Jason Vana: Becoming a Better Man

Choking Out the Dream →

Photo Credit: iStock Photo

We all have dreams we’ve stopped pursuing.

As we get older, as we take on more responsibilities, our dreams can seem foolish. Or irresponsible. Or downright impossible.

There are bills to pay, mouths to feed, homes to purchase, vehicles to repair, taxes to pay, retirement to plan, vacations to fund, clothes to buy, iPhones to update, yards to maintain, home repairs to make, student loans to pay off, credit cards to pay off, car loans to pay off. Did I mention anything about bills to pay?

It’s no wonder our dreams fall to the bottom of our priorities. Our lives are inundated with much more important responsibilities.

And so our dreams begin to fade.
Fall to the bottom of our priority list.
Are choked out by the realities of life.

And begin to disappear all together.

Continue Reading…

Waiting on the Cloud →

http://www.jasonvana.com/waiting-on-the-cloud

“Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out.” - Numbers 9:22

I’ve never been a big fan of waiting.

I know God’s timing is always perfect, I know He always has my best in mind, and I know everything He allows to come into my life or be delayed coming into my life has a reason behind it.

I still hate waiting.

I’m a doer, an achiever. When I set my mind to something, I want it done as quickly as possible. And when I get tired of waiting, when I’m frustrated with how long the process is taking, I am tempted to do something stupid.

Like take matters into my own hands.
Find my own path.
Throw everything I’ve been waiting for away and try to circumvent the process.

I can’t stand waiting.

Read more and join the conversation!

Waiting on the Cloud →

http://www.jasonvana.com/waiting-on-the-cloud

“Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out.” - Numbers 9:22

I’ve never been a big fan of waiting.

I know God’s timing is always perfect, I know He always has my best in mind, and I know everything He allows to come into my life or be delayed coming into my life has a reason behind it.

I still hate waiting.

I’m a doer, an achiever. When I set my mind to something, I want it done as quickly as possible. And when I get tired of waiting, when I’m frustrated with how long the process is taking, I am tempted to do something stupid.

Like take matters into my own hands.
Find my own path.
Throw everything I’ve been waiting for away and try to circumvent the process.

I can’t stand waiting.

Read more and join the conversation!

The Power of Resurrection →

Photo Credit: Matt Litt (Creative Commons)

I sat there in the dark, reflecting on what my life had become.

The passion I once had for ministry was gone. The desire to see young people around the world impacted for Christ almost non-existant.

Life had taken its toll on me.

I had been working a low-paying, demeaning job for almost three years. I sat there, day in and day out doing the work a college student used to do - and would get paid more for if they decided to work at Taco Bell. I applied for better positions within the company, only to be rejected…and required to train those who took the jobs I didn’t get.

My finances were shot. Surprisingly, it’s near impossible to live on $800 a month. My credit card debt, which used to be non-existent, was climbing. And it urked me. It was either go into debt, or starve. I chose the former.

Every month it was getting harder and harder to pay the bills - and I knew it was only a matter of time before I couldn’t pay my mortgage anymore.

Why am I still here?
Why am I trying to fight through this mess?
I’m not from this area. I have no ties here.
If God really wants me to keep doing ministry here, He needs to fork over the money. Or I’m out of here. And out of ministry. For good.

I curled back up on the bed as the depression set in.

Nothing’s ever going to change. My life will be like this forever - alone, miserable, and broke.

I needed a resurrection.

Read more and join the conversation!

The Power of Resurrection →

Photo Credit: Matt Litt (Creative Commons)

I sat there in the dark, reflecting on what my life had become.

The passion I once had for ministry was gone. The desire to see young people around the world impacted for Christ almost non-existant.

Life had taken its toll on me.

I had been working a low-paying, demeaning job for almost three years. I sat there, day in and day out doing the work a college student used to do - and would get paid more for if they decided to work at Taco Bell. I applied for better positions within the company, only to be rejected…and required to train those who took the jobs I didn’t get.

My finances were shot. Surprisingly, it’s near impossible to live on $800 a month. My credit card debt, which used to be non-existent, was climbing. And it urked me. It was either go into debt, or starve. I chose the former.

Every month it was getting harder and harder to pay the bills - and I knew it was only a matter of time before I couldn’t pay my mortgage anymore.

Why am I still here?
Why am I trying to fight through this mess?
I’m not from this area. I have no ties here.
If God really wants me to keep doing ministry here, He needs to fork over the money. Or I’m out of here. And out of ministry. For good.

I curled back up on the bed as the depression set in.

Nothing’s ever going to change. My life will be like this forever - alone, miserable, and broke.

I needed a resurrection.

Read more and join the conversation!

Hope in Darkness →

Photo Credit: LaPrimaDonna (Creative Commons)

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
John 19:30

On Friday, many will find themselves in special services, reliving the events and celebrating the freedom from sin found through Christ’s death. We rejoice in these days, thanking Christ for what He did and go as far as calling it Good.

But to the original disciples, Friday was anything but good.

At that point in the story, they didn’t understand the need for Jesus to die. They didn’t realize it was all part of God’s redemptive plan. They didn’t know His death was only temporary, and He was going to come back to life in a few days.

Friday was dark.

Read more and join the conversation!

Hope in Darkness →

Photo Credit: LaPrimaDonna (Creative Commons)

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
John 19:30

On Friday, many will find themselves in special services, reliving the events and celebrating the freedom from sin found through Christ’s death. We rejoice in these days, thanking Christ for what He did and go as far as calling it Good.

But to the original disciples, Friday was anything but good.

At that point in the story, they didn’t understand the need for Jesus to die. They didn’t realize it was all part of God’s redemptive plan. They didn’t know His death was only temporary, and He was going to come back to life in a few days.

Friday was dark.

Read more and join the conversation!

A Whispered Reminder →

 

The past few days in Romania have been pretty powerful.

God has shown up in some powerful ways, opening doors of ministry and opportunity that only He could open. During our small group party Saturday night, while one of our team members shared his story of coming to Christ, an opportunity arose for the Agapia church members to really explain the importance of salvation and baptism to some Orthodox members of the group. We’ve had a few conversations with people in the streets as we’ve handed out fliers to our Practice Your English workshops. God has used those fliers, which can be very ineffective, to bring individuals to our workshops who never heard about the church and who aren’t believing Christians. We’ve spoken into people’s lives, are building relationships with people each night, and saw an open door tonight for the pastor of the church to share about Christ with one of the attendees of our workshop.

We even had an open door with the community center where the church meets to have the name of Ignite, the name of Agapia church, and our personal names typed up and presented before the mayor of Bucharest. The President of the community center was so moved that we came from America and were willing to paint doors in the community center, that she asked for us to type up a paragraph in both English and Romanian explaining who we are, what we did for them, and why we did it so she could take it before the mayor of Bucharest.

It’s been an amazing trip.

Read more about this trip!

God is Able →

My hand slipped up in the air as those first few chords were strummed. I needed this song today. Needed to sing those words as a reminder of who God is and what He can do. I desperately needed to know it was all in His hands.

I opened my mouth and allowed the words to rush out.

God is Able
He will never fail
He is almighty God

I couldn’t have imagined how desperate I was to say those words.

Greater than all we seek
Greater than all we ask
He has done great things

How deeply I needed that reminder.

Lifted up, He defeated the grave
raised to life, our God is able
In His name, we overcome
For the Lord, our God is able

God. Is. Able.

The words barely left my mouth before I heard that familiar, faint whisper in my heart.

I am able to do more than 200.

Read more and join the conversation.