therstblog

I hope to not make this a habit, but i have been waiting for this album for some time now and it is finally here.

Hailing from Baytown, TX this group of youngsters impressed me immensely with their debut album filled with worship music that would make almost anyone pay attention. Nominated for a Grammy, Leeland hit the road to spread the Word. I am so excited to get this album and here that maturity, a new guitar player, and a couple of years have produced an AMAZING album!

Check it out, but it, and let me know what you think!!

You won’t be sorry!

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I was reading through my long laundry list of blogs today and found several incredible post. I will be pointing to them in several post over the next couple of days.

I remember back in the early 90’s and late 80’s when revolutionary and thought provoking hip-hop was the most popular format of urban music culture. Everyone wanted Stop the Violence, and be Poor Righteous Teachers, wore Malcom X pendants and when Africa medallions were chic. There was a phrase that came or rather resurfaced out of that brief movement in time. It was “Each one teach one”. The thought was simple, If someone passes wisdom on to you, then it was your RESPONSIBILITY to pass that wisdom on to someone else.

Mike Lukazewski wrote and amazing post sharing that very same thought process today and honestly it is time for all of us to adopt this very same way of thinking!!!!

If you could teach one thing about Christ, being a servant, relationships to someone, anyone what would it be?

Stay tuned for SEX that SELLS!!!!!

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Yesterday at EVOLVE, the churchplanters.com conference I was turned inside out and broken completely by God. Sean Lovejoy and Steven Furtick were used by God to deliver hard hitting blows to a room full of novice and veteran pastors and church planters alike.

Sean held no punches in urging us all to become HEALTHY! Healthy spiritually, physically (we could all use this one), mentally, emotionally and financially. As leaders, if we assume that our church or more importantly our family is going to be healthy when indeed we are not, we are FOOLISH. As we go so do those things around us. A wake up call for yours truly who has been procrastinating about all of the above. He has a list of assessment questions here, I encourage all and anyone who is in leadership in some shape form or fashion in life to take this test.

Steven Furtick laid it on the line. In the midst of those critiques and nay sayers of his churches growth success, and those wanting to know the secret to such success, i saw something yesterday that made it even more apparent as to what and how we too can achieve such miraculous and supernatural growth in our churches. I saw a man, a young man ( HAPPY BIRTHDAY) who spend and enormous amount of time before and in the presence of God. So to all of you looking for the magic pill to huge numbers and success in any area of your life there it is. Sit Down. Shut up. Here from God. In every area of your life. If you don’t believe me, go here: Matthew 6:33.

I cannot wait until today is over with. Esther and I came home yesterday renewed with new sense of urgency, passion and purpose! WE are so ready to take on the WORLD!!!!!

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36 years ago today a star was born….lol

Well im sure somewhere in the impressive and ever growing universe a star could have been born on this day, but this date, today, and every day since 1972 has shaped me into who i am today. Now before you go blaming my parents, environment, formal education, or even me… I am a work in progress.

I remember thinking 40 and responsibility were two things that were so far away from me that I had the rest of my life to worry about either one… but here i a ready set go!

I am excited and looking forward to every sec and every hour of the rest of my life. I am in a good place, and it can only get better.

God,

Thank you! You have never left me, nor forsaken me. You have called me blessed and righteous when others called me weak, slow, wrong, and worse. You proved you loved me when others turned and ran, left me all alone. You have given me the desires of my heart, have blessed me with the most beautiful wife in the world, the most amazing sons and daughters (soon come) that a husband and father could ask for. Thank you!

If you do nothing else for me ever after today. I still say thank you! I am healed, whole, have peace, nothing broken, nothing missing, joy, love, strength in my weakness, courage, freedom, freedom from fear, I have YOU!

Thank You!!

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We are just two days away from what I hope to be a major turning point in my wife and I’s life. The churchplanters.com conference is set to be an outstanding, first class conference with church planters from all over the country gathering in one location to feast on the knowledge of seasoned veterans like Steven Furtick, Gary Lamb, Sean Lovejoy, Bil Cornelius, Mark Batterson and more.

I have to give a huge and most appreciative shout out to Gary Lamb and the folks at Revolution. You guys are the greatest!!!!!

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I know that this post may challenge a lot of people, i know that the title alone may send some running in the opposite direction, but i beg several minutes of your time to read to the end and answer the question. (honestly)

Listening to the radio yesterday I heard someone ask a question I have heard numerous times in the past, but yesterday was the very first time it made me sick to my stomach.

The question simply put out to the radio audience, was “If there was one thing you could change about your significant other, what would that be?”

OK. That is not the question you NEED to answer or NEED to be asking.

Why?

Simple. We have become one of the most self absorbed, self centered, self focused, self indulgent, get the point, generations, cultures ever. ME, ME, Me, I, I, imac, iphone, you catch my drift? The saddest thing is that the Church has taken on the same disguise. The Church has disrobed filthy rejected, disgusted, broke, and all we can stand and throw up is tales of How I Can Change You In 7 Days, You Need To Fix Yourself, and my favorite Give Me This or That and You Will Change.

I think we forgot what is like to be outside. We forgot what it must be like to be so desperate for life, for fulfillment, for a hug, for someone to say I love you, for it all to go away that you sell your body, that you smoke dope, that you leave what is natural and look to what is unnatural.

THE REAL QUESTION IS: What would I change about myself?

Maybe then, those that are far from God will feel more comfortable, more at ease and less judged to share, to love, to learn, to live, and lend. Maybe they will want to know that a PERFECT GOD loves IMPERFECT PEOPLE just like them, just the way WE are!

Let’s force ourselves to PURGE, VOMIT and rid ourselves of the toxins, the foreign objects, selfishness, self-hate, self-loathing, judgment, cowardice, jealousy, greed, etc.

So what would you change? Barf Bag anyone?

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“What happens to dreams deferred? Does it dry up like raisin in the sun?, Or fester like a sore then run?”

langston huges

What do you do when everything around you appears to die all at once? What do you say when the only thing that will come out of your mouth is an inaudible scream begging God to change His mind or ask how could you do this to me? How do you share something that you barley even remember because you have locked it away so deep into forgetfulness and threw away the key?

On Dec. 25th I was given the best present any man (married man) can ask for, a child/children!

Three days later it was all over, nothing, gone, poof, no chance to say goodbye, get sick of her cry, a chance to tell a little white lie… GONE!

I must be honest, I am just now getting to where i am able to cry and really cry.

Fear, guilt, self doubt and depression was driving my wife and I apart until we cried together, until we began to heal together, until we decided to believe and love God together again.

We are trying again, asking and believing God for twin!!! Zoe and Zion!

Any dreams seem to miscarry in your life? What are you doing about it now?

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It seems like forever since I have taken time out of my schedule to sit and share. Just know that I have so much to share, from other church visits, to great meetings with awesome men of God doing what my heart burns to do, to losing, winning, getting naked and growing.

So i am back and know now more than ever that through adversity, struggle, pain, heartache, loss, gain, victory, persecution and challenge God is exactly who He says He IS!!!!

So let’s “get naked” and meet Him face to face!

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