There are times when you actually see God in everyday people and in churches. I truly believe this needs to be and should be the norm and not the OMG!! moment it tends to be or has become. As citizens of the Kingdom of God OUR (not just the pastor) lives should leave bread crumbs for those “seeking”, searching for their way home and back to God.

Did you leave any bread crumbs today?

Or were you too embarrassed by your actions or conversation that you picked up all the crumbs before anyone could follow you?

If that last question hurt, well it was supposed to!

I want to share a video with you that I found today, here is an example of what bread crumbs look like and how we should leave them along our journey. Big up to the Elevators for being Kingdom Minded!!!

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I want to first thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for subscribing, reading and stopping by my blog. I decided to blog not simply for me to voice my thoughts, but to create a dialogue, exchange ideas, get people to think about things, and most importantly to share the gospel with those who may have never heard it or who have issues with it.  I will blog more about that later! I simply want to reach out to you now an seriously invite you to leave your comments, thoughts, objections (i am not perfect nor do i believe i know it all) and well wishes here on the blog. At the end of every post is a link to leave a comment. Please do! I really want to know what you think, how you feel, and most importantly that you were here.

I have something come up that I think will be really cool, but If I don’t know you are here or have been here then how can I include you in the coolness…

Thanks!!!

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transparency….

for the last four months our household has been in a whirlwind of frenzy. so many things going on, never enough time and hoping and wanting to keep it all together… you know, men, never let ‘em see you sweat. Right?

then one day it all comes crashing down… its as if the world decided to turn against you in a nano second. everything you knew to be reality, to be sure, to be certain is now dancing with confusion as you lean against the wall hoping no one sees you.

your wife tells you that you are feeding me physically and spiritually, but emotionally im STARVING!

huh? when? how? what did i miss? but but…

i ran away to seek God and get some understanding… i just got knocked out in the first round no need to bite my ear off cus im out on the canvas just hoping i can still walk. and as always He is there for me, only to tell me just how wrong i have been, and i hear the word that makes my heart ache, the word that is like driving nails in my own wrists and feet.. SELFISH.

you see somewhere along the way in this four month time span, in this amazing part of our journey together as a family as husband and wife as best friend and lovers, i began to lick my own wounds. i began to see me and lost sight of her wondering why i dont get and why i cant and who is going to do for me and damnit im right and your wrong and what about me what about me… in the corner… hoping no one is looking… licking my wounds….

But God….

Brothers, please please please understand this, I write these words to share so that you dont make the mistake I made. You see for the first time in my life after prayer and heaven sent wise counsel, I was able to admit that I had become SELFISH. LOVE, the LOVE that God is in, is not selfish, it does not consider itself, it denies self and consumes it self in the object of its affection. That is LOVE! That is GOD!

Someone once said this to me, and please comment and let me know what you think…

Love is when two people deny their needs, and focus on the needs of the other person, and meet those needs before the person ever knows there was a need. That is LOVE! Think about this, how much attention would you have to pay, how much time would you have to put in, and how much listening would you have to do to meet a need before the need is ever known by the person who posses it? My next question is simple, if you did the above, when if ever would you have time to have an affair? (To put out the rumor fires before they even begin, NO! I did not have an affair.)

I have since allowed god to show me the errors of my ways. He has shown me and my wife has directed me to serving her a buffet in all areas of her life. I pray never to have her become bankrupt in any area, EVER!

Thanks for listening!

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I guess I truly am missing my boys as this will the the second blog about them in as many days.

On sunday I got two phone calls, one from Texas and one from Florida. My chest was sticking out pretty far as my boys wished me a Happy Father’s day. Tyler, my oldest, asked if I had gotten my iphone, which he has been praying for me to get for a while now. I told him daddy was waiting on the new one. Then like any kid wanted to know if we had gotten his ipod. You see before he left I made a deal with him. If he finished the school year with no drama, behaved in Florida over the summer and saved half the money for the ipod, we would match it. So needless to say he is uber eager to come home and buy his ipod. He might love music more than me and that is saying something.

Late Sunday night i got a second call from Texas. Jah, my youngest was so excited. He barked through the phone on how he rode his bike without training wheels. “Pappa, took the wheels off and I rode by myself. I only fell twice and got back on and rode to Mr. Jackson’s house.” Wow.

I cannot believe how fast they are growing up. It only seems like yesterday they needed me for everything, now they are wanting things I would have never asked for at 8 and riding bikes with no need of assistance. I love IT!!!! As much as I might want to be needed to watch them GROW is the most amazing thing in my life, besides watching the seed in my wife’s womb grow (more to come about that later…)!

As a father this is a time to reflect, ponder and prepare for them for the rest of their lives. God, our Father has the same prescription for us as well. He too is proud of us and watching us grow. Giving us room to fall when the training wheels are removed, there to pick us up and dust us off only to say get back on and try again. He too is eager to meet us where we are, remembering our hearts desires and giving us direction.

I love being a father, a husband and chosen of God to proclaim HIS RICH GOSPEL!!!

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WOW! I caanot even believe i am saying this outloud. I mean I have said to myself as I pass their room or see a hummer (long story) or anytime i see kids at the park with their dads, but dang it! I miss my boys!!!

One (Jah) is in Texas and the other (Tyler) is in Florida. Now I am sure they are having the time of their lives and I truly do expect them to come back with stories of all proportions. I just miss having them around. I can tell you what i dont miss though. I dont miss them waking me up at 5 or 6 in the morning hungry, when everything in me is saying if you were still sleeping you wouldnt be hungry.

So there I said it outloud and im cool. A month and a half or so and they will be back. We will begin again as if time somehow stopped before us. We will head to the park for some fun time, we will begin working on our future plans, dreaming about what we want and how we are going to get it… I cannot wait until they come back.

In the meantime I will enjoy my quiet time with the most beautiful woman in the world, my wife!!!

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I have struggled with something many of you may consider a non issue or something so minute that you wouldn’t believe that it has challenged me. I have not wanted to seem prideful or boastful or even simply above or better than anyone else. Afraid of my tone sending people reeling in a different direction, but I have finally reached a resolve and no longer need to pussyfoot around something as simple as OWNERSHIP!

Today, right here and right now I TAKE OWNERSHIP of the vision God has given me. I was born for such a time as this. He called me, plucked me out of darkness, He loved me when i was worthless, and shared this vision with me. It is the MOST HUMBLING THING IN THE WORLD TO KNOW THAT THE LIVING GOD, SOVEREIGN AND GLORIOUS CHOSE ME TO WORK FOR HIM.

Now let me explain where the problem came. I would share the vision God has given me, but to say He has given it to me, did something to me. I felt awkward, clumsy and unworthy. But, now I know (rather fully persuaded), i did not choose this vision, but He choose to give me the vision of planting a church in the heart of downtown Atlanta, a peculiarplace. He choose me to create a place where anyone far from Him could find Him, become intimate with Him, and share their new found love with others. He told me TO SET DOWNTOWN ON FIRE FOR JESUS!

The REVOLUTION has begun!

Have you taken ownership of what He has given you? Or has fear and guilt kept you feeling unworthy and inadequate?

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WHEW!!!!

I cannot believe it has already been five weeks and I’m still as committed today as I was when I started.

Let me explain, five weeks ago, i made a commitment to myself, to my wife and to God to take six months and get in the best physical shape of my life. I began a workout I found on leehaney.com, 8-time Mr. Olympia and changed the way I thought about food, the foods I eat and how often I ate.

And today makes it five weeks. I feel good!!!! I lost a couple of inches, i am stronger than I have been in a very long time, and i am losing weight.

The most important and amazing thing to me is that my wife looked at me yesterday and told me she was proud of me. Proud because i have stuck with it. Proud because it such a short time, this has become by lifestyle.

Now I of course being the pastor i am i have to relate this to the Kingdom.

How often have we committed to the works of God, to studying more, to praying more only to fall short. But let’s say we want to save some money for an outfit, or a new game, or a new set of golf clubs it is amazing how we can sacrifice and scrimp  (is that even a word) to reach that goal.

What i am saying is really simple if it is something you really WANT, NOTHING seems to be able to stand in our way, NOTHING.

Jesus isn’t asking for a sacrifice, He is asking for a lifestyle change. A complete mental, physical, spiritual and emotional makeover. All those things that compromise ones lifestyle… changed, patterned after His Word.

So what about your lifestyle would you change? I suggest starting in an area that is easiest and develop confidence in that area and then move on from there.

The Kingdom is more than a place, a church or an experience it is a lifestyle. Are you ready?

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the more i ponder the thought of the current state of our educational system in the Atlanta Metropolitan area, I become indignant! I look at all of the churches in this city and it surrounding suburbs, not to mention all of the churches that have schools themselves and wonder, is anyone out there thinking like me? Has this been done before, has it been tried and everyone scrupulously fell asleep at the wheel or met their demise at the behest of an atheist, separation of church and state flag waver?

Before I go any further, let me say this… NO! emphatically no i am not trying to get prayer back in school, although we do need it, and NO! this is not a marketing ploy for apeculiarplace!!!! This is something God has been keeping up at night with, it has been running through my mind so much i cant think of much else. Not to mention the thought of so many churches with schools, and the pastors kids don’t even attend the very school the church runs. THAT IS TOTAL BS!!!!

What if with genuine concern, the love and compassion of Christ, the desire to see lives changed and a hope for a brighter tomorrow were all it took to achieve what God has placed in my heart?

Where do your kids go to school?

Are there enough computers? Any kids who don’t have school supplies? What about the kids whose parents could not afford “NEW” school clothes? Talk about a self esteem serial killer!!

What drives me crazy is that, probably for a fraction of the cost, we, THE CHURCH, could invest in a NEEDY school in our community, and if your schools are all that and a bag a chips, i am sure there is a NEEDY one somewhere… but for a fraction of the cost to start”Our Own Schools” we could invest.

Instead of looking to create revenue streams we could give, sow, volunteer, create, build, changes lives for the Kingdom of God…

I thinking out loud… so please feel free to jump in at anytime…

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OK, don’t get super spiritual on me and comment on the title without reading the content. Too often we shun or judge people, places and things from merely the first glance, or cover or in this case the title. Allow me to reach for a moment and tie something very important together for us…

Fellows and ladies this could apply to you as well. Imagine if you will middle of the day, or at your favorite coffee shop or even the club you attend regularly, an amazingly beautiful woman (or man) walks in and completely assumes control of all of your attention. You look, she/he looks… you exchanges smiles… and you cannot take your eyes off of her/him. She/he is all you think about as you fill your shopping cart with eggs and bread, pretend to be listening to your friends or sip your coffee. Finally you reach deep down inside of you and gather the strength and courage to MAKE YOUR MOVE. If you are at a club or bar, you probably grab a shot or two! You make your way over to them and it is as if she/he has been waiting on you all night, when you open your mouth and ask…

WILL YOU SLEEP WITH ME?

or

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

I know I know I know, Who in their right mind would do such a thing. Who would ask for something so intimate, so personal, so final, who would reach out to someone they dont know for a commitment, who would embarrass in such a foolish way, not to mention how the other person would feel… offended, angry, put off, and depending upon where you are and who that person is you might just hear a few choice words that i dare not mention here!

Yet, Christians ask these types of questions of perfect strangers every day. Christians have been asking perfect strangers to make life altering commitments of this nature without knowing a persons name for years. Allow me to explain, once again before you go all deep and get offended.

Jesus, was a relational God and Lord. God spent every day with Adam in the garden before “The Fall”. Jesus spent day and night with the disciples before instructing them to go out and teach the world about His Kingdom. Peter before his first sermon after Christ’s acension spent day and night praying with his congregation. Paul pitched in and made tents with the tent makers before he began to teach Christ and Christ crucified. Do you see a pattern developing here? I could go on if you need me to. There are countless examples throughout the bible of men and women of God, who developed relationships with people before they professed their love for God and His love for them.

All I’m saying is that we MUST, not try…  not see what we can do… not hope you can, but WE MUST DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE,  before we ask for any such commitment. We have to like Jesus, allow those around us to SEE the fruit of our FAITH before we pound their heads with the latest bible verse we memorized. Before we go and tell someone they are going to hell because they fornicate, or lie or steal or whatever they do, we must know them. To “know” them, is to become “intimate” with them.

Quick side note: Intimate or Intimacy has nothing to do with SEX. Get over it, open a dictionary. It is amazing how this word has become bastardized and misused to have anything to do with sex.

OK, back to where we were… I’m simply saying that we cannot afford to cause any more trepidation  concerning the Body of Christ. In case you have not noticed the attacks on the Church are doing fine without the Church going out and making it any worse.

Give it some thought.

Have you made friends with anyone outside of your circle lately? With someone who doesn’t look like you, or believe what you believe?

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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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