a little bit of soap…

Today has been 12 years since my grandmother Virginia passed away. She was a major part of my childhood. She was a great woman that loved her family. I am thankful to have had a Godly woman as an inspiration. She would sit up in the front of the jewelry store in a rocking chair or those old airplane seats and just about every customer that came in would sit down with her for a few minutes (after she sold them jewelry ofcourse). They would talk about whatever they had going on at the time and exchange pleasantries. But she would never let them get out the door until she had told them about the Love of Jesus and what He had done in her life. She made them want what she had! This is one of the reason’s I am going to miss the jewelry store. The memories I have of growing up there, the memories I have of my Grandmother. The only vivid memory I have of her, I mean one that I can actually remember like it was yesterday was after she had her stroke. I was 15 and had just gotten my learner’s permit. and  an adult had to ride with me so that I could drive. It probably wasn’t the best decision giving the keys to the car to an inexperienced driver with a 70 year old woman that could barely walk riding shotgun! But nonetheless we were cruising thru Mableton. We left the jewelry store one afternoon to go pick up lunch in my awesome “champagne colored” 1991 Maxima… yeah I was hot! Anyway, we were driving back on Floyd Road and we were listening to a song called ” A Little Bit Of Soap” it’s one of those great songs from the 50’s by Garnet Mimms. I remember driving with the music blaring and seeing her out of the corner of my eye. She was dancing. and we were singing. She could barely talk because of the stroke, but she was dancing and singing. I will never forget that and I know that it sounds corny… it’s one of those you had to be there moments… but I really wanted to tell you guys a little about where I came from and why I am the man I am today. I hope that she would be proud of what I am doing. To quote the song: a little bit of soap will never wash away my tears…  I’ll never lose the memory of your name… I Miss You!

say what you need to say

I have been subscribing to Oak Leaf podcasts for a while and just had a chance to start  listening to them. Michael did a series called the Games Of Life. The particular message I listened to was “risk”. Something he said made me think… “God uses risk takers”. I thought, how appropriate. I have been a little stressed out lately as to whether I am going about this whole church planting thing the right way. Am I taking the proper steps toward the goal, am i moving too fast? I have no idea what I’m doing…  I’m not ready for something like this. This type of responsibility… Then Michael said this… Peter never attended a seminar on how to walk on water,  Nehemiah had never rebuilt a wall. They weren’t experts. they were risk takers and look how God used them…I am human and I am never going to be completely sure of anything I do. What I am sure of  is that I am taking a risk for God. So what’s He gonna do with that?

the canvas can do miracles, just you wait & see…

We finally decided on a name for the Church… Here it is… are you ready?Canvas Church… A Community Of Faith 

count your blessings…

So… I’ve always thought about helping feed less fortunate people on Thanksgiving. Thought about it, but never did it. I was hanging with my buddy Tanner this week and he said he was going to help out a mission downtown. I decided to go. I didn’t know what to expect. Todd, Tanner and I arrived there and just started unloading boxes of canned goods and frozen turkeys. We hung out with cool guys like Rickey & Bernard and women like Pastor Marian, Michelle and Mother King. This was a totally different experience than I have ever had and i really enjoyed it. It was sensory overload! Especially when the russian ladies arrived with their dog (don’t ask) Pastor Marian is a great lady. Before we began handing out the boxes she asked me to pray.. Then she asked Todd to say something about being thankful. I think I stole his thunder! I love ya man! Tomorrow as I am with my family and we are eating great food, i will remember the cardboard box full of canned goods and rice and peanut butter and jelly. I will remember the people who stood in line to get these boxes. Some of them high and I’m sure getting stuff to sell, Some of them genuine and  very humbled. I didn’t feel emotional or accomplished while I was there. I felt love.  I hope that something we may have done or said will encourage those people to be thankful tomorrow. I know I will be…Happy Thanksgiving 

thankful

I am thankful for picking up signs on the side of the road…