Tag: Jesse Allen

You Need a Person

They Need One Too.

Phil 2 3,4
I often found myself quiet and alone in class during grade school. I always wanted to talk to people and fit in but never quite knew how. I hoped that one day maybe someone would just start being my friend and start talking to me. Well, it happened in 7th grade. All because of one kid who sat next to me in my fourth-hour history class. His name was Joel and till this day we are best friends. I had always been shy and didn’t talk much before I started to hang out with him. He started to show me how to be more confident and assertive. He even showed me how to have fun in school. I would have never made it through school if he hadn’t been there.
Philippians 2:3-4 says that we should count others more significant than ourselves. And often times that can be difficult especially when we don’t feel very appreciated. But let me tell you there is someone out there that needs you to reach out to them just like my friend Joel did for me. They need a person in their life to show them who Christ is through action. Are you willing to be who they need?
Who is the person God is calling you to reach out to?
-Jesse Allen

Illumination, Illumination!!!!!!!!! 

John 8 12 (1)

Have you ever had to walk in the dark before? It can be both a challenge and sometimes a bit scary especially if you are alone. I used to walk from my house to my grandma’s when I was younger. Now it was only about 100 yards away which isn’t much of a walk in daylight but in the dark it felt like it was 10 miles long.  There wasn’t much light to see and what little light there was didn’t reach past either porch. I could hear coyotes off in the distance and other weird noises from the trees swaying. And it always made me nervous. But I would sometimes bring a flashlight and that made the whole experience much faster and less scary.

In John 8:12 Jesus tells us he is the light of the world and whoever has him has the light of life. When we are going through our everyday life and we feel the darkness closing in or the dread of the world all around us just remember to “shine” the light of Jesus in your own life to make it less scary

What darkness are you facing?  Ask yourself, “How can I use the light of Jesus to help in this situation?”

-Jesse Allen

How to Avoid Unpleasant Consequences

Prov 1 8

 

When I was in high school I remember my friend and I sneaking out of his house to go hang out with some friends. We left his house about 11:30pm and didn’t get back in until 5:45am  which was 15 minutes before his alarm would go off for school that morning. We were tired and exhausted and couldn’t really function at school. Staying up and sneaking out all night left us at a great disadvantage the next day.
I have made many bad decisions in my life. Many like this story could have been avoided if I had listened to the advice others had given me.  They say you need at least 8 hours of sleep as a teenager.  Well, I got about 15 minutes and it was not enough. 
Proverbs 1:8-16 talks about how fools and sinners bear the fruit of there own actions. I definitely deserved a hard day at school for not listening to the wisdom that was set in front of me.  
 
What wisdom has been told to you that you might need to listen to more carefully? Remember, the consequences may not be worth it.
-Jesse Allen

Begging for Help

Acts 3 1,2

Happy late Thanksgiving everyone! #thankgivingisthebestholiday Although the day of turkey has passed I hope we can all be thankful for what we have considering many do not have anything at all. Recently in Saint Louis, I encountered a man named Ron who was homeless and had nothing to his name except his torn up bag and the clothes on his back. Ron, like many you may encounter in your lives, asked me for money. There are at least two easy ways to handle this situation. First, we could give them the money they were asking us about. Or second, we lie and walk away feeling like we did that person well by not giving them money that could possibly enable their bad habits.

I would say Peter and John have a more effective way of serving these people. In Acts 3:1-10 Peter and John encounter a man who can’t walk and is begging for money in front of the temple gates (a common practice in that day, which could be compared to those at the stoplights we see). Instead of giving him money, they give him prayer and healing. Something we all can afford and is always at the ready. Next time you encounter someone like this it might be appropriate to pray with them about their situation and see if something big happens.

-Jesse Allen

Better Than Nothing

acts 7 53

Read Acts 7 then watch this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oArDFU_IESQ

 

If you grew up watching Disney movies, then you most likely have heard Thumper’s most famous tagline. It’s easy to remember and fun to say while trying to mimic Thumper’s voice. “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say nothing at all.”

This line is misleading. It gives the impression that the only things we should say should be nice. (Or at least considered nice.) It is wise to use caution when saying less than nice things; however, they are still necessary for the edification of the church. If Jesus spoke nicely about everything where would we be? He probably would not have done everything he did, He might not have died and been raised if he was nice to everyone.

Speaking truth is not always easy or fun. It is often the most difficult thing to do. In Acts chapter 7 Stephen is speaking things against the temple council and their actions with handling Jesus. Stephen tells them they care more about what their ancestors have to say than God. He also calls them out on worshiping the temple and not God.

If that wasn’t enough Stephen says this “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.” Did you catch it? He called them stubborn and heartless! Ouch, that’s not very nice. What would Thumper’s father say about that one?

Here is my take away, sometimes the truths we need to say aren’t always nice or well received but are needed to break down walls, so the holy spirit is able to change others and ourselves. That change we experience from the truth being told is way Better Than Nothing.

Here is my second takeaway, TACT is important. That is why I like to follow up with a compliment after the truth has been said.

Thanks, everyone for reading this week.  I hope to see you at FUEL!

Jesse Allen

 

Does Not Perish

Acts 6 4

Acts 6

What is the difference between a Christian organization that feeds the homeless and a worldly organization that does the same? The Gospel.

I would say that the most important thing you can do when we go on mission trips, foreign or domestic, is that we prioritize the Gospel. No matter what we are handing out, whether it be food, clothes, bedding or backpacks, or the sweat of our brow, the Gospel should be included.

When the disciples began to grow in number they started to have problems with some of the widows getting food to eat. Widows were very common in that day, and they were not always able to support themselves. But they were being overlooked and it was up to the disciples to take care of them in some way. The disciples were being stretched thin already so they decided to put someone else in charge of that situation, which by today’s standards was good leadership. So that’s what they did and the issue was resolved.

Now what they did is not as important as why they did it. They did it because “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.” Acts 6:2 They recognized that anyone could had helped feed the widows, but they were called to the ministry of the word.

I would argue that we all are called to the ministry of the word. However some of us are called to that ministry in different ways because of our different gifts.  I love handing out food and things people need, it simply makes me feel good. But what tops that is when I am able to sit down and talk with someone about the Kingdom of God and Jesus. Then praying with that person. Sharing with them your heart and how the Gospel has changed your life.

Here is my take away, we are called to serve people with the Gospel. Using our gifts and abilities and our hearts. The world is more than capable of handing out things that do not last the test of time. But we have something that Does Not Perish.

-Jesse Allen

God >Men

acts 5 29

Acts 5:27-32

God’s Not Dead. These movies are inspiring to me. Especially the second one, where the teacher is put on trial for her comments about Jesus. Now I don’t remember the whole story but I believe she wins the court case in the end, even though she had to go through some rash times. This movie sets a modern example for what Peter and John had dealt with in Acts 5:27-32.

Peter and John are once again preaching the Gospel and spreading the news of Jesus’ resurrection when they are stopped by the High Priests and associates. They were told before to not speak of Jesus or the resurrection otherwise they would be punished. But even in the presence of powerful men Peter answers with this “We must obey God rather than man.” (Does this sound familiar? Peter himself once tried to rebuke Jesus and almost this same phrase came from Jesus’ mouth. Matthew 16:23) After that Peter and John were flogged and released, but they were glad they were able to suffer for obeying God.

In God’s Not Dead 2 the teacher did not recant her words. Meaning she willingly accepted any punishment that would be appropriate in court – including losing her teaching license. It may not seem comparable to Peter and John, however it still was a big deal.

Here is my takeaway, Christianity is not fluffy. Christ call us to “Take up our cross” and follow Him. This means that when we speak the Gospel and we stand up to obey God rather than men, that it may be the most difficult thing we do.

 

Jesse Allen

 

On the Counter

Acts 4 13

Read Acts 4 (especially verses 13-22)

Grandma Wilma was the best cook. It was universally accepted by my family. She cooked everything from homemade chicken and dumplings, to the best lemon cake you have ever had. Even when she made bacon we all fought over the little bits that were leftover. It was all so delicious.

I was a curious child so I always wanted to help grandma cook. It was fascinating. I loved to see all the different ingredients for everything and it finally got to the point where I would sit on the counter next to the stove and constantly ask questions about how everything was cooked. Thus, my love for cooking began. Now I am no well-trained chef but I can cook anything because of the principles my Grandma Wilma taught me, and I am confident that I can learn more because of the time I spent with her.

In chapter 4 of Acts, we see that Peter and John are being ridiculed for healing the man in the previous chapter. They are also still speaking about the resurrection of Jesus in such a way that it is bothering the chief priests and scribes. Not only are they speaking about this they are recognizably untrained by a temple priest; however, they are recognized by having been with Jesus. (Now he was a pretty cool guy) Apparently, Jesus’ influence led Peter and John to understand certain things and have confidence in the message that Jesus had told them to speak about the kingdom and the resurrection.

After they spoke they were threatened to death if they kept talking about the resurrection, but having seen Jesus after His resurrection they knew they did not have to fear the ones who were threatening them.

Just like my Grandma was able to teach me how to cook when I sat next to her on the counter, Jesus was able to teach and show the disciples how to teach boldly, and have confidence in the message because they had been with Him. This is the definition of discipleship. They didn’t need a fancy education to understand what Jesus had done for them, or what he had started. All they needed was to be with Him.

Here is my take away, the more time you spend in Jesus’ teachings and discovering what He said, the more confident you will be in your ability to share those teachings. Some people might even recognize you as having been with Jesus.

Jesse Allen

 

That Same Spot

The same spot

Read Acts 3:1-10

Every time I go to the store they are always in that same spot. Always holding a sign, and the majority of them never looking very happy. Not that they have any reason to be happy. They are obviously standing there for a reason that probably doesn’t make anyone want to smile.

You drive along past them, and then it happens, a waterfall of guilt, distrust, and pride hit you all at once. First, the guilt because you feel bad that you could have spent a few dollars less and helped them.

Second distrust because you don’t know what they would do with the money. Maybe they spend it on drugs. Perhaps they are an alcoholic that needs money to fill a bad habit. They possibly could just be a person with a sign and a less than honest mindset.

Third pride because now you are thinking to yourself one of two things you are justifying your restraint to give them money because of reason number two, or you are proud of yourself for turning around and giving them money or food. Either way, they probably will be there tomorrow.

I have heard of many different ways to handle the homeless and the poor, but only one way sticks out to me. That is, speaking life into someone’s situation. Jesus was the best at this, and he taught his disciples to do this too. In Acts 3 in the first scene that we see is Peter and John walking up to the temple during the hour of prayer. As they are going about their business, this crippled man, that is always in the same spot starts begging them for some money. Once he gets their attention, and Peter and John realize what is happening, Peter answers this way, (Acts 3:6) “I do not possess silver or gold but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!”. And the man began to jump and praise God.

Peter and John could have easily ignored or found money to give this man, but instead, they spoke life into his situation, and a miracle happened. Now I am not saying that every situation you encounter will end up like this one. However we have something that money cannot buy, and that is a message of a great kingdom, and of a great king, that is much greater than all treasure.

Here is my take away, next time you find yourself in this situation and you are NOT ALONE, ask that person if you can pray with them, or take interest in their life, so that you may speak life into their situation just like Peter and John. You might find that they will no longer be in THAT SAME SPOT.

Jesse Allen

 

Struck, Panic, Changed

acts 2 36.png

Acts 2

Do you like cinnamon rolls? They are amazing. One of the best treats money can buy and the best way to break a diet, especially if you eat an entire can in one sitting. Well they are good as long as they aren’t burnt to a crisp.

I had cooked some tacos for chapel lunch at the Bible College that day. After I had cooked and made sure I put everything out for the tacos, I then decided to go ahead and make my plate. So I got in line, eventually sitting down to eat my delicious tacos. About my second bite into my third taco, I got a funny feeling. I slowly put my taco on my plate. After about a second or two of staring blankly at the wall I gasped, grabbing my chest, then rapidly departing my chair. I ran to the kitchen only to find twenty four smoking, burnt cinnamon rolls.  After that day I always made sure multiple people knew I was cooking cinnamon rolls.

Have you ever had one of these moments? They are, for a short time, terrifying. That is because you know you did something wrong or in my case forgot something very important. What feeling is it we feel in that moment? Our good friend Luke, who wrote the book of Acts, describes it as “pierced to the heart”. It is that moment when we are struck, then we panic, and we change.

Peter gave a powerful sermon to some who doubted about Jesus being the Christ, and how it was all of their faults that he was crucified. He talked about Jesus’ resurrection and how He fulfilled the scriptures they all knew beforehand. Scripture such as Psalm 110:1 “The LORD said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for my feet.” Which concludes that they crucified the Messiah they had all been waiting to deliver them from evil. After Peter finishes his sermon it happens to them, “they were pierced at the heart” Acts 2:37 After this they began to panic, and  ask what should they do about such events and choices they have made in the past. Peter answers them in Acts 2:38 “Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, for the forgiveness of your sins.”

Here is my takeaway, don’t wait till its too late – you might be burning the cinnamon rolls of life. We don’t always realize that we are forgetting something, or that we are wrong, but when we do we feel pierced at the heart. Understand that you have sinned and need repentance, and forgiveness of sin.

Jesse Allen.

 

Hey My name is Jesse and I am currently in my Pastoral Internship with Blood River Church of God. I am originally from St.Louis, Missouri and love Cardinal Baseball, fish and coral aquariums and Hope for a kingdom that will be restored here on the earth. Thank you for reading!