So another Thanksgiving is coming up. Time to reflect on all the good things we’ve been blessed with. Here’s some things I’m thankful for:

-New baby Payton Annalee – You think you can’t possibly love another person anymore, and then another one comes along and here you go again. Love this little peanut!

-Family – I’m blessed to have an amazing family and extended family. Both sides of my family are here in TN as well as all our siblings. Not a common thing for somebody that moved out of their home state, so I realize I’m blessed and my kids are blessed as well.

-Church – I really do love my growing church and I’m so honored to have an opportunity to lead it.

-Freedom – Not only do we live in a free county but we are free in Christ (John 8:36). Double Whammy!

-Full Time Pastor – I started my journey into full time ministry this year on the day my 4 child was born. I’ve longed for the day where my “day job” would be ministering Christ’s love. Wow…what a honor and calling.

I have so many other things to be thankful for…I just realize this is not something to mention just one time a year in November but to continue to give thanks to God for all His goodness, all the time. (Psalm 106:1-2)

Happy Thanksgiving….

M

Posted: November 23rd, 2010 under Family, Life Stuff.
Comments: none

Last Friday I completed a birthday present by getting some more “ink” done from Lone Wolf Tattoo in Franklin. Tai, my tattoo artist, asked me what I did for a living and I think I almost threw her back when I said I was a pastor. Her first question was “what will your church think?” Why is it we live in a world where “the church” is looked at as a place that continues to judge people by the way they look? We had a good conversation regarding it, and my hope is that I made her a little more interested in trying church.

Some may ask why do I have tattoos? First of all, I like them…yup. I think they are cool and some can tell a story or be linked to something. LeeAnn and I share a same tattoo (her only one).On my latest one, I had writing done on my arms -  “Freedom in Christ” taken from:

John 8:36 (niv)

³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

I’m convinced that you will never experience freedom unless you truly let Christ break you free from the junk of this world. Being a slave to this world and the death it brings is how most of us live. I want to be a testimony to freedom and bring hope to those looking for a new way to live. I’m sure people seeing my tattoo will ask about it. What a great way to share my story.

I know there are some who will judge and base their opinions of me based on my ink alone. In fact I believe there are some Christians that won’t come to my church because of this. My heart is not to reach those that have more issues with the writing on my skin as opposed to the state of my heart. I seek to show those around me the power of what Christ’s love has done to me. To break the negative stereotypes of Christ followers, and to show the world that God is more concerned with your heart than the way you look. To be a man that doesn’t live by the law of religion but by the leading of my Savior.

Leviticus 19:28 is a common scripture people use to say that God is anti-tattoo. Of course “religion” takes scripture out of context to use it to condemn. Since I don’t feel like writing out my thoughts on how wrong that is, I’ll refer you to a website that I think has done a great job breaking down this verse and the following verses surrounding it (click HERE).

Are Tattoos for everyone? No, in fact my Mom cringes every time her kids get one. My job is not to make people uncomfortable with them or try to prove my “coolness” with having them. To me, it’s part of my expression and in this case, my expression of devotion to my Savior. I desire to set a standard at our church that appearance is not more important than the heart and soul of a person. That we will value relationships over looking/talking the same. Being diverse enough that people are drawn to our church because they see a group of people doing life together and serving God in love, not a bunch of hypocrites that say they love but stop when it makes them feel uncomfortable.

Would Jesus have a tattoo?

M

Posted: November 3rd, 2010 under Culture/Society, Life Stuff.
Comments: 2

Today I celebrate 36 years on planet Earth. I’m VERY blessed and what a great feeling….to know I’m called and created for a purpose to help people and to raise a family of life changers. I’m blessed with an amazingly beautiful wife whom is my partner in crime and my best friend. To have a great family (plus church family) gives me a huge sense of love and acceptance. To know my life is more than just a paycheck but an actual chance to make a difference in this world. I’ve got to see and do a lot already but I’m no where near finished. God’s plans for me are to prosper! (Jeremiah 29:11). My Kids are my heritage and I’m honored to have the chance to raise and love them.

I’m a blessed man…not without faults or trials, but the good outweigh the bad. I’m on my way to do what my “main man” tells me to do since I know He knows best and my life will be fulfilled to the utmost.

Looking forward to another year!

M

Posted: October 7th, 2010 under Family, Life Stuff.
Comments: none

Well the first full week of full time ministry is in the books. I loved it…

I had a ton of meetings. It was great to connect with a bunch of guys in the church that I have tried so hard to connect with in the past. You can only do so many meetings on a short lunch break. No more having to leave a lunch meeting until it’s fully done now!

I was able to plan time to even visit the brand new People’s Church building in Spring Hill and pray over it with the plant pastor, Brandon Porter. That building is going to be amazing. I’m so excited for them and all the lives they will be able to reach out to. Brandon is a great man of God so I know it’s going to minister to a ton of people.

I also got to do quite a few walks this week. I can’t tell you how great it feels to be away from a desk! I’ve worked 9-5 jobs in sales and customer service since graduating college. For over 12 years now I have sat behind a desk and it feels so good to be able to get out and do work away from an office. I was able to take a bunch of walks and listen to some Bill Johnson messages (Bethel Church in CA). I even got to take my kids out a couple of times. How great to spend time with them and explore nature.

So with the first full week in the books I must say, it was well needed. I could finally concentrate fully on what God has planned for SouthView. I’m able to meet with those that attend our church as well as connect deeper with other local pastors. We were even able to plan some strategic moves for our ever growing Children’s Church. I’m excited!

Can I say that one of best things about ministry is having Monday off…No more dreaded Monday feelings!

I love my job!

M

Posted: September 17th, 2010 under Life Stuff.
Comments: none

Well today starts my first day as a full time pastor of a church. I’ve been dreaming and planning for a day like this for a long time. I’ve always had a desire and heart for ministry. I never really thought I would be a pastor of my own church, but here I am, and I’m loving it!

I love the journey God took me through. Although I have been doing pastoring and working a full time job in sales for over 3 years now, I’ve always served in church through worship leading with my free time, for years before that. I truly have a whole new appreciation for what I’m starting today. I feel a sense of burden lifted off but I still have a sense of concern as to the specifics.

I am truly in a “trusting God” season of my life. Financially we aren’t the same, but that’s the “exciting” part. Now it’s time to see how God ends up providing for us. Faith is the one thing that God says we need to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). I know God is more than faithful to His Word and that He will provide. We, as a family, believe it’s the right time and God has spoken.

My prayer is that my step of faith will do a few things:

-Start a new season in mine and my family’s life. A season of a deeper walk and expectation with God

-Encourage others to take a big faith step in their own life. I don’t want to live a “safe Christian life”. I want to do crazy things for the one that has given me life and life more abundantly.

-To usher in a new level of growth and maturity in our church. I believe a church or organization will only grow and go as far as the leader is willing to. I want to see God do even greater things in our church and I believe I need to put action behind my words from the stage.

-Grow in my walk and relationship with others. Now I have the time I can help invest in others and in my own spiritual walk.

I’m amazed that God is using a person like me to help lead a healthly and growing church like SouthView. I have so many dreams and visions I can’t wait to see happen here. I believe we are starting to experiencing a whole new dimension of God’s anointing and favor. It’s exciting and the least I can do is take a big chance on the One that took a big chance on me.

It’s a new season…so thankful for it!

M

Posted: September 8th, 2010 under Church info, Life Stuff.
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