Jonathan L Cobler

This generation has a unique opportunity to change the world.  With the world getting smaller everyday through ease of travel and the quick exchange of information, this generation is more globally aware than ever before.  With that awareness comes an increased responsibility to act on the information that is so readily available.  Foursquare NextGen is taking a huge step to take advantage of the opportunity presented to this generation through the Imagine Summit this December.  Bellow is a  comment from the founder of The International Justice Mission who is partnering with Foursquare NextGen for the Summit. 

Summit ‘07 » The Great Work of This Generation

To really care for the poor, you need to start with justice, Haugen says. “Just as the world is figuring that out, the body of Christ is also figuring out that missions is not just about evangelism and discipleship or relief and development, but it’s about the work of justice,” he says. “So what has been done here at IJM is actually going to be blown open to a whole new level by the emerging generation of Christians. This is the great work of this generation.”

This morning while I sat at a cafe’ drinking a Double Tall Vanilla Latte, I noticed a man sitting next to be on one of the overstuffed chairs.  He was sitting quietly reading the paper.  What struck me was what he set on the table next to me, his iPhone… Now there may have been a good reason that he took it out of his pocket.  Perhaps his pants were too tight to keep the phone in while seated, or maybe he was expecting an important call and wanted to be able to quickly answer… But I think the most likely reason is that it must feel cool to have one of the most technologically hip devices at your side, proudly display for the world to see.  I think that Apple depends on creating products that people want to be seen with.  That’s why they spend millions getting their computers in as many Hollywood productions as possible.  The point is this, people all over the world are looking for things to help them feel a little better about themselves – Apple delivers.  Check out the interview bellow with Seth Godin, I think he’d agree…

Seth Godin: Because Dell people buy computers to get a job done. Apple users buy a computer to make a statement.

This year’s LakeFair was rainy but warm.  Sam and Andrew got to ride on the church’s float which they were thrilled with.  See the pics below.

LakeFair 2007

Now that we’ve been in town for several weeks it’s feeling very much like home.  I’ve been weeding through our pics on this computer and become very nostalgic.  I’ve included an album with some of my all time favs.

You may be interested that we picked up the TV that the AVE got for our going away gift (THANKS AVE!)  We got a 50′ Panasonic HD Plasma… WOW.  I should mention that it wasn’t without an adventure.  It all started Monday…

I found the TV that I wanted at Costco and decided to take the boys Monday morning to score our catch.  We went to the local distributor of gluttony and good deals to pick it up.  To our great disappointment, they were all out.  They looked in the system and said that the only store nearby that had any was Portland, but Puyallup looked like it had one as well.  The advantage to trekking to Portland was the beautiful concept of no sales tax.  But since Puyallup is 90 minutes closer, we headed north without batting an eye.  I will say that inside I knew it would have been a better idea to save some money and exercise patience and go to Portland.  But, I’m a pastor not a Monk so we went the easy route.  God was watching…

We got to the Costco in Puyallup and no sooner that I had pulled into the lot and put the van in park, WHAM, we got nailed by the guy pulling out next to us.  On the good side, he was a pretty nice guy.  The bad side, van got crunched, we got all wet, no Plasma TV at this Costco either.  (insert profanity here)  We exchanged insurance info and I headed back to the house with the boys, defeated.  Thankfully, my wife loves me…

Fawn agreed to drive to Portland, so we loaded up and headed south.  Everything was going great in Portland.  We found the Costco no problem, located the TV put it on the cart and headed for the check out.  As we rolled the cart with the TV towards the check out Fawn began to "share a concern".  "Is this box going to fit in the van", she asked.  "You of little faith", I thought to myself.  "Sure it will, it looks bigger than it is", I said (like a fool).  She made me think though, and I began to count the cost of what it might take to get my new place of worship — strike that, I mean family entertainment tool back to our house.  I came to the conclusion that if we had to leave one of the children, that’s the price of getting the job done, besides, we can always make more…  We checked out and I pulled the van up.  Moment of truth…  Fortunately, with a little structural engineering, we got the thing in the van (along with all the kids) and headed out.  We rolled back into our place at about 10:30 pm, successful!

Once again we want to thank all of you who made this adventure a possibility.  Next time maybe we’ll mail order…

Favorites

I had a great time ministering with the young adult community at the Rock in Jamestown.  I thought I add some images of my brief site-seeing adventure this morning. 
This is the house of the couple that I stayed with last night.  Coincidentally, they have a 2 year old daughter named Elleonya Rose, the name we have picked if we have a girl… Funny… 

-

After I woke up, JP took me to the local coffee shop.  Very nice!

-

-

-

-

Next we went to the hot attraction in Jamestown, the World’s Largest Buffalo (no kidding).

-

At the same tourist stop, there was a replica of Louis Lamore’s writing shack.

-

Then we went to the mall and I saw something that made me question the habits of this little town.  The name of the store made me wonder, the sign confirmed my suspicion.

(Mill Town Herbs???)    

(Joint Formulas!!!) Is that legal???

It was a great trip and reminded me what a special couple JP and Shannon are, as well of the passion of emerging leaders all over the country.  maybe next time you can come with me.

View the FAFC Building Our Future Live Cam

Just to prove you never know what you’ll learn at your local Starbucks (mine is on the corner of Telegraph and Norwalk Blvd See the Google Map)…  I was informed while waiting in line that, becasue of my height, if I choose to cremated, it would take 3 boxes to contain my remains.  Here’s the breakdown if your interested: up to 5"2′, 1 box–up to 6", 2 boxes—up to 6"6′, 3 boxes.

I hope you had as memorable a Christmas as we did.  We were fortunate enough to be with Fawn’s family on Christmas Eve and Day, then travel to Michigan to be with my family the next day.  Since then we have been here outside of Ann Arbor and participated in my little sister’s wedding yesterday, the 28th. 

This year for Christmas I gave Fawn a special gift with an accompanying poem.  I have got her "powered" items the last two years so I thought jewelry would be appropriate this year.  Below I’ve posted the poem so you can enjoy it, for your reference, I had put the ring on the arm of a Santa Clause ornament hanging on the Christmas Tree.  Fawn didn’t know it was there…  By the way, I love my wife immensely, this poem doesn’t convey my feelings well enough, but it was an attempt…

Roses are red, violets are blue

This year I wanted to get something special for you

Now that we’ve spent more than 10 Christmases together

I think we’ve seen that our love can survive all kinds of different weather

Last year at this special time of the year

I got a very special vacuum for my Christmas dear

Two years ago during the Christmas winter

Your sweetie Santa brought you a brand new photo printer

But this year there’s no secret Santa wandering around

But under the tree under Santa arm your gift will be found

I hope you’re not disappointed that it doesn’t need batteries

But I thought that anything requiring charging might be a catastrophe

So I thought long and hard about what gift could provide

A symbol of the depth of my love for my bride

I knew it shouldn’t be something for cleaning

Because a cold shoulder that would be meaning

I hope this gift expresses my love

In my eyes you are a gift from above

I know for a fact I couldn’t live without you

And every day is better because I have you

Each year that goes by I find you more stunning

And into your arms each year I’ll come running

I’ll love you forever, I’ll love you for always

I’ll always be grateful for the gift of you to me

NOW… to enjoy your gift you’ll have to do some exploring

But in keeping with tradition your gift Santa’s holding