The Ladder of Spiritual Learning

To me, it often seems like I am climbing up a ladder that never ends with my spiritual learning. Lately, I have been listening to a lot sermons by David Platt, pastor of Brook Hills Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He has started a series of sermons on what it looks like to be joined together with a church family. God has really used these sermons to shape my thinking on how I continue to look at doing ministry at Bethel. I would encourage everyone to listen to his last message "The Gospel and Church Membership". Dr. Platt has become my favorite preacher right now and I believe everyone would be blessed with his messages.

During my time away from school for a couple months I have been able to do some reading which has helped me the climb the ladder in my spiritual learning. We are taking our deacons through the book What is a Healthy Church Member? by Thabiti Anyabwile. This is the second time I have read the book and both times it has really just encouraged me with how I should be teaching our church to be healthy members of Bethel. Two other books I have gone through either through my personal study times here at church, on bus trips for boys basketball, or on my day off are: Polity by Mark Dever and Passion-Driven Sermon by Jim Shaddix, both excellent resources that every pastor should read. These are just some really good resources that have been encouraging me on my journey.

This journey as Pastor, Husband, and Basketball Coach has been quite a journey the last several months, and I am having a blast. I am looking forward to continuing to learn more and more each day of my life. God Bless.

Doing My Best ...

I have been striving to do my best as a husband. I wonder sometimes why God placed with such a wonderful wife, then I remember that God is full of more grace than I can ever imagine.

I have been striving to do my best as a pastor. These first several months have been a lot on me becasue I have been trying to juggle everything and somethings are not getting the focus the should be. We finally have a youth pastor in place that I am very excited about, now I can start focusing just on being the Senior Pastor.

I have been striving to do my best as a student. Lately, I have realized that God expects much of my school work. This looks like one of the better semesters that I have had at Southern Seminary and hopfeully it will just continue to get better.

There are so many things on my plate, but God is allowing me to handle them as he sees fit. I hope Bethel can continue to grow and the God will get the best out of all of us.

Getting Settled In

It's true, I am to some extent (if possible) starting to get settled in as Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church. God has been very gracious to give me a church that is very loving and very caring. I hear Pastors all the time complain about thier churches and issues that are going on in the life of their church, here at Bethel those issues are very minute. We have been seeing more young people visiting our church and even some joining. I truly think God is going do something special in the years to come here at Bethel.

This is one of the greatest churches you will ever see, it might not look like it from the outside but once you're on the inside you understand what i mean.

We are in the midst at Bethel of interviewing and possibly hiring a Youth Pastor which will take a lot of stress of me. Please be in prayer for that, because I am extremely excited about the possibilities God has for this couple at Bethel.

Now, although I feel like I'm getting settled in a little as Pastor, I am only getting my feet wet as a husband. I have been every morning reading a few pages from the book The Exemplary Husband by Dr. Stuart Scott. It has really challenged me about how I so many times put my interest above my God's interst and my wifes interest. Good thing I have a precious wife that loves me and takes care of me.

It has been a challenging month with school, pastoring, running the youth ministry, and so many other things. Just this past week alisons grandma and my nephew Hudson were in the hospital. But, isn't it good to know our God is in control. As I was told that one of my former deacons Jim Ellard told my niece this past week "It's going be alright, God is going take care of us." Wow! What powerful words. So as i go about my day, week, and month, I will remember God is going take care of us.

This is a picture of me and my family a few years ago, what a great shot!

This is a picture of my niece and nephew last October. They have really grown up.

I feel blessed and I pray that you do too. May God bless you all.

For His Glory,

Joe

A Senior Pastor?

It's hard to believe that at the age of 27, having 8 years of ministry, that I have finally reached the point in my journey where I am now the Senior Pastor. I am both nervous and excited about this challenge. I plan on keeping this updated on a regular basis as I have a lot going on in my life now.

For His Glory,