Jeremy Jernigan Posts

Jesus with Tattoos

24 Apr , 2011 No Comments

We have a guy that attends our Mesa campus who has a tattoo shop. His arms are covered with tattoo “sleeves” and he looks like he’s in his late thirties. He’s quiet but immediately likeable. He’s a guy that you assume has quite a story behind him.

His name is Bobby. But nobody calls him that.

He is lovingly called “Bobby the Baptist” because he can usually be seen a few times a month baptizing someone in one of our services. It isn’t uncommon to hear him say something like: “I was recently giving _________ a tattoo and we started talking about Jesus.” Shortly after they usually end up in the water with him.

Bobby was one of the people to play Jesus in our Easter services.

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Absent Documentary Showing with James Hetfield!

22 Apr , 2011 No Comments

I am so unbelievably excited to announce that we will be showing the Absent documentary at our Mesa campus on May 12. This is a special screening of an award-winning documentary that affects thousands in our community alone. Filmmaker, Justin Hunt, and METALLICA guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield will join us to present and discuss this worldwide crisis of absent and disengaged fathers and the impact it has had on society.

The film includes on-camera interviews and testimonies from well-known author John Eldredge, world-champion boxer Johnny Tapia, fitness model Robin Decker and Hetfield. I’ve already seen it myself and can vouch for how powerfully it portrays the need for fathers and what happens when they are not around.

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Where Do You Find Strength?

19 Apr , 2011 No Comments

I recently read about a time in the Bible where King David (before he is king) has everything valuable stolen from him and his men. They lose their wives, their children, and all their possessions to another raiding party while they are away. When they return to see the loss it describes it like this:

“David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6

His back is up against the wall big time. David has his own family taken and in addition his men turn on him and are so overwhelmed by this that they talk of killing him over it. Suffice it to say that his leadership is majorly in question here.

How would you respond?

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The Humility of the Axe

18 Apr , 2011 No Comments

“The axe cannot boast of the trees it has cut down. It could do nothing but for the woodsman. He made it, he sharpened it, and he used it. The moment he throws it aside; it becomes only old iron. O that I may never lose sight of this.” Samuel Brengle

There are a few areas in my life that I am keenly aware that Satan could use to take me down. Pride is one of those. How quickly I am able to convince myself of my own greatness only to be gently reminded by the Spirit of God how absurd those thoughts are.

I love Samuel Brengle’s analogy of the axe and the woodsman. Like Jesus taught using an image of vines and branches, we are powerful when His Spirit is using our life. Whenever we lose focus of this we lose true power. Ironically, we also gain pride.

I pray I may never forget that I am but an axe in the woodsman’s hands.

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Toiling Upward in the Night

15 Apr , 2011 No Comments

“The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not attained by sudden flight;

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night.”

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

What are you doing beyond the norm to accomplish your passions? Those who do things that will eventually stand out to others will always stand out to others on their way to making them happen.

***UPDATE 8/31/08*** Thanks to a commenter I have updated this quote with the accurate source. Thanks!

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The Stress of Easter

14 Apr , 2011 No Comments

Okay, so planning Easter services for 19 services on 4 campuses can be a little complicated. You might even use the word stressful.

To counteract this one of my team members decided to design an “encouragement hallway” with a bunch of hands to high-five you as you walk through. Check it out…

Don't miss the hand up high on the right at the end of the hallway to finish it off!

Creativity at its finest!

How are you getting ready for Easter? Hopefully you are having conversations and already inviting people to experience it with you! He is risen indeed!

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