Had a GREAT 101 last night. There were approximately 20 adults that came to understand our vision and plans for the future. This on the heels of another record breaking week at church and a celebration that will be another moment in time for Western Reserve.

Let me weigh in this week on information vs. transformation. 

I grew up in a church where I learned about Jesus, His Word, and His reason for coming to the earth. Attended a Christian High School. Went to Grace College where surveys of the Old and New Testaments were taught. Graduated from college and took a youth pastorate position South of Akron, that eventually led to my coming to Western Reserve. During my early years here, I graduated with my Masters Degree from Grace Theological Seminary. 

I was inundated with doctrine. Let me be clear...I am thankful for my education! No slide being given here. My parents, wife, in-laws all helped get me through these important stages of my life. I am better for the education and the experience. I recommend it! Thanks to all professors and family!

After all the education, I began to run in the church world. Unfortunately, I began to allow "what" I knew to push aside "who" I knew. It was a huge learning time in my life!

I believe the church has to be intentional to promote transformation AND information...why? information without transformation equals damnation. 

One of the reasons that Jesus has stopped working in the church across America, is because pastors are receiving awards for preaching "through" the Bible rather than preaching the "who" of the Bible. These well intentioned, "informed" people of the church then hang a plaque with the pastors name on it, in a location that everyone is sure to see as they walk into the worship center. 

Here is my question: Where are the pictures of the transformed people the preaching impacted?

A bit more clarity...He preached the Word! There is no other source of truth, and Bible is not to be viewed as a self-help book on the shelf. It is the Word of God and should be taught with conviction, boldness, and yes, theology and doctrine pour forth from its pages. We need to know it! Pastors need to return to bold, clear, unapologetic teaching.

But when we open it, is there transformation? Is there anticipation? Are there stories of transformed lives? As Christians, we have been transformed by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Why are churches more excited about an upcoming conference than church? Why aren't we seeing people come to know Christ weekly, monthly or even annually? 

Its simple. We're not surrendered. 

We think we are...but we're not. If every Christian tithed 10% of their income as commanded in scripture, world hunger would be abolished and we would still have 50-60 million dollars to advance the kingdom. We aren't even close. In churches across America, there isn't enough money given to pay the electric bill, let alone rescue the spiritually restless.

We boast of surrender...but we're not. 

Rather than being a source in the community for hope and service to all...the church has the reputation of running fund raisers, and asking people who don't know Christ to fund a trip to reach others that don't know Christ. How did one get priority over the other? And why are we asking the one who isn't the priority to reach the one that is? Why do we think that sending people out of the country is more important than those in country? We are asking the lost to help reach the lost because the found aren't wholeheartedly surrendered.

We boast of surrender...we're not. 

You say, your mad! Yes I am. Not at you...AT ME. In years past... I've held back. I've preached out of fear of the negative response I may receive. I played defense when Jesus handed me the ball. 

Guess what...not much transformation was happening. By God's grace...no more of that.

My favorite section in our church is our baptism wall. Attached are stories of people who have been transformed. It's amazing to read. This is the end to which I will preach...

Heavenly Father, may we not waste another weekend! I pray that multiple people will surrender their lives to you Jesus! Please work! Please grant your power!

For the week,

Jason

Night of Celebration Video(s)

Check these out!!!!

Another Moment for Western Reserve!!

Wow...what a weekend! We had 26 people baptized...in a hot tub...under a tent...in the parking lot! It is getting out of control around here. God is breaking all the records and pushing us to distances that we never thought we could run. 

I'm not going to say much in this entry, I just want to share with you photos and a video clip of the Night of Celebration. There will be another post coming this week, but in the meantime, enjoy the review!!!!

Amazing isn't it? Along with the baptisms, people dedicated their children to the Lord and joined Western Reserve! Western Reserve is simple. Just take the next step we tell people...For God's glory many did! Check out the video on the side...cool!

For the day...

Jason

Relevant...Deep...and Some Other Cool Things

Cambodia is Happening!!!

The tickets have been ordered, immunizations are being done. This is really happening! We are watching God provide. Currently, we are $1,100 short of our goal. Not a plea for money, just an update. We believe God is going to git'er done! Whoa!!! While writing this entry, $275.00 was handed to me for the Haymaker's! That means we need $825.00! Wheww!

Western Reserve...whoa!!!

We are hanging onto God's rope my friends. He's swinging us around, and we are loving the ride! Reports have come to me saying that we have upwards of 30 people getting dunked on Saturday night! I have wall art in my office that says, "We do not remember the days, we remember moments". Western Reserve is and will continue to be a church that seeks to capture the moments of God's movement. I'm tellin' ya', you will not forget this weekend's event! I cannot wait! Be here at 7:00 for Night of Celebration.

Haymaker's

Much going on. In prayer last night, Marcie and I were thanking our Lord that we are beginning to see gifts and abilities come out in Caleb. He is becoming "Caleb"...secure enough to stand on his own, with a humorous view on life. He had us on the floor laughing this week!

Thought for the Week

Thought I would take a few lines and weigh in on the whole relevancy and depth discussion.

I believe in offense. Defense may be the best offense, but if you can't put the ball in the hole...you're not going to win!!! The gospel, by its nature is offensive. Jesus came to defeat sin once and for all by being offensive. The gospel continues to be that way. The gospel is offensive because it is counter to our human nature. Now, all the law people are saying, Awesome...preach it! All the grace people are saying, easy big fella'!

The gospel IS offensive, but the only thing that should be offending people is the cross...not the people who wear them. The church should be preaching Jesus and His Word in the context of the culture. It should be in church that we talk about the reality of hell, sex, pornography, money, marriage, parenting. I believe the pendulum has swung back from "non-offensive" teaching to "lay it out and let me choose". Thirty years ago there was a cultural acceptance of truth, primarily guided by biblical principles. Now, there is "no" truth but your own. Unfortunately, the church alienated culture by judging and arrogantly assuming "turn or burn messages" would change lives.

Extremely wise (and I believe chosen by God), leaders began to move the church back toward people by helping them understand that the Bible was the source of hope for their lives. Praise God for these leaders. It was a sorely needed re-connection of the church with the culture . These trends impacted me greatly in my ministry. In these ministries, all the "difficult" truths were handled, but were placed in environments other than public weekend services. (ie. small groups/Bible studies etc.). Not wrong, just different.

The pendulum has swung again. People desire these things from the leader...and from the platform. In fact, if you handle a critical topic like hell, then back off, you are seen as inauthentic, lacking guts and integrity, because you don't have the "kahuna's" to say what you believe the Bible is teaching.

My conclusion. Be real. Be honest. Have courage. Show grace. Be clear. Raise the bar. Hold believers accountable and show the seeking...truth. Then...let them decide. Hold exciting, spirit driven gatherings, that display an authentic movement of God in the lives of those attending.

By the way, the environment of weekend gatherings should kick-it. All people (including christians), listen to loud music in the car, secular music on the radio, have conversations about sex, immorality, the after-life, relationships...and Jesus. And their is no dress code. Authentic people should come into authentic environments of Christ followers who are considering all styles of music/media, connecting to as many as possible in order to fully represent Jesus.

The people of Western Reserve are getting this! May God be glorified!

For the week,

Jason

Its been another crazy and wonderful week. I reported in last week's blog entry that we saw 15 come to know Christ in our weekend services. This week, I preached a message about baptism and we have 22 people (mostly adults) that are going to be baptized at our "Night of Celebration." God is on the move.

This movement brings me to my thought and reflection for the week. Do we anticipate movement when the people of God come together? When we plan services or think about the weekend, is the anticipation of what God is going to do this week our focus? Am I an idealist to say...it should be?

Ephesians 3:20 says that He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask, hope, or imagine. 

The problem with the church today is that we continually seek to measure our lives. And when we try to measure everything (including church), we remove the immeasurable greatness of God. We then sit and wonder why God isn't moving. The answer...we stopped asking, hoping, imagining...focusing.

Last week I was talking to a staff member and he told me that there seemed to be a tension in the church. Not a negative tension, but a personal tension of people not wanting to miss what would happen in their lives this week. A few days later, between our weekend services, I had several unsolicited comments from those that missed the previous weekend, stating that they felt regret because they missed a week of God moving! That's good tension! My prayer is that Western Reserve would begin (or continue) to imagine the ideal. That we, as a body anticipate movement. Not manufactured, but authentic. I believe this to be the most effective way to impact the world, and the most effective way to reach those seeking purpose. 

Speaking this week on 7 things I want my children to know. I've never preached a sermon like this, but I am excited. I am reviewing the message with Marcie to get her input and heart as a Mom. I can't wait to see how God is going to unpack this thing! Please pray that God will light a fire in the hearts of parents, singles, and marriages through the sharing of my heart in accordance with His Word!

Its going to be an INCREDIBLE WEEKEND!!!! To God be all glory!

Until next week,

Jason