about @herbhalstead

photo credit: Michael Beck

You found me!

Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope to get to know you through the conversation on this blog. Be sure to connect with me on Facebook and Twitter (links on the right). I really want to get to know you.

I’m the lead pastor of Thrive Church, a church that my wife and I planted in Jackson, Tennessee. It was never my intention to start a modern church in the middle of the “Bible Belt,” but I just could not deny the obvious signs of God’s working through people and circumstances to show me that He wanted me to do this.

I don’t have any delusions of grandeur and I am pretty sure I am not the smartest nut to try to plant a church. However, God did give us a pretty simple vision for a church, and I am committed to staying strapped to that vision, and sharing what we’re doing to whomever God leads to this blog. “Everything that follows is a result of what you see here” (“I, Robot” film, 2004). It’s all connected to that vision of a simple church – with a simple purpose, simple values, and simple processes.

I am a graduate of Nazarene Bible College (B.A.Min.), and I’m preparing to pursue a master’s degree in pastoral or biblical studies. Like many church planters I’m bi-vocational, spending “business hours” as an Architectural Designer for TLM Associates in Jackson, Tennessee. Also, like many church planters, some might consider me to be a bit “different” when it comes to my views on “church.”

My Family:

Angel, my bride and the love of my life, is a public school teacher, a home-school teacher, and Thrive Church’s children’s pastor. I am her biggest fan and she is my greatest support. In 2013, we will have been married 25 years. Christina, my first child, my “baby-girl”, is a beautiful and talented person whose sense of justice inspires me. Richard, my youngest, has, despite his aversion to smiling, a tender and loyal heart that I covet. We have two rescued dogs that we spoil rotten, Cody (14) and Molly-Grace (4).

This Blog:

Originally, this blog was just a soap box for random things going through my brain. But, I’ve recently felt God calling me to use this medium as a tool for my personal bible study (apart from sermon preparation), and to share that with others. So, I’ve committed to writing during the weekdays, and may occasionally pop in on the weekends.

Here’s what you’ll find here:

daily devotionals – I share my personal journey with God’s Word.
friday.folio – Some Fridays, I share what I am learning from other bloggers and online writers.
bible.refs – I provide an index of every scripture that I use or that is presented by commenters.
I may have a guest blogger from time to time.

Here are a few of my favorite posts: