were on the line and I was responsible for 10 times more people than anybody else. So I was making my points and not apologizing. That’s when the boss looked directly at me and stated, “try not to be an ass your whole life”. Strong words for a strong meeting but you know what? He was right.
Did you know that you can be right and still be wrong! If your attitude isn’t right. Nothing else matters. While that’s a lesson important in all facets of life, it’s most important when someone claiming to be a Christ follower interacts with someone that he/she thinks is not. See you may have the key to eternal life but if you don’t live it and don’t show it nothing you say will make a difference.

Paul tell us in 1 Corinthians 13:2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Be right but be right in the right way! Have a great week.

Three things I learned (part one)

nathan — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:13:20 +0000

A few days back, I wrote about our vacation (a trip back home for me) and mentioned that there were three things that I learned. Here’s the first:

Have you ever noticed how people who help others always have friends? I mean always! I have an aunt and I went to visit her twice while on vacation. The first time was to her home and it was because I wanted to. She is one of the sweetest, most honest, most genuine individuals that I know. The second time was where she works and it was because I needed to. See my aunt is a nurse and I needed some professional “advice”. While my aunt was “advising” me I noticed how many people dropped in to see what she was doing and absolutely every one of them insisted on helping her. Why? Because my aunt always helps them. People who help others always have friends! When I grow up, I want to be just like her.

Funny things kids say

nathan — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:38:55 +0000

I like to sing, but for good reason, you don’t like to hear me sing. I know this and respect it but still, I like to sing.

That means that my family has to suffer. There is a song that I sing to Josh and Kate when they don’t feel well. It’s called “Road to Zion”, a ballad by a Christian rock band in the 70s. Don’t ask. I don’t know why I picked that song but Kate, back when she was Katie, liked it and it stuck.

Well this morning, out of the blue, Joshua says he can sing the song. So I ask him to sing it and he does… and it’s hysterical. (someday I’ll learn to video record these things)

The lyrics go something like this:

There is a way that leads to life
The few that find it never die
Past mountain peaks
Glazed white with snow

The next line is: The way grows brighter as it goes.

Josh interprets it as: The way has spiders as you go. Poor kid! When I sing it, I’m tucking him in for bed. I’m surprised that he doesn’t have nightmares. Still it made me laugh and perhaps it will give you a smile when you read this.

God’s best to you and have a great day!

Thought for the day

nathan — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:19:22 +0000

Check this out:

[12] In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. [13] And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: [14] Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, [15] and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, [16] and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

(Luke 6:12-16 ESV)

One of my favorite sayings is that Jesus lived for us, died for us, and lives for us today. What “lived for us” means is that Jesus modeled the way that we should live. In the passage above, Jesus has a big decision to make. We may know about the twelve disciples but how often do we remember that there was a point in time that Jesus made a choice to pick out a select number of individuals to form into a team. A team that would ultimately lead the way in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. I don’t know about you but to me, that was a big decision.

So what did Jesus do? He prayed. Sounds simple enough, right? So how come we don’t do it more often?

Here’s a challenge for you this week. Spend the first few moments of your day in prayer. Pray for wisdom. Pray for strength. Pray that God will put you in the position to bless someone.

Have a great week!

How do you make an IMPACT?

nathan — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:37:26 +0000

How does a church make an impact in its community? How does a church increase its effectiveness to where if the church disappeared one day, the community in which it resides would miss them? That should be one of the goals of the local church: To bring about change in the community. In Acts 2:47, the Bible says: praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Did you get that? The church had favor with all the people. Now I’m not saying that everybody will understand and agree with what the church is about but imagine a community where people say “I don’t get that church but whenever something happens, they’re here to help.” What do you think? Do you think it’s easier to share the good news of Jesus Christ when they see you doing good deeds? I do. In fact, the second part of that verse even says that they added to their number daily. That’s what I call making an IMPACT!

We need to ask ourselves how do we make an impact? I-M-P-A-C-T?

I – I need to be Involved. If this is going to work, I have to be part of it. No sideline sitting. I means yoU!
M – The message of the church must be Encouraging, Enthusiastic and Engaging. I’m not just talking about Sunday morning but in everything the church does.
Praise – The church must praise God in an Energetic, Electric and Exalting way.
Attitude, Aptitude & Atmosphere
Children – our ministry to children must be Entertaining, Educational and Enticing.
Team – While it begins with me (the I in IMPACT), it simply won’t work if everyone doesn’t pull together as a Team.

Imagine if a church… your church followed the example set by Jesus and the early church. Imagine what we might be able to do to bring about a change in the communities in which we live.

Obligation Vacation

nathan — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:36:55 +0000

Recently my family took a little trip (800+) miles to the hills of Tennessee. I grew up there and we try to make it back every year at least for a few days. Now trips to visit family are not necessarily synonymous with vacations. I’ve even heard them called “obligation vacations.” In fact, I believe that most times when someone says “I need a vacation after my vacation” it’s because they went to visit family and had their time all chewed up with trying to see everyone and have everyone see them. When you have a family as large as mine, it’s just impossible to see everybody and over the years, I’ve become much better, to my mom’s dismay, in just saying “not this trip.”

I say all this just so I can say, this was not an obligation vacation. At least not that kind of obligation. Within the past year, my mom has had a battle with pancreatic cancer (not to mention breaking her arm a few weeks back) and my dad has recently had surgery on his back, so both of them are not capable of doing what they normally would do and in the summer that’s work around their home and garden. So this year my intent was to spend my time and energy on things that they would normally be doing if they could & guess what? We had an awesome trip! I won’t bore you with the details but I’ll just say that this was MY type of obligation vacation. Sprinkle in some really cool things that my folks did for us and we just had a great time.

There were three things that I learned on this trip and I’ll be sharing them in the coming days. Stay tuned and have a great August.

Hands & needs

nathan — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:45:47 +0000

All too often we use prayer as a last resort. We stumble around trying to fix the things in our lives that are broken, doing it our way. Only when we come up against a dead-end do we then take the time to say “umm, God could you help me…. please”

We need to start our day and end our day in prayer.

Hand in your needs on your hands and knees.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.