Sunday Night: Something to Celebrate

For the past month we have been in a series called "Goin all in" The culmination of the month series took place Sunday night at our house. We encouraged people for three weeks that if you feel like the embassy is home and you want to be a part of the team then come out for a night of meet & greet and get some insider info on where we are heading. In a sense we wanted to see whose committed. I dislike the idea of membership because often it becomes a "yeah my names on a roll" thing, but there is no passion. I want a team spirit at emc. When you're on a team it's all about passion. You don't have to tell a kid twice to get in the game and go for a goal. When he is called off the bench intrinsically there is motivation to join the others and go for a win. That's the culture I want at the embassy and that's the culture that is developing!!! Go Team (OK that was a little corny.....forgive me as I adjust my pencil protector and put a little tape on my glasses. Anyhoo....

The past three weeks we promoted Sunday night by saying that we are looking for those who are ready to "go all in": people who are seeking God, finding a place to serve, and desire to give faithfully. Well to my awe and amazement we had over 70 people crammed into my house!!!! What a night of hanging out with people who get what we are doing and desire to be a part of it.

To everyone that was there thank you for giving me the great priviledge of being your pastor. Amie and I are loving doing life with you all, and it's great to be on the same team. I truly believe Sunday will be considered a historic night in the life of our church. Many of us will look back in years to come and be able to say, I was there that night at ross & amie's. All praise goes to God because His word says...."He is faithful to complete every work He begins". Thanks for going all in and making embassy the church that it's becoming.

sports mag possibility

Recently I was approached about providing a monthly article for a sports magazine. The column will be called "Life on the Field" and use sports related analogies to look at and examine life. The magazine is in the process of coming together. Check out this piece and let me know if you think I'm on the right track for future columns.

The final whistle blows, fans from the winning team rush the field as several teammates from the bench hoist a cooler full of Gatorade over the coaches head in celebration. You’re one of the lucky ones experiencing this at the stadium right beside some accountant naked from the waist up painted red and black with nothing on his mind but showing his team devotion for an afternoon before having to crunch numbers come Monday morning.

In these moments you find your heart racing, high fives all around, as you raise a can of beer or a Coke to a friend in a clumsy adrenaline filled toast. You barely dropped a tear when little Johnny or Sally was born, but now there’s a lump in your throat the size of a trailer hitch and for some weird reason your eyes are leaking.

Now I would never say I cried at a game but a few times I had to cough twice and scratch once just to gain composure. Why is it that we feel such emotion over a ball hit long, a tackle hit hard, and Jeff Gordon getting hit anytime? (maybe that last ones just me……go Jr.) Anyways… it’s because everyone in life wants to be a winner and in that moment somehow vicariously….We win!!!

We say things like, “We sure showed them!” or “you see that run we hit?” when the only thing we Showed em’ was that we can down 2 dogs, 3 Cokes, and a nacho with the works. And the only thing we hit was the center of the urinal during half time, but I digress

You see, there’s a great deal to learn about life on the field. We all know winning feels great even if we do say, “it’s not about winning it’s just about being in the game.” Can I make a confession? I would rather win then lose every time. That’s why we love it when our favorite team takes the victory. Deep down on the inside it’s a little reminder that winning is possible.

Is it wrong to feel that drive to win? I don’t think so. There are so many things every day that you can be a loser or a winner at. To not go for the win just doesn’t make sense to me. Let me challenge you to hit one out of the park by going for a win at work when you have a choice to act with integrity or not. Catch that hail Mary pass at home by spending time with your children when you have the choice to be their hero or a big zero. Go for a win with your spouse by planning a special night so good that she can’t wait for the victory celebration.


Too often we find ourselves celebrating the wins around us as we fail to practice and discipline ourselves to win in life .We may now have to tape up just to play ball with our nine year olds, but there are some things in life that we can win big at. So don’t be satisfied with the thrill that comes by watching other’s win. Do whatever it takes in life to win and win well and just watch as your friends and family become your biggest fans. Remember this, you only play as well as you practice and you only practice well if you’re disciplined. So get out there on the field of life and go long, swing hard, aim for the fences and be the winner you always wanted to be!

Finding our Groove

Random list of things that are beginning to click:

The past 45 days have really been amazing. We have definitley tapped into Big Mo (Momentum) and things are beginning to roll. We have broke our high attendance record twice in the past few weeks and God is continuing to bring people to the embassy that got skillz. Our small groups are generating buzz for the first time since we launched them in February. My wife has been able to attend service as others have filled in for her at the helm of the embassy kids ministry. The band is really coming together and several new people are on the edge of getting invovled with it. (looking forward to having the band do covers live of popular bands to add to the service instead of just cd versions of the songs). (Thanks Pastor Jared & Charla). We are growing more in diversity and that rocks! Echo youth is growing not only numerically, but spiritually and socially (Thanks Pastor Robby & Jamie). We have had an influx of 20 somethings which is a big reason why we started the embassy in the first place! Tomorrow at 11:30 I am meeting a group of KSU (Kennesaw State University) students for pizza at the Mellow Mushroom across the street from KSU. I look forward to the day when dozens of students are connecting with God and each other through the efforts of the embassy. Lives have been changed. People are coming to Christ, others are finding balance.

AND I'M LOVIN' IT!!!!!!!

Thanks to everyone that has given to make the embassy possible, and thanks to the emc team y'all rock!

Great Story.....and if the ACLU calls I'm denying it all

This Sunday a guy came up to me at church and said, "pastor be praying for my nephews they are coming to church today." I wondered how he could be so certain that his 17 & 25 year old nephews would show up. Well, he went on to explain that they worked for him last week and he told them to be at the theater at 10am and when church was over he would cut them their checks. Dude I laughed so hard, but you know what those guys showed up and had a great time....the 17 year old even went to echo youth last night and I got to talk with the oldest brother after church. These guys were awesome and it was so cool to have them at the embassy. I can't wait to get to know them.


Now that's creative evangelism...........illegal.......but creative!

Great Checklist for Church Planters

The whole "I must re-invent the wheel" approach to ministry can be extremely counter productive. Obviously God will cause you to find your own expression of ministry that will effectively reach your community, but also there's a great deal that can be gleaned from church planters that are already doing it.


I came across this list from a church planting friend of mine who is launching a church in North Carolina next September. Tadd has worked hard researching some of the greatest church plants in the country. Here is the list of things that he is looking for and seeking information about when visiting other churches.

Church Plant Visiting Checklist:

Road Signage-
Is there any?
Is it readable?
Does it show me where to go?

Parking Lot-
Is there enough parking?
Is anyone directing me where to park?
Do I know where to go from the parking lot?
Are there signs showing me where to park?

Building Signage-
Do I know where to go without anyone directing me?
Do I know what door I am supposed to enter?
Do I know where the worship center is?
Do I know where the Children/Preschool Ministries are?
Do I know where the restrooms are?
Are they visible and readable?

Greeters-
Are they friendly?
Can they answer my questions and point me in the right direction?
Are they overbearing?
Are they focused on the visitors or talking with their friends?

Café-
How do they set-up the café?
What are they serving?
Is the area chaotic?

Lobby-
How chaotic is the area?
Is there visible signage for me to know where I am going?
Is the lobby messy and things just sitting around out of place?
Do they have an information area?
If so what information do they have available?
How well is it printed?
What is the interaction of the people in the lobby?


Children/Preschool Ministry-
How do they check-in the kids?
How secure is the area?
How clean is the area?
How kid friendly is the area?
Are there friendly people working in the areas?
What are they using for their curriculum?

Worship Center-
How do they set-up their stage?
How do they set-up their chairs/or how is their theatre set-up?
What creative elements are they using for their service?
What are they using for their worship media?
What type of equipment are they using?
How is the lighting?
Too much light or way too dark?
How is the sound?
Is the sound too overbearing?
Is there a good mix?
How is the band?
How does the worship leader engage people to worship?
Are people in the crowd worshipping?
How are the musicians?
How does the speaker communicate to the crowd?
Does he keep their attention?
What is the reaction of the people to his mesage?
What series are they currently doing?
What videos/graphics are they using?
How is their worship guide?


Others-
What makes them unique from other church plants I have visited?
What are they doing right?
What could they be doing better?
What seems to be missing?
What upcoming events do they have planned?
What ministries do they offer?
How many volunteers do they have serving?

Hey Jared, "What did you think about the Summer Beach Party?"

"It was great!"

Last Sunday we concluded our July Series with a Summer Beach Party. We had a great time getting to know the people we see around the embassy week to week. It was also great getting to meet several new peopl who came for the first time not knowing we had a special event planned.

This has been an amazing month for us at emc. We have gained momentum this summer and can feel a real sense of buzz about what is going on and what God is doing at the embassy. The past two weeks have been two of the highest weeks we've experienced in attendance other than Easter. We broke the 100 mark in attendance this past week which is a huge milestone in a church's history. You know I'm not about numbers, but numbers represent people and we had a great group of people last week.

So to all who work to make each week possible thank you. Take a moment to pat your self on the back and tell yourself you're doing a good job. Ok now that's long enough..... there are still many in our communities that need the hope of Christ. Let's continue to live for Him before those we do life with, and provide a church environment that relates to the irreligious and church burnt people of Cherokee and Cobb County!

Kids are off to School

It's hard to believe our girls have begun their second year of school in Cherokee County. They looked so cute today with their "fit there personality" first day of school attire on. Adalee in a skirt and jeweled shoes...Aubrynn workin' the camo capri's and monkey shirt and e-rings. I love how different they are from each other. They both make daddy's heart leap.