On the Move

Fellowship of the Hills is on the move! When we first came to Tallahassee to launch FOTH I just knew that Lincoln High School was the place for us. I pre-advertised that we would launch at Lincoln but… Lincoln didn’t want us. That sent us in scramble mode looking for a place to launch. With God’s direction we landed at Swift Creek Middle School and found a friend in their principle Allan Burch. He accepted us and we began a partnership in building lives. We have loved the relationship with Swift Creek but now God has opened the doors to move to a great auditorium in a great location. I am pumped!
The move to Lincoln will increase our visibility, double our seating capacity, improve our sound and lighting, and create a better environment to communicate God’s word. Plus, the leadership team there wants us to join them. This is a God thing. He has made this happen. I am looking at 2009 as a breakout year. Keep praying, giving, encouraging, and being a part of this miracle in the capitol city called Fellowship of the Hills!
One more thing…Fellowship of the Hills Blairsville Ga. is now building a launch team and should launch in January. Pray for Pastor Marty Duncan as he joins God in building lives in north Georgia!

Worship Connection

Our first worship connection was amazing! The band was “on” the Holy Spirit was moving and we experienced a depth of love and connection that was real and transformational. If you missed it you MISSED it!
Last night we prayed some passionate prayers for Tallahassee and God’s movement. We prayed for people who are far way from God. We prayed for unity in the body of Christ. I am so excited about what God is about to do in, for and through us for His glory.
Special thanks to Don and the Parkway Baptist Church family for hosting us. Don spoke last night with great clarity and insight. His explanation about the Lord’s Supper was so compelling. It was a great night.
Make plans now not to miss the next worship connection!
One last thought ….. God is up to something big.

Facebook

I did it, I joined Facebook yesterday. Why? Because I need to be connected with the folks I hope to influence. My kids, Caleb and Calah, think it is weird that their old man is on facebook, but it’s ok. I am amazed about the power of connections and how this tool can be used to influence people toward the greatest connection, the connection with God through Jesus Christ.
The big drawback is the time it will consume and the learning curve I am on to fully use this for God’s glory.
So if you are on facebook, add me. Let’s see what God might do to expand His kingdom through being intentionally connected!

We need each other

I love people! I have loved people all my life. My parents said I was going to be a preacher or a politician. I glad God chose preacher! People bring problem and people can wound you deeply. It seems the more you love folks the deeper you can get hurt. If you don’t think that is true ask Jesus. In the 27 years I have been a pastor I have been loved greatly and hurt deeply. O well! Why am I writing this today, because, we must learn to give our lives away to each other. I have rediscovered this truth in a big way this past week.
One big truth about the life of faith is that God is always sending people to help you and He is always sending you to help someone so today look for your help and look to help someone. People need to see the love of God and they best see it in the eyes of a trusted friend!
If you attend FOTH start making your plans to be there Sunday and bring a friend. This is going to be exciting watching God do a big thing in Tallahassee! If you don’t attend FOTH listen to this talk on line, it will be worth your time and effort.

FOTH update

Great day at FOTH. We launched Life, the spiritual alignment campaign yesterday to a full house and lots of God moments. 6 people indicated a deeper decision toward Jesus Christ either recommitting to Jesus or giving their lives to Him, 15 folks who want to know how to be a part of the family, and over 30 new folks connected into a small group. We have several new groups starting and several old group who would love to add you to the mix. It is not too late to get in on the movement at FOTH. Let us know how we can help you connect. I love this church!!!

God is up to something

The last few days have been interesting. I have had three conversations with pastors who have been forced out of their churches by mean spirited, small minded people. These discussions broke my heart. I am perplexed as to what to do and how to help.
I realize that in every situation there are three sides to the story, the pastors’ side, the folks who forced him out side, and the truth. Getting to the truth is the hardest part of conflict resolution. Being a pastor I tend to side with pastors. When I hear stories of betrayal and forced termination my heart goes out to these guys and I get angry.
I am sure there is more at work here than I realize. I must submit to the Lordship of Jesus even in the middle of oblivious satanic attacks. Because God is God and is firmly in control He is not side tracked by the attempts of evil to side track His work. I have heard old timers tell of attacks and how that God cleaned up afterwards by taking the evil doers out, literally taking them out. Pastors have told me of seeing people who willing stopped the work of God die. One story that was told was that in the middle of a prayer service the ring leader of division die right there in church! Wow!
All of this aside, I am asking the question “God, what do you want me to do?” I ask for your prayers. We are in a raging battle for the souls of mankind. Hell is real and people who die without Jesus go there. God started the church to dispense His hope to the world and the division and disunity are not a part of His plan. Pray for me as I determine what God might be asking me to join Him in! Things must change.

Blog Alert

I just got a text for our children's pastor and she said we now have enough volunteers to cover the launch of our newly designed chidren's minisrty! WOW! This rocks and so does Kris and her team! There still is a place for you to join this winning team. E-mail us and get in the game!

This Week

This Sunday launches LIFE at FOTH. I am very excited about this new series and the intentionally this will bring to all our lives. Pray this week that ….
• People will connect to a small group
• That the week-end service will be filled with people
• That the FOTH family will leverage this event to connect, grow, serve and share their faith
• That the next 7 weeks will be filled with God honoring life change
• That we will be protected from spiritual attacks!
• That new small groups will take root and really grow!
• That God will give me insight and wisdom as I speak
This is an exciting week and I hope you guys are getting ready for a big God movement! I am!!

The Ride

Here is the poem I read Sunday, enjoy...


The Ride

We Ride
Fast, straight, hard, and long
We Hold
Tight, expectant, filled with hope
We see
Through cracks of laughter and blur of tears
We go
Reckless as if falling but safe from the fall
We love
Without condition or compromise
We serve
With passion, purpose, and pride
We share
Our dreams until they are blended into yours
We arrive
Wrapped in your cloak of love to find you were our destination all along!

Life at FOTH

On Oct. 12 we launch our fall spiritual alignment campaign called Life. This is a great opportunity for the whole FOTH family to get on the same page with each other and more importantly with God. Here is how it works.
• We will all be reading the “Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. His book has become a classic of Christian devotion.
• We will be all doing the same small group study. A few weeks ago Brian and I videoed small group sessions based on the readings from the book and what we will be teaching on the week-ends. These sessions are designed to get you talking and discovering together what God as purposed for you. You grow best in a small group.
• From Oct. 12 through Nov. 23 we will be teaching on the week-end from the book of Romans about how God has purposed us to live. Using the arts, great music, and life application teaching we will gain insights to a “Life” designed by God.
Here are your steps …
• Buy a copy of “The Purpose Driven Life” if you don’t own one.
• Get plugged into a small group. We have several new groups starting. If you don’t live in Tallahassee and want our DVD studies e-mail me and we will hook you up.
• You can start your own group! Really, step up and lead a group for seven weeks. If you are a student, live in another city, or just know some folks who need to be connected this is a great opportunity to do something great for Jesus! We will help you!
• Don’t miss a week-end talk! Really, this is going to be that good. God is up to something because the spiritual tension is at an all time high.
• Invite your buddies to attend the week-end services and your small group. This is a great opportunity to expand God’s kingdom. Make the ask!!!!
• Pray for all of this. This time of intentionally must have God’s blessing and He ask us to ask Him. If we will pray then He will hear and bless.
Life stats Oct. 12 at FOTH, well, not life but the series Life. God has something great waiting for you and for Tallahassee!