Man it's been a while since I posted.  I have been overloaded and have had so much going on.  Well, let's see....

This post is going to be about Church & Stuff.   I remember a few years ago when I went to a conference at First Baptist Church Woodstock with Pete Hixson, who was my Sunday School teacher at the time, he encouraged me to be who God made me to be and not to try to fit in.  He reminded me that God made me with certain passions and gave me certain talents and gifts and that I needed to be that person and do what God wants me to do without worrying about what people think.  That was definitely a great word from someone I consider to be a great friend.   You see, while I was showing up to FBCW in T-shirts and jeans with a litte sag in them, most of the men I saw were wearing suits, khakis and dress pants.  Pete also knew that I was very big into listening to Christian Hip-Hop and even doin' a little spittin myself and that wasn't EVEN CLOSE to the musical style of FBCW.  Don't get me wrong - it's not about the clothes and it's not about the music.  I was just different than the norm and he wanted to make sure I did not conform because God made me that way for a reason.

Soon after, Pete left FBCW to plant and pastor a church in Mableton called Vinings Lake Church.  The Lord led us to go with him and some others to be part of the launch team.  From a handful of people over three years ago to an estimate of (my estimate) over 400 per week, God has really done a lot through VL.  My wife Jennifer and I have had the privilege of working with youth in the church and outside of the church (a Bible study at a local middle school).  I will never forget the trips to Xtreme where we got lost in the woods and the time I did my "cheese" bit.  I was even asked by one of the students to baptize him.  The worship leader, Dave Riddle, and Pete gave me some opportunities to use my gifts and talents in working with the students as well as through rapping and other creative things God used me in.  Dave really has a way of leading worship with a little more of an edge to the music without making you feel like they are putting on a show.  You are just there worshipping the saviour.

The VL family has helped us tremendously through times of need and we have tried to pour into others as much as we could for the glory of God. Last year we went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic with the VL fam and it was great.  I just started smiling thinking of the little girl that my daughter gave her shoes to.   On two occassions, even in a village where they do not speak English, I rapped my song "That Cross" and the kids went wild.  I got to share with them through a translator what the song was about and I pray it was more than just a show, but that they were ministered to.  I was even able to share my testimony and then pray with a group of fellas who wanted to place their faith in Christ as their savior.  God is just way too good!

Anyway, God has used us, blessed us and grown us through VL.  There is something else going on...

Something burns in me and keeps me up at night.   It's something God put in me.  It's something he reminds me of every now and then, gives me a glipse of and tells me that it's coming.  It's something he says not to be anxious for.  It's something I couldn't really define but I knew I would know it when God revealed it.  I knew that my heart ached for people in the urban culture and that I wanted to be a part of what God was doing but I wasn't sure how.  Should I start something or just join in where God is working?  And if I am to join in, then where?  Then last year when Lecrae released the album Rebel, there was a song called Beautiful Feet that moved me to tears.  Yeah!  A rap song moved me to tears!  The song talks about people that may not even be from the hood planting a church in the projects.  It totally resonated with me.  But really, who in the world am I to plant a church?  Is anyone else planting a church that I can get in with?  I was still in the holding pattern but KNEW that God was working on me and preparing me for something.  Then in January I went to a preview service for Blueprint Church, a new church being planted inside the city of Atlanta.  There was a great vision cast and I left excited.  But I didn't get too excited because I wanted to be sure that this was the place God wanted my family to be...not a place I wanted to be for my own reasons.  My family and I went to the launch team meetings for Blueprint Church that started in July and it has become more obvious to me that this is where God is leading us.

I had a great conversation with Pete about this a few weeks ago and he was very understanding.  Why?  Because Pete knows that it is about the church as a whole and not just about one congregation.   God is going to use Blueprint in a different way than VL and in a different area of Atlanta than VL.   I am just looking forward to seeing all that God is going to do and I am definitely amped about being a part of it.  Don't get me wrong...I am gonna miss the VL Fam, but we will still be there until the end of the year on Sundays since Blueprint will be meeting on Saturday nights for a while.

And this is one of those Blogs that I can't figure out how to finish.  I am up and getting ready to go to VL this morning and excited about it while also excited about how God is going to use Blueprint.  Maybe I am just excited about being where God wants me to be, when he wants me there.  I think that's a good thing.

So that's what's going on and I thought I would fill everyone in.  Hit me up if you have any questions.

For His Glory.