All good things must come to an end...

Hello everyone,
I'm sorry I haven't been updating this blog more often over the past few months. Things have been pretty busy around here, and posting to my blog probably isn't the best use of my time at this point. And so, I am discontinuing my blog. I simply cannot continue to post new entries in a timely enough manner. So, let me direct you to Lindsey's blog (www.fourbroomes.blogspot.com). Thanks to everyone who's read this blog.
If I stumble upon something you must know about, I'll blog about it as a guest blogger on Lindsey's blog (if she'll let me do that - I think she's drawing up the contract now).
Keep following the Lord!

Recent Sermon Online...

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a great week this week.
I was given a chance to preach at Ingleside in the "Big Room" this past week, and you can watch the message online at www.ingleside.org. The video is on the home page - you just have to click on the little video icon. Enjoy!
Recently, Lindsey and I have been using the Life Journal, by Wayne Cordeiro. Here's my entry for today:
Scripture - "...that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are a people of God;" - I Peter 2:9-10
Observation - This is one of our purposes here on planet Earth. We are a people belonging to God. We are a people with a purpose - to declare the praises of the God who took you from darkness into light. Just think about that for a minute - you once were in darkness. Have you ever been in the dark? You know, when the power goes out in your neighborhood and there is no light as far as you can see? That's dark! God brought us out of the darkness and into His light! So, why are we still here? To declare His praises!
Application - Everything in my life should declare the praises of such a great God. If I can really grasp this concept, it should change the way I act and react. I once was not a people, but now I am a people. How? Through Jesus Christ! I need to live as a person of God. I am here to live for myself anymore - I have a King to serve. Will I live today as His child?

Looking for a good Bible reading plan?

For those of you who wish to read the Word of God, but aren't sure about where to start, this resource might be great for you! Check out these Life Journals to help you with your spiritual walk.

These are great tools for you who desire to have an intimacy with God. Click on one of these journals to be directed to the site.

The Divine Mentor

My pastor recently recommended reading The Divine Mentor, by Wayne Cordeiro. After finishing the work, I would also recommend this to believers young and old. In this work, Cordeiro reminds us that the Word of God is full of mentors. These mentors are just waiting to teach us and help give us understanding of our current experiences.
Cordeiro points back to the Scriptures as the only divinely inspired Word from God. As you read this book, you'll be challenged greatly by Cordeiro. Listen to some of these quotes:
"Life has given us two very effective teachers. Both are top-flight instructors, but neither comes cheap. While both are effective, both require something of us. We have to choose one or the other, and if we choose neither, the second will be chosen for us. The teachers are wisdom and consequences."
"God not only marked out these 66 books, He also breathed himself into the whole library and said to us, "If you will read this, I will let you sit with Jacob. I will let you walk through the deserts with Moses - and the same wisdom that I gave to Moses, I will transfer to you...if you will only take to heart the words written here."
"Your best friends will be found in the Bible. They are men and women who have been handpicked and ordained by God to befriend you. They will guide you and tutor you. No seminar, no conference, no leadership forum will outdo what you will learn from entering the Bible. To attempt a substitute is like parents allowing the media to raise their child."
I would recommend this book to you. Cordeiro hits the nail on the head throughout this work, and he reminds us that the Scriptures are sufficient. If you are looking for a great book to help you get on track in reading the Bible (or back on track), this is a wonderful piece to check out. As I read, I was encouraged time and time again to continue in His Word.

Oasis '09 Recap

Wow! Just got back in from our first ever Oasis summer camp with the Ingleside student ministry. What an incredible time!
Josh Via led worship along with an outstanding group of guys (tim, andy, nate, and Josh's wife Tasha :). The times of singing and praising were amazing. Our students connected with them from the very first strum until the last set of camp. If you are a youth pastor reading this, you absolutely have to bring in these guys! You will not be disappointed. They were ministry focused, and they loved on our students and leaders.
Bill Stanley brought the Word each morning and evening. Bill is a beast (6'8" - ??? lbs.). Bill connected with our students and spoke truth into their lives. He made an impact on our students. Bill is a great guy to serve with, and he did a great job as our camp speaker.
We also had Tenth Avenue North come for a concert. You may not have heard these guys yet - but they just received a Dove award for best new Christian artists. If you have a Christian radio station like K-love, you probably hear "By Your Side" every hour or so. These guys were some of the most humble and caring people I've ever met in the ministry. They were unassuming, and they absolutely demonstrated the attitude of Christ. The concert was great!
For me, there were many great moments of camp. The morning celebrations were fun, the afernoon recreation was awesome (led by our Executive Pastor Riley), the family group times were so great (30 leaders pouring into our students' lives), the worship sessions were outstanding and worship-filled, the late night was histerical (led by Justin and Philip - or "Bart" and "Lance"), fishing in the morning with my guys was enjoyable - and tiring, and the beach and resort were exellent. Still, the highlight of camp for me was the salvation of one of our students. God truly made him a new creation, and changed his heart.
Thank you Lord for doing something only you can do.

Ten Things I Learned About Baching It...

This morning I picked up Lindsey, her sister, and the kiddos from the airport in ATL. They've been gone for 10 days, and I've been baching it in Maconga (macon, ga). After 10 days on my own, I learned some things that I'd like to share with you. Here they are in random order:

1. "It is not good for man to be alone" - God sho' knew what He was talkin' bout.

2. My clothes really do not wash themselves. Seriously!

3. A house with 3 loud children is better than a quiet house.

4. Redbox can only entertain you for so long.

5. Season 9 of The King of Queens is pretty good. Lindsey got it for me while she was away.

6. You can really eat PB&J for dinner!

7. I really love my family.

8. I'm still not good over the phone.

9. God fashioned a great rib for me.

10. I have the best wife in the world and my life is 1000 Xs better when she's with me.

I am so thankful that I don't regularly bach it. God has blessed me in so many ways.

Secret Church

For the past year and a half, I have been influenced by the preaching and teaching of Dr. David Platt, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, in Birmingham, AL. I first heard Platt at a conference in January 2008 in Chattanooga, TN. I was blown away by the passionate preaching of Platt - a believer that's my age!
I would encourage you to go to their website and listen to some recent messages. They are also on podcast.
You will not be disappointed by this teaching.
On the church site, you'll also find what's called "The Secret Church." Dr. Platt uses these efforts to teach the Word to the people of God. I would highly recommend it. I'm listening to one of these (4 parts) on the Old Testament. You can even print the notes out and follow along. If you've ever wondered what seminary is like, this could give you a taste - only it's better!
If you're in a place where you really want to learn more about the word of God, you have to check this out!