Welcome Back!

Well, as you can see, it's been a LONG time since I've logged on here and actually posted anything. Mostly because the rest of life has been fairly jammed full of other time-consuming activities. So, let's give an update of 2010.

One, I am blessed beyond what I could've ever asked for with two loving daughters and my wife, Jessica. They are a breath of fresh air whenever I see them, and their love for me and one another is overflowing. Thank you, Jesus!

Two, it's been an absolute joy to be living out a dream with Jessica. She and I have been given the opportunity to write music and perform that music to thousands of area middle and high school students. God opened the door for "Jeremiah's Passion" to be formed at the end of 2009. In 2010, we have been given an amazing platform to preach God's word through our Christ-centric music. Our new album, "Throw Down" is in duplication and is set to be available by mid-January! You can visit our band website, www.jeremiahspassion.com, for more details.

Last, not every detail of 2010 has been through the roof. This year has been a difficult one in ministry. I've really been put through the fire with various circumstances I've had to walk through. However, Romans 8:28 says, that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." I can stand with confidence, trusting that my God is using all of the difficulties to work for his glory. There is a greater purpose that I don't understand. There is a bigger picture, and I am only seeing a piece of that picture. But in God's timing, it will be made known, and it will make sense. Relationships will be restored. Hurts will be forgiven. And God's ultimate plan of ushering in his kingdom with Christ as King will be played out. Because of that, I have nothing to fear.

So, thank you, Jesus. You are glorious! Looking forward to another amazing year of life, your servant, Jed.

I Will Follow...

So, I'm on my way out the door to work, which is new to our family, because for the past seven months, I've been working out of our home office, and my six year old daughter, Jules, decides that she's going to come with me today.

"No, honey, " I say in the most gentle tone I can speak in. "Daddy needs to go to work by himself today. You can come with me next week."

Well instantly like a leech, she attaches herself to my left leg and somehow holds on with the strength of Samson. I'm trying to wriggle my leg free from her six year old hands, but each time I would begin to come loose, amazingly she would take hold of a new appendage and refuse to let go. So now, I'm laughing hysterically and she's crying uncontrollaby. Finally I get loose, and I say more sternly, "Jules, you can come next week. Today I am going alone."

She responded with a sob, "I'll follow you!"

Well, I had one more thing to grab from upstairs, and when I came back down, I asked my wife where Jules went to. She said she didn't know and hadn't seen her since our little wrestling match.

Well, I know my daughter. "Come with me. I'll bet you anything, she's in the car."

Sure enough, there she was, sitting in the back seat, buckled up, and holding in a half smile as if to say, "Dad, I won this time..."

It's amazing to think of the determination my little girl had to want to be with me. She said, "I'll follow you!" and she did just that. It made me ask myself, "Is this how God wants us to follow him?"

Matthew 16:24 says ..."If anyone would come after me (Jesus), he must take up his cross and follow me."

Something to think about...

Sippy Cups and Doll Clothes

Sometimes, a sippy cup of chocolate milk just can't wait for Dad to finish pondering a passage of Scripture written by the Almighty. So, it's pause, put down the computer, get up, go to the fridge, get the drink, sit back down, regain your thoughts... Ah... back at it. And just when I've had time enough to move to the next point, the other daughter will come and need me to put on a pair of dolly pants for her... right now. It just can't wait. And the cycle continues... needless to say, this would often times make my work stretch into the evening hours, and I wasn't truly free to be a "dad" to my girls, and I wasn't truly free to be a pastor. I loved working from home, but it's been a challenge to be as productive as I want to be with our two little girls not understanding fully what it means when "Dad's working now."

So, here I am at our fantastic new office space on 1814 E. Broad Street. It's refreshing to have a place to come to and get work done. This shift will be a good one. I feel that the Lord will allow me to be more productive and enable our team to be more efficient. The end result, we'll be able to more effectively minister to the congregation and to the community of Statesville. And I'll have the time at home to get those sippy cups filled, and those dollies dressed.

Dirty Fish.

Today at church we talked about procrastination and how we should seek to not put things off, but be faithful with the small things we are entrusted with, so we can be considered a "good and faithful servant." Well, here is my fish tank (well, actually my daughter's fish tank, but I can call it mine, because I'm the only one to clean it).

As you can tell, this is not a sanitary place for a fish to live, let alone a fish so affectionately named "Prince Stefan Fishie." (Again, I'm just the tank cleaner and fish feeder, not the owner)

"Well done, good and faithful servant?" Er... I don't think I'll be entrusted with more fish anytime soon. :)

Beginnings...

In my attempt to be more with the times I have started my first official "blog." Ten years ago the word blog did not even exist, let alone be something as widely used to communicate with peers and others across the world. Anyway... Let me go ahead and share with some of you my vision for this blog of mine.

1. I want to use every medium available in our technological world to connect with people. I do not wish to be a pastor that shows up on Sundays and Wednesdays, shakes a few hands, gives a few hugs, then calls it a day. I wish for more intimacy than that.


2. I would like to pose some challenging topics that the readers can think about and possibly engage with one-another throughout the weeks.


3. Pastors are people... as real as anyone. We struggle with the same things everyone does. I'd like to share some of the insights I have with real life issues...

I'm sure if I was more prepared in my presentation, I could come up with the perfect 3-point sermon, but I'm just jotting down what comes to mind. Nothing too deep.

Lord, I do ask that you would use this site to create a network of people who love you and can encourage one-another as you've instructed us to do. Lead me in all that I post and write about. Let this blog not just be a page of gossip but one of insight and truth and life-changing conversations. Amen.