jesus geek

So, as I had mentioned (read Introduction first), changes are coming to my life. Yes, we already have three kids and for those of you who know me, NO, we’re not pregnant again! In 2005, after almost a year being the worship leader at my church, I felt that something wasn’t right. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I felt that I needed to make myself available to whatever God had in store for me. That August, my wife and I left the church that I called home to search for what God was wanting in our lives. Little did I know that He was orchestrating something awesome and I was going to be part of it.

In October, I received an email from the Associational Missions Director for our county and he wanted to meet with me, along with some former band mates. We ate lunch at a local deli and he presented the plans for a new church called NorthStar… I was awestruck! Everything about this new church concept felt right. Right then and there, I told our AMD that I was all in and couldn’t wait to get started. He told us that there was a pastor in the area that had the same vision, dream and calling as us and he would be leading this new church. Wow… the plan was coming together.

Fast forwarding to 2011 again, after serving as Worship Leader for NorthStar Church on a volunteer and part-time basis for 5 years, God has made it possible for me to serve full-time doing what I love most. That’s great…Right? Sure it is! I’m totally geeked about it… and just a little bit scared to death too.

Everything I know is about to change. It looks like it will be June 1st when I will make the change to “full-time ministry”. I wanted to do the right thing at work and not shock them with a two week notice, so I gave them an 8 week notice. That oughta be sufficient don’t ya think? It was my option to set that date, partially to do the “right thing”, but also because I figured that after 8 weeks I would give God a little more time to think about it too in case he had second thoughts. Just kidding of course!

People have asked me for several years if I would ever want to be a full-time worship leader, and I’ve always said, sure! However, I never thought that it would come to be, so I didn’t really ever give it much more thought. But now, I find myself testing my faith. Can I really be about to do something this radical?

A question that has been on my heart for a long time is, what does it mean to be sold out to God? What does it look like when God has control of your life? How do I truly trust God? The truth is, when you start giving God the little things in your life, He wants more and more.

The White Flag has been raised… I surrender.

NSC Tech Booth

Future NSC Stage

NorthStar Church

During Easter Weekend 2011, NorthStar Church saw 65 people give their lives to Christ!  Over 1100 people came to worship our risen Savior!

They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-20

So, I’ve been around since April 4th of 1977… Growing up in Okolona, MS, my parents took me to the First Baptist Church there.  I can remember being in Sunday School around the age of 4 or 5 and each Sunday we “played church”.  Not in the spiritual sense, but we acted as if we were conducting the adult worship service.  I was the “preacher” [I read our memory verse from the bible] and my friend Josh was the “song leader”.  I’m not really sure how I was assigned the role of “preacher”, but I really wanted to lead the music instead.  It’s funny how things work out that way.

I come from a somewhat musical family; my paternal grandmother played the piano, both of my grandfathers played guitar, and my dad played guitar and organ, so surely I was destined to pick up a little bit of that… and I did.  I never have learned to read music, but I’ve been blessed with an ear for it.  I’ve learned a little bit of music theory along the way, and that’s helped make up for the rest.

We had moved to Verona, MS, and as I got into my teenage years I was part of the praise band at the First Baptist Church there.  I was the keyboard player for many years although I really wanted to be a guitar player.  I considered myself a much better guitarist than a keyboard guy, but again, it’s funny how things work out like that.

In 2004, a lot of changes took place at FBC Verona and I ended up being one of the worship leaders there.  What?!? Me?!?  Ok… so I can “do this”, but it’s just something I’ve been asked to do – no biggie… or so I thought.

So, if you’ve read this far, you’re probably wondering where I’m going with all of this.  Well, it’s now 2011 and I’m an IT guy for one of the South’s largest banks.  A lot of things have changed since 2004; things I didn’t see coming, but I thought I would share with you how life will be changing for me soon.