Hi. My name is Archie Jackson and I am a servant of Christ Jesus.

In America, no one would ever want to be called a servant to anyone. Like, “I’m a servant to my job, or I’m a servant to my wife/husband.” We hate this terminology because it means that we have to put someone else’s needs or desires above our own. But how much would it change things if you knew that the person you were serving actually cared so much about you that he would die for you?

Patrick has graciously offered me a guest spot on his blog and I thank him for that. I was thinking about how to introduce myself and what cool things I could say or something, and I thought about even toning down the fact that I love Jesus to make this a little palletable for those who might read this and not have the same views that I do. But if I’m really honest about who I am, I have to mention this.

But let me make some disclaimers: I do not have a fish on the back of my car because I frequently speed and I feel bad about setting a bad example. I lie, I am selfish, I claim to know more than I actually do sometimes, I am insecure sometimes, I laugh at jokes that I shouldn’t, I have inappropriate thoughts sometimes. I am human, and a bad one sometimes. I am not perfect and I don’t judge others who aren’t, either.

But what I feel is the biggest redeeming characteristic of my life, if I’m real honest, is that I am deeply connected to Christ. And if any bragging is to be done, it has to be that He is the one who gives me kindness, and patience toward my fellow man, and a heart for people, and self control not follow the desires of my heart that would cause me to hurt myself and others.

So as my wife and I have pretty much sold everything we own and are moving to California to start a church, this is the central message that we are bringing to the people of the Silicon Valley: that Jesus loves them so much He would die for them, he wants to redeem their lives from the mistakes they’ve made and give them a new future of hope, and love, and of forgiveness.

How could you not want to serve that?

So many times when I talk to people I hear about hypocrisy in the Christian faith. And I will be the first one to tell you that you are absolutely right: We are all broken individuals trying to do what is right, and still getting it wrong. But Jesus told us to “follow Him,” not follow his followers. So if you’ve had a bad church experience, or a bad run-in with a Christian, give ‘em a break and know that Jesus is different and cares for you for who you are.

So if you’ve made it this far through this introduction, then thank you and I hope you enjoy this little look into my life.

And once again thank you to Patrick for putting this on to raise awareness of what we are doing; the greatest adventure of our lives thus far!

Archie