Lukewarm Takes on Running: Jamie Jacobsen

What’s your name?

My name is Jamie Jacobsen.

Jamie- I saw on your gmail that your middle name starts with “D”- can you elaborate?

Hm. Yes, funny that ask that, Tyler. My middle name is Dawn, and when I was born, someone came up to my parents and said “Jamie Dawn! You name your daughter after both of you!” and my parents were like “what?” , but “Jamie” is another name for “James”, so I’m named after both of my parents unintentionally.

That’s awesome. I love that. Jamie, what have you been doing to stay sane during quarantine?

I’ve been trying to figure that out. I’ve been running a lot, and I hate running. But I’m so desperate to go outside, so I go running and it does the job.

How did you find out about A+E?

I found out about A+E through my friend Sydney Lach, who went to church here- she was actually the reason I went to Loyola. She was 3 or 4 years older than me, and she would always talk about A+E because we went to the same church back home, and my first memory was a dance party with Alec (Kenny) and Sydney and I thought “This will be a fun church to go to if you’re one of the pastors.”

What would you say draws you into the community?

A lot of things- I’ve been thinking about this a lot, actually, and I mentioned it to you the other day. I’ve never been a part of a church that is more authentic and real, and there’s no feathers to fluff, no faking it. It’s like “this is who we are- we have limited resources, but we love Jesus and each other a lot. It’s very community-based, and that’s the foundation because it kind of has to be the foundation. From that flows authenticity and a genuine spirit, and it’s just great.

That is true, we do have limited resources, yes. So, why are you a Christian?

I’m a Christian because Jesus, although it’s a crazy concept and he’s a crazy person, is the only thing that makes sense to me. I grew up in the faith, but I’ve definitely done my own searching and every time I come back to Jesus. I’ve never experienced life like I have in the body of Christ. It’s something unexplainable that I haven’t found anywhere else and I don’t think I ever will. Also, I’ve seen God work in my life in ways that are unexplainable. I also believe in everything Jesus stood for and stands for.

What about Jesus makes sense to you, or what draws you to Jesus?

Our world is so broken, and people are so broken, but the life of Jesus completely restores that in a way that humans would have never thought to do. We’ve tried again and again to fix a system that is broken, and yet it will still never be fixed by us. Jesus comes and fixes it in a way that we never would have, and in that, we have life. That makes sense to me, even though it doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense that Jesus becomes a child, and born out of wedlock- these things are so crazy, and yet are so relatable. In order for a king to be followed by his people, he needs to know his people at the deepest level. So it makes sense.

What breaks your heart?

I think when people aren’t given dignity and respect, no matter who they are. No matter if you disagree with their lifestyle or whatever. Inequality breaks my heart and is infuriating to me.

What gives you hope?

People. Especially in a season like this, I know it’s so difficult because people can be hurtful and mean, but also I think humanity’s inclination is always towards the good. It’s in our pursuit of the good that we can mess up sometimes, but I believe that people are good, and I think that’s a reflection of how God created us- we make mistakes and can become bad, but yeah.

It’s Holy Week so I’ll do one I usually do, but put a spin on it- I usually ask “What did God do for you that you couldn’t do for yourself?”  But today I’ll ask- what did Jesus do on the cross that we couldn’t do for ourselves?

Wow. Reconciliation. Fulfillment of a law that we could never fulfill. I think it’s really summed up in redemption- it’s a sacrifice that we can try to do every day and strive for, but we couldn’t do it. Jesus is God and God died for us- that’s something we’ll never come close to.

In closing, what would you say as parting words of wisdom to folks who are new to the community, or who will be here for a while?

I would encourage people to continue to love the church, and the people of God, no matter what happens. Things can happen in the church that are really hard and difficult; you can have disagreements. But this is the presence of God on earth. Expressed through broken people, and it’s a hard relationship because it’s so beautiful and broken, but that’s the essence of what Jesus did for us, so continue to love the church- work for the church and for the church you want to see. Know that grace must be given and it’s a beautiful thing.

 

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(We Can’t) Count the Graces: Eden Young

Hello! What’s your name? 

My name is Eden Young.

What’s your middle name?

Grace.

Wow, how many Grace’s do we have in this church?

A lot. I joked at one point that I would go by Grace.

Okay- Eden Grace Young. If someone were visiting your hometown, where would you take them first?

My hometown is Laguna Beach, CA, and I would make a whole day of it- I’d start with a morning hike behind the house I used to live in. It’s about an hour and a half, and you get the best views over our whole town.  From there, we would go get nectar juice to refuel, and then we’d go to the beach for the middle of the day- go stand-up paddle-boarding. And then maybe go to Active where they do frozen yogurt bowls because those are delicious.

That sounds like a great day. Eden, how did you find out about A+E?

I went to…either Faith Fest or the other fair, but I went to one or both of them- I’d known about Cru through my parents, and then I heard about A+E. Y’all had the first of the events, so that’s what I went to and I fell in love with the community and stayed with it. I went to Sunday Sundaes in Palm Court.

I remember that!

Yeah- that’s where I first met Mike, and he talked to me the whole time and I was like “wait- the pastor is gonna talk to me the whole time? I feel so special!”

Did Mike tell you who you looked like that night?

I can’t remember if it was the first time, but they always tell me every time, and they’ve drawn both of us together at events and been like “you look like the exact same person!” What’s her name?

Mary Williams.

Mary Williams- yes! So fun.

What draws you into the community?

I think a big part was the student leadership- I’d always been a part of leadership at my church back home, but it wasn’t as structured or guided, and these were student leaders that were intent on discipling each other and growing together. There was direction for how to do that, because we always wanted to do that at my old church but it just never really worked out. The intent behind the building of the community is what drew me in.

Why are you a Christian?

That is a great big question! I’m a Christian because I’ve known and seen God work through my life- the blessings he’s given me and the trials he’s walked through with me. The purpose he’s given me to live my life, knowing that without Him, I’m walking through this world for myself, but with Christ, I’m able to live for and with others.

So related to that, what draws you to Jesus?

I think it’s just- it’s like what Alex always says, we were made to live in community and how God doesn’t want us to be our best just for ourselves, but for the world. I’ve always been a very future-oriented person, wanting my life and work to have meaning. Not just to live for myself.

What breaks your heart?

What breaks my heart is when people are labeled and they become that label in a negative way. I’m in education, and I thin one of the most heart-breaking experiences I’d had there is when this kid I’d been teaching for a year came up to me, and we’d seen his behavior change. I asked “what’s wrong?” and he said “I’m a bad kid!” – he’d done some bad things, and people told him he was a bad kid, and he started to become that. So yeah- just seeing people hurt each other and label each other as bad, rather than as God’s children.

What gives you hope?

What gives me hope is that there are so many amazing people out there that are able to love so fearlessly and almost effortlessly with Christ. The way they can give themselves and how that changes their lives and the lives of those around them.

What has God done for you that you couldn’t do for yourself?

So many things. He’s given me a purpose- to see the world in a new light and appreciate it for the way it is, but als the way that it can change and become more his kingdom on earth.

What are your tips for staying sane in quarantine?

Staying sane- definitely not watching more than three episodes of something in a row. Getting up and moving around, whether that’s yoga or taking a walk. Talking to the people that live with you- even if there is a physical connection, you need an emotional connection. Rose and I make dinner together every night- we try to make a fun creation to bring beauty to our day.

What’s a book that everyone should read?

I love C.S. Lewis- I love Weight of Glory and Screwtape Letters. It’s so different, but so convicting.

Any closing words of wisdom?

Pour into the people around you. Even when you think you don’t have time- make time for your community, because you don’t know when a pandemic is gonna hit and you won’t get to see them for a while.