Jason Bedell Online

I've taken over the Forefront Blog this week so I'll be posting some of the thoughts, vision casting, etc. from my posts there. Enjoy.



Apple has been the comeback kid. In the realm of technology you can't help but see their ads, iPods, and laptops all over the place. Every kid wants one and adults are slowly drinking the Kool Aid. The wave of energy has quickly swept across the country. People stood in line for ONE WHOLE WEEK waiting for the iPhone to come out and get one. That's nuts to me.

So what created the momentum? The company shifted from trying to do multiple things on an average level- to a few things on a stellar level. And it worked. Big time.

For Forefront, we can learn quite a bit from their leadership. God has made Forefront a great place with a mission that cannot be argued- Love God, Love People, Turn the World Upside Down. But, some of the things we do on the underneath (systems, training and educating true disciples, a clear plan for aiding people through a process to get them connected) could really use some help so Forefront can be the church God knows we can be. In 2009, we'll be tackling these things instead of everything under the sun so we can have the best results possible.

The staff and I are very excited about the future of Forefront and how we can build on the base that the leadership has laid over the last 10 years. We pray that we can make God and them proud with our impact on the community and reaching those who are far from God.

I've taken over the Forefront Blog this week so I'll be posting some of the thoughts, vision casting, etc. from my posts there. Enjoy.


On the corner of my desk you'll find a picture of my beautiful wife Carrie and our 5 month old daughter Chloe (she's sporting the Mets hat in the Mets frame if you were wondering what team is the best in MLB). In the day to day work flow they are my reminder. A reminder that God is first, then family, and finally the church. Forefront is a great church and our mission is one of huge importance, but if I miss the boat with drawing near to God and loving on my family, then Forefront will suffer because of it.

Which leads me to the question, "How do you create balance in your life?" With God, family, church, work, little league, dance recitals, and so on... what are you neglecting? Whether you believe so or not, something is hurting. It might be work or maybe even hobbies, but a majority of the time it's God and family. It's a sad reality that many who follow Jesus come to understand.

Let's say: You've been serving in children's ministry since the day you signed up at a serving expo, you cart kids around to various student ministry events, you set-up and tear down every Sunday, and work a 60+ hour work week. You come home, find barely enough time to hang with the kids and spouse before you crash and go to bed only to start the chaos all over again. Then when you get into the quiet thinking moments, you realize that your family is suffering and you aren't connected to God. Who do you blame for ending up in this stage in life? Unfortunately, we tend to blame the church. When that happens you'll start to hear things like:

• "I'm not getting fed spiritually."
• "My family and I are thinking of leaving the church."
• "I like serving, but I think I am getting pretty burned out with this."
• "God just doesn't seem to be meeting my needs right now."

Now I would contend that when things in our life arise they come from a deeper place than we would like to admit. When you hear these things you might look at the church, when I hear these things- I look in the mirror. I wonder where I stepped out of pace with God.

In the 8+ years of doing ministry before coming to Forefront, I had a season where the church was everything. I preached messages on reading your Bible, when I hadn't read it in weeks. I had Bible studies on giving to God, and I wasn't where I needed to be with my giving of time, money and heart. I was serving so much that I began to miss the point of being His in the first place. The problem was I blamed God, the church, the leadership and everyone within shouting distance, but it did nothing. It did nothing because they weren't the problem- I was. I wasn't close to God. I had walked away. I didn't keep up my side of the relationship.

The eye-opening moment was when I got back into the groove. He and I were talking together on a daily basis (praying), I was learning about His plan for my life in a deeper way (reading my Bible), and I noticed my time wasn't as constrained as I had originally thought and my joy was back (serving in the church).

Many times in life I've looked to place blame anywhere but with myself. Now being married, having a little girl, and growing along with God over these years in ministry; when things get out of whack- I look in the mirror. And when God and I are walking in step, my relationship with Him is stronger, family looks brighter and serving just becomes a natural part of my DNA.

So, to the question "How do you create balance in your life?" I would answer, Love God, Love Family, Love People... and you won't be able to contain yourself as you Turn the World Upside Down.

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

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...

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"

And God gets the praise in all of it! So, it was a truly great experience to sit watch everything unfold. The church was so warm and inviting when hearing the news and I am thankful God has placed us, called us, and moved us to be here at this place doing His work.

Check out the video of the announcement.
I was sitting up front, my wife standing in the back.
I was tearing up a bit.
She was tearing up a bit more.
God is so good.
Seriously.

So we're starting a new series this Sunday: My Movie Life. Check out the micro-site, evite and a couple promos for the series and website below. How are you promoting your series using the web? I'd love to here your ideas.

This track by Jack's Mannequin is absolutely great. Pick up their new album if you haven't already.

It's very humbling to work with such an amazing staff and watch how they move and do ministry. Vince had some very nice things to say about me and my role in coming into Forefront (I think he went a little overboard). Just one more reason why I love this place. Everyone is so focused on the success of the church and not themselves.

Vince, thanks for following God's vision to start Forefront and changes the lives of people in Hampton Roads and around the world. There are hundreds of lives that have been changed through Forefront and God chose you to get it happening. Our prayers are for you and the team as you head to the Vegas strip in January to do this amazing thing again.

**Readers: Please pray for Forefront during these next few months of transition and especially for the church plant that is starting in Las Vegas.

Today was great.
Today we worshiped God in an amazing way.
Today my message seemed to hit a vein.
Today Vince talked about our process.
The process of hiring a guy.
The guy.
It's been scary.
The past few months have been insane.
Blogging halted.
Twitter not-so-much.
But... today was God ordained.
Today I started as the lead pastor at Forefront Church.
God continue to lead my steps for today.
God bless the decisions that affect tomorrow.
Thanks you so much.
Your servant,
-Jason