NorthStar Church Blog

 

 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

Luke 5:28 (ESV)

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DECISION vs. SURRENDER

 

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between making a decision and surrendering? If NorthStar had chosen to do 30 Days of Decisions, it would have quite a different ring to it, wouldn’t it?

One of the clearest places this question reaches the heart is in addiction, because addictive substances and behaviors are often very difficult to simply decide not to pursue. The troubling reality is that a decision made now can be undone later. In fact, you can make ninety-nine correct decisions to turn away from addiction, but as long as the hundredth decision moves toward it, you find yourself right back in the trap.

How exhausting.

The primary mover in a decision seems to be myself. In surrender, it seems to be an outside force. Think of surrender on a battlefield. It is really one decisive act, not one hundred separate decisions.

You could argue that there are degrees of surrender. Perhaps it is helpful to surrender certain aspects of my will daily, especially the parts I know will benefit both myself and others. But on the other hand, I have found what could be called complete surrender to be the most freeing.

I do not have complete surrender in every area of my life. There are many areas where I wish I did. But in the few places where I truly have surrendered, it is marvelous.

I surrendered intimacy with any other woman when I got married. I do not wake up each day wondering, Should I stay with my wife? Should I leave her? For me, that was a one-time surrender.

I surrendered my life to Christ on Easter 2008 during Mike’s prayer at the end of the service. I do not question each morning whether I am going to follow the Lord. I am simply His.

That is why I say surrender is marvelous, though I fully admit it can also be frustrating. Decisions can feel like flipping light switches in your house. Complete surrender is more like jumping off a cliff into water. It is the irreversible nature of the act that makes surrender difficult to replicate.

In twelve-step programs, I would argue that the functionally greatest step is the third one, which says:

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Notice, it says made a decision, not made many decisions.

Similarly, Jesus used a simple phrase to invite people into surrender:

“Follow me.”

And Luke tells us that Levi left everything and followed Jesus.

Complete surrender.

Ask yourself:

HEART: Am I exhausted by repeated decisions in that one stubborn area where I just cannot seem to break through? Have I made ninety-nine right decisions only to stumble on the hundredth? Could that one area be calling me to do what Levi did and leave everything to follow Jesus?

SOUL: Am I willing to choose complete surrender instead of endlessly flipping light switches? Am I willing to make the jump?

STRENGTH: While complete surrender is a one-time act, the walk still continues. Wives still appreciate flowers. Jesus still delights in your prayers. Addictions require rebuilding what counterfeit comforts once stole. Am I willing to keep putting one foot in front of the other and continue walking from this place of surrender?

May you go in peace today, surrendered to what is good.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Galatians 2:20 ESV

 

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Curt Bowen is a husband, father, and group leader who loves engaging in apologetics, theology, and good BBQ. A thrill-seeker at heart, he enjoys roller coasters and has an appreciation for snakes—just not the conversational type.

 

 

“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 5:32 (ESV)

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SHAME vs. REPENTANCE

 

What does it mean for something to be wrong? The challenge is that there are many ways we use the word wrong, and they do not all carry the same meaning.

The quarterback called the wrong play. Then they drew a penalty for lining up in the wrong formation. They would have had a first down, but the receiver ran the wrong route. None of these uses of the word indicate doing something morally wrong, yet we often treat them as if they do, don’t we?

Can’t you just picture the receiver after the play, frustrated with himself because he ran a post route instead of a crossing route? Maybe it cost them the game, and suddenly something appears in his consciousness that was not there before:

SHAME.

And shame does not always come from within. Can’t you almost feel the awkwardness in the room as the Pharisees scrutinized the tax collectors and sinners? Sometimes shame is handed to us by people who think their righteousness gives them that right.

It is in vogue to demonize shame, and for some good reasons. Shame can be a crippling emotion and hold us back in many areas of life. I have even sat through seminars declaring that we should never feel shame whatsoever. Those seminars were completely secular, which led me to a larger theological question: should we ever feel shame?

Let’s add one more detail to our football story. The receiver, upset with himself, suddenly grabs the cornerback’s facemask, rips off his helmet, and slams it to the ground. Before, we were talking about wrong in the sense of being functionally wrong or procedurally wrong. But now the wide receiver has done something morally wrong.

As I left that seminar and reflected on what I know from Scripture, something occurred to me:

Shame and repentance are not the same thing.

Shame is an emotion. Repentance is an act of the will.

Shame is the man walking down the street toward the familiar drug house and all the sins associated with it, muttering to himself, “I’m such an idiot. Why am I doing this again? I’m worthless.”

Repentance is him stopping in his tracks and saying, “No more.” Then turning and walking back toward the sober living house.

It seems to me that shame is clearly inappropriate in several situations. That man who has turned around and is walking back toward sobriety should not continue beating himself up. If you are forgiven and have repented, shame is no longer the appropriate response.

Nor should the tight end condemn himself because he lined up in the backfield and drew a penalty for illegal formation. Functional and procedural wrongs do not warrant shame.

The problem with shame is that it is an emotion, and emotions can be wildly deceptive. We can all picture the hardened criminal on death row who feels no shame, while also thinking of the mother working tirelessly for her family who seems to feel it constantly.

It seems to me that the time shame is most appropriate is when it precedes true repentance, whether at salvation or after salvation. Even then, whatever grief is experienced is far outweighed by the benefits of turning back to God.

That secular seminar declared that we should feel no shame. The implicit reason seemed to be this: at rock bottom, there is no right or wrong, so why feel bad if moral wrongs do not actually exist?

But moral wrongs do exist, and deep down, we all know it.

If you are saved by the blood of Jesus and have repented of your sins, then shame is a lie you no longer have to believe. What that secular conference asserted, you can declare with even greater confidence because Jesus provides what they could not: the means to remove guilt and free you from shame.

As a Christian, you can not only be free from shame, but uniquely grounded in that freedom.

Ask yourself:

HEART: Am I suffering from unnecessary shame? Do I feel it when someone honks at me, even when I have done nothing morally wrong? Listen to the voice in your head. Do you beat yourself up internally? Would you ever allow someone else to say to you what you say to yourself?

SOUL: Am I feeling shame because the Holy Spirit is asking me to repent of something morally wrong that I have done? Remember, the world will tell you that shame can be defeated either by denying the wrong or by outperforming it. But the only thing that truly cleanses wrongdoing is Jesus.

STRENGTH: Do not let sin linger. Repent quickly, because repentance turns grief into peace.

May you go in peace today, surrendered to repentance and then freed from shame.

“For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.'”
Romans 10:11 ESV

 

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Curt Bowen is a husband, father, and group leader who loves engaging in apologetics, theology, and good BBQ. A thrill-seeker at heart, he enjoys roller coasters and has an appreciation for snakes—just not the conversational type.

 

 

²⁷ After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” ³⁰ And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”  

Luke 5:27, 30 (ESV)

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SIGHT vs. SCRUTINY

 

I’m guessing you’re looking at a phone, possibly a monitor or tablet. Take a brief moment and notice: do you see a blank dot in your vision? It should be about the size of a grapefruit held at arm’s length.

Don’t see anything? Good. It’s not there for me either. But technically, it is there for both of us. Your whole life, that grapefruit-sized hole has been blocking what you see every day. It exists because there is a blind spot where the optic nerve attaches to the retina. There are no photoreceptors there, no rods, no cones, no information passed on. So why don’t we see a blank spot?

The brain has a remarkable way of filling in what it believes is missing, almost like the paintbrush tool in Adobe Illustrator. So instead of a hole, you see the full canvas. What an incredible tool our brains are.

However, that raises a question: if our brains are so magnificently designed that they can fill in missing information about the physical world, are they capable of doing the same elsewhere?

The Scriptures contain several instances of Jesus simply seeing people. He saw Levi and asked him to follow Him. Similarly, He saw Nathanael and Zacchaeus. Now contrast that with the sight of the Pharisees:

“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

There is no denying that the people at the party were sinners, although it is worth mentioning that you could ask that question of anyone, including the Pharisees themselves, because all of us are sinners. But what I find more interesting is the part about eating with tax collectors.

It is certainly true that tax collectors were looked down upon because many of them helped themselves, sometimes generously, to the taxes they collected. But I find it hard to believe that all tax collectors acted that way. It is similar to assuming every used car salesman is trying to cheat you.

The Pharisees were seeing reality mostly correctly. Jesus was eating with sinners and with a professional group known for corruption. But Jesus’ response is brilliant. This is one reason why, when non-believers read the Gospels, Jesus is so often described as a captivating figure. He responds:

31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

He did not bend reality. He did not deny their accusation. He filled in the blind spot.

When I lack information about a person, my brain often fills in the missing space. Sometimes correctly, sometimes incorrectly. The wonderful thing about God is that He knows only truth and all truth. What may be an illusion to me is seen plainly by God.

The Pharisees had a grapefruit-sized blind spot labeled “sinners and crooked.” Jesus had a blind spot filled with “sinners in need of repentance.”

Ask yourself:

HEART: How do I see people I do not know? Where might my blind spots be showing up on social media, in the news, or in real life?

SOUL: When I stand before God, He sees me without a blind spot, every part of my story. The parts I hide, the parts I am ashamed of, and the parts I have forgotten are all seen plainly. Does the way I see others reflect the way God sees me? Am I willing to ask Him to fill in my blind spots with truth rather than assumption?

STRENGTH: This week, before forming an opinion about someone online, in the news, or in your neighborhood, pause and name what you do not know about them. Practice saying, “I do not have the full picture here.” Then act toward them as if the missing information is generous rather than condemning.

May you go today in peace, surrendered to God’s sight.

“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV

 

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Curt Bowen is a husband, father, and group leader who loves engaging in apologetics, theology, and good BBQ. A thrill-seeker at heart, he enjoys roller coasters and has an appreciation for snakes—just not the conversational type.

 

 

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

John 8:36 (NLT)

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JUST ACCEPT IT

 

At some point in your life, you have been mistreated. Someone has lied to you, stolen from you, physically hurt you, taken advantage of you – or worse – done one or more of those things to someone you dearly love. As painful as it is, forgiveness is the only way to move beyond it.

Sometimes we resist forgiveness because we do not want to let someone off the hook. We would rather harbor resentment and quietly long for them to get what is coming to them.

As difficult as it can be to forgive the pain inflicted by others, there is one offender we often have an even harder time releasing: ourselves.

We think, “Jesus can forgive what they have done, but I cannot accept His forgiveness for what I have done.” And the devil will continue whispering that lie in your ear.

You might say, “I have destroyed relationships. I have caused irreparable harm to others. I have disappointed so many people. I just cannot forgive myself.”

Here is the good news: you are right, you cannot forgive yourself, but Jesus forgives. You simply need to accept it.

Instead, our tendency is to hold ourselves captive, replaying our failures and reminding ourselves how badly we have messed up. Jesus does not want that for us, and He was not crucified so we could live under the weight of self-condemnation. He took on our sins and bore the ultimate penalty so we would not have to.

Are there consequences for our actions? Yes, and they can be crippling. However, Jesus calls us to do three things:
• Confess our sin
• Repent, which means turning completely around
• Lock eyes with Him daily

When and where possible, we should do our best to reconcile with those we have hurt, but there is no guarantee that reconciliation will always happen.

It is important to remember that it is Jesus’ death and resurrection that forgive us and give us hope. Punishing ourselves for past sins accomplishes nothing for the kingdom, but it does give the enemy an advantage.

If you find that you are unable to move past the hurt you have caused others and unable to accept Jesus’ forgiveness, please tell someone. You can certainly speak with any of our staff at NorthStar Church, and we will help you discover the freedom found in Christ.

Pray: Lord, I have a tendency to be hard on myself when I mess up. Help me turn to You, confess my sin, abide in You, and find the freedom only You can offer. Amen.

 

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C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy.

 

So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

Luke 5:19 (NLT)

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PUT UP A FIGHT

 

Consider the lobster: a red, strange-looking crustacean with pinchers and antennae. It is an expensive menu option, but sure is yummy with some drawn butter. Okay, my stomach might be growling as I write this.

Here is an interesting fact about lobsters: if placed in a cage with the lid removed, one lobster can escape. But if two or more lobsters are in the cage, escape becomes nearly impossible. Instinctively, lobsters will often grab and pull down the one trying to climb upward.

Spiritually lost humans can be a lot like lobsters. They do not want someone else to escape the darkness and find the light. As the saying goes, misery loves company. This is just one of many reasons you may feel resistance when you are trying to climb your way out of sin. The enemy, and sometimes even your “close friends,” may want to keep you right where you are.

With this in mind, the story unfolding in Luke becomes even more remarkable. We find a group of men determined to get their friend, who is paralyzed, in front of Jesus. They first try the front door, but the crowd is so massive they cannot get inside. Undeterred, they climb to the roof, remove the tiles, and lower their friend down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus (Luke 5:19).

While the paralyzed man is a major part of the scene, he is really a supporting character. The friends are the heroes. In fact, Jesus tells the man, before he is ever healed, that his sins are forgiven because of his friends’ faith. Wow.

My good friend Steve Roach once talked about the importance of living in Christian community, having people who love you enough to keep you close to Jesus. Steve said, “To know whether or not you are in community with believers, ask yourself, ‘Who would I have to fight through to walk away from the Lord?’”

We all need those people in our lives, people like the paralytic’s friends who will bring us to Jesus and who will fight to help keep us there.

If you are fighting to get in front of Jesus, perhaps you are surrounded by lobsters. Do not let them pull you back into the cage. Instead, look for someone you can trust, someone who will help you find an audience with the King.

Pray: Jesus, help me become the kind of person who points others to You and, when necessary, fights to help them get in front of You. Amen.

 

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C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy.

 

²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29-29 (NLT)

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REST STOP

 

I just returned from a great getaway with my wife. We went on a cruise, which was fantastic, but we had to drive a long distance to and from the cruise port. If you’re like me, you want to get to your destination as quickly as possible. That means eliminating unnecessary pit stops and consolidating the important ones to minimize time off the interstate.

One of the greatest things about interstate travel is the rest area. You do not have to exit and drive to a sketchy convenience store. You simply ease off the ramp, take care of business, and get back on the road. Glorious! But who are we kidding? For most of us, these are not really “rest” areas. They are quick and convenient bathroom stops and grassy patches where the dog can go potty.

The truth is, we are in desperate need of rest.

One of the best things about my vacation was that I was truly forced to rest, and I had no idea how much my mind and body needed it. When I am home, I do not make much time for rest. I have far too much to do and even more to think about getting done. No doubt you are the same.

In today’s passage in Matthew, Jesus is exasperated. He has denounced the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, saying they have not repented of their sins despite seeing many of His miracles. He then prays aloud, thanking the Father for “hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever.”

It is after this admonishment that Jesus extends an invitation for the ages: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Could it be that the façade these people had built created an unbearable weight? Is it possible that those who thought so highly of themselves were actually overwhelmed on the inside and exhausted from pretending?

Jesus offers you that same invitation right now. But to experience His rest, you must stop pretending you have it all together.

Get real with Him, and let Him begin filling the empty places in your life with goodness, peace, and joy.

Pray: Lord, I am tired, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Help me stop pretending I have it all together, and teach me to lay my anxiety, stress, and burdens at Your feet. Amen.

 

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C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy.

 

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

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VOICES IN MY HEAD

 

You’ve likely heard the phrase, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” As a parent, I worked tirelessly to put guardrails around my kids and the influences they were exposed to. Of course, I couldn’t control all the people they spent time with; however, my wife and I made sure to ask plenty of questions. Over time, both of our boys learned that fewer questions were asked about the friends and families who aligned with our beliefs and way of living. As a result, they generally chose to spend more time with those groups.

As adults, the exact same thing is true. The influences we allow into our lives, minds, and hearts will have a profound effect on the way we live and, perhaps more importantly, the way we think. Here are just a few examples of “voices” that can creep in and begin shaping us from the outside-in:

• Who we spend time with: friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances in everyday settings
• What and who we listen to: radio stations, podcasts, YouTube videos, and reels
• Social media: who we follow, the rabbit holes we go down, and the debates we engage in, passively or actively
• TV channels, programs, and series
• What we read: books, blogs, Scripture, and devotionals

As we approach the subject of “How to Surrender My Past,” it is critical to evaluate the voices you are giving an audience to. When you survey the list above, take inventory of which influences are drawing you closer to Jesus and which are pulling you away. Be honest.

• If you find yourself thinking negatively after doom scrolling, take a step to clear your mind and fast from social media for a day, or maybe longer.
• If you notice that your language does not honor the Lord when you spend time with a certain group of people, it may be time to boldly create some distance between yourself and those influences.
• If you find your heart beginning to chase unhealthy things after binge watching several series, pray about other ways you can spend your evenings.

It won’t be easy. And the enemy will hand you every excuse to rationalize your way out of making positive changes. Remember, Satan, along with friends or acquaintances who do not have God at the center of their lives, does not want you to live a spiritually healthy life. He would rather neutralize you and lull you into complacency.

Don’t fall for it. Instead, get in the Word to heal your heart, seek the Lord in prayer as food for your soul, and find ways to look beyond yourself to help and serve others as a way to strengthen your faith.

Then take one more giant leap: invite a trusted friend to help you with accountability. Your future self will be so glad you did.

Pray: Jesus, I want You to be the greatest influence in my life. Help me tune out the harmful voices I allow into my mind and tune in to the voices that lead to true joy. Amen.

 

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C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy.

 

17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19 but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” 21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

Luke 5:17-26 (NLT)

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WHO ‘HE’ IS

 

We’ll spend some time this week examining Luke 5:17-26 and exploring how we can surrender our past to Jesus. But before we go there, I’d like to put first things first. In order to surrender our “stuff,” we need to understand to whom we are surrendering it.

Luke writes in verse 21 that the religious leaders asked themselves, “Who does he think he is?”

And that is the question you and I must answer before we ever reach a point of surrender. From a purely biblical perspective, Jesus is God’s one and only Son. See Bible. He came in the form of a baby (Christmas, right?), grew up with parents Joseph and Mary, and was a skilled carpenter. As an adult, He was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, and recruited 12 men to serve as His disciples. His earthly ministry lasted approximately three years, during which He performed miracles, loved the unlovely, thinned out the ranks of His own followers, and thoroughly frustrated, even angered, the Pharisees.

These religious leaders simply refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. They had formed their own image and ideal of what the Savior would look like and how He would act. Instead, they plotted to kill Jesus in order to preserve their foothold on religious power and to stop His movement, which ultimately backfired on them.

While the Pharisees were blinded to Jesus’ divinity, you and I have been given the opportunity to seek and see Jesus for who He really is. When we acknowledge that we have fallen short because of our sin and recognize our need for a loving Redeemer and Savior, Jesus becomes everything to us.

HEART: Read Isaiah 61:1-7 and Gospel of Luke 4:14-21, reading them one after the other. What encouragement do these scriptures offer you?

SOUL: Pray: Jesus, I acknowledge You as God’s one and only Son. Thank You for dying for my sins and for being my Lord and Savior. Help me to live daily with confidence in Your plan for my life, to obey when it is difficult, and to love unconditionally as You love me.

STRENGTH: How can I give and serve today in a way that reflects Christ to others?

 

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C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy.

 

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16

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SURRENDERING MY WALK

 

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Quite simply, Dave Griffith loves getting to know Jesus better by studying His Word daily and is passionate about teaching his siblings in Christ how to study His Word as well. He is passionately in love and like with his helpmate, Jackie; and is most fulfilled when he is hanging with his 10 kids (3 of his, 2 of Jackie’s, 3 are married, 2 more spiritually adopted) and 9 grandkids. He is a small group leader and a men’s group leader. He is a serial entrepreneur owning or having owned numerous businesses. He also enjoys naps!