What I Am Thankful For...

I am thankful for many things:
- My family and my Life Church Franklin family
- Seeing God use people like me and others to make Jesus famous. It's humbling.
- Great worship music that sings of God's awesomeness, forgiveness and hand at work in our lives
- Turkey
- Being able to give back to others in many different ways.
- Awesome mentors and friends who encourage me and challenge me.
- The book of James. Awesome stuff there.

There is so much more. I just wanted to say here publicly that I am so thankful for my family, the Life Church leadership team, and each partner at Life Church Franklin who makes it a great church and that get excited about sharing the message of love, hope and forgiveness through Jesus.

I am thankful

Patrick

Is it God or money for me?

This week we explored whether we trust in God or money. This is so stinking tough to confront. Let's face it...our lives pretty much focus around money. How much we have, how much we need, how much we want. We want a raise or new job to make more money. We want more money. We need more money. This is a struggle, myself included. It's the country we live in. It's our world. But you know, we are not of this world. We are a new person, a new being in Christ Jesus. We no longer need the things of this world to make us feel good or complete or accepted. With Christ we already are.

Craig included this word from the Bible:

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:34

He went on to say that when you fall in love with Jesus:
- YOU BECOME STRANGELY CONTENT.
- YOU BECOME IRRATIONALLY GENEROUS.

I think God is so tired of our empty words. He wants me and you to be generous. He wants us not worrying about money 24/7, but how we are going to increase His kingdom.

I hope you were affected by this message. I know me and my family were.

Happy Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for.

Patrick

Practical Atheist - Week 3

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Ruin Me God

Can I just say that God is ruining me in so many different ways this week? I am constantly reminded of how big God is and that it's not about me it is so about Him. He has been ruining so many people this week...they have realized He is all they need...God is speaking huge truths that they are actually hearing for the first time...people are realizing the life they have is not for this world, it's for His kingdom....people are wanting to see others experience God the way they are experiencing now...
It goes on and on. When I talk about being ruined it so a good thing. God is tearing down walls and showing us the world we thought we had (money, houses, realtionships, etc...) is not what it's all about. It's about knowing the God that created you and His son Jesus that died and living your life in appreciation and whole hearted gratitude and admiration for it.
So are you ruined? Have you asked God to knock over your world and show you what He truly has for you? That's my prayer for you and me this week.

Patrick

Directions to Blakey Life Group

Blakely Life Group Driving Directions

Coming from town on Highway 28 North turn on Windy Gap church road and go ~ 3/4 of a mile to Sapphire Lane ( 2 brick pillars mark the entrance). Take a left on to Sapphire Lane and follow the road for 1 mile and the house will be on the left 1086 Sapphire Lane. There is one fork in the road when you turn on to Sapphire Lane but just keep left and follow the road to our house.

Be sure to check the church calendar for Life Group weeks as we meet every other week!

Practical Atheist Week 2 Thoughts

Yesterday's message with our current series was :
"I BELIEVE IN GOD BUT DON’T WANT TO GO OVERBOARD"

How many of us have honestly thought or even said those words? I would say just about everyone has at some time or level of context. It's hard not too. I mean doesn't the world make it seem enticing to just rely on your money and things? The reality is that God offers so much more than this world could ever bring to the table. The problem is, are you going to ask, want, desire more and more of God everyday? Or, are you going to say you know, want and love Him but not really have your heart and soul set on Him? Here's what the scriptures say about this very thing:

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Isa. 29:13

God knows if you're just giving Him lip service or if your heart is really in it. If you heart desires for the things that have eternal value. You can't fool God. I can't fool God. He wants more of you than what you're giving. Are you going to step up and do it or just keep being comfortable where you're currently at?

Think about it. Pray about it. Take action.

Be blessed,
Patrick

Practical Atheist - Week 2

Push play to begin...

Are You Who You Say You Are?

Practical Atheist, our new series, began yesterday and boy was it good. I don't really know how you put it all into words but it was challenging and refreshing at the same time.

Here is what a practical atheist is:
SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN GOD, BUT LIVES AS IF HE DOESN’T EXIST.

Think about that for just a minute. Is that you? Do you believe in God for convenience? Is he your "Get out of hell free card"?

Speaking in more detail Craig was able to explain what it is to fear God in terms that just about any one could understand.
When you say "fear God" so many people take the negative. You imagine this big person standing over you ready to beat you if you act up (sin). But that's not God. Understanding and knowing to fear God is a real understanding and appreciation of how big and great God really is.

Here's what Craig spoke and said you will do when you fear God:
-YOU’LL SERVE HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITHOUT ANY CONDITIONS.
-YOU’LL BE FOREVER RUINED (in a good way).

So do you fear the Lord, the awesome God that created you and me? Do you serve Him wholeheartedly? Are you ruined for Him, for His plans, for his will in your life?

It's time to stop being a practical atheist and serve God and know that He loves you to much for you to just get by.

(PS: God ruined me yesterday. No more convenience for me. It all or nothing.)

P

Practical Atheist - Week 1

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Election Blues?

Take a minute and read this blog post from JD Greear at Summit Church in Raleigh, NC. It's great perspective we need to have after our election this week. Whether you supported the winning canidate or not we need to have this outlook as Christians on our country. Pray for our leaders. Pray hard. Read the post here.

Called To Disciple

Yesterday was a solid message on the calling we all have as followers of Christ to disciple others. Craig finished up week 4 of our Kaleo series with "Called to Make Disciples". This is so perfectly demonstrated in our Life Groups. This is the perfect opportunity for you to disciple others and be discipled as well. We meet during the week right now at Mike and Renee McCall's house and will be adding more groups in the coming weeks. I hope you will make time to join a group every other week and just "do life" together. This is not an intense Bible study, but rather a chance to read God's word together, talk about life and support/pray for each other. It's a very rewarding time for everyone.
Here's what Jesus said:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…"
Matthew 28:19-20
So, how are you going to disciple someone today? At work, school, the gym and especially in your own home. Think about it, pray about it and do it.
Be blessed.
Patrick

Kaleo Week 3 - Called to make disciples

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