Branded With Love

Have you ever had difficult times in life?
Ever wondered why God would allow you to enter into a rough patch?
Many times, we are able to reflect and understand it- when we’re on the other side. The song is “These Hard Times” by Needtobreathe, off their album “The Outsiders.”

These Hard Times. A Story. from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

Want to listen to the song? It’s embedded for your listening pleasure below.

This is a preview of some of the stuff that will happen this Friday Night at the Aidnow.org Benefit.
Grand Affairs, Va Beach
7-9pm, $10 donation at the door
Email Ann@aidnow.org for more information

Jason *over and out*

This Week: Battleship
Theme: There’s a Fight & Struggle for Our Souls. Are you prepared? Are you even in the right fight?
You can listen on our website via your computer or mobile device.
Click here for the RSS feed, or…
Click here to view the podcast via iTunes

• Met 4 new girls who are in the Navy. Two started coming a little while ago and yesterday they brought two friends with them. They all want to get in a Gel Group.
• A couple from Forefront brought three neighbors and their families yesterday. Met & talked with them, they loved it.
• The band yesterday really led us towards God yesterday. Loved when they played “Amazing, Because It Is.” Awesome.
• Wrapped up the “Game Time” series. I’m not always sure how series will hit with the congregation. This one worked. People were engaged the entire four weeks.
• “Why do I worry about series impact? God’s got it under control. Stop it Jason.” (voices in my head)
• I’ve seen a surprising influx of people who left Forefront- returning. It’s funny how God works.
• Loved spending time with the girls after church. They are so happy.
• Speaking of the girls, it takes 30-45 extra minutes to go anywhere. Gonna have to start running “Get in and out of house drills”
• Aidnow.org Benefit got a bunch of sign-ups. It’s this Friday. Be there!
• Want to know more about it? Call Lisa: 757-468-1188

Random Stuff

• I read a great article in Collide Magazine on Weapons of Choice. Things pastors/leaders use in the daily grind.
• Riding my bike is a beautiful thing. Losing weight and feeling good.
• Working on a project for Forefront that makes my brain hurt, but in a good way.
• I’m aiming at transforming Chloe’s room into a little pink rockstar room with a stage & lights- sometime in the Fall. It’s going to be epic. She loves music.

Jason *over and out*

Jesus had them (and still does).
You have them.
I have them.
We all do.

So what’s the knee jerk reaction of a man or woman? Fire back.
But, that’s not the way Jesus did things.
When faced with critics, Jesus… quoted scripture, taught in parables, showered them with love (guerrilla style), and/or led them to God’s unbelievable grace.

The next time you’re wanting to fire back at a co-worker, reply in an awful way to someone on Facebook, leave an anonymous comment on a blog, or shoot off a ridiculous email to someone… Just remember: That is not the way someone who follows Jesus acts. Period. Go to them privately and settle things in a loving way.

Another factor to think about is, consider the source. Friends and coaches who speak into your life have invested time, blood, sweat, and tears into building a relationship with you. If they love you, they will not let you do something stupid. They have set-up the foundational relationship to correct you. On the other hand, critics seek to make themselves better by bringing others down. They want to elevate their personal ego. It’s not biblical to engage critics in retaliation. It only provides a public forum for you, and them to show who is more proud in the war of words (or typed words, hehe). Let it go. Shower them with love. If they still keep coming, walk away. Better to spread truth and move on than to continue in a war of words with someone who isn’t going to budge.

There are other people wandering this earth who need to hear the gospel message of Jesus’ hope and love. Let’s get to spreadin’ it, shall we?!

Jason *over and out*

Will Ferrell make me almost wet my pants.
IMO, This skit from SNL has to be one of the funniest things ever.

As followers of Jesus, we need the laugh factor.

I’m not saying following Jesus is a joke, following God is serious stuff. Life and death serious. But, if we’re serious in life all the time, we’re missing a big piece of who God created us to be.

We need to have fun, laugh till it hurts, joke around, play, engage life with a smile. Sometimes that means just letting loose and goofing off. Being a kid again. Something about laughter brings your guard down. It opens you up to others. A good laugh can be the beginning of friendships. In a time of financial troubles, oil disasters, war, and disease- what we don’t need is more seriousness and pain.

Goof off and lighten up.
It will do your heart some good.
We act-a-fool a lot at “Casa de Bedell” and it does our family good.

Jason *over and out*

Dear Satan,

I’m pretty sure you know me. I’m positive I know you. Actually, I without a shadow of doubt know that you know exactly who I am. You convinced me to tell my first lie as a kid. When my parents went to bed, I wrestled with sneaking out at you told me it was alright. As I got older, you paraded girls in front of me and told me if I pursued them like all my friends, “No one would ever know what happened behind closed doors.” The addictions I faced and battled were defined by you as “Fun, exciting, and a way to have people like me.”

You broke my Spirit.

But God knew me too. He knows me. He knew me before I was even created. He knows what I’ll be doing a year from now- 50 years from now. He saved me. His power is real. He put a new spirit in me. Not to replace my personality, but to enhance and complete who He designed me to be from the very beginning. But, somewhere along the way I slipped. Maybe it isn’t necessarily a slip… I guess I’d say- lost perspective. I quit looking in my rear view mirror. I became so wrapped up in the amazing love of God that I completely discounted one simple truth…

You’re still real.

You’re just as powerful as the day you convinced me to lie. I’m older and wiser, but so are you. You know my weakness. My fear. My loneliness. My pain. You know how to hit me just right and knock me down. But, I discounted you. I forgot about you. Well, I didn’t completely forget about you, I just figured I love God so much, that He will protect me (which he does) and I guess I just let my defenses down from time to time. God warned me to take you seriously. He taught me to see you as a smart, stealthy, powerful adversary who wants nothing more than to separate me from His love.

You’re not a cartoon. You’re not dancing on my left shoulder with a little angel on the right one. You’re not George Burns. You’ve been portrayed in such a light that you’re not longer a threat- you’re a punchline. The problem is the threat is very real and the joke will be on me if I don’t listen to God’s wisdom and teaching: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).

The good news is that the end of the story is already known: You Lose, God Prevails. I will hold to that truth- and never forget you’re watching… waiting in the wings for me to lose my footing. Lurking in the darkness to press in on my Spirit. God has claimed me, so you can take a trip to Hell. I’m a follower of Jesus and you have no place here. Step off.

Jason *over and out*

This Week: Battleship
Theme: There’s a Fight & Struggle for Our Souls. Are you prepared? Are you even in the right fight?
You can listen on our website via your computer or mobile device.
Click here for the RSS feed, or…
Click here to view the podcast via iTunes

We’ve been working our way through Jesus’ most famous message, “The Sermon on The Mount.”
Sunday, we wrapped up the series as we looked at the the type of foundation each of us chooses (God or something else)- in Matthew 7:24-27
You can listen on our website via your computer or mobile device.
Click here for the RSS feed, or…
Click here to view the podcast via iTunes

We’ve been working our way through Jesus’ most famous message, “The Sermon on The Mount.”
Yesterday we looked at the Narrow and Wide Gates- in Matthew 7:13-23 (it was pretty heavy stuff.
You can listen on our website via your computer or mobile device.
Click here for the RSS feed, or…
Click here to view the podcast via iTunes

I talk to guys all the time and I would say 7 out of 10 guys have struggled or are struggling with some type of sexual addiction. It’s a huge deal. It wrecks you from the inside out. From personal experience in battling back w/ God’s help over something like this… it’s can create such a stronghold on your life.

But what about the ladies?
My wife and I have talked to more and more couples who are being torn apart. But, I’ve begun to see a trend that increases every moment… women are diving into pornography and sexual addiction like never before. The truth is- if you’re dealing with this… you’re not alone. There are thousands of other women out there struggling with the same thing. I recently watched the testimony of Anne Jackson. It is very moving. Check it out:

If you or someone you know is struggling in this area, please email Carrie or I so we can help point you to the resources to aid in battling back against that addiction with God’s help.
Carrie’s Email
Jason’s Email