Jon McCartie

Jesus is standing in front of the temple in Jerusalem
the massive gleaming brick and stone and gold house of God
and he says destroy this temple
and I’ll rebuild it in three days

the people listening to him said how are you going to do that?
it took 46 years to build this temple!
but he wasn’t talking about that temple
he’s talking about himself
he essentially says, listen
I’m going to be killed
that’s where this is headed
because you don’t confront corrupt systems of power
without paying for it
sometimes with your own blood
and so he’s headed to his execution
if you had witnessed this divine life extinguished on a cross
how would you not be overwhelmed with despair?

is the world ultimately a cold, hard, dead place?

does death have the last word?
is it truly, honestly, actually dark
and so whatever light we do see
whatever good we do stumble upon
are those just blips on the radar?
momentary interruptions in an otherwise meaningless existence?
because if that’s the case then despair is the
only reasonable response

it’s easy to be cynical

but Jesus says destroy this temple and I’ll rebuild it
he insists that his execution would not be the end
he’s talking about something new and unexpected
happening after his death
he’s talking about resurrection

resurrection announces that God has not given up on the world
because this world matters
this world that we call home
dirt and blood and sweat and skin and light and water
this world that God is redeeming and restoring and renewing

greed and violence and abuse they are not right
and they cannot last
they belong to death and death does not belong

resurrection says that what we do with our lives matters
in this body
the one that we inhabit right now
every act of compassion matters
every work of art that celebrates the good and the true matters
every fair and honest act of business and trade
every kind word
they all belong and they will all go on in God’s good world
nothing will be forgotten
nothing will be wasted
it all has it’s place

everybody believes something
everybody believes somebody
Jesus invites us to trust resurrection
that every glimmer of good
every hint of hope
every impulse that elevates the soul
is a sign, a taste, a glimpse
of how things actually are
and how things will ultimately be
resurrection affirms this life and the next
as a seamless reality
embraced
graced
and saved by God

there is an unexpected mysterious presence
who meets each of us in our lowest moments
when we have no strength when we have nothing left
and we can’t go on we hear the voice that speaks those
words

destroy this temple and I’ll rebuild it

do you believe this?
that’s the question Jesus asked then
and that’s the question he asks now

Jesus’ friends arrive at his tomb and they’re told
he isn’t here
you didn’t see that coming, did you?
he’s isn’t here
there is nothing to fear
and nothing can ever be the same again
we are living in a world in the midst of rescue
with endless unexpected possibilities

they will take my life and I will die Jesus says
but that will not be the end
and when you find yourself assuming that it’s over
when it’s lost, gone, broken and it could never be
put back together again,
when it’s been destroyed and you swear that it could never
be rebuilt

hold on a minute
because in that moment
things will in fact have just begun

—
Rob Bell
https://www.robbell.com/resurrection/ 

Over the last eight months, Erin and I have felt a stirring — new passions and ideas for something brewing in our lives. After an exhaustive search inside LifeChurch.tv, we started to become aware that God’s “next” for us was actually outside of our current situation.  This was an incredibly difficult realization for us to come to because LifeChurch.tv has been a truly life-changing place to work and serve.  Over the last several weeks, after seeking out wisdom from our friends, LifeGroup, and some amazing leaders inside our church, we feel it is time for us to take our next step.

I will be starting a new job on the team of Ministry Centered Technologies: creators of Planning Center and Smart Events, and located in Carlsbad, CA.  My last day at LifeChurch.tv will be Friday, April 6th and we’ll be moving to San Diego shortly afterwards.  We’re incredibly excited to be moving closer to family and I’m excited to have an awesome job with a company that loves to serve the global Church.

More about MCT later — but for now, I want to talk about LifeChurch.tv.

During my time at LifeChurch.tv, I’ve had the opportunity to work on some incredible projects with some incredible people. But there is no amount of code I could write that could ever repay what LifeChurch.tv has done for me and my family.  This is by far the healthiest place I’ve ever worked, which makes this an incredibly difficult decision to make. And yet at the same time, Erin and I both know that our time at LifeChurch.tv is coming to a close.

I would be remiss if I did not call out a few people who have had a huge impact on us.  So, in no particular order:

• Terry Storch — I feel ridiculous even trying to compress all that you’ve done for Erin and I. You took a huge risk on a guy with no programming skills, major pride issues, and who was afraid to work for a church. You knew my faults and shortcomings, yet you worked hard to pour into me. You taught Erin and I how to properly handle our finances and as a result, we are now debt free. You’ve helped Erin and I learn how to make good decisions and have always been available for counsel and guidance. You’ve completely transformed how I view myself, my work, and my family.
• Jerry Hurley — You’ve been instrumental in our decision making process these last few months.  Thank you for taking the time to meet with me (over and over and over) and for your encouragement and guidance. In addition, I want to thank you for the leadership and development culture you’ve built at LifeChurch. Thank you for making this place an incredible place to be — and a place that values who I am over simply what I can do.
• Kevin Penry — Thank you for offering to mentor me back in August. After Erin, you were the first person I ever talked to about what could be “next” for me. What amazed me was the selflessness that you had with your time. You freely gave to me and I can only ask God that in the future, I can do the same for someone else.
• Josh Turmel — Besides Terry, I think we’ve known each other the longest. I still remember talking with you before I got hired and telling Erin how much I wanted to work with someone like you. Thanks for putting up with my craziness. I credit you for teaching me the majority of my programming skills and for that, I’m indebted. You believed in me to take over the YouVersion website, and you patiently worked with me over many months to sharpen my skills. Thank you for your honesty, your teaching, and for your friendship.
• Kevin Morey — Besides JT, you’re next in line for the “Puts Up With McCartie’s Crap” award. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve asked you for SQL help. Thanks for being patient with me and for teaching me so much.
• Daniel DeMoss — Thanks for helping me understand who I am. With so many similarities between us, God knew we needed to be friends so you could help me along the way. Thanks for teaching me to be honest with my fears, to trust people more, and to trust God more.
• Zach Foster — You were instrumental in bringing my family to LifeChurch. I still remember sitting on a bench in San Diego, talking through the decision to move to OKC.  You were my first real example of how incredible and supportive the LifeChurch family is. I suppose you should probably get the “Puts Up With McCartie’s Crap” award, too. Thanks for encouraging me to work through my issues and for pushing for my best.
• Adam Bouse — Thanks, fellow ENFP, for bringing your ENFP-ness to this area of the Digerati Den. Your insight and wisdom has been incredibly helpful to this entire process. Thank you for your friendship, and for working all this out with me.
• Patrick Berry — Thanks for pushing me for excellence in all that I do. I love listening to you talk about LifeChurch.tv — to hear your deep love for what it is and for your gratefulness for being a part of it. Your passion for serving the capital “C” Church is contagious and I am grateful for its impact on me.
• John Davis — You have made one of the largest impacts on Erin’s personal and spiritual development and I don’t think I can ever thank you enough for mentoring her. Thank you for reaching out to her and for changing her life.

If I’ve not mentioned you, forgive me. There are just so many people who have made an impact on me here — too many for this post.

To Craig Groeschel, the entire DLT, and all my family at LifeChurch.tv: thank you. You’ve made us family in a foreign land. You’ve poured into me and into my entire family. Thank you for letting me have a page in an incredible story.

This past Sunday, I took my two little girls to the bagel shop. I sat my girls down at a table, ordered our food, then walked over to the drink station to fill up some water cups.  An elderly man was standing there with his granddaughter, who had her own water cup in hand.  She stared at the water machine, but didn’t act.

“Here — gimme your cup”, said the grandfather gruffly.

“No — I wanna do it”, she hastily replied.

“Well, you’re taking too long.” he mumbled back.

The grandfather looked up at me waiting behind them.

“Go ahead,” he said politely.

I quickly filled up my cup and turned to walk away.

The man leaned over slightly to his granddaughter, “See? He’s already done.  Just hurry up and get your water!” 

Sitting back down at our table, I stared at my two little girls and thought, “Man, what a jerk. Ease up, pops. That’s your granddaughter. Be patient. Give her a break.”  

And then, of course, I soon became the guy I was so quick to judge.  Within the hour, while buckling my kids into the car, I found myself barking at one of them for spilling their milk, and scolding the other for singing too loudly.

I half-expected a rooster to crow three times or something equally condemning.

I think I’ve got a “grace-threshold” problem.  It’s so easy to excuse myself for all my many shortcomings, but when I see the same problems in others, I find myself quickly donning my “holier-than-thou” robes.

“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

- Ps 86:15

Lord, may we be more like you today. Slow to judge, quick to forgive, abounding in grace.