JON ALLEN

These are several pieces of the picture, but how do they fit? What is the picture? As I sit back now and look at the position God has put me in as a pastor at high Rock it is beginning to make sense! Each piece fits perfectly.

God has made me a teacher. I sincerely want to teach people. I want them to “get it”. To honestly trust Christ with their salvation and life. That means really putting Him in control of their everyday thoughts and activities. He has given me the desire to do that in a practical and creative way that will open closed eyes and soften hard hearts. The fact that He has made ma a logical thinker helps me be a better teacher. I can organize thoughts well and communicate concepts in a clear and understandable way. People often tell me that one of their favorite things about HRCC is (at all campuses) that they finally understand church sermons! Great! If we aren’t doing that, then what are we doing as teachers?

Without God teaching me to be 100% dedicated to Him, I would have no motivation to teach people to do that very thing. If God wasn’t teaching me constantly there would be no drive to teach. How can I ask or instruct people to do what I myself am not willing to do?

Do not think that you self worth is a function of your performance plus the opinion of others, otherwise the devil's got you.

Nothing like a good old fashioned mountain hoe-down.

I am a...

Loner
This will definitely shock some people, but it’s true. I have never been an overtly social person. I function well in groups and relate well to people in the moment, but I am not by definition a “people person”. Truth be told, I love being alone (which includes being with Jess and the boys). I like the peacefulness of it. Solitude and reflection are my friends. I can see this clearly now as an adult because I know I am not good at keeping up relationships with friends. I talk to almost no friends from High School or College, I talk to my parents maybe once a month (on a good month), and I struggle to call and check up with people from the church to see how they are doing. Again, not sure why this is, it just is.

I am a...

Performer
Surveys consistently show that one of the biggest fears people have is public speaking. I can honestly say that I am not included in that group. I have been in front of people my whole life. Singing in church, being in YMCA variety shows, HS/MS Chorus, Mixed Ensemble, Boys Quartet, All-County/State Chorus, NYSSMA Solos, High School Musicals, BMOC, New Grace Singers, HRCC Praise Team, you name it. I have been in front of crowds my whole life and have absolutely no fear (except the healthy kind) before stepping on stage.

I am a...

Nerd
Spoiler Alert! I’m a huge nerd. Don’t worry, it’s okay with me. It served me pretty well thus far. I am a logical, linear thinker, not a feeler. That is why when I was young I excelled in math, in fact all the way through High School I never got less than a 98 on a Math Regents Exam (or EOG/EOC as they are called in NC). Not because I am particularly smart, but because my brain is just wired that way. I often don’t do things that I consider irrational or have not been thought through (sometimes overanalyzed).

Boy, here is a doozy (SP?). This word is a little bit like the word "Blog". If you're in-the-know you understand, if you aren't it just sounds weird. Actually, if you look it up in Webster's Dictionary the first definition is "to deliver from sin". Have you ever noticed how a word can be used so often that it begins to lose its meaning and significance? It's not a problem with the word, it's a problem with the communicator and sometimes the listener. If you don't believe me, just say the word watermelon about 43 times and see if it makes any sense when you are done.