Branded With Love

Who is taking these carts? And who is the one who sued the place for a cart hitting their car that made this sign a reality?

Please use your local “Cart Corral” so your local store doesn’t need to post these signs. For real. Ha.

My father-in-law took us out to a Golden Corral breakfast this morning. (insert Homer Simpson voice for the following) MMMmmmmm. It was so good.

Now the only problem is getting through the rest of the day after eating a filling breakfast. I never eat breakfast. I know, I know- I should eat it. But I don’t need you guys & gals telling me that. I already got a mom.

What it did make me think of is this: I want to start some family traditions. Something we as a family can do together that my daughter will remember.

What are some things you remember doing as a family that you just loved? Let me know peeps.

So, a new chapter begins. But, like a yearbook signing at the end of a school year- we plan to K.I.T. with our B.F.F. (if you aren’t sure what that ism ask any 6-12 grader). Vince has taught me a great deal and has changed many lives of people in the Hampton Roads area. I’ve enclosed the links to a few of the places where you can find him and the work “Verve” will be doing on the Las Vegas Strip.

Verve’s Website- http://www.vivalaverve.org
Vegas Project Blog- http://www.thevegasproject.com
Vince’s Blog- http://www.vinceantonucci.com

He and I talked after service and He has a goodbye, thank you letter that I’ll be posting tomorrow.

Until then,

Jason *over and out*

The team, the volunteers, the church, the gel groups- all came together to put on an amazing evening for Vince, Jen, Dawson & Marissa. They are an amazing family and I am thankful to have spent the time I have under Vince’s leadership. Thanks to the Christies for donating the amazing space. You guys are amazing. If you Forefronters are looking to do an event, use them or else…. we’ll send little circus midget clowns to your house to creep you and your kids out.

To Anne, George, Mike, Kevin, Jada, and Chris- your stories are an inspiration to me and I thank you for sharing your hearts tonight with the family. Thanks to everyone from the Gel Groups who showed up to support the family. Thanks to the Bruner Crew for keeping the little kids in one piece as the evening happened, and to Lisa & Dan- you guys worked a great deal behind the scenes to make things happen. You guys are great.

Well here is the video we used this evening, it was a great time. We have one more little something special for Vince on Sunday… and then we’ll send Him off to continue to serve God as we hold it down in the 757 as we Love God, Love People & Turn the World Upside Down.

Jason *over and out*

So it’s Friday and I have Chloe while Carrie works. Most Fridays you can find us cruisin’ around Lynnhaven Mall wasting time. Today my daughter turned into Houdini. She lost her sock 4 different times in the mall.

First three times I was like Matlock and found that joker… but attempt #4 she fooled me my friend. The little pink sock is MIA.

Out smarted by a seven month old. Ugh.

Jason *over and out*

Our staff is currently wrapping up a three day retreat here in Nags Head. If you could, please pray for them and their families- as we speak we’re in the very moment of taking some alone time for personal reflection.

Thanks in advance and Monday will bring the ministry with tech series back into action.

Until then,

Jason *over and out*

Well, Saufley will be up in arms at this one… but I’m testing the mobile posting features from my iPhone. Ha. I can hear his angry rant about Apple & Steve Jobs from across the state.

Until next time,
J-del *over & out*

Until I get to the posts on how Catalyst speakers changed my thinking a bit, here is a website worth checking out for three reasons:

1. They are improving themselves personally and spiritually through this challenge
2. Both of them are supporting great causes
3. It will bring a smile to your face

Enjoy.

Mark And Chris Fight Fat via kwout

So, I’m not bashing conferences or resources (which was asked of me early Sunday), I am just processing the current status of the movement in America. I love what conferences and resources are out there, I just don’t think they are the messiah, end all – be all, solution and second coming the church is looking for.

The church (God’s church, the local church you are sitting at as you read this post) needs something that I am coming to realize quickly. It might not be new news to you or me, but we seem to forget it.

When I look in the mirror I see Jason Bedell. A man who has been broken, a liar, womanizer, cheater, deceiver and all around jerk – BUT… I also see the places on my skin and body where God took the brokenness and repaired me put be back together and now I see the scars. The glue. The molding of a new person.

But that is wrong.

If I see glue, scars, lines, and repair marks… I am not new, just fixed. I am not completely different, I am just refurbished. I need to recognize that God took Jason Bedell, strapped C4 to his chest and obliterated that dude. Now there is a likeness of Jason Bedell in the form of Jesus walking, moving breathing, talking and he is a force to be reckoned with. While sitting listening to Aaron Keyes lead worship and Matt Chandler speak at the unplugged session… It was not about “strategery” (ha), “leadership principles” or “the right steps to make your po’dunk church a mega church for only $199.95″ – It was about chasing God.

Not just chasing, but yearning. I mean it’s so entrenched in your DNA and gut that like breakfast at the Golden Corral, the hot-and-fresh sign at Krispy Kreme, or the rev’n of engines at NASCAR, your drawn to it without even thinking. It’s second nature.

When church leaders will turn to God in such a lustful, passionate and uncomfortable for everyone else around them kind of way… forget conferences, resources, the next “big thing”, etc. I would just get out of the way because God is going to create a firestorm of movement through the communities of the leaders who latch on to it.

I pray God does this for you.

He’s slowly creating it in me. More Catalyst thoughts coming soon.

J-del *over and out*

[photo: Aaron Keyes at Catalyst/ taken by daleyhake.com]

So, I’m sitting on the floor upstairs during the lunch break and my mind is becoming clearer. I might not be the most organized, clear in speech, vision caster, captivating, knowledgeable in leadership principles, or able to quote every passage off the top of my head. But I am seeing something here I never thought about before:

• The American church has more mega churches than ever before in it’s history.
• Conferences are spawning and happening like rabbits during mating season.
• People have more websites full of resources that you could possibly have to donate a lung or organ to be able to afford, but…

The church is shrinking in the U.S.
Shrinking.
Just in case you missed it, over the last 10 years there are less Christians than before.
So why all the resources?
Why all the conferences?
Why all the web 2.393954358347534587 resources?

Well, some of my realizations are:

1. People are leaving the church (which is the decrease overall)
2. The mega churches are getting more Christians than those who are far from God
3. The conferences aren’t cutting it (though they are very well attended and put together)
4. Leaders are soaking in principles and getting lost in all the different “methods”

So, my conclusion is that I (maybe not you, but maybe you, you decide), need to almost hault this idea of chasing the dream, living the dream, becoming the dream by learning all the crap about leadership I can and focus on one thing: Jesus.

Sound simple? Then you are a better person than I am (well you probably are anyway). We need to cling, chase, lust, desire, yearn for and adore Jesus so much and so very deeply that all life pales in comparison. You may think this is old news, but take a little bit of time soon to get into your deep dark alone place and let me know if you have a, “Holy crap, that is me and if anyone finds out I would be so embarrassed” kind of moment.

When God and I talk, I drop my head in shame, but our next post will bring to light the reason that dropping my head is also lame as poopie (yes, I said poopie, so what).

Until then,

J-del **over and out**