The Holidays Are Here!

I hope everyone had a great Thankgiving with friends and family.

I took my family to my parent's house for Thanksgiving. It was good to see my brothers and the rest of my family. Mom put on a spread. I probably committed the sin of gluttony today. If I didn't, I came close. After lunch, Jenny and I, along with my kids, went to the church and decorated for Christmas. It was nice spending the day with them enjoying the holidays. The church looks great... thanks to my wife and her decorating skills.

The holidays are shaping up to be great. Looking forward to Christmas!

2nd Place

I entered a corn hole tournament at First Baptist Church in Portland with friend Paul Read last night. There were 32 teams and we finished 2nd! I would like to thank Greg McCoy (FBC's pastor) for hosting the event. It was a great night of competition. There is nothing like a good game of corn hole!

Light The Night Update

It was an awesome night. Thanks to Pastor Ty and Lisa Crowder for hosting such a great evening. We don't have an exact count of tonight's attendance, but my guess would be over 150 guests (adults and kids) plus our workers and their families. Our volunteers were amazing. Thank you for giving your night to ministering to the kids and families of our community. Only time will tell what was accomplished.

Coming Soon!

I got some amazing news today. I can't share it right now... but hopefully in the near future. Need your prayers in the meantime! Thanks.

Final Words at LFF!

Tonight was good! I really enjoyed hanging out with my church family and sharing the Word of God! I preached a message called, "Final Words." We finished up our walk through the book of 2 Timothy. Chapter four lets us hear some of Paul's final words to Timothy, as well as to the church. It's true... the preacher gets the message before the church does! I was challenged by Paul's words. If you didn't get a chance to be there tonight... read 2 Timothy 4. It will cause you to live up, not down!

Lazy Saturday!

This has been an awesome Saturday! When the week has been busy... it's nice to slow down even if it is for a day. Jenny and I have not left the house. We have been hanging out with the kids and enjoying each other's company. Days like this you cherish. Parents... spend time with your kids. Give them a day! You won't regret it!

LFF Announcement Blog

Living Free Fellowship put up an announcement blog today! We call it... News & Views! This blog will keep up with all the upcoming events and activities of LFF and give you the latest on who, what, when, where, and why! Plus, there will be follow-up reports and updates on the events and activities after the fact. Stay connected! Check it out at http://www.livingfreefellowship.blogspot.com/

A Day At Home!

Today has been a good day! This is the first full day that I have been home in several weeks. It was nice to be at the house. I spent the day working on my honey-do list. My youngest daughter, Teagan, stayed home with me while Jenny went to work and the other three girls were at school. She helped me do several of my projects. We picked up the house, put supper in the crockpot, mowed the yard and then we tackled trimming the hedges around the front of the house. I was on the trimmer and she was on the rake. It was awesome to see a four year old rake the entire flower bed out by herself and have fun doing it. I thought for sure she would give up after a few minutes and go ride her bike, but not her. She stayed with me until we bagged the last of the trimmings. She was focused! I was blessed to have such a wonderful helper today. Yes... this has been a good day! You cannot beat family! There is nothing like it!

God or Men?

Today has been an interesting day. As I sit and ponder what has transpired over the past several hours it is easy to ask the question... Is church about us or about God? I would have to say... God! He thought of it, He established it, and He will build it. Our job is to be faithful to what He asks of us. Where is He leading? What is His next step for our lives or the local church we serve? If we will be faithful to Him and not seek our own agenda... we will find His direction and His blessing.

My thoughts go to Galatians 1:10 where it says... "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." (NASB) I seek His will, not my own! If I will but find myself listening to Him and doing what He asks rather than just listening to the voices around me... I will soon realize I am simply a tool (bond-servant) in the hands of a Mighty God, building a great church. Be encouraged and keep advancing!

2008 Vacation Pictures

I was just going through some old pics of last year's vacation in San Antonio and I thought I would share a few with you. Enjoy!

Media at LFF

Check out the new changes at Living Free Fellowship.

VBS Son Rock Kids Camp

This has been a great week of Vacation Bible School at Living Free Fellowship. We took our kids camping (at church) at Son Rock Kids Camp. It has been awesome to see our kids enter in and enjoy learning about Jesus. We've had a great turn out from our church and our community. We look forward to seeing our guests in church with us on Sunday.

Our leaders have done an extraordinary job this week. They have done above and beyond by actively involving themselves in the lives of our kids. I believe it has caused all of us to see ministry to children differently. It is such a vital ministry in the church. We are blessed to have great people who work and volunteer in this capacity. Thank you for all you do week after week and in those special moments like VBS! It is truly appreciated.

Five great nights of ministry! We look forward to what God will do with this week and the kids who came.

Kid's Camp 09

I just got home a few hours ago from Kid's Camp. I had the opportunity to go with my two girls this year... so I took it!

It's amazing to watch over 300 kids worship and seek the face of the Lord. The days were fun, but the nights were incredible. Vance Martin was the speaker and he did an extraordinary job with the kids. He kept their attention and poured the Word of God into their life. We had 21 first time salvations at camp this week, along with 63 kids filled with the Baptism in the Holy Spirit for the first time. One of those kids was my oldest daughter. YES! I had the privilege to be praying with her when she received the Baptism! I am blessed! God is good! I am thankful for what God has done this week in the lives of kids, but especially what He has done in the lives of my daughters.

If you haven't sent your kids to camp... do it! What a special place to get alone with God!

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!

We took 32 to the Sounds game tonight at Greer stadium. It was a great time with the church as we visited around a baseball game on a beautiful night in downtown Nashville. I think it is great when a church loves coming together as a body. Whether it be Sunday morning at the church or an activity in the town, each moment together strengthens relationships. It is wonderful to see our family growing together. Thanks to everyone who came out. What a great evening.

Life in a TuTu

I love watching my girls play. My youngest two have put on tutus and are doing ballerina dancing in the foyer. The older is showing the younger how to turn with her hands up in the air and she is getting frustrated because my four year old is not listening. She is doing her own thing. Totally funny! One of the keys to life is to learn to enjoy the 'moment' like watching your kids play. Life is too short to let those moments go by without noticing them. Pay attention and enjoy!

Grass and Rain

Have you ever done yard work under a lightening-filled sky? I came home this afternoon and mowed the yard. When I started weedeating, the sky started rumbling and then flashes of lightening began. With a new found motivation, I hurried to finish the yard until I began to feel a few drops of water. I still had grass on the drive so I ran to the garage and grabbed the blower and cleaned off the drive as the rain began to fall. I was able to clean the drive off before it became permanently stuck. I didn't get a chance to weed eat the front but at least I have a freshly cut and watered lawn! My word of advice is don't work on your lawn during a storm. It's not a good idea. I blame the heat... I wasn't thinking clearly. That's my story and I'm sticking with it!

A Night of Praise

It was a great night at Living Free Fellowship as the church came together and spent the evening in praise to God! Devin Williams came and ministered in music along with giving his testimony. I am overjoyed by the response of our people and the purity of their praise. God is good! Thanks to all those who supported by coming out and making it a wonderful evening. Keep praising Him! He is worthy.

His Presence

We had a wonderful service today at LFF. When people hunger and thirst after righteousness, they will be filled. God moved in a great way as people found themselves at the altar during worship and simply gave themselves to Him. God doesn't hide from us. He doesn't avoid our call. He longs to be with His people. Those who are saved are His! Come before Him with expectation. Know that He is God and He will answer. He is good and His mercy endures forever!

Child Labor

I am amazed by my kids. They have been helping their mom clean the house all day. When I got home this afternoon, my oldest was vacuuming my bedroom. She had vacuumed the whole house. They also dusted their rooms, put away their toys, and decluttered their space. My youngest took me into her room to show me how she had fixed her bed by arranging her pillows and stuffed animals. I am proud of them. God has given us some great kids. Jenny and I are very thankful.

Missions and LFF

We had a great service this morning at Living Free Fellowship. We had Jack and Delores Simon, Missionaries to Colombia! I've known Jack for 23 years. I met him as a student while at Greenbrier High School. He was the youth pastor at Millersville Assembly of God (now Living to Go). He was our Youth Alive director for our high school. We met at his house every Wednesday to pray for our school and our Bible club. It's been years since those days, but he still has the same passion. He loves Jesus! We were blessed today by his ministry. May God continue to bless his ministry in Colombia!

Beep and Sleep

This morning at 3:45 AM I was awaken with a series of beeps from my fire alarm. Apparently, the battery in the alarm in my bedroom was dieing. When it dies, it beeps and it won't stop until the battery is changed even though it's hard-wired to the house. So... taking my wife's vanity chair from the bathroom and climbing up on the chester drawers with a battery taken from another source in the house (because we didn't have any extra 9-volts), I changed the alarm's battery though tired and sleepy.

What do you do when the unexpected comes? I don't have any profound answer. My answer is simply respond! Respond with prayer, respond with faith, respond with action! God is our Source. Seek Him, know He is there, and follow His direction. God will never let you down. Life happens... but so does God's plan if we are listening.

Don't stress... don't complain... don't worry... just respond with God! Change the battery!

Easter

I have a few reflections from this morning's Easter service. The first is, Jesus is the Lamb of God. Second, He is our Loving Savior. And third, Jesus is the King of Glory. Do you know Him? Or, have you missed Him? My prayer for you is that you KNOW who Jesus is and who He can be in your life if only given the chance.

Easter Eve

I'm looking forward to Easter and what God has for Living Free Fellowship. It is going to be a great day in the Lord. Devin Williams will be leading worship for us and I will be preaching a sermon entitled, The Jesus We Missed! I hope to see all our church family there with guests. If you are a reader of my blog and if you do not have a church home, I would love for you to attend tomorrow at 10:00 AM in Portland, Tennessee. We serve a Risen Savior and He is in the world today! Come and celebrate His resurrection with us. HE LIVES!

Francesca Battistelli Concert

We went to see Francesca Battistelli in concert at Opry Mills Mall on the entertainment stage. My girls enjoy her music and her ministry. The concert was about thirty minutes in length. She did a good job. I've included a few pics so you can feel like you were there with us. My girls got to meet Francesca at the 94.1 The Fish booth and got her autograph. They were excited! It is a blessing to have people like Francesca who live their life for Jesus in public and out loud. I want to expose my girls to people like that. Check her out here!

The Climb

I took the girls to see, 'Hannah Montana the Movie' today! It was about a girl finding her way back home (to Tennessee, might I add). It was a good movie with a good moral. I like the idea that life is about the climb. So true! In her song, The Climb, she talked about keeping the faith as you move through life. I don't know if she meant the song to carry a spiritual theme, but as a Christian it inspired me to keep living, keep pushing, keep climbing... don't worry about the other side just yet... it will come... it will get here... we all look forward to the day (I know I do! I find myself thinking about it a lot these days!)... but until then... keep climbing! Don't forget about today and the life God is calling us to NOW! Let us serve Him with all we are.

Good Friday

Easter is upon us! Today, we celebrate Good Friday. Not so good for Jesus, but good for you and me. I am thankful for the cross. I am thankful for a Savior who loved me enough that He stepped away from the majestic and walked into the mire to get me. The cross was the bridge. The cross was my ticket out of my old life of sin into my new life with God.

On Sunday we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In a tomb for three days and now He forever lives. This is the hope of all Christians. Death does not have a hold on our lives... we will live forever with our Savior. But, it all depends on what you have done with Jesus. The relationship begins at the cross. God has been good to us. Maybe that's why it's called 'Good Friday'. The cross is the beginning of a good life for you and me. Don't miss it!

God at Work!

As a pastor, it is always a joy to see people respond to the Word of God. We had two walk the aisle this morning in response to the Word giving their heart to Jesus. May God continue the work He started this morning in the lives of these two people and may these two commit to the work God desires to do in their lives.

The Lord is building His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

Spring Cleaning!

We had an all-church work day at Living Free Fellowship today! It was a great turn out. There were over thirty people who came out to help get the church ready for Spring. We cut the yard, trimmed the hedges, the trees, the underbrush, mulched the flower beds, painted the church sign, decorated the entry way, spring cleaned the inside, changed out light bulbs, repaired our water feature in the front yard, and broke bread together at lunch. I am so proud of all who came out. They worked so hard and stayed three hours beyond the scheduled time of departure (everyone). They have done an incredible amount of work. It was a joy to work side by side with them as we cleaned up God's house.

On a side note... if you are going to be outside in the sun for eight hours... wear sun block! I'm just saying! Ow!

Tennessee District Council

The Tennessee District Council begins tomorrow night and will continue through Wednesday. I look forward to attending and catching up with our Tennessee pastors. Pray for this year's council. May God pour His Spirit out on the men and women who serve His church. Let us all come home changed and ready for whatever God has for us and the churches we serve.

Great Service!

God never ceases to amaze me! I truly enjoyed service this morning at Living Free Fellowship. The presence of God was rich. Devin Williams did a great job leading worship this morning. He ushered us into the presence of the Lord. I finished up our series this morning entitled, "Church at Work!" We had a lady walk the aisle this morning and give her heart to the Lord. I am so proud of her and what God has done in her life. It was through tears that she made a commitment to Jesus. My heart rejoices along with heaven. I anticipate what God has for the weeks and months to come.

A Finished Work

I cut my yard for the first time this season today. I almost let it get out of control. The trimming almost took me as long as actually mowing the yard. The good news is it's finished! It's comforting to know something is finished.

In just a few days we will be celebrating Easter. Easter represents a finished work! Jesus redeemed a lost world by giving His life on a cross! As He hung between heaven and earth he made the statement, "It is finished!" He accomplished what His Father sent Him to do and now He sits at the Father's right hand. He lives! He reigns forever! It is finished!

What needs finishing in your life? Is there something you need God to accomplish in you? There is no better time than the present. God is able if you are willing. Start today before it gets out of control.

Cherish Your Kids!

I can't believe my youngest turned four today. My littlest is not so little anymore. They grow up so fast.

It has been another birthday "week". We started on Sunday at Granny's house with cake, balloons and presents. Tonight was the dinner and a movie with the family. We had a great time hanging together. I had the privilege before bed to sit with her and ask her about the day. To hear her talk about today and watch her eyes as she recounts the day is simply amazing. I am honored to have spent time with her today.

The blessing doesn't stop there... I am blessed not by one, but four beautiful daughters who call me daddy. God has been good. Let me encourage you to cherish your children. It doesn't matter if they are 5 or 35... cherish and love them. I can't say enough about my own.

The Park

Had a great day today. The church came together under the banner of children's ministry at the park. We played on the jungle gym, tossed the pigskin and had a picnic. It was awesome to spend time with my family and my church family.

The Forum

This past week has been amazing. I had the privilege of going to Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida to The Forum. The Forum is a leadership conference geared toward businesses and churches. Speakers included: Mark Rutland, Henry Cloud, Matthew Barnett, Bill George, Patrick Lencioni, Tim Sanders, Dave Ramsey, Erwin McManus, Craig Groeschel, Megyn Kelly, T.D. Jakes, and Jack Welch. All amazing! My brain is on overload. It was the best conference I've been to. I have many things to process from this week. I truly have been challenged. If you get a chance to go in 2010... go!

The Day

It's been a great day with the family. We loaded up all the girl's bikes and went to Sanders Ferry Park. I took the opportunity to run about a mile while the girls chased me on their bikes. We finished out the day playing on the play equipment and sand box. It was good to get out and enjoy the 78 degree weather. I'm looking forward to Sunday. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead tonight. Have a wonderful evening.

Let God!

I'm always amazed at what the Lord can do if we will get out of the way and let Him work. I so appreciate the spirit of unity at Living Free Fellowship. God's presence was rich this morning. I watched as tears ran down the face of our people as they lifted their hands toward heaven crying out to the Lord. Only time will tell what was accomplished in the lives of those in attendance. Only time will tell what will become of those moments in God's presence. I know God is able. He is able to do above all that we ask or think. I pray that we will be changed. I pray it will become less of us and more of Him. I look forward to where the Lord is taking the church. He is faithful... I pray we will be!

Living Free Fellowship & Facebook

I opened a group today on Facebook. It is called Living Free Fellowship. It is an open group so anyone can join. It is just another way to connect with a great church and an awesome group of people who call LFF their home. We look forward to seeing you join. By the way... if you don't have a Facebook... follow the link and join in.

Philippians 4:4-8 (NASB)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Supersonic Life

This week has gone by so fast. Why is it that when you get older life speeds up? It was never this fast when I was sitting in Algebra class in high school. I know I still have the same minutes and hours in a day as when I was younger, but it seems to go by at supersonic speed. It just lets me know that everyone is moving closer to the end of their life. How we spend that time now determines where we will be when the end comes. There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. Live your life with no regrets and no compromises. It goes by too fast for us to correct after the fact. Live it right the first time. Make the decisions everyday to live your life for the glory of God and not the glory of man.

XXXXOOOO's

It's been a great day with my honey! We celebrated this afternoon with several of our couples from Living Free Fellowship. We went to Kabuto in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Amazing food and lots of it! Thanks to all the couples who attended. We enjoyed your company and we are grateful for your friendship. I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day!

In Memory of Deborah Grizzard

A good friend of mine and Jenny's passed away on Friday, February 13th at 3:20 PM. Ms. Debbie Grizzard went to be with the Lord after a hard fought battle with various complications. She will be greatly missed. Our prayers are with her daughter, Jessica, and her extended family.

So Live!

A long day, but a good day!

Everyday we have good and bad handed to us. It's easy to complain about the bad and forget about the good. If we know that our day comes with good and bad... Why not embrace the challenges and face them head on? Be encouraged that Jesus walks with you. We don't have to face life alone. Instead of defaulting to the bad, focus on the good and rejoice! Don't let the enemy steal your joy. Life is meant to be lived... so live!

The 5K is Coming!

This coming May is the Strawberry Festival in Portland. Every year they have a 5K to kick-off the day's events. I've decided to put my running shoes on! I started my exercise routine on Sunday and continued tonight. Getting started is never easy, but it feels good when you are finished. I'm looking forward to the run along with the road that gets me there. I hope to see you in the race.

Super Bowl Party

We had an all-church Super Bowl Party tonight! It was awesome. The people of Living Free Fellowship never cease to amaze me. We had 46 people come out to the party. I would guess 80% of the church was present the whole game. The attendance for our first 'church' event was awesome. Special thanks to the Read family for hosting the event in their home. I think we made it through the night without any breakage or spills... that should be a record in itself. Thanks to all the church family for coming out and being a part of the evening. It was a great night of fellowship.

The Steelers won, but the Cardinals were playing two games. One against the Steelers and one against the referees. They had their chance, but the defense let it go in the last two minutes. You win some, you lose some. Congrats to Pittsburg!

Jenny and I are blessed and grateful to pastor such an awesome group of people.

The Snow Day

We got our first real snow of the season today. It was nice to look out the window this morning and see the snow blanketing our yard. Our kids were more excited when they heard they didn't have school today (two days out and counting).

The snow happened to fall on Wednesday. It put me in a precarious situation about whether to have church or to cancel the service. After discussions with a fellow pastor in Portland and a few church folks, it was unanimous... we canceled church along with others in the community. We came to the decision to err on the side of caution than to put someone in jeopardy on an icy road. With the roads wet and temperatures in the teens and low 20's with possible freezing on the less traveled roads in Portland, we made the right decision. It's never easy to dismiss church, but it was for the right reason... we want to keep our people safe.

I went into the office for several hours today and then back home for an evening with the wife and kiddos. It has been a great evening. I always cherish the opportunities I have with my family. I'll admit it... I'm a family man and proud of it. Maybe the kids will get one more snow day out of the deal. We can only dream!

18 Kids... Wow!

Have you every watched the show on TLC... 17 Kids and Counting... The Duggar Family! They just had a new kid this past December... #18. I guess they have to change their name already. This family is unreal but interesting to watch. I could not imagine the patience these parents must have with that many children. I wish them all the best!

The Kids

There's nothing like sitting back and watching your kids play. Their different personalities, temperaments, and energy levels are interesting to say the least. As I write they have blindfolded Rylie and she is following her sister's voice through the house. It's just a matter of time before she cracks her nose on the wall.

They are fully entertaining. It's never boring around the Morris home!

I Have A Dream

Martin Luther King Jr...

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' "

Happy MLK Day!

Time

Time goes by quickly. January is half over and the year has soundly begun. What will you do with your life? Will this be the year you make new steps toward God or will you remain where you are? God waits on you.

2009 is Here!

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! 2009 is going to be a great year. May God richly bless you and your family this coming year.