Pastor J's Blog

Before I came on staff as an Associate Pastor to Students and Families at a local church in South Carolina, I served our country as a United States Marine Corps Officer. The Marines are well-known for their discipline and structure. Marines are required to maintain a high level of physical and mental toughness. Discipline was drilled into our minds since the first day of either boot camp or Officer Candidate School. The other day I was on vacation with my family, and stepped on a scale for the first time in a few months. I was shocked at what the scale said. Just for clarification, the scale never lies. I had gained weight. I couldn't believe how much I had gained since the last time I stepped on a scale. I thought to myself, "What have I done? How did I gain so much weight?" The answer, lack of discipline. I had lost my discipline to eat right and exercise regularly. I had lost my discipline to maintain a healthy life. I did not maintain the discipline of a healthy li...

This post will outline my life before I submitted myself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ as my savior, and explain the ways Jesus Christ has once again brought glory to himself by extending grace to an undeserved sinner. As I write this post, I want you to know two things. First, this post will attempt to illustrate the damage and destruction that sin did to my life. In other words, this post will not glorify sin, but will glorify the Savior as any testimony should. Second, I want you to know that the same Jesus Christ that saved me can save you too. If you are reading this, I pray that Jesus Christ will use this testimony to draw you to his always open, loving, merciful, and gracious arms. I was convicted of my sin when I was little boy, and began my journey as a follower of Jesus Christ when I was a young man in Brownwood, Texas. I did everything that was required of me. I went to the front to profess Jesus Christ as my Lord. I was baptized in 1995 (baptism represents the work tha...

As a young boy, I enjoyed watching "Transformers" the cartoon version. When the new transformer movies came out in recent years, I was ecstatic. I watch these movies every time they air on the television when I am not reading, tucking kids into bed, or studying for school. The other night I was watching "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," and I heard a quote that has plagued modern culture in America. The title of this blog in fact represents the quote that I am convinced has plagued modern culture in America, "Happy Wife; Happy Life." What does "Happy Wife; Happy Life" really mean? In the context of most men that use this proverbial phrase, it conveys a message that insinuates as long as you keep your wife happy then your life will be smooth sailing. This phrase portrays that the wife exists more in a burdensome fashion instead of a woman to be honored and loved unconditionally. The "Happy Wife; Happy Life" slogan views an individual...