Bi-vocational Ministry



Yesterday, I met up with a pastor friend of mine for coffee. He introduced me to a gentleman who is an interim pastor of a church in Hampton. I really enjoy meeting new people, and talking with Randy was a treat; the 90 minutes went by quick. Randy is looking to get back to the mission field in Asia by end of the year and the church will need a man who can pastor and love them going forward. I asked questions about the church and Randy asked questions to see where I stand on important areas. The one question that I knew would come is if I wanted to be a bi-vocational pastor or a full time pastor. If you are reading this and don’t know, I’ve been a bi-vocational minister for most of my ministry life. In fact, in my opinion every Christian is called to the ministry and are to tell others about Christ. It’s only a select group of men who God calls to equip the church to be able to grow in their walks. These men are called pastor, elder, or bishop (all the same office of the church).

The answer to Randy’s question is yes; I’m willing to be bi-vocational and/or full time. In my mind, I’ll be full time even if I have to work a secular job to pay the bills. I’ve thought about this for a while now. I would pastor a church for no pay if it would help get a group of Christians growing in their walks with Christ and reach their community with the gospel of Christ. God would ensure I’m taken care of; I’m His child after all.

God has supplied me with a great job at Dollar Tree, where I get paid very well with benefits. I also am able to do church work at my desk if my duties are complete. While church planting and leading a Bible Study in Carrollton last year, most of the studies were prepared at my desk at Dollar Tree. I’m not robbing my employer; my boss told me as long as my work is done I can do whatever at my desk. I’m able to manager my days off to do church duties where I need to. Most churches can’t afford to supply medical insurance so having it through my job will be one less thing a church would need to try to provide; that money can be put back onto the church’s bank account and used to reach the lost for Christ.

Being bi-vocational has been interesting because I have to manage my time so I can earn a wage but also make sure the people God has entrusted me with are cared for. There are many challenges being bi-vocational but I love it because I see it as being on the front lines of the Spiritual war. I would go crazy if I was stuck in an office; I’ve been there and done that before. If I was full time as a pastor, I would spend more time at the coffeehouses, restaurants, parks, and other places meeting new people and showing them Jesus. Pastors are to lead by example and being in the secular world and serving Christ at the same time shows Joe Christian how to manage their secular job and their calling as a Minster in God’s army.

Who Am I?




I still am left in awe when God uses me for His glory. It amazes me He can and will use me to further His kingdom. I just finished putting together this Sunday’s sermon and it came together so quick and easy. God was putting things at my figure tips that I would need for the sermon; Bible verse, illustrations, and even graphics for the power point slides. It’s amazing; have I said that all ready?
God can easily use creation to proclaim His glory, but He chooses to use us humans. I can be so lazy and willful but He still wants to use me. He doesn’t need me; I need Him. I need Him for everything and He is always there to supply for my needs. That is awesome.
Thank you for your mercy; thank you for your grace, and most of all thank you for your forgiveness.

World View



I’m getting so sick and tired of the media parading same sex relationships. Another female star has announced that her long time girlfriend and her are “engaged.” It’s starting to make me sick. I’m totally for loving sinners where they are and loving them into the Kingdom. People do not care what you know until they know how much you care for them. The only people Jesus ever condemned in the N.T. were the Pharisees because of their attitude. As a child of God, I’m called to show people Jesus and the Holy Spirit is the One who shows people their need for a Savior. I think I’m more sick of the world view of our society.

The world view you hold determines how you react to situations. If your world view is secular, then same sex relationships do not bother you because it’s up to the individual to determine what they believe. After all, truth is subjective (not really but the world thinks so). Your world view depends on your starting point. If your starting point does not consist of God, then you will have a secular world view where anything goes. If your starting point does consist of God, then you will have a Biblical world view; where you pass everything through the filter of the Bible.

Our society’s standards have changed a lot since the early 1950’s. America is a religious country but a Christian country anymore. Our society preaches tolerance until someone points out something is wrong according the “The Standard” which is the Bible and that’s when the tolerance preachers become intolerant to what is right in the eyes of God. The Liberal media isn’t right nor is the left wing nuts who are trying to force feed their agenda to the American people. As a conservative preacher, I would not even say that the “Religious Right” is correct all the time either. As a Christian, I’m called to love people where they are. These people (if the Holy Spirit) is working on them will see their need for a Savior.

My starting point is based on the Truth. The truth is found in the God-Man, Jesus Christ. Since my starting point is based on Jesus, my world view is that of the Bible. I will proclaim the good news of Christ, love people as Christ showed me in the gospels, and point people to Him. When He forgives them of their sins and they become a new creature, I will be there to equip them to grow in Him. And as they grow in Him, they will repeat the process. I call it Spiritual Reproduction.

Muddy Buddy 2009

Last weekend Chuck Love and I ran in a race together. It was all about the fun and two friedns getting to hang out. Below are some photos from the race.

The water was cold but refreshing.

Mud should not hurt, but this mud pit left marks on the knees.

I'm finishing up the last rope.

Chuck happy to not be dead.

I'm checking to see how muddy I got.

Chuck is happy to be done.

I'm happy to be done with another race.

Chuck and I wanted to be cheesie.

For Men



Ephesians 6:10-13 teaches us that if you are a Christian man, then you are called into the battle of life. This is not an invitation. This is a command. For far too long, men have been on the sidelines, in the bleachers, or on the couch while the "spiritual forces of evil" have corrupted our culture, attacked our families, and infiltrated the Church. If you are a Christian man, then you are a leader. As faithful followers of Jesus Christ, we must become the sacrificial servant leaders that He modeled for us. We are to be His true ambassadors 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

It’s time for Christian men to get off our rears and “Cowboy the @#*% Up (Bruce Willis in “Tears of the Sun”).” It’s not up to the wives/mothers to instruct and lead the families; it’s the calling of us men to lead our families. Mark Discol in the early years of Mars Hill Church had young men not stepping up and being husbands and fathers so he had a special service for only the men of the church. In this meeting, he laid out what being a man truly means using the Bible and at the end handed all who attended a bag with two marbles saying, “Here’s your balls back.”

Boys learn to be men by watching the men in their lives. I encourage the men who attend our weekly men’s group to lead their families. We have a young man who asked me if it is alright for him to start bringing his one month old son to class. I know this is to give his wife a little rest before church, but I told him it’s never too early to teach a boy to be a man. Who knows, maybe these group sessions will stick with him. It’s time for the church to focus on getting men either back or get the men who are there involved. It takes a real man to love Jesus.

Little Eyes Are Watching



This morning, I received an e-mail from my sister, Wendi, about her 8 year old son Justin. The note reads, “Justin's school is having a run/walk today. They get prizes for the number of laps they can do in 30 minutes. This morning Justin was doing his stretch exercises like you taught him. He plans to run the whole time like his Uncle Tom. We'll see what he actually does.”

This note just reminds me of how important it is for us adults to be mindful of our words and actions around the little ones. Justin and I only ran together twice while they visited at Christmas. It amazes me what he took away from it. Justin is only 8 years old but because I took the time to show him something that interested him, he has applied to his life.

I tell the men of the Bible Study I lead on Sunday mornings, that men learn to be men by watching either their fathers or the men in our lives at a young age. In general, children are watching us; how we react to issues, discussions, and/or conflict. We should be mindful of our actions and words everywhere we go but especially around children. They are little sponges that absorb every little word. When little and learning, children want to be just like daddy and/or mammy. They will mimic everything we do. It’s amazing.

Last month, a friend of Teresa and mine’s father died from cancer. In his memorial, the son said that his father was the same in church as he was in the house. Since he practiced what he preached and walked the walk, the four siblings all doing something in ministry. We never know what lessons we are teaching though our actions. Remember, actions do speak a whole lot louder than words ever will.

Swamp Stomp Half Marathon Photos

Below are some photos Teresa and some friends took of last weekend's half marathon. I wrote down some thoughts in the post under all the photos. You can't see it but I sweat so much that I had salt above my eyebrows and the side of my forehead. It was awesome.

Looking fresh before the race starts. That blue cloth holds alot of water; it kept the sweat from my eyes.

People lining up for the race.

Entering the last 50 yards.

Making my way through the final few yards to the finish line.

Finishing another race.