Park Time

This last Saturday we went to a park in Santa Barbara...the kids had a blast, as they got to play and spend time with my family that was in town this last weekend.

Jeremiah is growing fast, faster than we want sometimes. He is becoming his own little man and we have officially classified him as the strong-willed child. Maybe on one of these post Holly can write up a few stories, they never cease to amaze me. However, he is an awesome kid, always up for an adventure!

Baptisms in Isla Vista

This last Sunday we baptized 3 young men in the Pacific Ocean right after the Sunday gathering...it was such a joyful celebration of the work of Jesus in taking our old life on the cross and giving us new life in His resurrection!

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Rom 6:4)

Testimonies of New Life in Jesus

I love watching this video as it reminds me of what Jesus is doing in Isla Vista, not to mention I love hearing & seeing Jesus change lives in a radical ways as He did with my life in 2001.

This video was done by the campus ministry Real Life, also known as Campus Crusade for Christ. Both our home and the Del Playa ministry house was used in this video.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=539845240664&ref=mf

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

365 Faces 365 Days

This super sweet gal named Courtney visited the church Sunday for a class assignment at UCSB and she documented her experience on a website she created this year:

http://365faces365days.com/c/2010/face-39-jason-the-joyful-gift-of-giving/

Interview on live TV about IV, IVC, family, & life

In mid-December I was asked to do a live interview on TV for a show called Fishers of Men.

In was an honor and privilege to be able to share about some of the things that God is doing in Isla Vista and His church.

http://blip.tv/file/3055119

A Special Visit from Friends

Last August, we went to Family Camp and God brought into our lives a very special blessing in the cabin next door to ours...a family with four little girls almost the same ages as our kids, with more similarities to us than we have even realized so far!  When we said goodbye to them after a sweet two days of wonderful bonding, we invited them to come visit us in Santa Barbara, and they said in a very genuine way that they would really try to do so.  This last weekend, that became a reality!

Cory & Becky Jo, and their four daughters Cora Lee (5 1/2), Adri Ann (4 1/2), Katie Jo (3), & Anna Mae (11 mo.) arrived on Friday afternoon and we took them on a tour of Isla Vista, showed them the DP  Houses, and then went on an adventure on the beach.  It was so beautiful out and we had so much fun.

After a fun dinner together, we got all 7 of the kids ready for bed, and Jason read the older ones the Bible, and they all had a fun slumber party in the kids' room together while we got to have such an encouraging time fellowshipping with Cory and Becky Jo.

The next day was Samuel's birthday, and after a blueberry pancake breakfast & opening a few presents, we set off for a hike at Ellwood, and even got to enjoy seeing some of the Monarch butterflies.  Samuel LOVED having the girls here and has become very good friends with them, especially Cora Lee.  He said several times over the two days how she was his best friend!

Later that afternoon we enjoyed Samuel's raw blueberry "cheesecake" (thanks Lindsay!) and everyone loved it.  We then ate dinner together again, got the kids ready for bed and had to say bye as they headed back home to the Palm Springs area.  

We were so thankful for the blessing of that time together.  All of the kids loved it so much and we are just so thankful that God has given us friends that are in such a similar place in life as us, are so like-minded and love the Lord so much.  

Baby J

Ah, I love this kid! Baby Jeremiah is up & walking! Not in these pictures, but he really is...pictures to come one of these days.

DP House - sign your life men!

The Lord is good! This last Monday we just signed up the men to live at the Del Playa House for next year...this will be the the 9th year that the church has had this home on the main party street in Isla Vista.

This duplex of 7 women on the top and 7 men on the bottom is the same home we serve the Jesus Burgers from every Saturday night. The home is a sign and a wonder to many in IV and we know it is only by God's grace that this home is still serving both the church and the city of IV in numerous ways.

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever!" (Romans 11:36)

Taking risk & learning to love...

This is an email from a guy named Bryce who lives at the DP House...I love hearing about people doing stuff that requires Jesus to show up or nothing will happen. We must remember that the Holy Spirit is always asking us to do stuff that we can't do unless He shows up...what a fun way to live life!

Hey J,
Chris, Daniel and I went out through Valencia today on a treasure hunt. We found a little bit of treasure too. We started out in Wal-Mart after waiting on the Lord to see who he wanted us to find and didn't have much luck. So we then went to the mall and ran into a guy who we recognized from Wal-Mart and got to pray over him and Daniel got words for him. That was sweet. Then we talked to a girl selling gym memberships or something for like half an hour. She was a really strong Christian who fell away and just doesn't feel like she can come to the Lord and repent. So we prayed over her too it was great. Chris also prayed for a lady with a cane. Today was good no miracles or crazy healings but we got to share some of Christ's love. Just thought you might like to hear we are putting the stuff we learned from you and IVC into practice. There is no way we would have done this without your encouragement. We love you Jason. Bryce

Samuel & Daddy Time

Today the rain stopped long enough for Samuel & I to have this incredible adventure through the Elwood area in Goleta. I should include that Barnabas, our Golden Retriever, came along for the fun too!

We almost got stuck a few times as we maneuvered through the trails that were saturated with water. At one point we had to cross this stream by using a tree log that had fallen over, since there was no other way to get across...Samuel thought it was the coolest thing that both of us had to crawl across it to get to the other side.

Our Creator is amazing! I was stoked to enjoy Him today with my son.

Funny Kids

These are a few pictures from the last couple of days. The first is the look Hope went with for church today...we changed it out before 4pm, but quite classic.

The second was a birthday party that took place at our house this week for our friends daughter Noah who turned 3, Samuel was an army tiger!

The next is Jeremiah and Hope's new activity..."push me Jeremiah!" Both think it is hilarious, literally baby J pushed Hope around our house like x7 in one day this week. He should be walking soon!

And the last is Samuel making orange juice...he picked the oranges, peeled the oranges w/a knife and goggles, and juiced the oranges himself. Goggles were his choice.

If you say go, we will go...

This past Wednesday I spoke at a campus ministry at UCSB called Asian American Christian Fellowship...it was a great time of being with these young students who are eager to learn and grow in Christ. The text they had me speak out of is a life verse for Holly and I, Matt 6:33: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." I concluded the talk by showing a video about a missionary named Jim Elliot, who, along with 4 other men, lost his life in trying to reach a tribe in Ecuador with the gospel...later their wives and children visited these people and saw the tribe come to know Christ. The call to follow Jesus is the call to go when he says go.  I am grateful for all the lives like Jim and Elizabeth Elliot that have said yes to the call to go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbTFa9px9Lc

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot

Joanna Joy

Most of you know probably know this, but if not...Holly is pregnant!

We are expecting Joanna Joy sometime in mid-May, so stoked for her arrival.

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate." (Psalm 127:3-5)

Merry Christmas

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Christmas Service in Our Home

This last Sunday we had our weekly gathering inside our home, as we were expecting a really small turnout with most of the students gone now that finals are over; however, to our surprise we had about 35 people in our living room celebrating the birth of Jesus together!

It was so sweet having a Christmas service where we sang CHRIST-mas songs together, read the Christmas story out of our children's book, discussed the humble gift it was for Jesus to come to earth, and ate dinner together as a family.  We also sung 'The 12 days of Christmas' and had a comical white elephant gift exchange too!

Ah, God is so good!  This has been one of the best quarters Holly and I can remember in our 8 years in IV...we are stunned at the goodness of God in the land of Isla Vista and are living in great expectation for all God is going to do in 2010.

An Exciting Sunday Gathering

Sunday, December 6, 2009  4pm

bikes parked in the front of our house

we ran out of seats this Sunday!

a view from the back

a view from the front :)

worship was awesome!

a view from the patio

inside the house eating after the service

people in the back still praying way after the gathering ended

Jason & Clay praying for someone in the kitchen while everyone is eating

We had one of our most amazing gatherings of the school year this last Sunday!  For one thing, we have been so blessed by having so many new students coming on Sundays…each Sunday we are excited to have a whole new group of people we’ve never met before showing up!  And this Sunday was no different!

This Sunday a group of young people from the Bethel Supernatural School of Ministry was here with us, leading the service.  It was such a fun time! 

Basically, we just want to testify of the things we are seeing God do out here, with bringing a growing group of UCSB students into family, a family where we are seeing God’s love poured out in ever increasing ways.  We are seeing God speak into people’s lives and He is using each other to give prophetic words of encouragement to one another.  We are also seeing Him heal people!  On Sunday alone, a guy’s eye got healed of pink eye (he came with it all red and left with it cleared up and white again after getting prayer from a word of knowledge), a guy’s knee got healed, a few people’s legs grew out causing back pain to be healed, and lots of people got prayed over and ministered to in really powerful ways.

We had such an amazing time together just watching God work and bless people.  After the service, people were all over the house eating and fellowshipping and praying for each other, and there were several groups of people still out in the back praying and watching God do these awesome things!  It was so fun to all be together and to have all of these people so hungry for God and watching Him touch them and speak to them!

We are praising God for this exciting season He has been taking us into in Isla Vista!  May Jesus be the banner over this city and the satisfaction of students hearts.  We're expecting great things in 2010, as most students take off this week once finals are done.

Can I pray for you...

This last week there has been a conference taking place in SB called, "Power & Love." I have never been a big conference fan for a variety of reasons, but I felt I was supposed to go and bring as many young people from IV as I could. Well, to say the least I have been blown away by the teaching and all the good things that God did in my own life, my wife's life, and all the people that have gone. The men running the conference are really big on getting the church out of the four walls and into everyday life. One way they do this is they teach us stuff and then they have us break up into groups and go into the city to have lunch, cruise around, shop, etc...but while we are out we are listening for the Spirit's direction and putting the love on people (sounds like the ministry of Jesus). I have only been able to go out once this week, though the time I went out, Todd White, who was one of speakers, asked me if he could go out with the crew I was with. We had such a blast loving people and seeing people getting healed of various things! Right from the beginning there was this gal sitting on a bench right in front of Borders Bookstore on State St. She had her left hand all wrapped up, so I walked up to her, introduced myself, and asked her what was wrong with her hand. She began to explain to me how the ligament in her finger was messed up and how she could not touch her thumb to the rest of her fingers. So I asked if I could pray for her and she said sure. So I put out my hand with my palm facing up to have her rest her hand on mine and then I put my other hand on top of it and asked God in the name of Jesus to heal her hand.

It was a short prayer, filled of faith, and God's love for her. She said 'Thanks for praying for me.' I knew when she said that she was expecting me to say have a good day and move on, but I said 'You should try to move your finger, because it may be healed.' So she thought about it and then to her great surprise, wide-eyed, was able to move her thumb to touch the rest of her fingers. I then asked her on a scale of 100, how much better was it? She said 90. So I said 'Well let's keep praying,' and without any hesitation she stretched her hand back out and this time as I was praying she said her hand was getting warm (which is a good sign that God is touching it). Once we were done praying she was completely healed, so thankful, and so receptive to the love of God. I later saw her using her healed hand to eat her lunch with a big smile on her face.

Thank You Jesus for expressing Your love in such a tangible way! "..they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:18)

Thankfulness

This last weekend we enjoyed a wonderful time in Vista with my parents, sisters, brother-in-laws, and many kids! Not to mention, 44 people total for our Thanksgiving dinner! As I (Jason) get older I am appreciating more and more the relationships that God has given me with my family…my heart is full of thankfulness for who each of them are to me and how the Lord is working in their lives.

Relationships are in end in life, never a means.