Shannon Chapman

[d.19]

TODAY HAS BEEN GREAT!!!!!  We had family breakfast, played football outside, worked on my message, and took a 2 hour nap.  But it even gets better.  Mande, JJ, Jonah, and Chloe went to a bday party and I get to hang out with this little guy...

We are watching the TN game and just having some fun together.  I must say I love this little guy.  We have not spent this kind of time together in a long time and it feels great.

I started this journey by saying that I wanted to read 2 specific books.  Well, I have successfully read "Forgotten God."  Now its on to book number two...

I am very excited to start reading this book.  I have heard nothing but great things about it.  One of the things that I get the opportunity to do is raise 4 kids (yes I can't believe it) and to be honest raising kids is VERY hard.  So can't wait to get started.

Tomorrow I am continuing my message on "Close Encounters." Really believing that tomorrow's message will bring us all to a new understanding of God's grace.  Can't wait to see everyone and see what God does in our community.  

I can't believe this journey has already been 19 days.  I have learned to much about myself and my walk with Christ.  Monday is another big day on this journey but I feel that more must be done.  

Until next time...

[d.17]

Well, its been a while since I wrote about my journey.  I have really enjoyed my journey so far but I am thinking that its time to kick it up a few notches.  I feel as if I am abusing my body.  I don't want to write this because my weakest area of my life is my health and I have said many times that I was going to change that, but I must not worry about how others will view me when they hear that I am going to try again to be more healthy.

Durning the  last few weeks I have been  exploring some questions.  Do I love food more than my family, my calling that I believe that I have.  For me its more that just food it's learning how to live within the parameters of ministry.

I know some think that pastors don't really have a real job.  But one thing I must learn is to how to deal with the pressures of ministry.  I feel like I am always taken care of everyone else and neglect myself.  So, on Monday September 21 I will start a detox.  Not really sure how this will work but I feel that this is something that I have to do.  

So, do me a favor pray for me and help encourage me as I once again try to get healthy.

Until Next time...

[d.13]

Well today I must say was a great day at Ethos!  The message that I preached today really taught me a lot about knowing Christ.  You see it is totally possible to know about Christ yet not know Christ.  It is possible to know answers to questions about God, and have scriptures memorized yet fail to have new life that is found in Christ.  You see God reached down to us through His son Jesus and in faith we must reach back to him and allow a new creature to be born on the inside.

Today we started a new series called Close Encounters.  The band was totally back on their game.  They did a great job of leading us into the presence of God.  Here is the graphic and sermon intro we are using for this series.  I felt that Andy G. did a great job on creating the branding of this series and that Lee W. did a create job of animating it.

Close Encounters Intro from Shannon Chapman on Vimeo.

Also, tonight we had our monthly Ethos leadership team meeting.  I felt really good about the meeting.  I think some great things are in store for our community.

Tomorrow I am going to ATL for a 2 day pastors conference.  I know people are going to look at me strange due to fact that I have not shaved in 13 days.  But again I am reminded that this journey is not about impressing others, its about finding more of God.  

Until Next Time...

[d.12]

Well today is day 12 on my journey.  I must admit this has been crazy.  I am having to daily die to my flesh in oder that I must grow in my spirit.  I would love to tell you that I am strong and that everything is going easy.  But the reality is it's a battle every single second of every singe day.  

As I was preparing for my message tomorrow I was reminded that we can know all about God and have all the right answers yet NOT really know God.  I don't want to just know about God I want to KNOW God deeply in my heart, soul, and life.  I want to be consumed by Him.  I want my life to be a light that shines to those around me...NOT my light but HIS light shining to those around me.

I/We can't settle on just knowing all the right answers, we have to experience His never ending grace and love for us.  We are his chosen children and he wants us to know him...the way the birds know the wind..fish know the sea...our lungs know the air.  This journey is about me truly knowing God.

I am willing to deny myself the pleasures of this world in order that I know Him.  So, to all of us out there that are on the verge of really knowing Christ...KEEP PUSHING...DON"T GIVE UP...VICTORY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!

Until Next time...

PS my beard is getting crazy and is itching like crazy...just thought I would share that lol 

[d.9]

Today has been a very hard day.  Well, let me say it this way.  It started out really good but then halfway through things just went haywire.  I came home and Mande and I poured out our heart's to each other.  We both feel like life is controlling us. The reality is we both find it very hard to live with passion and purpose when we feel like this.

We ended up cleaning the house and having a family dinner.  We are now trying to ask God to give us wisdom on how to juggle our family, work, and friends.  I believe more now than ever life is just hard.  With all this going on I really felt like just giving up on my journey this month.  But from the help of my amazing wife and friends I am going to keep pushing.

So my encouragement to all of us tonight is don't step back from what you know God has called you to.  Go back and re-group..pray...listen...plan...then act!  This is what I did tonight and I can feel myself coming back. 

Day 9 will be a turning point day for me on this journey...besides the fact that my beard is itching like crazy. 

Ann Jackson will NEVER read this but today she spoke on the NINES and I so related to a lot of what she said.  It really confirmed why I am doing this journey...to lose my identity in the things that I worry about all the time (the way I look and the way I think others view me) in order to find my identity in Christ.  Thanks Ann for reminding me that what matters most is that I am giving others the real Shannon!

Until next time...

[d.7]

Today has been a very interesting day.  On one hand its been very good but on the other hand very stressful.  My head has been killing me very bad so I am sure that has played into my outlook of today.

Last night as I was reading Forgotten God by F.Chan and he posed a question and it was "Why do you want more of the H.S. in your life?"  He said do you want more of it in your life so that you can gain success, or that God will put you into a higher class, or that God will put a spotlight on you and others will think you are something special.  Then he said or do you want more of the H.S. because you desire a deeper walk with Christ.  This for me kind of put everything in perspective.

Many desire more of the spirit so that they can get to the front of the line.  They think that having more of the spirit means more success in ministry.  They think that somehow they will become like those that they idol in ministry.  My prayer has now been put into perspective that I just want more of the Spirit so that I can lead with humility.

Until next time...

PS this journey has me thinking about getting a tattoo...shhhh don't tell anyone...

[d.6]

Well today is day 6 on my journey.  I must say that the last two days have been pretty hard.  I have not felt that great physically but I made it.  My chest has been hurting for some weird reason.  Again I am not sure if this is a spiritual thing or if I need to go to a doctor.  But moving forward is my goal.

Tonight, we are taking our kids over to my parents house to sleep.  So, my plan is to take my wife out for dinner then come home and read "Forgotten God."  Ok I have to say this, to be honest today as Ethos was not the best.  I am not sure exactly why but for some reason I thought we didn't connect well.  Then at the end of the service a guy come up to me and said I know a lot of times it's hard not to get discouraged being the speak but never for get the word of God never returns void.

This blew me away because I never told him I was discouraged about today, but I was.  God thank you for that reminder that it's not about what we do, it's always about you!  I got the band together after service and told them that it's services like today that keep up humble.  You see if we are not careful those of us that lead people in church services can think it's up to our ability.  Hear me clearly on this "It's NEVER about our ability but the spirit of God to transform live.? 

Then on my way how I got a txt message from someone that said today really spoke to them.  I said out loud in my car "God you are so cool."  What I meant was God thanks for using us in spite of how my physical senses felt about today.  I told Cheryl K. that our our physical senses will always let us down when it come to understanding the spiritual move of the spirit.  

Well, today is [d6.] of my journey, my beard is already driving my crazy.  But this journey is about putting my emphasis on my spiritual nature rather than worrying about how I look.  I am denying myself things in order to have a unbalanced pursuit of God's spirit in my life.  

Until Next Time...

[d.4]

Well, today I was woke up by my 23 month old little boy at 6am.  To say the least I was not a happy camper. But Oh well I am alive and life must go on!

Today starts my 4th day on my journey.

I must admit I wanted a Mtn Dew soooooooo bad this morning, but I pushed through.  I told my flesh that my spirit was going to be stronger.  One of the biggest struggles on this journey is not to try and talk myself into justifying my actions.

For example if I am not careful I will think that I deserve a Mtn Dew because my son got me up to early.  I think this is one of issues we all face.  We justify way to much in our lives.  I am on this journey to be lead by the holy spirit and for me that means letting him lead me in every action.

Today I sense will be hard for some reason.  Not sure if major distractions are ahead but I just feel that way.  I am looking forward to working on my message for Sunday today.  Last night I read another chapter of the book "Forgotten God" and again I must say it really rocking me.  I am not ashamed to say not only do I believe in the Holy Spirit I want more of him in my life.  

Until next time...

When was the last time you were willing to going without certain things in your life  in order to grow spiritually?  

My Reading list

Over the course of this month here is one of the two books that I will be reading.  So, far this book is rocking my world.  

As I start day thr3e of this journey I am starting to feel a separation from the things in my life that were distracting me, and I am starting to focus on the things in my life that I feel are vital to my connection with God.  

So, today I will push when I am tired and want to give in and will seek to allow the Holy Spirit to guide me every step of the way.

Until next time...

Self Discovery

[d.2]

About 4-5 years ago I found my self in a very strange place.  I felt as if the voice of God was silent to me.  I had finally gotten the place were I was desperate to hear His voice again.  So, I went on an extreme journey to find it again.  Over the last few months I must say that I have had this huge desire to connect deeply to God.

I believe that God is a big God and that he can do Big things.  The question is are we willing to sacrifice things in our life that we love in order to see God move.  I feel like so many times I feed my physical body and neglect to feed my spiritual body.  What would it look in my life if I followed Christ over the comforts of this world?

I am on anther journey of self discovery for the Spirit of God.  Over the next 30 days I am going to go to some extreme measure to connect deeply with the Spirit of God.  I am going to deny myself the pleasures of this world in order to feel God's embrace.  I think that God is up to some really big things in my life and our church community and I want us to go for it.  The things that I am going to give up will be hard but I will stay strong so that my Spirit can grow.

As you read this please don't think I am saying that I am more holy than others.  The reality is I am not!  I just feel like I get easily distracted from my purpose that is found in  Christ.  Also, on the other hand as you read this it might confirm something that you have been feeling.  If so join me on this journey of denying yourself in order for the Spirit of God to dwelling in us deeply.