My Sermon: Peace and Justice

My sermon is online if you want to check it out.

http://www.crossroadschurch.nl/

A life to live

Okay, its been about three weeks now. The honeymoon is over, I have two feet on the ground, life is rolling along. It has been so good to be back in Holland. It hasn't been all sunshine and tulips, but its been good. From being at church and seeing everyone to sitting alone in the flat where I am staying, its been good. Where I was feeling unsettled this summer, I feel settled here. Where I didn't feel like I had a clear purpose back home, I can see my purpose here. Now, its not just Holland or Europe. It's the fact that I have a job here. There is a need I can help with, there is a vision I can help make reality. It has always felt good to roll up my sleeves and jump in to build something, whether its a house with my dad or a vision with some missionaries in Europe. It feels good to be working toward a goal.

People have been asking if I feel different this time, because its for two years and not six months. I do, I feel more at home. I know that its only been three weeks and I even I am not that naive to think that I won't have my days in the future where I wish I was back in Minnesota, but I love it here. I have been trying to picture what my life will be like in two years, how different it will be. Two years will go fast, but at the same time a lot will happen, ups, downs, lefts, rights, its hard to picture myself in two years. Right now though, I feel very settled, I feel as though God wants me here. I think I have made the right decision and there is no regret.

I live in the center of town and its amazing. For a boy from Minnesota (88% white), being here is a real treat. I walk out of the building where I live and in 50 steps I am in the middle of town. I walk to work and I hear dutch, english, arabic, spanish, italian, russian, chinese and papiamento (shout out for Caroline and Johnny). I see people walking around from all over the world. There are men in top of the line business suits and three steps away a homeless guy. Moroccans and Koreans, there all here and they are all literally right out my front step. Not to idealize this too much, but for me, I love it. I view it as a taste of heaven, every tongue, tribe and nation, together. I have to be honest I love it, but it still shocks me every time I walk out on the street. I am just not used to such diversity, I love it, its almost like a dream everyday. I can't believe I am here. I can't believe this is happening.

This past week I have started to sit down and try to create my life. For the first time in a long time I get to design my life. Yes, I have a job and I have work to do, but my work is not all consuming, I HAVE A LIFE TO LIVE NOW. School was so all consuming all the time. I am asking the questions what do I want my life to be? What do I want my weeks to look like? I am very excited to do this. I can't wait to look back in two years and see what has happened. What a journey it will be.

Thanks for reading,
Jason

p.s. I changed things up a little on my blog. If you would like to receive my prayer email please let me know, jascut@me.com.

24 Hours

24 hours:
My day of departure started early, meeting my parents for breakfast at the Original Pancake house in Eden Prairie, MN. We had a very nice last meal: we ate, we prayed, we cried, it was lots of fun. One thing struck me in particular at breakfast. I started realizing this move was going to be hard. I think it was seeing my mother cry and not knowing why. She was not just sad to see me go, there was a deeper element there. I realized it as well. This was not like last year when I left for my internship. Even though I will be home for Christmas in two months, this was harder. As I thought more about why, I began to realize that this is the first time I am leaving Minnesota as a home and not knowing if or when I will return. That was it. I know that this move is good and that God is in it, but it is still hard to leave your home and not know if you will ever move back.

I mulled this thought over the rest of the morning and spoke with my mother about it as well. We hugged and she cried, but I assured her that no matter where I am in the world Minnesota will always be my home. The day pressed on and as I finished some last minute packing and I became increasingly more stressed about everything I faced: my flight, customs, my shipment of books, clothes, etc. I knew I was entering a period where I couldn't fully trust what I was feeling. I had to gut it out and go and not look back.

As my brother and mother drove me to the airport, I was actively trying not to think about any of it. I was trying to clear my head and pray for trust in God. We got to the airport and said our good-byes through my mothers tears. I left them, went into the airport, checked in and headed to the gate. I was flying from Minneapolis to Chicago to Dublin to Amsterdam. I knew it would be a long flight, but that is not what worried me. What worried me was having a one-way ticket. Countries typically don't like to let people in who don't have a Visa to live there and don't have a return ticket. I had neither of those things. On top of this from Chicago to Dublin to Amsterdam I was flying Aer Lingus, and who has ever heard of Aer Lingus outside of Ireland? I had not. Well, I was preparing for a long uncomfortable flight and lots of trouble at the customs desk.

Thankfully, this was not what God had in mind. The flight to Dublin was half full, which meant I had two seats all to myself, and I discovered if the Irish are one thing it is laid back, charming and fun. Hearing laughter and the sweet Irish accent for six hours was more relaxing than anything. Although, I did get a funny look from the flight attendant when I didn't order a whiskey with my meal, haha.

I landed in Dublin and some of the stress was now over . My experience with Aer Lingus had been restful and relaxing, God had provided for me. Now to face the real stress: the Dutch. The Dutch are all about rules and regulations. The whole country runs “by the book” and frankly that is one thing I like about living here, you know what to expect all the time. The problem is when you are not by the book, which I was not on this particular occasion. I was flying in with no return ticket and no resident visa. As we lifted off from Dublin this fear and anxiety gripped me. I started thinking, “What am I doing?” “Why am I moving to Europe?” “What have I left behind?” It wasn't sheer panic, but it was close, and again, I gutted it. I was on the plane and at that point the only other recourse would be jumping out, which I was less thrilled to do. Instead I turned to my usual coping strategy to relieve stress and fell asleep.

I was awakened by the flight attendant as we were preparing to land. I looked out the window and saw the cloudy, lush, wet Dutch landscape, and suddenly all the fears and anxiety I had experienced were whisked away in a moment and I was filled with peace and joy. I was at peace, I knew this was right, I knew this is what God had for me and this is what I wanted. It was a great feeling. I got off the plane and, maybe it was because I was so tired, but I felt like I was walking on a cloud. I headed off to Passport Control and got in line, the whole time thinking, “Okay, God, if you want me here this is your chance.” I walked up to the agent and handed him my passport, and he asked, “Business?” “No,” I responded, “I am moving here.” He looked at me, said, “Do you have a Visa?” I said, “No, I am applying for one.” At this point I fully expected to be brought into a room and interrogated about every aspect of my work, life, financial records, personal relationships, everything, but no, not this time. The agent looked at me, shrugged his shoulders, handed me my stamped passport and waved me on. I couldn't believe it, not only was this easy, but this was the fastest I had ever made it through passport control ever in Holland. God had provided a second time.

As I walked through the halls on my way to get my bag, I started thinking. Is Cecile going to be there? Cecile is a woman from Crossroads Church who was going to pick me up and drive me to The Hague. I hadn't been in contact with her for a couple days and was wondering if she would find me, if there would be anyone there. Again, I was preparing for the worst. I found my bag and headed out of the baggage claim to the main hall. As I walked through the sliding doors, I heard a loud, “Jason!! Welcome back!!” There were about eight people from our church there to greet me. They had made a sign, they had balloons and were taking pictures. I can't say how nice and encouraging it was to see these friends of mine whom I had missed all summer long. It was more than I could have imagined or hoped for. We caught up briefly, hugged and took some more pictures. I was really glowing now.

But the surprises were not done there. I got into the car with Cecile and Miriam and we started driving to The Hague, and after about fifteen minutes Cecile placed a box in my lap. I said, “What is this?” She said, “Open it.” I did and saw that it was an iPhone. I have wanted one since they came out three years ago, but I could never afford one. Now I had one sitting in my lap and it was free. I thanked Cecile and she said it was no problem, she got it from work from someone who had given it to her. This was a new level of kindness. Up to this point the provision that I had received was necessary: getting through customs, surviving my flight, the welcome was needed for my spirits but this, an iPhone this was just God saying, “I love you.” I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. This was a true gift, something I didn't need but wanted. It made me so happy to see that God cared about something so small and unnecessary.

At this point if my day had been over and nothing else good happened I would have been amazed, but this wasn't even close to the end. Cecile drove me to the apartment where I would be spending at least the next year. We walked in the front door and I said, “Wow.” The main floor was amazing, but then we went up to my level, yes level. Russell, who owns the apartment, had given me the top floor of this three level apartment. I had floor to ceiling windows, a balcony, a T.V., couch and Cecile and a friend of hers had gone out and bought me a bed and closet at IKEA. I could not believe it. My room overlooks most of the city and is located right in the city center. I was just amazed. I couldn't believe that this is where I would be living for the next year.

At this point Cecile and I ran some errands, going to the bank, getting groceries, going to IKEA again, and then headed back to the apartment. By this time Russell had come home and I had a chance to meet him. Russell is a great guy, very generous and lots of fun. We were talking and he shared with me how he wanted to share what he had with God. I told him? He told me? that when I lay my head down on the pillow at night and look up and see the cross on the wall, that I should remember that God is working here. I was so thankful to have a such a great place, and such a Godly man to share it with. I really appreciated meeting Russell.

By this time I was exhausted and ready for bed. As I laid lay down in my new bed, in my new apartment, I felt an incredible sense of peace and gratefulness. I could not believe everything that had happened.

The next day, I woke up and decided to go into the office to check things out and say hi to everyone. I grabbed my iPhone, threw on some tunes and headed out. As I was walking to work I was thinking about some things that Russell had said about his own conversion to Christ. Russell spoke about his journey as one that started with looking for God, then amazingly finding God in Christ, and then realizing that you need to put Jesus at the center of your life. To just know about Christ is not enough. I was reflecting on how difficult it can be to put Jesus at the center of your life. The challenge is giving up the control of your life and handing it over to Jesus. From there my thoughts traveled to thinking about what God wants me to do here. I know I have a job and I am volunteering in a church, but I was pondering how I am to build God's kingdom in my personal life. I thought about this and had a strange sense of peace about it. It will come.

I got to the office and met Jess, our office manager, at the door, and she showed me around the new office. Everything was different from when I’d left in May, but it was good to be back. I saw a couple of the other pastors and then went into my office and started catching up on some emails. After about ten minutes my internet went out and I couldn't get it up and running again. As I was scrambling to get my email to work the door bell rang. I answered it. It was a man maybe in his, 40s who walked in. I said, hello and asked if there was anything I could do for him. He said, “are you open?” I said yes and he came in. We ended up talking for about an hour or so. He, Loren was his name, told me about his journey to The Netherlands back in 1991. He told me about how he started searching for God after his daughter was born with mental and physical disabilities. He told me that when his seven year old son was diagnosed with cancer he started looking more intently. I sat and listened, but felt God very present.

When Loren entered the office, I had a strong feeling about him. I felt God's presence in the room and kept thinking that I was to ask him to accept Christ. As we talked I looked for an opportunity to ask. Finally, at one point I asked Loren, “So, where are you?” thinking that this would get the conversation moving toward what he believed. But Loren said, “Well, I want to be born again, but I don't know all the formalities.” I paused, was quietly shocked and then said, “I can help you with that.” I talked to Loren about how to make Jesus the center of his life. All you have to do is ask, there is no magic formula, no chant, no dance. I told him God was a relational God and desires to be in relationship with him. Then Loren prayed and accepted Christ.

To be honest I have only “led” one person to Christ in my whole life. I have heard of conversions and prayed for people intently who had become Christians, but this was the second person that I had the pleasure of introducing to Jesus. Loren and I agreed to meet up and continue to talk about Jesus and everything that he brings. Loren said he was going to be at church with his family that Sunday, so I told him I would meet him there and welcome him to our church.

After Loren left, I was absolutely energized. I immediately went and told the story to Scot our worship pastor, then to Caroline our youth pastor, then I sat in my office and literally was beside myself. I could not believe what had just happened, from the somber breakfast with my parents back in Minnesota 24 hours earlier to leading Loren to Christ in The Hague. I was overjoyed, but also in complete shock. I remembered a lesson I had learned earlier that summer on a road trip. I had learned that I was limiting what God could do to me by not stepping out in a way where God had to show up. Well I had been praying that I would no longer hinder what God could do to me. This was it, the last 24 hours, I had not lifted a finger and I arrived safely in Holland, to a big welcome. I was living in an unbelievable apartment owned by a strong Christian man. I had an iPhone and now, someone had come to know Christ through me. All I did was show up. Still as I write this letter, I can't believe my own story. I am shocked. It is awe-inspiring to know what God has done. I am also so encouraged and hopeful to see what God will do.

I want to thank you all for your prayers, support and encouragement, they paid off. All I ask is that you don't stop now. Things happen when you pray and step into where God is leading you. Don't stop, keep praying, pray for bigger dreams, pray more boldly knowing God answers our requests, and pray knowing God loves each and everyone of you so very much.

Thank you all,
Jason

P.S. If you can, please pray for Loren as he journey's on his new found faith.

Heading back to Holland

Hello Friends,
I’d like to give you an update of the status of my life right now. I have purchased my return ticket to The Netherlands and will be arriving in The Hague on October 22nd. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to be able to move back to Europe and start working. Along with a plane ticket I also have an official job title. I will be the Director of European Operations for Christian Associates (CA). This is a big job and I am humbled that CA has offered this position to me. The powerful aspect of this position is that this is what I dreamed of doing when I was in Seminary and now it is becoming a reality. Due to the generosity of an attender of Crossroads Church of The Hague, the church where I served this past year, I have a place to live for 200.00 Euros a month. This was a huge answer to prayer. Everything is happening very quickly now and most all the details are falling into place. Looking back on this summer it seems like a blur. It began with the transition back to MN, then, starting to raise support, taking a road trip to California through some of the most amazing lands/beautiful evidence of God’s creation, officiating my sister's wedding, Graduating, doing some well needed camping, spending time with my girlfriend Cecily and celebrating my mother's 60th Birthday. The highlight of the summer has to have been officiating my sister's wedding, although, spending time with Cecily and my road trip are close second and third positions. Being able to perform the ceremony for my sister was a once in a lifetime experience that exceeded all expectations and I will cherish that day for the rest of my life.
Looking ahead at the next year I have a lot of work to do with CA, but first things must come first. I have to move over and get settled before I can be a productive part of the CA team. Along with this newsletter you should have received a timeline for my two years in Europe. This should serve two purposes, 1) helping to give you a clearer understanding of my role in Europe with CA, 2) to be used as a prayer timeline. There are conferences, goals, and dreams that I need prayer for, and I hope this will help you in knowing what areas of my work. Along with that graphic, I also have a prayer email that I will be sending out periodically with specific prayer requests. If you have not received this email and would like to, please let me know (jascut@me.com).
Other ways to stay connected with me are: My blogs: http://567real.blogspot.com/ - this is my everything blog, come find out what thoughts I am wrestling with. http://www.jasoninthehague.blogspot.com/ - this is my update blog, if you want to know what's going on in a month go here and find out. Also this is a good blog to send people to who you think would be interested in what I am doing or what CA is doing in Europe. Skype: Skype is an internet based chat/video phone service that is free computer to computer and is a great way to say “hi” and talk for free no matter where you are or I am in the world. My Skype name is “cutjas.” If you are receiving this letter and are interested in supporting me, financially or prayerfully, or know of someone who would be interested please feel free to give them my email I would love to connect. I have been very humbled by my experiences this past summer and continue to be as I look forward to
moving back to The Netherlands. I want to thank each and every one of you who has supported me financially, through prayer, or encouragement. Every dollar, every prayer, every kind word has meant the world to me and has helped to push me along in the calling God has given me. I will be praying for all of you in the coming year and I want you to feel free to contact me at anytime.
Thank you and Blessings,
Jason Cutshall

Injustice

I am done with my week here in Denver. This past week has been a lot of work, a lot of fun, and very encouraging. We all pulled some big days, 8 am - 8 pm for 5 days is a lot for any one, but it was good.

I have been sitting here in the Denver Airport letting the thoughts run through my head like leaves running down a stream, admiring and entertaining each one for a second then moving on to the next. I spent some time reflecting on the question, "what is the greatest injustice/crime of our time?" Aids, Slavery, greed. I was thinking about this in the context of what do I want to fight for in my life? What injustice do I want to try and make right? It is a big thought and a question to which we may not all agree on the answer, but I think it is an important question to answer for ourselves, because it till help to direct where are passions go.

I want to ask you, what is the greatest injustice in our time? And what are you going to do to try and correct it? It may help to see how we define injustice check out: http://dictionary.reference.com/

Peace,
Jason

What a summer

It has been quite a ride since I last posted. I got back from my big road trip, which was amazing. I married my sister Kara and her husband Ben, which was amazing. I friend Cecily visit, which was amazing. I got sick with the stomach flu and explosive diarrhea, which was amazing, but in a bad way. We had our Cutshall Family Reuinon, amazing. Spent a week at our cabin with a few close friends, amazing, and I got sick again with an infected bursa sac on my elbow. I could go on, I still have a wedding to go to, my friends form Sweden are in town and oh year I have to start packing for my return to The Netherlands.

Needless to say, its been a crazy summer, most good some bad, but crazy. Now that I am nearing the end of my time back in Minnesota I am looking forward to going back to The Hague. There are a few reasons for this, I miss my friends there, I miss Crossroads. Don't get me wrong the catch here is when I am there I will miss the people in Minnesota, I guess that's how things will be. The most pressing thing is I want to get to work. I am excited to get back to Europe and start helping with the work that is going on there. I love being home, but it has felt like living out of a suit case for 4 months and that has been very draining.

I have learned a few things this summer. The first is a lesson I have learned before...I am not invincible, I can't do everything. I know, I can't believe it either, but sure enough when I started getting sick this summer I realized it was mainly from being run down both emotionally, physically and even spiritually. I think that this has a lot to do with being unsettled. I have been in transition for about a year now and its taking its toll. I am looking forward to having a place to live that is stable, I am looking forward to having a job that I love and can build, I am looking forward to being stable for a while.

The second lesson, which I have also learned before is everything doesn't have to happen now. Time, we have time. I learned that if you give something time usually you will find the best way through, you will find the right words to say and you will be much more relaxed. This summer got going so fast, the pace of life was moving and moving I forgot how much time I have. I think part of this is being back in the U.S., but part of it is in me. I want to keep moving forward, building solving, growing and I will push and push to make that happen. This summer I learned the importance of slowing things down and taking my time.

I have had a great summer, lots of adventures and stories to tell. I have seen old friends and made new ones. The best part was I got to preform the wedding of my Big sister and a really good friend of mine, that I will cherish forever. I am looking forward to what is next, but a little wiser and a little more calm.

Jason

Prayer Requests:
1) I am still needing more support before I can return to Europe. Pray for God to provide.
2) Pray for me as I transition to Holland, it will be a big move.
3) Pray for CAI that the work of the Kingdom will keeping going forward.

The Week

Hello all,

This is the week, the week after my monster Road Trip out to LA for a training and the week before I do my first wedding, which happens to be my sister's wedding and she happens to be marrying a good friend of mine. This is basically the clam between the storms, not that the road trip or wedding will be bad or unpleasant, but they will be and were wild and crazy. Anyway.

The past month has been a good one, I continue to seek out supporters for the work God is doing in Europe and have received a lot of encouragement and support over the time I have been home. I have been extremely humbled to see money roll into my account, people signing up to pray for me and having lots of good conversations about what God is doing in Europe.

I am pretty well recovered from our monster road trip out to LA. The Staff Candidate Orientation went really well, I appreciated all the work everyone put in to make it happen. I had a good week of learning more about Christian Associates and meeting some new faces in the organization. I was also formally introduced as the Director of Operations for Europe, which I was excited to accept. I can't wait to get back and get to work.

Now that I am back I am in half support raising mode and full wedding preparation mode. My family has fully freaked out over the wedding so that means things must be close. I am getting very excited to see the big day actually come, it will be an event to remember.

To give you all an update on support raising. I have been able to meet with most all of my supporters, there are still a few I have to connect with. I have also been able to meet with and partner with a number of new people that heard about what I am doing through a Woodlandhills Church Spotlight I did in early June. It is always encouraging when people want to support what God is calling you to do. I will be meeting with the First Baptist Church or Minneapolis' mission board in late July and hopefully we can continue our relationship as well.

There is so much going on right now, but I do feel very relaxed. I guess this is that peace that passes all understanding that they talk about, but I am loving it.

Take care everyone. And as always if you want to connect or know anyone who wants to connect please let me know

Jason Cutshall
651.583.1496
jascut@me.com

Back home

ok, ok, ok, I know, I have let my blog slip, I apologize and I figured talk is cheap, blog already. Here it is.

Its hard to believe I have been home almost a month now. The time has gone super fast, I mean really fast, ok, fast, its gone fast. Between get home, dealing with jet lag, getting support raising materials together, contacting all my supports, celebrating my birthday, my cousin's birthday, my grandma's birthday, Mother's day and that was just the first week!! not joking.

Thankfully things have slowed down a bit, but not much. I have been able to catch up with some of my supporters and have loved talking with them. Its been great to hear how they are doing and to catch up on life back here in Minnesota (pronouced Minne-s-ohhhhh-tah). I have also enjoyed telling people about how my internship went this past year and letting them know about what is coming in the fall. I have found that just talking about my year is giving me so much desire to get back to Europe and get back to work!! That is a very good thing in my mind and the encouragement I have been getting from my friends and family has been almost overwhelming.

I was excited to come back home for a while and now that I am here, I remember, not that I ever forgot, but its so real to me how much I love this place. Yes, my family is here and I have friends, but being in Minnesota, I love it here, its beautiful, relaxing and peaceful. Even though I am very busy, it is calming and reenergizing just being here. I learned this past year, that you have your family, but you can have family all over the world, and I do, there is a big family of mine in The Hague and throughout Europe, but coming back home is different. There is something mystical about it...ok I digress.

One of the things I was looking forward to in coming back was heading up to the cabin. For me winter without snow and frigidly cold temps isn't winter, and summer without the cabin, isn't summer. Well, summer has officially started. I probably will write a post just on the cabin, but for now I say it is my holy place. If the world ended tomorrow and heaven started or continued, or whatever, I would be at the cabin (my theological side won't let me say this without qualification, so heaven whatever it is, is at its core, union with God, complete and perfect, I will leave it at that).

I am graduating this saturday! It is hard to believe and honestly It can't come soon enough. I was reminded by my mother to day to appreciate this moment. One of my struggles is I am always looking ahead, planning ahead and so many times I missed the moment. When not this time BABY. I am slowing down, smelling the flower, I found out today I get "hooded," don't know what it means, but I am pretty sure I get a sword and will become like a jedi knight or something, AWESOME!! haha. I have been looking forward to this day for 7 years, yes, 7 years. I can't believe its here, I think it is going to be a significant day, more significant than I am expecting, but time will tell.

I don't know, there is lots going on, money is coming in, people are so excited to hear about what God is doing, I miss all my friends in The Hague, Gouda, Rotterdam, Europe in general and can't wait to go back in the fall, I hear I actually have an office, that's right some respect!! haha, I think I will invest in a little hula girl for my desk, we'll see. Until then here is a photo of my holy place.

blessings to you all and be well.
Jason

Back Home

Hey I am back in Minnesota!

I have been back a few days now; long enough to enjoy Buffalo wings, Chipotle and a home cooked meal at my parent’s house. The last week has been quite a roller coaster ride. I went from saying good-bye to packing, to saying hello and unpacking in 48 hours. It was a real mind bender.

I remember lying in bed last Friday night and thinking, ten hours ago I was in The Netherlands. It was so surreal. Now that I have had a few days to settle in and get my bearings again I can start to sort through my thoughts and try to get a grasp on where I am.

It has been great being back. I haven’t been able to see a ton of people, but just being here, going to a lake and seeing my family this has been enough. I am looking forward to catching up with more friends and having a good Minnesota summer, but right now it’s nice to be home for a while.

Leaving The Hague was not as hard as I thought it would be, I attribute that to the fact that I will be going back in four months. Also, though I think that it is a tribute to the friendships I made there. They are the kind of friends that you could leave for four months or a year or more and when you saw each other again, it would be like you were never apart. I really will miss the church and my friends in Holland over the summer, but also I take comfort in knowing that our friendships have gone deep and are grounded in each other and that means a lot to me.

While I have been back I have been on my computer non-stop trying to write and finish all these support raising materials, Business cards, photo books, brochures and blog updates… It has been fun to think about the last year and also to think about how excited I am for the coming year. I am getting more excited each day and with each conversation, because each time I talk about Holland I see more clearly all the things God did, how much I have grown, and what is coming on the horizon. I am very encouraged for the future.

This past Sunday I went to my home church (Woodlandhills Church). It was such an encouragement, to be in the service, see my friends and just feel home again. I was able to see several people that I hadn’t seen since Christmas and even met some new folks as well. I was very encouraged when I spoke with our Worship Pastor Norm. Norm and I have a special relationship. Norm is about 6’6” and a big guy, with a heart of gold and a smile that could light up Manhattan. Every time Norm sees me he gives me a huge hug, I feel like a raggedy Anne doll, but its one of the highlights of being home. I don’t know what it is, but when Norm gives me a hug it’s like God is just pouring goodness all over me. I love it. I don’t know how else to explain it. When I saw my family, walked around a lake and got a hug from Norm, I was officially home.

I know this is a short update, but I have been typing for three days straight already…yes, excuses. I will be in touch with all my supporters, but if anyone else wants to sit down and talk let me know (jascut@mac.com).

Prayer requests:
1) Support Raising – there is a lot to do. I am aiming at getting 100/100. 100 people to give me $50 a month for 2 years and 100 people to pray for me once a week for 2 years. Pray that God would connect me to them.
2) Energy – I want to see everyone, it’s who I am, and pray that God would give me the energy to spend the time reconnecting with folks back home.
3) Pray for my sister’s wedding, I am officiating in July, ahhhh, pray for me that I can do this. Also, I am graduating!! Never thought the day would come.
4) Pray for my family and me, it weird thinking I will be leaving again at the end of the summer, pray for our relationships.

I want to thank you all again for reading, sending comments and encouragements, it means a lot. I will be staying in contact with Crossroads Church over the summer to I will try to keep and update about them in the blog as well.

Take care,
Jason

London Calling

Hello,

Last week, I was able to go and visit my good friends the Perriman’s in London. It was a wonderful four days catching up, seeing some of the sights, and meeting their new church. When I returned to The Hague on Saturday, we had an exciting IJM meeting. Then on Sunday I had my official good-bye to Crossroads announcement. It was a good week; I had a lot of fun and a little work as well.

The last/first time I was in London, I did not have a good impression of the city. I mean it was beautiful, it had a long rich history, and who doesn’t love Bangers and Mash? There was just something about the city that didn’t sit well with me. That was not the case this time.

I stayed with my friends Andrew and Belinda. We had a great time catching up, taking nice walks and seeing some good British humor…well British humor. For me it was a very relaxing time to do some reading and thinking about the coming months and year. While I was there I was able to do two Strengths Finder seminar’s with the church that the Perriman’s are attending; one on Wednesday and one on Friday. They were a real treat. I enjoyed meeting the people from their new church and hearing about their ministry in London. I felt a real connection with what they were doing in London. These were all 20 something’s trying to see if real community can change their world. They are helping in homeless shelter’s, playing football (soccer) in the park with kids and are setting up a financial advice non-profit to help locals with their finances.

For me this was a great encouragement. These people have committed to living in community in London, specifically in a low-income area of the city. I had good conversations with several people from the church and with the Perriman’s as well. This weekend gave me a lot to think about in coming back to The Hague this fall.

I was able to visit some museums and did a lot of walking around Central London, the weather was amazing. I loved weaving through the endless streets and alleyways of London. I sat in several parks and gardens and reflected on the last year and thought about the future. It was a great time right before I leave.

I got back to The Hague around 5pm and went straight to Scheveningen for an IJM meeting. Actually, it was a celebration dinner. We were celebrating the fact that on that Friday IJM Netherlands was now an official Stichting (Non-profit). This night signified over year’s amount of work and vision now having come to a climax, what was just a thought a year ago is a reality now. It was a very special sight to see. Joining us were, IJM Germany, IJM UK and Scott Lewis, the Affiliate office director from Washington D.C. We had a good time of getting to know each other talking vision in Europe and also eating some good food as well.

I enjoyed getting to know Scott Lewis, hearing how he got involved with IJM coming from Youth for Christ. Scott joined IJM 3 years ago and talked about how fast IJM was growing even in that short of a time. I was encouraged to hear about what God was doing in and through IJM.

One other cool testimony that came out was how by pursuing IJM from the Netherlands, our team had actually opened IJM’s mind’s to the significant role affiliate offices can play in the work of IJM. With this in mind they have sought to develop more offices around the world. This was a huge faith builder, seeing how stepping out can really pay huge benefits in area’s you never dreamed.

This past Sunday Kevin brought me up in front of the congregation and I got to thank Crossroads and give an update of what I will be doing when I return in the fall. I was really looking forward to doing this. I am very grateful to Crossroads as a church for welcoming me, encouraging me and helping me grow.

As I look back on my time here, I am very grateful for everything that this community has given. I have had amazing experiences, made great friendships and been able to help with what God is doing here. The part that I appreciate the most is the encouragement. I have always had people coming up and encouraging me in the areas I have been stepping out it. Also, the church has been challenging me to step out. It has been a great place to grow.

I am beginning my last week here in The Hague, even though I will be coming back, it still will be the end of a great internship. I love looking back and seeing the friendships develop, see what God has done and be able to say I have made some lifelong friends, who will actually let me visit them!! Haha.

I do still have prayer requests:
1) Pray that my transition back to Minnesota will go well and all the logistics of moving home will go smoothly.
2) Pray about my support raising. I need to raise both money and prayer support. I am excited to start support raising. Pray that God will meet my needs.
3) Pray for my time in Minnesota that it will be beneficial and productive. I have a lot planned and need to keep on task the whole summer.

I have had a great week, I had time to relax, I was challenged and encouraged, also I got to express my thanks to the whole community of Crossroads. See you all in Minnesota!!

Jason

Ok, God its your turn.

Hello everybody,

This past week was very out of ordinary in many different ways. I should have know it was going to be a strange week when on Wednesday night I was involved in a war of nerf guns with 3 kids and 4 grown men…it was AWESOME!! And we dominated the kids. The war was the request of Jake the son of a friend of mine from the church for his birthday party. At his request myself, Tim (his father), Kevin (our lead Pastor), and Steve (my host father) all took up our (nerf) guns and hunted down the birthday boy (Jake). It was a lot of fun even though we dominated the kids they did put up a good fight and were worthy adversaries.

The next strange thing that was happening for me was with my Sermon preparation. I was having a very difficult time writing my sermon for the coming Sunday. In total I wrote 4 outlines, 2 Sermon briefs and 2 manuscripts before I actually gave the talk and still it wasn’t sitting well with me. It was like wrestling a bull. I knew what I wanted to say, but I just couldn’t get it to sound right or fit right or just work. It was very frustrating the whole week.

On Friday and Saturday I was watching three teenage boys in Capelle aan de Ijssel for my friend’s Rogier and Sophie. That was a great time; we played video games, ate burritos and watch the Matrix. It was a man’s night, food, guns and sci-fi, ahhh. The next day I got to watch all of their Basketball games, which too was a lot of fun for me. I love watching sports in different countries to see the systems they run and how they play. It was also very entertaining, because these boys were good. I was really impressed with the skill of a lot of these players and that made the games very interesting to me. The highlight of the day was seeing a 6’7” 13 year old (yes 13!!) dunk, its not everyday you see a kid of that size who can play.

That evening I brought the boys for their home up to The Hague and then headed off to see my friend Maria get baptized in the North Sea. I was bummed out, because I was late and missed the actual event, but just seeing all the people (42 in all showed up) and then seeing Maria was a real treat. Maria has been working with me in trying to get different events going with the 20-40 year olds in Crossroads and through that we have got to know each other and I was able to hear about her story and how far she has come as a person and a Christian. The Baptism was a really special time and it is very cool to see how she is growing in to a leader so quickly. I was really blessed by the whole event.

Then Sunday morning came and I was speaking. I was so nervous, not about speaking, but about my talk. It was Sunday morning and I still didn’t feel good about what I was going to say, but I knew I have to hand it over to God. I had done my part, the study, the prep, now its God’s turn to show up. Well, the talk was good, but really choppy, even while I was speaking it didn’t flow well at all and I couldn’t get a good rhythm going at all.

After each service I had several people come up to me and thank me for the talk and say how they appreciated it, that I did a good job and expressed how they have seen me grow as a speaker. This was so good for me to hear, because I couldn’t see that, not on Sunday. The other responses I got or saw were very touching, I saw God meeting people where they were at and saw how the words God gave me to speak, even though not eloquently delivered, were still working in people’s lives.

This was humbling and reassuring to me. I was humbled to see that despite of my efforts God still showed up, and reassuring in that God was working through what I though he wanted me to say. It was a hard sermon to preach and I was really drained after the services.

I finished off the day by going to Kenny Johnson’s American Football game. It was a great end to the week. Kenny played very well and their team beat the other team by a touchdown, despite being out weighed, collectively by about 500lbs. It was a lot of fun to watch football and to see Kenny playing; he has never played before and is doing very well for being so new to the sport.

If you want to hear the sermon it will be posted on the Crossroads Website: http://www.crossroadschurch.nl/.

Have a great week!!
Jason

Prayer requests:
1) Culture shock coming back. I have been thinking that I will be hit with a bit of culture Shock coming back to Minnesota and would like prayer around transitioning back to MN.
2) Finances. Right now I am planning on returning to The Hague in the fall and the only question mark left in that plan is money. Pray that God will supply the financial needs to get me back over here.
3) The move. May 1st I move back to Minnesota, pray that their would be not complications with getting back and getting settled back in Minnesota.
4) Leaving well. I am trying to see everyone I need to before I leave and I want to make sure I am not leaving any loose ends here. Pray that I will be able to pass on everything I need to and that relationships will also be continued.

It is a Good Friday.

Hello everyone,

What a week! My family went back to Minnesota ( I do miss them a lot), I helped lead a discussion on Revelations (…”yeah, I don’t know” was my best answer), and we had out Good Friday Service. It was a full week and an emotional one as well.

My family being here was great! We had a wonderful time touring around the Netherlands, with a trip to Cologne and Bruges sprinkled in. We saw so many things and had a few adventures along the way. The best part is we didn’t kill each other, haha. Just kidding. It was good to see them all, my parents enjoyed there time here and so did my sister.

Although the trip didn’t get off to the best start. Ok here is the story. Their flight was supposed to arrive at 6:30am, yes AM. That means I have about an hour for them to get through immigration, get their bags, etc. Or so I thought. Well, the earliest train from my station in The Hague leaves at 6:45am. At this point I want to emphasis the AM part of all of this. So the first train leaves at 6:45 and arrives at the airport (Schiphol) around 7:15-7:20am. I arrive on time, look at the arrivals monitor and don’t see a flight from Minneapolis! There are other flights that have arrived at 6:15, 6:20, 6:25, you get my point. I don’t panic, yet. I walk over to an info desk and they say the flight from Minneapolis landed at 6:00am. Crap! I go to the appropriate gate exit, hoping to see my family waiting, but know. They aren’t there. Crap!

If you have ever flown through Schiphol you know how huge this place is. Rather than run around the airport looking for a needle in a hay stack, I figure I will wait by the gate exit, maybe they haven’t come back yet, and even if they had gone out, surely they would come back to the gate knowing I would go there. (If you realize, just then I shifted blame on to them, it was subtle, but there none-the-less). Well, I wait there for about an hour. Then I start walking. I am wearing a bright orange coat, Go Netherlands, and I don’t get 10 steps into the main hall when I hear, “HEY.” I turn to see arms flailing, it was my family.

Rather than greet each other, with the internationally recognized, “hello, hallo, hi, hej or whatever.” We all say at the same time, “where were you!” HaHa, I love my family. Luckily for me at this point they were too tired to be really mad, but next time I will have to be on time.

It was good to see them and I know it was special for my parents to not only see me, but to see Kevin and Kathy Johnson, as well. My parents have supported them the whole four years they were here and I know it was impactful for them to see all the work that has been done and to meet the people who have been impacted by the Johnson’s.

After my family left I started brushing up on my understanding of Revelations. I was leading a discussion on Revelations for a small group. It was a lot of fun and, no, we didn’t get a chance to map out the end of the world, but I am sure that the Anti-Christ will be a hybrid of Obama, the Pope, and Britney spears, you know its coming. We did however, have a good discussion and a lot of laughs. It was a lot of fun and hopefully, impactful as well.

Then came Good Friday, Crossroads did a Good Friday service at Crossroads where we had music and four perspectives of going to the cross. The four perspectives were The Centurion, Mary the mother of Jesus, the Disciples, and Jesus. I was asked to give the perspective of Jesus.

I thought the service was great, the whole thing, I loved the different perspectives about coming to the cross, the music, communion, time of prayer; it was all in all a great service.

I spoke about Jesus coming to the cross and how we can approach the cross like Jesus. Not to repeat my message, I spoke about how Jesus came to the cross with fear and trembling in the Garden and how we can come with fear and trembling to the cross. Also, Jesus came with the promise of joy and we come to the cross with a promise of joy.

I have to be honest this was a hard message to give, as you can imagine. When Scott first asked me, I said yes, but as my energy reserves got depleted that yes, was fading. I was tired from my family’s visit, the small group teaching, the travel, thinking about moving home, thinking about my job, etc. To compound the problem, I was having trouble figuring out what to say, I re-wrote my talk 3 times between Wednesday and Friday.

True to for though, before I went up on stage, I asked “God, make something out of this, because I am spent, I can’t do it.” Well, I think God did. I gave my talk, walked back to the back of the hall and sat down, I watched as people worshipped, prayed and some wept. Not because of me, no, no, no, but because of God. I just sat there. I remember when I sat down, I was completely empty, and I put my face and my hands and just had nothing left. Part of this was, I was tired and needed some sleep and relaxation, but part of it was also, I needed God.

I was thinking about everything that needs to happen in the next 5 months and I just can’t do it all. That is what I said to God, “I can’t do all this.” That is true I can’t do all that needs to be done. I can do my best, work my hardest, but still there are so many things out of my control. In one way that is life in general. That night I didn’t get some huge revelation, I didn’t see angels singing, and tongues of fire descend on anyone, but my eye’s were covered…All that happened was I asked God to do something, because I what I had wasn’t good enough, and God did. Now what I cling to is that God will do something again and again and again. I am starting to believe that this is also what I life is generally suppose to be like, us relying on God to do something.

Well what a week! Happy Easter. “Christ has risen, he has risen indeed.”


Jason

Next Steps

Hello all,

I have had quite a ride this year, from the Big Move in September to my first time speaking, to my first sermon to my second sermon, to helping with small groups, to volunteering with IJM. From Sweden to Morocco this year has been an amazing adventure and I will always remember my time here as “The Intern.”

I am planning on returning next Fall to The Hague with Christian Associates (CAI). My plan is to join the Operations staff of CAI Europe. This summer I will be back in Minnesota fund raising and getting everything sorted out for the fall. There are a lot of logistical issue’s to be worked out between now and then that I will be working on.

I wanted to ask my faithful readers to help out, if you think your church would be interested in the work I am doing in Europe please let me know or have them contact me, I would love to sit down and talk or speak if they would allow. If you would like to support the work I am doing in Europe please let me know I would love to meet with you, in you would like. If you have any questions about what I am doing please let me know.

I will arrive back in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 1st and will remain in Minnesota until September. I will be traveling a bit this summer to Colorado and California for some additional training. If you live in either of these states or live along the way from Minneapolis to San Diego let me know I would love to visit with you.

I am very excited about the work God is doing in Europe and I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing. I ask for your continued prayers and support as I move forward with CAI in Europe. I hope you have enjoyed my blog and want you all to know that I intend to keep updating my blog weekly throughout the summer.

Thanks,
Jason Cutshall

Surfing...

Hello all,

I hope everyone is doing well. I have had a crazy couple of weeks it has been good, but I think I need to do better at scheduling, haha, maybe arriving from Morocco at 3am and picking up my parents at 6am was not such a good idea, you know in hindsight…

Ok, well let’s start with the IJM sermon I gave. Still 2 weeks later I am feeling the effects of this service. I don’t know if this is a speaker thing or if really was that powerful of a service, but now I know what means to be emptied. After the service I literally felt as though I had nothing inside of me, this was a first and, also, was much unexpected on my part.

The trip to Morocco helped a lot in refueling me, but I am still reflecting on how to handle being emptied on a regular basis. I know I have heard a lot about empting your self before God. I would like to hear about refilling your self, because that is equally hard. This has also helped me reflect on my life and how I live. I remember reading a book that talked about having good margins in your life. When trouble, strife, the stuff of life comes do you have enough reserve to handle it all? Its almost like a bank account, do you have enough in savings for when you car breaks, or you break, or when something unexpected happens. I am reflecting on how to best manage the margin in my life, because now is a tornado like time.

This past week our pastor Kevin announced that he and his family would be moving back to Minnesota. I knew this was coming, so it wasn’t a huge surprise, but that mixed in with a lot of other things are making my reserves very low. I always find it funny how I seem to fight between staying safe and risking it all. It is almost like swimming in the ocean. You go out a little and play in the water and that is nice. Then you go further and discover the joy of waves, for better or worse. After you first experiences with a big wave you get a little freaked out and have a choice. Do I go out there again and risk getting slammed into the sand, while playing or do I go back in the shallow water and just enjoy myself?

Well, if you decide to go back out, you hit a point where you can see the waves coming and time your self to body surf on them. There are also times where you see the waves coming and even though you know they are there you didn’t account for how big they are and well, slam, slam, slam. Haha, I say this from personal experience. Not to be overly dramatic, but this is where I am. I saw some waves coming, IJM, Kevin’s announcement, my leaving in a month, but I didn’t account for how big these waves are and now I am heading up on the shore deciding if I should go back in? I have always loved body surfing…

Prayer request:
1) Discernment, specifically as things move forward in my life, there are a lot of decisions to make and I need to be very wise about what I decide.
2) Health, I need to remain healthy and this requires so much attention as you all know, food, exercise, sleep, prayer, study pray I would be diligent and steady
3) Praise, for the church here they are amazing people and have been so loving and helpful to me I would not have asked for a better church for my internship.
4) Pray for Crossroads as they morn the loss of their pastor Kevin, and pray for direction for the church as they continue to bless people.

International Justice Mission

Hello All,

This past week was a crazy busy week, I finished my last class for Seminary (hurray), I went to Brussels for a day and helped with a training, I lead a Strengths Finder Seminar (with my awesome guest presenter Caroline) then I preached on Sunday...a full week for sure. Now though I am headed to Morocco for a nice vacation before my family arrives next Sunday.

I would like to direct you all to http://www.crossroadschurch.nl/ for the sermon, if you want to listen to it online. It was a very emotional and talk, but I am told many people liked it. I have been volunteering for IJM in the Netherlands for about 3 months and this past sunday was a the culmination of a year's worth of work for the team trying to set up the office here in The Hague. It was a very special service and I hope I was able to help do my part.

This post is short, but listen to the sermon and look for my pictures from Morocco!! I am looking forward to a true vacation.

I want to thank you all for all of your prayers and encouragement, really this week I relied heavily on the strength of others.

See you all in a week,
Jason Cutshall

Prayer Requests:
1) REST, REST, REST!!
2) Saftey in Morocco. I am not to worried, but I do know things can happen
3) For the safe arrival of my family from Minnesota

Oil spills, Church, Politics and me...

Hello all,

I hope you are all doing well. I am in the midst of a very busy week, but the sudden and pleasant shift in weather here in Den Haag has made life a lot brighter. It is amazing how the last month has been such a whirlwind of travel, activity, and doing. Last week was no exception either.

I was recovering from a great conference in Portugal with most all the Christian Associate Leaders, when I took a trip to Kirchiem, Germany to help scout out a venue for our Staff Conference for 2010. Last Thursday I headed off with Al Dyck to meet up with a couple staff members in Kirchiem, which should have taken us 4 ½ hours to reach for the Hague…Should have. Well we were about 4 hours into our road trip, which was amazing; Germany really does have some spectacular views, and the Autobahn, wow, what a highway.

After cruising around Germany at about 100 mph we came to a dead stop just 20 minutes from our destination. Neither one of us thought it was serious, but after the first hours we soon realized we could be here for a while. At one point I opened my computer and we started watching a movie. There was a period where we didn’t move, not an inch, for about 30 minutes. Well, 2 hours later we started going, as we started moving we noticed that their had been an oil spill. As we drove over the dust they spread over the oil I realized that this was a huge spill, by my guess was about 100 yards long. As we were driving over the spill I took back all the stuff I had muttered under my breath about the German roadworks. They did a great and efficient job in cleaning up this huge spill.

Well due to our little delay, we arrived 2 hours later than we had planned, so in stead of 4 ½ hours in the car we were in the car for about 7, when it was all said and done, that was a long day. We then met with Melinda and Dudley, for another couple hours, recapping the hotels and retreat centers they had visited that week. The next day we took a tour of the grounds, which were very nice; it was like a summer camp in the middle of rural Germany, very nice and peaceful.

After we dropped Melinda off at the train and got Dudley to his hotel in Frankfurt we headed back to The Hague this time with no surprises, it took us 4 hours as it should have. On our way back Al and I were able to have a very good conversation, it was deep and honest and I appreciated the time we shared.

The next big adventure of the past week was finishing my Independent Study for School. This is the last requirement I have for my Master’s, outside of finishing this internship. This weekend was a sprint to the finish line, I read three books out of 9 and wrote 14 pages, and yes I am bragging, because this killed me, but I did it. My study was on the relationship between Church, as institution, and Politics. This is a subject that has interested me for a long time and this was a great way to get my feet wet in the ideas and personal accounts of people who have thought and acted in the political realm. I was challenged by many of the author’s and have a lot more reading and thinking to do. Needless to say this subject is not a simple one, but it is a issue we all face. How do we as Christians, with our allegiance to Jesus, interact with a system that also requires our elegance? This is not just a Dutch question or an American question, it is a question that all believer’s face all around the world, in varying degrees. It is also a subject where bright, honest, believing people disagree completely, the challenge for me in this was deciding how I want to act in this realm. How will I act in relation to political systems? I am not ready to state a view and act on it yet, but I think I am close to buying a cabin in northern Sweden and doing the Thoreau thing, haha, just kidding.

Out of the study my favorite personal account was by David Kuo in his book “Tempting Faith.” David is a good writer and tells about his journey from becoming a Christian in New Jersey all the way up to serving as a special aide to President Bush, it is a very good read. The most challenging book was “the Subversion of Christianity” by Jaques Ellul. Ellul builds a great argument for why Christianity cannot exist along political systems, it is impossible. Ellul take the approach of legal, sociological historian. Ellul’s study of ancient political systems helps him greatly in understanding how Christians interacted with Politics in the past 2,000 years. I recommend this to anyone who wants to be challenged in their understanding, and beware this is a heavy read.

Well, tomorrow I am off to Brussels’ on another one day journey; here I am going to sit in on training for our Field Orientation. Then this Saturday I am giving another Strengths Finder Seminar and Sunday I am speaking for our service, yes a full week.

I will let you all know if I survive this week, haha

Jason

Prayer Requests:
1) Sunday I am speaking and this Sunday is our International Justice Mission Service. We are introducing IJM to the congregation and hoping that many people get on board with Prayer and support for this organization
2) My Health and energy, that I would make good decisions on keeping myself healthy. Life has been very busy and erratic and I need to make sure I am taking care of myself.
3) Pray that God would continue to lead me in my future plans as things are getting much clearer and actually some job offers are coming I am excited, but want to make sure I am following God’s will in this.
4) Pray for our Congregation here in The Hague that God would continue to work in and through the people here.

How big is my family?

Hello all,

Sorry, I did not update last week, it has been a busy month…like expected. I am alive, healthy and getting rested, thanks for all your prayers around the trips and decisions current and upcoming. This week is just as crazy, I have a surprise trip to Frankfurt Germany to meet with a few of the operations staff of CAI, and then next week I have a trip to Brussels Belguim to help with CAI’s Field Orientation for new missionaries. I am looking forward to all of this, but continue to pray for my health and mental focus.

Ok, updating the past two weeks. Let’s see. Last time I wrote I was on a train to Stockholm and since then I was in Stockholm for 4 days helping my friends the Hyltegard’s move into their new flat and, at time, holding their beautiful new baby Ella (3 months old). From there I was back in Den Haag for three nights then off to Lisbon Portugal for CAI’s Leadership Summit. This was a very intense four day conference of all the team leaders from all around Europe, North America, and South America. It was a great conference and for me personally it brought a lot of clarity and focus for my future with CAI. Again, thanks for your prayers around this area as well.

Now the heart stuff. Even though the past weeks have been very draining I have had people coming up to me, praying and supporting me. There are two stories I want to share around this. First is the Fritsch’s in Goteborg Sweden. I first met Marcus Fritsch two years ago in Goteborg. Marcus is a native German, he and his wife Karen were called out of their native Germany to plant a church in Sweden. When I met Marcus I realized very quickly that he was a man of prayer, well over the past couple weeks I realized its not just Marcus, but Karen and there Children as well. When I was in Sweden visiting with the church I was reminded that this small church has been built on prayer and guidance from God.

When I was leaving Goteborg I got a text from Marcus’s oldest son Ollie, who said, he was praying that God would bless me and lead me. When I got this text, it just melted me. Ollie is about 12 or 13, I mean what can you say to that, there is something about a child’s prayers, I was really touched by this. I told Marcus in Portugal that I appreciated him and his whole family for praying for me. I feel as though I have been adopted by the Fritsch’s, even by their kids. I don’t know if I will ever end up in Sweden, but I do know that I will have a family their.

The second story is about Jim. Jim was a guest at the conference in Portugal. Jim is from an organization that has planted 1,000 churches in the last 5 or 10 years. This was one of those strange meetings. I saw Jim in the lobby and something was different, we looked at each other and greeted, then went on our way. A day later the same thing. Then we saw each other and both decided we needed to sit and talk. We did the next day for lunch. Jim and his wife are from Ireland and have ended up in LA via South Africa. Jim is a soft spoken sweet man. Jim is a grandfather figure, humble, caring, and gentle. I don’t know exactly what this relationship will bring, but I asked Jim and his wife to pray for me and he accepted, then Jim said, “Jason we want to support you. If you need anything, let me know.” Then Jim invited me to visit him and his wife in LA this June. I had just met Jim and already he wanted to support me. I was overwhelmed, but it was not totally unexpected. See I had been praying earlier in the day and I felt as though God was creating some connection between us. This was confirmed at lunch.

I have been humbled by the fact that I now have clarity about my future with CAI, but that is not the best thing to happen in the last couple of weeks. The best thing that has happened is that God showed me that he is caring for me. It is a very humbling thing to have a person you just met say, “we want to support you.” It is a humbling thing to have a family pray for you, a family you see maybe 1 time a year. I am excited about the future, but right now, I am grateful and humbled by the present. There is a lot going on, there will always be a lot going on, but it’s those encouraging things that I hang on too. It’s the prayers of a 12 year old over SMS (text) that really keep me going.

Thank you, Thank you all for your support.
Jason

Prayer Requests:
1) Health, Praise I am healthy and pray it will stay that way
2) Relationships here and back home. I am going to be leaving on May 1st for Minnesota. I have made good relationships here and want to continue to learn how to maintain those relationships an ocean apart.
3) Support, I will be returning to Europe, hopefully in the fall. This summer I will be fund raising and working from Minnesota. Pray that God will rise up people to pray for me and to financially support me.
4) My sister’s wedding, Along with the addition of new families. I have been moved very deeply over the past weeks about my own family and how great they are. Pray for my sister and her fiancé, Ben. Praise God that they are such a blessing.

Surrounded By Lights

25 February 2009

Tack! Hej Hej,

Well, I am on a train in Sweden, heading from my relatives house in Huskvarna to my friends house in Stockholm. It is a bit surreal updating my blog from a train in the middle of Sweden, go figure. This past week has been great. My time in the office was cut short by my trip to Sweden and by coaching in Amsterdam. Where to start?

I will begin by talking about coaching last week. I went up to Amsterdam early to see my Basketball boys perform in a play. It was big time, they were telling the story of some Greek Fables and did us all proud. Due to the play and the fact that I was alone this week, the guys were particularly wild. I tried to keep the day as fun as possible, but they were really out of control at times, so I had to enforce a little, mainly by making them do push-ups and running laps around the gym. They had had a good day being actors so I figured I would cut them some slack and let them be kids for a day. It was a fun, wild time. Needless to say we didn’t work on any new plays or any big life lessons, other than the lesson that sometime you just need to be a little wild.

After Basketball I had a good dinner with Kevin and Kathy Johnson, they made Chipolte Burrito’s and got them pretty close I might say. The next morning I went to Schiphol and then off to Sweden. The next three days were very intense. I along with 3 other Theologians was meeting with the CAI church plant located in Angered, Sweden. We were there to help this little church plant think through what they were doing in theological terms. It was a deep and powerful weekend. We asked a lot of hard questions and had some really good discussions as well.

For me, it forced me to ask deep questions about what I am doing. The point of this weekend was to help build up the work they were doing by connecting it to theological truths. I couldn’t help but ask these questions of my own work and goals and had some good time of reflection and development of questions. It was an enjoyable time, but also very draining, thinking is a lot of work, so I try not to do it too often…haha.

After the weekend I moved in with my relatives in Fiskeback, near Gothenburg and spent the next two days there with them. It was a good time to relax, catch up on reading and go for a nice walk. Today I left Gothenburg at 8am and then spent the day in Huskvarna with some more of our relatives. This trip has been great on many levels. First, working with the church plant in Angered gave me a first hand look at what it is too set up a church in a foreign context and, some would argue, a context that didn’t necessarily want them their. I say the hope in God and the belief that Christ will do a great work there; I shared this hope and prayer with these friends.

The other part that I always cherish is seeing my relatives, distant relatives (we are related through my grandmother’s cousin), but even though we are thousands of miles apart and language is a major issue, we still share a common faith. They are such a blessing to me whenever I visit and I know that we bless them just the same. It is amazing that I have relatives around the world that love Christ and that we truly, share fellowship with. I have a hard time expressing the gratitude I have for them and the thanks I would like to extent to them for the blessing they are to me and my family. It is so humbling to be associated with such great people.

That said, I am headed to Stockholm to share some time with another couple who are friends of mine. I am going there to help them move and spend a nice weekend together. Again, they are truly great friends of mine. I can’t wait to celebrate their new baby girl and help them move into a new home as well, it will be a great weekend.

If you could tell, I am overwhelmed with gratitude right now, and with good reason, I am in a foreign country and yet am still surrounded by friends and family that love and care for me. Really, it is so amazing to me to have such a network of people around the world, ok, you get the point.

This week hasn’t been a break from the hard questions looming in my near future, but it was reassurances that I am well supported by people that love me and are pray for the best to come about in my life.

Looking ahead in a week I will be headed to the CAI Leadership Summit, this will be a very important weekend for me in figuring out the next steps in my role with CAI and that leads to my prayer requests:

Pray for my future, where to go, what to do. God is nudging me, but it is not toward an answer it is more toward spending some significant time in prayer with him. This is one of those times where I need to seek God.
Pray for my relative in Huskvarna, I learned today that his cancer has returned, pray for his healing and peace in his life. I was very sad to hear this hard news.
Pray for the church in Angered (H2O that is the name), pray that God would lead them to serve the people in Angered in a way that makes them see Jesus. Pray also that I would see how I can best support the work they are doing.
Pray for Crossroads church that God would continue to work in the believers that. Pray that God would rise up leaders to go out and start new ministries in Den Haag and around Netherlands.

Thank you all again, for your prayers and support, I am hopeful and excited about the future. I am also learning that typing on a moving train makes me car sick, so I am going to stop typing before I throw up! Take care and many greetings to you all.

Jason Cutshall

Conversations

Hello all,

Well, this past week was more like normal. No trips to ole’ England, no crazy occurrences, no new challenges to face, just a normal week…or was it, actually it was, I just like adding the effect.

This past week started off pretty normal, we had our staff meeting, which is always a lot of fun to hear about what is going on in all the different parts of the church. Then I headed up to Amsterdam. When I got up to Amsterdam then the week took off. I had a couple very good conversations in relation to a role with CAI. I had a very good time brainstorming different options and helping to clarify how my passions can line up with what CAI is doing in the coming years. I was very encouraged by these couple of processing talks.

In a way last week was the week of big conversations. I am closing in on the end of my internship and most of my energy is being focused on helping to leave well and also, planning for my return to Europe. I think I had 5 significant conversations with CAI leaders that have helped me to get a clearer picture of the needs within CAI and also, how I can help meet those needs in the coming years. This past week was a big encouragement in relation to my future here in Europe.

Now to Basketball, the boys are improving every week now, they are getting it! But still they are a long way from being able to play in a game and be competitive and last week was a reminder to them of that. At the end of practice we played a full-court scrimmage and they were unable to put into practice the things we had worked on. This was a blessing in disguise because all the kids were able to see how the things we have been drilling on are all parts of the game. We were also able to clarify, that one person is not able to guard an entire team by himself.

Heim, a 9 year old originally from Israel, was guarding Kelton in our scrimmage. Kelton scored all 9 of his team’s points. After we were talking a little bit about defense and Heim asked, why can’t one person just guard the whole team? Well Heim, I said, who were you guarding, Kelton, he replied, and how many points did Kelton score? 9, he said. I asked why did he score 9 points, Heim, shrugged his shoulders, and then said, because I was chasing the ball around. I said, “YES!!” It was a simple lesson, but a very important one to learn. What Heim learned last week was; team work. Everyone plays a role and everyone joins in the victory or loss, but you do it together.

With the past week and all the conversations the point for me is figuring out how I fit in to the CAI team. It is a very exciting time for me and I am looking forward the future and how I can help the ministry here in Europe.

On a more somber note, I found out that Warren Walleen died this past weekend. Most of you probably don’t know who Warren is or was, but Warren was the grandfather of two of my closest friends and a very close friend of our family. I can’t speak enough kind words about Warren, he was a kind, generous, caring man, who taught me a lot by his example and covered me with his prayers. I know that I will miss him dearly and I pray for my friends’ the Johnsons, the Reike’s, and of course his lovely wife Jackie. I can say with great gratitude that I am a better man because I knew Warren Walleen.

Thank you all,
Jason Cutshall

Prayer Requests:
1) Pray for peace – the next couple of months will be very full with travel, big decisions, and big events. I will need peace throughout this time and discipline to take time with God everyday.
2) Money – Pray that God would provide for me, my family, and my friends. I want to be a good steward of what God has given me and I also know that times are tough and money is an issue for many people, me included.
3) Pray for a Coach – I need that person who can see my life from the sideline and help give advice on what I am doing well and what I need to work on, right now Kevin Johnson is doing a great job of that, but as I move into a new role in the coming months I will need a new coach in life and career.
4) Emotions – Due to some significant events that have taken place back in Minnesota (father’s birthday, sister’s engagement, Warren’s death, and others) I am getting struck with a bit of homesickness, pray that God would help me to not ignore this, but to engage and figure out how to work through these events emotionally, even though I am 4,000 miles away. There are lots of good things happening in The Hague as well and this is part of the job, but not an easy part by any means.
5) Pray for Crossroads Church – that the ministry would continue to go forth and that God would give a clear vision for the future and open new doors for this congregation.

Ah, a rest...

Hello to my faithful readers…I have been getting a lot of good response about my blog so I thought I would acknowledge those of you who read my musing each week.

This past weekend I was in Hale, England, visiting my friend Richard. On Sunday before I left we went to Richard’s church and during the worship time we sang the song, “Everything” by Tim Hughes. I was reading the lyrics and at first I found them quite tedious and repetitive, but then it hit me. Tim Hughes in this song was building a need in us, by creating a list of seemingly monotonous list of everyday emotions, activities, and thoughts in the first part of the song, he in a way opened me up. By listing, the monotonous things of life, sleeping, waking, eating, working, breathing, the instinctual things of life. Which I give no thought to, Tim Hughes created tension in me.

The second half of the song is us crying to God, “be my everything.” Now, I have heard this song before, many times, but at this point, at this place, it really hit me, that I need God to “be my everything” in my life. With the future and the present being so uncertain for me, the thought of God in my life was an overwhelming realization to me and brought me into a, now multiple day, reflection time, which has been hard but extremely delightful.

I have been reflecting on the question of what does it mean for God to “be my everything?” I have not been getting cognitive or logical answers, but rather feelings, which for me is not always helpful, but in this case it was, because I know, rationally, what it means for God to be everything, but I don’t feel that, if I am really honest with myself, I wasn’t even asking the question, do I feel as though God is my everything and this was a tension in me that I didn’t even know was there.

It is funny how God shows up and is able to get directly to the center of your troubles. The image I get is of a doctor who knows exactly where the problem is and can go directly into your wound or weakness and begin to heal. Yes, there is pain, and yes it is not comfortable to feel so exposed, especially in a church, which you are visiting, but it is so good and honestly, who better than the God of the universe to do such a work.

The last month and a half has been very busy, very challenging, but also, the most rewarding time of my life. I have been able to do so much, most of, which, a year ago was merely a faint dream. With all of that happening, I became pretty tired and this trip to Manchester came at the right time. I went to visit my friend Richard, who I met two years ago at Connect (the CAI Staff Conference). Richard invited me up for a weekend and I accepted. We had a great time, touring around the country side, from Hale, to North Wales (Conwy, Betws-y-coed), stopping by Dunham Massey and a day in the Peak District hiking the plateau ridge there, with people from Richard’s church. It was an amazing weekend.

Some of the best times of the weekend were the conversation that Richard and I were able to have. Richard is a lawyer and we both love talking about politics, history, and theology, yes we are nerds, serious nerds. It was such a fun time. I am very grateful to Richard for his hospitality and generosity throughout the weekend. It truly, was the holiday I needed.

We ended the weekend by eating at a little restaurant that has particular significance, the name of the restaurant was “The Bells of Peover” and it was where General Patton would eat during his time in England. On more than one occasion Patton and Eisenhower would meet at this little restaurant deep in the English countryside. Next to the restaurant was a little church that had been built in 1296 and is still running! It was amazing to go in and see the church itself, equally amazing was to see how they had services and programs still running I was really touched by this sign of perseverance and faithfulness. What a way to end a weekend in England and what an encouragement it was to me to see a church that had not only survived 700 years, but was still going, if that’s not hope for the future I don’t know what is.

The other big news this past weekend was, at 5am on Sunday morning I got a call from my sister to announce that she was now engaged to her boyfriend Ben. I knew this was coming, but now that it is here I am so happy for them both. Truly, if there was a match made in heave this is it. Not that they are sunshine and lollipops all the time, but they fit each other so well. I can’t wait to see them married. The other surprise what the invitation to be part of the wedding service, this is a huge honor for me, I really can’t put into words what this means. It will be a highlight of my life, I am sure of that.

Coming back to The Netherlands, I came crashing back down to reality quite quickly from the restful high of the weekend away. Seminars that need to be planned, vision’s that need to be thought up and cast, and decisions that need to be made soon, but I was up lifted by the events of the past weekend I leave you today, with a message of hope. In our waking, in our sleeping, in our work, in our weddings, in our churches, God is there and God is our everything. This has been the lesson from the past week for me. I don’t mean to be cliché about this, because I believe this statement is so far from shallow that you can get. Saying God is our everything is an incredibly deep and broad statement that I think only God can show us how it is even possible.

Anyway, to stop the musing I hope you are all well, and it has been great to hear feedback about the blog, and to be able to speak with a few of you over the course of the week.

Take care,
Jason

Pray Requests:
1) Long-term: I was able to have a very good discussion with Nick Webb a member of the CAI European board. This helped to get a more objective opinion on my current situation and some good ideas about how I could fit into CAI Europe. Pray that the decision would become even more clear and that the details would fall into place.
2) Short-term: My sister’s wedding and marriage. My travel, to Sweden, Portugal, and Morocco. These are work related trips, which will help, if not, make the decision on where I end up for the next couple years here in Europe.
3) Personal: That I would be protected from myself and from anything that would hinder what God is doing here. I know the biggest thing I have been facing lately is my own fear of stepping out. That process has been draining, but extremely good, in that I have been acting out in ways that God has created me too.

This is real

20080929_IMG_0035, originally uploaded by cutjas.

Tuesday 3 February 2009

Hello everyone,

I don’t know how many of you played organized sports, but I did and loved it. I always found it funny that every game I play in there was this point in the game, usually a while into the competition where I would sort of stop and think, “I am in the game, this is for real.” It was an “ah ha” moment, where I realized this isn’t practice, nor am I on the bench, but this is for real and we only have a limited amount of time to accomplish our victory. This “ah ha” moment in the game was not a panic time, but for me it was a relaxing time. I am in the game, I was picked to be here, and I have something to bring. This moment in the game actually spurred me on to play better. Well this past week was one of those weeks. I realized that I am in the game.

First off, I want to get back to my basketball kids. We had our second practice after the Winter break and it was our best practice to date. It is so encouraging to see that the kids are getting it. I know for them it becomes more fun and it does the same for us as the coaches. We have one kid, Christoph, who is from Scotland and is becoming quite the jump shooter. Even though Christoph is about half the size of the ball itself, he is able to make his 10 foot shot pretty regularly. We also have a couple kids developing as leaders and helping the other kids figure out what is going on. Things were working really well last week and it was so encouraging.

The other piece is that we are able to teach these kids the lessons of life. Lesson’s that go beyond the sport field, the biggest lesson is paying attention. We have had to have talks with a few kids about paying attention to what we are instructing them to do. “If you want to play you have to pay attention or you won’t know what is going on.” This is a comment that we have had to use on several occasions and it is now starting to sink it. I am glad to see that the kids are beginning to take responsibility for their own learning. We can make it fun, and we can instruct, but like life, if you don’t put in the effort and pay attention then you will not get very far.

This is also, more important, when I hear about some of the home lives of a few of these kids. Most of them are internationals so they are not living in the native country and that is hard enough as a kid, but some have had parents divorced or separated. In these cases you want to comfort them and support them, and I view us teaching these lessons of taking responsibility as very helpful lessons for life. Lesson’s they may not be getting from their fathers. In some cases it goes directly against the example they have had from their fathers and hopefully this will have an impact on them, so they can say, “I don’t have to live like my dad did.” I know they are young, but these are very important lessons to learn and I am taking this time more serious everyday. I want these kids to have fun and enjoy basketball, but more I want them to learn the lessons that recreational activities have to teach us about life.

Ok, the funny story from the week of basketball. Keldon one of the older kids in the group, was shooting on a 20 foot basketball hoop. We normally work off of a 8 foot hoop, but some of the baskets in the gym were raised up. Anyway, Keldon was screaming, look at me, and then he would shoot and made a couple of baskets. One of these times, Keldon, screams (because kids don’t have normal voices, they scream), “Jason, Jason, look at me.” I look and he shoots and makes the basket. “Awesome!!” I say, and then I tell Keldon to come and make a basket on the 8 foot hoop. Keldon struts, yes struts over with this arrogant look, think oh I can do this, I just made a 20 foot basket. Keldon shoots, and KLANK, he missed. I told him, that maybe he should practice on the hoop we play on before he shoots on the hoops he will never play on. I don’t know if that advice sank it, as 5 min later he was back on the 20 foot hoop screaming again…haha, kids.

Looking back on this past week, I feel little opposite of Keldon. I feel as though I have been shooting on the 8 foot hoop for a long time and now I am shooting on the 10 foot hoop. The one we play on, the NBA hoop, in essence I am doing work for real. Its not school, its not training, this is real stuff.

The week for me started off with leading the International Justice Mission meeting on Tuesday, don’t get to impressed, all I did was make sure we started at 7:30 and end at 930, but this was an important meeting and talk about feeling like this is for real, this is. Trying to help out an organization like IJM is a great honor and I am more and more impressed by their organization the more I learn about it. In saying yes to leading this meeting I was completely in over my head. I am not a lawyer or a business man; I am a intern, at best an amateur theologian. I was leading a meeting of international lawyers, business people and other professionals. It was very humbling, but being the blockhead that I am I didn’t realize this until after when I reflecting on the meeting. During the meeting I am so focused on getting through the agenda and making sure we end on time. After I think about the people in the room and the lives we are trying to impact and that is where the weight of what we are doing really hits me. This is for real; there are accomplished international business people, international lawyers, people that are at the tops of their field and its time to play ball.

Next was the Strengths Finder Seminar I led on Saturday. I interned for two years with an organization called Leadership Vision, which used the Strengths Finder exam to help people start looking at their strengths in their life. We would work with churches, schools, and businesses. I saw how my bosses both lead seminar’s that changed how people thought about themselves and began to view themselves in a very positive and life changing way. I saw how teens, young adults, and people on the verge of retirement were able to answer the question, “am I doing what I was created to do?”

Well, now I was running the seminar. I was so worried that I would not be able to present the material in a way that would help and be beneficial to people. With a lot of help from my friend and former boss Mike, the seminar went great. I was able to present the material in a way that was accessible and helpful. More so, I have had comments and seen people begin to think about their lives in terms of “is this what I am created to do?” As I reflected on the seminar, I began to realize that this too is for real. Helping to figure out what they were created to do is serious business, you have the opportunity to greatly influence a person’s life and the direction it is going and that again, forced me to say, “its game time.”

I know it’s been almost 6 months into my internship and looking around I am in the game. I am excited to be here and see what I can and do contribute. All the while seeing how God is opening doors and has gifted me to help people in a way that gives myself and others life. Clearly, this week has been an “ah ha” week in that I am starting to see how the gifting God has given me can translate into real life change.

I hope no one is reading this and thinking that you have to do my work to bring real change that is not my intention at all. My intention in this blog is to update my week and share my reflections on my life. If was an accountant or a janitor I hope that I would have the same “ah ha” weeks from God to show me how my work makes a difference, but I am not, I am an intern in a church and this is how God is using me. I hope that this blog encourages all of you and blesses you as well. Thanks again to all that are supporting me and praying for me and bringing me out for lunch and coffee, it really does make a difference in my life. I hope that you all are sharing in the blessings I am receiving because if it wasn’t for you all, I would not be here doing what God has for me.

Groetjes, greeting, and many blessings,
Jason

Prayer Requests:
1) Future plans: Sweden, the Hague, I am still praying about my future here in Europe and trying to decided between Gothenburg Sweden and The Hague. Pray for clarity and calling.
2) Family: It is hard not to be around my family, we are able to talk on the phone and I am at peace about where I am, but still it’s hard not to be around family.
3) Health: I will be traveling a lot in the next 2 months; most work some just fun travel. I need to pray for my health, that I will remain healthy so that I can do the work in the places I am going and get enough rest when I have the chance.