WOW! I can hardly believe it’s been almost a year since I’ve been on my own blog! Been more on facebook these days but I really have been feeling more compelled to spend time writing my inspirational articles here. I’m gonna focus on that more in the coming weeks.

Well, I have gone through a lot of growing pains the past year or so. Ultimately I’ve ended up moving my home and business from Black Mountain, NC to Rutherfordton, NC. Not a great distance but lots of heavy metal moving in this one! In case you don’t know, I own a stove and fireplace store. During the move I got to thinking I might go into pillows or comforters instead. Would sure be easier to move than dozens of 500 pound stoves. It’s all good though. We made it and we’re settled into our new home and community.

The church hunt was totally blessed by God. I am grateful for that. He planted us in a great church where we are growing!

Ministry outreach for me has been very minimal the last year. God has given me many, many opportunities to minister but as for going out on a mission, it’s been far too long. I really miss it and hopefully can get into something down here in the low-country before too long.

I better get off here for now but wanted to shoot an update for those that follow… if you’re still there, LOL.

With Love,

John

Posted under WASSSUP!

This weekend the crew (Russ, Richard, Kaine, Barbara, Bart, Tim, Jimmy & Yours Truly) was ministering at the Maggie Valley bike rally. What a great time! I believe this was the largest Maggie rally I’ve been to yet! Lots of bikers from all over were here to enjoy some biker fun in one of God’s greatest creations, THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS! WOO-HA!

This year was especially great for Kaine because he just finished up his bobber project the night before the rally and he got to bring it along to show off. Let me give just a bit of history with the bobber so you know where I’m coming from.

I bought a little Honda Shadow about 2 years ago with the intent of chopping it up and making a bobber. I looked all over and finally found a very nice, extremely low miles bike in Louisville, Kentucky. I bought the bike in the winter so you know how my time is in the winter being a stove & fireplace man. I just never got time to fool with it. When spring rolled around, Kaine started to tinker with it. He would check with me about what was ok to do and would do what I said was ok.

It wasn’t too long before the bike became Kaine’s project bike and his project evolved into a labor of love. He tried many things and worked the bike into something very cool. He has sweated, bled, and been burned to transofrm the machine from what was common into something unique. I, as well as many friends have been very impressed with what he has done over the past 18 months or so.

This weekend, the fruits of a labor of love showed big time. OK, I have a very nice bike. But, I bought it that way. Someone else put the love into it and I just bought it. That is ok, I like my bike and really enjoy it when I can. Now that Kaine is riding, I enjoy it a lot more.

What happened this weekend? HA! Kaine pulled his bobber up about 6 or 8 feet beside my bike and as people walked by, I was quite humbled. My bike might as well have had a tarp over it. people would steady walk by and stop. Then there would be a whole crowd around kaine’s bobber taking pictures and asking what it was. When Kaine or his buddy would cruise it around the rally grounds, they would constantly be stopped by people wanting to look at it and ask questions.

I was soooooo proud of my boy this weekend and the more I watched and thought, the more proud I was of him and his accomplishment. Kaine has put in so many hours of hard work to bring the bike to completion. I’ve worked with him some here and there with design but I had not broken a sweat until this week as we painted and assembled it. For the most part, it was all Kaine. Kaine did not do all that work to have people come up and make a fuss over the bike. He did it because he loved doing it and wanted to make the bike something better than it was in the beginning. His love and hard work caused the fruits of the labor to be instantly recognizable – it stood out and showed among the others. It wasn’t the flair and chrome, it was that his bike was different!

As I thought about all that I just said, I thought too about our labors because of our love of Jesus.

There are some that do with the attitude of adding chrome or loud pipes – stuff that gets attention and looks pretty. “Get yourself a haircut. Put on these clothes. Stop doing this. Start doing that. Act this way. Walk like this.” You know what I mean.

There are some that labor strictly out of love. They love Jesus and want to be his hands and feet while they’re here on Earth. They want to share his love with others who need to know. Not so they can be shiny but so they can be better than they were before. When we invest a labor of love into a fellow human being, no matter how fat, skinny, dirty, smelly, or whatever, our love will show in them because they will be so much better than what they were.

As we invest in people, we have to remember why we do what we do. It is becuase Jesus loves that person with a love that we can’t comprehend. We have to love them too and if we truly love them and sew our love into their life, they too will be set apart from the everyday crowd. They will shine not with a thin shiny coat of chrome, but with a radiant glow of uniqueness that attracts people to them to see what is different about them.

When those that have been truly transformed stand beside those with only superficial changes to the surface, like my bike, you may as well throw a tarp over the latter because the one who is truly changed into a new creature is the one that will stand out in the crow. They will be the one that gathers the crowd overwhelmed with a desire to hear about who they are in contrast to who they used to be.

Be Blessed,

John

Posted under FROM THE HEART, WASSSUP!

As many of you know, Richard Mills and I went to Daytona Bike Week this year in search of those in need.

We rolled in about 7:30pm and met up with our friend Pyro from Columbia, SC in a vacant lot at a busy intersection where he had set up the tent where we had church services each evening. That’s Pyro in front of the tent. Check the banner. That sure got a lot of attention from the cruisers all week.

Richard and I rolled in and got the RV leveled up and water connected before walking up the block to a chicken place for dinner. The day on the road was a long one (we left with 6″ of snow and drove through Ice on I26 until Spartanburg) so we were ready to eat.  

After we all ate, there was some food left that we boxed up in case one of us wanted to go for seconds later on. Carrying our bag, we all started walking back to camp. We were about half way back when we met a young man on the sidewalk. As we passed we gave each other the nod and “how you doin” and walked on. maybe 20 or so yards between us I hear someone yelling “HEY!” I turn around and it was the guy we just passed. He yelled back and asked me if we were with that ministry down on the corner. I said yes and he immediately started to jog back toward us. Richard and Pyro turned to come back by now and we all got together about the same time.

The young man introduced himself as Howard and began telling us of his walk up the street. He said he walked up the street every night after work and tonight as he walked up the street he noticed our tent and read the banners as he walked. He explained that he felt conviction of his sins so strong he could not get away from it and he knew he had to repent and give himself to God right then! Howard confessed his sins to us right there on the sidewalk with hundreds of people passing by. Howard named the things that had control of him to the point I started to feel embarrassed and this guy did not know us at all.

We talked with Howard for a while there on the sidewalk – counseling him and finally joining with him in a great time of prayer and moving of the Holy Spirit. We left Howard with the food we were carrying and wished him well. I saw Howard a couple more times that week and he had a great smile on his face. It was great.

If Howard’s story was all that happened, the week would have been great but that was just the beginning.

Every night the bikers would be out late. The rumbling would go on until 4 or 5 am before it would stop. The early morning was relatively quiet. Most bikers were still asleep and traffic was predominately morning commuters. The very first morning I saw how alive the homeless community was in Daytona when the shelters returned the homeless to the streets. Homeless are handled differently in Florida than they are around here. Shelters are not open unless the temperature drops below 40 degrees. If the temp is above 40, there is no shelter, only the streets.

Each morning around 8am the homeless would be bussed back from the shelters and would march up the street. I liked pulling a chair out of the tent and sitting near the sidewalk in the mornings. The folks would just come sit down with me and we’d sit and talk about what’s happening. I met some really good people that way. I got to counsel a lot and pray a lot with people. I met some interesting people too. A couple were homeless by choice or by their own bad decisions but most, I mean MOST resounded the story I hear all over. That is that they are on the move and on the street in search of work and just trying to make it.  

Each day Richard and I would take a ride out to the swap meet to give our friends Preacher and Poo a break from their ministry tent. We’d work there for a couple hours a day to let them go get some lunch ro take a ride and rest a bit. Preacher and Poo are awesome servants. Their work never ends and they travel the whole country with their booth sharing the love of Jesus and giving away bibles and tracts.

Each evening we’d have a church service on the side of the busy street. The music was always great. A local lady comes each year to sing. What an awesome voice Nicole has. I could read the faces on the street clearly that they were liking it no matter where there heart was at that time.

The messages were great too. It was very nice to see people just coming in and taking part in a church service.

One night a group of about 20 college kids came by to talk to us. These kids would spend their time making sandwiches and snack bags then walking the streets giving them to the homeless folks. It was a nice mission they were on but when Pyro asked them why they did it, no one was jumping to answer. One kid finally said “it’s what we do. We may be homeless one of these days”. So we started talking to the kids. Pyro went and got a painting he had in his motor home of Jesus holding up an addict and talked to them about the picture and what Jesus has done for us. It was a great time indeed.

As I was talking to a couple of the kids, I was paying attention to some of the other cross-talk among the group and I heard a small group talking about how they liked these guys (speaking of us). What I hope is that through the time they spent with us, that they have found purpose in what they are doing. I hope that they have learned of the hope that they can share. It is so nice of them to give away food and sacrifice their time to help the homeless. To see college kids doing this is very refreshing. Now when someone asks them why they are doing this, they can answer, “It’s what Jesus would be doing if he were here today”.

Posted under WASSSUP!

Last night at the rescue mission was exceptional.

Adrianna Paoletta and I were the counselors and Adrianna gave the devotion. Everyone was thoroughly impressed with the scriptures Adrianna chose for last night as they led us into a deep and meaningfull life application of encouragement and knowledge about the ways of God in the life of a believer.

We got to bed about midnight as there was quite a bit of “post lights-out” counseling.

I am confident that God worked last night to strengthen many of the newest member of the family of God.

Keep the folks in your prayers as they struggle, and the ministers as we work to help them get back on their feet. There are many needs of work, homes, and for us, strength to keep moving forward for the cause of Christ.

Blessings and Peace,

John

Posted under WASSSUP!

Let me start by saying, WOW! God has really been putting things together lately for ministry. Me and the rest of the crew have been on the move in some awesome ways. Lots of work being accomplished and most-importantly, lots of lives being changed for the Kingdom.

This Sunday we had 9 men baptized who have come to Christ through God’s work at the rescue mission. Somebody wanna shout about that? WOOO!

With all the time I’ve been at the mission, it seems a little weird to say, This week is my church’s week to staff. I am really wired-up about that and the staff is all lined up and ready to go for the week.

I’m going to add Sunday night to my rescue schedule because at 7am Monday morning the crew loads up in the motor-home towing the bikes to Daytona for a week of ministry to bikers. That is going to be a draining event. Not much sleep and heavy encounters. We’re ready though. Hey, these bodies can sleep when we’re dead!

I am thinking this may be the last post until March 10th unless I get some time in Daytona to post updates. In case this is my last communication, please remember the crew in your prayers;

• Russ McLamb
• Richard Mills
• Barbara Mills
• Robbie Cagle
• Yours truly, John Galloway
• all the other ministers taking on bike week this year.

Thanks for youir prayers and support.

John

Posted under WASSSUP!

Hey hey hey! Y’all remember Rerun don’t you?

Figured I’d just post a little update on what I’ve been up to lately.

I don’t remember if I mentioned it before or not but Russ & I have been preaching at the WNC Rescue Mission. That is going so great. The guys there are awesome and we are getting to know each other.

I’ve had a couple small paying gigs lately so the Lord has provided once again and just in time.

Of course during my downtime it seemed like I was busier than when the economy was better! What’s up with that? I tell you what, some ministers had needs and the lord game me the time. I love it. I always do but sometimes it is hard when you have so much going on. The last few ministry projects I’ve done have not been the easiest. I’d say one of them in particular pushed being the toughest and most time consuming project I’ve ever worked on. You know what I like about that? I got the awesome privalege to work with some big-hearted people for a few weeks. We’re developing a great friendship and even ministering together! All that from doing a little work to help out a fellow ministry for Christ. Hey, think about that the next time your churches or minstries get that “competitive feeling” with each other. You go that route and you’re gonna miss an awesome blessing you would have received if you would work together.

Kaine and I had dinner with my good Friend Cesar Perez from Greenville the other night in Hendersonville. It was good to catch up on things and what’s happening. Cesar and I are enjoying an awesome journey together even though we only connect once in a while. Cesar and I served a couple of years together in MissionMax. Cesar is a project Manager in the technology field and is now realizing his life-long dream to earn his living working for the Lord. Cesar works with Upward sports in Greer, SC. We could sure testify of how we’ve seen God work over the years.

While we were talking, Cesar asked how my book was coming along so I might as well update on that too. Identity Crisis is coming along very slowly. With all else that is going on, the book just seems to always get pushed aside. That’s ok. I will get it when I can and when I do it will be great. I hope to devote some time to it after the 1st. For the record, Cesar’s book is on pace with mine. Looks like things are tough all over.

Most of you know I have spent the past 15 years in the hearth industry mastering installations, service, and sales. Through the sale of our store and my ethics not aligning with the new owner’s I have been out of that business for a while now. Although adjusting to the reduced income, I have truly enjoyed the free time in managing just one business for the past six months. Even so, I have also missed the industry, the customers, and the atmosphere that comes with it. It is a business of helping people while imporving their indoor environment. I’ve just always loved it.

Well, guess what? I am about to realize a dream that I have had for a long time. I am going to open my own retail shop here in Black Mountain. I’m finalizing things with my vendors and will soon be setting up the small store. I will miss out on the 08 rush season but next winter I will be in full force. I’m gonna do a small shop with select product lines. Our old store had everything and was just overwhelming for most shoppers. I want to avoid that. Of course I am going to have a killer MOJO web site and am working on the e-commerce for that. This is going to be a very cool shop both online and on location. Stay tuned for updates on that.

I guess that is about it for what I’ve been up to. I’ll be back in touch soon.

john

Posted under WASSSUP!

Hi everybody. Seems like time to blog has been non-existent lately. I’ve been working on a lot of stuff lately to get some other sites online and working for some good folks. I am just finishing up on a project for some really awesome new friends that have such a good heart for ministry.

I encourage you to check out christsongministry.org the next chance you get. I have really enjoyed working on ChristSong’s web site. I have been listening to their music too. They are working on a new CD which is really awesome. I’ve had the insider’s privalege to listen to the new stuff and I am gonna go ahead and give it an enthusiastic 5 stars! Keep a watch out for the new album next year.

As you’re checking out their new MOJO website (that’s called a shameless plug y’all) consider supporting them in some way. One good way would be to buy up a bunch of those CDs and give them as gifts this year. But at least pray for these fine peeps.

Bobby, Nancy & Caroline are so talented. Today I was on the phone with Bobby and he said he just didn’t understand how I could do the things I do on the computer. I put things into perspective and explained to him that I felt the same way when I listened to them sing and play. I just don’t comprehend how anyone can do that. I’m a lover of music so these projects are special to me but I’m certainly not blessed to sing or play AT ALL.

I’m getting started on another small project for Life Challenge of Western North Carolina. Their current site is located at lifechallengewnc.com. We’ll be converting them to the MOJO platform and doing a total redesign.

I’m about to open up my own hearth shop here in Black Mountain (huge news). I’ve been in the business for over 15 years. I got out in June of this year but the economy has really had an effect on my ability to stay out of it. Alternative energy is sort of a reverse economy industry. I miss it too. I guess you can’t do something you like for that long and not miss it when you get out of it. So, Jack’s Stove Shop will be opening early 2009. Check out the MOJO for jack’s stove shop at FireByJack.com although it is a work in progress. Don’t ya know you can’t have a store without a web site?

Well, there’s a little wassssuuuuup to let you know where I’m at. I sure intended to blog a lot more lately but it’s all good. Most of my friends know but I might as well add it for those that wonder why the calendar is empty. No, we didn’t quit ministry. My buddy Russ over at HellFire Ministries is keeping the calendar up. We’ve been doing a lot. Russ is ON FIRE! Jump on over to hellfireministries.org and watch him burn on his MOJO (have I no shame?)

I love y’all. Be good and drop me an e once in a stinkin while ok? Wassup don’t people talk anymore? Do I have cyber B-O or something?

Take care peeps. Talk to you again soon.

John

Posted under WASSSUP!

On Thursday the 16th I met my good friend Russ from Hellfire Ministries at the Western Carolina Rescue Ministry to spend a little time with the homeless guys and share to Word with them at an evening church service. The rescue mission is not one of our normal stops but we were filling in for our brother Richard Mills who is in Daytona preaching at Biketoberfest and a couple other stops on the way. What a blessing to be there!

It was a great time of fellowship, preaching, and some unexpected teaching as several of the guys raised their questions about God, Jesus, and salvation. It did not take very long to see how hungry these guys are for someone to come and give them a message backed by the Word.

We’re looking forward to setting up a regular schedule there with the Hellfire crew. The Rescue Mission is located at 225 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28802 which is a large 3-story gray building directly across from Hunter’s used car dealership just off I240 near the Clingman Avenue intersection. There is a large parking area just before the mission.

-John

Posted under WASSSUP!