New Beginnings

True Obedience

2009-11-09T07:45:00.000-08:00

I know I haven’t written in a while. I haven’t really known what to say, but something has been heavy on my heart and I feel as though I should share it with you. Jonathan was a great leader, especially at home. He led by example. He taught me so much about true obedience. He wanted to be obedient to Christ at all costs. Let me give you a few examples of how just in the past year he helped me do this. Last summer (2008) we made a move from Gainesville to Lavonia to pastor Shoal Creek. We had been praying about this for some time. We had prayed, okay God, if you give Abby a job we will move. Jonathan came to me one day and said that he felt that we were saying to God that we would only be obedient to His call if it was financially secure and that he felt that we should go regardless of whether or not I had a job . . . so that is what we did. It didn’t make sense and a lot of people thought we were crazy. At the end of July, just before school started, a job miraculously appeared at Stephens County High School, by the grace of God.

Another example: The trip to Zambia. Jonathan and I were so excited when we decided to go together to Zambia. Not long after we made that commitment, we found out that we were expecting our first child. This trip could potentially put our child in danger with vaccines, diseases that could be contracted, the long plane trip, etc. I couldn’t even use bug spray! Again, it didn’t make sense for me to go and people thought we were crazy, but again Jonathan said, Abby, we cannot say to God that we will only be obedient to You if it is safe for us. Jonathan reassured me that God knew I was going to get pregnant when we felt as though He wanted us to go, should we change our decision to be obedient now? So, Jonathan, our baby, and I went to Zambia and made it back completely unharmed (except for the bug that Jonathan got).

When I was struggling with this decision, Jonathan brought me this scripture. I feel as though God was preparing me for what was coming in the future. Jonathan used the scripture to teach me that even if we did suffer in some way by going to Zambia, it was for the sake of Christ and we would be blessed for it.

14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
-1 Peter 3:14-17

I felt that God was telling me that Jonathan and I would suffer for some reason in the future. Honestly, I assumed it would be in relation to our precious child we were expecting in February and prayed that God would not take this child that we had prayed for so long. I never imagined that I would suffer the loss of my wonderful husband. I especially never imagined that Jonathan would have to suffer what he did. However, based on the scripture above, I know that Jonathan will be blessed for his suffering and is being blessed now for being obedient regardless of what it cost him. I am proud to have been his wife and bear his name. I will always be thankful for his spiritual leadership and for teaching me to be obedient even in the face of suffering. I will never understand why God did not spare us this tragedy. I will never understand why our child will never truly know how wonderful his father was this side of Heaven. I will never understand why God allowed us to suffer so . . . but I do find comfort in knowing that hopefully soon, Jesus will return to take His children home and I will see my beloved Jonathan never to be separated from him again. We will be able to worship Jesus together forever, which is something that we loved doing.

I want to extend a challenge to anyone who reads this blog. Don’t be afraid to be obedient to Christ. Don’t put stipulations on your obedience. Obedience is not true obedience if you have an attitude of “I will be obedient as long as it is financially secure or physically safe.” I think this is especially hard for most “American” Christians who are more than likely the top 5% richest in the world. Don’t be afraid of God’s calling on your life. You will be rewarded for your willingness to obey, maybe not in this life, but for eternity in the next. Use the scripture above as an encouragement from Jonathan himself to be truly obedient!

Hope In Eternity

2009-10-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

The sorrow and sadness of living without Jonathan sometimes seems too much to bear. I have lost the spiritual leader of my home, the love of my life, my best friend, and the one in which I confided the most here on Earth. That void seems hopeless at times during every day and during every week. I know that there are many who are suffering with me. I wanted to share some scriptures that if we let them, can give us hope of a better day and life . . . not here on this Earth, but in Heaven if you are a believer. We have to keep in mind the eternal side of this. We do not belong in this world. We are of another, better, not full of sin, beautiful world. If we don’t think on these things, I think at least for me, I will lose sanity. I hope that at some time, these scriptures can be comforting to those of us who are grieving.

*For when I am overwhelmed thinking about what Jonathan went through . . . and for what we are suffering through now . . . and for when I feel like his death was in vain and that nothing good can come from this for the glory of God . . .

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed but in that name let him glorify God. I Peter 4:16

Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. I Peter 4:19

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praise worthy, meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

*For when I need hope of a better day that I will not be without Jonathan and will be forever with the One who died for me . . .

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

So that the proof of your faith, being much more precious than of gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:7

Come now, you who say “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet, you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. James 4:13-14

*For when the grief, sorrow, sadness, and the future become too much for me to consider . . .

And he has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. II Corinthians 12:9

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1

*For when I think I can’t take another step, I can’t say another word, I can’t live another day (I have learned from reading Dr. Frank Cox’s Trusting God’s Heart that temptation=a putting to proof by adversity). . .

Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. I Corinthians 10:12-13

*For when I am scared of forgetting the life I had with Jonathan, scared of presently living without Jonathan, and scared of the future without Jonathan . . .

Do not fear for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you! I Peter 5:6-7

When you pass through the waters I will be with you and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire you will not be scorched nor will the flame burn you. Isaiah 43:2

The eternal God is our Refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms and He drove out the enemies from before you and said “Destroy!” Deuteronomy 33:27

Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Proverbs 3:25-26

*For now when my heart is utterly shattered and when I feel like my life is forever ruined . . .

The righteous cry and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near for the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers them out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19

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 namesake. Psalm 23

*For when I feel utterly alone . . .

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

*For when I can’t make sense of the situation and can’t understand why this happened . . .

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

~I also wanted to share with you that based on the work that God allowed Jonathan to complete on his blog, a man from Alabama is now part of the Kingdom of God. I was able to speak with him on the phone about Jonathan and about how Jonathan is no longer here on Earth with us, but he is in Heaven because He trusted Jesus to take away his sin. This man prayed with me on the phone and told Jesus that he wanted to put his trust in Him as well. Praise God! This man knows now that when he dies he will be with Jesus in Heaven!

A Baby Boy

2009-09-18T05:19:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let everyone know that yesterday I went to the doctor and received good news! In February, Jonathan and I will be having a little boy! Psalm 112 has given me so much comfort during this time in my life. It talks about a righteous man. Jonathan was and defnitely is full of a righteous fear of the Lord. Because of that, Psalm 112:2 says that "His children will be mighty in the land, the generation of the upright will be blessed." Because Jonathan was faithful to the Lord, our child will be blessed. Amen.

Missing Jonathan

2009-09-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

Today will be two weeks since the day my wonderful husband was taken from me. I miss him in the depths of my soul. There will never be a day as long as I am here on Earth that I will not miss his smile, his touch, his voice, his laugh, his desire to make me happy, his humor . . . If you knew him, you knew how loving, kind, merciful, generous . . . . (I could go on and on) he was. It was clear to anyone who knew him that letting Jesus work in and through his life was the number one priority to him. I am happy to say that I of course came second, which is the right, biblical way to be married. We loved each other so completely with the love that only Jesus Christ can give to two married people. We were made for each other. I loved being in ministry with Jonathan and serving on his staff. He was such a good spiritual leader in our home and in his staff as well. The four years that we were married were absolutely wonderful, and I will never forget the love that we shared and the memories we made. I will always love him. I will always tell our child how wonderful his/her father was and that he will be waiting for us in Heaven. This is my hope, that I do not have to live in this sinful world forever, it is not my home, Heaven is my home, and soon I hope Jesus returns to take all of His children home with Him. Thirdly, he loved the church and wanted to serve the people in it whole-heartedly. He loved the people at Shoal Creek-he cried over them, stayed up at night over them, worried over them-he wanted so badly to see the Holy Spirit come and work in the lives of the church and in the community. He was able to see that before he was taken. We talked together about how excited we were about the changes we could see in the spirit of Shoal Creek. We also talked about how excited we were to see new people accepting Jesus’ gift for the first time and becoming a part of the family at Shoal Creek. We were excited about seeing people who had been at Shoal Creek become active and working for the Lord. I hope and pray that the vision God gave Jonathan will continue at Shoal Creek and that his work will continue on as well.
It is clear to me that some of you who have read his blog did not know him and has not let the Lord save you from your sins. Jonathan believed in a man called Jesus. He believed that He could take away your sin and give you a life in Heaven when you are taken from this world. I would like to share with you how you can know Jesus like my Jonathan did here on earth, and even more so now in Heaven.
1. You need to know that you are a sinner. Romans 3:23 says that All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This means that we have all done things wrong in the eyes of God-stealing, lying, having sex with someone who is not your husband/wife, murdering, gossiping-there are a multitude of things that can go under this category. Everyone has sinned.
2. You need to know that there are consequences for that sin. Romans 6:23 says that The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Because we sin, we earn death forever in a place called Hell. If you die and do not know Jesus as your Savior you will spend forever in Hell.
3. You need to know that Jesus died for those sins so that we would not have to die forever. Romans 5:8 says that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Jesus died and took all the sins of the world on himself as well as the punishment for those sins. He did this so that you and I would not have to do it.
4. To be saved from your sin, you must trust that Jesus died and rose again, and that He has the power of taking away your sins. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that it is by grace (God giving you what you don't deserve) you have been saved through faith (putting your trust in Jesus), it is not of yourself, so you cannot boast about it. Romans 10:9-10 says that if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. It is really a simple thing.
5. If you want to tell Jesus that you trust Him with taking away your sin and that you want to live for Him for the rest of your life, and with Him in Heaven after you die, you can say the following prayer. “Jesus, thank you for coming to Earth from Heaven to save us from our sins. I want to tell you now that I believe in you and that I want you to take away my sins and wash me clean. For the rest of my life I want to be committed to You and to Your work. I want to live with you forever in Heaven. Thank You!”
6. If you prayed that prayer and truly believed it, you are now a Christian. It is important to find a local Bible believing church that you can be a part of and one in which you can be baptized. Congratulations in your new found faith! I have no doubt that my husband Jonathan is rejoicing with you now!

Sorry the blog is so lengthy, but it is all what I needed to say and what I thought people needed to hear! God bless!

Tomorrow

2009-08-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

If your a die hard Georgia fan then here is some need to know info. Tomorrow 8/26 at 11:00 a.m. on 90.9 FM Mark Richt and his wife Katherine are going to be the guest. They will also be on there thursday. If you can't catch the broadcast then google family life today and find the broadcast there. Also, don't forget Sunday is High attendance Sunday.

Ten Things that I can't Believe- Part 2

2009-08-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

6- I can't believe that my wife loves me!

7- I can't believe that this year is almost over! Man, I am like what are we doing? Time is going by so fast and the church is just sitting here.

8- I can't believe Brett Farve is going to play football again. I guess his 401-K is getting low?

9- I can't believe that the first college football game is two weeks from this Thursday!

10- I can't believe that I thought of ten things that I couldn't believe!

Ten Things that I can't Believe- part 1

2009-08-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

1. I can't believe that Jesus would choose me. I never deserved it! I can't believe that He would love me and want me!

2. I can't believe that everything God has is available to me! As a matter of fact the only thing that holds back the power of God in my life is me!

3. I can't believe that God allows our church to be apart of His Church. Too many times we think our church is the Church, but in reality we are a part of His church that can or cannot exsist.

4. I can't believe that I am going to a dad. Holy Crap!!! I want to apologize to the whole world because this kids going to be one messed up, Jesus loving, church going, Georgia fan if there has ever been one. I pray and hope that is at least for the first two things!

5. I can't believe I get to do ministry! Seriously, we take ministry for granted so many times. We think "well without me this place couldn't run, I do everything, and no one could do what I do". New's flash! Had Jesus not died none of could do this! I am so thankful I get to do this!

A Great Day!

2009-08-16T18:38:00.000-07:00

What a great day at Shoal Creek!

- Right now I am watching "rat race". I just got done eating an awesome meal from Burger King.

- We baptized 2 people today who accepted Christ this week at their home. That's 18 people this year who have accepted Christ.

- I had a lady who told me after the service today that she was going to join next week.

- We had around 22 people sign to be a partner in Christ today. I think this is going to be amazing.

- I can't wait for some College football.

- We are going to have a skeet shoot on Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. to raise money for missions.

- We are starting a student ministry in October.

- In September I am preaching a message series on the Dechurched.

- In October I am talking about money. This is going to be awkward. I have never preached a series on money before so I am nervous!

Scared as Crap

2009-08-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

I got pulled over today for no insurance. I was like are you kidding? The deputy told me "no I am not kidding you have no insurance". We both got on the phone and called the insurance company to figure this whole thing out. They told the deputy that I had a policy but no vehicle's was on the policy. I was like what kind of policy do I have? So we finaly got it fixed.

I left there and I wandered how many people go through life and think they are ok because they are a good person, have done some good deeds, and they aren't as bad as some other people. Here's the thing they don't know Christ! They have never started a relationship with Jesus. One day they will stand before God and He will say "depart from I never knew you". They are going to be in for the sadest day of their life. Don't miss Jesus because you think you are good enough!

The Main Thing

2009-07-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

This past week there has been an uproar of attention to a situation in Mass. where a white cop arrested a black professor. Today our president, who I do my best not say much about, had a beer with the two guys and tried to work out things. This was ridiculous!!! He should have never been involved in the whole thing! We have troops dying every day overseas, the economy is in shambles, and he is worried about an arrest in Massachusetts. But this does not frustrate me like the following issue!

The church has the same problem! We are constantly putting our nose in things that God never called us to put our nose in. He never called to protect the environment, He never called us to get involved in politics, and He never called us to take on social issues. He called us to promote His son Jesus Christ! He called us to lift Jesus as high as we could lift Him! We cannot get side tracked. God's Word has not called us to focus on abortion, alcohol, same sex marriages, or any other issue you can think of. He has called us to get people to Jesus and to teach them to grow in their walk with Him! Keep the main thing the main thing! Jesus is our main thing!!!!!

Prayer

2009-07-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

I would like to ask everyone to pray for a family in our area! It's kind of a bad situation and I am not sure how to handle it. Either way the kids stand a real good chance of losing! I will be frank about this I care about the kids and I ask you to pray!

I don't understand why some people even get the chance to raise kids at times when there are other people who would be great parents who can't even have kids. I am not God and His ways are above mine and so I will trust Him even in this matter.

What's going on

2009-07-27T06:29:00.000-07:00

- I just got up around 8:30. I stayed up last night after preaching the revival service! I had a final to take and finished around 1:00 this morning. I am still half a sleep though.

- Revival went well last night! I always enjoy going back to Old Canon.

- The service yesterday morning was great. I enjoyed the fellowship afterwards and I enjoyed the response to the message. We talked about prayer! Not how to do it or methods to prayer. We simply talked about how much we need to pray together.

- My next semester starts back in about three weeks and I wished it was about never.

- I am reading a new book right now called "Every Mans Battle". Seriously, guys you need to check this out.

- This Abby's last week off and I am seriously depressed!

- Tomorrow we go for our second ultra sound! I can't wait!!! Abby is starting to feel better as she goes into her second tri-mester. Yesterday Abby and I went to Burger King and got something to eat and she wanted Dills. We got about two miles from BK and she said I would like what you got so we turned around and went back. I love her!

Reaching Culture

2009-07-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

I believe in reaching culture, not one group or a sub-culture, just culture. You have to look at who is within your community and that has to become your target. So many churches think that their only group is the group within their church and while that group is still important you cannot stop their. We have been called by Jesus Himself to reach farther. We as a church at Shoal Creek are fixing to embark on a journey through our vision. My prayer is that we as a church will quit looking at some of the things that have no eternal consequences and start looking at the things that will impact eternity. So what are the messages going to look like?

Prayer- I am going to look at prayer in the first church (by the way all messages will more than likely come from Acts) and see just how important it was. I am going to explain some simple things like why we have quit taking prayer request on a Sunday morning and started praying more on Sunday night and how prayer will be the gauge by which our church runs!

Leadership- I am going to challenge the leaders within our church on faithfulness and integrity. I am going to challenge on issues like an 90% attendance goal for leaders in the upcoming year. Which means someone could miss 14 services a year. I want to say something about this! Before God called me to preach I was faithful to His church. I didn't have to get paid and since I have been in ministry I haven't always got paid but I have still been faithful. I have a hard time believing that someone can be where Christ wants them to be and not be at Church. There is one group that I believe He has understanding on and that's the shut-ins and even then I have noticed that there is hunger in these people to be at church.

Outreach- If we are looking with-in then we will see our problems but if we are looking outward then we will see the problems of others and our true problems will come to the surface. We all have problems! The true problem is that we do not deal with the root of these problems. Even in the Church we are guilty of this!

Discipleship- This is the big one for me! I am going to deal primarily with Sunday school. There are some people who are saying it's not working! Well let me say this! That Sunday we had eight people in Sunday school that was not in Sunday school one year ago! Our problem right now is that our people will not try it! We will let five hours keep us out of Sunday school! This is not a Biblical issue and by the way the point of Sunday school is to grow people, growth involves being stretched, and stretching involves change. I want to make a plead to some of you. I have prayed more about this then anyone in our church, I have studied scripture about this more then anyone in our church, and I have studied our culture about this more than anyone in our church so please trust me.

Worship- Our culture is diverse! Their is black, white, Hispanic, and Asian there is men and women, young and old, there is rich and poor, there is traditional and contemporary. I say lets reach them all! So our worship (our church) has to be diverse. I am going to talk about our music, our projectors, our drums, etc., and how we will use them in the upcoming year.

I have people who say well why did we quit our gospel singings? Because no one was coming! Why did we quit Sunday school in the morning? Because it wasn't working! Why did we quit our normal Sunday evening services? Because no one supported it hardly! I refuse to lead a church to continue to do something for the sake of doing it. That makes no sense! I want to close with this thought! A few months ago we switched banks because of interest rates. It made no sense to stay with one bank when you could make more money at another bank. Well we are going to make some more changes this year but it's not going to be back in the direction we came from because we know that didn't work. The church was dying and in a few more years it would no longer exist!!! Please join me! But if you are not going to join me please know this! That I have not done one thing personal to hurt anyone in this church and if you want to help pray! I am going to reach culture join me!

One thing that would change the church

2009-07-21T19:12:00.000-07:00

One thing that would change the church is realizing that hell is real! We forget so many times that hell is not just a fictious religious term. At times I believe people forget that there is a hell just as there is a heaven and people from our area are going there if they don't have a relationship with Christ. With that being said I need to clarify a few things that I have said that have been brought to my attention.

I said that we didn't need to cry as a leader if people left our church. I want to make sure everyone understands this. I do not believe that everyone has to agree with me. I do not believe that our church or any other church should ignore people in order that they leave. There are people in the church that I like more than others but even then I don't want anyone to leave. When we get to heaven if that's my attitude then I don't believe you will see me there.

What I do believe is this! There are people who will never be happy no matter what I do. They will never be content, they will never see the bright side of things, and they will never stop and say "could I be wrong". So what I have learned is that I have litterally begged people to stay and a month later I was begging again. It's not worth it! Some people have to see for themselves that you really do love them but the only way they will ever see it is through their own eyes.

Now the reason I started this blog off the way I did is because of this! I can't set around and continue to go back and forth concerning the vision God has laid on my heart. I want to say something to every Shoal Creek member: I love you! And I promise you that every thing I have done as a pastor is after much prayer and study of God's Word and I would like to ask one thing of each of you. Please try! That's all I am asking! Just try! We remodel our houses, we buy new clothes, we buy new shoes, we make new freinds, we buy new cars, and if our church is not willing to change and try something new then in twnety years there may not be a Shoal creek Baptist church. If you love this church please try and if you love this community please try!!! Right now somewhere in this world as we speak someone is going to hell so please help me to prevent this from happening here in our community. When I came I asked for five years and so give the benefit of the doubt. Give me five years! That is just four more and after that if it's not working then I am gone! There won't be any hard fillings (heck there won't be any of those anyway right now) if you want me gone then!

A Kingdom Mindset

2009-07-20T04:26:00.000-07:00

A Kingdom Picture will change a few things in your life!

#1 You will look outside your church! It's easy to see our church and not His Church, it's easy to fill up our church and not His Church, and it's easy to love our church and not His Church.

#2 You wil pray for other churches! If we would stop being in such a competition with other churches and start praying for other churches we just might see God's Kingdom grow!

#3 It will change how you grow your church! Church growth show grow the Kingdom! Some church growth has not been from Kingdom growth but from other church decline. I will never consider healthy church growth gaining disgruntle members from another church. Now if someone has simply left a church and the church didn't pursue them I will go after them but that's it! Even then it's not Kingdom growth!

We're back

2009-07-17T02:42:00.000-07:00

We just got back from Zambia! We were there for ten days and it amazing! I am so humbeled right now by what I saw! I have been preaching for almost nine years and I have the oppritunity to lead around hundred people to Christ! But this week I saw God move in a way that topped anything else I have ever seen! I saw a kids and people who treated us like celebrities, I saw a lady healed in the spot, and I saw 305 people come to Christ this week! The most people I have saw accept Christ at one time was seven and I preached one time this week and 42 people came to Christ.

I am going to blog more about this over the next week!

In His Strength!

Five things that will HELP you!

2009-07-03T20:34:00.000-07:00

There are a few things that will give a leader sanity in ministry! I wanted to share a few of those things tonight!

#1- Listening to God

To many times we get caught up in everything that's going on around us and we forget to listen to God! We will listen to everyone in the world but Him! I am not worried about job security, I am not worried about what if, and I am not going to have a melt down if someone doesn't like me! I am called by God, to serve God, for His glory, and nothing else matters!

#2- Listening to GODLY people!

I want to hear God and then I want to hear GODLY people! There is a difference between people and godly people! People want what they like and what they prefer, godly people wants what God wants! If you are not in His Word, in your closet, and in His Church then there is no way for you to be godly! Seriously, I refuse to listen to someone who is more concerned about their agenda then God's.

#3- Not crying when someone leaves!

Not everyone stayed with Jesus and so I don't expect everyone to stay with me! Vision will push the non-God seekers away! If you are not seeking Christ and there is a strong vision for Christ in the church then you are going to have a tough time staying!

#4- Rejecting gossip!

Gossip will tear a church down quicker than anything else! Someone calls someone else to tear down what going on! Hears the thing I am afraid of if God is the one doing what's happening then I feel sorry for the person who stands in the way! If you live for Christ and you do His will then God will lift you up! I think gossip is a SIN that God hates! It's time that we reject gossip!!!

#5- Stepping away!

My success is Abby and our child that's on the way! Sometimes just don't worry about those who don't support the vision, step away, and look at what's in front of you!

Un-stuck

2009-07-02T05:17:00.000-07:00

This Sunday we are going to continue a message series dealing with sin in our lives! This past week we dealt with being stuck! This week we are going to talk about getting un-stuck! This series is primarily for Christians who can't get freed up from a particular sin in their life!

You know as I have dealt with this issue in my own life the one thing I am learning about Christians in our area is that they have plenty of Bible knowledge but they don't put that into play. I was talking to a pastor this week who told me that "for years he placed the emphasis in Ephesians 2:8 on grace instead of faith but now he realized that grace was abundant but our faith wasn't". I have been blown away by that comment.

We have to grow our faith! We have to be stretched to the place that God wants us to be on a constant basis. Most of the time when God calls us to do something it will cost us something! Sometimes it's time, other times it's money, and then theirs times when it will cost us everything! But in order to activate grace it starts with faith!

It's only through this growing faith that we can deal with sin! The problem with sin is that we can't fix it, so we have to allow God's grace to fix it and the only way His grace can fix sin is when our faith allows grace to step in and do it's job. Grace is the gun but our faith pulls the trigger.

Things I Am processing in my mind right now!

2009-06-22T08:07:00.000-07:00

- The church has a problem! But what is the greatest problem the church faces? Is it programs, facilities, or leadership? I believe the greatest problem we face as a church is SIN!!! Satan would love to make us think that sin is not our greatest problem and that we need to focus on fixing other things! Well guess what that’s a lie straight from hell!

- How to deal with criticism! I hate when someone tells me that they don’t like what I am doing! There two things I am dealing with on this topic! First, there is times when I need to stand firm and trust the vision God has given me! Secondly, I cannot let my pride keep me from being right! There are times when we say those magic words “God told to do this”. I am very careful and fearful about this. Because listening to God is tough and I don’t want to blame Him for my pride.

- Quitting Mountain Dew! This is the big one! I feel so tired most of the time so I am committing to living healthier. I drink around 5 a day! I may start a MDA (Mountain Dewics anonymous)

- How am I doing on my New Year’s resolution? I have read two of the five books apart from school, date night is going great, I shot a 92 in golf and that means I am fixing to break 90, I am struggling with living out faith in radical way so I am re-committing, and the weight thing well I have lost a grand total of three pounds! How is your New year’s resolutions going?

New stuff

2009-06-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

Well tonight I am back! Here's a few things to catch everybody up on!
- Vacation was great! I got some serious rest.

- I am getting ready for the upcoming church year! It is going to be great!

- I am learning that leading gets tougher as you get closer to the problems.

- I just got done reading "Next Generation Leader". I am going to post on it the next few days. But the one thing I have learned is that I cannot fear.

- The greatest news is this! We are having a baby! I am so proud and so thankful!

- VBS is this week and I can't wait.

- We are leaving for Africa on July 6th and will be gone for 10 days. I am praying for a 1000 souls and I can't wait to tell how God does more than that!

Vision

2009-05-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's almost been a year since we arrived at Shoal Creek! I am still excited! I am still expecting! I am still craving! I cannot wait for the upcoming year. It's going to be a year where we really take a hard look at our vision. Here are few things that God is working with me on.

- Structure! We are going to redo the structure of our church and make sure everybody knows their job like the back of their hand. A healthy church has to have structure.

- Leadership! We are going to invest more time on growing leaders. I have two conferences that I believe we need to go to. Leadership will make us or break us!

- Youth Ministry! I am ready for a student ministry to launch.

- Missions! We have to take our missions program to the next level and look at missions from a local, to a regional, to an international stand point!

- Disciples! We are going to look this summer at how we make disciples. I would say that not many people in our church know how we make disciples and that's because there's not a proper vision that's before us.

- Enjoyment! I want people (including myself) to quit taking everything so serious. That is in how we do ministry. We worry so much and just simply do not enjoy ministry. God gave us the church to enjoy!

Great Day

2009-05-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

Today we started a message series entitled "Emotional Wreck". For the next four weeks we are going through emotions that we struggle with. Today was awesome! God really moved in the hearts of our people. Today was great all around and the next few months are going to be out of this world.

- VBS is going to be June 24-27. I am so excited about the future of children's ministry.

- Abby and I had lunch with a Joshua (who likes disc golf! Cool!) and Caroline (who laughed at me when I got tongue tied preaching today! Not cool!) and talked about a new student ministry which fires me up.

- We are leaving in July to go to Zambia. I am out of my freaking mind on this whole deal.

- In August we are having "No Member left behind" which is going to be stinking awesome. I am praying for over a hundred people.

- In September we are doing a series called De-Churched and I cannot wait to preach this.

- On June 13th we are going to Mexico Beach with Abby's family which is going to be nice.

- We are fixing to complete our first year at Shoal Creek and I cannot wait for year two.

Kingdom Church

2009-05-15T19:14:00.000-07:00

We have to view church from the stand point of a Kingdom picture. If there is one thing I want Shoal Creek to be is a Kingdom church. Sometimes we want God to send us certain people or certain families but God doesn't always work that way. He may not send people who are white collard families or who are like us. We as a church have to think in the mindset of a kingdom.

It's God's kingdom that needs growing not our church. It's His kingdom that needs the harvest but the laborers are few. It's His Kingdom that needs our service not our church. As a matter of fact Jesus spoke more about His Kingdom than any other subject. He is not worried about one church growing or one Sunday school class growing He is concerned about His Kingdom growing.

I love people! I love old people and I love young people, I love white people and I love black people, I love rich people and I love poor people. But God has called me to love Him more. God's calling on my life as a Pastor is not just to be a simple pastor but an obeidiant pastor. That is obiediant to Him. With that being said I don't want to be a great pastor, I want to be a great Christian and only when I focus on His Kingdom will accomplish this.

Amazing People in my Life: Part 2

2009-05-11T19:14:00.000-07:00

I have around 4 people in my life that I meet with every week who hold me accountable. This is huge! Most people fail because they are set up for failure. Johnny Hunt once said "who is asking you the tough questons?" In our culture we are so closed off from other people, even those who are closest to us never come close to getting to know who we realy are.

Lets face it we have a hard time understanding who we are at times. So for us to be honest about our struggles really gets us out of our comfort zone. We have to face who we are and if we don't confront who we are it will consume us. So many people are miserable because they hate theirself!

This is where accountability comes into play. Since it is difficult for us to understand ourselves we need to find someone who can help us understand us better. I don't care if you are a pastor, deacon, Sunday school teacher, or just a Christian who seems to have everything together friend you can fall flat on your face, I know! Find someone who is going to help you know you better.

Awesome people in my life: Part 1

2009-05-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of friends who are pastors and I listen to a lot of pastors preach and teach. Deacons have become the grunt of several jokes that pastors tell. Now I know that many times it’s just a joke. But I want to take a second and say something to the deacons at Shoal Creek Baptist Church. There is not a group of guys that I would exchange our deacons for. They support me in everything I do as a pastor and I would trust them with my life. We have monthly meetings and talk most every week by phone at least and there is not a one of them that I couldn’t call on. Seriously, they pray for me, encourage me, and lift me up to others even when I don’t deserve it.

Now let me say this as well. Somebody is probably thinking wow they must be getting ready to vote on something huge. Well we’re not but we do have a huge work for Christ and I need those guys to accomplish it. So deacons let me say this keep up the good work, keep loving people, and keep loving Jesus.

A few things I can't wait for

2009-05-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

* Tomorrow! Man, I believe tomorrow's message is so important. It's not my favorite but it's important.

* Tomorrow night! We are praying and God is blessing our church in a way that we it's not us.

* Zambia! I cannot wait to go to Zambia. I feel so humbled that we are being allowed by God to be apart of this trip.

* Outreach! Tuesday night is our outreach night. I am so challenged to share Jesus!

* May 28th! Our anniversary is on the 28th and it will be the big 4 years. I am so thankful for Abby! Some people aggravate me about the things I write on my blog about Abby! She's great! Our marriage is not perfect and it's something we work have to at but I wouldn't take nothing for it! By the way I don't deserve her!!!

* Our lawn chair movie night! That's going to be stinking fun.

* College football! Seriously, I am tired of all these sports that's not College football. I thought I would never say this but not only am I excited about the dawgs but I am excited about Clemson as well. I like Dabo! If they played who would I pull for?

* Monday! I am through with this semester.

What a Week

2009-04-26T16:55:00.000-07:00

- We have averaged over fifty the last four weeks. That has been pretty awesome!

- We have had more join our church through baptism and letter than we had in some of our services when we got here last July.

- I had my lap top stolen last week. I found it but was still not happy about it.

- We are stil seeing new people come into our church. That never gets old!

- We Bob & Tracy Claytor come last night and share about missions. That was awesome!

- We are raising money to go to Zambia and I can't wait to go.

- I cannot wait to get this week started there is a lot I need to do I am ready to go.

- Our garden is doing awesome! I may make a farmer yet!

- I am fired up about being a Christian! Seriously, I can't get over it!

- I am ready to go home and spend some quality time with my wife!

Thoughts On The Church

2009-04-16T06:09:00.000-07:00

We are going through the book of Revelation right now and I wanted to give a few thoughts on the church.

- Jesus loves His Church! Seriously, He told the church at Laodicea that He would discipline those He loved.

- Jesus was truthful with the Church! If Jesus could write a letter to your church what might He say. Would He commend, would He rebuke it, would we like it.

- Too many Pastors today are afraid of being truthful with the church. The only time many will get truthful is when they get hurt but then it's not out of love so the truth not received

- Jesus knows our church better than we do! We will read every book, go to every conference, and have twenty five meetings a week to figure out how to explain our church and what it needs; when Jesus knows exactly what we needs. He knows its weaknesses as well as its strengths. It kills me when a church brings in a consultant group to figure out how to get their church to grow. Try this: LISTEN TO JESUS!

- Church is simple! Listen to Jesus! To all seven churches Jesus told them this. If He told them to listen maybe we need to ask for better hearing so we want miss what God is trying to tell us to do to make Church work.

Four Things the Church in Acts Did Well

2009-04-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

Part 4: They produced Disciples

We are so caught up at times in getting someone to Jesus that we don't get them plugged into His church (not our church His Church). Now don't let me throw you a curve we need to get people to Jesus. The problem is that once they are there we go to the next person. This can be good and bad. The positive side is we are reaching people for Jesus and the negative side is that we are neglecting those who come to Him.

Jesus can take care of His people and I am well aware of that but He uses His Church to do a great deal of taking care of them. Our job is to point people to Jesus: In salvation, in their daily walk, and in serving Him. I am consumed right now with looking at our process as a church in making disciples. Is it working? The Church in Acts built community within the church and did not rely on the anyone else.

Are we as disciples of Christ relying on Jesus and each other like the church in Acts did?

Please Pray

2009-04-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

#1 Abby and I are praying about going to Africa in July for ten days. Each day we would do door to door evangelism, help with medical teams, and each help with a crusade type event. Please pray, the cost is pretty high but God is faithful.

#2 We have several people to baptize and I am pumped about this. But there are many more in our area who need to hear the Gospel

#3 We need a youth pastor! We have teens just wondering.

#4 We are doing a message series in may on our emotions and I believe it going to set several people free in our church. Please pray now for the hearts of these people to be ready for the five messages on this issue.

#5 I have been asked to help in a revival in July at Old Canon Baptist Church and I believe God has already given me the message and I am fired to challenge those people. By the way they are a great group of people.

Easter

2009-04-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

Some final thoughts:

* Just got back from vacation on Friday. I miss it!

* Our services were great today. (We had four people receive Christ) That makes everything worth while.

* The choir was on top of it's game today.

* I am so tired!

* I am eating lunch tomorrow with Dr. Bob Claytor to talk about going to Africa in July.

* I am watching America's Funniest videos and they are showing people asleep and what's even more amazing is Abby is about to go down for the count as well.

* She's gone.

* We had ten new people at church today which was pretty awesome.

* We also had around 64 people today in our worship services which was the most we've seen on a Sunday morning and thirteen in our choir which was pretty freaking cool as well.

* I am ready for the next five months in our church. I believe we are going to see incredible things!

* God is truly working in our church. Last July we had 14 in Sunday school and 28 in worship. We are averaging around 23 in Sunday School, 50 in worship, we have seen around 13 people accept Christ and I'm ready for what's next.

Four Things the church did well in Acts

2009-04-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

Part 3: They thought outwardly

Man, this church was such outward thinkers that it’s not even funny. They were constantly looking at how they could spread the Gospel outside their region to those who hadn’t heard yet. They were constantly going outside their four walls and being the church Jesus wanted them to be.

Today, church has become nothing more than a building that we have to keep up. When you are that inward focused all you see is how clean the church is, is everything running properly, and is the grass cut. As a matter of fact we spend more time focusing on these things then we do being the Church.

We have to get back to the place where we think and look outwardly, externally, superficially! We have to become focused in pointing others to Jesus and not to a building. Jesus is the only one who can transform a life bottom line! So quit worrying about the things that have no eternal implications and start concentrating on the things that actually matter.

By the way some of the synonyms for inward is hidden, private, and secret. Words that do not describe Jesus and His Church.

Four Things the Church in Acts did Well

2009-03-31T12:56:00.000-07:00

Four Things the Church in Acts did Well- part two:

They made Christianity a lifestyle

Seriously, being a Christian was not a social, hobby, or denominational thing, it was life! These people would eat, sleep, and think Jesus. They sold their lives out for Him and expected nothing in return but Jesus Himself.

Today, Christianity in America is a thing of convenience. If Jesus fits my schedule, if I’m not busy, if I can’t make time then sure I will be a devoted follower of Christ. It’s amazing that we will wake up at five in the morning and go hunting and fishing, we will play golf in the drizzling rain, we will be at the stores the midnight after thanksgiving and shop all night, and yet we complain about serving Jesus throughout the week. The bottom line is we will do what we want to do.
Peter hung upside down on a cross beside his wife, Paul was beheaded, James was beheaded, Poly Carp was burned at the stake, and thousands of others have been persecuted and martyred because they took this whole Christian deal seriously. These people gave up their life for the cause of Christ and didn’t look back.

I was talking to Tracy Claytor the other day, who just got back from Zambia, which is in Africa. He told me about these church planters who they commissioned to go out and plant churches. He said “all they need is a little piece of land and a mud hut and they would plant a church”. It made me feel pretty dang small! When are we going to realize that we can’t worry what about this world or what they think of us? We have to simply live every breath of our life for Jesus!

Is Christianity a lifestyle or something we do on the weekend?

Four Things the Church in Acts did Well

2009-03-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

# 1- They thought Biblically

I am convinced one of the toughest things for anyone to do is to think Biblically. I believe the toughest thing to accomplish in ministry is to get people thinking Biblically. We like to pick and choose from the Bible the things that best suit us because there are times when the Bible doesn’t make since. For example when Jesus says tells us to “deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him” it doesn’t make since. Why on earth would we deny ourselves and why would we want to follow Him if this is how we do it.

I believe this separates the real Christian’s from the want-a-b. Not simply obeying this one passage but taking the Bible, laying it out before our lives, and then constantly making sure our life is looking like God’s Word. Instead what we like to do is to take the Bible and make it fit our life. We try to interpret the Bible the way we want to.

The Bible is the most uncomfortable book in the world. I’m like dang when Jesus tells me to “forgive seven times seventy” that makes me uncomfortable. There are times when I don’t want to forgive, I want to hold on to things, and become bitter. Yet Jesus is there saying forgive continually. It’s uncomfortable to think about Isaac being offered as a sacrifice by his own father for the sake of obedience, David facing a giant because no one else would, and Stephen being stoned to death when he could have kept his mouth shut and lived. Yet Colossians 1:16 says “we were created by Him and for Him.”

Today, what is God’s word saying to you that makes you uncomfortable?

A few thoughts

2009-03-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

- I enjoyed preaching today. God really used the services to speak to people.

- I am tired of all our people being sick

- I cannot wait for next Sunday. We have so much going on and I think it's going to be a blast

- We are going to have a vegtable garden and I am like a kid on this whole deal.

- I love Shoal Creek and it's people. They are the best in the world. This place is not a stepping stone for me it's where I am called to.

- Our new classes are going great as we get them up and going.

- I cannot wait for the day when we have a bunch of full time staff so we can have meetings. Just kidding! I can't until the day we need it. It's coming.

- Abby and I played with our blood hound tonight after church and I enjoyed it so much.

- I am worn out! Seriously, I am so tired right now that it's not even funny. I am going to bed.

Unleash Part Two

2009-03-17T05:34:00.000-07:00

Here some more things I jotted down at "Unleash".

- Who is with me? Who's got my back?

- I have to buy into people!

- Am I pleasing God?

- I have to yield privately

- Do I understand that ministry is received not achieved! Wow!

- I'm not that good!

- Am I placing limits on me that God has not placed on me!

- Will I see God and will others see God through what we are doing?

- Are we providing Jesus?

- We have to be into repentance not attendance!

- What's next? Am I asking and expecting God to do something else for His glory?

- In Exodus you constantly see the saying "God said to Moses". Am I listening to God?

- This was my favorite! "People will drive a long way to see a fire!"

- "I have to protect my family"! No one else will!

- "Preach, Teach, and Celebrate money!"

- The sermon begins in the parking lot!

That's about it!

Six things I hate about church

2009-03-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

Six things I hate about the church. Not the Church that Christ died for, rather, the church we've made it.

#1- Attackers! I hate people who attack others more than lifting up Jesus. And then they do it all in His name. I am very careful about what I say about other preachers and churches. Any way God has not called me to set these other preachers straight He's called me to preach His Word!

#2- Religious politics! Some Christians are more passionate about politics than they are Jesus and this drives me crazy. God did not call me to be the by-law administrator, He called me to be His!

#3- Fence riders! People who will ride the fence and you don't have a clue where they stand. I am going to battle and if I am going to fight a battle and I want to know where the soldiers around me stand.

#4- Dead weight! I cannot stand people in the body not pulling there weight! They will be the first person to tell you what they think but they won't do anything else. I don't care how nice they are or how long they've been there they are dead weight.

#5- Sometime Christians! This is huge! People who are Christians when it's only convenient. Heck everybody in the south is a Christian! But I look around and I am like are you kidding.

#6- Tall preachers! I seriously cannot stand tall preachers I think everyone should be my height. Just kidding!

Word Freak Part Two

2009-03-15T20:05:00.000-07:00

The second word I am a freak about is passion! I feel that there so many who either passionate about nothing or passionate about everything but Christ. Passion would have to describe where I am at right now above all things. I want to be passionate about Christ, His Word, and His Church! Three things I am doing to remain passionate right now is:

1- Trying listen to God! I have been seeing it in His Word and then I go and hear all day Thursday at Unleash. I want to hear His voice. So I am trying to get still enough to pay attention to Him.

2- Personal worship! I am increasing the time I worship God personally. I am surrounding myself with songs, books, and an attitude that will allow me to worship.

3- Allowing people into my life! I have allowed more people into the core of who I am in the last four months than ever before. That's tough when you are trying to lead people and then you give them permission to critique who you are! By the way this isn't just anybody these are people I would trust come hell or high waters.

Sunday Services:

Tonight was awesome! We done home groups and I feel that were some relationships that were built that a regular Sunday night would never accomplish. This morning was off the chain! We saw two people say yes to Jesus and that like five people in the last three weeks. I have been writing cards to our visitors and my arm is about to fall off! I think I have wrote close to thirty in three weeks. BTW that's a ton of writing for me!

Unleash Notes

2009-03-13T11:07:00.001-07:00

- Are we asking God to build our church or His?

- Are we willing to embrace change?

- If I didn't need change I wouldn't need God to speak to me.

- If we can manage what we are doing it's probably not of God!

- Don't let money motivate you let God motivate you!

- Spend more money on youth.

- Are we willing to work?

- Investigate the obvious

- Ignore the jackass! That's a long story (but a good one) get with me I can tell you all about it!

- Are we serious about reaching the world?

Unleash

2009-03-12T18:40:00.000-07:00

Wow!!! That's all I can say about this conference. Here's a few thoughts from today.

- We were able to take nine people with us and I think everyone came back ready to win this community at all cost.

- Perry Noble rocked! That's all I can say! By the way tomorrow I will post some of the notes I wrote down today.

- New Springs new children and youth facilities kicked tail.

- When everyone from our church layed hands on me and prayed then looked at me and said that they had my back, I wept! Seriously, I love this church and these people, they are the best.

- As Perry said last year "conferences don't give vision" but it sure helps refresh the vision in my heart.

- God doesn't want us to be New Spring or any other church! He wants us to be Shoal Creek!

- I am thankful to be in ministry! I don't make that much financially but I believe God called me to do this full time and that's what I am doing!

- I'm not holding anything back! I will not be remembered as the pastor who visited everyone sick. I want to remembered as the pastor who wanted to reach the world for Christ!!!

Word freak

2009-03-05T07:09:00.000-08:00

I am word freak! I love words: how they sound, what they mean, and how they apply to my life! So here are a few words that I am allowing to work on me right now!

Desperate- Seriously, I am desperate for God! For His love, His hope, His mercy, His truth, His Grace, His compassion, His direction, His wisdom, His promises, and more than anything else I am desperate for Him! He’s all I want! Shoal Creek can be whatever He wants it to be, my success can be whatever He wants it to be, my future can be whatever He wants it to be, right now I just want Him. I want to crave Him like an addiction, I want to long for Him like a teenage boy longs for that teenage girl that He just met, I want to be excited about Him like a kid excited about Christmas, I want to get to the place that I don't give a flipping rip what people think about my passion . I want to be DESPERATE!

More tomorrow!

Celebration

2009-02-28T19:26:00.000-08:00

In Luke 15:10 we see that “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." But do we rejoice? This is a powerful question and might explain why the Church in America is not thriving. So to answer this question let’s ask who is in the presence of the angels of God? The answer: God and His Saints!
OK! If God and those He has set free are rejoicing then why are we not? We must get back to the place where we celebrate God and the work He does in the life of the sinner (us). Next Sunday we are baptizing 2 young ladies and I am pumped. Is everything perfect in our church absolutely not! But this helps me to look past what’s wrong and “rejoice”. There will always be people who don’t like everything and there will always be those people and those things you want to see change. But people giving their life to Jesus is why we are here as the church.
Let’s face it there are those who would love to focus on everything in the world but reaching people for Jesus! If I got honest it’s easy for me to focus on everything but reaching people for Jesus. The greatest need in the world is Jesus and His forgiveness and we need to remember that! I want to reach people for Jesus, be excited about it, and never get over it! Next Sunday when we baptize those two ladies it’s going to be a new day for our church and I can’t wait. We are going to celebrate them being a part of our church like God and His saints do in heaven (or try at least)! It’s going to be different, but it’s going to be awesome!

Eight Months

2009-02-24T06:20:00.000-08:00

Here are a few things I have learned in the past eight months or that I already knew that has been reinforced.

- I am called to be faithful to Jesus Christ and to my wife! It’s easy to think that your success depends on numbers and growth and not a relationship. Seriously, if I am successful in life it will be because I am faithful to Jesus and to my family!

- Your circumstances cannot determine whether or not you’re successful! There will be weeks when numbers are good and lives are being changed. Then there will be weeks when nothing is happening. If we let our circumstances determine our emotions we will be a roller coaster.

- We will go as high as we can take it! Jeff Appling, the pastor at The Grove, told me several months ago that “I would go as high as my pain tolerance would go”! At the time it was a good statement and now it’s a great statement.

- This church doesn’t need me! I have heard this over and over throughout the past nine years and then it became reality in January! I haven’t told anyone this so here goes. I asked a friend of mine Andrew Eberhart to come and speak one Sunday when I was gone. When I am away from Shoal Creek I worry so much. So it was not a shock when I was thinking “oh I hope he doesn’t mess everything up.” That’s always an open door for God bring you down a little bit, because since then I have probably heard 20 times a quote of something he said. Shoal Creek doesn’t need me, Andrew, or anyone else! They only need Jesus and when I am not pointing people to Jesus I need to quit.

- Abby doesn’t need me! That will scare the crap out of you. When you realize that your spouse can live without you! Abby could make it fine, if not better without me. So I never want to take what we have lightly. I must thank God for her every day and protect what we have with all my heart.

- God doesn’t need me! That’s right He don’t need me, but He wants me! That’s a huge difference! To think that God couldn’t get by without me that’s pretty dang funny! He wants me! He wants everything I am and everything I have!

what a day!

2009-02-22T18:26:00.000-08:00

Well today was interesting day!

- We had three people accept Christ in the morning service!

- We had one person join from another church in the morning service.

- We had an awesome service and saw God move in such a way that shocked everyone.

- I was told that two people were leaving the church. I wanted to get upset about this and I was reminded that Jesus didn't keep everbody.

- Change is impacting our church in a way that is challengeing even me.

- In the words of Perry Noble "I am in over my head"

- Worship this morning was out of this world!

- The people who are apparently leaving is on my mind! I love them but I am not going to beg them to stay until the next time they see the one thing they don't like and threaten to leave again.

- We have had over 17 people new at our church in the past two weeks. 8 of which has been more than once and 3 who have joined us here at Shoal Creek!

- With that being said! I want to be radical and see God change this community. So I am going to go to bed and rest now! Good night!

Fired Up

2009-02-18T12:02:00.000-08:00

Here are a few things I am fired up about!

#1- Date night tomorrow night!

#2- Sunday! Seriously, we are looking at Abraham and how he was able to celebrate his family because he trusted in God.

#3- March! We have everything from an ordination service to a massive outreach project going on and I can't wait! We also have a Sunday growth campaign going on where all our classes will be competing against each other. I also am praying for God to rattle some lives with the Gospel during this month!

#4- Vacation! OK it's a little oer a month away but I can't wait!

#5- Steroid convention! I have to apologize to everyone out there! I was on the juice for about two years back during the church leauge softball days which explains the breakout season I had in 02! But I did not inhale! Sorry, wrong apology!

A Bloodhound Christian

2009-02-17T18:41:00.000-08:00

I was outside on the back deck tonight and was watching our bloodhound Sam! He saw me, came out of his doghouse, and sit there looking at me and it hit me! I need to be more like him. For example:

If Abby or I are around him, he has to be touching us. He's not a foot away or running away he has to be touching us. God wants us constantly touching Him! He doesn't want us at a distance or simply looking at Him. He wants us to touch Him with our lives.

We turned him loose and seriously he wouldn't get more than 20 feet away then he would run back to us. When I am serving God he never wants me ahead of Him or behind Him but walking with Him.

A little over a week ago Sam ran away (had a little discipline issue). Now he was free! No runner to be tied to, no doghouse to lay in, no running and playing only when you get turned loose and yet he returned. I don't think he returned because he was hungry or thirsty. I believe returned because of us. God will feed us, give us something to drink, and take care of our needs and yet we still simply desire Him whether we admit it or not. We don't desire another Bible study or another conference or even another revival. We desire Him!

I Am Loved

2009-02-16T12:15:00.000-08:00

I am Loved and sometimes I forget so easily that God has placed people in my life that love me.

I am loved by my wife! The love that she shows me goes beyond any earthly love that I've ever experinced. She love's me in spite of my imperfection. In the words of Etta James it a "Sunday kind of love, it's a love that goes past saturday night."

I am loved by my family!

I am loved by my friends!

I am loved by my church!

I am loved by our Blood Hound! In a wierd kind of way!

I am loved by God! You know I want to be loved by everyone listed above! But if none of them loved me I could survive on this love! His Love! It's enough! God's love feels all the voids that these other loves leave!

"Fireproof"

2009-02-13T19:52:00.001-08:00

Tonight we showed "Fireproof" at the church and it was an awesome service! I don't think there was a single person in the room that wasn't broken from this powerful tool that God is really using. Here's a few thoughts I had after the movie.

1- I am so selfish! To imagine how selfish we are is heart breaking. I couldn't help but to think that marriages are destroyed, homes are broken up, lives are messed up, and people go through this life hopeless because we are so selfish.

2- I am my ultimate problem! I must constantly look at myself and no one else.

3- Divorce is not the answer! I know things happen and there is so many who have been affected by this. But we must continue to fight for marriage!

4- Marriage was His idea! What a beautiful idea! Abby is laying here in my view asleep and I wouldn't change her for nothing as I look at her. Thank you God that you have allowed me to experince this.

5- I look like Kirk Cameron! Just kidding! He looks like me.

6- I have actually stood in front of the mirror and said what I wanted to say to a girl before! If you haven't seen the movie you won't understand.

7- We have had over 14 new people pass through our church this week and tonight it was no different! I have seen God really work in some lives the past five days. But hey that's our job to get people to Jesus.

8- What's amazing is when we are amazed when God does something great!

Good Night!!!!

National Holiday

2009-02-11T07:45:00.001-08:00

Yes! Today is my B-day! I have a list of things I really do need if you want to get me something. I think abby is getting me a disc-golf set I think. If not I'm not sure what she's getting me but I she the best gift giver ever only second to me.

I am 28 years old! Sometimes I feel old and then I just look around me and see all these "older" adults around me. Like my family, and well my family. HA! 28 is not old at all. As a matter of fact I feel like a 27 year old and according to most I look like a 17 year old. But I must say to be 28 I have accomplished a lot: I got married (that was a miracle), I've hit four career homeruns in softball (over the fence and it was church league which presented a great deal of presure), I've spoke at first baptist woodstock (I was in the lobby and I spoke to a guy there so I spoke at woodstock! OK that was gay sorry!), by the way the homeruns were amazing and I cry every time I think about them. I've done some the other things that were pretty awesome but who's keeping count! Like the time I told Johnny Hunt that I loved Adrian Rogers and that was all I said because I was like I'm talking to one of my hero's.

Here's a list of people who look up to me!

Ok I am 5'8" nobody!

However, I think if Rick Gragg could be anyone else it would be me, while I am playing golf, so he could be a winner one time.

On a serious note! Thanks for all the calls, cards, text's, and presents that must be on the way. I have a great fan base, I mean I have great friends and family.

Read Me!

2009-02-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

Hey right now we are putting together a package for a part-time student minister. It will be a small package, but a package none the less. If you are interested email me at :

jonathanayers@shoalcreekbc.org

We are not a suit church, a religious professional church (stole that from Perry Noble), we are not a traditional church, or contemporary church. We simply are a church desiring to be what God wants us to be. Please forward this on if you know someone who knows someone who knows someone. Thanks!

Some cool stuff

2009-02-10T04:08:00.000-08:00

- Perry Noble's blog series he is doing on the "7 things that we allow to guide us at New Spring". Seriously, this is one of the best of the best blogs I have ever seen.

- The one day catalyst conference at North Point Church with Andy Stanley.

- The "Unleash" conference at New Spring church in March. I went last year and this thing kicked tail.

- A free conference at Blackshire Place in Gainesville. This is an evangelism conference and some of the guys who is speaking can bring the house down.

- A conference I am doing at Shoal Creek it's called "Your Momma". Ok not really! But one day we will have this conference and we will address dis-happy (that's for Adam and Britt) church members and how to say "your momma" to them in the midst of their complaints.

Sunday's top ten list

2009-02-09T05:54:00.000-08:00

10- Our bloodhound came home! Saturday we had a little melt down from our bloodhound and he ran away! We looked all day for him and had pretty much given up hope. Then yesterday morning he came walking back up and least to say he's grounded.

9- Our Sunday school class is getting fired up about missions and that excites me.

8- We announced that we are launching a new class in March.

7- So many ladies left encouraged about their selves yesterday. we at looked at the woman in Proverbs 31 and challenged ladies that they could become more confident in who they were because of the Lord.

6- Abby and Jeanette led the church in "Holy Spirit Rain Down" and it changed the whole attitude of the service

5- Last night it seemed God really grew several of us. We are looking at maturity in the Christians life in a series called "All grown up". Lets face it God wants us to grow and if we are not it's our fault. The veil is torn and we are the only ones who try sew it back together with our lifestyle.

4- Outreach works! We had 5 new people yesterday that were contacted this week!

3- I had the best nap ever in between services! Seriously, I drooled all over myself! It was awesome.

2- When the ladies raised their hands to declare that they did not feel beautiful it broke my heart. We even had a guy raise his hand. I think he misunderstood.

1- Seeing the guys who came and prayed for the ladies in our church and that God would help them to feel beautiful!

Attention ladies

2009-02-05T19:20:00.000-08:00

I would love to know what your three biggest worries are in life?

This Sunday I am preaching a message to women! It's entitled "True Beauty" and I have really been trying to nail this down. If it's to much trouble to leave a comment you can email your response to shoalcreekchurch@windstream.net

I don't ask you guys to do much on here, but if you could send this to the ladies you know it would really help. Thanks! By the way I will only mention your worries and not your names.

A thought about success

2009-02-03T19:30:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 19:2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.

Think about the second part! The King James Version says "he that hasteth sinneth" sinneth or miss the way. I think some days I miss the way! We try to get so much done to no avail and then fill as though we are a failure. The problem is we have success all backwards! In church we think it's about the biggest, in life we think it's about security, and in marriage if we can make it through that's success! I believe success goes far beyond these simple things! Our success should be gauged by these four truths:

1- God loves us! Ok He does! Isn't that amazing that we were designed for success by God!

2- Our family loves us! So what if I give Abby the whole world that's not success! What would I want Abby to say about me if were to never come home again? What would you want your family to say about you??????

3- Our friends love us! You can't pick your family but you can pick your friends! Would they veiw your life as a success?

4- We love us! Notice this is last because it should be! More than likely if the first three are true for us then the forth will probably be true as well! Do you like what you've become? Look at yourself in the mirror! What do you see? Can you move past your past and can you face your future? Most of the time we can't get away from the past because we goofed in one of the first three areas.

It's not to late to be successful! Quit trying to be superman or woman and focus on making these four areas of your life. The arena in which your success comes from.

Men

2009-02-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

We live in a generation where men are getting slack in the family and the church. Here are a fews things men need to do.

#1- Spend time with God! If I want respect I have to earn it (and by the way men want respect). You have to spend time with the one who will make you respectable. We make time to do everything else: hunt, fish, golf, etc. Make time for God!

#2- Love! Seriously, men start showing the love of Christ to your wife, children, church family, friends (even the tough ones). Men struggle loving! Paul said "husbands love your wives" and yet he never told the wives to love their husband.

#3- Stop trying so hard! Some guys are trying so hard to be good! Jesus has to do the work in you or it won't be done.

Great Times

2009-01-30T08:52:00.000-08:00

That's right, there is some awesome things happening right now at Shoal Creek and in my life! So here goes!

#1- our new website! It's still under construction but here's the link so you can go to it and keep up with our church. www.shoalcreekbc.org

#2- Our family series this month. Man I am ready and have been working on the messages for several weeks now. This week were looking at men. I believe there are some things men desperately need to realize.

#3- "Fireproof"! This was an incredible movie! We are showing it on February the 13th at 7:00 p.m.! That's a friday night and I think you will love it! Come and be a part of this powerful service.

#4- February the 22nd is our family day! What is this? It's a message that God is still working on in my heart and I believe that everyone will leave that day excited about family. So invite everyone in your family to this service!

#5- The Super Bowl! Go Steelers! I do like Kurt Warrner, but I am pulling for the Steelers. By the way Hines Ward plays for the Steelers and he was also one of the greatest players to ever step on the field at Georgia! I think Tech also has someone that will be there! No, not really! That was the dumbest thing I ever heard anyone say!

#6- Basketball! Okay, again just kidding! Seriously, I would rather watch ping pong than basketball!

#7- I won the BCS title on College footbal 09' on my xbox 360! And they extended my contract! Good times!

Have a great weekend!

God's Grace

2009-01-28T07:26:00.000-08:00

We try so hard in life and it seem's to make no difference. I believe much of our problem is the simple fact that we try and don't allow Jesus to do the complete work in every situation. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

1- Which are you applying more of your time to: strengthing yourself or strengthing your faith. When we make ourself stronger we are setting ourselves up for a big let down because we are not good enough! Most of us go through life in our own strength and it leaves us worn out from all the struggles this life throws our way. We have to grow our faith in God's grace and understand that He is going to have to perform the work in our heart and not us. How can we fix something that we don't even understand like our heart.

2- God's grace is bigger than our problems. Ok, this may be simple but why do so many not get this. Not only is God's grace bigger than our problems but it's bigger than us. There are times we want God to take of our problems when we really need Him to take care of us.

3- Get past the cross! I love the fact that Jesus died on the cross, that He carried my sins and nailed them right there, and I can have forgivness for my sins. But I want more than that, I want to be more like Him. You have to go past the cross to the resurrection and then to heaven where Jesus lives for us now. So many Christians are still at the cross. I want to get to Jesus.

Here's a few secret's about the church

2009-01-22T04:45:00.000-08:00

There are so many Christians that have become hot and cold and that disturbs me. They are on fire one minute and then gone the next. I would like to take a minute and encourage some of you.

- Most people that leave the church was serving the church! The church is us so if we leave the church we leave us! In other words if we are serving the church we are serving ourselves. The church can give mothing back to you only Christ can.

- The Church hurts us because our expectations are in the church. I will be completely honest with you, I have been hurt more from the church than anyone else. Seriously, I have had people say things to me that broke my heart and it was people from within the church. Now let me say this: The church is made up of sinners, those people who hurt me was serving the church, and Jesus never hurt me. You have to move on. If someone hurt you they were wrong. We never have the right to be unkind even if we are right and we also never have the right to quit serving Christ even if we are right. Job was in the right when he spoke to his friends, but God explained to Job that there was only one God. It's amazing that we can be wrng and right at the same time.

- Church becomes a priority over Jesus. Wow! There are tons people who are obligated to the church and not Jesus. We invite people to church, we lift up our church, we debate people over our denomination, and yet It's all about Jesus. No where in scripture did people invite others to church they invited them to Christ so that He could make them a part of His church.

- I have Jesus I don't need the church. You don't serve the church and you don't serve Jesus apart from the church. There is only one way to serve Jesus and that's with His body.

Friend don't give up on the body of Christ (the Church). I have had surgery on my left knee twice and I noticed that each time I had to stay off that leg for a few days it became almost useless. That's how many of you are feeling right now, useless. Well, your not! It was painful and it took a great deal of time to recover and serving Christ again within His body will be the same for you. But you know in my head I knew that I would not be the same without my left leg. Jesus (who is the head of the church) knows that His body will not be as strong if the whole body is not serving.

God want's you

2009-01-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

Read Hosea 3!

OK! I am teaching on this tonight as a leadership lesson with our church council. Here's a few thoughts that's worthy of notice!

- God wants you! He don't need you, your abilities, your tallents, or your knowledge. He simply wants you. I don't need Abby as my wife and she doesn't need me as her husband, we could exist without each other. We may not need each other, but I want her. God wants you the way He wanted Israel back. Hosea payed a fee for a girl who was worthless to many. You may be worthless to this world but to God your priceless.

- Your relationship with God is determined by His love for you and not your love for Him. Some of us try so hard to be godly people. QUIT TRYING! You can't impress Him or win Him. How can you earn something that's free! His love is simply His love. You can't buy it, earn it, win it, or sell it. It's simply His gift to you. All you can do is accept or reject it. He loved you two thousand years ago when you didn't even exist. Notice that this passage never says anything about Gomer or Israel's love but it was Hosea and God's love.

- Isn't it amazing that God would use money to win back something like a prostitute. The Church has to start focusing it's finances on people and stop thinking that money is here for the church to keep a building up.

The church- Post 2- Good times

2009-01-15T04:46:00.000-08:00

1- The time a guy asked if anyone had a lawn mower for sale during a business conference church. By the way we were in the middle of taking questions about a new building.

2- Last wednesday night when a little boy here at church said "that me and my sister go roller skating and she falls on her butt." That was great!

3- When I was trying to say Moody Bible institute and instead I said Booty Bible Institute. However, if I ever start a school that's what I'll name it.

4- The time Abby was singing a song and she was suppose to say "He ain't never done me nothing but good" instead she said "He ain't never done me nothing but dood". She would not make eye contact with me at all. I was so ready to make fun of her.

5- I was 21 and a guy was preaching one time at a church and he looked at me and said "son I bet the Lord will come back before you graduate". The guy I was setting beside turned to me and said "maybe you'll be out by the time your 23".

6- The time I tripped over the "Do this in rememberance of me" table. I was praying so no one saw it. It did cut the prayer short.

7- The time Abby had cords all over the stage and I tripped over the stinking things right in front of the whole congregation and totally almost fell down the steps.

8- The time Adam was preaching at Good News and and forgot his Bible and he forgot where the passage was he was going to preach from. The bad thing is, he's a better preacher than I am so what's that say about me.

9- The time Rick said "do not seek the treasure" in the service. That's a long story call me and I will explain.

10- The time I was going to buy a guy a sweat shirt for Christmas and I asked him what color he wanted and he said "Turquoise, I've been told it brings out the color in my eyes". He was as serious as a heart attack!

The Church- Post 1- Problems

2009-01-14T11:47:00.001-08:00

#1- A church that’s not open! Their doors are open but their hearts are not. These are the places where people are disguising themselves as something they’re not. James 5:16 explains a great deal about this problem in the church. James explains in this passage the way to be healed is to confess to one another our sins and pray for one another.

#2- The church not being what Jesus called it to be. We are supposed to make a difference and instead it seems that the church is becoming the silent social club. If the doors shut tomorrow on the church you attend would it make a difference?

#3- The church that’s not baptizing people. Let me say when we don’t baptize people it disturbs me. Some will say God’s got to save them. Yes! But He uses us as His vehicle in which His message rides in. A vehicle that’s parked in the garage doesn’t get much accomplished. When we are reaching out, praying and doing what God has called us to do then blame it on God.

Let me stop here and say something. The church is it! If the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is not being the Church He intended on then we are committing spiritual adultery. That is we are befriending the ways of society and according to James God doesn’t take to kindly to that. As a matter of fact when the church is the church the world don’t like it. Saddle Back stays in the news, Woodstock FBC has had people protest outside their church, New Spring has people bash their pastor all the time, The Grove (I have heard so many people down that church it’s not even funny). I have no desire to tick people off but I have desire to please God which means people will probably get ticked at me from time to time.

My thoughts on the president

2009-01-13T06:51:00.000-08:00

First: I do not preach on politics nor will endorse a candidate before the congregation. There are to many lost people to put to much time into this.

OK, let me say I voted for Bush. Not because he was a republican, white, his family, etc. I voted for him because I believed he was the best man for the job and I still do. His morals were unmatchable and his integrity well lets just say some other presidents wasn't even close. I read an article this morning by an individual bashing ol' G.W. Here's a few things I would like to reply back on.

1. The war in Iraq- We shouldn't have went? Ok that's questionable, but when someone is threat to your country you better strike them or they will strike you (9-11). You say that wasn't Saddam. Please he hated this country and he hated freedom. Will things get any better in the middle east probably not. But you better pick another yard besides mine to burn a flag in.

2. The economy- The reason all these people are losing jobs is because of the management in companies that was so irresponsible. The reason people are losing their homes is not because of George Bush or any other politician or any political party. It's becuase people were not good stewards of God's money. "I would like a farm one day, I can't afford it, I think I'll buy it" here's a thought wake-up.

3. Hurricane Katrina- The critics say the government didn't move fast enough. No the morons living in New Orleans didn't move at all. When you're under sea level, a hurricane is heading your way, you have a free ride out and don't take it, that's not the presidents fault that's your fault.

4. Morals- This is one thing that wasn't in the paper and it want be. The morals of this presidency done more for this nation in standing up for what matters than any other. Sure George W. Bush made some mistakes that we (I) dissagree with. But the one person we answer for one day is us. This country is in the shape that it is in right now because of a moral crisis not a president. There is so many who think that God will not punish sin. Friend GOD HATES SIN. Jesus came to set us free from sin not just to forgive us of it but to free us as well. I don't expect this country to find the answers to their problems in a president. I expect them to find it from the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Friend you can lose your job and still live an abundant life. But a job will not will not get any of us to heaven.

A New Year

2009-01-12T12:35:00.000-08:00

Last night we had a service in which I cast the vision that God has placed in my heart. I realized there is some things that needs our attention. God has really dealt with me on this thing and so last night I took an hour and a half to cast vision. It wasn't my vision it is the vision that Jesus has for (His) Church. When Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem God had placed a vision in his heart concerning the walls that could be there once again. WE called the service "A year of Emphasis". There are five things that I believe the church must place an emphasis on to be in God's will.

1. Prayer

2. Intentional evangelism

3. Intentional relationships

4. Creative worship

5. Leadership Growth

We hae a life verse as church this year that we are going live by every week.

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

10 Things I loved about this weekend

2009-01-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

#10- Our sunday school class. We are looking at a mission trip and I believe everyone is getting fired up about this.

#9- Going to Wal-Mart. I seriously enjoyed going there I don't know why.

#8- Beating Georgia Tech on my x-box 360.

#7- Working out friday!

#6- Sleeping late with Abby yesterday

#5- Going Inoko's Friday night to eat

#4- Seeing Alan Cole (an old friend) Friday night

#3- Preaching on vision today

#2- Casting vision tonight

#1- Watching movies with Abby all day Saturday

Bonus- I enjoyed chasing our Bloodhound all weekend. I have him on a runner and he broke the runner (he's 6 months old and weights around 70 pounds). He's like a 70lbs. baby and absolutley loves people. So when he gets loose he just comes to the back door and sits and waits.

The problem with lay people

2009-01-08T06:24:00.000-08:00

CAUTION:If you are a lazy Christian this will tick you off so read it!

So many times I have talked about leadership, but even in growing churches the numbers speak for themselves. It is said that only 20% of the (lay) people do 80% of the work. So I am fed up with the other 80%. Who claim to be religious and right with God but you see absolutely no fruit from them whatsoever. Let me explain something to you the Church is greatest institute in all the world so here are a few things that I can see lay people struggle with. (By the way lay people not leaders are the backbone of the church)

#1- The belief that it's not my job! Seriously, if serving Christ is not our job then who does it belong to, the muslims? Being a Christian is more than just sitting through a sermon on Sunday morning or going to a gospel singing. Being a Christian means you sell out for Christ. You don't belong to yourself anymore. You give up the rights to your life! That's why so many people are not living an abundant life! They think they doing God an honor by being at church on Sunday, GIVE ME A BREAK!

#2 The belief that if I am a Christian and I don't show up for church for a couple of weeks someone should BEG me to come back. Honestly, I love people and I love encourageing people, but I don't have time to bottle feed Christians. The church is not a diaper changing station! I am so tired of begging people to fall in love with Christ. The problem is that people want to fall in love with the church and they miss the purpose of the church (Jesus).

#3 The I don't trust the church syndrome! Jesus wanted us to place our trust in Him and not the church. The church is how he chose for us to serve Him! The church may have hurt us (it's hurt me too) but Jesus didn't so why have you quit serving Him.

#4 The hobby syndrome! Being a Christian is not just a cheap hobby, it's something we live out! I play golf for a hobby! So why is this important, let me explain: I play when I want to, I try to go to the cheapest course possible but that still meet's my expectations, I hang with the people who are like me, and if the course makes me mad I don't go back. A hobby Christian serves the church when they want to, does not like being challenged, never builds relationships outside their group, and when things don't go right they don't go back.

#5 The it's not for me syndrome! There are people who will read this and think that's not for me. There are people who seromns on sunday and think it's for me. Your right would you send this to the person it needs to go to! Thanks by the way please come to church sunday!

#6 The yard sale syndrome! We need more money, have a yard sale! How about this TITHE! UHMM, that's a good one! If you do not tithe you are so far from God's will it's not even funny!

OK I'm done!

The real problem

2009-01-07T05:44:00.000-08:00

Tuesday morning when I came in the church I heard a drip! I thought, you not suppose to hear a drip on the inside of the church. This morning I came in and part of the ceiling had fell. That's definitely not suppose to happen. I had a thought and I had to get it out.

The problem is like the problem that so many people have. They try to make the outside look good and don't fix the inside and over time the inside problems ruin the outside beauty. A year or so ago the ceiling was repaired but the leak didn't get fixed. So guess what this time we are going to fix the leak (the ultimate problem).

So many people think the ultimate problem with their life is if I had more money, if I had a better spouse, if my job were more exciting, if I had better luck, better circumstances, a different government, if they had etc. That's right the list goes on and on! Here's the ultimate problem: SIN! We live in a fallen world and if you could change everything above it still would not give you joy. So many Christians are faking who they are because they don't like what is on the inside. If there is sin in your life get it out right now. God is not out get you, He want's to bless you. But you have to BLESSABLE! God hates sin and so should we. You can cover it up but God's promise was, He would uncover it! One final thought He also said that if we would uncover our sin He would cover it!

Vision

2009-01-06T18:48:00.000-08:00

We are living in the vision age! People are constantly talking about vision and honestly I have bought into it. Without vision you have no direction, without direction you no where, and if you aren't going anywhere then we become a couch potato christian. Here are five problems leaders have with vision!

#1 A vision is not just a good idea. I believe some people simply think it's a great idea.

#2 Vision does not come from me it comes from Jesus!

#3 Vision is mandatory it's not optional for a godly church

#4 Vision is not a contemporary thing it's a biblical thing.

#5 Dead churches do not like vision because vision threatens to wake up the dead and hey the dead loves company.

Sunday, I am preaching on vision, imagine that. This month I am preaching a series called "The church Jesus always wanted." I love the church because Jesus loved it!

Daniel 2 part 2

2009-01-05T04:10:00.000-08:00

Verse 30- Daniel layed out here the fact that God was blessing his for not only his benefit but for the benefit of others.

verse 46- Truth crushes the heart of man! Even the hearts of kings.

verse 48- When we trust God, He will bless us even in the presence of our enemies

verse 49- When God takes us to the top our job is to get others there! So many times we think our job is to stay at the top once we get there, but it's not. Our job is to bring others there as well.

Daniel 3

-There are times we are placed in situations where being godly is not easy, it's even life threatening.

Verse 17- God is always able to do the impossible

Verse 22-23- The righteous man availeth much.

Verse 25- We are never alone! We may feel like it but we're not

Trusting God may not seem like the most convient thing to do but in the end it will cause other to recognize who God really is.

The Church

2009-01-04T18:04:00.000-08:00

This month we are taking a look at the church, vision, and change. Today we looked at changed! Here's a few thoughts to finish up today.

- Jesus wants me to change why would He not want His church to change.

- We hold on to tradition like the tradition is ours.

- We need to remember that tradition always began with a change!

- We had one guy join the Church (Paul) and it pumped me up

- Our Sunday school class is talking about joining a larger church for a mission trip

- Our church is changing from a inward view to an outward view

- God is bringing some change into my heart right now personally

Prayer: Here are a few things you can help me to pray for

1. 20 souls between now and May (I would like to baptize 10 between now and Easter)

2. A youth pastor

3. Our prayer revival 1/26-28

4. February message series "Love is in the air"

5. A golf tournament in April to raise money for our outreach program.

6. 4 weeks of witnessing in March!

Thoughts on Daniel

2009-01-03T12:49:00.000-08:00

Daniel 2 Part 1

* When was the last time God stirred my heart with a dream, vision, or a thought and caused me to react on it?

* Opinions and answers are different! Everyone has an opinion, only a few have answers!

* When was the last time I asked for something that only God could give.

* Sometimes the easiest place to find God is in the dark! Vs. 19

* Vs. 21-23- This prayer shows us so much about who Jesus is!

This book is so powerful! Daniel's life echo's through the ages and cries out listen to me!!!

The little things

2009-01-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

Wow! I am in my ninth year of ministry and I am more pumped about who Jesus is than ever before. I just got into Daniel and God is really grabing my heart with some simple truths. Here are a few things he has showed me!

1. Even when we are in a place that's not home God can still use us. There is so many who want to be somewhere different and the bottom line is if we can't be thankful about where we are chances are we will not be thankful if we go somewhere else. For example: The other day I was thinking about Perry Noble and him watching as thousands pour into New Spring each week and I thought man if we had that here I would cry every week, then God gave me an awesome thought! If I can't cry about the forty we have have then why would God want to trust me when I say I would cry over a thousand.

2. God can do alot with a little! Daniel and his three Hebrew friends ate only vegtables and God took them to the top! There is a good childrens lesson in there somewhere.

3. Sometimes, ok! Most of the time we can't see what God is doing in situation but know He is still working for us.

More to come!

This is awesome

2008-12-30T08:38:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen this then please watch.

Just copy and paste it to your address bar!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZSSBe8JzEU

A New Year

2008-12-30T08:18:00.000-08:00

Here are some resolutions I am making for the New Year!

- Be radically different in my faith. The way I think, talk, and live has to be more than a show!

- Become more dependant on Jesus. I want to set my life and ministry on a plane where God has to do it!

- I want to read five books apart from what I am reading at school. (by the I am the slowest reader on earth. I know people who can't read that read faster than I do)

- I want to lose 25 LBS by next December. I am joining a local gym and I can't wait to really see how out of shape I am. I am hoping it kicks my tail

- I want to walk on at UGA as a football player (OK not really).

- I want to be an awesome steward of what God has given me (by the way one of the books I am going to read is about stewardship)

- I want to be a good dater. What's that you say? I want to date my wife this year like never before. We have never stopped dating since we married and I only want that to get better.

- I want to break 90 on an golf course (seriously I have a better chance at walking on at UGA then doing this but I am going to try)

- I want to take time for the three most important things in life. Take time to be holy, be hubby, and for a hobby.

- I want to walk daily with Christ so that when 2009 is over I can look back with no regrets.

I am ticked!

2008-12-22T21:21:00.000-08:00

Here's a few things that tick me off!

1. People complaining about the church who hasn't done one single thing to help the church in their life. They are a critic as I shared a few days ago about. Let me say this, their problem is they want the church to be all about them. They want the church to fit them and not give glory to the one who deserves it! Jesus Christ!

2. Negative people! Everything is falling apart, it's gone to pot, it's not the way it used to be, we can't do that. BLAH! That's all I can say. Right now I say this with tears in my eyes. I pastor a small church, we do not run many people, we struggle in many areas, but I refuse to give up! It's not in me because it wasn't in my savior. I don't have time to look at what's wrong. Here's a question to all you Christians: Are you doing all you can?

3. Blind people! Yes, blind people! People who can't see what's wrong with them because they have a handicap. You see they are crippled by the weaknesses of others. In Matthew, Jesus told us to "pull the plank out of our eye so we sould see clearly how to pull the speck out of our brothers eye." Two things: Our plank is bigger the speck and the reason we pull out the plank is to HELP our brother. Here's the statment of a liftime: "Can you believe they have a speck, it bothers me, I would tell you why it bothers me, but my eye is hurting, I don't know why".

4. Lazy Christians! Let's define lazy! People who set on there butt and don't lift a finger for nothing! So a lazy Christian is self explanatory! People are hopeless, they are lost, they are dying, and Jesus told us to reach them. Lazy Christians say someone else can do it, I will get to it tomorrow, that's not my job.

5. Basketball! OK it's not spiritual! But I hate it. If you run into someone they blow a whistle at you! You see you can run all over someone in footbal and they call it a good play.

What Church is wrong or right

2008-12-22T20:57:00.000-08:00

There is so many churches out here today: the traditional, the Contemporary, the seeker friendly, the blended, the denominational, the non-denominational, and the list go on and on. So which do I believe is the right one? The answer is not in the style necessarily, as much as it is in the people’s attitude. I believe there is Churches out there who fit all these styles that are awesome godly churches and there is some who fit these styles who stink. Here are a few questions to ask to determine if the church is solid.

1. Is Jesus the central focus of the Church? It’s easy for a church to focus on everything but Jesus. He has to be the most popular subject in the Church or the church becomes a social club.

2. Are lives being changed? Grant it there has to be a starting point but over time lives should be changed and if there is no change, question the intention of the church.

3. Are relationships easily built? Relationships were important in the early church and they are key for today. We have to Network! And you have to find a place to belong.

4. Are leaders leading? Just because someone is preaching, singing, teaching, etc. doesn’t mean they are leading. A Sheppard leads sheep he doesn’t force, push, or let them travel alone.

5. Have you ever tried to do anything in the church? There is always a place for you to serve!

Ten things I want from Jesus this Christmas

2008-12-21T18:56:00.000-08:00

1. Boldness! Boldness to be what Christ wants me to be. Boldness to speak truth even when it's not the conventional thing to do.

2. Character! The world doesn't want another sermon they want Chrisitans who are going to quit playing church and be the real deal.

3. Humility! Pride consumes us. I want to be humble enough to shed tears and still be a man, step down and still be stong, hit my knees because I am helpless without Jesus.

4. Love, Jesus style! You know sometimes this is tough love. To love people when it's not the easy thing to do. To love people when they are not loving back.

5. Dedication! I want to sell out for Jesus I mean give it all up for Him.

6. A church that is in love with Jesus! I am serious, I am tired of being apart of a church where God is not changing lives. So my answer to this don't change churches or place blame on something. Rather, let's turn to Jesus.

7. Accountability partners! I need someone who will ask the tough questions. I need someone who is going to look me in the eye and say it's time to step up!

8. A fresh passion for Christ! Have you ever had a fresh passion? All I can say is sweet sassy molassy

9. A fresh passion for my wife! She deserves it. The reason we look for things else where is because what we have get's old. Guess what Jesus can make even our marriage fresh.

10. A word from Jesus! You know I want Jesus to whisper in my ear I still love you, I still want you, I still have plans for you. I firmly believe that I am here for a reason and that reason is for Jesus!

I got your back!

2008-12-20T09:56:00.001-08:00

I got your back! You ever heard that from someone only to find out they don't have your back. I told a friend once that I was fixing to make a decision that might cause me to lose some friends. The guiys told me if they turned their back on me they weren't my friend in the frist place. Here some things to think about when you try to figure out who your real friends are.

1. Who's there when things get tough? There are some people who will say the famous Christian quote "I will pray for you". Sometimes we need a friend who will put legs on the prayer.

2. Are they truthful? We don't need yes men around us! We need people who are going to be honest with us whether we are right or wrong.

3. Are they in love with Jesus? If you don't have people who are in love with Jesus you better evaluate these so called friends. You can an awesome athlete and surround him with a sorry team and he will stink. You can have an average athlete and surround him with talent and bam you will make that guy that is getting the job done. If you have friends around you who love Jesus you will see your love for Jesus increase.

4. Do you feel closer to Jesus after being with them?

How To Ignore The Critics

2008-12-19T05:36:00.001-08:00

This is the last post on Criticism and probably the most important. We are surrounded by critics who may not agree with everything we're doing in life. Here are three things that we should consider!

1. Consider the source! The most amazing thing in the world is that someone will be a critic and when it comes down to it they are miserable themselves. There are people throughout ministry who criticized decisions I've made and the bottom line is they couldn't make a decision if their life depended on it. I am not in this for people I am in it for Jesus and when I become a people pleaser instead of a God pleaser I should quit.

2. Consider security! Face it we live in a world of security. We want secure jobs, secure hopes, secure dreams, and a secure lifestyle. Can I be honest, I do not want to die with a dream in my heart. As a matter of fact I would rather die broke and say that tried to reach my dreams, then to die with a dream that I never went after. Yes Christians dream! I see Shoal Creek (SC) reaching the people form all nations, I see SC reaching those who are not like us, I SC reaching as for as God will allow us to, I SC being a powerhouse for Jesus Christ, I see my wife loving her husband more then anyone else because of the way he treats her, I see my kids (hopefully one day) looking back with their nieces and nephews and saying "boy he sure loved Jesus", I see me leading a group of Christians who will take on hell with a water gun (I stole that one from Perry Noble)

3. Consider the Savior! He had critics surround Him from the time He was born until He ascended back to heaven. By the way Jesus was no push over He was the "Lion of Judah". I will be honest: I like loving savior, but I love conqueror. When we face the critics who don't like the life we are living for Christ remember He's been there already.

How To Handle Criticism

2008-12-18T05:45:00.000-08:00

Criticism is one of the toughest things in the world for us to face I want give four things that will help you when you face criticism.

1. Accept it! Again you are being criticized for one of two reasons: you are either doing a good job and someone don't like it or you are not doing a good job and someone loves you enough to tell you. Either way accept it.

2. Analyze it! Consider what others are telling you and grow from it. Maybe there is one thing that person is telling you that God can use to grow you where you're at.

3. React! When someone criticizes you react by taking it to God and His Word and see if they were right. Do not, however, try to return criticism to get even. Man there are so many times I could roll off what's wrong with other people but if were doing to get even and not because God's Spirit is leading us then that is called disobiedence and is not from God's love.

4. Move on! Seriously some people hold on to one word of criticism for years. Hey here's a thought let it go! After you've taken the criticism to God and He's showed what to do with drop it and move on. You don't have time to dwell on the past.

Criticism

2008-12-17T13:06:00.000-08:00

I want to share a three part series on criticism

Cause Criticism

Seriously, if we are not causing criticism we need to look at our ministry and our lives and view how we are doing it. There so many guys out there who don’t want to rock the boat. Now granted I don’t want to lose one single person but I am not going to beg them to stay either. Change in our culture is eminent and if we are to reach this culture we must be willing to do what it takes to reach these people. The bottom line is JESUS ROCKED THE BOAT! He allowed a storm to rock the lives of disciples and guess what happened each time the boat rocked they freaked out. But guess who was calm, Jesus! There is times when it freaks us out to rock the boat but the bottom line is: if our lives are rocked by the storm then it will cause us to look to the one who is calm. One final thought they got in a little boat knowing there was the risk of a storm. You have to take the risk or else you die on the inside.

Exciting Times

2008-12-16T20:33:00.000-08:00

Here are some things I am excited about right now.

1. On January 25-28 we are having a prayer revival. Lets face it revival is for the church and if we are going to see revival it is going to start with us on our faces before a holy God

2. The message series in January it is going to fire Shoal Creek up.

3. Our childrens ministry (On January the 7th we are kicking off Team Kid)

4. The message series for Febuary. (This is going to kick butt) we are going to focus in on the family and do some pretty incredable stuff that month)

5. The month of March we are going to have two Sundays in which we are going to try out some Home groups/small groups

6. Also, in March we are going to have a campaign for 20 souls in 29 days.

7. I am praying now for a special easter service

8. No more school work for a month (thank you Jesus)

10. Presents and candies for Christmas.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Some thought's about my wife

I have the greatest wife in the whole world. Everyday my love for her grows to a place it's never been before. For those of you who know us you must know that Abby is the most awesome person in the world to spend each day with. From the time we wake up to the time we go to bed it's intresting. Sometimes I think what life would be without her and I have to say that I would rather die than spend one moment without her. Today she came home and she was wearing a red dress and her hair was straight and I was like "HOW YOU DOIN". And I tell you what's awesome about her she can not wear makeup and she is still as pretty as can be. I love you babe.

Lights Out

2008-12-14T20:05:00.000-08:00

- Tonight we had around 84 people in our service. The most we have had since July is 54. So uh Praise God.

-But this was the highlight of the night. One person came to Christ.

-I and Abby are worn out. But it's a good worn out.

-This Sunday is going to be a challenging message. "How will we remember Jesus?"

-We got our projectors up and running that was pretty awesome.

-Just got finished with my finals

-Two last thought's for the night my wife was amazing tonight. She led this service in a way that anyone could learn from.

- Final thought: Jesus is deeper than our wildest imagination. We can't even fathom the master piece that he has configured in His mind known as humans. Seriously Jesus wants complete this master piece, will we let Him?

Up's and down's of Christmas

2008-12-10T20:28:00.000-08:00

Up's
-Holiday's with Abby
-Worship at Church (I love celebrating Jesus)
-Candies (That's a good 5 lbs.)
-Seeing people open thier heart to the savior (That's always awesome)
-Bowl games start
-Christmas Breakfast
-Presents
-Night of Lights (That's become a little tradition of ours)
-Christmas movies

Down's
-The Hallmark Channel (Seriously I am about sick of that channel)
-Turkey and dressing (Wasn't Thanksgiving enough) Bring me a 12 pack (of Mt. Dew)
-Snow (We don't have any)

Here's a survey: What is your favorite Christmas song, Christmas movie, and Christmas present you ever recieved

Hey Guys be praying ofr our Christmas program this Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. the title is "Everything Glorious" BE THERE!!!

Final thoughts

2008-12-07T19:00:00.000-08:00

Today was good! We had an solid service this morning but tonight was awesome. We had a time to simply pray about all that's going on in our church. Man, prayer is awesome and our people truly responded tonight. They really opened up and shared what was on their heart. The point behind the service tonight was to encourage our people to ask God for what they were wanting and be specific. Most Christians are kind of like malnurished children. Other thoughts before bed time!

-I can't wait for our Christmas program

-I will be glad when this week is over I've got finals this week and I am done until January.

-I am so sleepy that it's not even funny (I've preached or taught nine times since last Sunday which has flat worn me out but it's awesome)

-I really want to see "Christmas vacation" and "It's a wonderful life"

-Go Dabo! Clemson is not my favorite football team but I like Dabo!

-I can't wait for December the 19th because that's the day Christmas vacation starts at Stephens County high school and that means Abby will be home for two weeks and I wish she was here all the time.

-I am giving up the ghost see you guys later!

The wedding

2008-12-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

I performed a wedding ceremony today and had a few thoughts!

1. There was so much excitement between the bride groom. So many have lost that excitement with their savior (and their spouse)

2. There was nothing but nervousness before the ceremony but when the bride and groom saw each other they forgot everything.

3. The passion! Passion is our key to be our and we loose our passion then we burn out.

4. They had their song. We have a song in our heart some have quit singing.

5. The kiss! Man do we know how much Jesus want's to be intimate with us.

6. There was so many people their watching! Heck with watching I want to be of the intimacy.

7. When the ceremony was over and the watchers were gone it was just the bride and the groom. There comes a time when we have to rely fully on our relationship with Christ.

Life

2008-12-03T06:07:00.000-08:00

I was sitting here this morning thinking about how precious life is! I know everyday we should be thankful, every breath is a gift, bla bla bla! We know these things and yet we still take life for granted. Through the window in my office I can see the sun shining through barren trees as the leaves have fallen and yet last spring I remember looking at those leaves as they were budding and thinking I want to enjoy them this year. Now they are gone and I never did enjoy them at all. Life is about relationships and in the end the question will be as simple as Jesus put it when He said "Love God and love your neighbor"! But how do we love a God who we haven't seen and a neighbor that's a pain in the you know what! Jesus said that we love God with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength. He said that we loved as we love ourself. How much would churches, families, freindships, and the rest of the world change if we lived by these commandments today! A qoute I once heard and I thought was very powerful said "if everyone in the world was like me what kind of world would this be"?

Read This if you are a leader

2008-12-02T07:52:00.001-08:00

http://www.perrynoble.com/2008/12/02/seven-leadership-transitions-ive-experienced/

Thought's about December

2008-12-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

1. I am excited about our services this month. On Sunday mornings I am preaching a series called "For unto us a child is born". This coming sunday we are talking about "The Choice"

2. I am ready for our new year. I think it will be the greatest year in Shoal Creek history! I want this to be a year that we celebrate Jesus!

3. I am getting a hair cut today! The shag is gone.

4. I am excited about our Christmas program. It is going to be one of the most things I have ever seen.

5. I am asking everyone that we begin praying for this month and begging God to pour out His life into our Church and the churches around us.

6. I am working on a date for our prayer revival!

7. On December the 13 we are going to have 12 hours of prayer for our Christmas service.

8. I can't wait for Christmas! (I LOVE PRESENTS)

By the way our theme for Christmas is "Santa's gotta brand new bag"! Just kidding!

Faith Becomes Reality

2008-11-23T18:44:00.000-08:00

"Faith Becomes Reality" is our theme for the upcoming year. I asked our church tonight if they would join me in celebrating Jesus. I seriously want us to take serious the act of "celebration". I want us to celebrate everything! Today we started a two week series on the Prodigal Son and I tell you God has really challenged me to celebrate life the way the father did in this incredable story. I have a prayer to see over a hundred people in our worship for Easter. I don't want to talk about a hundred people I want that to become reality. Jesus is a reality and we talk about faith like it's a fairy tale and it's kind of like the thing to do; well, because we're Christians. In the upcoming year I am asking God to bring some things into reality.

Smacked in the face

2008-11-22T13:00:00.000-08:00

Wow! A few days ago I was complaining about our budget at our church (you know instead of praying and having faith and all those christian things we do). We are having this New Years Eve thing and we have been asking for a projector for the past few months. Today and today alone I found out that we have been given enough money for the new years thing and we are getting two projectors and a screen. Heck yeah!!! So God put me in my place.

Four Things I Desperately want Jesus to Do

2008-11-19T19:44:00.000-08:00

1. I want to love people like He loves people. I'm serious I want to love like there is no tomorrow! People don't need another sermon they need to see the love of Jesus shining through our lives.

2. I want boldness so that I can stand for Him for the rest of my life. There is a warfare going on and we must take a stand as a Church. I want Him to use me to lead it.

3. I want the Holy Spirit to consume me. I want to be as passionate as the Church was in the book of Acts.

4. I want Him to help me to be the godliest husband my wife could ever have. If I can't be godly to her then I'm no good to the church.

Top ten movies!

2008-11-15T10:30:00.000-08:00

1. The legend of Bagger Vance (This is a hands down #1)
2. A River runs through it
3. The Natural (Just for your info Robert Redford had something to do with the top three)
4. Remember the Titans
5. Fire Proof
6. Facing the Giants
7. Rocky IV
8. Rocky III
9. Rocky II
10. Rocky I (By the Rocky was in all these and I hate Rocky V)

Some Notable mentions

Robin Hood
The Notebook
Simon Burch (That movie awesome)
Shag (OK not one of my favorites, but it is one of my wife’s favorites)
Lonesome Dove

Some that should have never been mentioned

Greece
Any Musical apart from Shag
For example: High School Musical (I watched this and it felt as though someone had punched me in the stomach)

What's Important?

2008-11-13T05:10:00.000-08:00

That's a question that so many in our country are wrestling with at this moment. For those who don't have jobs or are on the brink of losing those jobs the economy looks takes up most of their attention. Even for those who don't have any worries about their jobs have still been affected by the recent plunge in our econmy. Yesterday I was on my way back from Anderson and I begin to think about the Bible and I came up with a few simple questions that we may need to ask ourselves every now and then.

1. Do we believe it from front to back?

Think about that for a moment! Do we really believe every thing about this book? The promises, the truth, the wrath of God toward sin, that Daniel took over the lions den, and the list goes on. The reason behind this question is because if we believe this to be the truth then it will dictate how we live. In other words it will cause us to see what's important in life.

2. If we do believe it are we applying it to our lives?

The greatest purpose for reading God's word is to apply it to our lives. In our every day living we allow it to point us in the direction we need to go. This takes humility! We are so prideful and hate admitting when we need help.

Here's a statment
3. If we do believe it and we do apply it, then things like the economy become a little smaller in view of what's important in life!

Imagine this: You have a tyrant as the leader of your nation, most people have very little in terms of possessions, your the minority, people who believe the way you do are losing their lives, and yet you believe that God's word is the only thing to stand on. To me, that's Paul! Our nations problem is not a lack of money, rather it's a lack of faith in God. When a nation removes itself from truth it does not stand long.

Things I am excited about:

My wife (she da bomb! yeah, yeah, I know I am not a good gangsta)

Christmas (I love presents! And you do too)

Our Christmas singing (Abby has worked so hard on this! Hey babe, I'm proud of you)

This Sunday night(Movie night for everyone: no sunday school, no preaching)

The last two weeks of the this month (The prodigal son series called: LOST)

Unleash: Seriously if you haven't been to this conference GO! http://www.newspring.cc/unleash

What I am not excited about!

Turkey and dressing (blahhhhhhhh!)

Basketball (OK for those of you who like basketball have fun, I hate it. For me it simply means more time with God. By the way, I think Jesus likes college footbal better too!)

Turkey and dressing (I just can't get off this. Let's grill hamburgers this year, I could be thankful for that)

Here's a funny thought that just came to me. At Thanksgiving and Christmas we spend time with our family more than we do any other time of the year. Is it just me or if we like them so much then why don't we go see them the rest of the year. Just a thought!!! I am not talking about our family (Rebecca) I am talking about others.

OK! I have to stop, I just ran out of Mountain Dew and I have to find another one! Help me Jesus!

Not much has changed

2008-11-05T05:35:00.000-08:00

Just a few thoughts from the time I spent with God this morning. We all go through hard times, times when our plans are turned upside down and nothing makes since in life. I read in my devotional this morning three questions we can ask ourselves when those times come.

1. What’s the worst-case scenario? Most of the time our set backs are inconveniences and not reasons for failure.

2. Is God still in control? The obvious answer is yes! God holds the affairs of this world in one hand while with the other He changes me for His glory.

3. What help is available to me here? Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!”

We have a new president, new senators, new representatives, a new day, and yet we still have a God who has not changed!!! As for as I can see people are still lost, still hurting, still searching, and I believe that a republican or a democrat isn’t the answer for these people. The answer is Jesus. Hundreds of thousands poured out to Arizona and to Illinois last night to support these men running for our president and yet no one at all hardly showed up when one man gave His life at a place called Calvary. You see Jesus, He came to support us. I will pray for Obama, as I did Bush, because he is our president and God’s word says for me to do this but I have one King and His name is Jesus.

The wineskin in smoke

2008-11-04T05:23:00.000-08:00

That was the message that Johnny Hunt preached last night at Hopewell Baptist church in Gainesville GA. He was speaking of a troubled soul and here a few things I wrote down.

- The first thing that happens in a troubled soul is the eyes grow dim. You see he said that a wineskin in smoke (119 Psalm 81-88) is rendered useless and that's how some Christians we're feeling, useless! When we begin to feel this way in life our eyes grow dim.

-Our position in Christ is more important than our location

- Pray (be simple and specific) this was good he brought a great point about our prayer life when he said "when we're praying we try to be so sophisticated but when we're in trouble we cry out and that's where we have to get in our everyday prayer."

-The committed will get more committed before the uncommitted get's committed. Here's a thought I had this morning on that. The temperature rises in a room and the warmer it's get around you the warmer you get. There are people around us who "cold as ice"and we need to turn it up a notch so that they might start warming up!

-On an awesome note he said that they baptized 5000 one afternoon in Africa on a mission trip a while back.

The Unchurched Next Door

2008-10-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

That's the title of a book I am reading right now and it's good! I am not concerned with those who are in other churches, but if they need a place to go we would probably let them in (maybe). I am concerned about those who don't know Christ. As I began to read this book there is eight questions asked and so I thought I would throw them out there for you to read!

1. How is your prayer life?
Don't even think that you are going to an effective witness if your prayer life stinks

2. Whom did you tell about Jesus today?
The best way to be a witness...........be a witness! Seriously just start sharing Christ!

3. How is your family life?
If we do not have healthy families then we will not be a healthy witness.

4. Do you need to reconcile with someone?
Is there anyone who things are not right with in your life?

5. Are you handeling your finances and possessions biblically?
If you haven't given your material things to God then you will an ineffective witness

6. Are you committed to your church?
We must be in a church that we love despite it's flaws and imperfections.

7. Do you love others unconditionally?
When we reach out to others they are not going to always be like us, so can we still love them
the way we love ourselves or those like us?

8. Do you have an attitude of gratitude?
Do you have a attitude that speaks joy to the hearts of others?

I thought they were good!

One last thing, if you are a human and reading this go and see the movie"Fire Proof". We went last night and it was awesome! There were a lot I got punched in the throat with during this movie but one thing stood out. Excitment!!! How many people are not excited about their spouse anymore? I never want to take Abby for granted, she is more than I deserve. The movie impacted me so much that as we were leaving the theatre I saw this couple walking out and I said to the guy "I love my wife more than you love yours". ( just kidding wanted to but I didn't)

Prayer

2008-10-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

Today we had an awesome service! We talked about prayer and challenged people to committ to prayer. You know the church is packed out with everything in the world but where is Jesus. Seriously! I mean if the early church just looked at you the right way their life was changed. Now we can beg people to make a change and nothing happens. The thing is the church soaked what they were doing in prayer. They were made up of the same things we are they just prayed. We have made church to difficult. We simply need Jesus to do the work.

The Blind Church

2008-10-22T06:26:00.001-07:00

It seems to me that the church in America, for the most part, has become blind to the issue of persecuted Christians. Persecution is faced all over the world today by many who lift up the name of Jesus. Let me give you a taste of what I am saying!

* More than 43 million Christians have been killed for their faith since the crucifixion of Jesus.

* It's been estimated that more Christians have been martyred in the 20th Century than in all the prior 1,900 years combined.

* There have been more than 26 million documented cases of martyrdom in this century alone.

* More than 200 million Christians in over 60 nations face persecution each day, 60% of these are children.

* 150,000 to 165,000 are martyred each year.

Christians today are the most persecuted group in the world. Persecution is on the rise because of Communism, the expansion of Islamic and Hindu extremism, and because of the anti-Christ spirit that is prevalent throughout the world.

Of the world's over six billion people: 151 million claim to be atheists, 2 billion are Christians, 1.2 billion are Muslims, 786 million are Hindus and 362 million are Buddhists.

Literally hundreds of thousands of people today are being killed, brutalized, sold as slaves, imprisoned, tortured, threatened, discriminated against and arrested solely because they are Christians.

I think you can see the problem! Now the question is what can we do?

1. Pray- November the 9th is the prayer day for Persecuted Christians. In my prayer journal I have countries listed that I pray fof every day and Missionairies there serving. We can pray for these people. Go to http://www.persecution.org/ and get more familiar with the issue!

2. Go- Jesus told us to "go" and that's what we should do. When we read these things we should know that we have a freedom in America that's like no other. We can be a witness and the only thing we might lose is our job. Guess what if you don't witness right now you could still lose your job in this economy! This is not a guilt trip but a burden. We must take the gospel message as serious as these people do and as serious as the church in the book of Acts did!

A book I am reading right now

2008-10-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

The secrets men keep is a great book and I would Recommend recommend this book for all guys to read! Stephen Arterburn is the authur and he nails it in this book! We have a leadership meeting tonight and I can't wait. We are going through the 21 Irrefutable laws of Leadership by John Maxwell. Tonight we talking about the law of influence!

Things on my mind

2008-10-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

* What is God going to do in our church next? I read Perry's blog and see what God is doing there at New Spring Church! Perry is constantly saying that God is "blowing him away" and I can't imagine because I am blown away by what God is doing here! (or overwhelmed) When you think about King David before he was a king he was a simple shepherd! But you didn't here him saying "God make me a king" but he was talking about what God doing in His life (killing lions, killing bears not much?). I look forward to the place God takes me to but I don't want to miss what He's doing now.

* Who will win the world series?

* Will we have 50 in Sunday school this sunday? Yes we will!!! (By the way we had 11 in July)

* The BCS ranking system stinks!!!!!!!!!!!

* How did my wife get so beautiful??????????

* But why does she like "Dancing With The Stars"? (I am glad she's beautiful!!!)

* I want to go camping!!! (That would be awesome)

* I would like a fire place and someone to cut wood for me!

* Why did God not make me Beautiful! (Seriously Abby is beautiful and I am not! GRACE!)

* If we had a dictator we would not have to worry about the elections! I'm Jonathan Ayers and I approve and endorse this gossip I mean ad!