Back From the Frigid North

We got back from Ohio on Saturday and as soon as the van door opened and the warm Georgia air hit my face I new I was home. We had a great time seeing family. It was a short visit so we spent two days with my folks and two with Amie's. One afternoon we took our kids sled riding. It was the first time for Grant and he was as wild as I thought he would be. I was glad the city park commission had placed hay bales in front of the trees at the bottom of the hill. If not Grant would have broke his neck a few times. Some guy had the great idea to use a hay bale to build a ramp on the steepest hill. My nephew Austin and I decided we needed to conquer the jump. So with over 350lbs in our sled we flew down the hill together and launched 4ft. of the ground. We were airborne for 3 seconds and when we hit all heck broke loose...after we collected ourselves and the sled Austin says. "Chunkle Ross let's do it again" Yeah that's what my nieces and nephews call me....stop laughing....it's not that funny, well I gave thought to trying it again, but reminded myself that I had to be back home on Sunday setting up with the team and preaching so I didn't risk another go at the super jump.

One day we went into the offices of our old church and were able to see our pastor, some staff guys, support staff, and even some of the finance committee. It was great seeing some of our old friends in the office. We hated that this trip we were not able to make the rounds to see friends like we usually do, but it was a quick trip and we really needed our time with the family this time.

Being back this time made me realize how much my heart longs for the people of Woodstock and the surrounding area to find Christ and to see His principles lived out in their lives. This is truly the mission field God has called me to and being back this time made me realize althugh my heart misses friends and family back home, it beats for the community I am in here in Georgia. Did I mention it's warm here too!

Have I lost my Mind?

It is February and in two days I will be on my way to see family in Ohio. Yes, Ohio....I must be crazy! This morning it was 2 degrees with winds blowing at 18 miles an hour. That puts the wind chill at something like..."my Lord it's cold and I can't feel my feet" and I am choosing to go there with out being hog tied and thrown in a trunk, which should be the only reason why anybody heads that far north in the middle of winter. Does that make me certifiable?

Well anyhoo, we'll make the best of it. It will be nice seeing my family and gettin' some of momma's homemade collard greens, pinto beans (Yeah I might be from the north but my mother's Kentucky roots run deep) and some cone pone. That's corn bread if ya'll didn't know! I may be freezin' next week on the outside, but momma's cooking will have me warm on the inside clean down to my toes!!!

Speaking of going back to Ohio I just want to put it out there for the record....I love Georgia...and more specifically I love Woodstock. My hometown in Ohio, church, and friends will always be special to me, but It feels great to be right where God has called us to be. I feel like we are just starting to find our groove and the next five years is going to blow our minds. I love what God is doing in the lives of my fellow emc-ers, I love that we are seeing people come to Christ almost weekly, and I love that you can sense God is up to something. I love that I am already worried about our Easter Sunday's attendance...not because of trying to fill the place, but figuring out what to do if we overfill it!!! It's going to be nice to get away, from Sunday night to next Friday, but I'm glad I'm not missing the following Sunday. And I'll be itching to get back to the harvest field God has called me and the team at emc to. Invite some friends out as we look over the next 3 weeks at the rest of our series "dealing with difficult people" This Sunday, dealing with the overly needy people in our lives. Then on the 25th we'll look at dealing with manipulative people and finally on March 4th we'll cover the subject of hypocritical people in our lives.
I can't wait until Sundays each week! I look forward to seeing you and watching God make a difference in your life and the lives of your friends that you are investing in and inviting to the embassy. Love ya guys!!! Thanks for letting me pastor such a great church full of people passionate about changing their world. Viva la Revolution!!!

New series will start next Sunday

We were going to start our difficult people series yesterday, but I was sicker than a dog. It takes a lot to make me give up my pulpit (music stand...we're portable). Over the weekend I think I coughed my spine loose, is that possible? Any ways my voice sounded like a cross between a mobster and a drag queen who sucked down too many Marlboros. So I opted out. I had a missionary friend in town whose sister goes to my church and he came to perform her wedding. He was planning on a 5 minute missions window during our service yesterday so I called him up and asked him to "help a brother out" and go ahead and teach. Damien was our first missionary to speak since we launched and he did a great job explaining his ministry, but also challenged us to be angry about what angers God; poverty,Africa's aids/hiv epedimic,slavery, & injustice. So next week we will begin our Difficult People series.