The other day I was playing with my boys after a long day at work.  My heart was refreshed to be able to love on my kids and just enjoy their presence.  We were playing basketball and dodgeball  outside.  Then we ended up in my son Azlan’s room.  Azlan, Tobin and I were sitting on Azlan’s beanbag chair while the boys showed me their Legos magazine.  I felt so much joy just being with them and having the time to connect with them.  As we sat together...

BREAKING NEWS: The sun is out in Oregon!  People are smiling, birds are chirping, and flowers are blooming.  Weekend before last, my family and I went to the historic Oregon Tulip Garden where rows upon rows of beautiful colored tulips danced in the Oregon sunshine.  It is hard to have a bad day in Oregon when the sun is shining.  I often say school should be cancelled for only two reasons: 1. Snow. 2. Sun.  Why?  Because both are just as rare in the Pacific Northwest!  I’m saying this tongue and cheek of course!  My point is simple.  When the sun is shining you can see the difference in the Oregonians faces and in their attitudes....

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the power of prayer.   First Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray continually or without stopping.  I like how Martin Luther puts it, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”

The fact that the Lord invites you and I to a life of intimacy through prayer with Him is incredible!  The Lord reminded me the other day about my Grandfather.  My Dad’s dad really loved Jesus and was a man of prayer.  Every time my sister and I spent the weekends with my grandparents, because my parents were out of town, I remember witnessing my grandfather praying for us each morning....

Last week was our annual fundraising dessert.  I have to be honest here.  There are two things that really stress this evangelist out: Board meetings and Fundraising events.  So as you can imagine I was quite anxious last night.

However, something changed that reminded me of God’s faithfulness.  God’s faithfulness showed up through the people.  As I looked into the faces of the 400 or so guests my heart was touched that these precious people were partners in the Gospel.  Our ministry was not alone.  We have a family united in the Body of Christ....

I love the Body of Christ!  As Pastor Bill Hybels once stated, “I believe the local church is the hope of the world.”

In Colossians 1:24 Paul writes, “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church.”

Earlier this month, I returned from an amazing time of ministry in La Serena, Chile.  Our team was blessed as we trained nearly 200 pastors and leaders.  Some Pastors traveled from as far as five hours away.  I was so encouraged to see the Body of Christ united, as pastors from different denominations came together for fellowship and to receive training. My heart was stirred with praise and thanksgiving as I observed these godly pastors praying and seeking the Lord to see their country reached with the Gospel....

It’s not very often that we come across something that exudes pure passion. When we come into contact with such fire we cannot help but be inspired. And sometimes, this enthusiasm is found in unsuspecting places. Take in this quote from my former football playing friend reminiscing about his playing days:   

“We laid everything on the line for our team come Friday night.  If I knew I would miss it this bad I would have done the same in practice and the weight room every minute of every day....

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; He has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6).  Everything changed that first Easter Sunday some 2000 plus years ago.  Hope was born as Jesus paid the penalty for humanity’s sins on the cross and triumphantly rose again from the grave.  Love invaded earth like never before as the One who spoke life into existence, now gave His life that you and I might live for eternity with Him.  For me everything changed on my first Resurrection Sunday as a new believer.  I was 17 and had just given my life to Jesus as Easter approached.  I woke up very early and went out into my backyard garden and spent time with the Lord. ...

You can’t please everyone.  I’ve heard that saying before, but I have always struggled with not wanting to let people down.  I am a people pleaser by nature and recently God has been teaching me the importance of striving not to please man, but the Great I AM!  Last week I was meeting with a group of Christian leaders at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago.  I was reminded about this topic on pleasing people as the founder of Willow Creek Pastor Bill Hybels recently said, “You can’t please everyone.  You will let people down.  It is unavoidable.  Pleasing God is what matters most.” ...

The move of the Holy Spirit

Any evangelist will tell you that they could have the most dynamic Gospel presentation, biggest crowds, or coolest venue but without the move of the Holy Spirit it’s meaningless. Why? Because ministry doesn’t happen without the Holy Spirit. That’s why Jesus told His apostles to wait for the Spirit to come before sending them out to proclaim the Good News of His resurrection (Acts 1:4-5). Evangelists need the power of the Holy Spirit to changes lives with the Gospel, and to create open hearts in the people; hearts that will be stirred for the Gospel....

I worked on a dairy for 5 years as a teenager.  One day we were working on a field down the road. My boss asked me to fill up the tractor with diesel and drive it to the field. Failure pursued me quickly. I pulled up to the gas pump and I was faced with a dilemma. There were two openings where I could put the gas. So I picked one... I unscrewed the cap, pointed the gun, and pressed the trigger....

I love seeing God move.  One of my greatest joys is seeing people give their lives to Jesus.  I had to keep this in mind on my long flights home this past Wednesday as I returned from India.  As my back began to ache and my calves burned from staying still for so long, I thought about the huge harvest God just brought in through our outreach in Hyderabad, India....

Our team returned from Hyderabad, India this week after partnering with Passion 4 People to unite churches, serve those in poverty, and bring the Gospel message to that city.  We had the privilege of working alongside local church leaders to bring a two day festival Saturday and Sunday evenings.  The first night, Reid preached the Gospel and many people made commitments to follow Jesus Christ as the only Lord and Savior.  We ended that night with rain pouring down as people huddled together under tarps and tents rather than scattering and running home!...

We've had the privilege of joining with a very exciting team who has worked hard to bring several faith-based productions to into homes across the nation.

RSA would love to invite you to the showing of a new movie coming to Salem theaters March 1st.  Bring the kids and support a powerful ministry.

Each new day brings an opportunity to impact a life for Jesus.  I have made it a discipline to pray everyday to the Lord asking Him to use me to impact a life for eternity.  This past Sunday was no different.  I was preaching at a church in a town where we are holding a festival next summer.  The festival is called Colombia Riverfest and it is going to be awesome!  One thing I have learned from Billy Graham and Luis Palau is the importance of always giving an invitation for people to receive Jesus.  It doesn’t matter if it is a church service.  There are a lot of people sitting in seats on Sunday at church who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus....

Playing college football wasn’t easy.  As a wide receiver I took more hits than I would like from defensive players, who were twice my size.  I remember taking hit after hit, but each time I got back up again.  My mentality playing football was “Don’t give up.”  When it comes to sharing the Good News of Jesus I have taken this same approach.  “Don’t give up.”  It breaks my heart how many times people have said to me, “Reid, you don’t know my friend, she is so far from God there is no way they will come to Jesus!”  Never give up!  Why?  Because we never give up on God!...