Sorry this is late!

Sorry that this post is so late in coming. My computer at my office went down last Monday. It is toast. But I am getting a new one but it probably won't be here until early next week. So I am using my computer at home and have had limited time to get on. It's hard for me to work at home because I love being with my wife and around the kids or I should say kid as in Rayanne - Ben and Joe are non-existent. And yesterday Camille was here so how can I resist her. Anyway, here is a report from Sunday:

• Decent attendance for a holiday weekend.
• Joe did the worship set with only the acoustic guitar with Pattie backing him up. He did a great job but I missed the full band.
• Had our last message in our Revolutionary Christmas series. Sermon was Love All. We can't pay back God for His goodness and the wealth He has given us but true gratitude to God is expressed through giving and serving. God doesn't need our money but He does know 6 billion people poorer than us who do. God has blessed us with greater wealth than over 90% of the people in the world. We live above the average so we ought to give and serve more than the average person. This really hasn't been about giving more to the church but about setting us free to live the life worth truly living.
• Met some people at the church Sunday afternoon to pull all the Christmas stuff out from behind the stage.
• Jeff and Andrea took the Middle Schoolers bowling.
• Pattie and I met Jeremy Hall and Heath New at the funeral home in the sudden home going of Randy Phillips. he was in his mid 50's. Randy worked with me in the youth ministry at Hopewell Baptist and his three kids came up in my youth group. It was good to see them and see God's grace active in their lives as well as in his wife's, Nan.
• Pattie made a big bowl of chili and I'm loving it and have been loving it for the last 3 days.
• The boring NFL was almost rescued by the Eagles beating the Patriots. But alas, they couldn't hold the lead and let it get away at the end but it was a great game. Someone please beat the Patriots!
• I love the Amazing Race. It's a good way to see the world.
• Put the Christmas tree up Sunday but we are decorating it tonight.
  

Thanksgiving

We are heading to Tennessee on Wed. We will be stopping in Trenton, GA to see Pattie's mother on Wed and enjoy a meal with her then we are heading to Dunlap, TN to be with my family until Sat. I love thanksgiving and I love being with family.

Great Day Sunday!

Sunday was a great day.

• Attendance and offering was very good. On a weekend when you think alot of people will be gone for Thanksgiving, we had a great turn out.
• The music was awesome. "Never Let Go" still moves me.
• The message went really well as we discovered how rich we really are. It was definitely a message that could change your life. Our wealth is the greatest competition for our hearts. We are easily deceived into thinking we don't have enough and that we always need more. Its time to start giving like the rich kids we are rather than like the poor people we think we are.
• Had a birthday party for my granddaughter, Camille, Sunday afternoon. She is awesome and we had a great time with all the family and friends again.
• My grandson, Matthew, got his first deer on Sat. What a man he has become. I saw a deer on Sunday morning. That's all I need.
• I also saw a wild turkey on the side of the road. I guess he's on the run with Thanksgiving closing in on him.
• It was great to have Mom and Dad and Pam in the service.
• We have a demon in the sound system. It has acted up 2 weeks in a row. Bring all the holy water you can find and we'll exorcise it this week.
• The Patriots and the Falcons are taking all the fun out of football but for two different reasons - the Patriots are too good and the Falcons are soo bad. It doesn't help being a Dolphins fan either.

Pattie's Surprise Birthday Dinner

Sorry for not posting sooner but I am having computer problems. We had a surprise birthday dinner at the church for my lovely bride, Pattie, on Sat. night. We totally surprised her and had a great time doing it.

I told her that I was taking her out to eat but had to run by the church to get my phone. She didn't expect anything and was surprised to see everyone there. I have a hot wife who gets more beautiful with time.

Pattie is the love of my life and is loved by everyone who knows her. She deserved every word, present, hug, and smile given to her.

All our kids shared with everyone why their mother is so special to them. There wasn't a dry eye in the place and they did a great job honoring their mother.

My Mom and Dad and sister, Pam, came down from TN for this event. It was great to see them. Pattie's mother doesn't travel as well lately and was unable to attend. It was the only thing that prevented it from being a perfect night. She sent Pattie some lovely roses.

Friends like Debra Childers and family like Michael Labato made this night possible. Debra catered the food and decorated the place beautifully.

The Singing Bus Driver

I like to sing and I often sing while driving the bus much to the disapproval of most of the riders. One kid told me that I should go home and sing from my rocking chair rather than on the bus. Another kid told me that I should be on American Idol. I want to believe the latter.

Fall leaves.

I have been impressed with the beauty of fall this week. This morning after my route I went home and got Pattie and Rayanne and took them to McDonald's for breakfast just so that I could drive them by some beautiful trees that I saw on my route before the wind blows them bare. I enjoyed it immensely. By the way, pray for Pattie, her back is really bothering her.

Channel Surfing

I was up in the early hours of the morning flipping channels when I came across a woman pastor from Los Angeles. I'm not big on women pastors (blame it on my conservative baptist background) and I usually can't listen to them (blame that on my male ego) but this lady was pretty good. Very deep, adept in the original languages, scholarly, interesting and inspiring. I'll have to hear more and know more about her before I give her my stamp of approval and put Dr. Melissa Scott up there with Kay Arthur, Beth Moore or even Joyce Meyers but I liked what I heard last night.

Can't Wait for Sunday!

I probably have one of the most important and exciting messages that I have ever needed to share this Sunday. I didn't say the "best message" ( I am not bragging) but a message that could truly revolutionize not only our Christmas, but our lives, church, families, community and even the world. I know that it sounds grandiose and full of hype but isn't that what the Word is suppose to do - transform us, change us, make us better! Shouldn't every message do more than just inspire but actually revolutionize the way we think and live? Most people resist change. Most people are comfortable in their rut. Most people don't have the courage and faith to do or try something different or even to obey basic commands from the Lord. But change is the difference between merely existing and truly living. I choose life therefore I choose change.

Axios Thanksgiving Feast

• Here are some shots of our Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday night. We has a good day Sunday. Great service and a great turn out for Sunday night. Thank you, Donna Warrington and Janice Sisk for doing such a great job and organizing this event. Donna Finch and Monica Selby and others helped with the decor. Thanks to everyone who set up and tore down. Thanks, Billy, for getting the extra tables.
• We heard alot of great testimonies from our people and had many guests. It is good to hear people speak from their hearts.
• We started our new series Revolutionary Christmas and presented 4 ideas to replace the current system of consumerism: Worship More, Give More, Spend Less, and Love All. Spent most of the service on the heart of worship which is obedience (1 Sam 15). This is not being anti-Christmas. We love everything about Christmas. it is about seeking God in using our gifts and money for the glory of God.
• The band was awesome! We had a great music set.
• Loved the new set design for our new series.
• Shared our Dec, Christmas in the Warehouse outreach events. Dec 1 - Holly Springs Christmas Parade. We will have a float and a gift for everyone on the parade route. Dec 2 and 8- The Holiday Snow Blast and Light Display. We had snow at our Thanksgiving Dinner. As you see in the pictures, the kids really loved it. I'll say more about this soon. Dec 23 - Special Christmas Evening Service. This is our Christmas Eve service. There will be no morning service on this day.
• God is good all the time! Even when the Colts lose again and Gordon lets the Nextel Cup get away.
  

White Christmas

We had a great time at the Fox last night. White Christmas is one of my favorite Christmas movies and this stage performance was excellent. It was worth it for the last scene with snow and the huge tree and the red dresses. They even had it snowing in the theater. What a great gift from Jim and Donna.

Going to the Fox!

Just a quick post. I have more to write about meetings I have had in the last two weeks but time has been limiting me. God is teaching me much and stretching me more than I thought possible. I am pumped up about our Thanksgiving Feast and our Christmas outreach. But tonight I will lay it all aside for a date with my lovely bride. Jim and Donna are taking Pattie and I to the Macaroni Grille for Pattie's birthday next week and then to the Fox Theater for a performance called White Christmas! I love going to the Fox with my foxy wife. It should be awesome!

Challenging Meetings

The last two weeks has been full of meetings. I haven't written much about them. I met with the Elders concerning a new lease on our building and our current finances. Met with our Leadership and Creative Teams to plan our Christmas outreach. It went very well and everyone was excited about what we are doing. Met with a local Pastor who is having great success in reaching people in Canton. Talked to him about our next step at Axios and the possibility of partnering together to reach Holly Springs. He was not too receptive to the idea of a partnership. I think that I am an easy guy to write off. I've been at it for 5 years and can't get over 100. He's been at it for 3 and runs several hundred. He's a good man and I consider him a friend. He proceeded to talk to me about shutting down Axios and moving on to what God has next. He believes that God often uses our first attempt at church planting as training and then moves us to where He really wants us to be. That was his experience. He recommended a book by Seth Godin called The Dip: A little Book That Teaches You When To Quit and When To Stick. Two things happend after the meeting: 1) I returned to my office and received and e-mail from my cousin Anne who tells me the story of her church and encouraging me not to quit or be discouraged. (She knows nothing of what I am going through and we have rarely communicated with each other.) 2) I read the book and it did more to convince me that its time to stick and pumped me up about the opportunity that is here. It showed me things that we definitely need to change but I am more convinced now than ever that our church is needed in Holly Springs. I love our church and its people. I love the lives that we have touched and seen changed. I love all the times that God came through with miraculous provision and signs of His presence. I love Holly Springs, Canton, Cherokee County. I love that God planted me and my family here. I could leave it if He called but I believe that He has placed me here for "such a time as this." I can't quit until God does! It is a fire within me that seems to burn hotter now than before. There is a harvest ahead for us. We will press on for as long as God allows!

A Day Off From the Bus!

I feel like a school kid, enjoying days off and anticipating Thanksgiving vacation and the Christmas break. Had a good day yesterday. Slept in a little and then Camille spent the day with us and she couldn't get enough of me! It was awesome. Met Joe and Joe Stag at the church late morning and worked on our Revolutionary Christmas set design. It's looking good. Put new brake pads on the Saturn which went amazingly well. Usually any mechanical work is very challenging, more difficult than it should be, takes longer than it should and I usually end up calling one of my son-in-laws for help. But yesterday was easy. Rachele and Camille and Ben and Davia were all at supper. Lately it has been me and Pattie and Rayanne eating together but last night it was nice to have a crowd at the Dinner table. Finished off the evening with an episode of House. It was a good day.

Sunday recap

• We had a great day in the Warehouse! I felt lots of energy before, during and after the service.
• The Praise Band was awesome today. I love their dedication to the Lord and to Axios.
• Closed the series on Mythbusters with a sermon called Supernatural. Looked at what Jesus taught about miracles and signs. Then concluded by busting myths concerning salvation, the greatest supernatural act of all time.
• Another baby shower for one of our young mothers-to-be.
• Can't believe the Colts gave that game away!
• One of my favorite shows started last night, The Amazing Race.
• No school, no bus, no kids tomorrow.
• Can't wait for our Thanksgiving Feast next Sunday.
• We had a hot chocolate stand in the Cafe area. It was awesome!
• Begin a new series called Revolutionary Christmas next week. We are going to attempt one of our biggest outreaches ever on Dec. 1 and 2. Its going to be fun!
• Its always a little unnerving when someone comes up to me after a service and tells me that they have a word from God for me. That usually means that they feel impressed to tell me what they don't like about me or our church. But this Sunday the man gave me a very encouraging word and I appreciate it very much and I really do hope that it came from the Lord.