I’ve never been one to get stuck on titles.  I’ve held a lot of titles in my life time!  I’ve been president, vice president and secretary of a lot of different things.  I’ve been chairman and vice chairman of many different groups.  I’ve been called Doctor, Reverend, Mister, Sir, Master, Pastor, Preacher and some things that I can’t repeat!

My name is Michael Joe, which gets turned into Michael, Mike, Mikey, Joe, MJ and a couple of times I was even called Billy Jack!  My parents named me to go by both names Michael and Joe, which I have always said is an indicator of my true southern and country heritage!

I am sometimes known as Joy’s husband or Mrs. Harvell’s husband.  A lot of kids at school know me as Gracie’s Dad or Hope’s Dad.  A few for some strange reason think I am “Mr. Gravely!”  When I first started doing safety patrol, a lot of folks thought that I was the principal – Mr. Langston, but I am much better looking, just don’t tell him, it might hurt his feelings!  (HaHa!)

Three of my favorite titles are from my wife, girls and congregation and community! My wife Joy refers to me as her “Hunka Chunka Burning Love”, My girls call me “Daddy”, and my congregation and community when showing respect call me “Pastor”.

I want to talk for a moment about the last one = “Pastor”.  I am at the very core of my heart a pastor.  I used to shy away from any type of religious titles, but recently God has shown me that this was a position and title that He called me to.  I don’t need to shy away from it, I need to run into and embrace it, because it is near and dear to my heart!

Yes!  I am “Pastor” of Northwood Baptist Church and “Pastor” of people in and out of the church.  I walk with them, talk with them, study with them, pray with them, laugh with them and even cry with them.  As “Pastor”, I rejoice when new physical life comes into this world or new spiritual life enters into the Kingdom!

As “Pastor”, I mourn when physical life here on earth has ended and walk slowly with the remaining family to help them find the healing and peace that can only come from God.  As “Pastor”, I hold the hands of the sick, wipe the brow of the tired and serve whoever in whatever way that I can.

As “Pastor”, I teach and preach the Word that I know and trust can make life better.  I share the vision that God has shared with me and I give leadership to those that God has placed under my authority.

It is not an easy task, but one that I have been doing for over twenty years.  I am Pastor and I am thankful for God’s calling, gifting and blessing.  I am Pastor and I am thankful for the men, women, boys and girls that have and do make it possible.  I am Pastor and I appreciate you taking the time to notice and I really do appreciate your respect for this title that God has given!

While I was meeting and ministering to people in our community yesterday, I could not help, but to stop for a minute and think about how blessed I am to be a part of a church that allows me the amazing opportunities that Northwood does!  I not only get to be their pastor, but because I am their pastor and they love and support me, I get to minister to this community in real, meaningful and powerful ways!

I get to volunteer every morning at a local elementary school.  For 30 -45 minutes I get to work with a great group of kids, meet teachers and encourage parents by participating in safety patrol.  I think it is an amazing ministry opportunity and I really do look forward to it every day!

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I join men, women, boys and girls in doing ministry at Grace Place.  By being blessed with a second campus, we have had the opportunity to turn the walls of the church “inside-out” and really minister to touch people’s lives and make a difference!  We are not just doing ministry, we are doing ministry on purpose and with a purpose.  We are not just meeting needs, but building relationships.  It is not easy, nor is it glamorous, but it is very fulfilling and the new friendships that are being established must cause God to smile.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I get to work in the office with a pretty cool staff.  I am excited about the potential of helping them to succeed in their callings and appreciate the help that they give to me as the pastor and primary vision caster of the church.  I also get to spend time with volunteers and get to make visits to hospitals and people’s homes, where I get to spend time with people who I really care about.

On Fridays, I like to try to take the day off, if possible, but it is rarely possible.  I get to use this as a catch-up day for the things that I was not able to get around to during the week.  I usually squeeze in a visit or two and enjoy just letting God take me wherever it is that He wants me to go.

On Saturdays, there is almost always something going on or some event to participate in.  I love being with my family and we try to have some quality time together on this day.  Now that the weather is warming up, we are looking forward to some enjoyment of the outdoors!

On Sunday, I get to worship with the people who are my spiritual family!  It’s great and I really do love it.  I also get to study and apply God’s word with my small group, life class and I enjoy some of the sweetest fellowship with special friends that really do make my life better!

In the midst of all of this, I get to spend time with God and He talks with me, teaches me, guides me and grows me.  He helps me to put together messages that I get to share with the congregation that He has given me and I really have a hard time trying to come up with words that could even come close to describing how that makes me feel!

All of this is made possible in my life, because I get to be the pastor of a great group of people who are known in the community of Greer as Northwood.  I just wanted to say to you all – thank you for loving me, supporting me and allowing me the opportunity to do all that I do and experience the fulfillment and blessing that comes with it!

God Bless, Press On And Keep It Real!

Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Psalm 100:3

A great reminder that I need at least once an hour, every day of my life!  He’s God and I’m not! Pretty simple really!  A truth that I know, but that I keep having a hard time grasping.  The reality is:  I am not God and so I need to stop acting like it, accept reality and live in surrender to Him, because He is God!

He made me! I did not make myself and I cannot make myself today!  He made me and if He made me, then He has a plan for my life and what I need to focus on is discovering His plan and living for the accomplishment of that plan with everything that I’ve got!

I am His people! That really does bring me comfort.  I am one of the sheep of His pasture, this means that He is going to take care of me.  All I have to do is trust in Him and follow His commands!  I can do this and so can you, so let’s do it and have a great, blessed and productive Monday!