It is overlooked how important it is that any group of people working together as a team need to be all on the same page. I remember stressful times in my old band that would have been non-existent had everyone been on the same page. Conversely, I remember when the lineup fully solidified and how awesome everything was cause we were all pulling in the same direction.

Think about the disciples for a second. Here you had a group of guys following Jesus, who couldn’t have worked their way out of a grocery store with a map together….. The Bible speaks of them always arguing of who would sit at Jesus’ right hand when He became King. They never understood a word the man spoke and even at the end, when God’s plan was being fulfilled, they were scattered like the stars at the first whim of a challenge.

They were not on the same page.

It was only AFTER Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven that they fully “got it.” Once that happened, that small group of men had a greater impact on the Earth and human history than any other group ever. To be honest, it is amazing to me that Jesus was able to fulfill His destiny with these guys tripping over themselves constantly…..but praise God they GOT IT when it mattered.

I am overwhelmed to be on the team at Crossroads. What you guys don’t know is the leadership team at Crossroads are all on the same page. We are a cohesive unit all trying to accomplish the vision that God has given us. We work together, sacrifice for each other, lift each other up, hug when we need hugged, love when we need loved, rebuke when we need rebuked and none of us put ourselves above the task God has set before us.

I am proud to be on this team that God has put me on and I love every one of them with all my heart!

~jfm3~

Totally hanging in South Carolina at Newspring with the Crossroads Leadership, minus one Youth Pastor…..

It was the first time I really got to hear Perry Noble speak and I will say I was very very impressed. He isn’t stunningly handsome, he doesn’t have a golden voice and he isn’t pumped full of the Bible…..he is just Perry Noble. He spoke truth, he didn’t hold back. Everything he said was Biblically correct and he was funny and relevant. It was refreshing!

I am taking away a lot of things from this conference.

Once again, it is an awesome feeling to know that a lot of what we do as a leadership team at Crossroads is on point and continually confirmed when we go to these leadership conferences. What that means is that we are not missing the mark….. We say it all the time that we don’t have it “figured out” but it is comforting to know that we are going about things the right way.

Key points from Perry and the Breakout Sessions-
1. Checking tithing records of volunteers and staff members will tell you instantly how committed they are to the vision of your church. (this was a tough one for me…..to me tithing is a personal thing between God and the believer)
2. Just because someone is told their whole life how great of a singer they are, you may be required to be the one to finally tell them the truth. (ouch)
3. If you are struggling with whether or not you need to hire someone, you probably should have already hired them a month ago.
4. If when out to eat with my child, a person comes up and wants to talk, I should stop them and tell them politely that I am on a date with my with my daughter and I will talk to them some other time. Why? Cause I would rather have some other person think I am a jerk, than my daughter think I am a jerk.
5. Speaking negatively to someone who can fix a problem is not gossip. Speaking negativity to peers or subordinates who cannot fix issues IS gossip and will get you fired.
6. Everyone deserves a weekend. People who love their jobs like we do will sacrifice their family and personal lives for the church. If they destroy their lives by overworking, it is my fault as their boss.
7. In church leadership, we are all connected. Meaning, when someone sees me out side of Crossroads, they don’t see Joe Miller…..they see Joe Miller from Crossroads, who serves Pastor Tim Moore, plays in the band with Bobby Sykes, and is married to the Childrens Church director. Which is why it is SO VERY important that out side of these 4 walls, I am on my best behavior. There is a mountain of truth in that word.
8. It is awesome to move someone from a part time role playing in the band to some other full time ministry position. For instance, when one of our drummers first came to Crossroads, that’s all he was. Now, he is taking responsibility of a real ministry position here where he can affect the lives of other people. He is thriving in that position and soon will need to be allowed to only focus on the calling of God in his life. Does that mean he doesn’t want to play drums, no….it just means he sees the importance of the role God is calling him too. Awesome.

I have more, but will update later!

~jfm3~

thehungr rocked Saturday Night. What a feeling. It is amazing to me that guys who have not played together since February 20, 2007 can show up at a venue, run through the songs quickly once and play like they haven’t missed a day…..

Justin thanks me for playing and asked how it felt to play with them again and my response is, “ya know Justin, the only people I truly feel comfortable on stage with is you guys….” It’s true. Yes, I am a worship leader and we have a lot of great musicians at Crossroads, but it just isn’t the same as when you play with guys you have been stuck in a van with for years. Guys who have seen the best of you and the worst. Guys you know, love and depend on. They are a part of me and I will always feel as though the members of the band are my family.

I was surprised by how many showed up. There had to be 80-100 people there. CRAZY. What you don’t know is that the weather was horrible. There was a blizzard in full affect, yet people came to see us. It was a great feeling. I was also surprised by some people who didn’t come…… hmmmm…..

It’s weird how something that is such a huge part of who you are can lie dormant for years, and when it comes back, it’s like it never left.

I am blessed and overwhelmed to have been a part of something so amazing…..

~jfm3~

One night only. But still a definite maybe at this point.

Rich is coming down this Thursday with his awesome fiance, Shaine, and his lifetime wart, who is also the previous band manager for thehungr…..Steve Blumrick….

Brandon cannot make it, but Justin said he is in if we can do it on Saturday evening some time…..

I must warn you, if this happens, we will have a stunt lead guitar player and will be the first time thehungr has played in over 3 years…..should be interesting.

~jfm3~

lol…I thought that had a neat ring to it!

Anyways,…

The new Youth Ministry building, The Boulevard, is nearing completion and we are in need of a BUNCH of couches for the Youth Loft….

If you have a couch, sectional, or couch/love seat set that you don’t want, OR if you have been wanting to buy new furniture and have been looking for motivation, we want your COUCHES!

We will want to see the couch of course and we only want ones in good condition. No urine stains please! HAHA….

We also will provide you with a charitable donation receipt so you can write it off on your taxes…..

Let me ASAP.

~jfm3~

That I am now more busy with one job than I was before when I had TWO jobs??

As all of you should know by now, I am on full time staff at Crossroads as the Executive Pastor and the Worship Leader. Prior to November, I was working full time for ATT as a Corporate Sales Rep and working part time at the church…..

Somehow, I am more busy now than before. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I love every second of what I am doing now, which lends itself to working a lot? Probably.

I am going to have to be careful, as I can see how my passion for this ministry could easily turn me into a work-a-holic. Not because I love work, but more because I love the work I am doing.

Thank you God.

~jfm3~

So we are doing 4 Christmas Services this year, two on the 23rd and two on the 24th. At this point, two of the services are completely sold out. WOWSERS!

First official “office” day today as I have been consumed with the birth of our newest addition to the family, Addison Hope, who was born on Monday morning at 5:40am. She is incredible and I must say, her big sister is loving every minute of it. She constantly wants to hold her and is always consumed with whether or not she has been changed or needs to eat! lol. It is awesome.

Oh yeah, and I apparently caught a cold somewhere along the way. That part sucks.

~jfm3~

It’s currently 2:56am Monday morning, November 30, 2009. I am sitting in the birthing room with my amazing, incredible, beautiful, strong, smart, bodacious wife as we are prepared to have our second baby within the next few hours.

There are no words.

To make it better? We had record numbers at Crossroads today, and it was announced to the congregation that I am being brought on full time as the Executive Pastor of the church. What does that mean? That means, I am in charge of pretty much everything but the preaching of the Word on Sunday mornings. It is my responsibility to take as much pressure off of Pastor Tim as I can. It is also a role I have been functioning in for about the last year, only now, my passion has become my profession. Sweet.

Yes, I will continue to lead worship at Crossroads until such a time comes that we can pay a worship leader full time to replace me.

LAST, and certainly not least,……the BILLS SPANKED THE DOLPHINS TODAY!!!!

Perfect Day.

~jfm3~

Lately I find myself standing in our (soon to be paved) parking lot staring at the new Children’s Ministry building first praying that God would use this building for His glory and then simply in awe of what God is doing at Crossroads Church.

Hard to believe it has been barely over a year since we took 120 people in a small store front church to a 21 acre plot of land, an old building and a huge vision.

I stand there in amazement that I am a part of what is going on. I stand there in amazement at seeing dreams come true, wishes fulfilled and lives being changed.

There are places in this country where God is undeniably moving….

It is my prayer that you are serving in one of those places, and are as humbled to be a part of it as I am.

~jfm3~

Just when things seem to be unraveling in my life, God shows me what is going on. Sometimes, I wonder if I am still too impatient and force God to reveal things to me before He plans it, regardless, it overwhelms me when He does finally show me the door.

Philipians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

I have always felt out of place to some extent in ministry. Not because of my faith or my walk, but because I have always had a heart for ministry and the church but I am not exactly what you would call the “Pastor” type. My personality and skill set seems to have characteristics for what one would think a Pastor would need, but the majority of my character is a results driven, high D personality type that operates in the creative realm and has more of a mind for business than a compassion for people. (I am being honest with you guys, so don’t judge me)

Regardless, the point today is that God made me exactly who I am. He made YOU exactly who you are. We are all puzzle pieces that fit into the perfect plan that God has.

God made you, He has shaped you (if you let Him), and He is faithful to the completion of that plan.

Even though you may feel like you are a square peg being shoved through a round hole, have faith my friend, God has the perfect spot for you. The hard part is getting in line with His will for you life.

~jfm3~