Let it be Known!!!!!
August 27 2005
On the interstate the LEFT LANE is for faster traffic. The RIGHT LANE is for slower traffic. In the event that you must talk on your cell and drive at the same time please use the RIGHT LANE and NOT the LEFT LANE!
Thank you.
Clintos
Thank you.
Clintos
24/7
August 22 2005
What have I learned the past 8 months since being on staff at BABC? What has God been showing me since I've been a Youth Assistant for Chris? Ministry is not resigned for designated nights throughout the week. There were times not too long ago that I treated my walk with Christ as if I was working at a factory. I would clock in my time card on Wednesday nights and clock out as soon as the message was over. I would have three days off until Sunday so I would make like a car out of gas and coast on into Sunday. Going through worship running on fumes. All the while I was a car that needed major engine work. Engine in this case equals HEART. I had a ravaging cancer in my heart that was destroying me. The caner of SELF. Selfishness is to the heart as the Road Runner is to Coyotee. Cue song: "It's not about YOU..." It's NOT about US!!! Calling all know it alls, spoilled rotten punks, comfortable Christians, the harsh speaking, the oblivious, the unaware, the brats, the image consumed, the person that is destraught that they aren't in a relationship, the person that won't let go of past hurts and pains and everyone else (including myself)...It's NOT about US!...YOU...ME...
Then who is it about? J-E-S-U-S. Serving Him 24/7. Loving Him above all else, wanting to please Him more than anyone else (anyone includes YOURSELF), and counting people better than youself. I hate to be cliche but I will anyway...I need to examine my heart everyday. You need to examine your heart everyday. Can we get a MOTIVE CHECK?
Ministry is 24/7. There is no clocking out for the true lover of Jesus Christ. Pray for me because there are times when I want to clock out. Pray against the "ME CANCER" that desolates my heart. Ministry is 24/7. Our Christian friends need us to help them find the way, they need us to be prayer warriors for them and they need to see us putting our faith into action. Our Christian brothers and sisters and the ones' still in darkness need to see us passionate about the King we serve.
Ministry is 24/7. Have you clocked out?
Then who is it about? J-E-S-U-S. Serving Him 24/7. Loving Him above all else, wanting to please Him more than anyone else (anyone includes YOURSELF), and counting people better than youself. I hate to be cliche but I will anyway...I need to examine my heart everyday. You need to examine your heart everyday. Can we get a MOTIVE CHECK?
Ministry is 24/7. There is no clocking out for the true lover of Jesus Christ. Pray for me because there are times when I want to clock out. Pray against the "ME CANCER" that desolates my heart. Ministry is 24/7. Our Christian friends need us to help them find the way, they need us to be prayer warriors for them and they need to see us putting our faith into action. Our Christian brothers and sisters and the ones' still in darkness need to see us passionate about the King we serve.
Ministry is 24/7. Have you clocked out?
Paint the Town 05: The Bronx.
August 05 2005
It's been 4 days since we got back from Paint the Town. Already the allure of laziness has matriculated down upon me. Forming a weighty puddle upon my body I, praise Jesus, shook it off yesterday. It's good to be dry. Wiping myself off I write this blog.
What can I report back to you, the reader, of what happened at Paint the Town? I can only tell you of what I experienced. My eyes were my camera and these words are the footage of my account of what God did through others and through me.
God is in control. His hands are on the steering wheel. He is the Commander in General, the President, the Architect, and the Director of ALL directors. This meaning that He is in the process, has been in the process, and will continue to be in the process of rescuing people from sin for His glory. The part that we as a team played to bring about His glory was to tell people what He is and has been and will be up to. Enter my conversation with, Tony. The guy in the picture I'm with below.
photo from clint
This is Tony and I talking about his life at the Block Party at Paint the Town.
Tony's story is that like many people you might know. Put in the person your thinking off in place of Tony and I'll bet that you've heard of his story before. Tony is from the Bronx. Born and raised. 37 years old and missing freedom in Jesus Christ by 18 inches, that is from his head to his heart. He knows about God, prays, has a roserary, says all the right things but can't say that he puts his life and trust and hope in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. See his father died 5 years ago and at the height of his grief his long time girlfriend and mother of his child decides to leave him along with their baby. Why? Because he, "needed to f****** hurry up and get over his sadness and f***** move on," Tony's girlfriend told him. This is the point where you probably are villianizing his girlfriend. DON'T! Before you read on please pray for her and ask that God would break her of her selfishness and come to know Jesus.
Don't read on until you pray for her.
That situation was 5 years ago. Today Tony is back on his feet. He is living with his Mom and has a job and wants to be there for his son, Tony Jr. (6 years old). He also wants his girlfriend back too. However, she wants Tony back but has another guy on the side who she sees as well. Tony is driven and focused on one thing...to win back his old girlfriend by getting a better job and better car. Thus, showing that he is capable of supporting his son and her. That is a good goal to have. Realistic and obtainable. When I asked Tony about what would happen if doesn't work out the way he wants it to he replied, "It's okay I'll still support my son. If it don't work out then God has other things for me." Tony is your sterotypical tough spirited, resilient New Yorker from the Bronx. His refusal to lay down and be defeated inspired me. Then God led me to ask him this question, "Tony, how do you get that strength, where does it come from?" Tony said, "It's how we was raised as kids. See I'm know lazy ***. My kid won't have no dead *** father for a father." "Tony, do ever get tired of being strong?" I said. "It's hard sometimes, yeah." I then told him about my life and the trials I went through and how Jesus lifted me up and rescued me and that He wanted to do the same for him too. Tony just shook his head to affirm me. I have never wanted anyone to "get it" more than I did for, Tony.
As our conversation closed after about an hour and a half Tony said some things that I will never forget. "Clint, you are different. I never told these things to anyone else before. I don't have any friends to tell the things I told you about. Thanks man for listening to my ****. Means a lot that you a stranger, some guy from Tennessee would want to listen to me a guy from the Bronx about his problems." Praise our King that He gave me the words to speak to Tony. Praise our Father that He gave me the love to listen to, Tony. Before we went our seperate ways Tony hugged me. It was a hug that had within it so much hurt and pain. I felt as if it had been a long time since someone had hugged him before. It was in that moment that it hit me about the seriousness and magnitude of how important it is to show Christ to EVERYONE. You never know when God will place in your path someone who is hurting and needs to receieve a touch from Jesus. I pray that you will be on the lookout for a "Tony" and love on that person as you yield yourself and heart to Jesus (John 3:30, John 15:5). "Make the most of every opportunity" (Col. 4:5) for His glory (1 Cor. 10:30) my friend.
What can I report back to you, the reader, of what happened at Paint the Town? I can only tell you of what I experienced. My eyes were my camera and these words are the footage of my account of what God did through others and through me.
God is in control. His hands are on the steering wheel. He is the Commander in General, the President, the Architect, and the Director of ALL directors. This meaning that He is in the process, has been in the process, and will continue to be in the process of rescuing people from sin for His glory. The part that we as a team played to bring about His glory was to tell people what He is and has been and will be up to. Enter my conversation with, Tony. The guy in the picture I'm with below.
photo from clint
This is Tony and I talking about his life at the Block Party at Paint the Town.
Tony's story is that like many people you might know. Put in the person your thinking off in place of Tony and I'll bet that you've heard of his story before. Tony is from the Bronx. Born and raised. 37 years old and missing freedom in Jesus Christ by 18 inches, that is from his head to his heart. He knows about God, prays, has a roserary, says all the right things but can't say that he puts his life and trust and hope in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. See his father died 5 years ago and at the height of his grief his long time girlfriend and mother of his child decides to leave him along with their baby. Why? Because he, "needed to f****** hurry up and get over his sadness and f***** move on," Tony's girlfriend told him. This is the point where you probably are villianizing his girlfriend. DON'T! Before you read on please pray for her and ask that God would break her of her selfishness and come to know Jesus.
Don't read on until you pray for her.
That situation was 5 years ago. Today Tony is back on his feet. He is living with his Mom and has a job and wants to be there for his son, Tony Jr. (6 years old). He also wants his girlfriend back too. However, she wants Tony back but has another guy on the side who she sees as well. Tony is driven and focused on one thing...to win back his old girlfriend by getting a better job and better car. Thus, showing that he is capable of supporting his son and her. That is a good goal to have. Realistic and obtainable. When I asked Tony about what would happen if doesn't work out the way he wants it to he replied, "It's okay I'll still support my son. If it don't work out then God has other things for me." Tony is your sterotypical tough spirited, resilient New Yorker from the Bronx. His refusal to lay down and be defeated inspired me. Then God led me to ask him this question, "Tony, how do you get that strength, where does it come from?" Tony said, "It's how we was raised as kids. See I'm know lazy ***. My kid won't have no dead *** father for a father." "Tony, do ever get tired of being strong?" I said. "It's hard sometimes, yeah." I then told him about my life and the trials I went through and how Jesus lifted me up and rescued me and that He wanted to do the same for him too. Tony just shook his head to affirm me. I have never wanted anyone to "get it" more than I did for, Tony.
As our conversation closed after about an hour and a half Tony said some things that I will never forget. "Clint, you are different. I never told these things to anyone else before. I don't have any friends to tell the things I told you about. Thanks man for listening to my ****. Means a lot that you a stranger, some guy from Tennessee would want to listen to me a guy from the Bronx about his problems." Praise our King that He gave me the words to speak to Tony. Praise our Father that He gave me the love to listen to, Tony. Before we went our seperate ways Tony hugged me. It was a hug that had within it so much hurt and pain. I felt as if it had been a long time since someone had hugged him before. It was in that moment that it hit me about the seriousness and magnitude of how important it is to show Christ to EVERYONE. You never know when God will place in your path someone who is hurting and needs to receieve a touch from Jesus. I pray that you will be on the lookout for a "Tony" and love on that person as you yield yourself and heart to Jesus (John 3:30, John 15:5). "Make the most of every opportunity" (Col. 4:5) for His glory (1 Cor. 10:30) my friend.
I'm Going to be a DADDY!!!!!
July 22 2005
Please pray for Rachel and I and...our little shorty! Rachel has a "bun in the oven!" We're going to be parents!!!! I'm so exciiiiiited!!!!!
PRAY FOR LONDON.
July 07 2005
If you haven't heard go to cnn.com and find out about the bombings that occured today in London.
Echosflow "Hope's Last Breath"
July 07 2005
photo from clint
Pre-order the new LP "Hope's last Breath" by Echosflow now! Go to Echosflow's website www.echosflow.com to pre-order your CD! Plus checkout their new t-shirts!
The Prayer Warrior.
July 07 2005
Gatlinburg...The 8th Wonder of the NASCAR World.
July 06 2005
So my wife and I along with Trevor and Keva Atwood and little Micah Atwood, Josh and Jessica Miller, Daniel Patterson, James Alfonso, Amber Sutton, Chase Larson, Ben Brown, Brittany Dove, and Jeff Joslin went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee Saturday and returned yesterday around noon. It was a good time to get away and be with friends and relax. On the ajenda was an all time favorite of mine...NOTHING! A little background on the people Rachel and I went with.
I have been going over to Trevor and Keva Atwood's every Thursday night at 6:30 since my first semester here at MTSU (spring 2002). It has provided me a chance to get away from school and stress and hangout with fellow believers. Over the past 3 years there have been as many as 20 people over their house on a Thursday night. Trevor and Keva are incredible people. They give so much of themselves, time, and resources. All the guys that went to G-Burg I have known since I've been here in the' Boro...except for Jeff and I met him this semester. All the guys went to my wedding and we all play AO flag football together. There is a bond that exist between us that most people groupd of friends never find. Why? Because we are brothers in Christ and have experinced the taste of God together, worshiped together, prayed together, cried together, and been there for one another. I would be surrised if I fiond friends like these after I leave MTSU. The girls are amazing. I have also known them since my stay here in Mur-frees-boro. They are godly women who are true testiments of what a "real" women should be about. My wife being at the lead.
We stayed in a cabin just about 3 mintues from the "strip" in G-Vegas. Our cabin was nice. Air conditioned and cable tv just waiting to be used by us! We grilled out chicken, burgers, and dogs...not real dogs...hot dogs...ballpark hotdogs. For entertainment we played mafia, cranium, and phase 10. Speaking of entertainment... we watched Micha's The Wiggle's video tape. I still am lost for words by those 5 dudes dancing around in their respective colored turtle necks. Regretably, I find myself reciting some of the dialouge I heard from The Wiggle's.
Fourth of July 2005 was one not to forget. Friends, jokes, The Life of David Gayle and Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind, seeing more than my fare share of UT fans littering the strip, The italian restaurant we ate at, nightmarish bunny rabbit mascot suits, the intense game of mafia we played, the blair witch house we saw on a trail, and asking a Chick-Fil-A employee if her boss was Christian. Unforgetable.
I have been going over to Trevor and Keva Atwood's every Thursday night at 6:30 since my first semester here at MTSU (spring 2002). It has provided me a chance to get away from school and stress and hangout with fellow believers. Over the past 3 years there have been as many as 20 people over their house on a Thursday night. Trevor and Keva are incredible people. They give so much of themselves, time, and resources. All the guys that went to G-Burg I have known since I've been here in the' Boro...except for Jeff and I met him this semester. All the guys went to my wedding and we all play AO flag football together. There is a bond that exist between us that most people groupd of friends never find. Why? Because we are brothers in Christ and have experinced the taste of God together, worshiped together, prayed together, cried together, and been there for one another. I would be surrised if I fiond friends like these after I leave MTSU. The girls are amazing. I have also known them since my stay here in Mur-frees-boro. They are godly women who are true testiments of what a "real" women should be about. My wife being at the lead.
We stayed in a cabin just about 3 mintues from the "strip" in G-Vegas. Our cabin was nice. Air conditioned and cable tv just waiting to be used by us! We grilled out chicken, burgers, and dogs...not real dogs...hot dogs...ballpark hotdogs. For entertainment we played mafia, cranium, and phase 10. Speaking of entertainment... we watched Micha's The Wiggle's video tape. I still am lost for words by those 5 dudes dancing around in their respective colored turtle necks. Regretably, I find myself reciting some of the dialouge I heard from The Wiggle's.
Fourth of July 2005 was one not to forget. Friends, jokes, The Life of David Gayle and Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind, seeing more than my fare share of UT fans littering the strip, The italian restaurant we ate at, nightmarish bunny rabbit mascot suits, the intense game of mafia we played, the blair witch house we saw on a trail, and asking a Chick-Fil-A employee if her boss was Christian. Unforgetable.
Surrender.
June 29 2005
photo from clint
I am an obstacle.
A barricade.
Obstructing the Light
Dry and scorched.
A fish out of water gasping for air.
How many times will I ignore?
You bleed for me.
What holds me back?
If I could unwind all there is in my mind could solutions to problems be made?
Watch the clock circle around
Times are different, from when we were all together
It doesn't feel the same.
I move through cement as I reach for Your Book.
I can not read
I can not think
Voices in my head telling me that I'm a fake
Whats wrong with me?
What have I done?
Darkness surrounds me
I close my eyes
My life is Yours
Take and protect me
I'm down on my knees
I need to be rescued
The shadows mock my sincerity.
Just when I couldn't hold on any longer
I felt a hand catch me as I let go
I was pulled out of my doubt and my fears
You said You were waiting for me to let go.
Psalm 91:1-6
June 25 2005
photo from clint
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.â€
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
Our Reason, Our Fight...Our Cause.
June 24 2005
photo from clint
"Praise the One who paid my debt...
who raised this life up from the dead..."
This picture is what Big Stuf 05 was all about. Worshiping the One who gives us hope. Praising the Author and perfector of our Faith. Decreasing so that He would become big. However, praising and worshiping the Creator was not resigned to just last week at Big Stuf. We can worship and praise Jesus here at the 'Boro or WHEREVER we are. This is why we were created. If you need purpose, if you need direction, if you need to be refocused, if your stuck, if your lost, if your BLAH, if your face is broken out and you hate the way you look...realign...rethink...gather...open up...let go...allow yourself to be loved...cry out to Him...Jesus.
These are evil days brothers and sisters. Colossians 3:17 and 1 Corthians 10:31 should be our cause and why we fight the good fight of faith. The reason why we were created is to bring our Creator glory. Is your life a life that is bringing glory to our King? Make the wise decision and surrender your life to the One who gave you life. Now is a good time to start.
Set Free.
June 10 2005
photo from clint
We're all searching for something. Love, security, knowledge, peace, etc. We look and we scan and we chase. Never really satisfying that insationable thirst. Until I came across a humbling field.
In that field stood a tree. A tree that was full of memories. The path I stood in gave way to the sky. A day in which the horizon opened up and as it did the clouds seemed to part just under me. Above the Son gave way. It felt like a day far back in my life when my momma picked me up after I had fallen off my bicycle. A security far greater than I had ever known enveloped me.
I had ventured out into the fold and along my journey in which many times before I had suffered defeat I had now tasted true victory. One can follow Christ but to receive Him into your life...to allow Him to transform you takes brokeness. There is no more searching now. I have found what it was I was looking for.
These are the words from a man who has been set free.
