Grays Matter

Week in Review

2009-11-09T09:59:00.002-05:00

We are trying to be a Simple Church but we keep getting busier and busier. This week was packed with great stuff.
Monday we partnered with Bank of Atlanta to feed some of the homeless of Atlanta.
We also partnered with Blackshear Place baptist church to feed warm chili on a cool night to students on the streets of Georgia State University.
On Tuesday I met with a team to plan a lunch to honor elected officials and community leaders with First Lady Mary Perdue as our guest speaker at The Georgian Club on December 1.
On Wednesday I met with a church planting coaching network and was once again reminded that I don't know it all but I am on an amazing journey.
We received final approval for 2 permananet movie theater style signs outside of Regal letting people know that our church meets there on Sunday. This is a huge blessing and the signs are ordered.
Our church is run by an Administration team who met on Monday and celebrated all that God is doing and how He is growing us in every way.
We also baptized 3 people on Sunday after the service. We used a hot tub at a home nearby. What a great celebration. Thanks to Grace Midtown church for letting us use the home.(I think our church needs a crib that cool)
I have agreed to share our church story Exponential. This is the largest church planting conference in the world.

Week in Review

2009-11-02T14:33:00.002-05:00

Saturday's fall festival in Atlantic Station was a highlight in the life of our church. We were able to see hundreds of people come through. Our college students were even allowed to hand out free water and information about our church. We have come a long way.
Thanks to all the volunteers who let their light shine through good works this weekend.
Attendance was great again this Sunday in worship.
We had someone in the service pray to receive Christ which is always exciting.
This coming Sunday we will be baptizing several people after the service. If you would like to be baptized let me know.
We will be holding a silent auction for the painting Brian Daniels did in our service a couple of weeks ago. It will be on display in our welcome area. The money we raise will go to missions
.
Our Financial Peace Class has been such a blessing to our family. God has brought additional peace to our home and its great to hear the victory stories each week.
I was reminded last week in our Great Commission resurgence meetings last week that any Great Commission Resurgence needs to begin in one heart at a time beginning with mine.

Week in Review

2009-10-26T14:59:00.004-04:00

The number of volunteers at church an hour before church started seemed like more than the number of people we averaged our first year. Thank all of you for serving.
I am more and more convinced the real key to reaching people is people. More than marketing or location or any other man made schemes it just takes people to reach people.
We had a guest drummer yesterday named Brian who beat the snot out of the skins. Thanks for helping lead worship.
Brian Daniel was our guest graphic artist yesterday and painted an amazing painting entitled "He Reaches For Us." It was a great visual of Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of the world.
Connie continues to do a great job leading our missions effort. Thanks to the church for responding to the volunteer request to help with the Atlantic Station Oct. 31 fall family festival. This is our community and when we serve it opens up doors for the gospel.
Another Sunday with several first time guest who all told me they felt very welcome and challenged. Invite Invite Invite.
Very soon we will begin to unveil our plans for a new ministry called "Kidtown."
We are looking to start a video ministry very soon. If you have any interest please email me and let me know lgrays@themidtownbridge.com

Weekly Update

2009-10-12T14:21:00.002-04:00

FSU lost again on Saturday and I stayed up way later than I should have.
I was reminded in my sermon preparation that there are only two things around today that will last forever and that is people and the Word of God. The FSU loss was not that big of a deal but what God is doing through His Word and His people every Sunday is God-sized and making an eternal difference. I came to church very excited about that.
Every week our members are bringing guest with them in hopes that God will do something in their lives. This is exciting.
Every week our hospitality team is growing and exercising the gifts God has given them to be a blessing from the minute people walk into the theater.
We even had new people on the praise team this week. I am not sure who they all were. I think Paul is using first time guest. I don't care because the music is always great.
I think we may have had our largest 5 @the Fox crowd ever yesterday. It is nice to look back and think our church started in that room and now we can barely fit in it.
HUGE PRAISE! God has opened up great doors with Atlantic Station. We are continuing to love and serve this community and people are taking notice. This week they promoted our church in their "Happiness is at your service..." campaign. Our church location and service times were posted on large signs and in an email blast.
This may not seem like a big deal but trust me it is huge. I am proud to be a part of a church that is proclaiming the gospel and demonstrating the power of the gospel in so many ways.
We are always looking to increase our service teams at MTB. Currently we are in need of some additional musicians, graphic designers and a video team. If you are interested let me know.
The highlight of my week was my date night with Kathy. I am blessed.(no I am not trying to make up for mentioning Halle Berry in my sermon) BTW...don't go see the movie "Couples Retreat."

Week in Review

2009-10-05T09:21:00.003-04:00

I began yesterday's sermon talking about defining moments in life.
Going on a mission trip is always one of those defining moments. I spent the week outside of Cape Town South Africa working with students in a squatter camp.
We were able to see a few people saved.
We were also able to pour into 22 students who are part of the Hope2Africa program.
These students are being trained and discipled to become the future spiritual leaders of their communities.
Here is a video of the place and students we were working with.
Pray with me about our church taking a team over in the near future to continue the work.
Thank you skype for helping me keep in touch with my wife.
Thanks to all of you who helped love on my family while I was away and our air conditioner crashed.
I heard great reports on the Moates Extreme Home Makeover project. It makes me proud to pastor so many people who will take ownership of a project and run with it for the glory of Jesus.
Money has continued to come in and we are only a few hundred dollars away from our goal of $8,000 to complete the project.
Thanks to Dave B for heading up the project.
I also heard that Dhati L from Blueprint church did a great job preaching for me while I was away. We need a bunch more planters and church plants like Blueprint in the city.
Praying for Connie S after her fall last Sunday night. She is one of the hardest workers on our team.
Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University has been on of the best courses we have ever offered. Make plans to be a part in the spring if you have never had it. It will truly bring peace to your life.
This week I am looking forward to ministering at the homeless shelter. Pray for our plans to help create development opportunities for the men living there.
Also looking forward to attending Catalyst this week.
A shout out to the lady whose cell phone went off three times in the service. Invite whoever was calling to join you this coming Sunday @ Midtown Bridge Church. We would love to have them.
Everyone can invite someone this week!

Weekly Update

2009-09-16T12:55:00.002-04:00

Week in Review

2009-09-07T10:04:00.002-04:00

I am so thrilled to have Jennifer and Steven McGrew as a part of our church. Her leadership is already making a great difference in our children's ministry. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements in the near future.
Last week we had 5 decisions on Sunday including one young lady who trusted Christ. Her mom saw me on TBN in California and told her daughter in Atlanta to look up our church and she came and got saved.
Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University is going to be a huge blessing to my family and to our church. We have over 20 people signed up to take it.
Last week our church received an award for giving over $50 per person to last year's Lottie Moon Christmas offering to support international missions and church planting. Only 4% of the churches in the country achieved this goal.
This year we have already taken up almost $2,000 through our Christmas in August offerings to support international missions and church planting.
Praying for Paul and Kofi this week. She is scheduled to be induced on Wednesday morning. Paul is going to grow the worship ministry one way or another!
Next Sunday is scheduled to be a huge day in the life of our church. Don't miss it!
Debbie and Frances Moates will be in our service. This is the wife and daughter of our former lead guitarist, the late Frankie Moates.
We have big plans to be a blessing to the Moates family.
Sunday night our church will celebrate with baptisms, the Lord's supper and a creative time of praise and prayer. Check out the web for more details.
Invite someone to join at church through your social networking tools this week.

Week in Review

2009-08-30T21:49:00.003-04:00

This week has almost seemed surreal to me.
On Tuesday I was invited to be a guest on TBN and got to share the plan of salvation via television in over 80 countries to millions of viewers.
I also got to hang with one of my greatest friends, Charles Billingsley, and do ministry together.
On Wednesday I flew to Arkansas to be a part of www.pray4GCR.com meetings.
I was in a room with some of the greatest church leaders in our country helping shape global missions outreach for the next generation.
On Friday, I was able to watch Toy Story with my family. Priceless!
Today we had over 40 first time college students visiting our church.
There were also a few people who heard about us on TBN and showed up to worship with us.
Every week our people are inviting people and every week our church is growing and every week God is changing lives.
The last 3 weeks have been the highest attending regular Sundays in the life of our church. We are moving in the right direction. Over 80% of churches in America are plateaued or declining.
Last week's sermon podcast has to be edited because it recorded me singing. Not good.
I began a series on "Spiritual Conversation" today and I am sure it is an area that we can all grow in even this week.
It is such a privilege to serve with our staff and leaders as we try to reach people with the message of God's saving grace.

Week in Review

2009-08-17T09:40:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was one of the highest attendance days our church has ever had.
The fact that we grew over the summer and the college students returning were major reasons why we were so full.
The other major reasons is that our church members are excited and continue to invite their friends and family to be a part of what God is doing in midtown Atlanta.
I am excited that Atlantic Station graciously agreed to let us use some empty space to host a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University Course. The preview is this coming Sunday night at 6:30pm. Check our website for more details.
We are sad to see Claude and Twila Williams leave our church. But we are also excited to see how God is going to use them in South Atlanta.
I thank God for Erik Arndt's return after sacrificing 1 year in Bosnia as a missionary to university students. I would love to see more of our members going overseas to share the good news.
A big Bridge welcome to Jennifer McGrew who will be helping to lead our children's ministry. She has already hit the ground running. Preschool and elementary parents should be looking for some exciting news soon!
August 30th will be Back to School Sunday. The first 100 first time visiting College Students will get a free movie ticket! Invite Invite Invite
I am looking forward to this week and being a missionary in my neighborhood. I hope you will do the same.
PS..if anyone is on lake Lanier this week and comes across Thomas C's swim trunks would you please return them to their owner. nice.

Week in Review

2009-08-09T21:49:00.002-04:00

I am so grateful to be a part of church that has a heart to be on and to give to missions.
It is so cool that first time visitors not only want to join the church but they want to get involved in a small group from day 1.
Thanks to all the childcare workers today since the preacher went a little long. :-)
Claude is going to be missed on the worship team.
I am sad that it will also be Twila's last Sunday next week as our preschool director.
Not top quote of the week: "It made me want to slit my wrist" (Adam J's opinion of crown)
Don't miss the Financial Peace preview meeting next week at 9.
Don't forget the great chance to bless Paul and Kofi with a diaper drop on August 23rd.
Great video Chris:

Christmas in August

2009-08-05T11:31:00.004-04:00

This past Sunday I introduced the "Christmas in August" offering to the church planting work of the IMB. For almost two years we have given to international missionaries through our Christmas Mission offering. These gifts join with gifts from churches all around the country to fund our missionaries through an organization called the International Mission Board. This year, due to the recession gifts fell short of the $170 million goal by about $30 million. The result is that almost 700 missionaries will either have to come home or not be replaced, and some of those who were making plans to go will not be able to go.

Below is a very stirring letter from a church planter on the international mission field, regarding some recent cutbacks at the International Mission Board due to the economic recession.

The 2008 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal was $170 million. As you may already know, the total receipts fell approximately $29 million short of that goal… the single biggest drop from one year to the next in the history of the offering. When just looking at those numbers it’s pretty overwhelming. However, it all comes into perspective when you realize that entire shortfall could be made up by each SB giving only about $2. That’s giving up one cup of coffee, one hamburger, one Route 44 from Sonic, one tots and cheese… for those of you that know what I’m talking about! Our missionary-force is having to be reduced by almost 700 personnel. That is a pretty sobering figure.

Our denomination was born out of a passion for the nations to hear the Gospel. Sometimes it is a good thing to step back and remember where you came from. We realize that these are difficult economic times for everyone, and we certainly want to show gratitude and appreciation of the funding we have received. However, God has not called us (SB’s) out to wait on the sidelines until the economy recovers.

If the financial crunch had hit before the team I'm on left, we would have 1 career couple here, and the other 5 adults on the team, including me, would be gone. When October of next year hits, we will all be gone, and chances are the one remaining career unit here will not be able to stay in our city. Generally we try not to have anyone alone in a city, and I assume this would be the case with us. Please pray for them in this time, and please do anything you can to help out during this hard time.

11,626 people groups worldwide

6,510 unreached

3,431 unengaged unreached

2,650 with no known evangelical witness

Midtown Bridge, I really want us to do our part. I hope you'll pray about giving, sacrificially, to this special offering during the month of August. Make sure your mark your gift "missions."
You may also give online through Paypal

Week in Review

2009-08-03T09:24:00.004-04:00

I met with the board for the Atlantic Station Civic Assoc. this week and I am excited about the future of our church in helping to serve the residents.
Preached in Decatur, AL on Wednesday night in a great service.
While in Decatur I had some famous Big Bob Gibson barbeque. It did not dissapoint.
Our service Sunday was just another wonderful time of worshipping God together with His people.
I had never heard a "My Tribute" medley like that into "How Great is Our God" into "How Great Thou Art." Incredible!
I loved the scripture reading during the singing and was reminded we need to do more of that.
Five at the Fox is one of the best things we started. I meet someone new every time we do it and feel like our church members grow a little closer to each other.
We had at least 2 people this Sunday express a desire to join our church by baptism.
I am as convinced now as ever that our convention needs a resurgence. Join me in praying www.pray4GCR.com
All of August we will be celebrating Christmas in August by taking a special offering that will go directly to support 5700 missionaries overseas of whom almost 700 are facing the prospect of having to come home because of lack of funding.
Picture of the week: Lauren Kate took this classic self portrait of her throwing out her gang symbols. She said this was her "peace out" picture.

Week in Review

2009-07-26T21:21:00.002-04:00

Chris did a great job preaching "The Rescue" today.
I enjoyed sitting with Kathy during a service.
I also enjoyed tweeting a thought or two from the sermon during the service.
Next week I will be starting a new series called "Praying in the Moment." We all have times of crises and prayers of urgency. This series should help us know what to pray when we don't know what to pray.
We had several core members from BluePrint church plant in our service today. I am so encouraged at the potential this church plant has to help us reach the city.
Our friend Frankie Moates went home to be with the Lord this past week. He will be missed.
His 14 year old daughter Francis played and sang at his funeral. amazing. I have invited her to come share in our service one Sunday.
It was good to have Grady and the guys play in the funeral.
The dude on the trombone at the graveside made that trombone talk.
Here is a clip of Frankie(thanks Thomas)

Here is one more at Fat Matt's Rib Shack...blues and ribs...you can't beat it.

The Whistle of the Train

2009-07-20T21:36:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago I mentioned how annoying the sound of the train was when I first moved to the city. Carol, one of our new members shared this with me about how sweet the sound is to her. I thought it was interesting and decided to share it with you.

The Whistle of the Train by Carol King

It is the saddest sound,
It is the most beautiful sound,
It is the sound that makes me remember,
a time so melancholy and precious,
a time forgotten and sweet.

Four years old:
Shotgun shack, one room,
outside toilet.
(at the side of the railroad tracks)
The sound of my grandfather
awakening at 4,
still with the smells of coal and soot in his skin
The sound of my grandmother
awakening at 3
fixing coffee, strong and black.
The sound of fire
wood cut by my grandfather
thrown into the stove
The sound of the morning:
biscuits of gold, swelling, gushing
butter, yellow, oozing
Sound of water
hot, burning, pouring from a boiler
into big tin tub in the kitchen.
The sound of my grandmother:
singing, laughing, bathing me, scrubbing me
washing, muscles, detergent and caring.

Fire in the city, cold and rainy:
Nobody cares about anyone and
of course no one for me
Here in this city cars crowd me
jackhammers roar and pound
They run over my life, hammer down my spirit.
Here in the city the sounds kill.

But, you, train whistle:
You call me. Whistle, whistle, call me to
a melancholy and precious time
a forgotten and sweet time
a time longed for and extinct:
Whistle, whistle, call me
I want to return and rest.

Carol King
spring 1996

Week in Review

2009-07-20T14:10:00.002-04:00

I feel so priviledged to pastor such a unique and exciting church.
It seems that our volunteer pool grows every week and people are taking more and more ownership of this ministry.
I love the flexibility of our worship team. Yesterday you blended so well with our guest April.
The hymn "It is Well" was probably my favorite.
Twila, thanks for the suggestions to improve our childcare area.
Every week we have other church planters in our service who tell me how encouraged they are by our people and our service.
I really want this to be a place that God uses to encourage other church starts.
The great news is if God is leading you don't have to get all of the strategy right. God builds His church.
The quote of the week, "Do you want to go halfsies on dessert?" (Chris and Paul at lunch)
I was saddened at the news of Frankie M's death this morning. Heaven just got one amazing guitar player.
Pray for his family including his wife Debbie and their daughter Francis. He has left a big hole.
If the Lord's wills it this should be another wonderful time of worshiping together. Invite a friend.

Week in Review

2009-07-12T20:47:00.002-04:00

We took a staff retreat and had one of the best times of prayer and encouragement together that we have ever had as a staff.
I am sad that our staff concluded that personal evangelism is the weakest part of our ministry but joyful that we recognize it and are unified in leading our church to grow it that are through modeling and celebration.
I am a little concerned with Chris' liking Pee Week Herman.
Paul sang an amazing conclusion to the service today with "Jesus, the center of my joy."
I know I seem to say this weekly but our music ministry seems to get better every week.
It was great having my kids standing with me in worship today.
Lauren Kate cried herself to sleep singing "Rejoice in the Lord always."
Kelly N you were missed today but the hospitality team rose to the occasion.
Darlene thanks for going the extra mile and helping people find seats in the dark well into the service.
Martha knocked it out of the park with refreshments this morning. I didn't have any but they looked good.
Only God can turn sorrow into joy as we saw in John 16 this morning and only God can use sin to defeat sin like He did on the cross. That is shouting material.
I was appointed to the Great Commission Resurgence task force this week. I am so honored and humbled to be able to sit with great men and women over the next year and hopefully influence the focus of our denomination back towards missions and evangelism for years to come.

Week in Review

2009-07-05T22:28:00.002-04:00

On Saturday our church provided a family fun day in Atlantic Station and served approximately 1000 people. I don't know that I have ever been more proud of our volunteers and staff serving the city.
July 4th attendance was wonderful today. We have more and more people bringing their families with them and today was no exception.
I had a great time connecting with men in our church over lunch this week.
Quote of the week: "She should get her own and so should you." (Gibson's response when asked by Dave B if Lauren Kate could have some of his popcorn while Dave was also eating some of Gibson's popcorn)
It was really good to have my sister and her family in town from Japan this week. (No Chris we are not doing ministry at "my sister's house" this week)
We were saddened at the loss of Connie's mother last week.
The media team did great today but Thomas C you were missed.
Pray for our staff as we are taking a planning retreat later this week.
Its official....I am now on twitter @graysmatter
Have an awesome week and tell someone about Jesus

A Very Poor God

2009-06-30T21:52:00.003-04:00

A friend posted this on her facebook status tonight:

To expect another person to make you feel happy, secure, and fulfilled will leave you disappointed at best and disillusioned at worst. Even a great husband makes a very poor God. Only God can settle those deep heart-needs. A man can never do this.

That sure does take the pressure of for us guys. We are not God and we are not even being considered for the position. You actually could insert a great "anything" makes a very poor God.

For all the ladies out there this comes from a daily devotional sent out by Proverbs31.org

Week in Review

2009-06-22T07:55:00.002-04:00

Bezalel Church made some great contributions to the service yesterday.
Thanks for the work zone set design.
Kerry the drawing was a great illustration of how dad's need to be leading their kids to Christ.
It was also great to have Lauren's dad in the service to sing a father-daughter duet.
Cornerstone Baptist Church from Charlotte, NC is in town to help with some mission projects including a cool art camp in Centennial Place.
I really enjoyed preaching the "Desperate Households" series and look forward to preaching through John 16 and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
I had a super Father's Day and enjoyed sharing it with my church family.
Please pray for Connie's family. Her mom is scheduled to be put into hospice care today.

One Step From Stupid

2009-06-17T11:24:00.002-04:00

Danny Aiken use to always tell us in seminary that sin makes you stupid. I recieved an email article today fro David Putnam entitled "One Step From Stupid". Last week the pastor of a rapidly growing church in Canton resigned after admitting to an emotional and physical affair with his personal assistant. I have reminded Jonathan that if he ever comes on to me I will punch him in the face. Well it can happen to any of us.

Here is a great open letter to pastors from Geoff Surratt as it relates to guarding our families and ministries.

An open letter to pastors

This weekend Gary Lamb, one of the more popular pastors in the social networking world, admitted that he has been in an ongoing affair with his assistant. Following the direction of his church Overseers he resigned from the church he planted five years ago effective immediately. The damage his actions caused will continue for many years in the lives of hundreds of people. I do not know Gary personally but I have followed him on Twitter for the past year and have read his blog occasionally. I have no comment on his specific situation other than to say I am praying for his family, his church, the woman he has been involved with and for Gary.

I do, however, want to comment on pastors shipwrecking their lives and the lives of their families. I have been involved in ministry all of my life, the past 27 as a staff member or pastor at three different churches, and I have seen stories like Gary's over and over. The details vary, but the end result is the same; total devastation. The key question is not what happened, but rather how can we avoid the same fate. Here are some random thoughts:

If you think you aren't vulnerable, you are already toast
I had a counseling professor in college who said that the pastors who are in the most danger of a moral shipwreck are the ones who think it will never happen to them. If you think you are too honest, too faithful, or too transparent to ever be involved in an affair you are skating on very thin ice. David never thought he'd sleep with Bathsheba until he saw her naked; then he couldn't think of anything else. You can steal money, you can get involved in pornography, you can cheat on your spouse, and you can lie to your family. Every day of our lives we have to remind ourselves we are vulnerable to complete moral failure.
If you think you can burn the candle at both ends, you are already toast
There are no super humans in ministry. When I read twitters of pastors who get up at 4:00 a.m. every day, who work seven days a week, who counsel people at night and on their "day off", I know that they are headed for a fall. God took a day off when he was creating the world, Jesus took a beach trip to Tyre and Sidon (Mark 7:24) during his ministry. Unless you know something God doesn't know you are headed for a major fall without regular downtime.
If you think you can do ministry without accountability, you are already toast
The only "conversation" I ever had with Gary Lamb was a Twitter exchange over the importance of an accountability group. Gary felt that the Overseers of his church provided all the accountability he needed. My contention is that we need people who are face-to-face with us on a regular basis, who know our wives and our assistants, who can ask us the really tough questions. I don't know if the Overseers provided that for Gary or if a local group would have prevented his fall, but I do know that I need that kind of scrutiny in my life.
If you think you don't need safeguards, you are already toast
Filters on internet access, never handling cash for the church, never meeting with someone of the opposite sex alone, letting others have access to your email; these are such a pain and to be honest I don't always have all of them active in my life. The reality is that safeguards will not keep you from doing what you have already decided to do, but they can give you enough margin to change your mind before you act.
If you think it's about you, you are already toast
Failure begins with ego. When you begin to think that success is because you are smart, funny, talented, cool or a 100 other adjectives and not simply because God is God and has chosen to bless you; you are headed down a very dangerous path. When you being to think the ministry will crumble without you and that you have to work 24/7 to make it happen you are headed toward destruction. When you think the rules stop applying to you and you can cut corners and you are above it you are on a crash course for disaster.

As ministers we are in a marathon. If you do not pay attention to the danger signs along the way you will crash before the finish line. Your crash may be a spectacular moral failure like Gary's, it may be the slow destruction of your marriage, or it may be the rotting of your soul; but Satan will use ministry to destroy you. And God will not say to you in Heaven, "Too bad about your family, but awesome job building a great big church. Fist bump, dude."

Three things every pastor needs to do:

Slow down
You will not change the world today and tomorrow isn't looking good either. There is plenty of time to hang with your wife, play with your kids, play golf, relax. God was at work long before you showed up and He will be at work long after you are gone. You cannot live on adrenaline all of the time. You cannot be pumped up about every weekend. If you live that way for an extended time you will crash.
Open up
You need someone in your life who knows you inside and out; someone who will ask the hard questions and know when you are ducking the answers. It is difficult as a pastor to find someone you can be truly honest with, but it is essential that you find that person. Another pastor who does not attend your church might be ideal.
Count the cost
Every time you are tempted to break a rule, to cut a corner, togo somewhere you shouldn't go consider what it will cost you when it all comes to light. What is going to happen when your wife finds out? How will she feel? What will it do to your children? What will this do to your church? How will it feel to write a letter like Gary had to write?

You don't wake up one day and decide to shipwreck your life. You do it one stupid decision at a time. As someone who has seen this happen again and again and again I am begging you to take action today because it will happen to you.

Summer Camp Memories

2009-06-16T22:31:00.003-04:00

This week my family and I are in what has been affectionately referred to as the "Redneck Riviera" aka Panama City Beach. I am preaching at my first youth camp of the summer. Even though I am getting older and the music is getting louder I still love being involved with youth camps.

For many people Panama City Beach is a place where they lost something or did something that they regret and have to live with for the rest of their life. I am praying that the students look back on this week in Panama City and remember it as a place and time when God moved in a powerful way in their life.

Week in Review

2009-06-08T10:05:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I preached "Sex in the City." It was a biblical look at sex and sexual activity. The basic message was not "Where is the Line?" but "When is the time?"
Remind me to make it a little cooler in the room next time I preach this. I think I was sweating.
I thought the video that led into the message was a super way of introducing some of the issues.
Last week we had over half of our church attendance involved in Connection Groups. This was a great start to the summer.
Our Sunday morning attendance was also really strong yesterday.
Hospitality team you guys are getting better every week and I continually hear people say how friendly and genuine our church is. Great Job!
Last week someone wrote a song about our church. I think this may be the first one. Here is the myspace link. It is called "At My Church." Thanks JW. I am glad God sent you here.
Roopville Road Baptist Church is in town this week helping us with planting Bezalel Church plant. They are from Carrollton, GA. So that makes this a foreign mission trip for them. Thanks for coming!
This weekend First Baptist Church Jacksonville, FL will be bringing a group of middle schools to help with some mission projects. They are always a huge blessing to be around.
The ultimate highlight of my week was my lunch date with my wife and her new cool haircut! (Sometimes guys have to say that but I mean it)

Jogging in the Rain?

2009-06-04T15:28:00.003-04:00

I saw some crazy guy out jogging in the rain this morning. If I am honest I probably don't think he is crazy just because it was in the rain, it is also because I think jogging is crazy period. I mean unless something is wrong with your car or you are being chased by a dog or something why would you jog. Maybe I would be more interested if it was tackle jogging or something to make it a little more competitive. I am sure you can tell by my increasing waistline I am not a big fan of jogging. So I digress.

The point of this blog is to ask the question, "What are you passionate enough about to jog in the rain for?" It was obvious that the inconvenience of rain falling from the sky was not enough to stop this guy from running. I have learned that we mostly do what we want to do in life.

I think I run in the rain for God and usually serve Him when its inconvenient but not always. I think I run in the rain for my wife and family. And I think I run in the rain for our church family.

What do you run in the rain for?

At the Scene of the Crime

2009-06-02T09:30:00.004-04:00

Last night our church fed several hundred homeless men at a shelter we have been working with for over a year and a half now. I never cease to be overwhelmed by the number of people who are living in those conditions. Last night a homeless man named Willy, asked me to pray for him because he was just getting tired and life was tough at the shelter. I tried to encourage him with Galatians 6:9, "Do not grow weary in well doing." He asked me if that meant not to give up. I told him that was right. That seemed like just enough of a nugget of truth to encourage him.

Early this morning around 1:30 am an 18 year old teenager was shot and killed behind the shelter. (ajc article) There are not many details available at this time. But I have a few questions: 1) Why was he shot? 2) What is a teenager doing on the streets behind a shelter at 1:30 in the morning. 3) What are we supposed to do about it?

There are a host of reasons why people end up on the streets. Some of those reasons are their own fault and some are not. I will save that discussion for another time. I do know we can't do or fix everything, but we should do something. Even though feeding those men one night a month is not much it is something. Are you doing anything?

I believe we are being Jesus to those men. "And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’" (Mt. 25:40) I just pray that they see and hear the gospel in us and from us.

Please pray for the thousands of homeless men and women on the streets of Atlanta like Willy who are living on the edge. Please pray that God would send more people to the scene of the crime to share the life changing story of Jesus offer of salvation.

Sunday Night in Review

2009-05-31T22:01:00.002-04:00

Today was one of my favorite days in the life of our church so far for several reasons. Here are a few:
The opening video was a little too close to reality. Here is a link: Sacred Singles Speed Dating

Randy S was running the screen presentation today for the first time and did a great job. Media team you are getting better every week.

Jeremy G was playing keys today and has become the newest member of our worship team. Great job and nice horn fills.

I feel like our church is hungry for God and hungry to hear from His Word.

I am sorry to all of the ladies who were dating and your boyfriend decided today that you need to stay single.

Randy and Emily also helped us host friends in our home tonight and were such a huge blessing. The homemade sorbet didn't hurt either.

We had a bunch of people offer to come help with the homeless shelter and who are looking for ways to serve.

Our church received an award of recognition from Centennial Place elementary for our volunteer work. I am so proud of our people for letting their light shine.

Lauren Kate singing "Jesus Loves Me" at Fox Sports Grill was definitely my favorite.