Q & A

I spent some time on Challies.com today...maybe my new favorite website. I read several interviews he had done with people like John Bloom. I thought to myself, "Hey!! It would be cool to be interviewed." Then reality struck and I soon remembered that I'm not that important. If I was though... these are some of the questions I would hope to be asked and their answers.

1. What did you do before you came to Ebenezer?

- I've been in the ministry for the past 6 years. I've served at Louisville Baptist in Louisville, AL; First Baptist in Abbeville, AL; and Southern Heights Baptist in Berryville Arkansas. God in His amazing sovereignty has sent me through these places to grow in very specific areas of my life and I'm deeply thankful for that. A need for good theology has been the biggest thing I've learned from serving in the churches. I've made amazing friends and seen God change hearts. Good Times

2. What kind of Bible do you use?

- The English Standard version is my favorite. New American Standard is also great... it just doesn't flow as well to me. I did receive my first King James Version the other day so I'm pretty excited about that. Don't make fun of me

3. What do you do for fun?

- My wife and kids are the coolest, funniest people I know, so I definitely like to spend as much time with them as I can. Golf, basketball, fantasy sports, reading, and good movies I really enjoy,

4. What do you do during the week?

- Contrary to popular belief that youth pastors do nothing but speak on Wed. nights and go on trips, I work... a lot. I read a lot of blogs and watch a lot of youtube videos to stay updated on the cultural events that may effect our students and learn how to instruct them into godly living. I prepare messages, write curriculum, and plan events. I have the best job in the world where I get to be Gospel-centered in everything I do.

5. If you weren't in the ministry, what would you do?

- For sure play in the NBA. But if they were too blind to see the talent before them, I would like to work somewhere doing maintenance work. Fixing things makes me feel more like a man. Or work in a bookstore.

6. Who are your favorite authors/preachers?

- John Piper, Spurgeon, Matt Chandler, Mark Driscoll, CJ Mahaney, Francis Chan, Kent Hughes... there are tons. I don't by any means agree with everything all these guys say (Piper is probably the closest) but there are many things I glean from each. Guys like Paul Washer, Leonard Ravenhill, and any of your youtube sermon jam guys are great clip getters...

7. Who are the most influential people in your life you personally know?

- I've learned a ton from a lot of people. My dad taught me how to work... even when you don't want to because it is our job to provide for the family. Michael Whitt was the first person ever to show me how to read the bible correctly and what good theology is. Andy Blankenship taught me that there are hills worth dying on. Phillip Weems showed me authentic worship goes past music and spills into lives. Ryan Johnson and Greg Key are the pinnacle of youth pastors. David Bradshaw teaches me constantly the calling of godly perseverance. Matthew Cook is teaching me how to preach with Scriptural authority. My wife taught me humility and submission. I could do this all day... I'm blessed.

8. Favorite Music?

- Gospel Centered... Shane and Shane, David Crowder Band, Fee, Charlie Hall, Jesus Culture, Hillsong, The good stuff. Come Thou Fount, In Christ Alone, Marvelous Light, and I will Rise are some of my favorite songs.

9. What's you favorite passage of Scripture?

- Acts 20:24 changed my life. 2 Corinthians 2:17 where Paul proclaims that he is not like many, peddlers of God's word also is a huge scriptural motivation to stay faithful to the calling. 2 Timothy 2:15, Colossians 1, Philippians 3, Hebrews 11, 12, 13, James 1:26-27... Just to name a few.

10. Whats the first verse you remember memorizing?

- Well I wasn't raised in church, so the childhood classics of John 3:16 and Genesis 1:1 I really didn't know till later. Hebrews 4:12 is the first one I can ever remember... or maybe 1 Corinthians 10:13. One of those two.

Fall Festival Fun

Me and Pastor Matt arguing about who is better looking

JP's Tennessee mullett flapping in the wind

Me being the Minister of Education/Students... and dominating little kids in musical chairs

Good Friends...

My white tiger (Megan says he's a zebra but don't listen to her) and my little Redneck Tennessee fan.

Picture Moments

Proud Grandad

Proud Grandad walking JP back from peeing on the tree

Megan was quick to jump into action when the dumptruck got stuck in the yard

Proud... and beautiful mom

Funny face

I kinda like him...

Macbook entertainment

HA!!

Pastor's kids at the Apple Orchard

Pastor's kids getting messy with some suckers

Thursday Mind Dump

• I'm preaching Sunday and I'm pretty excited. 2 Corinthians 2:12-17. I'm not good with coming up with catchy title messages... so if you like read the passage and throw one down for me. You'll for sure get all the credit. Unless it's really good
• Went to the Apple Orchard with the Senior Adults today. It's always good to spend time with them. They are sincerely sweet people who love the Lord.
• My wife is amazing. She is still insanely gifted with keeping up with 2 kids, the house, church, and everything else while still dealing with me. I'm blessed
• Playing basketball with some guys tonight. Good times
• Being an Alabama fan in Tennessee is not really that difficult. Especially when Alabama is rolling.
• Does anyone else's wife make things up?? They'll say you said something and you know it was never said??!! Thats frustrating.
• Tennessee fans remind me a lot of Arkansas fans last year. "Oh, how we hate our quarterback!!"
• I do miss the consistency of those Arkansas fans... Hearing those guys call the hogs even when they are down 4 touchdowns. Except maybe for Allen and Marci... They just looked disgusted:)

Words and Authority

We are in the middle of revival right now at the Nezer. I really don’t like saying it that way. I guess the better way to put it is that we are in the middle of a hopeful revival time. The preaching has been off the chain though. Bro. Adam is preaching a series of messages on the “Power of God”. Sunday night has been my favorite so far as he talked about the Power of God in the Holy Spirit. We Baptists usually do not do a good job when it comes to the things of the Spirit... so I was delightfully surprised as he preached a solid message on the power of the Holy Spirit. We forget that God is way bigger than all our thoughts and comprehension.

These messages have also sparked a desire in me to get back to reading the Gospels. The life of Jesus is full of displaying the power of God. So I am in Mark this morning and I get really excited about a passage I read: 1:22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

SLAM!! Mark is writing this and telling us that while Jesus was teaching, people were blown away. The word ‘astonished’ here is “ekplesso” which literally means to be overwhelmed with amazement. He taught with authority, or “exousia” which means supernatural authority. Heck yes it’s supernatural!! We are talking about Jesus!!

The funny thing here when you read this is that although people were amazed at Jesus’ supernatural authoritative teaching... it was nothing like what they were used too. They always heard the scribes teach and this passage in Mark leads us to believe that when they went to hear these scribes teach... they were just there listening. Nothing was happening in their hearts because the scribes were teaching with no authority. AND apparently they were teaching the Old Testament Scriptures wrongly since they obviously point to Jesus Christ and they were not getting it. There was a difference between the teaching of Christ and the scribes.

One of the reasons so many churches are not experiencing revival at this time is simply due to the horrendous, man centered, non-authoritative preaching in churches. So many messages focus on self-help, better your life themes and we lose the authority we are commanded to preach with. Titus 2:15 tells us- “Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” We are commanded to preach under the authority of Christ. We are not doing that when we read a text at the beginning of the message and the ramble on how to improve your time at the workplace for 35 minutes. Everything must be Gospel-Centered.

Why am I writing this?? I’m not totally sure, but here are a few of my suggestions (like they really matter):

1. Preachers, stick to the text. I promise you that there is no possible way you can come up with something more powerful, convicting, or profitable than Scripture. Read it, know it, exegete it, and preach it... with all authority because you are preaching God’s breathed Word instead of your own.
2. Believers, find a church where the pastor never leaves the text. You will be taught, rebuked, comforted, blessed, and edified when you sit under Godly, prayer-sought preaching.

Sweet Conviction

Man, it’s been a tough morning. I’m studying the Book of James right now, and it’s getting to me. God is just using His word to really humble me. You know those times in your life... When everything seems to be good. Good personal bible study, good relationships, good marriage, good health, good church, good pastor, good worship, good good good... everything just seems to be good. A lot of these could even be described as going great. It’s so weird to say that too since it was only a little over a week ago I was wondering if we would ever have a house, if John Timothy would be healthy, and if I was doing the right things. God has just really blessed me man... I mean insanely blessed me. So the moment I began to get a little too confident in my life, God directs my heart to begin studying one of the most difficult books in the Bible, James.

This Book should have one of those advisory warnings in the beginning. I do believe it is completely and divinely inspired, but would have it really hurt for James to go back to the beginning page after writing and re-reading this book to put a warning that reads something to the effect: WARNING!! This book will most likely reveal the deepest parts of your still dark heart and leave you feeling like complete crap?? I can’t imagine the look on James’ face after he wrote this and then went back to read it over. “Wow, umm... Lord? Do you think maybe we could lighten this up a little?? Talking about hardcore!!”

It’s so funny how God moves. I’ve spent the last few days pouring over the words in chapters 1 and 2. Here are some of my “Wow, that just slapped me in the face passages”:

• 1:2-4
• 1:6-8
• 1:26-27
• 2:1-4
• 2:10
• 2:17
• 2:19-20
• 2:26

To be honest, I could have just listed every verse in these 2 chapters, but I wanted to at least make sure I pointed these out to you. After studying this morning I just really became overly convicted of how dirty I am. Then after much repenting, I just became insanely thankful. The phrase “What sweet conviction” just kept exploding in my heart. You see, without this hard teaching in Scripture and without the conviction of the Holy Spirit... I would have just remained in my sin. I long to be holy for the God who called me is Holy. I’m in sincere thanks because God divinely inspired James to write this most difficult passage to swallow. Don’t run from tough passages. Don’t become depressed in your conviction. Rejoice, I say again Rejoice!! For the God who loves you and called you is simply sanctifying you for His glory. Oh what sweet, sweet conviction!!

Watch Your Mouth Boy

Mark Driscoll said one of the most profound things I can ever remember hearing come from a man’s lips at last years Desiring God Conference. The whole conference centered around words, speech, and the Glory of God. I still remember it so clearly. He said that once you speak a word... it’s out there. There is no retracting it. There is no bringing it back. It’s been spoken and there is no blessed delete button. For someone who talks a lot, that was a pretty hardcore statement and it hit me hard. I’ve always talked, but never did I realize how much I talked till Driscoll dropped the bomb on me. Talking is not a bad thing in itself... It’s just that the more you talk the larger chance you have to say something stupid. Oh, how many times has a word been on my tongue that I’ve known as soon as it left my lips that it probably was the dumbest thing I’ve ever spoken.

Proverbs is pretty amazing. I mean it is divinely inspired and all. The practicality of this book blows me away and it truly reveals God’s heart and desire for us to live pure, holy lives that glorify Him. Proverbs 10:19 has become my Proverb for today: When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

I haven’t said anything dumb today. My wife, who hears all of my word vomit, would be blown away by that proclamation. I’m just starting to understand that when speaking... less is more. Webster’s defines prudent as someone who acts with or shows care and thought for the future. I care about my marriage... I’ll speak prudently. I care for my ministry... I’ll speak prudently. I care for my children... I’ll speak prudently. I care for my friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, the lost, THE GLORY OF GOD... I’ll speak prudently.