Prison and Persecution

In the United States, persecution is something we know very little about.  The option to shy away from being overtly overtaken by Mr. Love Himself (aka Jesus) seems more prominent in an effort to “relate” and “be relevant” to the world around us.  Love is how you relate.  Compassion is the key to being relevant.  In other words, being relevant is not skin deep.  The Holy Spirit is known for being a show off.  He wants to make a scene at the expense of the expectations the world puts on your shoulders. I remember my first date with Keeli.  We went to a movie and then strolled through the Asheville Mall.  I saw some teenagers passing by.  One was in a wheelchair.  I stopped to speak to them and asked what had happened.  The boy had hurt his leg in a skateboarding accident.  I asked if we could pray for him.  He agreed so I took a knee beside him and prayed for total and complete healing to manifest in his leg.  When I was finished, I asked him if he felt anything different.  Immediately, his friends began laughing at my question.  I stood to my feet and told them that this isn’t a joke.  I began telling them what we had seen healed by the power of God.  I haven’t been stoned, I haven’t been beaten, and I haven’t been shot at.  I’ve taken on the simplest form of “persecution”… the lightweight, powder puff kind that many believers in America think is true hardship.  Those kids weren’t laughing in insult when I was through.  The world wants to know that you’re serious about what you believe.  Of course, even in your firmness, you can still overflow with the joy of God.

So let’s face it… If we consider this as persecution, we truly need a new perspective.  Each morning at my office, we have devotions.  Pastor Saeed Abedini was sentenced to prison for 8 years in Iran because of his faith in Jesus Christ.  He has been beaten, tortured, and is in the hands of radicals who want him dead.  The only thing keeping him alive is the fact that he is in the media spotlight.  His wife, Naghmeh, shared their testimony.  They have been arrested multiple times, threatened, and promised death in prison by the authorities in Iran.  I could retell their amazing testimony, but I encourage you to hear it from the lips of Naghmeh.   She is a woman who has asked for the nations and shares how she was given an open door to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Join us as we pray for the release of Pastor Saeed and for his wife as she takes care of their family.

-Jonathan Fawcett

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The Ox and Chihuahua

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”--2 Corinthians 6:14, NKJV

Jonathan and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary!  He surprised me at work with lunch (I thought he was the UPS man so I ignored him initially), he tidied up the home, bought me roses, took me to dinner and the list goes on.  I am very blessed and thankful for the man I get to spend everyday with.  How did I end up with such a good guy?  I trusted God and I did not waiver on what I wanted to do in life.  I did not melt at the first guy who told me I was the “one” or that I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.  Honestly, words can be cheap.  All it takes is one chick flick for a guy to know what to say.  Jonathan tells me I am beautiful several times a day and it still makes my heart flutter but he does not stop there.  He calls me for who God calls me.  He does not just see me on the surface but he recognizes the purpose I was created for and the dreams I long to become a reality.  He encourages my passions and works to provide and take care of our home.  Above honoring me, he honors God.  I fell in love with the man I could dream with.  When I talk about seeing entire nations come to know Jesus or providing clean water for everyone in the world he dreams with me to see those things become possible.  We plan to be millionaires by the time we are 30 and we know we will be. Our Daddy is the King.  Therefore, our inheritance is the world!

Growing up, when I would hear the Scripture about not being unequally yoked, I instantly thought of eggs.  It was several years before I began to understand the context.  I was not sure what chickens or breakfast had to do with a relationship.  However a good tip for the ladies: Always have the ingredients for chocolate chip pancakes on hand.  Those provide awesome wife-points when made!

Thankfully, at this point in life, I now understand what this scripture is referring to.   Just in case you are still unsure let me help.

Yoke – A device for joining together a pair of draft animals, especially oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal.

(It has nothing to do with eggs.)

Basically you need to be able to run together and walk together.  Now when I hear the scripture about not being unequally yoked I imagine two strong oxen joined together, walking side by side, doing their job efficiently.  Now imagine if you joined a Chihuahua to an ox…the ox would either stand still (highly unlikely) or the little dog would be pummeled and ran into the ground.  The little dog would never be able to keep up.  You should never consider dating someone you couldn’t agree with and walk out life together.

A relationship should be exciting and fun to dream about the things you can do as one, as well as dream about all the places you can go together.  I can assure you, it is worth waiting for.  Jonathan and I keep a Dr. Seuss notebook of “Oh The Places You’ll Go.”   We record the things we dream of doing in life and we love when we have accomplished something in our dream book.

We were created to enjoy life in abundance.  So ladies: Do not marry a little boy but get yourself a man who you dream with.  Gentlemen: get yourself a woman who already knows she is beautiful by which you can affirm that in her.

Enjoy life,

Keeli

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

--John 10:10, NKJV

Anniversary

July 31, 2010 was the day Keeli and I were married.  It was a good day.  It was a great day.  But not the best day.  Everything ran smoothly, the ceremony was powerful, the music was perfect, and the bride was beautiful.  Yes, it will be a day that we celebrate.  But a wedding doesn't make a marriage.  The best is not behind us.  The best is today.  And it will be surpassed by tomorrow.  The sacrament of marriage is a necessary glory to step into in order to step up to the next glory.  One of our favorite pastimes is remembering how Jesus rescued us by closing certain doors, promoting us by opening new ones, and directing our steps to see our family equipped to prosper.  When our family advances, the kingdom advances.  Our wedding was one day we will always cherish.  But it will never measure to the lifetime we will spend together, continually falling in love with one another. A celebration of matrimony is like heaven: all the people you love is in one room together, sharing in the joyous occasion.  But we have made many great friends since our wedding day.  We wish there was a way they could have been there to celebrate our union with us.  So I created this... Enjoy.

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Jonathan Fawcett

Jesus the Matchmaker

Springtime means one thing for many couples… It's time to plan a wedding.  What happens if all the details don't fall into place?  What if the pieces don't fall into place where you want them to?  Maybe Plan B was God's original intention.  I want to share with you how God works all things together for good. One of my best friends (also named Jonathan) was getting married to his fiancée, Nikki. Jonathan was a roommate in college.  I wish I kept a book of quotes because every word out of his mouth has the power to drive away boredom and the blues.  I've never laughed so hard as I did with Jonathan.  We continually discover that Nikki is a great catch for Jonathan.  She is well rounded, very talented, and can do almost anything.  It's wonderful when you can celebrate the spouse your friend marries.

Jonathan had asked me to be a groomsman in his wedding.  I was honored but, unfortunately, I had to decline.  Our friends had been planning a conference for many months that we had committed to.  It was scheduled right in the middle of the wedding.  I was conflicted and didn't want to hurt my friend.

Months passed and the conference was cancelled.  Thankfully, we were able to attend the wedding but I was not going to be a groomsman.  Jonathan had found a replacement but I was happy to be able to celebrate with them as they were wed.

Over a year after Jonathan and Nikki had been married, we met up with them.  They were telling us about their two friends who were getting married.  One was a bridesmaid in their wedding.  The other was a groomsman…The same groomsman who filled my space!  They met at the wedding, fell in love, and tied the knot a few months later!

Had I been a groomsman, they may have never met.  For months, I had felt bad for declining the invitation to be in the wedding party.  That is, until I found how Jesus turned it around for the benefit of a man who met his wife.  Sometimes, Plan B was actually Plan A all along.

If you're planning a wedding, my encouragement to you: Don't sweat the details. Don't lose sleep. Press in and pray.  God works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). That means you!

Jonathan Fawcett

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