In my career, I see all sorts of types of situations from suicides (Young and Old), babies born and passes a way, tragedies like car wrecks-heart attacks/ death by illnesses, not to mention divorces, child abuse cases or spouse abuse, drug/ alcohol related issues in families! I've been with the 4-year little boy who has begged for his mother to come back and why are you leaving me at the casket turns and looks at me and says "Pastor Jason why is my mommy leaving me? Why did she have to die?". I didn't want to say because "She Killed Herself" and would say "Pastor Jason I miss my mommy"! (Therefore, I don’t play when someone says “KYS” or something like that… Because I’ve talked to two on this site from “Killing Them Self”)… You have no idea the pain some are going through on this site for what it's worth... I've talked with numerous people on this site going through tough times whether divorces or whatever! It's tough and sometimes gets very burdensome to where I say I give UP...I can't do this any more because sometimes the load is just too heavy. I can't tell you have tough it is sometimes! I’ve got my own situations then 175 church members, plus many more that are constantly coming with situations or problems that come up in our county because they know I'm a pastor... I don't think I've preached "ONE FUNERAL" where I didn't cry... After everyone I've preached I've called my father who is a pastor of 41 years and tell him "I can't do it, I give up"...
BUT...
Today I was with a secondary school that society has given up on looking at KIDS crying their hearts out because of a tragedy of killing one teen and another one fighting for their life because of a car wreck. I saw boys crying that if you look at them you would think no way would they ever show emotion and cry. See these are kids who are constantly in trouble and society has pretty much marked them as the scum of the earth or trash. These are kids that come from parent's who are in jail or being raised by their grandmother or probably even raising themselves...It's amazing how tragedy strikes us all and how it affects us. I saw two girls sobbing uncontrollable, while one young man wearing the young man's jacket who passed a way’s and its 85-degree’s outside. It's days like this I look at myself and say thank you Lord for my health and my family or loved ones. But also, a day like this I say, "Thank you Lord for giving me an opportunity to HOPEFULLY make a difference in someone's life". As I spoke to about 50 kids and as well as the principle who is also affected by this tragedy I spoke to these kids to hold up their friends that much more, and their family they loved them more-while not taking for granite the days they have because all our days are "numbered". You really need to think about this if you read this... You need to realize we aren't promised tomorrow we aren't incorruptible we aren't machines and we were never created to live forever on this earth. You need to appreciate what you have in life, Tennessee sports is really just secondary to our life our life is really about loving our family, friends, and in my world most importantly God. (<----- I'm not going religious here but this is my world you may live the way you wish, while God is #1 in my world.)
How do you know you've made a difference? I didn't preach, and didn't scream verses, or anything like that was I asked? Yes, privately... BUT, I was there to help kids get through a tough time...I'm a white man and there were white kids and black kids that were in this room where we all came together... But this one black American kid who has "NEVER" met me or even know who I am said out loud; "I want you all to know I love you and I'm thankful for all of you. I want to say Pastor Jason although we are different color I love you and I appreciate you for coming in today and sharing your heart with us!" I guess what I'm saying we are all family don't ever take for granite the opportunity you must help someone, and to hold your loved one's close because you just never know when the time is up.
And yes, I'm feeling mushy because my heart is hurting for some teens that I've seen happen before as a pastor and youth pastor... But it never get's easier while trying to help people in the time of need...never miss an opportunity to help someone...
& YES, some of you get on my nerves sometimes lol (as I do you too), but I love you all because we are all FAMILY here today...while we disagree probably quiet often just don't ever forget we are a part of one of the best families there is and that's the "VOL NATION"...
Now time to get to work on Sunday.
God Bless & Go Vols
JasonVols22
Please know I'm not preaching in this thread but HOLD your families close and your friends...enjoy life.
BUT...
Today I was with a secondary school that society has given up on looking at KIDS crying their hearts out because of a tragedy of killing one teen and another one fighting for their life because of a car wreck. I saw boys crying that if you look at them you would think no way would they ever show emotion and cry. See these are kids who are constantly in trouble and society has pretty much marked them as the scum of the earth or trash. These are kids that come from parent's who are in jail or being raised by their grandmother or probably even raising themselves...It's amazing how tragedy strikes us all and how it affects us. I saw two girls sobbing uncontrollable, while one young man wearing the young man's jacket who passed a way’s and its 85-degree’s outside. It's days like this I look at myself and say thank you Lord for my health and my family or loved ones. But also, a day like this I say, "Thank you Lord for giving me an opportunity to HOPEFULLY make a difference in someone's life". As I spoke to about 50 kids and as well as the principle who is also affected by this tragedy I spoke to these kids to hold up their friends that much more, and their family they loved them more-while not taking for granite the days they have because all our days are "numbered". You really need to think about this if you read this... You need to realize we aren't promised tomorrow we aren't incorruptible we aren't machines and we were never created to live forever on this earth. You need to appreciate what you have in life, Tennessee sports is really just secondary to our life our life is really about loving our family, friends, and in my world most importantly God. (<----- I'm not going religious here but this is my world you may live the way you wish, while God is #1 in my world.)
How do you know you've made a difference? I didn't preach, and didn't scream verses, or anything like that was I asked? Yes, privately... BUT, I was there to help kids get through a tough time...I'm a white man and there were white kids and black kids that were in this room where we all came together... But this one black American kid who has "NEVER" met me or even know who I am said out loud; "I want you all to know I love you and I'm thankful for all of you. I want to say Pastor Jason although we are different color I love you and I appreciate you for coming in today and sharing your heart with us!" I guess what I'm saying we are all family don't ever take for granite the opportunity you must help someone, and to hold your loved one's close because you just never know when the time is up.
And yes, I'm feeling mushy because my heart is hurting for some teens that I've seen happen before as a pastor and youth pastor... But it never get's easier while trying to help people in the time of need...never miss an opportunity to help someone...
& YES, some of you get on my nerves sometimes lol (as I do you too), but I love you all because we are all FAMILY here today...while we disagree probably quiet often just don't ever forget we are a part of one of the best families there is and that's the "VOL NATION"...
Now time to get to work on Sunday.
God Bless & Go Vols
JasonVols22
Please know I'm not preaching in this thread but HOLD your families close and your friends...enjoy life.
