Stories

We live in a world full of noise, full of sound, full of music.  Welcome to the planet of rhythm, art, expression. Why is it that a giddy song makes our human feet so move, our hearts so leap? Why is it that songs of melancholy bring us to passionate thought, tears, or to a fond memory? Music has its way of quickly piercing the human heart towards a depth of clarity found by few other means, and in a world of numerous genres of music expression each style has its unique way of impacting the listener.

I want to introduce the “Redemption Community” to Carrie Bowen and her music and ministry (website). Carrie’s music should generally make you feel happy.  Carrie once told me, “I want my music to be bring hope to the human heart and glory to God – whether it be a love song to your spouse or a worship song to the Lord.” A good thing to know about Carrie – A percentage of all her merchandise sales is used to directly fund missions – a way to sorda give legs to the music!

Her sophomore album just released this last month. Here’s a taste!

Carrie Bowen’s CD Release Video: Album titled “Color”

Let’s celebrate the joy and peace in our hearts today and express it creatively in a way that gives life to others and ultimately glory to God!

 

 

 

 

What is the difference between for-profit companies and not-for-profits? Is it that one’s purpose is to build profitability for the share holders while the other is to show “positive results” for the people being served? Many people have different motives for what they do. I personally cannot work a job or start a company that does not impact people or the world in ways beyond just economical advancement.

Here is an interview that I did with John Martin and The Small Business Roundtable talking a little about my heart for my business and the larger vision at hand. Let’s Get Foodie and Redemption Shirts’ interview

Here is the link for the podcast:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sbr/2011/09/08/lets-get-foodie-redemption-shirts 

We recently printed shirts for a walk to raise awareness and funding for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I worked with a wonderful young lady named Lindsi Luffman who is the owner of Lindsi Rian Photography. You should definitely check out her great photography work and contact her for a photo shoot. Lindsi said she wanted to start blogging about particular people in our community doing some neat stuff.  She went on to ask me if I would take an onterview. I was truly honored to say yes!

Here is the interview from her blog:

What are 3 things we should know about you?

(1) My heart is to empower and enable other people and organizations to give of their self and resources for the betterment of those people and communities in need; whether it be through community service, day-to-day relationships, or conceptually and developmentally building organizations and projects for meaningful purposes.

(2) I love my family, friends, and Lord – Jesus Christ. Their grace along this journey in life gives me peace, hope and fullness of joy. Their guidance and discipline continue to humble me and give me the strength I need to face all the difficulties that stand in the way of me submitting to and fulfilling my dreams and calling.

(3) I am an extremely strong-willed person. I am very passionate about life, excellence, Christian beliefs, and living what I believe. I am also somewhat bald!

Define your style in 5 words.
(a) Personal Style: Relaxed. Independent. Hopeful. Youthful. Trendy.
(b) Style of Redemption Shirts: Quality. Competitive. Progressive. Comfortable. Stylish.

What inspired you to create Redemption?

It was a result of living in a college culture where people and organizations needed t-shirts printed and most people were unhappy with the product and price from the local screen printers. So, my response was, “Why don’t we start a screen printing company?” Through trial and error over the course of a few years, a bunch of cash spent, and a couple hundred clients later we came to see this business as a great opportunity for profit and purpose.

Divulge one of your dreams for your business.

I dream of connecting a network of passionate people and organizations all seeking restorative works in the world. I desire to use the “Redemption Brand” and my business connections, knowledge, and spiritual insight to empower, enable, and disciple (counsel/consult) others in this process of impacting people, nations, and tribes for the common good and to/for the Name and Glory of Jesus Christ.

What do you love most about being in this business?

I love three things equally…haha. (1) The independence I have in this business to pursue my own dreams, at my own pace, when and how I want to pursue them.  The challenge and growth that comes from that independence is a great reward as well. (2) The people I come across from all these organizations, big and small, truly inspire, teach and humble me. (3) The dream and hope of building something that is impacting organizations and people’s lives for good.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself with an office in Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Nashville for the couple companies I will hopefully have fully running by then. I would like a few employees to be at each location developing the custom screen printing side of Redemption Shirts as well as the “Redemption Brand” that I am in the process of developing to the public. Redemption Shirts should be partnered with a few organizations meeting the needs of thousands of hurting people around the world by then. There is also a collaborative artistic monthly project and organization I am wanting to have up and running within 5 years. I would also like to be doing some entrepreneurial and missional non-profit start-up consulting by then.

If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be & why?

I would have to say, John Piper. His books and sermons have deeply brought to my heart and life the revelation of the Gospel of the person of Jesus Christ.

What advice do you have for new creative artists?

Find as many magazines, websites, and artists that inspire and challenge your creative mind and abilities. Build a very deep foundation. Very few people make good money or build a profitable business off being average. Find a niche, hone your specific skill, and seek to be an expert in your field. Study the different forms of art and what you find makes you come alive, and learn from others smarter than yourself…. every single day!

So, what would your responses be if I asked you all the same questions? Please answer…

We here at Redemption Shirts are committed to sharing the stories and experiences of our friends and partners in business and ministry who are working on restorative projects in our communities and around the world. We want to share at least one story per month with our network encouraging people to connect and aid in one another’s great works. We recently did shirts for The Salvation Army in Cleveland, TN. They are collaborating with The Faceless Generation to bring “Four.Twelve, A Gathering Place” to this great city.

Four.Twelve’s heart is “to provide funding for youth programs, provide a place of mentorship and development, and be a gathering place for the community youth”. “Some young folks don’t have a safe and comfortable place they can feel welcome at”, Four.Twelve Director Joel Rogers says, “and we desire to help with that”. Four.Twelve held a preview party before the opening – which is coming soon – and one patron was quoted as saying, “not only does Four.Twelve provide a welcoming atmosphere and the knowledge that there is purpose in every cup of coffee, but it is has some of the best coffee in the South.” It has been a pleasure thus far hearing the heart of Joel and his team. I am excited to drop into this great establishment very soon to help them get off the ground with this great endeavor. Do a favor for Cleveland, TN and the youth there by stopping in to get a great cup of Joe when you are nearby. They are located at 437 Inman Street W. Cleveland, Tennessee 37311. Drop in on them and tell them you heard about them through us. Be blessed!

-Jason

By almost every standard known to modern missionary boards, David Brainerd would have been rejected as a missionary candidate. He was tubercular — died of the disease at twenty-nine — and from his youth was frail and sickly. He never finished college, being expelled from Yale for criticizing a professor and for his interest and attendance in meetings of the “New Lights”, a religious organization. He was prone to be melancholy and despondent. Yet this young man, who would have been considered a real risk by any present-day mission board, became a missionary to the American Indians and, in the most real sense became “the pioneer of modern missionary work”.

Jonathan Edwards wrote of him, “And, having put his hand to the plow, he looked not back, and gave himself, heart, soul, and mind, and strength, to his chosen mission with unfaltering purpose, with apostolic zeal, with a heroic faith that feared no danger and surmounted every obstacle, and with an earnestness of mind that wrought wonders on savage lives and whole communities.”

Brainerd did his greatest work by prayer. He was in the depths of the forests alone, unable to speak the language of the Indians. But he spent whole days in prayer, praying simply that the power of the Holy Ghost might come upon him so greatly that the Indians would not be able to refuse the Gospel message. His secret was simple, humble and brought great results. Jonathan Edwards published Brainerd’s diary to be hope and strength to the minister and missionary. After Brainerd’s death, William Carey read Brainerd’s diary and went to India. Robert McCheyne read it and went to the Jews. Henry Martyn read it and went to India. Though it was not written for publication, his diary influenced thousands to yearn for the deeper life of prayer and communion with God, and also moved scores of men to surrender for missionary work.

We are all meant to impact the world in a significant way. One person affects a couple lives for good and another affects thousands for good, yet each work is of equal value because God alone changes the hearts of men and alone initiates the work and gets the glory. Oliver Holmes puts it this way, “every calling is great when greatly pursued”. This is just one of the lessons we gleam from the life of David Brainerd. May we learn this from him and the many other men and women who humbly served and gave their lives for others expecting nothing for themselves in return but to see the face and glory of Christ. There is no other way to live this life and make it out alive. Live like this.

I recently took a day trip down from Chattanooga to Atlanta for a conference. The trip began about 5am. The streets were quiet and cold upon leaving the house. It was my birthday, a special day, yet another day to live and learn about life and mission. As I blankly starred out my car window to the road before me I heard the distinct sound of John Piper’s voice coming through my cheap factory speakers. “What does God have to say to me this morning”, I wondered, as I sipped my freshly roasted coffee from my nicely printed Redemption Shirts mug. I began to listen to this story shared:

“Bob and Penny… took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.” The American Dream: come to the end of your life – your one and only life – and let the last great work before you give an account to your Creator, be “I collected shells. See my shells.” That is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. And I get forty minutes to plead with you: don’t buy it.”

This was my prep talk before going into an all day event alongside 125 richly inspired people doing great things around the world. The conversations continued for the next 8 hours – stories of people and organizations impacting millions of people across the globe. Such an amazing opportunity and blessing to be a part of. Life tends to have its weighty and light moments of glory – like encountering an overwhelming crowd of well-accomplished people in a 1,000 square foot room as compared to sitting on a couch listening to a single mother share her difficulty and hope in caring for and leading her two precious children. It is amazing how we all play a vital role in serving and leading people and communities. The single mother’s role in her family and community is just as vital a role as the multi-dimensional organization reaching out to millions of people. Each life is important. Each story is important. Each organization is important. We all play a necessary and irreplaceable role in this great story of redemption. So live life to the fullest and help others do the same – no matter how “large” or “little” your part may seem. You are irreplaceable!

In 2009 Love Adventurously was created to be a footstool and a spotlight for those living adventurous lives for the benefit of others. Their dream is to illuminate heart-pounding stories of adventure and philanthropy and support fledgling spirits and their projects. In the midst of these pillars we were hoping a community would be formed of “LOVAD individuals” – activists, missionaries, doctors, journalists, sons, and daughters with the desperate need to love adventurously.

They believe that the world is in desperate need of these individuals to take action. Issues such as human-trafficking, clean water, extreme poverty, disease, and genocide are no longer acceptable in the 21st century. Our belief is that the coming generation has entrepreneurs with the creative gifts, business know how, and adventurous spirit to cement a footprint on the history of human peril.

Their mission is and always will be to outfit these individuals with the support they deserve. We here at Redemption Shirts print LOVEAD’s custom tees, support their cause and share their stories on our site and to our network so their mission can be fully utilized and further advanced.

See more of their work by checking out there website.

Love -vs- Lust. Does it always have to be the Lust that prevails? Why can’t “Love” become the victor over “Lust”? Oh, it can happen…This shirt is an expression of that possibility. Think about the statement on this shirt and how it plays a part in your life and in the lives of your community around you. We printed this shirt for a campaign to promote the reality that Love can and should prevail over its counterpart, Lust, as we live and share life, pain and restoration together. Life is difficult, but it is full of hope if our focus is on what truly matters at the end of the day. Live life together, full of love, compassion and forgiveness. Let’s cling to things that are good, honorable and worth while; and let’s declare from the mountain tops that this way of life is possible! Go out, live free from the things that cause you pain… and go with a handful of people you love.

Evolving as a grassroots idea – Adoration is a weekend experience designed for student ministries. It began on a car ride between two college roommates. Before long twelve people began meeting for weeks as they conceptualized what would soon be birthed. Adoration partnered with Lee University in 2008 and the vision continues to move forward.

Adoration is a weekend event comprised of several different elements. Its desire was that everyone involved during these weekends can easily engage in a weekend conversation about God. Within achieving an intimate environment that weekend would be a thought-provoking, inspiring, question-asking, purpose-driven, transforming time for your students.

Simply meaning “the act of worship,” Adoration seeks to embody this definition by administering all affections toward God, revealed to us through the life, teachings, suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. That definition is both our inspiration and the general guideline for humanity that we seek to facilitate. During this experience, we desire to see spaces created that are engulfed in passionate worship, relevant teaching, continual dialogue, and hopeful opportunities to touch your church’s surrounding community.

In 2011, Adoration will be taking on a new form as a curriculum and resource for youth ministries around the nation. We’re excited to see this develop! Redemption Shirts has partnered in this movement by printing shirts for every conference in addition to volunteering time in serving the leadership and students of the conferences.