Christina graduation

Well, Christina finally did it! We attended her graduation in Chicago last weekend, and it was a good ceremony (usually these things put you to sleep. I remember sitting through a long address in nearly 100 degree weather at my brother's graduation when I was young). John Ortberg, the pastor, writer of many Christian books, and Wheaton graduate, gave a great talk on "For Christ and His Kingdom" (Wheaton's motto).

Thanks to so many who have prayed for Christina's health. She is stronger now than at any time since she first got sick in 8th grade. I am believing God for a full recovery. She is looking for a job in Christian writing of some sort- she is a phenomenal writer.

Another dream

Today I had a dream which I think was prophetic. I walked into a post office, and there on the floor in front of me was a white #10 envelope. I picked it up. It was stuffed full of money, lots of big (100 and 50) bills, as well as small bills. It also had a passport and an airline ticket (I think). I thought "I need to look at the passport so I can return this." The name on the passport was William (the name of my father and also oldest brother). After seeing that, I felt that this somehow meant that I was being sent on a trip or mission by/representing my family. Then I awoke.

Any interpretations?

Prayer in Covered Bridge

Today I prayer walked up and down Rt. 9 by Covered Bridge (a huge adult community) in Manalapan. I have always wanted to explore the constructed covered bridge on Rt. 9 marking the entrance to the development. So I walked in it and found just 1 thing inside on the seats- a copy of the Jehovah's Witness Watchtower magazine! I was shocked. I picked it up and threw
it in the next trash can, so no one would be deceived by it.

I wish we Christians were as zealous as the JWs.

Ministering to ministers

Thanks to those who prayed! I spoke at 3 separate seminars last week to about 150 ministers. It was great, and went very well. This is something I have a burden for, to share what I have learned, and the mistakes I have made, to help other pastors to reach people for Christ and to get their churches to grow. I spoke on "Maximizing Your Ministries", which included starting ministries, managing them, stopping them, and training ministry leaders.

Some of the toughest questions asked-
-what are the biggest mistakes you have made? (ask me in person, and I will tell you)
-what do you do with a ministry/leader who has their own agenda?
-can you fire a volunteer?

Pastor Jasko #2 (or is it #4?)

It's official, my son Andrew is becoming our new youth pastor (Obadiah is going to start a church in New York City). He introduced himself Sunday as Pastor Jasko. Someone said he was Pastor Jasko #2. Actually there are 2 other NJ Assemblies of God Rev. Jaskos, my brother and my nephew, though neither is a pastor. But this makes 4 of us at family gatherings, which may intimidate some! In any case, I am very proud of my son, and looking forward to having him work with the church.

Free at last

Recently I finished a 10 year project, putting 3 kids through college. It is hard to believe that I have been sending outrageous amounts of money to the midwest monthly for so long. The hardest part was during the time when Andrew and Christina overlapped in school for 2 years, and we had to pay double (at the same time as our church building campaign). Here is a picture of my last college payment.

But now I am free! I plan to increase my giving sharply.

A rush from Greek

Lately I have been reading Wuest's "Word Studies from the Greek New Testament" in my devotions. You don't need to know Greek to read the book. I took Greek years ago, and it is an incredibly expressive language. Reading it (or about it in English) gives you a spiritual rush.

For example, Wuest points out the famous verse "Faith is the substance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1). He notes that the word "substance" is used for the concept of "title deed" in secular Greek. So faith means we have what we possess faith for without full possession, as long as we have the title deed of faith. This is staggering.

Also, consider Eph. 5:18-19, "be filled with the Spirit." In Greek, this is an imperative- we are ordered to be filled, and sinning if we are not. It is present- now be filled. It is continuous, we are to keep doing it. It is corporate, we are to be filled as a church and group. All this is in the 1 word "filled".

I love Greek.