New Series

In February we will take 4 weeks to look at dealing with difficult people. This series will help you with the critical, overly needy, manipulative, and hypocritical people in your life.
The Difficult People series will look at principles in the Bible that will help any relationship you have. We will examine the core of why we do some of the things we do to people and why they do those things to us. Plan to come and bring some friends as we all learn together how to handle and respond to many of the stressers we face in relationships at home, school, and on the job.

What a Start!

This past month has been incredible. The revolution series pulled no punches, but people really embraced the challenge to live loud for God in 2007. Over the past 6 weeks we have grown 25% and have seen a lot of new people serving God through the various ministries at emc. It's been great to see people realize how amazing it is to have a relationship with Jesus that is real and a place to celebrate that relationship that connects with people right where they are.

The bands been cranking and the place has just been full of energy. Embassy has become the church I would go to even if I wasn't the pastor. Thanks to everyone who week after week prepare such a great environment for people to connect with God, their purpose, and to others on the journey.

Our average attendance for the month of January was 125. What a start to a great year. I feel like God is putting everything together to absolutely blow our minds this year.
On Sunday I was saying how many had came to Christ this year, but how it was one less than I wish. How many marriages were made strong, but still one less than I wished. How many lives bound to life controlling issue, but again still one less than I wished. That's why we have to keep doing what we're doing because they're many more that God wants to reach through your efforts at emc. We've had a great start so let it motivate you to continue doing every week to make a difference in the community you live in.

Thanks for letting me lead the kind of church I would go to even if I wasn't the pastor. You guys are risk taking adventurous fools for God and I love ya for it!

new series

This past Sunday we launched our first series of the new year. I really thought we would ease into the year, but God is up to something. We came full force challenging ourselves to live our lives in a revolutionary way. I challenged emc with the question, "What sound does your life make when it spins" We launched the service with a DJ mixing Run D.M.C.'s "Walk This Way" up on the turntables ((props to Brantly) Later on he laid down a set scratching over a few songs bringing home the whole revolution theme. We wanted the imagery of a record spinning or revolving to get into our heads. Why?

Like a record spinning on a turntable our lives give off a sound. We need to be conscious of that sound to be sure it sounds like Christ. His way, His heart, His passions reverberating from our lives. We need to find ourselves revolving close to God so that we can live loud and through that people will hear the voice of God resonate in their own ears.

This year commit yourself to the Revolution and Live Loud

EMC Birthday Wish from..."Oh my Gosh they can't be serious"

Perry Noble from New Spring Church writes:

"The church is called to grow!!! We are not called to form “holy huddles” that criticize the churches that are growing. (And for what it is worth…we get that…AND we ignore it. Why? Simple–I would not ask a fat person for advice on how to take care of my body. I would not ask a person who has declared bankruptcy three times for advice on personal finances. And I would NOT ask someone who has had the same 50 people in their church for the past 20 years HOW to do church…it really is that simple. And that is NOT being cocky…it’s being smart.)

One of the chief critics of churches like NewSpring is the whole “emergent” church movement. I just love that–here you have 15-20 people…usually guys, who sit in rooms smoking cigars and drinking beer, debating theology while the world around them goes to hell…and somehow they think they’ve “got it!” In my opinion the only thing that needs to “emerge” from the emerging church is their head out of their rear ends so that they can better listen to God and fulfill the Great Commission."

Check this out for the whole post

My thoughts:
When it comes down to it You can miss being what God wants you to be on two fronts. One, you can be a church that has embraced the culture of the church so tightly that you can't embrace people where they are, in essence declaring "go to hell" to all who don't fit into your ecclesiastical club.

Or two, you have embraced something that is barely different from what drives those who do not profess faith in the Christ. Basically saying to those searching for something real that we are on our way to heaven, but really there's not much difference between the life of the believer and the unbeliever. I say if their isn't much different than maybe you don't have the vibrant relationship with Christ that John 10:10 speaks of. One that leads to a life that is full. Not a life full of rules and regulations, but a life full of contentment and direction. It seems to me often those who are pushing the "emergent thing" are bitter, angry, and counter productive to people's faith. I know many of the well know emergent leaders are amazing and have brought a much needed balance to the church. For some reason though many who express allegiance to this vein seem to be more focused on pressing their "cause".... I guess I thought our "cause" is Christ and our heartbeat is introducing people to Him, not our kooky thoughts on church sociology and function. Man I don't have time for that. I would rather surround myself with practitioners than theorists any day.

Well I guess my rants over.

The South has risen again

Being and OSU fan I have only a few words to say today: "I don't want to talk about it"

Mad props to the gators and the SEC from a die hard Big 10 buckeye fan.... you definitely got it done.

Ain't no Party like an emc party cause an emc party don't stop!

Our one year anniversary party was everything I hoped for. We had a great time looking back at what God has done and casting vision for where we are headed.

We looked at how God brings a vision and how vision comes to pass. We saw that while living out the dreams of God it's not always easy, but He is with you through it all. I then challenged the people to seek God for the dreams God wants for their lives because they are embassy metro church.

It's not about what God wants to do with emc that thrills me it's what God is doing and will do in their lives that get's me amped. As God leads them to be strong the church becomes strong....as God fulfills His hopes for their relationships....the church becomes healthier....as God causes them to personally grow, the church grows.....they are the church, they are emc.

EMC is just what we all get the priviledge of doing together to reach others and to stir each other to grow as Christ followers. I love being a part of what we are all doing for Jesus!!!


A few things that were great about Sunday:

-I loved having drums and bass on Sunday....the worship band rocked (Thanks Jared for leading the team so effectively). We have been praying for musicians for months and now they are coming out of the woodwork! Having the extra musicians will work great when we go to double services or run a concurrent service in another room with a live band and video simulcast for teaching. It's amazing that we are already having to begin to think about the next step.

-We also had several new people helping with set up...thanks for owning the vision and taking part!

-Thanks for allowing me to get away with stupid stunts like the "Marilyn Monroe bit" Ya'll are a blast to lead.

-The number of 20 somethings that are making emc home...I'm loving that.

-having my wife in service with me and knowing the kid's ministry was in great hands. (Amie has ran our kid's ministry since we launched....thanks Leondra for serving so faithfully so that my wife can be with me more regularly)


2007 is going to be off the hook!

So high, so low, so what!

You know a couple of posts ago I was saying that my truck is like Count Dracula to the blood supply of my wallet, but why focus on the negative. Last year was amazing so who cares!!! I think I have developed a case of negativitis. The desire to scratch at the quarter sized spot of what's wrong in my life has kept me distracted at times from seeing all that's right.

My kids blow me away with their personalities and growing abilities, my wife can't keep her hands off of me (I'm serious, Ha! HA!), my understanding of walking through life dependent on God and seeing Him come through over and over again. Life really is good.

So this year I am committing myself to look more at the positive than the negative, at what's right than what's wrong, at what is than what isn't. This year I will discipline my speech and thoughts to filter everything through eyes of faith, hope, and love.

I guess I just made a resolution....darn I wasn't going to make one of those this year...so what! Now I need to live it.

First Year Party

This Sunday we will be celebrating the first year of embassy metro church. It's going to be a great day with several surprises (No, Jared will not be leading worship in his birthday suit, although that is usually how he spends his personal born day).

The doors will be closed until 10:00 a.m. and then you will want to quickly find a seat. If you get there early get a cup of liquid heaven (coffee) and just hang out in the cafe'. This will be a great day for you to bring guests, or if you are looking at checking us out for the first time, Sunday will provide you a brief look at who we are, where we started, and where we are heading. This is a morning you won't want to miss.

This past year it's been amazing to see how God has used so many dedicated people to make what emc is today. Thanks for continuing to embrace the fact that it's not about us, but it's about God reaching out to those that need Him.