I love Fridays. It’s my day off, but I often drop by the office to get some small things done that I should have done during the week. Usually it’s just an hour or two. But the office is quiet. No one here in the office area. It’s just nice to be away from the noise of people sometimes. But then again after about an hour I’m screaming for company. I can’t stand too much quiet.

Things are sure changing in my life right now and I’m doing a lot of contemplating. My youngest daughter graduated last week. In 8 weeks she’ll be married. My oldest daughter is preparing her resume’ to send to Baltimore. In a few weeks my wife and I will be extremely empty nesters. No weekend kids visit every three or four weeks.

I guess the roughest right now is that my oldest may be moving 12 hours away. We had a short conversation this morning. She asked me if I wanted her to stay in the Atlanta area. OF COURSE! That’s where I can protect her, see her, know she’s close. BUT…from the time she left for college I knew that she wouldn’t hang around Atlanta. I really thought she might be in South America or somewhere.

Here’s where I want her to be though: In the center of God’s will. Only there will she ever find contentment, joy, and happiness. Only there will she not be constantly searching for something to fulfill her and wondering why she is so uncomfortable in her own skin.

I see so many people called to ministry, missions, even a career that let life, sometimes a seemingly comfortable life, get in the way of what God would have them do and be. At the end of life they are miserable and wondering why. Even those that continue to serve God. If you have a calling on your life, just do it. Don’t let circumstances get in the way of your calling. God gets to really show you amazing things when you determine that whatever the cost, I’ll follow Him.

Recently I’ve dealt with a couple of people, but one in particular that let life get in the way of his calling. He is nearing the end now and suffering, his question to me, “Is God punishing me?” It is sad really he had a great future in ministry but life got in the way. God doesn’t want your excuse He wants YOU.

Brooke, if God sends you to Baltimore, they are getting the best Georgia has to offer. Follow Him.   

This is where we start when we train church planters.

We hope church planters get a bigger picture than their own little world and can see a glimpse of the entire KINGDOM of GOD and their place in it.

We want church planters to know that there is a CALL to ministry, but I believe a specific CALL TO CHURCH PLANTING. Church Planting is bruising. It is hard, it is demanding, but the most rewarding work a man will ever do. If a man is doing this because he can’t find another ministry he will likely fail.

We believe success begins with PRAYER. I’ve said it many times my prayer life was never as intense as it was when I was planting a church. Many times we knew that if God didn’t show up with an answer at just the right time I might not get paid, the lights may be turned off, people may not show up, yada, yada, yada. Prayer is an essential habit and spiritual discipline a church planter must develop.

And now a personal confession, I joined a facebook group today; Krispy Kreme lovers! That’s my kind of group!

This week the 4th church planting class kicks off. We have 15 guys committed to attending. At least two of these guys are looking to partner with a church planter to be on staff. But if all these guys finish the class and pass assessment it will push our partnerships next year toward the 40 mark!

Pray for these guys:

Lloyd/Atlanta; Todd/South Carolina; Shane/North GA; Austin/South Carolina; Michael/Connecticut; Alan/Villa Rica, Georgia; Kevin/Paulding, Georgia; Jim/Tennessee; Joel/Georgia; James/Georgia;  Phillip/South Carolina; Mequell/Alabama; Eddie/Georgia; Bruce/Georgia; Blake/Alabama.

God is going to do great things!

I have two great daughters! Yesterday my youngest daughter Anna graduated from UGA with a degree in Public Relations. In the last 15 months both of my daughters graduated from UGA. They are actually a second generation of UGA grads. My mom graduated with a teacher’s degree in 1929 and my inlaws graduated from UGA in the early 1950’s. Me I couldn’t get in and the wife went to UTN of all things.

So I have made my last trip to Athens without a football ticket!

But pride turns to sadness. My daughter got a call last night about 10:30. A friend that graduated with her was on the way to New York to celebrate graduation. In South Carolina their car ran off the road and Anna’s friend was killed. I cannot imagine a parents grief. From the heights of graduation to planning a funeral. I hope you will pray for this family. I am.

I found out yesterday that a guy WRC has supported for the last couple of years has thrown in the towel. The church goes on and the people still gather. But the pastor has moved on.

Why is this frustrating? Pastors move all the time. One we didn’t learn about it until it was over. Two he evidently didn’t reach out to the closest people around him. Three he allowed himself to burn out without seeking any help. Fourth he is leaving the church with no apparent place to go.

Guys, if you are burning out, then seek counsel, find someone that will give you some rest. Don’t walk the road alone. We can’t afford spiritual casualties. We lose too many good men. We want to help. If you are struggling please do not be afraid to give us a call.

I did it. I hated to do it, but I joined facebook. Someone sent me a message that they had pictures of me tagged on facebook and being the vain person I am I wanted to see them. But I couldn’t because I wasn’t a member.

The interesting part was having to scroll down all those numbers everytime they asked me about a date. My birthdate appeared to be in the stone ages, my h.s. graduation was during the middle ages, and college/seminary brought me up to the civil war at least.

There are blessings and curses to what I do. I get to work with some of the brightest, most talented young men in the ministry world today. I always say that keeps me young. But…every time I try to keep up with their technology I am reminded of how old I am and am reminded that at one time I could use a slide rule. (I bet most of you have no idea what that is.)

They say with age comes wisdom (or senility). I’ll let others decide which of these is true of me.

How do you follow up a weekend like last weekend? Plan bigger and better? Go large? Invite the world into our world? Or do you allow God to give the increase and allow God to bring the partners?

It would be easy to start focusing on next year. But the community is here today. There are needs today that will not wait until next year. It can be very tempting to be a church that grows from event to event. But we need to grow from Sunday to Sunday. The work on Monday must match the message on Sunday.

Do we want to grow bigger? Absolutely! But…we also want to become a church and servant community that will 1. work with our sister churches daily, 2. serve our community daily, and 3. make Jesus famous all the time, not just in July. Taking the battle to the devil not waiting for him to come knocking. We want to be on the offensive, not be offensive.

I am going to guess conservativley: 5000!

What a service! I moved to Paulding County in 1990. Started a small country church in 1991 that launched the first Sunday of 1992. As I researched I discovered that only 4 counties in Georgia had a lower percentage of people attending church than Paulding. I began to pray about Paulding. God please bring some pastors that want to impact a community not just play church. 

Last night there were almost as many people on the parking lot at SAM’S as there were attending church in Paulding in 1991! In 1996 7% of the population of Paulding attended church, in 2008 11% now attend church. Community Transformation, Church Planting, and a Passion for People driven by the Grace of Jesus Christ have made a huge impact.

Brian said it well last night, something about making it difficult for anyone not to know about Jesus Christ. I like the way my friend Tommy Duke in Pittsburgh says it, “making it hard to go to hell from Pittsburgh!” Jesus said, “I will build MY church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Last night 8 churches went knocking on the door. We are in the battle. Next year 15% in church, 7000 in worship and 15 churches and 5000 serving the community. To know and make Jesus famous in Paulding and Atlanta.

about 250 projects - over 3000 volunteers - worship 5000? (worship is Sunday evening so we don’t know the numbers)

This is what being the church is about. 8 churches in our area are partnering to conduct the first Community Makeover. African-American churches, white churches, charasmatic churches, baptist churches, methodist churches, modern churches, traditional churches. All part of “the body.” Different parts, different functions, all working together for a healthy, growing body. All in the name of Jesus.

That last part is important. If you don’t add the name of Jesus you are doing social work not social gospel. Gospel = Good News, Good News Paulding County, God loves you and the church with all it’s expressions intends to prove it to you this weekend.

Are we having fun yet?

This summer has passed way to quickly. The new year of CP classes is beginning in a couple of weeks and I’m behind. You’ve heard the old saying, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.” Well that’s me the last couple of weeks.

Looks like a good bunch of guys attending the class this year. Can’t wait to see what God will do this year.