jerryisms

What to choose? What to choose?

jbfreeman2001 — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:51:43 +0000

Only a preacher’s kid will wind up with 4 Bibles before he or she turns 3!! I did not grow up as a PK and remember my first Bible being a Gideon’s NT I recieved at some point in elementary school. Nevertheless, Maddie seems to have ended up with 4 different storybook Bibles and a book of Pslams (paraphrased for children).

Tiny Bear’s Bible (Zonderkidz.com, ISBN-10: 1-8598-5852-X) was her first. It’s a great rhyming board book, centered around God’s promises and His care for us. Not a whole lot to say about it other than it was a favorite night-time read for us for a good while – it was easy to read all the way through pretty quickly, especially when you figured you could read every other story from time-to-time.

Kimberly and I wanted to find another Bible for Mads just for some variation from Tiny Bear. My Toddler Bible (Tyndale Kids, ISBN-10: 1-4143-2013-2) was a good solution. It had the same stories from her first Bible, but also included others like “Joseph’s Big Brothers” and “Jonah and the Big Fish.” I had to remind myself that this was no longer a rhyming book, but more a storybook. I loved how it introduced each person in the story – “This is…baby Moses, David, Daniel…these are the wise men…”

Somewhere along the way, we decided she needed yet another different Bible. Reading to her at night was now a habit and we were looking for something that gave more detail and might be more fun to read in bed. The Read with Me Bible for Toddlers (Zonderkidz.com, ISBN 978-0-310-71877-2) read like a comic book or graphic novel and some some great illustrations throughout the book. I thought it did a great job painting a picture for us, now that Maddie is at a place where she likes to look at the book with me while we read. For so long I was able to get a way with just reading beside her bed and she’d go to sleep along the way. Now I am in bed with her, she’s on my lap, making me hold the book at a 10-2 position (yes, like I am driving a car!) and she turns the pages – sometimes when I ask her to! This is going to be a fun Bible to go back through with her soon.

Our (Kimberly’s and my) favorite has become the Jesus Storybook Bible (Zonderkidz.com, ISBN 978-0-310-70825-4). The illustrations are great, the stories are better. Like the other 3, the Jesus Storybook Bible walks us from the Old Testament to the New Testament. It is a long storybook, but every story points us to Jesus, just like the Bibles you and I read. Take, for example, the opening story about Creation. The author writes, “God looked at everything he had made. ‘Perfect!’ he said. And it was. But all the stars and the mountains and oceans and galaxies and everything were nothing compared to how much God loved his children. He would move heaven and earth to be near them. Always. Whatever happened, whatever it cost him, he would always love them. And so it was that the wonderful love story began…”

We’ve really taken this “hiding God’s Word in our heart” thing seriously. We want the stories about Jesus to be so familiar to Maddie and Hudson. These aren’t the only stories they hear at night. There are Dr. Seuss books-a-plenty and nursery rhymes and classic children’s stories. We are just taking advantage of the time we have right now to invest as much as we can into what we know is forever. I hope you don’t have as much trouble finding a Bible for your kids as we have. Trouble is not the correct word. We like the variety and we like the fun these books have put in to telling these great stories.

Good journeying!

What’s your story?

jbfreeman2001 — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:55:34 +0000

I was away at our annual staff retreat this past weekend with the rest of our pastoral staff and the deacons joined us on Friday night. We were asked ahead of time to be prepared to share “our most embarrassing moment” that could be told in public. I had my moment in mind, but when we gathered together to start sharing, I found out that the assignment was “our most embarrassing moment in church.” Well, I changed my plan pretty quickly. It turns out that most of us never shared our embarrassing moment just because of the schedule of things over the weekend. However, our senior pastor, Mike, said something very interesting that has stirred me more than I expected it to. This is what he said: ‘We all tell our stories all the time. There really is no way for us not to – its part of our make-up.”

Was I going to tell my story through my embarrassing moment? Surely not – it was just a funny story. But then I had to think about what I had planned to share.

Most embarrassing moment: I wrecked my brother’s car when I was 19 years old. It was a pretty bad wreck. Nobody got hurt. The car I hit had no real damage, but my brother’s car was in bad shape. The embarrassing part of that situation was that when I told my best friend about the accident, he said to me, “well, hitting that bird in the middle of the night is really small potatoes now!” We had gone joy riding in the middle of the night a few months before and got a bird stuck in the front-end of the car. I freaked out about that, but yes, it was small potatoes compared to the wreck I had earlier that day.
My most embarrassing moment in church: the first baptism I officiated. In our baptismal, the pastor stands outside of the waters altogether. This makes it a little shaky as you lean over with the person being baptized to get him or her out of the water. I leaned a little too far and audibly groaned as I picked him back up from submersion. I’m not sure how many heard, but I did and was completely embarrassed.

I know, I know, not a big deal on either count. But as I reflected on what Mike said about us telling our stories, I couldn’t help but think that I really would have been sharing ME through either. I don’t like coming across as un-polished or presenting a product that is sub-par. I strive for excellence in everything I do, recognizing that I won’t succeed in that 100 percent of the time. However, it is my preference.

So, what is my take-away from this exercise? I’m going to try hard not to beat myself up too badly when the outcome is different from what I planned. I know how to “roll with the punches,” but I think its important to be able to laugh at yourself once in a while, too. I don’t know if this speaks to anyone who happens to read these thoughts of mine, but my prayer for you is that you understand we are presented perfect IN CHRIST ALONE. I won’t live my life mistake-free and neither will you. However, as I learn to trust Jesus in the little things as much as I do in the big things, I will learn to not take the slips and stumbles I make today as seriously as I used to.

What’s YOUR story?

Blessings!

What’s in a name?

jbfreeman2001 — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 13:49:05 +0000

Piper…Lyric…Ireland…Brooklyn…Zowie…Sailor…Satchel…Rumer…Scout…Apple. These are some of the strangest names given to children. The worst part is that they have to live with it for the rest of their lives. Or do they? There is a story in Scripture where Jesus is getting ready to call his first disciples. He meets Andrew, who is ready to follow immediately and Andrew runs home to get his brother, Simon. John 1:41-42 reads: “He [Andrew] found first his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).”

Cephas is the Aramaic name Jesus gave Simon. Peter is the Greek translation and it means “Rock.” We’ve read and watched Peter transform into the Rock, on which Jesus planned to build His Church. From what I remember in Scripture, Peter was the only one of Jesus’ original twelve disciples who had his name changed. Paul was originally Saul, but his name was changed for different reasons entirely. So, Peter has to get used to this new name. Andrew has to remember to call his brother by this new name. I bet a couple of other disciples knew him by his original name, too. Do you ever wonder if they thought Peter did it himself?

When I was 12 years old, on my birthday my dad told me that he had some money squirreled away in case I thought I might want to change my name. Talk about identity crisis!! I tried different names on: David? Ralph? Nick? Nothing sounded right so I stuck with “Jerry.” In college, I was tired of telling professors that I went by “Jerry” instead of “Jeremy” and was ready for a bit of an identity change, so I went by “Jeremy” for a while. It didn’t go well because I could never remember that people were calling me by that name until they looked in the face and repeated it for probably the 17th time!

Here is the point: Jesus was preparing Simon for his greater calling. In order to do that, he had to completely overhaul who Simon was. The first step in the overhaul was to change his name – change it into something strong. Peter grew into his name, but it took a lot of work on God’s part and a lot of work on Peter’s part. How is God preparing you for your greater calling? Is it going to come with a name change? Know that it may take a lot of work on God’s part to shape you into that man or woman He desires you to be, but it starts with our own desire to “become” that person God desires us to be. Have you started?

Blessings!

Not enough…

jbfreeman2001 — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:33:07 +0000

I went to visit one of our church members yesterday who has been living at Lexington Extended Care for the past nine years. He didn’t appear to be very old – probably in his late-50s or early 60s. He has two grown daughters and five grandchildren. From pictures I saw in frames around the room, they seem to really love their dad and granddad. He couldn’t speak very loudly, so I spent most of my visit close to him and his wheelchair, almost touching my ear to his face. But, I introduced myself and we started our conversation right away. I asked about his family and he shared what his girls do for a living and how blessed he is with two wonderful sons-in-law. I asked about his wife and he told me that he was divorced. Oops – way to go, Jerry. I did not get from him if the divorce came before or after his accident that had him at Extended Care, but I knew that it hurt. He told me, “Time has been healing the wound.” That was an undetstatement. Only his body is broken. His mind is sound. Can you imagine how confined he feels?

Well, I asked if his daughters visit him often. He said, “yes, but not enough.” Isn’t that how it is? “Yes, but not enough”? Tears began to well-up in his eyes. I knew that I had triggered something in him. He told me about dreams he’d had over and over, remembering the mistakes of his past, reliving those poor choices. He was referring to the situation with his ex-wife. I had to tell him to hang on to what was good in that situation. He had two beautiful daughters who love him very much and five terrific grandkids. I wasn’t going to be able to reconcile his divorce with him in the short amount of time I spent with him yesterday, but I pray that life looked a little less dim by the end of our visit.

However, I have to go back to what he said when it came to his girls visiting him: “Yes, but not enough.” If only he knew how much he ministered to me yesterday. I shared with him that I often feel like a heel of a son because I don’t visit my mom enough. He probably sees his daughters a couple of times a week. If he saw them a couple of times a month, he’s doing better than my mom!

We need these kinds of reminders in our lives. I need to remember that my mom probably thinks to herself, “I just don’t see my boys enough.” Its time to turn over a new leaf. I’m not going to go crazy and call everyday, but I do promise to do better. I’ll start tonight. Won’t you?

Blessings!

Regrets…

jbfreeman2001 — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:49:02 +0000

I was thinking this morning about regrets. I wasn’t in the middle of my jog having a conversation with myself – “Jerry, what are your regrets?” It stemmed from an episode of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND. I watched another rerun last night and regrets was the subject, all because 25 years ago, Ray didn’t walk his date to the door when it was snowing outside – he was concerned about his car. That’s not the point, but it starts the conversation. What are some of your regrets? I’ll have to categorize some of mine:

Early Years

Sending my brother to Prince’s house (only the biggest German Shepherd known to man), resulting in him getting bit by that dog
Lying to my dad about “learning my lesson” so that I could get off restriction early
Coming home early from spend-the-night parties with my best friend (right after The Incredible Hulk finished)

High School

Not sticking with soccer – decided a job was more important
Not applying for scholarships
Not really learning how to study

College

Not marching in the band during football season
Messing around too much my first three years of college – led to another 4 years to follow
Selling my ’69 VW Bug for tuition
How I treated my neighbor who was certifiably crazy

I’m sure there are other regrets, but those are the ones that come to mind right now. I’ve married my best friend. We have a great daughter and another child on the way. I love my work and the people who God’s put in my path. There are times, though, that I look back on my life and say, “I wish I had that this way.” I was reading in Luke this morning and came across a passage I’ve read many times. It was the account of Peter denying knowing Jesus three times in the courtyard outside the house of the high priest. Read this account:

And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:55-62, ESV)

Can you imagine? I know Jesus restored Peter later on after His resurrection, but this was a pretty big deal. You know that Peter lived with this REGRET for a long time. Denying knowing Jesus that third time and hearing the rooster crow would have probably been enough, but Luke says that the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Wow! Have you been there? Have you talked about someone behind their back to have him or her round the corner and hear everything you’ve just said? Not pretty. Thankfully though, Jesus did restore Peter and forgave him. Jesus forgives us and restores us, too. There is no need to live with regrets. Acknowledge your shortcomings and then move on. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we’ll work towards living that life of no regret.

Blessings!

Maddie’s big secret…

jbfreeman2001 — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:34:26 +0000

Maddie will be celebrating her second birthday with a special present – she’s going to be a big sister. Today Kimberly and I found out officially that Baby Freeman is due March 9. Maddie was due March 8, so we think this is pretty funny. Kimberly’s doctor, Dr. Stallard, told me he wished I’d been a little more creative. We reminded him that doctors had a lot to do with our first than this one.

We have known for about four weeks that Kimberly was pregnant – well, sort of. She hadn’t been feeling too hot several weeks ago, she decided to take a pregnancy test just in case. She took one late one night and it had faint markings that indicated “pregnant.” She/we couldn’t be sure, so early the next morning she took a second one and it was quite a bit more clear. All you could hear in our house for the next several moments was, “Oh boy…oh, boy…are you sure?…oh boy.” So, to be certain, and to entertain the OCD in both of us, Kimberly took a third test that actually said PREGNANT or NOT PREGNANT on it – sure enough – PREGNANT it was (Oh boy…oh, boy…).

We have been saying for months that a sibling was in Maddie’s future – she is not cut out to be an only child. Honestly, though, we were just beginning to start thinking about when we’d start fertility treatment again. Kimberly’s endocrinologist was adamant about our inability to go through this process without the help of specialists. We cannot “out-plan” God. Scripture says that “He knows the plans He has for us,” and He truly does.

We are breathing a little easier and our minds are wrapping around the idea that our family of three is expanding to four. We are so excited. I have lots of work to do in our little house to get Maddie’s new bedroom ready and wait for Kimberly to tell me how Baby’s room needs to look. With Grumpa’s (Mark – Kimberly’s dad) help, we are going to try to create some extra storage space in our garage, which is probably where my golf clubs will need to go for a few months.

Blessings!

Before We Leave…a few final thoughts from college ministry

jbfreeman2001 — Mon, 31 May 2010 01:07:43 +0000

10.) Ramen noodles aren’t that bad…

For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.” ~Luke 14:28-30

…be careful where you sign. Don’t get into financial trouble before you get out of school…or after, either.

9.) Call your mama…

Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. ~Ephesians 6:2-3

…learning to balance your relationship with your parents is one of the hardest things about college…especially during the summer…but it’s worth it…you’ll need them again one day…

8.) You’re smarter than you think…

Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments. ~Psalm 119:66

…take some time to really study matters of faith…read authors who are time-tested and true…listen to those who are known to speak truth…dig deeper than you’ve gone before…

7.) Be in the world, not of it…

To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. ~I Corinthians 9:20-22

…there are lots of places for you to plug in on campus…embrace them…meet people…love them like Jesus…

6.) Everyone needs a place to call home…

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. ~Hebrews 10:23-25

…you need like-minded people to encourage you and hold you accountable…a campus ministry or small group is a great place to find this group…

5.) College is where you learn community…

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
~Acts 2:46-47

…you live with others…eat with others…travel with others…you are the church as it was begun, and intended to be…

4.) You’ll never have more time than now…

“For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.”

Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?”

The King will answer and say to them, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” ~Matthew 25:35-40

…you’re probably busy now, but your time is your own…you control more of it than you will in the future, so go change the world…really, you can…

3.) Remember Whose you are…

Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
~1 Corinthians 6:18-20

…if you’ve committed your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit lives within you…live like Jesus to the world around you…

2.) Now is the time…

That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. ~Romans 10:9-10

…nobody can make you play the game anymore…you’ve got to own your faith…claim it as yours…and let it change your life…

1.) Nobody can improve the Original.

I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word. I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ~Psalm 119:101-105

…you can join the best church, attend the best conferences, read the best books and have the best friends, but if you don’t read it straight from the Source…you’re missing God’s best…

Our time in college ministry has been a joy. You have taught us to love more deeply, laugh more richly, grieve with one another more completely, and play Wii games much more effectively. Because of you, we know more about Jesus and His Word, and we love Him more intimately. Because of you, we’ve been changed. We still live at the same place; our porch light’s still on for you. Come see us sometime. We love you.

Blessings!

Jerry and Kimberly

Top 10 Signs You Live With A Toddler

jbfreeman2001 — Wed, 26 May 2010 01:08:55 +0000

10. You catch yourself reaching behind the driver’s seat for socks and shoes being held out to you.

9. Stock in Mr. Bubbles, Kraft Cheese slices, and chocolate milk mix is a must.

8. “My name is , and I like to dance,” means something to you.

7. Elmo has replaced Mr. Snuffleupagus as everyone’s best friend.

6. The safest place for the remote control is on a four-foot tall table.

5. Everything is a cell phone: Fisher-Price toy phone, calculator, even a pencil.

4. “GET YOUR FINGERS OFF THIS LAPTOP – THIS IS DADDY’S, NOT MADDIE’S!”

3. Gone are the days of leaving doors open to bedrooms, bathrooms, outside…unless you’d like to find your little friend out of sight.

2. Alarm clocks are no longer necessary – you get a daily 5:30 AM wake-up call from your daughter.

And the Number 1 sign you live with a toddler…

You have a twinge of anxiety when you lean in to kiss your little girl for fear that she will accidentally bite your face off.

For Everything There Is A Season…

jbfreeman2001 — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 01:36:55 +0000

I am excited about the new season of ministry God has for me at Lexington Baptist Church. I came on staff almost 8 years ago as the Student Ministry Associate with most of my time being directed towards the development of a College Ministry and have built many wonderful relationships through it. It has been exciting to see God at work these past eight years as students have come in to our ministry, graduated, moved on to their careers, gotten married, and grown in their desire to know Jesus more intimately. There have been phone calls, letters, meetings over lunch and dinner, game nights at our house that have given Kimberly and I an opportunity to have “real life” discussions with students. Thank you for allowing us to invest in them.

In 2004, upon graduating from Columbia Biblical Seminary, I was hired as the Minister of College and Recreation, charged with the task managing our new Family Life Center and expanding our ministry in the area of Recreation. We have developed (and are continuing to develop) an exciting fitness program with a variety of exercise classes. We have seen hundreds use the walking track and weight room to improve their personal fitness. We started Upward Basketball in 2006 and have stories of many children coming to know the Lord as a result of the investment made by coaches and learning how to play basketball and cheer. We’ve provided opportunities for the community of Lexington to take its health serious by way of health screenings through our partnership with Lexington Medical Center. It has been great being the “Minister for Fun.”

Moving to my new role is going to be very exciting. As the Minister to Senior Adults and Congregational Care, I hope to have opportunities to learn from our seniors as we figure out how to share life together. I plan to spend time with our folks who are homebound and in the hospitals. We will continue to take trips and I certainly hope to be able to go on many with our folks. Working with the senior council (who have done a fabulous job keeping things going!), we will continue and expand our ministry focus in Lexington and around the world. In the area of Congregational Care, I’ll be working with our staff, leaders and volunteers to work on meeting the needs of the congregation at large, through hospital visitation, funerals, pastoral counseling, and teaching. There is certainly much more to both of these roles than I can go into in this long letter.

College students will still have a place to meet and a place to call home. Please know that we are working as hard as we can to ensure a smooth transition for them. We have new students joining us in June as our HS seniors graduate and are looking forward to them having a great summer with the other college students. Various leaders in our Recreation Ministry are continuing their great work in each of their areas and activities will continue to happen in the interim of bringing in a new staff member to take over recreation duties.

Thank you again for expressing your confidence in me to lead our Seniors and meet the needs of our congregation. Kimberly and I are honored and humbled by this great new responsibility and look forward to all that God is going to do in us and through us in the coming years.

Blessings!

Not By Bread Alone…

jbfreeman2001 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:46:08 +0000

In my reading a couple of weeks ago, I came across some familiar words spoken by Jesus when He was being tempted by Satan in the desert. Commentators, preachers, Bible teachers alike make reference that when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the areas of His physical needs, His personal safety, and His power, He combated each with Scripture. Jesus knew His Old Testament.

In Matthew 4, the writers tell the account this way:

²After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (NIV)

So, I’ve been reading in Deuteronomy the past two weeks and came to Deut. 8 and saw Jesus’ quote right there in 8:3. Check out the context to what Moses said in this section:

²“You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

³“He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.” (NASB)

Jesus had been fasting for forty days, with nothing to eat at all and Satan told Him to make bread from rock. I believe He truly could have done that, but His point was clear – God will sustain us, even in our deepest hunger. It was the same point that was made to the Israelites in the midst of their wandering in the wilderness. They however, had been put to a test. Scripture says that God humbled them and allowed them to be hungry. When they asked for food, God provided manna for them, with restrictions and limitations. They ate and were sustained through their forty year wandering because God was their provider.

This is the reminder I need. God will meet me and take care of all my needs. While I struggle over decisions in the office, meet with students for one-on-ones to counsel them through their tough issues, sit with Maddie in her struggle with ear infections, carve out time to take care of things around the house, I am encouraged to know that God has already gone before me and will provide for me in all situations. Not by bread alone, but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

Blessings!