Branded With Love

• The band yesterday really brought me to a different place during worship. It was killer.
• This series @forefrontchurch has emotionally drained me (but in a good way).
• I have a love/hate relationship with decisions & people issues. I hate that hurtful things happen in people’s lives, but LOVE being a part of helping them towards Jesus.
• Is it just me… or are Mike Myers, Dane Cook, Wayne Gretzky the only good things to come from Canada?
• I enjoyed the Olympics (even if they were in Canada, ha).
• So Leno is really coming back to the 11:30 slot. Bummer. I’m for Team COCO.
• Started week two of my fitness training. Two words: Butt Kickin’
• My wife did an amazing job in week two of this series answering questions from the stage. She is such an incredible woman.
• Carrie’s car died today. Wouldn’t start. Not one bit. It’s a year old. Ugh.
• The volunteers at Forefront amaze me. You guys kill it every week. We still have a couple places we could use people (road signs and nursery. Interested?)
• Loved the video of Mike & Leslie Seaman. God is working in people’s lives.
• Have you seen this commercial from the Super Bowl? Man, I want to adopt that kid.
• Marriage Seminar, Element Class, and CCB Training Events happening in March. It’s going to be sah-weet.
• American Idol? So far, not so good. But LOST… awwww yeah! Love it.
• Excited to hear about the women’s retreat this weekend. Praying God moves in your lives ladies. He’s already got a plan for you. It’s going to be great.
• Speaking of trips, heading out to Las Vegas w/ a team for the Verve Launch. Cannot wait to see old friends and help them get moving.
• Starting a new series this Sunday called “Inked.” We’re filming at Fuzion Ink with Dave Lukeson on Tuesday. Love hanging with that guy.
• If you’re not already, follow the blog here, Forefront on Facebook, Forefront on Twitter, and if you’re feeling the need for laughter, take a daily dose of this guy’s blog. It’s the best.

Jason *over and out*

Mike & Leslie Seaman impacted lives today.
They did it with their story.
I am humbled to be a part of a community where God is doing things like this…
(viewing from a mobile device? click here for video)

Thank you God.
Thank you Forefront Church.
Thank you Seaman Family.

Jason *over and out*

In praying, planning and asking God to work in people’s marriages and relationships… we’ve seen Him move in ways bigger than we anticipated. Healthy marriages are being celebrated, broken marriages are asking for help/aid, and people in dating relationships are beginning to come forward with heavy questions they might not have asked before. It’s great to see Him working.

During the series we visited the roles on men and women when it comes to marriage. Here are some links to pdf files for men/women’s roles according to the Bible.

Marriage and Men, According to the Bible (pdf adapted from MH)

Marriage and Women, According to the Bible (pdf adapted from MH)

We also have a bunch of questions you at Forefront have asked about, on marriage and relationships. If you’d like to check out the entire series that my wife Carrie and I answered, click the following link: Questions on the Blog

Finally, if you missed any of the weeks of this series, don’t get bummed out- we podcast every one of our messages online and through iTunes. Just head over to www.forefront.org and click “media.” You can listen online right there (also from your web enabled mobile phone) or it has a link to iTunes.

If you have any questions about this series or relationships, please contact my wife or I at:
Jason: jason@brandedwithlove.com
Carrie: carrie@brandedwithlove.com

“…Come as you are.”
A news report of a church here in VA. All I have to say is that I will not be introducing this type of service anytime soon at Forefront (to which my wife and everyone else will scream, “THANK YOU!”).

Man, Oh Man.
Try getting that image out of your head. Ha. Good Luck.

Jason *over and out*

Chloe’s moving on to bigger and better things.
She has learned diapers are a bummer and the “potty” is where it’s at.
Going out to by the toilet adapters for her today.
Let’s get this “potty” started!
So proud of our little girl. What’s a proud moment for you as a parent?
Let’s talk it out.

Jason *over and out*

• “Far Away” by Lecrae
  This was totally me. For a long part of my life I didn’t think God was close, near, or wanted to be a part of my life. At some moments, I wondered if He even existed. This track reminds me that God is real and active.
• “Out Of The Ground” by John Mark McMillan
  When I listen to this song (which he is an amazing song writer by the way) I feel the hand of God. He reached in to a pretty dark time in my life and began pulling me out of the mess I was in. I didn’t always acknowledge it. But He was moving me in huge ways.
• “These Hard Times” by Needtobreathe
  As I began to follow God, I kept blaming Him for things. I thought it was His fault I was in messes. His fault I made mistakes. Eventually, I learned it was my foolish choices and childish actions that led me into the places I found myself. This song reminds me there is something brighter. Hard times are not the end.
• “We Will Worship You” by Carlos Whitaker
  This one is new to the list, but for good reason. The chorus. It breaks my heart. As it should. Following God should not be, but sometimes does get in a rut. I find myself in the same groove, believing I’m moving, but sitting still. The chorus wrecks me. And when I play it for others, it wrecks them too (in a good way).
• “Glory Screams” by Revolution Worship
  I love this one. Screaming rises over everything. It shuts down children in chaos, is heard over large crowds, allows a voice to be heard. Thinking about God’s power/grace screaming out to the world (not in a hateful way, but just so everyone can hear) is so cool to picture. And I try to live it out daily.
• “Break Me Down” by Tenth Avenue North
  Sometimes I just need to be broken. I get all puffed up with pride, ego, etc. Love the words to this song.
• “Change The World (Lost Ones)” by Anberlin
  Every time I hear this song I literally feel like I’m a part of an army of superheros who could take over the world. The great part is, through God, we have a Spirit of change and power. Sah-weeet!
• “Alive” by P.O.D.
  After my brush with death in a pretty bad car accident, I cherish the message of this song daily. Life is so short and I live in the moment.
• “Control” by Mute Math
  I struggle with control as I “live in the moment.” I try to make things happen in my world. Fortunately, I’m learning more and more that God’s movement trumps mine every time. I’m becoming a better listener.
• “Secret Of The Easy Yoke” by Pedro The Lion
• “Hard to Be” by David Bazan
• “In Stitches” by David Bazan
  I have  a love/hate relationship with this section of the playlist. They are songs that talk about the struggle to follow God, his existence, whether or not He is truly perfect, and whether or not anyone should even follow Him. David Bazan (Pedro the Lion), was a fully-devoted follower of Jesus, hit some hard times and rough patches in life, struggled with His faith or lack there-of, and is now in a rocky place. These tracks remind me of the people who walk through the doors every Sunday. The men and women I speak to out in public. The man I used to be. I need songs like these to remind me who I was, where I came from, and the people God has placed in my life to share Jesus with. These are my anthems of “the least of these.”
• “Dare You To Move” by Switchfoot
  I am a man of action (sometimes when it’s convenient for me). I need to move because He tells me too, not because I’m waiting for the right time.

The run down of day numero uno…

• The first day wasn’t that bad.
• Good news (at least for some of you)… I’m not dead.
• Bad news, there’s a guy in the class who could probably compete in a triathlon today if he wanted. This doesn’t do much for my self-esteem or motivation, ha.
• In worse news, I made an excellent first impression at minute 49 of the 60 minute workout. This was done by walking briskly out of the workout place & vomiting my banana I had for b’fast.
• “So everybody… um… wanna check out the church I work at?!? Bueller…? Bueller?!?”
• Making friends = fail.
• In better news, it can only go up hill from here (which will be great, but hurt like I do not want to imagine).
• I will say that I parked in front of the Pollard’s Chicken before class started… and staring into that window at the menu of delicious goodness did not help the cause.
• Stay back people. I’m on a mission.

Jason *over and out*

(word cloud of playlist lyrics done in Wordle)

Music for me has always been a mile marker.

• My bus driver listening to “Broken Wings” by Mister Mister on the way to school.
• Listening to the drums kick in on “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins as I rode with my dad in his old Mazda truck.
• Rockin’ to “Pump It Up” by The Fat Boys as I learned to do animation in art classes.
• The first time I saw 411 Skateboard Video Magazine and saw the East Coast Section with “9th Wonder” by Digable Planets.
• Hiding by Mom’s copy of Madonna’s “True Blue” album and wondering about girls for the first time.
• Unfortunately being seduced by corporate America and being stoked to open up New Kids On The Block debut cassette.
• Reaching high school and coming into contact with all kinds of new old different and amazing styles of music.
• Then living out teen angst and subculture attending shows where anthems rang out and were sung loud.

It’s unreal.
Music marks moments in time for me.

• Like sitting in my room and listening to “Praise You In This Storm” by Casting Crowns. Literally 81 times continuously until I could finally get off my floor after experiencing the loss of our first child to a miscarriage.
• Or when my wife and I met, the song playing in the background the first time we kissed was “Brightest” by Copeland.
• Every time I hear Color Me Bad, I just give my wife the look… and… well… you know… (enough of that).

Music is a way to stir emotion, tell a story, release your feelings, worship, get out aggression, unwind & relax, entertainment and sheer enjoyment.
Music is an expression of the soul.
God created us to worship.
It’s part of our DNA.
And the playlist I shared in the previous post tells a story.
It’s my story. It’s your story.
And we’ll kick off with track one next time.

Jason *over and out*

Before I preach, speak, meet with someone who needs help, as I’m thinking over a heavy situation before God, work through my own personal sin, etc. I listen to this playlist. It’s a new revised version, but most of my solid staples are there. If you’re looking for a good mix, pick up these tracks on iTunes, Amazon, or whatever music deal you use. I’ll be talking a little bit about why these tracks and why the specific order this week…

• “Far Away” by Lecrae
• “Out Of The Ground” by John Mark McMillan
• “These Hard Times” by Needtobreathe
• “We Will Worship You” by Carlos Whitaker
• “Glory Screams” by Revolution Worship
• “Break Me Down” by Tenth Avenue North
• “Change The World (Lost Ones)” by Anberlin
• “Alive” by P.O.D.
• “Control” by Mute Math
• “Secret Of The Easy Yoke” by Pedro The Lion
• “Hard to Be” by David Bazan
• “In Stitches” by David Bazan
• “Dare You To Move” by Switchfoot

What songs are driving you?
What songs make you jump up and get your lazy butt in gear?
Share ‘em people.

Jason *over and out*

If you’re looking to view/share the entire series, you can check it out here:
http://www.brandedwithlove.com/category/marriage/

Carrie and I have had a tough time with your questions, but we are so glad you’re asking them. It allows us the opportunity (you, Carrie and I) to dialogue, share, and start the open conversations that need to happen for us to be able to have relationships & marriages that honor God. We’re not naive enough to think these answers are going to be the end to your problems. It’s a help, but you’ll need accountability, a community of people to help when things get rough, and a faith strong enough to endure the highs and lows.

As a couple, here is what has kept us strong before God:

• We made a commitment to be open and honest about everything. EVERYTHING.
• We never go to bed angry. Talking about things and getting somewhat settled before sleeping is a huge plus for us.
• We study God’s word separately, but talk about things we’re studying/learning together.
• Every decision we make that effects the family is discussed. No one makes decisions in a vacuum.
• We parent as a team. There are things we disagree on when it comes to parenting our kids, but behind closed doors we figure it out. We’re a united front as far as our kids are concerned.
• We spend as much time as possible helping people. It reminds us that we don’t always get it right and we don’t have it as bad as we think we do at times.
• We’re committed to the ministry of God’s church locally/globally. As a couple we realize that when we allow ourselves to thrive through God’s church, he brings us to places we never dreamed.
• We live each day without boundaries. As two OCD planning freaks, we realized we were taking opportunities out of God’s hands, which in turn took the opportunities away from us. Whatever the day allows or drops on us… we roll with it (not always with a smile, but we eventually get there).
• We realize that the valleys we experience together are what make us a couple. How we encounter, interact, and rely on God during the low points… we always have been able to look back and see God’s fingerprint on us coming out of it. We’re blown away by Him daily.

Thanks for being such a great church and allowing Carrie and I to serve with you. It’s times like these we couldn’t be happier to be leading/serving w/ Forefront. Let’s keep it moving people! We’ve got a long way to go and tons of people in Hampton Roads who need to experience the love of God.

Until next time,
Carrie & Jason *over and out*

*If you want to get in touch with Carrie or I about Forefront, marriage stuff, etc. Here’s our email:
carrie@brandedwithlove.com and jason@brandedwithlove.com