It's the Christmas season and everyone around me is caught in the hustle and bustle! Shopping, baking, cleaning, traveling, decorating, parties, go, go, go, buy, buy, buy, do, do, do...the list goes on and on. So the Holidays are exciting and fun and fast-paced!

If you're like me, many of those things bring you great joy. But sometimes, I feel like the Holiday season swings me around by the tail..."gotta be here, gotta hurry, running behind, Oops-I forgot____". So the Holidays are also about difficult relatives demanding more of us than we can give, crowded stores and spending more than we want or should...so it's often about being frazzled and frustrated or even torn.

Through all of it, I manage to center myself (eventually) on the meaning of Christmas. I remember that Jesus was born on a cold night, so that He could grow up, show us how to live and love, and then die an excruciating death, after being mocked and scorned- all so our sins could be forgiven...all because without HIM we all fall short of being "good enough". And I am thankful. And grateful. And humbled. And broken. And, oh so unworthy. And I promise to try to do better at living a life that was worth the death He died. And again, I fall short.

If you are a Christian, just take a minute and thank Him again for all he's done for you.

(I'll wait.)

Ahhh, that's nice. Isn't it?

But that's not ALL that being a Christian is about.

Jesus commands us to GO and MAKE DISCIPLES. Not just sit around on our ever-widening bottoms, in our feel-good churches, like pew potatoes who punch their Sunday, Christmas, and Easter time cards, singing "Deck the Halls" and delighting in how great we have it and what good people we are.

We're SPOILED!

Somehow, we've gotten the idea that "Thy Kingdom Come" is "My Kingdom Come" and that life on Earth is all about getting everything just like we like it...a better car, nicer house, bigger boat, name-brand purses, dinners out (my BIG downfall), and surrounding ourselves with all of our favorite Christian friends (another biggie for me)...but there is MORE! There's more to life than working longer hours to build more and buy more, building a big 401K, buying a boat, and then dying! There's more to life than struggling and striving.

I don't have it all figured out yet, but here's what I DO know:

Our hearts need to break for those who do not know Jesus. Think back to a few minutes ago...what would you do without Him? Where would you be? What would happen if you had to create ALL of your own blessings? What would you be if He didn't save you from yourself?

There are people all over the Ohio Valley who are trying their darnedest to make it through life without Jesus. They've either never heard about Jesus in a way that touches them right where they are OR they've been turned-down or turned-off by some stupid stunt pulled by a well-meaning Christian. And they are suffering.

Read that again. And again. Keep reading it until it doesn't make you angry, or defensive, or righteous and proud. Read THAT until it breaks you.

Think about your co-workers, your relatives, the weird kid with all the piercings who works at the gas station, your nephew, your uncle, your boss, your sister-in-law. What about them? Are they trying to get through life WITHOUT Jesus and without a Community of Faith that LOVES them? Do they understand how much Jesus loves them JUST THE WAY THEY ARE? If not, does it break your heart? It breaks mine.

That's why I'm doing ALL I CAN this year to support Revolution Church by giving, praying, and serving and you should too!

Revolution Church is being intentionally built so that people who don't "do" church will give God and Jesus and church a chance! Revolution accepts ALL people, especially those that have been condemned, mistreated, judged and marginalized by society as a whole. The Christian community over the years has excelled at some areas, but we at Revolution believe there is still room for improvement on what we believe can be a transformational movement between God and the people He is pursuing.

Let's MAKE A DIFFERENCE for Jesus in the Ohio Valley!

If you are a Christian, you need to do 3 things. (Not ONE of the THREE. ALL THREE!)

1. Give generously to REVOLUTION. Reaching the Ohio Valley for Jesus won't happen on pennies and chump change. Budget information has been finalized and will be posted on our site soon. If you want to know more, contact us and we will help you understand where the money goes. Here's a few tidbits:

• At this stage, there are NO salaries or paid positions at REVOLUTION. All staff are REVOLUTION volunteers and support their families through employment elsewhere. There are no definitive plans to pay staff at this time, but we reserve the right to hire as needed.
  
• 10% of all money we take in goes back into the community through our Community Outreach Partners. Your contribution will help support organizations who already work hard to make life better for Ohio Valley residents who are less fortunate.
• You can't "outgive" God. He'll continue to bless you through your generosity and others will be blessed as well. His blessings are recession-proof!
  
• You can visit our website to donate through PayPal or send a check to REVOLUTION Church, P.O. Box 644, St. Clairsville, OH 43950. If you'd rather get together in person, we can do that. Just email me at jessica@ohiovalleyrevolution.com or call me at 740-695-4684.
  

2. Pray generously for REVOLUTION. Revolution is a huge movement of God. People's lives WILL be changed! The people of the Ohio Valley will experience honor and love in the name of Jesus like never before! That will surely be met with resistance. Pray for our protection and that doors will be opened to us throughout the Valley so that ALL people will be reached!

3. Serve generously at REVOLUTION. It's time to get involved! The team that will bring REVOLUTION to life is being formed now. Our first preview service is just 14 short weeks away. You can make a difference! All it takes is a willingness to be a small part of the bigger plan. You can help REVOLUTION by holding a door open for a First-Time Guest or helping on the parking team or setting up chairs, all so that others can hear about the redeeming love of Jesus.

You may be completely content in your church. We love that. If that's you, consider becoming a "Church Plant Missionary" and partnering with us for a few hours a week for Launch Team meetings and Monthly Preview Services until August of 2010. You can still attend your home church. Then help us launch regular weekly services in September through the Winter of 2010. When you return to your home church, know that YOU have made a difference in helping reach out to the Ohio Valley.

If you are feeling that God may be calling you to something different than your current church, that may be Revolution! Or maybe you don't currently have a home church. We'd love to talk with you about exploring the possibilities! You can learn more about us at www.OhioValleyRevolution.com Then drop me an email at jessica@ohiovalleyrevolution.com and we'll get together.

Let's partner together and DO THIS THING! Merry Christmas!! And have a HAPPY and EXCITING NEW YEAR!!!

I'm so excited! The REVOLUTION team has committed to an exciting and fast-paced journey through the New Testament...all in 30 days...and we'd like YOU to JOIN US!

On January 9th, we will start the new year off right, as we begin to prioritize the Word of God in our lives in a new way! (The word "prioritize" comes from the word "prior", which means that it's something that COMES BEFORE everything else in your life.)

The journey will last for 5 weeks and there are 2 grace days each week, in case you need to rest or catch up! There are no meetings or get-togethers that you must attend to participate. Just partner with us to read along at whatever time or place is convenient for you.

Visit our website for more information. A Reading Plan and Study Guide will be posted there soon!

Let's take this journey together! I'm looking forward to being NewThru30!

Hey All! Sorry for the delay in posting, but do not worry-things have not stopped rolling behind-the-scenes of Revolution Church!

I'll cut right to the chase, because I know you want to know...

Here's the timeline for the roll out of Revolution:

• The Directionary Leadership Team will continue to meet throughout the holidays and beyond, working on the "big picture" of Revolution.


• We have had several one-on-one conversations with people who want to know more and get involved. These convos will no-doubt continue, as we regularly run into people who are looking for a different kind of church.


• In addition, we will soon be holding Public Informational Meetings for those who want to know more.


• In January, Launch Team meetings will begin. (The Launch Team is made up of those who are committed to Revolution through the launch of regular weekly services.) This is the entry point for those who will make Revolution come to life. We will spend time together, study together, learn together, and we will begin to develop and train the teams that will need to be in place in order for Revolution to launch preview services in March.


• Monthly Preview/Practice Services will begin in March and will continue for 6 months. During this time, teams will continue to develop and grow and more people will be added to the Launch Team. The teams will drill down in their areas of focus and hone their skills in preparation for launch.


• In September, Revolution will launch regular weekly public services!

How's THAT for exciting? Here's a little more to "REV" you up...

• A large portion of the Main Service Teaching Team is in place...excited about these developments!
• Conversations continue with musicians and bands...very EXCITING conversations...we hope to announce more about that soon!
• We have found an AMAZING building! There are some major details that aren't written in stone yet, but we're still excited. There is a chance that it may not work out, but we trust that God will find a better location for us if this one falls through.
• We have begun a major fundraising initiative, called $20-and-a-prayer. It's structured so that EVERYONE can get involved in working towards the vision God has for us in the Ohio Valley. Please support us with your $20 and your prayers!
• We continue to travel to NewPointe, NorthBridge, and Elevation. The time and wisdom that these church's staff have poured into us is immeasurable and life-changing! We are regularly blown away and oh, so grateful! Thank God for these churches and their generosity in sharing what they have learned along the way!
• Last, but not least, God is doing AMAZING things amongst our team, both individually and as a group. We are more united, more excited, more transformed, more stretched, more certain, more steady, more loved, more loving, more confident, more humbled, more chosen, and more in love with the Ohio Valley than ever before. And we're more broken for those who don't have a relationship with Jesus than ever before. Thank You, God, for allowing us to be a part of this. We are honored beyond belief!
  

"3 Reasons I Stay Stuck" by Steven Furtick:

Recently I completed a personal evaluation exercise in my journal. I wanted to uncover the 3 main factors that keep me from moving forward and embracing new paradigms in my life and leadership. In other words: why do I stay stuck?

From my journal to your computer screen, here’s my short list. Hope it helps tow your truck out of the mud.

1. Complacency Change is hard. Positive change is just as hard as negative change. Sometimes it’s easier to stay stuck than to move forward. Often it’s more comfortable to stick with something that’s tolerable and familiar than to embrace something that’s preferable and unknown.

2. Regret I really don’t know how to explain this, except to say that my regrets often overpower my ambitions, causing me to remain in a state of paralysis.

3. Distraction It’s hard to tell how many major adjustments I’ve avoided making because I was busy tending to insignificant side items. It’s tempting to divert attention from the big thing that God wants me to change by slam dunking something that ultimately doesn’t matter at all.

I don’t want to stay stuck. I don’t want the storyline of my faith to be eclipsed by a shift I was unwilling to make.

If you’re feeling stuck, as I so often do, here’s a prayer to pray…if you dare:

God, help me move forward at the speed of your direction and intention,no matter how painful the transition may be.

Great leadership requires great passion. Passionate leadership moves followers, deepens their convictions and gives them faith to believe despite overwhelming obstacles. People will admire a good leader but they will sacrfice for a passionate leader. Where do you get this type of passion? It comes from a deep burning belief that God has called you to make a difference.

After speaking difficult truth to the people of Israel, Jeremiah was arrested, beaten and told to be quiet. The next day when he was released, he looked at his captures, and said, “But if I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” (Jeremiah 20:9)

Passion is that God given burden that burns so deeply within me that it cannot be contained within me.

When you have God given passion it consumes your heart, mind and soul.

You can’t quiet the emotions God has placed in your heart
You can’t cease striving toward the vision God’s placed in your mind
You can’t stop praying for the burden God has placed in your soul.
What do you need to do today to recapture the passion in your leadership?

STOP TRYING TO BE FAIR! From Tony Morgan (emphasis added by me):

I had lunch with a few of my West Ridge teammates a couple of days ago in a no-name restaurant. It was quite the surreal experience. Everything about the restaurant screamed 1970s…including the waitresses. One of them reprimanded me for trying to pour tea for someone else. (I’ll never do that again.) Oddly enough, they were playing Madonna music over the sound system. Like I said, it was very surreal.

As we were walking out, we noticed this display of business cards:


There have to be over 50 business cards on that shelf. Everyone is vying for the attention of the restaurant patrons. You can buy a house, get your hair cut and catch a taxi among other things. I guess we could call Sheila’s Beauty Salon to see how effective this advertising is for her business. Looks like she got the prime real estate on the front row.

I guess we can’t fault these businesses for taking advantage of some free advertising. And, honestly, I guess we can’t fault ministries in our churches for doing the same thing. At some point, though, someone in leadership probably needs to ask the question: what’s the priority message?

Here’s the reality though, it’s just easier to say “yes” to everyone. It’s easier to treat everyone the same. Only problem is that when you try to make everyone equal and attempt to treat everyone fairly, you end up with this cluttered display of business cards.
Regrettably, this crowded shelf of business cards is reminiscent of what I see in too many churches. In an attempt to be fair, churches are willing to be less effective. When we promote every ministry equally, nothing gets prioritized.
When every ministry is treated the same, it creates confusion for people trying to figure out their next step. When we give everyone the same platform, it’s difficult for any of the messages to be heard.

The only answer to this is for leaders to be unfair. You have to determine your priorities, and give those ministries the focus in your messaging. You have to be willing to say “no” to many requests for platform time and bulletin space and email blasts. You have to keep the important stuff important.

It’s one thing when you’re in a 70s restaurant in northern Georgia and someone is trying to get you to find a new beautician. It’s a completely different deal when you’re trying to help people take their next steps in their spiritual journey. If your objective is to help people become more like Jesus…
Stop trying to be fair.

GO TONY!!!!