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Archive for Jason Dukes

Feb
9

Ame como es amado

by newhope

por Jason C. Dukes

Detesto el correo chatarra. No hace otra cosa que llenar mi carpeta de reciclaje o el cesto de basura. No me sirve de nada. No puedo aguantarlo. ¿Tengo en realidad que decirle cómo me siento?

Tristemente, encuentro a muchos que en realidad se sienten tal como yo me siento en cuanto a correo chatarra. En la metáfora de correo electrónico, se consideran a sí mismos arrinconados en la carpeta de correo electrónico chatarra, para nunca más volver a ser recibidos. Para mí esto es muy triste; aunque, no es sorpresa que algunos se sientan así. Cuando el egoísmo de nuestro mundo se inscribe a sí mismo en nuestras vidas mediante degradación, vergüenza, y una competencia de ganar a toda costa, y una falta de un compromiso a largo plazo, leal, y mucho más, con razón las personas se sienten como chatarra: sin esperanza y sin propósito. Todos hemos recibido el porrazo de la decisión absorbida en sí mismo de otra persona. Jesús dijo que el maligno anda buscando como arrebatarnos la vida de cualquier manera que pueda (Juan 10:10).

En realidad todos queremos ser amados, como lo dice alguna canción, y verdaderamente todos queremos simplemente un poco de R-E-S-P-E-T-O. Es más, basado en lo que Dios declaró primero que “no es bueno,” opino que sentirse solo es el temor básico para todos nosotros. No queremos estar solos. Queremos saber que somos amados.

Esto debe ser otro componente del caos que surgió en el huerto del Edén. Antes de que comieran del fruto del árbol de sabelotodo, Adán y Eva caminaban en la plenitud de Aquel que Juan dijo que “es amor.” Deben haber sabido que eran amados; y con todo comieron del fruto, pensando que sabían mejor, y más tarde deseando no saber tanto como llegaron a saber cuando comieron del fruto sabelotodo.

¿Qué peregrina cosa estoy diciendo? Que aunque es integral en nosotros una consciencia de un Dios que nos hizo y nos ama, aprendemos a no amar, y a no confiar, y a no respetar debido a las maneras en que nos tratamos unos a otros desde el mismo huerto del Edén.

Probablemente usted ha oído el dicho: “Sé que soy alguien, porque Dios no hace ninguna chatarra.” Estoy seguro que los fanáticos de la gramática harán su agosto con eso; pero si uno mira más allá del doble negativo, halla un principio fundamental para vivir como enviado. Amamos porque somos amados. Podemos ser una carta para otros, llevándoles el mensaje de que ellos no son chatarra, porque confiamos en que nosotros tampoco somos chatarra.


de Cartas vivas, por Jason C. Dukes


Jason C. Dukes es estudiante, soñador y profesor. Originario de Nueva Orleans, Luisiana, en estos últimos años Jason se ha hallado en una jornada asombrosa al iniciar la iglesia Westpoint en el área de Orlando, Florida.

Una carta viva
Cartas vivas (podcast)

1 Categories : Articles
Dec
28

Mac Pier, Tim Keller, and Many Others: Beyond My Church Thinking in Action in New York City

by newhope

In line with the message of our featured book this month, Beyond My Church by Jason C. Dukes, New Hope Digital is offering a free download of chapter 13 of Spiritual Leadership in the Global City by Mac Pier.

Chapter 13 is titled “The Church Multiplication Alliance: Redeemer Presbyterian Church and Concerts of Prayer Greater New York Partnership.” Read how God has moved in powerful ways through this alliance in New York City and around the world.

Mac Pier writes, “The partnership in building the alliance was rooted in Redeemer’s credibility as a rapidly growing church committed to the good of the whole church. The partnership was also rooted in Concerts of Prayer’s commitment to knit together as many diverse traditions in the Bible-believing church world as possible.”

Pier goes on to call the 2003 National Leadership Forum that Concerts of Prayer cohosted with Mission America as a “turning point” for the alliance. During that forum, Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian did 3 expositions from the Book of Acts for leaders attending from 50 cities. A brief summary (6 highlighted themes) is included in the chapter available for download now.


If you are hungry to see God move among the churches in your city, you may also be interested in Beyond My Church: Thinking and Living So That the World Might Know by Jason C. Dukes, available now from New Hope Publishers.  Activist and author Alan Hirsch writes, “Jason Dukes is the real deal. And his vision for the unity (as well as the universality) of the church in mission is as visionary as it is practical. We need more of this in our time.”

0 Categories : Articles, downloads
Dec
27

Jason Dukes: Thinking and Living So That the World Might Know

by newhope

Jason C. Dukes discusses his latest book, Beyond My Church. He answers questions about Christian unity and the lack thereof while also suggesting some paths forward. Find out more about the Church of West Orange in Beyond My Church.

Download the first chapter of Jason’s book here.

Jason C. Dukes has a passion for equipping the church to make disciples. Since 2004, he’s been on an amazing journey, cultivating a local church expression in the Orlando, Florida, area: Westpoint Church. This faith community focuses on being the church, doing life together, and giving herself away. Jason helped to create and launch the Restoration Concept, House Blend Cafe, the Reproducing Churches network, and the Church of West Orange. He and his wife, Jen, have 5 children and live in Orlando.

You may also be interested in Jason’s other books:

  • Live Sent
  • Cartas Vivas

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

0 Categories : Podcast
Dec
20

Immanuel Changes Everything

by newhope

by Jason C. Dukes

As you are celebrating Immanuel this year, may I ask you a question regarding your neighbors (all those who live on the daily pathways of your life right there in your community)?

I admit up front that this question is a loaded one. It will be followed by some personal thoughts on the story of the shepherds and how Immanuel’s arrival changed forever those individuals and their community and our world.

So, here’s the question: If the people of your community believed and actually lived as though “God with us” was a reality, what might surprisingly be different about the neighborhood, the community, and the city where you live?

Luke 2 and Some Thoughts on His Coming

As you ponder this question, please consider the following personal reflections (with accompanying Scriptures) from the story of the shepherds in Luke 2:8–20 (NASB).

:: Emmanuel challenges our community’s religious norms, bypassing the ritually religious people to show up among those who weren’t necessarily religiously active.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

:: Emmanuel questions who our community values, highlighting the presence of the powerless and exposing the powerful (by their lack of presence).

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

:: Emmanuel rebukes how our community typically thinks of God. We do not perform well in order to gain His presence, but rather He is pleased to give us His presence in spite of our performance.

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

:: Emmanuel causes us to look for God differently. We search for Him away from our erected mountains of worship only to find Him out in the midst of the ignored, unimportant, overlooked, and dirtiest of places.

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

:: Emmanuel transforms wayward loners into loving worshippers, making us into a community of people who learn the ways of God together even from the most unexpected of teachers.

 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

The Bottom Line

How might Immanuel change the way you and I think and live and interact in our community? May we remember daily what God desires, who He values, how He loves us, where He is, and why He is so worthy of our worship.

Because while we were still sinners, both self-indulgent and self-righteous, He came to be with us.

And that changes things.

Even how we celebrate His coming.

So, what would you suggest? In response to what we have learned and continue to learn from Immanuel, how might the local church expressions in our neighborhoods join together to do more than just celebrate Christmas in the same old ways? How might we together go and be Immanuel in our communities?

Please leave your stories and thoughts so we can celebrate and learn His ways together!


Jason C. Dukes, author of Live Sent, Cartas Vivas, and Beyond My Church, has a passion for equipping the church to make disciples. Raised in New Orleans, he is a Christ follower and a leader, a husband and a father, a learner and a teacher, a servant and a brother. Since 2004, he’s been on an amazing journey cultivating a local church expression in the Orlando, Florida, area: Westpoint Church.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

0 Categories : Articles, Columns, Jason C. Dukes
Dec
15

Let’s Celebrate Well this December

by newhope

by Randy Bishop

Beyond My Church by Jason C. Dukes is a wonderful book to highlight this Christmas season. When we think beyond ourselves and beyond our particular local congregations, then the kingdom of God can grow in exciting ways. When we think and live in unity with other Christ followers across all sorts of dividing lines, then our message will be authenticated to a waiting world.

The message of the newly released Beyond My Church fits perfectly with our December theme on New Hope Digital: Celebrating Christmas in a World of Need. In addition to a free download of the first chapter of Jason’s book, look for two columns and a podcast from him as well this month.

A number of our New Hope authors have stepped to the plate (nice to think of baseball in the winter, you know) this month and contributed a variety of articles on the theme of celebrating Christmas well. Great work has been contributed by Dan Darling, Kathi Macias, the Singletons, and several others. I truly hope you’ll both enjoy and be moved by these pieces.

And don’t miss a new column from Mary R. Snyder and an update on the grandmother blog by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our visitors a joyous, peaceful, and Christ-honoring Christmas. Let’s celebrate well—enjoying God’s gifts to us with our families and friends. May our days also be marked by giving to the needy, praying for the lost, and going to those who need to hear the glorious message of Immanuel.

“When the King of kinds exchanged His majestic robes for swaddling clothes, surely it was the most beautiful, awe-inspiring moment in all eternity.”—from Pursuing the Christ by Jennifer Kennedy Dean

0 Categories : Articles, Columns, Randy Bishop
Dec
5

Download the First Chapter of “Beyond My Church” by Jason C. Dukes

by newhope

Get a free sample of the new book from Jason C. Dukes!

Download the table of contents, introduction, and first chapter of Beyond My Church by Jason C. Dukes.

Unity. What Jesus prayed for. How God’s work happens.

Jesus prayed for His followers to think “beyond my church” so that God’s work would happen among us—and beyond us. When we love one another as Jesus loves us—living according to His ways rather than our own—the world will see Him.

Join pastor, speaker, and author Jason C. Dukes and discover how Christ-centered unity can become part of the DNA of your local church expression.

“Jason Dukes is the real deal. And his vision for the unity (as well as the universality) of the church in mission is as visionary as it is practical. We need more of this in our time.”—Alan Hirsch, activist and coauthor of The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church

Download the first chapter of Beyond My Church now.


Jason C. Dukes, author of Live Sent and Cartas Vivas, has a passion for equipping the church to make disciples. Raised in New Orleans, he is a Christ follower and a leader, a husband and a father, a learner and a teacher, a servant and a brother. Since 2004, he’s been on an amazing journey cultivating a local church expression in the Orlando, Florida, area: Westpoint Church.

Jason helped to create and launch the Restoration Concept, House Blend Cafe, the Reproducing Churches network, and the Church of West Orange. He and his wife, Jen, have 5 children and live in Orlando.

 

3 Categories : downloads
Dec
1

Celebrating Christmas in a World of Need

by newhope

by Jason C. Dukes

Let this soak in: Americans spend $400 billon annually on Christmas expenses while at least one estimate indicates that only $30 billion could provide clean water and sanitation for every person on earth (assuming competent, responsible implementers could be found to do the work).

Now consider these 2 words: Advent conspiracy.

The two words are an odd pair no doubt. But not so odd to 4 local church expressions in Houston, Texas, who, in light of Jesus’ love and the reality of the worldwide water crisis, decided to conspire together during the Christmas of 2006 to “worship fully, spend less, give more, love all.” Advent Conspiracy has now blossomed into a movement of many thousands of Christ followers across the globe who are spending less on themselves in order to bless others with clean water.  

Westpoint Church near Orlando, Florida, the local church expression of which I am a member, got involved during the Christmas seasons of 2008 and 2009. We were able to raise enough money each year to help support 2 different clean water well projects in partnership with Living Water International. (By the way, my fellow New Hope author Dillon Burroughs will be donating a portion of the proceeds from his book, Thirst No More, to this same organization.) 

Unified to Make a Difference

But the story got a whole lot more exciting for me in 2010. Last year, the Church of West Orange, a diverse group of several local church expressions being the church together to West Orange County (central Florida), joined together in an attempt to raise $11,000 for a village in Ethiopia that lacked easy access to clean water. (The story of the Churchof West Orange, which includes Westpoint Church, and our desire to live out the unity Jesus prayed for His followers in John 17 is highlighted in my new book, Beyond My Church.)  By God’s grace, we were able to reach our goal of $11,000 and now that Ethiopian village has clean water.

Even better, an existing gospel partnership in that particular village—focused on loving families and orphans—now enjoys greater influence with the people there as a result of the water ministry. Our together effort in Florida—deciding to get less stuff and give more hope—is yielding eternal fruit in a remote area of Africa thousands of miles away from us.

It didn’t come without both unity and sacrifice, though. Unity was on display not only through 6 local church expressions on the west side of Orlando, but also through several local businesses who took part. This got people—both those connected with a church family and those not connected with a church family—to come together around an important project, which in turn sparked some awesome conversation about the real meaning of Christmas and the generosity of the God who came near as Emmanuel. 

Sacrifice was on display, as well. But when you really stop and think about it, was it? In no way do we ever want to take away from how special Christmas is to all of us, and in no way do we want to diminish the significance of the church cantatas and celebrations and pageants that are held each year, but is it really a sacrifice to spend less on those gifts and those celebrations in order to give a gift so basic as clean water to someone in need? That’s not sacrifice. That’s compassion.

We are empowered to show compassion to both the local and global needs of which we become aware because of the gracious sacrifice that was made for us through the arrival of a Baby whose tiny, smooth-skinned hands and feet would not remain unscarred. 

In fact, as churches and individuals we were grateful to get less and give more. I am not telling this story out of pride to gain your applause. Rather, I am sharing it in hopes that it will encourage you to worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all this Christmas. There’s joy to be found!

May you stir up some conspiracy in your town this Advent. Unite together around a local or a global need, or both if you can, and then spend less so you can give more hope away. 

By your living in such a manner, perhaps someone else’s heart and mind and life will be changed in just the way you may have hoped for had you brought them to a big cantata. And maybe that’s the conspiracy. Christmas was not intended to be about presents and presentation, but about presence. Compassion. God coming near to us. Then we go and do the same together. 


Jason C. Dukes, author of Live Sent, Cartas Vivas, and Beyond My Church, has a passion for equipping the church to make disciples. Raised in New Orleans, he is a Christ follower and a leader, a husband and a father, a learner and a teacher, a servant and a brother. Since 2004, he’s been on an amazing journey cultivating a local church expression in the Orlando, Florida, area: Westpoint Church.

 

0 Categories : Articles, Columns, Jason C. Dukes
Sep
8

Where Missional Discipleship Began

by newhope

Jesus went through cities and villages proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. He sat on rocks, walked up hills, sailed on boats, visited in homes, worshiped in synagogues, and traveled through wheat fields. He didn’t avoid the hard places, those where He was hated or misunderstood. He wasn’t fearful of the unknown. He didn’t hesitate to step off the beaten path or walk through the fruitful fields. With His heart overflowing with love for His Father and a burning urgency to accomplish His Father’s mission, He led the way to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even the farthest reaches of the world.

Jesus didn’t go alone. He took His disciples. He took some women whose lives he had redeemed. He took many others who contributed to His ministry. It’s hard for me to imagine this large contingency of people who left their homes to travel with a radical itinerant preacher. Yet, those of us who know Jesus realize He fed their hunger for truth and satisfied their thirst for righteousness.

Jesus could have traveled alone, or with a small select group. The large crowd who went with Him wasn’t accidental. Jesus’ plan was the intentional missional discipling of these men and women. He was equipping them to live in the same way He lived. They heard Him, watched Him, and then helped Him. They learned for themselves this radical new lifestyle.

To understand missional discipleship in today’s world I encourage you to read two new books: Live Sent by Jason Dukes and  Live Like a Missionary by Jeff Iorg. You, too, can live for God’s mission.

0 Categories : Blog
Jun
23

On the Frontlines: NHP Authors Living Sent (#1)

by newhope

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a continuing series of articles in which New Hope Publishers authors share how they are living sent, or living like a missionary.

Our family is living like a missionary on the street where we live. We are praying for our neighbors—and actually trying to get to know their names and their stories. Inviting them over for dinner and being available when they have a need. We freely give out our contact info, so that they could actually contact us if they had a need.

Our kids are in on the game, too, looking for ways to not only play with but also to encourage the neighborhood kids. We are trying to listen and love and be ready to share the good news of the God who came near. We do this both through our near presence with them, as well as our near conversations with them.

It’s not always easy to be “available,” and we don’t bat 1.000 at it, but we are trying to live sent lives in hopes of seeing “on earth as it is in heaven” right here on our block.

—Jason Dukes, Live Sent

One day my pastor asked me, “What do you want out of life?” Without hesitation I answered, “I want my life to count.”

That conversation happened over 24 years ago and although I was already a dedicated Christian, my simple, six-word answer became a new defining goal of my life. At the time, I focused on living a godly lifestyle before my young children by relying on God’s Word for every one of life’s answers.

My journals turned into typed-out treatises that I shared with friends. They began commenting, “That would make a great book. We all need to learn about that.”

Really, I thought. Could what God is teaching me really help someone else’s life?

That’s when I attended my first Christian writers’ conference, which changed my life. Now I continue to witness through my books, articles, seminars, speaking ministry, and a devotional blog. I’m living sent as founder and CEO of Life That Matters Ministries through which I carry out the calling on my life to help others live significantly.

—Sharon Norris Elliott, Power Suit

As a former missionary, my current “living sent” looks radically different than it did when traveling through Europe several years ago. Today, I’m in America, am a minister’s wife, and I live the life of a stay-at-home mom. My calling to “go into the world,” however, remains the same.  

The only difference is, rather than going overseas to share Christ, I am now seeking to make friendships with other mothers in my church and community. It is through these new relationships that I seek to share Christ.

My current missions field is the local playground, story hour at our community library, and play dates with moms I meet through my 15-month-old son. I cherish the opportunities given to me to hear the hearts of mothers in various stages of parenting. God often reminds me that He is just as pleased with me sipping a cherry limeade at Sonic with a new mom who feels overwhelmed as He was when I traveled throughout Europe.  

I have come to realize that “living sent” is not really about where you are going with God’s Word. Instead, it is a more about living a life that seeks exalt to Him in your conversations and relationships.

—Lorie Looney Keene, Pull Up a Chair

First and foremost, in this season of life, as a mother to two preschoolers, I try to lead a life of God’s love and grace in front of my husband and boys. I find that is a most difficult task at times. I try to point out to my children God moving and working in the world, so they will have a global perspective of God’s mission.

As I’m planning out my daily schedule, I seek God’s guidance on prioritizing which tasks will have the most eternal significance. I look for ways to get beyond my Christian bubble. Whether that is building relationships with moms at the ballpark, ministry projects with my children, teaching children at church, or social networking.

I use social networking to connect with women from all backgrounds and religions. I seek to use my author’s blog www.mitzieaker.com, Facebook, and Twitter to witness personally and connect others to Christian bloggers and resources that witness to God’s glory.

—Mitzi Eaker, Missions Moments 2

I’m living sent through my daily job, working in disaster recovery for the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Our focus is to always be in a state of readiness, to perform in any disaster, by meeting the needs of the people, whatever they may be. We take Mark 9:41 (giving a drink of water in Jesus’ name) literally.

Our message is to be the eyes, ears, hands and feet of Jesus, ministering hope and encouragement to people who are in disastrous situations. Many times all they need is someone to listen to them and give them a hand up. The people I have met are not victims, they have amazing stories to tell and have rightly earned the title “survivors.” Through their testimonies, their lives are a message from God.

—Sandy Lovern, Finding Your Way

0 Categories : Articles
Jun
21

Jason Dukes: Living Sent

by newhope

What does living sent look like? What does it mean for the church? Can we think beyond “discipleship” programs and begin to  demonstrate a lifestyle of love?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

0 Categories : Podcast
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