Brennyn Grace Swain is Here!

We are so blessed to announce the arrival of Brennyn Grace. She was born last night, May 19, at 10:27 pm. She is 8 lbs and 5 oz. She and mommy are both healthy and resting well.

Right now, Grammy, Big Daddy, Jacson, Ellie Faith, and Savannah are here at the hospital enjoying this Grace gift from God. We are overwhelmed!

More later...celebrate this with us! To God be the Glory Great Things He Has Done!

Jason

Community

It is not good for us to walk alone...we are made for relationship. I have found that God's manifest love and grace often is visceral through community...deep relationships...life on life...sharing and caring for each other's burdens.

3 months ago, Lindsay and I opened up our home to a group of people who have desire to "show up" with the truth of our lives. There's lots of fear...but the desire for it is bigger than what often causes us to run from each other with our pain and shame and pose with how "ok" or "fine" we are.

One of my brothers shared this with our community today (not sure where he read it):

When Scripture talks about Church, it means community. The little fellowships of the heart that are outposts of the Kingdom. A shared life. They worship together, eat together, pray for one another, go on quests together. They hang out together, in each others homes. When Peter was sprung from prison " he went to the house of Mary the mother of John" where the church had gathered to pray for his release (Acts12:12).

Another description of the early church: "All believers were one in heart" Acts 4:23. A camaraderie was being expressed, a bond. It means they all loved the same thing, they all wanted the same thing, and they bonded together to find it, come hell or high water.

We are so blessed by this group...I wanted you to meet them. This was taken on our back deck...crazy that we get to be outside!

Spring is Here...Among other things

It has been quite awhile since I've posted...thanks for your patience. I am hoping to get a couple posts up a month, but that hasn't been the case the last two. I've encouraged Lindsay to write some....hopefully soon.

Today is bright blue skies and 58. We are finally out of the snow! 7 months is a LONG winter. April is called "breakup" here...when all the snow melts and the ice melts away. We have been told that things bloom here in May...over the course of one week, the entire city goes from brown (where it is now) to green.

People "down south" are always so intrigued by the light and darkness here. Currently, the light is coming up around 5 AM and it gets dark right at 10 PM. It's weird getting used the daylight in the summer months. We are about 2 months away from the longest day, when it gets dusky and then the sun comes up again. Last summer, we taped black plastic over our windows. This summer, we are going to invest in some blackout blinds.

The biggest news right now is the coming birth of Brennyn Grace. Lindsay's due date is May 15, but all of our kids came early. Really, any day could be "baby day." We are hoping to get to May...so that the kids can have their own month. Jacson is Feb...Savannah is March...Ellie is April... Additionally, my mom and dad will be here for 2 weeks on May 12. It would be ideal for Brennyn to come when they are here to help.

Jacson has 3 weeks left in 2nd Grade. He has had a great year here. He will be starting soccer soon...as will Ellie...her first run at youth sports. She still runs like a little princess with her hands at her shoulders floating up and down. I've been working with her though...teaching her how to pump those arms to get more speed. (smile)

Savannah is chilling...oblivious to the fact that her world is about to be rocked by not being the baby anymore...should be interesting.

I'm still blessed to be walking with people at our church. I enjoy the simplicity of my role...to be available those who are hurting and hungry for hope and grace. I'm also now on the teaching team...preaching once a month. You can listen in if you like at www.changepointalaska.com.

Hope this note finds you well. Let us know how things are going in the "Lower 48."

Jason

This is Savannah...sludging through melting snow...looking for eggs...wearing a sun dress, heavy coat and snow boots...with her halloween bucket.

This is me and my buddies making up on top of bird ridge...best hike of my life!

Learning a New Definition of Spring

I heard that it snowed in Nashville today. That's sweet. We got some yesterday too...another foot. We are adjusting to what spring really means here in Alaska. It means longer days (we are 7 am to 7 pm now) but not warmer days. Spring up here lasts about a week sometime in May...so they say.

Thought I'd share a photo of us last weekend at the zoo. We had fun pulling the kids through the zoo on a sled.

Spring Break is in a week...I'm taking the week off. Not sure what we are doing yet...probably just finding day trips and family excursions to enjoy.

We are grateful for a new home fellowship group that has begun in our home on Sunday evenings. We are committed to bringing the truth of our stories...being available to walk together in an environment that is free from posturing and posing...believing in radical grace and holding onto radical hope.

Lastly, can you feel it? March 1 today. Let the madness begin!

Jacson is 8!

We are praising God for our little boy, Jacson. He is a kind-hearted an compassionate little guy who is learning who He is and how much Jesus and his family loves him.

Thank you Lord for my son. We celebrate his 8 years of life.

We had a party for him yesterday...took 4 of his little buddies to a jump zone deal here in Anchorage and came home for pizza and cake. Lindsay even made him a really good soccer cake.

What Are We So Afraid Of?

Fear. Something most of us feel very uncomfortable admitting to. I don't want to appear weak...I don't want admit I need help...I don't want you to really know me because if you really knew me... So, in light of the fear of judgment or the fear of failure, we can tend to be vague about who we are or how we are doing. Or worse, we lie about who we are what we are doing. Ever go to church with a plastic smile on your face when you just had a fight with your kids or spouse that morning? Ever show up in a small group bearing the weight of some burden, but unwilling to tell those who love you about it?

I have a burden for followers of Jesus to step into the light of God's grace and begin trusting the healing power of it. We sing songs of God's healing and his love setting us free, but do we really believe what we are saying? So many of us carry false guilt and toxic shame around that has already been forgiven and "cast as far as the east is from the west." (Psalm 103)

I have a burden for followers of Jesus to live in community without the fear of being known. To live in the light with each other (I John 1) and help carry each others burdens. (Galatians 6) But here is the deal, for me to help carry someone's burden, they have to be willing to tell me what that burden is and not say "I'm fine" every time I ask them how they are doing. And I have to be willing to do the same thing. Yes, I still have to carry my burdens but you helping me lightens my load and reminds me I'm not alone.

I desire to be in community with others that embrace simplicity, humility, and truth telling. A community that lays down the pressure to impress each other and hide from one another. A community that follows in the way of Jesus...embracing a relational and missional mindset for the Kingdom.

The Girls Are Back!

It's been awhile since I've updated the blog...that's because I've been in survival mode the past 2 weeks. Lindsay and the girls got out of the cold and dark and enjoyed some much needed sun and longer days down in SoCal. Jacson and I held the fort down up here in Anchorage. We didn't get to go to Laguna Beach, swim in an outdoor pool (there are none here), or enjoy Disneyland; but we did hit the movies, a minor league hockey game, an indoor climbing gym, a jump zone, and go on a hike.

It was LONG two weeks and I'm so very thankful that are back home with us. I receive the blessing of my wife and kids so humbly and thankfully. It's overwhelming to me how much I love them. And there's just something indescribable about being on your knees at the airport watching your 4 year old and 2 year old run into your arms.

Quick update on other things:

Ministry is relational for me and I am enjoying the time the Lord gives me to come alongside people along their journey. It is such a gift for me to comfort others in the ways that I have been comforted. (I Cor. 1) The contexts for these relationships are time spent in my office or at coffee shops and through 5 different support/recovery groups I'm leading this semester.

The days are getting longer. I noticed today for the first time that it wasn't totally black when I dropped off Jacson at school...at 9 AM. Uggghhh. In just one more month, we'll be back to 7 am to 7 pm daylight.

Lindsay is feeling much better this trimester. We are almost to the last trimester and find ourselves saying, "Brennyn is going to be here before we know it." May 15 is the due date.

Until next time...love from Swain's from the Last Frontier.