Saturday, March 6, 2010

The God Box

I spent the morning reading Romans 10-16. After Paul writes of his passion for his Jewish brethren to come to faith in Christ in chapters 10 and 11, he puts the rubber to the road starting in chapter 12. He spends time warning Gentile believers not to get cocky because God has grafted them into His family after cutting off the Jews. This was an act of unspeakable and unimaginable grace on God’s part. He says that the whole reason God offered salvation to the rest of the world is to make the Jews jealous.

In Romans, Paul uses what is rapidly becoming one of my favorite Pauline terms: mystery. More and more (as a result of Dr. Doug Bookman’s teaching) I’m seeing this mystery as God’s offer of salvation to Gentiles AS Gentiles. This was something so crazy, so incredible, so “outside the box,” that it would have been inconceivable to first century Jews. Sure Gentiles could come to faith in Yahweh, but only as Jewish proselytes. In other words, Gentiles could follow God, but not without converting to Judaism first. That meant circumcision and complete adherence to the Mosaic Law.

Paul writes that he doesn’t want his Roman brothers and sisters to be ignorant of this mystery (Rom 11:25). This is something that NOBODY saw coming. This is something that is hard to figure out even after God has revealed it. As a result of this brain busting revelation, the apostle launches off into an impromptu moment of praise:
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (Rom 11:33-36)
Paul is blown away by this incredible revelation of God’s plan. Gentiles as Gentiles?!?! You have got to be kidding me!!! Yet when he goes back and looks at the OT Scriptures, the evidence is there. The apostle seems to be saying, “Oh, THAT’S what He meant!” This is a classic example of why we can never fully understand and comprehend His omniscience and His omnipotence. Just when Jews like Saul thought they had Yahweh figured out and packed neatly into their box, it exploded right in their hands!

I need to hear Paul’s warning loud and clear. While the Bible presents me with the revelation of who God is and what His plans are, it can in no way fully contain Him. There are no books of theology, seminary libraries, web resources, or software applications that can hold a thimble of who God is. Remember, His wisdom is UNSEARCHABLE and UNFATHOMABLE. I must never lose the sense of holy awe, wonder and worship of the One who descended from heaven to die on a Roman cross for me. Yet He calls me “friend” and “brother.” How is that possible? Because He is unsearchable and unfathomable.

A couple of encounters between John and Jesus come to mind. At the Last Supper, John is resting his head against Jesus’ chest as they eat. Now THAT’S a friend. Some of that is lost in cultural translation. But it’s clear that they are intimately close. Yet in the book of Revelation, that same John sees Jesus and falls like a dead man in awe and worship. We must always remember that the same Savior that allows us to lean on Him in those tender times is also Almighty God, Creator of the universe, King of kings and Lord of lords. As Paul would say, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

In Christ,
Jay

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

30

30 years.

Three decades.

I started work at WRAL on March 3, 1980 as the sports photographer. I began my career working with two great sportscasters, Rich Brenner and Tom Suiter. I was only 21 years old and fresh out of Mizzou's Journalism School when I took the job with Action News 5. Little did I know what I would do and what I would see in the next 30 years.
-Bribing my way into the Spectrum in Philly to cover the '81 Final Four
-Michael Jordan & the Heels winning the title in '82
-Coach V & the Cardiac Pack stunning the world in '83
-The 1984 Olympics in LA
-George Bush presidential inauguration '89
-Coach K & the Devils winning back to back in '91-'92
-Living with a family in Russia for a week in '92
-Bill Clinton presidential inauguration '93
-UNC over the Fab 5 for the title in '93
-Shooting for David Letterman in '93
-Meeting Billy Graham in '97
-Easter week in Israel in '97
-Watching the move of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in '99
-Shooting the first documentary by a local station in high definition in '99
-Meeting Pope John Paul & shooting in the Sistine Chapel in '99
-Duke takes another title in Minneapolis in 2000

And while I've been at the Big 5 for all my adult life, I've had several different jobs, one of them three times!
-Sports Photographer
-Chief Photographer
-Senior Photographer
-Documentary Photographer

I've been honored to work with some of the greats in local TV since 1980, such as Charlie Gaddy, Jim Goodmon, Bobbie Battista, Greg Fishel, Jim Axelrod, Scott Hanson, John Harris, John Greene, David Crabtree, Art Howard, Scott Mason and Jeff Gravley. Wow, this list is endless. Sorry if you stumbled onto this quiet little corner of the interweb and were disappointed not to see your name. The oversight is clearly my fault. How could anyone expect me to remember? I can't find my car keys half the time.

For all the great friends I've been blessed to work with, I've also said goodbye to several people who died way too early during my days at WRAL.
-John Hudson
-Al Dunbar
-Dan Wilkinson
-Ron Pittman
-Sean Roberts
-Mark Copeland

I'm now honored to work with my son, Jason Jennings, at WRAL. Jason basically has my old job in our sports office. But he brings SO much more to the viewers. Not only is he an superb photographer, his on-air skills as a reporter and story teller are outstanding. He makes his dad very, very proud.

But I couldn't finish without a couple of words about two people whom I couldn't have done this without. First of all, my wife Debbie. No man could ask for a better partner in life. Especially in my early days at the station, she faced life with two small children as basically a single mom. Just one look at what a great mom our daughter Amy has become is a great example of the amazing job Deb has done while I was off following the bouncing ball. Somehow, someway, she didn't leave me. She's always there when I got home with a hug and a kiss. There is no way to fully express my gratitude to her. Deb, you're the greatest. I love you, babe.

Let me close by thanking Jesus. I gave my life to Christ back when I was 12, but He really didn't get a hold of me until I was 34. It's been a breath-taking ride ever since. Even now, I can look back on my time at WRAL and see his fingerprints all over the place. I'm totally undeserving. I stand here today amazed at His grace.

For the past 30 years, I've been honored to bring our viewers the pictures that tell the story. Thanks for the privilege.

Jay