Jason C. Prater Blog

2010 has been a dynamic year. If there ever was a time when I felt I turned a corner it was this year. Before celebrating the New Year, I thought I would share the 5 Greatest lessons I learned this past year. Maybe some of you can relate!

5 Greatest Lessons of 2010

1. Ministry and Leadership is ALL About Others.

Leadership, specifically public leadership, is never about gaining fame or influence. While fame and influence can be the consequences of great leadership, it is never the goal. No matter what the career may be, true leadership is found when we put the needs of those placed under us above our own. The Scriptures record Jesus as stating: “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (Gospel of John 13:13-17). Jesus set a clear example for leadership in life and ministry.

2. Integrity is Key.

I’m sure I’ll take a hit for using an example from Gandhi on the heels of using the words of Jesus, but these words ring loud in my ear and my heart: “A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes.” Integrity begins in the mind and works outward. It cannot be manufactured, it cannot be summoned at a moment’s notice. It is the sum of who we are and, in time, it is always revealed. Therefore, the work of character and growth – the battle for the mind – takes place in our most private world.

3. Transparency is Crucial.

Feelings of respect and love for others must be expressed. Likewise, feelings of resentment must also be shared with the appropriate person in the appropriate setting. Nothing is ever gained by stabbing someone in the back. I am becoming thoroughly convinced that most “people problems” could be solved with a small dose of appropriate transparency.

4. The Rewards of Long-Term Investment.

For a personality like mine who wants to taste everything the world has to offer, it is difficult to stay rooted in one place. However, I am beginning to see the payoff that comes from staying put and investing in one place for the long haul. Relationships and trust take time. Neither can really be achieved when a person moves from place to place.

5. Acceptance of Self.

I am selfish. I stutter when I’m tired or nervous. I have very little patience for others or myself. As much as I wish I were politician I am not (and never will be one). I would much rather watch a marathon of “The Office” than read a good book. I hate running and being healthy. THERE. I said it. Now, the real work can begin! Once we understand EXACTLY who we are we can work from that point to become even better in our strengths and seek more improvement in our weaknesses. It is when we fail to see who we truly are that we stunt our personal growth.

This has been an incredible year and I am greatly looking forward to 2011. New goals? Be on time consistently, blog more, run consistently, read more, answer emails and phone calls in a timely manner and give every ounce of energy I have to the Shadow Mountain Community Church Hispanic Worship Ministry!

See you in 2011!!

JCP

I’ve decided I want to blog more. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now.  I will be posting on this blog once a day for all of 2011. Most will be simple, short blogs but it is a discipline I want to learn.

I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, awesome and wonderful. Therefore I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, and the community of other bloggers with similar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.

If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.

Signed,

Jason C. Prater

I am ashamed to see how long it has been since I have last blogged. As the final chapter of this year is drawing to a close the “busy-ness” of life has taken over and I have not taken the necessary time to share some my thoughts along the journey.

However, tonight I briefly need to share a great lesson.

I am learning that life in ministry (or another other profession where you lead people) is about the interruptions. I could not begin to count the amount of times I have had something on my agenda, some place I have needed to be or some “important” work I have needed to get done only to get stopped dead in my tracks by someone who simply needs a listening ear, a word of encouragement, prayer or simply time with me. Because I am a Type A personality who is always on the go, always with a mission, if I am not careful I can let the “work” of ministry get in the way of actual ministry.

Tonight I almost missed a great chance to minister because – for a split second – I thought my work was more important than spending time with a person who needed it. Continue reading →

Since the year 2001, the date September 11 has conjured different images in the minds of people across the world. I would even submit the date “September 11″ has become a term all on its own, much like “9-11.” For many this term holds a great deal of sadness; for some horrific images are brought to mind. For others it marks a date of national unification; for even some it stands as a victory over capitalism and western ideals. Yet, the greatest image it can project for the many of us who call America home, is the image of courage and selfless leadership which took place in form different courageous men and women performing courageous acts.

The first which comes to mind is the now deceased Father Mychal F. Judge, Roman Catholic friar, priest and Chaplain of the Fire Department of New York City, a position he held from 1992 until 2001.

In this position, Judge spent the balance of his time caring for members and families of the FDNY, visiting hospitals and offering encouragement and counseling. He also became known as a man who simply loved people. In the 1980′s when the Roman Catholic Church (and the Church at-large) began turning their backs on AIDS victims, Father Judge literally embraced them. There is a story told of a man who was dying of AIDS asking Father Judge, “Does God hate me?” To which Father Judge responded by kissing the man and cradling him in his arms. He also was known for his generosity to the poor, even giving the coat off his back to a person who needed it more than he. Father Judge loved people.

Yet, Father Judge’s bravery on September 11, 2001 stands as a defining moment in his life. Continue reading →

It’s amazing to me how so many people who are attracted to leadership roles and positions are people who like to be heard. After all, leadership is all about effective communication with those placed under one’s leadership. Ministry is the same way; the leaders in the profession of ministry tend to be talkers. They have something to say and, more often that not, they desire to be heard. Yet, what amazes me is this paradox between what it takes to be a leader and the very thing a true leader must excel at: Listening.

I have to admit that listening is a task I do not excel at, but it is something I’m working on; really listening to those placed under my care without the need to respond. It frightens me how sometimes I can ask someone an important question and then spend five minutes answering the question myself. This is certainly not listening. In addition, people who listen like this – always needing to fix everything –  tend to begin losing their audiences.

I am finding that in order to truly be a good listener, one must do the following 5: Continue reading →

I posted my first blog exactly a year ago today. I began this blog because (1) I love to write and (2) I wanted to challenge myself with some consistency in my own life – maintaining a blog actually requires a little discipline. While I am not even close to maintaining the consistency I would like, this year has been a start. And what an incredible journey; in one year I have been blessed with a little over 12,000 visits to my blog. While this number cannot compare to some of the great bloggers out there, I am thankful that some of my views and thoughts are beginning to resonate in “blog world.” It is humbling experience to blog but here are some of the lessons I am learning: Continue reading →

I spend about eight hours a week driving to and from Los Angeles. That is equivalent to a full days week. Some weeks it can be longer depending on the rush- hour commute. In this time I spend a great deal of time listening to Chuck Swindoll, podcasts on Christianity and leadership, audio books and music. However, when I have exhausted all of these options, I turn off the noise and simply think and observe. There is much to observe on these commutes. For example, I have witnessed people texting, people singing (I mean REALLY jamming), ladies applying their make up, men reading the morning newspaper while sipping on Starbucks, people reading novels and even people working on laptops. I have seen it all

This past Monday while driving to Los Angeles, after coming down a slight incline on the freeway, I observed a cluster of cars in the distance seemingly braking in a sporadic fashion. Moreover, this cluster of brakes seemed to be surrounding the movements of one car who seemed to be having difficulty merging into the fast lane. (On southern California freeways, merging from lane to lane has almost become a skill which must be tuned for precision in order to keep from being pummeled by vehicles moving at lightning speed!) Yet, this vehicle was “almost” merging and then hesitating… Merge… Hesitate… Merge… Hesitate… This kind of driving can even qualify as dangerous on California freeways.

As I got closer to him and edged passed him (I wasn’t about to follow this guy down the freeway), I could see his primary shortcoming: He kept his eyes glued to the rearview mirrors. In the time it took for me to pass him, his remained on his side and rear view mirrors making it extremely hard for him to advance forward.

How many times do we do this? Instead of cruising confidently forward on this freeway called life, how often do we miss what is in front of us by constantly focusing on what is behind us? Continue reading →

I am almost a little embarrassed at how juvenile the title of today’s blog is. It sounds like one of those “The More You Know” commercials that played on NBC during the 80′s and 90′s. You know, the commercials that featured different movie and TV stars promoting education with the end of the commercial showing the star shooting across the screen? You remember those? I’m not sure if those commercials still run but we could use them in today’s society. We live in an environment where learning is not valued. Yes, school is mandatory in our American culture. We can agree that in most suburban cities parent-teacher conferences are taken relatively serious for parents. Of course, we have some of the greatest universities in the world right here in our own backyards. Sure, parents want their children to go on to college and possibly graduate school. But what is the purpose behind all of this? Continue reading →

Tonight I had the incredible blessing of attending the Saddleback Easter Service at the Angel Stadium in Anaheim with my godson. It was an incredible service with an incredible message by America’s pastor, Rick Warren. In addition to the great message on Hope, we also heard incredible worship from Rick Muchow, Kari Jobe and one of my all-time favorites, Marcos Witt. It was an incredible night!

I must begin by saying that for anyone who has ever doubted Rick Warren’s heart for ministry and people or his motives for why he does what he does, tonight dispelled any and all of those rumors. I could not believe the simplicity of the service tonight – yet it was so incredibly fresh, intimate and transparent. Walking into the massive ballpark, I expected to see huge stage with trusses for lighting and sound backed with music speakers blaring the hottest Christian tunes. I was a little shocked to simply see a stool sitting on the pitcher’s mound… and that was about it. The setting was simple, which made the evening all the more profound.

In tonight’s message about “Hope,” Pastor Rick stated something that really caught my ear; the 6 Phases of Faith. The six phases in character building which, according Pastor Rick, always precede something great are as follows: Continue reading →

I am no doubter of the Christian faith. Quite the opposite, I am a great believer in Jesus Christ and what he did on the Cross over 2000 years ago. I also know the changes that have taken place in my own life simply by believing in Him and accepting His grace. That said, let me be frank: some Christians really annoy me.

I am a man who questions many things – including, at times, my own faith – and I question my faith most when in the presence of these Christians who annoy me. I am not talking about annoying as in the guy who is a little too loud or the girl who says “like” repeatedly in conversation; I am talking about those Christians who take the name “Christian,” show up all dressed up at church on Sundays yet act like real pains in the you-know-what. THESE people annoy me. Continue reading →

I just read an article on Phil Cooke’s blog where he writes about The Marketplace of Ideas: Reform and Resistance in the American University and the nature of liberal professors and how they are becoming more rampant in our culture. He states the fact that during the 2004 election between George W. Bush and John Kerry, 95% of humanities professors voted for John Kerry while 0% voted for W. In Cooke’s opinion, that makes these professors liberal. In my opinion, this simply makes these professors Democrats or, at the very least, not Republican.

In today’s society, I believe we are moving further away from understanding the true meaning of liberalism. We have taken this term to mean something bad, something grotesque, the opposite of good. Especially in conservative circles, the word “liberal” is in the same arena as the words “abortion” or “gay” or “satan.” Is this truly the meaning of being a liberal? Continue reading →