All posts by mjharvell

Welcome, friend—I’m glad you’ve pulled up a chair on the front porch of my little corner of the internet. My name is Michael Joe Harvell, and I live my life with one simple mission: to glorify God, encourage people, and leave this world a little better than I found it. I’m a husband, father, pastor, writer, Jeep enthusiast, and front-porch thinker who believes that life is best lived on purpose. I serve as pastor of Eureka Baptist Church in Anderson, South Carolina, where I get the joy of preaching, teaching, and walking with people through the ups and downs of everyday life. Over the years, I’ve discovered that faith isn’t just about Sunday mornings—it’s about living every single day in the presence and power of God. I’m also an author. My books—including The Grace Exchange: How Forgiven People Forgive People and The Word Works—grow out of the sermons, stories, and lessons I’ve learned on this journey. I write in a style that’s conversational, a little front-porch-rocking-chair, and full of stories, quotes, and Scripture that point us back to the goodness of God’s Word. When I’m not writing or preaching, you might find me sitting outside with my Bible and journal, cruising the backroads in my Jeep Gladiator, or sharing a meal and some laughs with the good folks God has put in my life. I love helping people find peace in their spirit, strength in their body, and encouragement in their soul. This blog is simply an extension of that mission. Here you’ll find devotions, encouragement, reflections, and practical insights for living a life of purpose, peace, and joy. So grab a cup of coffee, pull up a rocking chair, and stay awhile—I’d be honored to walk this road of faith with you.
Book Review, Uncategorized

“Transforming Church In Rural America: Breaking All The Rurals!” By Shannon O’Dell

“Transforming Church In Rural America: Breaking All The Rurals!” By Shannon O’Dell

I have got to say that I was very surprised by this book!  I have read many books about transforming, revitalizing and growing the church, and while many make bold promises, very few actually succeed in what they advertise!  I had never heard of Shannon Odell, but was intrigued by the title and knew that I had to read this book.

This book is the story of Shannon O’Dell’s call from ministry in the city to ministry in the country.  He tells how God has used and is using him and a growing handful of faithful to do just what the title says:  “Transform The Church In Rural America!”

If you have ever pastored, then you will relate almost immediately to much of what the author talks about.  I enjoyed the way he made his points by sharing his personal journey and the journey of the church/churches to whom he gives leadership.

Shannon goes to great lengths to help the reader know and understand the values that shape a growing rural ministry.  This book encourages the reader to consider the various possibilities of where God has called you to serve.  It will motivate you to think about, dream and pursue with greater passion the call of God upon your life!

The book is divided into three sections.  The first deals with the way it all began.  It helps the reader to see that while it is not easy, it is also not impossible to grow the church to make a difference in the community and world.  The second section lays out and provides the values that help to shape rural ministry into church with purpose and potential for growth.  The third section provides the reader with the structure necessary to maintain and sustain the growth of a ministry that desires to reach up and out.

This is a very interesting book.  I enjoyed reading it and especially appreciated the conversational style in which it was written.  I believe that it would be a great help to anyone who is serving in any type of ministry and an encouragement to anyone that loves the church and desires to see it do more and to do it better!

Disclosure: This book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishing for review purposes only. I was not required to give a positive review or compensated in any fashion.

Growing, Personal, Uncategorized

One Thing!

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I am a big believer that small things have the ability to have a big impact in, on and through our lives.  On the days when I can get myself to focus on what really matters, I do the small things and my life is better for it!  If you think about it, then you have to know that it is true for your life as well.

You may be thinking:  “Yes, but my problem is not the small things, but the big thing that I have to get done!”  Have you not realized that most big things are really a series of small things clumped together?  Figure out what those small things are and start taking them on one at a time and before you know it, you will be accomplishing the purpose for which you were created for!

Take a few moments today to make a “One Thing List!”  Put on this list as many of the “one things” that you can think of.  Seriously – Get a piece of paper and a pen and start making that list!  Now that you have your list, look at it and pick the top three things that need to be done and that you believe you can do today.  Got your top three?  Now go to work on #1, then #2 and finish with #3!  If these did not take you all day and they probably won’t, then make a new list of three and go for it!

A question that I will sometimes ask myself when looking at my list is this:  “If I could only get one thing accomplished today off of this list – what one things is the most important and would make the most difference?  That is usually the thing I tackle and when I am finished, I find that I am motivated to take on even more!

Hope this helps you!  Go get your one thing!

P.S.  Comment, DM me on Twitter @mjharvell or inbox me on Facebook and let me know what your “One Thing!” is for today and I’ll say a prayer asking for God’s blessing on your success!

Uncategorized

Steps Out Of Depression!

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This past week, I asked the people in my small group to pray for me, because while most people see me and I appear to always be up and ready for anything, the reality is that I am sometimes facing and fighting depression!  I have not been clinically diagnosed, but I know myself pretty well and I know the symptoms.  Every person handles it differently and there are a lot more people suffering with depression than realize it and are willing to admit it.

This should not really be a surprise to anyone that knows anything about pastors that love God and love people.  Our love drives us to the very edges and sometimes over the edge in an attempt to show and prove that love!

In the September/October 2000 edition of Physician Magazine, Dr. Walt Larimore, vice president of medical outreach at Focus on the Family, along with Rev. Bill Peel reported, “surveys indicate that 80 percent of pastors and 84 percent of their spouses are discouraged or are dealing with depression. In addition, more than 40 percent of pastors and 47 percent of their spouses report that they are suffering from burnout.”

The truth in my life is this:  The only thing that keeps me going a lot of days is my relationship with God through Jesus Christ!  I would have thrown my hands up and quit life a long time ago, if it wasn’t for the sustaining power and amazing grace of God that continually flows into and through my life.

Here are some steps that I am taking as I seek to allow God to heal me and give me victory:

1.)  Admission is the first step to real healing! If you don’t admit and acknowledge that you have a challenge, then you cannot really overcome and experience victory!  Just my getting it out, so that my family and friends know it and having the knowledge that they are praying for me, makes a huge difference!  It is not the only thing, but it is a very important thing!  It lets me and them know – I am not Jesus, just simply one of His servants and that’s okay!

2.) Unloading The Truck Is Important! When I talk with people who are living in frustration or depression, one of the things that I will encourage them to do is “unload their truck” by just getting out of their system and off their shoulders all that is bothering them!  This is hard for ministers, because we can’t do this with just anyone.  This is why it is very important to invest some time in building some trusting relationships with people who will allow you to unload your truck.  This is hard work, but well worth the effort in the long run and it’s the long run that matters!

3.)  Make time for physical exercise! Repeated studies have shown that cardiovascular exercise is very beneficial, because it boosts the level of serotonin, which is the neurotransmitter that regulates mood.  Most of us do not think we have the time to exercise and if something has to be cut from the agenda, then this is usually what gets cut.  We cannot minister effectively and powerfully, if we don’t take care of ourselves.  Make the time even when you don’t see or feel the value.  Physical exercise is working inside and out for your healing!

4.) Rest And Family Matter More Than You Realize! Most of us ministers do not know how to rest and relax.  Our heart, spirit and mind tend to get stuck in the on position!  Even when we are sitting in a chair or laying in bed, it does not mean that we are resting.  And when we are spending a little time with family and should be relaxing, we are often doing everything, but relaxing!  This is something that we have to retrain ourselves to do!  When you are in a chair, in the bed or spending time with family, you have to make yourself think about doing it right and not on auto-pilot!  God gave you rest and family, so that you could be replenished with the good stuff of relaxation and relationship.  Don’t miss what God gave you!

5.) Spiritual Discipline Has To Be More Than The Motions! I saved this one for last, because this is one that we can fool ourselves into believing that we have taken care of!  Just because you are going through the motions, does not mean that you are doing anything of significance for yourself or the Kingdom.  Make sure that your devotion time with God is about your growing in relationship with Him.  There is nothing that can give you what this gives you!

You may not consider yourself to be a minister, but these five steps will help you, if you take them.  Let’s take these steps together and be amazed at where God takes us!