A Blog by Jason Salamun

Not too long ago, I preached on fear and anxiety.

Weeks later, I was full of fear and anxiety.

As the neurologist looked at my MRI, he saw the problem.

“Looks like you’ve got a ruptured disc between your c6 and c7 vertebrae in your neck that’s hitting a nerve.”

He then went on to tell me,

“What we’re going to do is make an incision in your throat, take out the disc, fuse the two vertebrae together, and screw in some metal plates.”

He then began to talk about the risks and the slight potential of being paralyzed from the neck down.

This wasn’t exactly great news, but it was what he said next that caught me off-guard.

He began discussing the greater chance that I could experience the loss of my voice because of the procedure.

It could be permanent, it could be long-term, it could return raspy, or most likely, once the swelling dies down, it could return to normal.

Not what you want to hear when your voice is your livelihood.

Now, I could lie, act all super spiritual, and tell you that I immediately trusted God and left the neurologists’ office without a care in the world.

But the truth is, I walked to my car, closed the door, laid my head on the steering wheel, and wept.

I was afraid.

The idea of losing my voice felt like losing a friend.

It hurt.

I’m sure you, a reasonable reader, can probably determine that the odds of losing my voice is quite small, yet that’s the very thing I chose to focus on.

Worrying has a way of turning a pebble into Pikes Peak.

Not in reality, but in our minds.

And that’s what was happening to me.

Most of my hopes and dreams involve my ability to speak.

So I prayed.

I prayed that God would let me keep my voice.

As I prayed, the thought occurred to me, “What if God doesn’t want me to have a voice?”

Perhaps He doesn’t?

Perhaps He does?

Then a bigger question popped into my mind, or rather, my heart:

“Do you trust me?”

That’s the real question I’ve been wrestling with.

I know the right answer…

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6)

…and I’m learning to live in light of it.

In a couple of weeks, I’ll go in for the neck fusion surgery.

I’m ready to have this great pain in my neck, shoulders, and back removed.

I’m looking forward to the numbness in my left arm to be gone and to feel my fingers again.

And I’m hoping my voice returns.

Who knows, it might even be smoother and sexier than ever.

But the greater surgery is what’s happening in my heart.

God taking his rightful place.

My hopes resting in my Great Hope.

Not in my voice or anything else.

Just him.

I know He loves me.

I know He’s mighty.

I know He’s in control.

It’s time to live like I do.

One of my favorite musical artists is Leonard Cohen.

He wrote a song titled, “If It Be Your Will” (Listen)

I’ve always loved it, and in this moment of my life, it’s taken on a deeper meaning.

Perhaps it will resonate with you as well.

‘If It Be Your Will” by Leonard Cohen

If it be your will
That I speak no more
And my voice be still
As it was before

I will speak no more
I shall abide until
I am spoken for
If it be your will

If it be your will
That a voice be true
From this broken hill
I will sing to you

From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing

From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing

If it be your will
If there is a choice
Let the rivers fill
Let the hills rejoice

Let your mercy spill
On all these burning hearts in hell
If it be your will
To make us well

And draw us near
And bind us tight
All your children here
In their rags of light

In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be your will

If it be your will

Amen

“The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends will be an outsider at their celebrations.”  - Proverbs 14:10 (The Message)

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” – Walter Winchell

A friend will walk with you through a storm.

It’s the surest test of a friendship.

Those who care are there.

In person, in heart, or in prayer.

There are no shortcuts to building genuine friendships.

The only way I know of to have a friend is to be a friend.

Friendships are best slow baked, not microwaved.

If you’re a true friend, you’ll rejoice when your friend rejoices and weep when your friend is weeping. (Romans 12:15)

Most of us are so concerned with who is there for us that we forget to be there for them.

Friendships are a two-way street, not a one lane highway.

If all your friendships suck, look in the mirror.

It might just be because you’re self-centered.

Or you smell bad.

But hopefully you have a friend who would tell you.

Someone who will give it to you straight.

The person who doesn’t approve of your stupid decisions is often not your enemy, they’re your friend.

Even if you don’t like it.

Remember, the wounds from a friend can be trusted. (Proverbs 27:6)

Or as Oscar Wilde put it, “True friends stab you in the front.”

A real friend is someone you can call at 3am if needed.

Someone who has refrigerator rights.

Someone who has your back.

May God bless you with rich friendships…

And may you be a rich friend as well.

And to all my amigos – I love you all.

This video by Sean Mullens is simple, inspiring, and full of goodness.

What do micro-breweries, indie artists, and church plants have in common?

They are the little guys.

For as long as I can remember I’ve always rooted for the little guy.

Rocky and Drago

It began when I read “The Little Engine That Could” in first grade which preached determination and perseverance against all odds. As a child of the 80’s, I was a huge fan of the Rocky movies and recall the profound effect it had on me when the underdog American hero Rocky Balboa defeated the unstoppable, cyborg-Russian Ivan Drago. I remember hearing the PG version of the David and Goliath story in church which further cemented my affinity for the little guy.

It seems it’s the little guy that’s on the verge of what’s next; who’s the catalyst for change; who’s always pushing the envelope and challenging the status quo. They are the outlaws, the mavericks, and renegades.  Ordinary people who aren’t content with ordinary lives. Pioneers driven by dreams and fueled with hope. Their passion is unmatched.

Perhaps it’s good to always be “the little guy” at something. To feel the odds stacked against you; to need help from another; to resist complacency.

Even when the micro-brewer has a large distribution, the indie-artist has a top 20 hit, or the new church grows in influence, it’s wise to continually put ourselves in position to be the little guy. We should always be striving for something that’s too big for us. As C.S. Lewis said, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”

I guess the reason I root for the little guy is because I am the little guy.

May it always be so.

I recently had the opportunity to attend some conferences and learn from some amazing leaders and thinkers. Wish I could have captured a snapshot with everyone but I was able to get a handful. Here are some of the more familiar names that I connected with.

Spent several days with Dallas Willard at the Ecclesia National Gathering. So much wisdom packed into one person. He was a wonderfully gracious gentleman. His book, The Divine Conspiracy, helped shape how I view life in the Kingdom of God.

Dallas Willard and Me

One of my favorite authors of all time is missiologist, Alan Hirsch. This aussie’s work was very influential to me prior to starting Project Church and it was cool to chat about specifics now that concepts have become reality. Looking forward to giving his newest book, Untamed, a read.

Me and Alan Hirsch

Had the opportunity to have lunch with Rick Warren along with a handful of other church planters. Tremendous experience. It’s refreshing to see a Christian leader use his influence for good around the world.

Rick Warren and Me

Met one of my favorite bloggers, Pete Wilson. He’s the real deal. Pete has a book coming out titled, Plan B which is sure to be a hit.

Me and Pete Wilson

Since this Sunday is Valentine’s Day, we at Project Church thought it would be a prime opportunity to talk about topics related to relationships and romance.

We’re asking folks to submit questions related to singleness, dating, marriage, sex, divorce, etc. It might be something they’ve always wanted to know or help for a particular issue they’re dealing with.  As always, we’ll look to the scriptures to guide us and remember the gospel always.

Due to the sensitivity of the potential topics, we’ve created an online form where questions can be asked anonymously ahead of time.  Deadline for questions is 9am MST on Saturday, February 13.

The questions we’ve received so far indicate this will be quite the adventure. My prayer is that it will be one of the most powerful times we’ve ever had at Project Church here in Rapid City, SD.

Recently, I had the opportunity to pray at center ice of a local pro hockey game in front of 4500 people.

It was a sweet moment.

As I was waiting by the penalty box listening to the National Anthem, I thought, “Why me?”

With the chill of the ice beneath my feet and the chill of the goosebumps on my arms as the young gal sang, “of the land and of the freeeeee” I was dumbfounded how I got to this point.

How did I go from sitting on the sidelines of life watching others live their dreams to playing in the game and living mine?

Why me?

I’m just an ordinary guy.

Just five years ago I was content to have a good job, take care of my family, go to church, try to be a decent person, and live a comfortable life.

Until God disturbed me.

He filled me with a passion to help people live free.

And I know the only path to true freedom is the gospel.

The gospel produces community who are on a mission to make disciples.

Followers of Jesus who love God, love people, & live free.

The gospel was the seed that birthed Project Church.

And somehow, someway God called me to be a part of this.

Why me?

There are certainly better people God could have chosen.

Better pedigree.

Better leaders.

Better communicators.

Better looking.

You name it.

Some people feel the need to point out how unimpressive I am.

Too much this, not enough that.

So and so is better.

I already know.

I’m just a dude.

But I’m a dude who really loves Jesus.

I’m a dude who really wants you to live free.

To know the Jesus that I know.

To taste the grace that I’ve tasted.

To experience the freedom that I’m experiencing.

Why me?

Perhaps my life will be proof that there is a God.

Because if he can use me, he can use anybody.

That includes you!

So here’s to The Ordinaries like me.

Like Peter and John before us, may anything extraordinary we do be because we had been with Jesus.

May he always be the extra in our ordinary.

May we always remember that.

“I say to you, this morning, that if you have never found something so dear and precious to you that you will die for it, then you aren’t fit to live.

You may be 38 years old, as I happen to be, and one day, some great opportunity stands before you and calls upon you to stand for some great principle, some great issue, some great cause. And you refuse to do it because you are afraid.

You refuse to do it because you want to live longer. You’re afraid that you will lose your job, or you are afraid that you will be criticized or that you will lose your popularity, or you’re afraid that somebody will stab or shoot or bomb your house. So you refuse to take a stand.

Well, you may go on and live until you are ninety, but you are just as dead at 38 as you would be at ninety.

And the cessation of breathing in your life is but the belated announcement of an earlier death of the spirit.

You died when you refused to stand up for right.

You died when you refused to stand up for truth.

You died when you refused to stand up for justice.”

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
From the sermon “But, If Not” delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church on November 5, 1967.

Each year I create an intentional reading plan as part of my personal growth and development. There are bound to be exceptions as I discover new titles throughout the year, but this pretty much tells the story of the knowledge that will be dropped in my mind. There are even a few re-reads.

Look it over and let me know any books on this list that you’ve read and what you liked/disliked about them.

Ragamuffin Gospel – Brennan Manning (Annual Re-read)
Renewal as a Way of Life – Richard Lovelace
Counterfeit Gods – Tim Keller
Untamed – Alan Hirsch
The Canon of Scripture – F.F. Bruce
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years – Donald Miller
Hear No Evil – Matthew Paul Turner
Spiritual Leadership – J. Oswald Sanders
Eat This Book – Eugene Peterson
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction – Eugene Peterson
The Jesus Way – Eugene Peterson
The Blue Parakeet – Scott McKnight
Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals – William Webb
The Homiletical Plot – Eugene Lowry
Sex, Lies, and Religion – Randy Elrod
The Divine Commodity – Skye Jethani
Resident Aliens – Stanley Hauerwas
Galatians – Martin Luther
Forgotten God – Francis Chan
Doctrine – Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
Finally Alive – John Piper
Heaven – Randy Alcorn
Simply Christian – N.T. Wright
Church in the Making – Ben Arment
The Trellis and the Vine – Colin Marshall and Tony Payne
The Normal Christian Life – Watchman Nee
The Meaning of the Pentateuch – John Sailhamer
The Lost World of Genesis One – John Walton
The Gospel-Driven Life – Michael Horton
From Eternity to Here – Frank Viola
Messy Faith – A.J. Gregory
Your Jesus is Too Safe – Jared Wilson
Primal – Mark Batterson
The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society – Lesslie Newbigin
The Return of the Prodigal Son – Henri Nouwen
Classic Christianity – Thomas Oden
The Seeking Heart – Fenelon
Leading on Empty – Wayne Cordeiro
How People Change – Timothy Lane
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands – Paul Tripp
The Book of God – Walter Wangerin
Decision Making and the Will of God – Garry Freisen
3 Crucial Questions About Spiritual Warfare – Clinton Arnold
The Cross of Christ - John Stott
The Cost of Discipleship – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards – George Mardsen
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount – David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and The Principles of Screenwriting – Robert McKee
Linchpin – Seth Godin
Drive - Dan Pink
A Whole New Mind – Dan Pink
Switch – Chip and Dan Heath
Thinkertoys – Michael Michalco
Have a Little Faith – Mitch Albom
My Life Outside the Ring – Hulk Hogan
The Lost Symbol – Dan Brown
East of Eden – John Steinbeck

“Someday, I’m going to chase that dream.”

“Someday, I’m going to get in shape.”

“Someday, I’m going to help those less fortunate.”

“Someday, I’m going to overcome that fear.”

“Someday, I’m going to ask her out.”

“Someday, I’m going to take my family on that trip.”

“Someday, I’m going to finish that project.”

“Someday, I’m going to learn that instrument.”

“Someday, I’m going to be debt-free.”

“Someday, I’m going to be a leader.”

“Someday, I’m going to spend more time with my kids.”

“Someday, I’m going to get these addictions under control.”

“Someday, I’m going to make a difference.”

A life full of regrets is paved on a path littered with somedays.

What’s it going to take to turn someday into today?

Someone dying?

Your health going downhill?

Your kids growing up?

Why wait?

You’re not promised tomorrow!

You have this moment- where your past and your future collide.

Replace the word someday with the the words, “Beginning today…”

And take the next step to advance that someday list forward.

You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life?  For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. - James 4:14

Now’s the time!

Today’s the day!

Don’t waste your life!

You’ve got a story to live!

Go live it!