tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347530952011-11-01T02:05:15.671-07:00Reflections on my adventures and misadventures of living as a disciple of Jesus in the 21st century and encourage others to do the same.Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.comBlogger361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-74369283046141018462009-10-26T06:35:00.000-07:002009-10-29T13:44:41.811-07:00

Mark 10:46-53 “Take Heart, Get Up, He’s Calling You” October 25, 2009 Pentecost 21 Prayer: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Give us the sight of faith and with your words of invitation and healing, turn our lives toward following you. Amen. If you had to give up one of your five senses, which one would you be most willing to give up?This was a question

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-42872045349336507312009-10-18T17:30:00.000-07:002009-10-20T09:13:46.621-07:00

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Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-72202132293216395002009-07-24T13:22:00.000-07:002009-07-24T13:30:02.899-07:00

Hello All!Finally was able to get to a computer. I was hoping to be able to blog from my phone, but to no avail.It has been a jam packed, Spirit-filled amazing trip so far. Yesterday, our group served for 4 hours in the Southern Heat, making it possible for New Orleans residents to return to it's largest park for rest and relaxation. We cleared out invasive species of plants and laid new

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-86015860404891305462009-07-20T19:26:00.000-07:002009-07-20T19:30:19.922-07:00

We are less than 12 hours away from the beginning of our ELCA Youth Gathering adventure! Please keep People of Hope's 8 youth and 2 adult leaders in your prayers.AlishaBriannaBrianDanDavidDebJasonJohnMaddy &PeterWe look forward to updating you frequently! Bring on the humidity and the 'gators!Walking in the Way,Jason

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-64338868603841032502009-02-16T07:04:00.000-08:002009-02-16T07:20:05.988-08:00

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Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-228971108215684632008-09-08T11:13:00.000-07:002008-09-08T14:00:35.135-07:00

Here's the text to my sermon for Sunday, September 7, 2008 based on Matthew 18:15-20<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Eras Medium ITC"; panose-1:

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-51648966771416288492008-08-05T18:46:00.000-07:002008-08-05T19:20:21.091-07:00

Three weeks ago, my colleague, friend and founding pastor of the church I serve, left for a new call in St. Paul. As the congregation and I have transitioned into this new space and time together, I have discovered that though I may be the sole ordained guy around, that I am in good company in this venture. I have said to our leadership team a few times, "Here's where I think we need to go, but

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-25417608515956036162008-03-31T11:36:00.000-07:002008-04-11T16:49:15.119-07:00

With the wonder of today's technology, we can introduce the world to Ellie. It's like the scene in the Lion King when Rafiki runs to the top of the mountain and presents Simba to the animal kingom, only I don't have to face the hyenas!Our new family is doing really well, Erica and my eyes could stand to see a little more of the inside of our eyelids, but we're figuring it out every hour.Pictures

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-68236969915514450432008-03-24T09:14:00.000-07:002008-03-24T10:26:21.490-07:00

In the Christian tradition, Good Friday is usually reserved for a solemn remembrance of Jesus' death on a gruesome cross. Christian denominations with roots in the 16th and 17th century are well accustomed to feeling empty on this somber occasion. As gruesome a death as Jesus had, it does not compare to the abundant life and love that comes through the cross to Easter, and Jesus'

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-62880567553903052662008-03-23T20:54:00.000-07:002008-03-23T20:54:26.780-07:00

So it has been 39 wonderful weeks of development and growth for this image we see above and the time for her to come into the world is approaching...but not yet. I can hardly wait to greet this daughter of mine and give her the love that I have been feeling since we first new she was coming. It is not only my wife and I that wait, but family and a whole community of people that anticipate with

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-22488482465306496372008-03-10T10:17:00.000-07:002008-03-10T10:42:52.443-07:00

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-79279260114696316642008-02-27T13:41:00.000-08:002008-02-27T14:06:35.138-08:00

I preached this sermon on February 24th, at People of Hope in Rochester, MN. The sermon is based on John 4:5-42Thirsty? The woman comes to a point in her exchange with Jesus that leads her to tell others, “Come and see a man who has told me everything I’ve done! He couldn’t be the messiah could he?” One has to wonder why this woman is so excited about someone who knows everything about her. We

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-65658913171549056622008-01-03T13:40:00.001-08:002008-01-03T13:44:47.208-08:00

A new year has dawned and with it new reflections to be had on living life with joy and hope. This year I want to make it my practice to live less frenetically. Those who know me will say, "yeah, right! Fatherhood is going to make you less crazy and scattered?" I accept that my life will change greatly this year as I continue to settle into the life of ministry and the new role as father.

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-12616332537142019822007-10-18T07:54:00.000-07:002007-10-18T08:08:32.111-07:00

I have had this prayer above my desk at home since I was in seminary. It speaks to the core of faith and doubt and is honest about an unwillingness to completely submit to our Creator and Savior. And you know what...I think that's ok, even with God.Lord, I want to love you, yet I'm not sure. I want to trust you, yet I'm afraid of being taken in, I know I need you, yet I'm ashamed of the need

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-29765975863954843332007-09-28T11:49:00.000-07:002007-09-28T12:10:45.108-07:00

Yesterday I was on my way to work, listening to NPR, like every morning. There was a story about this college student who was doing astronomy research with a prof and caught something quite amazing...a .005 second radio flash located about 1 billion light years away from earth.It doesn't sound all that amazing, does it? But think about it. They measured something as short in time as a 50th of a

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-52962678429864541402007-09-28T11:45:00.000-07:002007-09-28T11:48:08.252-07:00

So, I took my dog for a walk yesterday and when we came back to the house I saw him eat the neighbor dog's poop. I don't get it! What possesses an animal to eat poop? I suppose if we let toddlers play with their poop, they would eat it too. I still don't get it.

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-12293744352316023832007-07-23T14:37:00.000-07:002007-07-23T14:56:49.220-07:00

This sermon is based on Luke 10:38-42 and Colossians 1:13-28Arriving in New Orleans a few of weeks ago, I knew things would be different, I just didn’t realize how different. I had come to this place for fun in past times, but this time, I was with a group of people who had a different purpose. We were on a mission bring hope to people whose lives had been torn apart by Hurricane Katrina

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-72084538011360184332007-06-05T13:49:00.000-07:002007-06-05T14:12:18.059-07:00

I went over to my wife's coworker's house last night. She had some boxes to give us because we are moving next week. While we were there she asked if I would help her try to figure out why her garbage disposal and outlet by her sink wouldn't work. As she was talking I saw a reset button on one of the other outlets and dumbly pushed it. As I did that, she was saying, "See it just stopped work..."

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1176571252255200122007-04-14T10:00:00.000-07:002007-04-14T10:58:47.220-07:00

I recently read an article by the leader of a evangelically minded group within the ELCA. (I would hope that we are all evangelically minded.) I am so glad this group exists and is getting positive attention from the wider church. I consider myself a partner with them in raising up the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world beyond the church. However, there are a couple of terms used by groups like

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1176517198850777252007-04-13T19:06:00.000-07:002007-04-13T19:19:58.860-07:00

Friday is typically the day I take off. Today, I took a mental holiday that would rival any other's. I vegged out so much that I hardly came into the day. Mindlessness and pure emptiness, with interspersed episodes of good intentions to do things, but really never developing was the rhythm of the day. I should feel guilty...nah. Sometimes I think that I can be washed over with the desire for

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1172759317049908002007-03-01T06:11:00.000-08:002007-03-01T06:28:37.056-08:00

Lent is the the 40 days before Easter when Christians have historically taken spiritual inventory of their lives and repented for sins. Sin isn't a four-letter word, it is simply an honest statement about being human. We sin. As a kid, I loved Lent. I remember how we "put away" the Alleluia, sometimes even physically in a box. The thing I remember most is the way the music changed. Christmas

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1172180989432196802007-02-22T13:49:00.000-08:002007-02-22T13:50:01.353-08:00

The other night, I decided to stop into a Bible Study that is led by Pr. Gary. We were talking about the Last Supper, it's Jewish roots and the way that it has been celebrated throughout the centuries in the church. When Jesus celebrated the Lord's Supper, it was really a celebration. Passover was a commemoration of God's deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. There was wine and food,

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1169791528003133882007-01-25T21:11:00.000-08:002007-01-25T22:14:18.330-08:00

In the opening session of the conference, Rob Bell made the claim that as the body of Christ, we are the Eucharist. We have our bodies and our lives broken or given and our blood poured out for the sake of the world. This is a defining experience and activity of the Church. Paul explains this phenomenon in 2 Corinthians 4:10-12. As followers of Jesus, we give our life over to death for Jesus'

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1169616889217294742007-01-23T21:21:00.000-08:002007-01-23T21:52:17.776-08:00

What if the world saw what the church, the people of God was doing and said, "Isn't she beautiful!" What if the church took seriously the life to which Jesus calls all disciples to reach out to the lost and be compassionate to the marginalized? What if the church stopped measuring itself by the three Bs, buildings, budgets and butts? What would the church look like?Over the last two days, 2,000

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1167254656379437252006-12-27T13:12:00.000-08:002006-12-29T09:45:12.083-08:00

I thought I would post acouple of pics from Christmas Eve. One is Erica, and our little chickens that we had for dinner. It looks like she already ate one of the legs. We have a habit of taking pictures of food. I guess we'll remember them that way. On the right is the Americana Christmas picture, which may be our Christmas card picturefor next year...you never know.Christmas Eve was an

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1167153147743001382006-12-26T08:36:00.000-08:002006-12-26T09:12:27.816-08:00

I am becoming increasingly convinced that technology has both a saintly and satanic side to it. It seems that every device or website that I discover and fall in love with (i.e. cell phone, wireless Internet, MySpace, Blogger, NY Times, YouTube, etc..) it will eventually turn on me. I was once naively convinced that technology was supposed to make our lives easier, more streamlined. I am no

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1165812898992190002006-12-10T20:29:00.000-08:002006-12-11T07:42:47.586-08:00

What difference do words make anyway?!I have been thinking a lot about language lately. You see, I just got out of seminary and I realize that I have been tooled with a particular language that is really only relavent in seminary. What conception do most people have when they hear terms like apocalyptic, liturgical, perichoresis, grace, forgiveness, the peace of Christ, eschatology, or even

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1164062995433324262006-11-20T14:16:00.000-08:002006-11-20T14:49:55.583-08:00

In the last couple of days I have connected with some friends from my past. I talked to my friend Melanie. She and I met when we were in high school at a church leadership event in Chicago. We went to college near one another and stayed in contact until a few years ago. We have talked once in the last three years, until last night. I am in awe of relationships that pick up as if no time had

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1162228041238510342006-10-30T09:06:00.000-08:002006-11-07T13:55:43.876-08:00

I, like many in America, have a love/hate relationship with politics. On the one hand, politics leads to law and order (sometimes). Politics serves as the platform for public debate which shapes the ethos and attitudes of the diverse collection of people who call themselves Americans. It is an incredible privilege to participate in the political process on election day. However, there is a

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1162225555481161022006-10-30T08:17:00.000-08:002006-10-30T08:25:55.500-08:00

This is the text of my sermon from this last week. To read the Bible text for context, click here. Get Lost…in the Truth – John 8:31-36 Rick Warren, of Purpose Driven Life fame said in an interview this week, “A satisfying life is what you experience when you’re doing what God created you to do.” This quote seems to be a twist on what Jesus is talking about in the reading this morning.

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1161097071292144412006-10-17T07:47:00.000-07:002006-10-24T18:49:11.103-07:00

It was great to spend the second half of last week on retreat with the staff. There was plenty of hype about how fun and beneficial the previous retreat was, and this one did not disappoint.It is amazing how gathering together to learn about each other can ground people into a new way of being. Centered in worship and sabbath, we opened ourselves to the wonder of God and asked God to be with us

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1159850060809628862006-10-02T21:18:00.000-07:002006-10-02T21:42:58.770-07:00

I had a profoundly wonderful day today. It was one of those days that did not lend itself to grandiose strides in any one project, and nothing too out of the ordinary happened. However, I have been washed over with thanksgiving and joy today.I am so thankful to be a child of God today. I have felt the unwarranted and undeserving love of God, as if God has said today, "J, you really are mine and

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1159200620009696202006-09-25T08:48:00.000-07:002006-09-25T09:30:02.783-07:00

Last Friday night I went to the home of one of the other pastors in town. Over dessert and coffee we were talking about my young career and his many years in ministry. He told me that his church recently had an intern. One Sunday after worship this pastor of 30+ years asked one of the pillars in the congregation what she thought of the new intern. Her response, "He needs to get the seminary out

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1158790669832439162006-09-20T15:15:00.000-07:002006-09-20T15:17:49.836-07:00

I revamped my blog this morning with a new template, so my old posts have today's date, even though I wrote them earlier. Just to clarify.I will get some photos up soon to snazz it up.Christ's grace is with you.

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1158771080380004892006-09-20T09:48:00.000-07:002006-09-20T09:51:20.383-07:00

I preached for the first time as an intern pastor yesterday. It was an amazing experience of grace. After nine months of anticipation for both me and the congregation, and much of a summer hoping that September would come a little sooner, I had finally arrived to a place I had been preparing for for nearly half of my life. I was received with open arms and gracious smiles. I had been told by the

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34753095.post-1158770903030066382006-09-20T09:46:00.000-07:002006-09-20T09:48:23.040-07:00

About three years ago I had the privilege of talking to a pastor while calling for my seminary's "phonathon". I had met him several years before, while I attended the university across the street from the church he served. After thanking him for his recent contribution to the seminary, I told him that I had heard him preach several times while I was in college. He was a magnificent preacher who

Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839989929560599809noreply@blogger.com2