Mark Rampulla
The Journey of a MARKed Man
Mark Rampulla

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Move, Learn, Eat

For all you people that made a resolution to get more exercise, increase your knowledge or try to eat better….here’s your inspiration. One second footage in each location as these 3 guys traveled the world.  More info here.

MR

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Our Combined Christmas Eve Service

This past Saturday was our combined service with another local church in our city. We celebrated Christmas Eve with New Song church (their Spring Hill campus) with Pastor Jordan and Bethany Roe. What a great way to be “the church” by coming together with others to worship Jesus for what He did for us.

It was an amazing night. The worship team was made up of singers/musicians from both churches. The ushers, greeters and nursery workers where all from both churches. We even had both of us speak. And can you believe we ended up finishing 2 minutes early! Two pastors speaking could have easily went 2 hours!

I’m so proud of our churches. We packed New Song’s building out. There were people standing all around. I guess next year’s service will have to be in a bigger venue.

The presence of God was so sweet that night. To see people from two different churches, worshiping and praying together, was what I believe God desires to see. I know this is the start of more times like this in Spring Hill (with other churches involved). There is something very special when a pastor gives up his pulpit to another local pastor. I’m so glad to see that the pastors in this city are doing this freely.

I couldn’t have thought of a better way to celebrate the birth of Christ, than with other Christians, in unity together to glorify Him.

It truly was a Merry Christmas!

MR

Multi-church worship night

Last night I was a part of a landmark day in Spring Hill and the history of the local church here in this city. 10 churches got together to worship and pray TOGETHER at one location for an hour and 1/2. We even saw someone get saved! It was powerful.

I’m so blessed to live in this city. God is doing something amazing here. The relationships with local pastors has transformed my life. It’s a dream come true to see different churches come together to lift God high! As I put together the worship band for last night, we had 5 churches included just in the band alone. The anointing on the band was truly felt. From the first note played, I could tell this night was something special. To see people lifting up their hands and singing so loud, it blew me away. I loved hearing all the pastors, sitting to the left of me, singing so loud together. Man, if that didn’t shake up some religious junk in the city, I don’t know what will. That version of GOD OF THIS CITY almost knocked me off the piano. Man, I can still feel the anointing from that song.

In attendance, was the city judge (who is a spirit-filled, Christ loving woman of God) and a few head pastors from the surrounding cities (fathers of the faith). We had the head pastors of People’s Church, New Song and Thompsons Station Church praying together in a small group. These pastors are heads of some of the biggest churches in Williamson County. To see this happen was awe-inspiring. To walk with pastors that have years of experience, bigger churches, more education and more influence than me, is an honor. I feel blessed to be partnering with these godly men.

I’m still riding the high of last night’s service. To see nearly 200 people praying, hanging and spending time with each other to see Spring Hill blessed, was exactly what the “church” is called to do. That’s KINGDOM LIVING right there…building HIS Kingdom, not ours.

My prayer is that we set in motion something powerful in this city and region. I believe this will continue throughout Middle TN. Seeing huge churches partnering with smaller ones, different denominations locking hands together with each other, old with new, different races loving one another….this is my dream to see happen here. I know it will happen…I saw a glimpse of it last night.

MR

What Fears us Most.

Last Sunday we took a private poll of our church to find out what causes us the most fear. I believe this gives us some insight into what most people in this area fear. Here’s the results, from the most to least.

1- Issues/Problems with our Family/Kids
2- Failure
3- Loneliness
4- Finances
5(tie)- Rejection/Judgement
5 (tie)- Being Lukewarm/missing God’s will for my life
5(tie)- Disease
5(tie)- Public speaking
6- Snakes/Rodents
7(tie)- Dying/Loss
7(tie)- Unknown/Future
7(tie)- Heights
8(tie)- Depression
8(tie)- Being Vulnerable
8(tie)- Terrorist Attack/Nation’s future
8(tie)- Fear
8(tie)- Responsibility

8(tie)- Lightning

Now, we will address the major issues over the next couple of weeks at SouthView.

MR

Fear – the secret killer

We started a new sermon series on Sunday called “FEAR”. We want to address one of the main tactics that the devil uses to destroy lives and ruin destinies. Here’s the scripture behind the series:

Psalm 56:3-4

Whenever I am afraid,
 I will trust in You.
 In God (I will praise His word),
 In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. 
What can flesh do to me?

So how does Fear stop us? It causes us to stop pursuing things of importance in our lives. It causes us to run away from the people we should be running to. It causes us to spend more time worrying about the very thing we should be doing. It takes our eyes off the creator and onto the circumstance. It’s based in unbelief that our God can’t or won’t protect/provide/love us. It’s completely created by the enemy to destroy us.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

If God hasn’t given us this, then clearly it’s from the devil. We have to walk in the power, the love and sound mind part in order to operate in God’s complete plan for our lives. But many people, even those spoken about in the Word of God, fell into the trap of Fear.

Fear caused Adam and Eve to hide from God whom they freely walked with on a day to day basis.
Fear caused Moses to wander the desert until he died and never entered the promised land.
Fear caused Abraham to sleep with Hagar (his servant) even though God promised him a son through Sarah.
Fear caused David to have Uriah (Bathsheba’s husband) killed to cover up his sin.
Fear stopped Peter from walking on the water even though he was already doing it.
Fear cause Peter to denounce Jesus 3 times, even though he swore he would never do it.
Fear caused the disciples to hide after Jesus was killed even though He told them he would rise again.

Fear effects the best of them, although it doesn’t give us the right to operate in it. What’s in you, is what you will give out to others. My hope is that we will break the ties of fear in our lives and walk in 100% complete freedom so we can give it to others. It starts with recongizing the devil’s attacks and walking in God’s strength to defeat them.

Try mediating on these verses:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoints my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23:1-6


The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Psalm 27:1-6

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Psalm 46:1-3

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Psalm 118:5-6


Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Isaiah 12:2
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15
…Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

You are not alone. God has made us more than conquers through Him and with His Holy Spirit. It’s time to take back what the enemy has stolen and walk in complete Freedom….R U READY?

Listen to my whole message HERE.

MR