Sunday Remix

-The last service in our gametime at the embassy series went great.

-It seems like I'm always saying this, but the band is just really blowing my mind. Great job guys!

-When our emc experience was over yesterday we had a team emc orientation (membership class) at the Serene Bean. I just want to give a shout out to all the new people that have made emc home the past few months. Welcome to the team!

-In the evening we had our 3rd Discipleship for Leadership night. It has been great getting with those who have so fully embraced what God is doing in and through their lives at emc.

-It's awesome seeing such a diversity taking place at the embassy. From professionals and IT guys to tattooed recording studio managers and baristas, we are seeing God uniquely create the community we affectionately call "the embassy". I don't think I have ever been more proud of being the pastor of embassy metro church than I am right now.

www.JesusIsYourHuckleberry.com

This weekend 100 yard signs will go out that only have this web address on them. We hope it will peak interest and drive people to the page that promotes the Wild Wild West Series and the main church website.

I think the creative design team did a great job with this idea. I hope it will spark some interest around the area.

New Series Begins November 4th; Wild Wild West:Taking on the Outlaws that Threaten our Hearts.

Great E-mail

A fellow emc-er writes:

It has been well over 2 years now since we got hooked up (Or I guess I should say plugged in..) at the Embassy. I am continually amazed at how there is still not a Sunday that has gone by where I do not feel excited about coming to church. Even the days I have to miss, it definitely feels like something is missing from the week. I can’t remember a time in my life where on occasional Sunday’s I wouldn’t wake up and feel “Man, I really don’t feel like going to church today”. But, apparently, those days are gone because there are truly folks to “journey” with…..not “perfect people”, not “judgmental people”, not “holier than thou people”, but “PEOPLE”….”REAL PEOPLE” who love other people and want to figure out life together. I so appreciate what you have done here. I know we are really reaching the un-churched, but I am hear to tell you, that we are also reaching the folks that always thought they were “churched” but didn’t realize that it is more than a word or a label, it is a state of mind and a focus on God and truly a “Journey”. Thanks for being faithful and driving God’s vision to Woodstock, to Georgia, and to the world.

What a great e-mail! I love to here what Jesus and Emc has meant to people's lives. EMC Team, ya'll are doing a great job!!!!

EMC Obstacles

During our last Discipleship for Leadership as we talked about leaders being resilient we took a few minutes to ask the question, "what are the unique obstacles that we face at emc?" Here's a few that were listed:

-We're portable. Have to set this thing up every week. It was great that someone commented that being portable to them seemed to be the reason why we reach so many unchurched people. Seems like that became the consensus of the room which is cool because it shows that because they are proactive about the vision of emc they are resilient to that present obstacle. Not only resilient, but saw the best amongst the worst. Thanks guys you rock!

-Time: we have a lot of young families and living in this region taxes everyones resources of time. Someone commented that this has made us purposeful in what we do as a church and has helped keep us focused.

-There were several more, but I'll finish with this one. Finances:
Man that's huge. Because the greatest percentage of emc-ers were either unchurched, church burnt, or just de-churched their awareness to give or discipline to do so is not developed yet. I will take the blame for that because I really haven't taught much on giving. The last thing you want is for people who have seen the TV evangelists beg for money and think that's what it's all about to come to church and have money preached every week at them only cementing for them the stereotype that they expected.

Now every person that gives 10% of their income or more will till you that it's not out of a heart of compulsion that they give. We do it because it is worship to God, and it's a commitment that says we trust God with our finances and welfare. In doing so God truly does take care of you. My life has been an example of this from 19 years old until now.

The obstacle of finances is difficult, but as one person suggested it has made us frugal, creative, and disciplined in that we think through everything when money is being spent. That's a good thing. What's difficult is that we do need to lead this group of people newly passionate about God into trusting Him with their finances. Most if they have it they want to give it. I don't say any of this as a condemnation on them because most when looking at their finances will say just like Amie and I..."we don't have it". Truth of the matter we don't have it, it's all His anyways and what He has allowed into my hands I will trust Him with it. I look forward to seeing many begin to trust him with this. Why? Because first and foremost it will get them past some of the obstacles that they have faced with their finances. God will bless obedience ever time. Secondly, together as a body the embassy metro church family will see the obstacle of finances overcome as we scale this mountain that has the potential to block us from God's best for our lives, church, and community.

What ever obstacles you are facing be resilient, be obedient, be proactive and watch as the power of God and his provision for your situation causes you to get past the obstacles you face in life.

Heart of A Leader

At our last Discipleship for Leadership we took some time to look at the heart of a Leader. We saw that leaders are pro-active. They own the vision of the organizations they are a part of. A team that only responds in a reactionary way will lead a movement into maintenance mode. This is where a lot of churches and organizations find themselves. If you are going to lead you have to be pro-actionary (I may have just made up that word, but it works). Vision, vibrancy, life and health all stem from proactivity. You may be a pastor, parent, business person, student, or part of a team when it comes to leading in those environments you have to take some time to work on your vision for the future and not just react to the present. If you don't you will get stuck in your present and stagnation will follow.

Number two leaders are resilient. They bounce back and recover strength after facing obstacles to their vision. Resiliency comes from owning the vision deeply. John and Peter upon threat of life declared "We can't help but speak what we have seen and heard (concerning Jesus)" The disciples of Christ all but John (he just had boiling oil poured on him and exiled to an island) died striving to accomplish the vision. Myself and every believer today are testament of the fact that they succeeded.

Third quality, leaders are compassionate. Some leadership schools paint the leader as one who runs over everyone with their agenda. A Christian leader needs to lead like Christ. Christ was compassionate.... he felt deeply where people were and because of that related to them and led them to where they needed to be.

Finally I told our leaders that leaders are fallible. I gave them permission to make mistakes. Anytime you are moving a head, trying new things, being visionary you're going to make mistakes now and then. Leaders are not paralyzed by the fear of failure, but they take chances attempting to do things that are not the status quo.

As a pastor I don't expect my leaders to be perfect in every action or idea but I do expect them to be 1. pro-active 2. resilient and 3. compassionate.

Tragedy Back Home

The phone calls began to come in today regarding the shooting tragedy of a pastor and his wife apparently at the hands of their sixteen year old son. Mark & Sue Petric are the pastors of New Life Assembly of God in Wellington, OH. This church was in our section of churches when I pastored in North Central Ohio. Sue was found dead at the scene and Mark received multiple shots to his head and arm. Mark is in intensive care. Please pray for this family and church as they face the unthinkable.

Weekend Remix

-The Blue Rockers still go undefeated. It's so wrong to be so proud, but the team Grant is on is just really doing a lot right and it's fun to watch. They are beginning to pass and finally starting to run to space which is very hard to get 4&5 year olds to do. Finally the other team had enough and called the game with about 20 minutes left to play. They were down a few people so everybody was wearing out. I was still proud of our guys for passing so much. Great Job Blue Rockers!

-Saturday was a sad day as one of the first families that came to emc moved back home to Seattle. Lawerence, Jodi, Makayla, and Kennedy Boyd your church family in Atlanta will miss you.

-Spent a few hours with a crew of guys shooting our November series promos. Anytime spent with this bunch is hilarious.

-The Tribe sucked the field up pretty bad on Saturday and Sunday night and deserved to loose. In the series as much as I wanted the Indians to win I do hope the Sox come out and surprise the Rockies for the Championship.

-Our set up crew on Sunday had the truck unloaded in great time, but somewhere things got slowed down, the sound in the lobby didn't get set up and we started late which never makes me happy! We'll find out what went wrong at staff tonight :)

-Since the billboard we have had a lot of first time visitors. That's cool. This week a woman who came because she saw the billboard put her faith in Christ during the service. That's what it's all about.

-with all the new people that has been coming I am looking forward to the team emc orientation on Sunday at the Serene Bean immediately following the service. I am also looking forward to our journey groups starting back up in a couple of weeks. All these things help people connect and grow in their relationship with God and friends.

-The band rocked Sunday. We almost have enough people to make two full teams. I love what you are bringing us into on Sundays thanks for all you do to lead us in worship our God.

-I enjoyed preaching today, but I could tell there was a little push back. we looked at Settling the Score: How to handle penalties on the play. It's hard to see the stuff people throw at you as something that can make you stronger if handled right.To face the one who fouled you and to forgive, free, and forgive them is so hard. I know you can do it though because the Holy Spirit lives in you and He will empower you to get past your penalties on the play.

-Last night was our second night having Discipleship for Leadership. It has been great sowing into the leaders at emc. Thanks guys for stepping up your passion and level of responsibility.

-Finished the night last night about midnight as my wife and I spent time with a person in the church who has been through hell. I pray through Jesus she will find and know that there is healing for her past and she will receive strength to forgive, free, and forget those who have scarred her so deeply.

-We truly don't know the pain that people are going through, but I know that Jesus can heal their pain without a doubt!

-Went to bed really really tired....I love my life!

How did the emc worship team prepare to lead worship during the Gametime Series

The Gametime Team

This is most of emc-ers that helped make the gametime tailgate party possible. There were a few still doing things outside. The pic was spontaneous so once again my wife Amie missed being in the photo. She was watching children while everybody was setting things up for the day. I love serving along side of you all. thanks for all you do!

Go Tribe!

Growing up 65 miles south of Cleveland pretty much puts Tribe blood in your veins for life so needless to say I am excited for the Indians. I'll have to wait to see the Indians seal the deal tomorrow night. Last night they didn't bring their A-game for sure. Beckett pitched an incredible game and deserved to take home the win for the Sox. I hope Saturday night will be a different story.

You know what stinks?

When you actually like the person that doesn't get what you are doing and you realize you probably won't see each other much anymore because you are just embracing two different directions. I think everyone you come in contact with you hope you'll be journeying together with until Jesus comes, but that just doesn't happen. Thank God His kingdom is big enough for differing views and when we get to heaven a lot of this stuff just won't matter.

God has Great Timing

We have a guy at the church who has been in ministry for 20 years. He preaches at youth camps and has ministered all over the country. His family has called emc home and it's been great having him at the church. Sunday he asked if we could get some lunch this week. Little did I know what I would face between then and the lunch.

Every pastor at times will get reamed about their particular ministry and focus, and I am no exception. Does it hurt yes...will it always hurt...I hope. I never want to lose a sense of tenderness to the call of God and His desires, on the other hand I will forever be tenacious about the call God has on embassy metro church and His purpose for emc.

Let me get back to God's timing. So....I have everything we are called to and focused on called into question by someone. Man I never even saw it coming and it was intense. Here comes God's timing....the very next day I have lunch with this other
guy from our church that is a preacher. His main purpose for lunch was just to affirm the ministry that we are all doing at emc. This man has been in ministry for 20 years, has seen all types of churches and environments, has seen the positives and negatives and he just wanted to have lunch to say, "Pastor, you all are doing it!" Man that is just too cool how God works. Will I still be contemplative over things said by the other party yes, to not smacks of pride and arrogance, but have I fell a sleep soundly every night since the "reaming" you bet.

Sunday Remix

-The bands opening video was hilarious as they showed what Pastor Jared does to make them "just so darn awesome". Everything from jumping jacks to wind sprints all work together to make the band what they are. Too funny. I loved Jared calling to be spritzed as he chilled out on the bench. Seriously band thanks for what you do to bring your best game week in and week out. All I have been hearing lately is the great job you are doing. Thanks for bringing us before God in worship week to week.


-Amie and I were stoked to have some of our friends back from the gametime event the
week before.

-I preached a seven point sermon today dealing with feeling sidelined in life. 7 points ha ha. When I announced that ya'll thought we would be there until 1:00.

-I love seeing what God is doing in people's lives at the embassy.

-The more we go forward as a church the more I realize how much I need God and His direction in my life. Please pray for me as I seek God for our church.

-Our first night of Discipleship for Leadership went great as I spoke into the lives of 20 some emc-ers on Sunday night. What a great night of motivation and prayer. I'm looking forward to our next three weeks together.

Be on Time Tomorrow

We have been working hard to get started right at 10:02am and finally we have been making it. If you are an emc-er try to get into the main theater on time because often we will have announcments, creative openers, and other elements to kick off our worship experience. We don't want you to miss a thing.

Tomorrow the band came up with crazy "gametime themed" video to open up worship with. I can't wait to see them.

What a week

Amie and I enjoyed immensely our time on St. Simon's this week. The minister's institute was one of the best events like it I have ever been to. The sessions were practical and inspiring and the schedule was restful, but still productive. We met a lot of great people that you can tell will be friends for years to come. On the rest side we spent one night walking a couple of miles on the beach in the dark. Amie was freaking out the whole time....I loved it. We also got to go up in the light house and see Christ Church, Charles Wesley's first ministry in the colonies. The location of the camp was cool because from that property lumber was taken to make the U.S.S. Constitution. The island just felt historic. It was great. We ate at a great place called Coastal Kitchen. It's owned by Phil & Debra who are some new friends. There son is on the soccer team I co-coach. Thanks Phil for the heads up...the place was incredible and the Asian Soy Calamari was one of the best things I have ever tasted.

The week was refreshing spiritually as well. One thing the speaker, Dr. Mike Rakes, said was that God led them into church planting to kill them. I loved that. He said it was there that God killed Mike and brought to life the man that God desired for him to be. After that service Amie and I went walking on the beach. We could tell there were plants all over the beach left by the tide. We weren't sure what they were because it was so dark. Finally I went up and stepped on one of these piles of sea matter. To my surprise it lit up like fireflies. I went to another and stepped harder this time. The light given off was even brighter. I found out later that it is phosphorus being given off by the matter in the sea plant.

It made my thoughts go back to Mike's words. My prayer now is that God will crush me...my plans...my agendas....my desires and that in doing so His light would shine forth from my life and the life of the ministry I'm privileged to lead. I want people in their darkness to get a glimpse of light of God's reality and that it would surprise them and cause them to seek out "what was that!".

Sunday Remix *

*I wanted to upload this Sunday, but have been away from the internet until now...


-I had a very long day: woke up at 3:30 am had an amazing day at the embassy and
arrived in South Georgia at Amie’s folks at 11:30 pm. We came to drop our kids off because we are going to a pastor’s retreat on St. Simons until Thursday. We’ll be in 2 services a day. The rest of the time I’ll be with my beautiful bride for a few days without the “chillrens” as my Kentucky grandma use to say.

-The “game time” tailgate party was a huge success. Thanks everybody who made it possible. We had our normal set up to do plus the outside set up for the tailgate party. Our guest services, food service people, and everyone who just jumped in from start to finish worked so hard and pulled the day off huge! Ya’ll kicked! I had so many of our guest surprised at all we do to make church not only possible, but awesome at a theater. Most were surprised that the only real difference was the outside party area and that we do all of this week to week. Being portable will never be an excuse for us to not go over the top in providing quality environments for people to find and grow in their faith in Jesus.

-People wondered where we got our band. “…they are awesome…” one person said. I thought that was great. I know you guys have worked hard and it sure is showing. Thanks for always giving God your best!

-I had a blast just speaking a little about winning in life (I Corinthians 9:24-27) and setting up our “Game time Series” beginning next Sunday. I can’t wait until next week to open God’s Word and look at some principles that will help all of us side step some of the things that try to block us from getting to our goals in life.

-I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of our guests back at the Embassy next Sunday.

-I know people have been asking about the attendance Sunday so here we go: we had 74 in Embassy Kid’s ministry (kids and workers), 138 adults & teens, 27 that came after the service for tailgate party. Total for the day 239 people!!! Great job getting the word out everybody. I pray many of these will be back next week as we begin the “Game time” Series.

-FYI: The winner of the Wii gaming system was a friend of and emc-er and first time guest. Congrats!

Gametime Tailgate Party

Less than two day until the tailgate party. If you want come sporting your favorite teams. Bring your portable pop up canopies, and chairs, scooters, golf carts whatever your normal tailgate party routine is and we'll supply all the food and drinks.

The kids will have a blast and I guarantee you I plan on racing a few of you down the 40ft obstacle course myself. Get your game on and get everybody you know to "Gametime" this weekend at the embassy 10:02am!

Our Billboard on 92 & 575

Someone took this pic of our billboard while driving by. There are two slats that aren't rotating so that's what the line is through the logo. We're trying to get a maintenance guy out to fix it. I'm about to climb the thing and do it myself....you know I would what's great is I know I have a bunch of ya that would do it with me or at least stand guard. Now where did I put my ninja clothes.

Can't Wait Until Sunday!

Get everyone you can to this event. It's going to be great! Get there early for coffee and donuts. Get registered for prizes and check kid's into embassy kid's and then try to find a seat in the main theater at 10:02 as "Gametime" launches. The drawing for the Wii takes place at 10:45 and then the tailgate party is on!

See you Sunday at 10:02!

Behind on my Remix

-EMC-ers are amazing! Over 40 people helped to get 15,000 door hangers into the community over the weekend advertising next Sunday's "Gametime tailgate party"
-We almost started on time this week....be in the main theater next week right at 10:02 for the day's opener it's going to rock.
-we closed out our sex series this week with communion. People laid sheets of paper written upon them with the the emotions, thoughts, and actions throughout their life and sexuality that they desired to concecrate to God. As we laid what represented our stained and impure bodies before God we took up His body represented through communion and we consecrated our sexuality to God afresh and anew. It was amazing what people had gone through during their lives, but Sunday God got the victory and reminded us that we can trust Him with our sexuality!!!
-There is definitely something incredible happening at the embassy. It's what you work for, pray for, sacrifice for and we are now seeing it. Lives changing, people getting involved, God drawing new people weekly and the place is starting to just feel electric. If you have been with us for a while great. If your new awesome... We are in for some incredible days ahead and I'm glad you're a part of what is going to be a movement that will impact lives tremendously. I'm loving that we are starting to get a two fold rep. One, that we are definetely a place where the unchurched and dechurched can find God in Woodstock and that the leadership and all the emc-ers aren't threatening or over the top as people come to check the things of faith, God, and spiritual community out. And two, that we don't hold back we teach right where people live and we challenge to embrace fully what God desires for us. Are we "seeker sensitive" well When it comes to church I hate all the political junk and social posturing that robs people of what the focus of gathering together should be. I wouldn't say we are seeker sensitive. I would say we are seeker conscious. I want the room to be the right temp, the coffee to be hot, and the kid's environments to be appealing, but when I preach I don't think not offending people is what anybody needs. Sometimes God's word is an offense and I think people in our generation want challenged. they just don't want challenged through angry preacher rhetoric aimed more at getting the applause of the pious then to actually help people apply real truths in their real life to see the real results that our real God desires. Now that's a lot of reals, but I guess that best sums up what I am hearing people say about their emc experience.
-can't wait until next Sunday!

Good Tired

-Last week we had one of those vacations that was great, but leaves you playing some serious catch up. I didn't do Sunday Remixes for the past two Sundays, but we had great services with a lot of guests. This past week the two worship teams that rotate did a combined set. It was cool they rocked out, but added mandolin, banjo, & congas. It had a really rugged, homespun, and worshipful feel. I love what God's been doing in people's lives during this series.

-I went to visit Chris & Caitlyn in the hospital Sunday. They had a beautiful little girl. On the way into the hospital I started talking to a dude chilling outside who looked like we was in a lot of pain. He was really a cool guy. I ended up praying for him and then I went up the day after he had his ruptured discs fixed. I hung out along with one of his friends for over an hour. It was so cool to see this guy coming to the realization that there are spiritual needs in his life. We talked mostly about guy stuff old fights, stupid decisions, and movies. It was just real cool. since then he's called and said that he and his girl want to check things out. In his words he said that it's just "f&%$ing" cool how things worked out. I guess that's not quite a praise God, but it was definitely heart felt. I love it that God draws to us the rough and edgy. It's messy at times, but i wouldn't trade it for anything! I can't wait to have my new friend show up at the embassy. I know God has plans to blow his mind with His faithfulness.

-Spent one night looking for a girl on the streets in Atlanta. Her uncle's an old friend of mine from Ohio. He heard she was on the streets so I took Brantley and Hannah with me to find her. We came home at 1:00am, but could not locate her. Pray for this young girl that she'll begin to make the right decisions before she craps her life away.

-Tomorrow we finish getting out 15,000 door hangers. Tonight we placed over 2,000 invite cards on cars at WHS, EHS, and the movie theater.We are going to have a huge turn out next Sunday for our "Gametime" tailgate party. I'll write more about that first of next week. Plan to be there, bring a friend, we are going to have a blast!

-This week has been crazy and between now and Tuesday it's going to be even crazier. I want to personally ask you to pray for my strength the next couple of days. This week was 12-14hr days everyday. Thanks!

emc -T-shirt will soon be available so you can represent large to all your homey's :)

We wanted something that had our logo, and info, but wasn't over the top saying "hey look at me I'm wearing a church t." I'm sure we'll design some t-shirts in the future that have our name a little larger, but this was the feel we were going for for our first shirt. The actual size of the design is 8 X 13 so the picture makes it seem smaller than it is. The t-shirt is grey with creme printing. I would love some feed back on this so tell me what you think.

EMC's First Billboard Design

The billboard can be seen heading East on 92 and South on 575. It went up yesterday afternoon and already we have had people checking the website out and an e-mail from someone who had some great questions. I'll try to get a picture of the actual sign soon.

We found Timbuktoo

We left Monday afternoon to visit Amie's folks in South Georgia. They are living in Alma which lies 15 miles in any direction from nothing. "Well ain't that a geographical oddity" Finally we made it to Douglas so as the wife, grandmother and kid's are checking out the local WalMart I thought I would check mail, etc...

I am on vacation and forcefully have been de-connected on every digital front. Actually it's been kind of nice spending a few days in Timbuktoo. Looking forward to getting home and seeing everybody on Sunday. This week of the sex series is extremely important be sure to be there. I can't wait for you to hear what the band is putting together for the day and we have something hilarious to open the teaching time up with. You don't want to miss it. See you Sunday!

Getting ready for the Game

It's 7:20 and Grant is up and getting dressed in his soccer kit (that's his whole get up from jersey to cleats). I thought it was bad last Saturday when he was ready at 9:00 for his 10:40 game. When you are passionate about something it will get you up in the morning and ready to get at it. It looks like Grant's "getting his game on" and I love it.

I think that is kind of what we all feel like on Sunday mornings when we get up early and begin to set up hours before people arrive at the embassy. I love being a part of the team. I hope I always go at church planting with the same zeal that Grant has for his new found love soccer.

Speaking of soccer...that is my goal (pun intended). Next summer I want to play in a Tuesday night league just to blow off steam. To do so I have to lose a lot of weight or frankly I'll snap my ankles off at the bottom of my tib/fibs. When the train get's moving it ain't easy to get it to stop when cutting. Trust me I know last year I did a doosy on my ankle during a coaches scrimmage. It's like I think I'm 175 in my head so I play like that, but the body says, "boy are you freakin' crazy....this is where this ends" and snap I'm laying there with a ganked up ankle. Well I am on track now.

I will put these numbers in just to make me accountable. I began 4 weeks ago when I realized I was an official fat cow. I was just shy of 270 pounds. Dang! at 5'8 that equates to you are a fat cow. Now everybody says...."Oh you carry your weight well" that's nice tell that to my body because all my body was telling me was, "hey Ross...guess what... you're a fat cow." I want to be able to play soccer with my boy when he's 16 and at the rate I was going the only soccer we would have been playing was EA sports FIFA 2007 on the playstation. I refuse to be a 40 year old "use to be an athelete" guy who can't relate to his son because he's obese. OK so what am I doing about it. Well I haven't been dieting. I've been going to gym and eating a lot of meals. 5 or six small meals a day each one just until I feel satisfied. It's hard to crave junk when you feel satisfied all day. That's about it. So how's it going you might ask. I was 252 this morning which means I have lost 17 pounds. That's 3 sugar bags and a half down, 15 and a half to go. I want to be 175 again. When Aubrynn was born 8 years ago I weighed 165 pounds. A month ago I realized I had to "get my game on"

I am laying these figures out mainly to keep myself accountable as I work to loose nearly 100 pounds. I'll throw the figures up here about once a month and if you see me out and I have a coke and chips in my hand just holler out...."fat pastor fat pastor get your game back on!"

EMC's first person that has got a head start

Tonight I spent several hours at the hospital with a dear family as they said goodbye to their mother. Most of you do not know who Luella Harris was but she was the oldest person that considered herself to be and emc-er. We were her church and I was her pastor. I say that with a sense of pride and affection. Luella was 91 years old and although she made it to our first baptism (it was held at the home where her daughter Sharon lives) we never had the privilege of having her at the theater. She may not have been able to get to the theater, but in the early days before we launched we had a small group that met at Sharon's and there Luella sat as pretty as can be dressed to the nines and taking it all in. Being that we have a pretty young church I miss some of the old stuff I was raised with. So when I would visit with Grandma Harris she always let me get my fill of playing and singing some old gospel hymns and choruses.

To be honest it was a little selfish of me because she reminded me so much of my Grandma Bobbie. With her I always felt like I was at home on a Sunday afternoon smelling cornbread cooking and waiting to get into the soup beans. I guess I'm trying to say she always took me back. Well now she has jumped well ahead of us all and while we'll mourn our loss for some time to come we know she is at peace and waiting on us just as pretty as she can be.

Grandma Harris I'll forever be proud to say that you were the first person's home going that I'll get to be a part of here in Georgia. Don't worry a thing honey....we'll make you proud. Love ya.

Sex Series E-mail

I received this today from a parent:

Hey, Ross,

Thank you for taking on such a sensitive subject. Any help we can get as parents in teaching our kids the morally accepted view of sex is always appreciated. Parents tend to keep this subject in the closet while the media outlets parade it in front of our kids, almost mocking the values parents try to instill in their kids. The sad part is still that most kids want to do the right thing, but peer pressure and society pushes them into compromising what is right for the feeling of being accepted.

Anyway, I'm glad you are being such a great leader in making us deal with the tougher parts of our faith.

See you on Sunday!

I told everyone Sunday I'm sorry but we can't just be some church that will never face the tough issues. We have and we will continue to look to God's word for answers to life's everyday concerns, hurts, and struggles. Sometimes that might get a little messy and uncomfortable, but who ever said finding the best in life would ever be easy.

A Salute to Woodstock's Finest

Tuesday night I was asked to give the invocation for our cities 9-1-1 memorial. The Jaycees hosted it and it was attended by our local representatives and mayor. This morning I was thinking about our men in blue here in the city and just taking a little time to pray for their safety and their families. We are a growing community which will continue to put these guys and gals in greater positions of risk. The police force under Chief Moss and the Fire department led that evening by Deputy Chief Doumas couldn't have looked sharper. As I looked at these civil servants some very young, some aged with years of experience shown on their faces I thought these are the living. Those who passed away on 9-1-1 we should never forget to memorialize their commitment to man and country, but equally we should strive to honor those in blue who work faithfully to protect us and keep us safe every day. WPD & WFD May God bless you all greatly!

Too Cool!

Talk about buzz! Have you ever heard of a Muslim evangelist! Well we have one. She has already brought one person to emc and today I found out she is out and about inviting everybody she knows to church next Sunday! I hope my new muslim friend has a great hand in introducing many to Jesus. That just sounds weird. God's at work...what else can you say!

The Buzz is On

I can't wait for you to see the 14X48 billboard that will go up at 92 and 575 South in less than three weeks. It's all a part of our commitment to go all out in reaching people for Christ!

I am still amazed at everybody who was at the embassy Sunday and the stories I have heard the past two days have been great as God has been speaking to people regarding their faith and sexuality.
This fall is going to be great as we reach your friends, family members and co-workers with the message of Jesus and His hope for their lives!

There is a B in buzz I want to say that means "Be" if you want to see people reached by this message of hope, love, acceptance, and the power to change then you need to "Be" engaged (what can I get my hands into that will futher the message of Christ), "Be" doing your part (investing and inviting)and "Be" there Sunday not just at 10:02am, but join the revolution and find your place on the team. If you have been at emc since the beginning or if last week was your first time you can have the privilege of being a part of this movement as we see God's plans unfold in the lives of those around us. Shoot me an e-mail if you want to "Be" a part of the Buzz!

Sunday Remixed

-Today was incredible we had more e-mails and phone calls regarding the impact of todays service than we have ever had. It was amazing to see what God is doing in people's hearts as a result of yesterdays emc experience.
-It was literally the hardest teaching time I have experienced since launching the embassy. I was sweating, losing my train of thought, frankly I was a mess. It was actually kind of humorous but at the time felt like crap. I have been preaching long enough to know you just keep pushing through because God is in the middle of it all and He is getting the message across to hearts and lives that will be changes by His words even if the preacher is feeling a little hyperventilated. Ha!
-Everybody knows that I get hot when I preach and my hanky was no where to be found...the water cup ran out in no time. I've been doing this forever, but ever so often God will throw me a reminder that "boy you ain't got this figured out yet so just trust me." OK so maybe God doesn't use double negative's in his dialogue, but that's just how I hear Him saying it.
-It was funny that the day I felt the worse in delivery we just so happened to have the most responses ever and the highest regular service attendance since we launched.
-20% more worship guides were made this week than normal and we still ran out.
-We did some vision casting Sunday about all the opportunities that are coming up in the next 6 weeks. Do your part to make a difference in the life of the person that soon will be sitting next to you in a seat at the theater. That empty seat is your responsibility....Own that thought that ever person you have a relationship with is your responsibility to help them have a seat in heaven someday. That begins here and now by getting them to a seat at the embassy where I promise you they will have an experience with God and God's word that they will not be able to deny!
-OK so how many people not numbers, but people....not numbers, but lives valued by God. We had 150 people Sunday. There is definitely a buzz taking place at emc. Invite your friends and family be there during this series, and get involved in the things we are doing going into the fall.
-Finally, I love it that embassy is a place of doers not talkers, servants not slackers, lovers not haters....keep it up guys you are so making your God proud!!!

My Boy's a Playa in the Beatiful Game

This is Grant's second season of soccer and today was his first game. The "Blue Rockers" a name the kids came up with came away with the win. Not that that's what it's all about, but like I've said before I'd rather win then lose any day. Grant was a force... at least in my eyes. I'm trying hard to not be an obnoxious soccer dad, but I loved how he went right at the ball no matter what. All he could think about was get the ball, shoot, score. We'll have to work on team play and sharing, but today was all about everybody going at it and my boy came away with a bunch of goals. When it was over I was so proud of him because he said he thought he had scored a goal or two (it was 3 times that) but all he could say was dad our team scored ten goals. It felt good that he knew he had done well, but that individual play was lost amongst the accomplishment of the whole team. OK Ross you're making a big deal out of a stupid game. No I'm making a big deal out of what the game can do in the attitude and growth of a boy. Odd's are Grant will never play pro soccer, but he'll carry excelling in your area of interest and being a team player all his life. It was neat to see in his head he's beginning to get that. Now I just got to get it out of his head and into his feet so he'll pass the stinkin' ball sometimes, but I guess that's just how they play at this age. Go Blue Rockers!..... and from a proud dad go Grant.

Get ready EMC is going large the next few months!

This Sunday I'll be talking a little about what we can expect in the next few months. If you are a part of EMC get ready!!! If not what in the world are you waiting on get to Cherokee 16 Theater Sundays at 10:02am.

This coming Sunday we launch a series called "Satan's SexEd" you don't want to miss this Sunday for anything. (Special thanks to LifeChurch.tv for the use of the short clips that we will use to bring these teachings home) Don't hate yourself in the morning because you skipped this Sunday (Pun Intended)Be there!

The last week of September our first Billboard will go up it can be seen from 92E & 575S. We will be inviting 15,000 homes to come Sunday October 7th to the launch of our series called "Gametime" This will be a sports themed day complete with a Tailgate party. We will have Williams Bros. BBQ several inflatables one that even the teens and adults can enjoy, music, prizes and a drawing for a Wii gaming system and games with a Madden 08 game included. Begin telling friends now so they can plan on being there. Event begins at 10:02 in the theater with the band rockin'. We'll do the drawing for the Wii at 10:50 as we dismiss to go to the food and entertainment outside. I think we can pack out our theater and give many people a taste of what Jesus and emc is all about.

The rest of October we will be doing the "Gametime" series. Which will challenge people and give people skills to be a success on the field of life.

On Halloween night we will be partnering up with the City of Woodstock again to help serve at Kids Fest. we will be doing something special that night to invite the kids and families back to emc on Sunday for the start of our November series

In November we are launching a discipleship series called "Wild Wild West" this is a five week series designed to face the outlaws that at times threaten our hearts. We will have several journey groups that you can choose from and each weeks small group time will center in on the previous Sunday's teaching. I'm hoping I can get Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney, or Montgomery Gentry to stop by but we'll have to see about that. No we won't do country the whole time because Jared would go into convulsions, but we will have a little each week if there's anything I can do about it!

Finally at Christmas time we will be doing a two week series called "Peace on Earth" that will serve to give us a better global picture of what God is doing in the world and how we can be a part of a world changing movement to make a difference! Then on December 23rd we will have our Christmas service!

As you can tell we have some exciting months ahead of us. Jump in, get involved and let's together make it hard for people in the area to go to hell, make it difficult for them to see their marriages fail, make it impossible to see their lives lack purpose and direction. Let's let the people of this city know that we are "with you on the journey"

Where Does Time Go?

Some thoughts from the past 10 days:

-Labor day weekend was great. Had incredible attendance for a holiday weekend. The band was incredible and the teaching impacted people's lives powerfully. We talked about the stuff in our lives that get's in the way of God's best for us. As I spoke I built an altar out of 50+ stones scattered over our stage. We looked at what an altar before God meant and what it means today. Then people came and placed their stones that were given to them when they came into the theater on the altar. Laying their "stuff" before God. It was really a beautiful thing to see.

-I performed my second wedding since being in GA. I think it's my 78th wedding since I began pastoring. Drea & Tracy Looked great and the wedding was so cool. It was outside up at Red Top Mountain.

-We had two Mackey powered speakers donated to us.

-Echo Students went to a climbing Gym on Labor day with the majority of their students and the one kid that get's hurt at every emc event made it through safely! Alright two events in a row for him. I think the curse is broken :)

-I have wireless again at the house. Thanks Lawrence for hooking it up. Now I can work out on the back deck again. Love the view of the Lake back there. Got to get sometime out there tonight. The temp is only 73 degrees right now. Amazing!

-Have had people all week telling me and e-mailing me about what God is doing in their lives through the embassy.

-Last week was crazy with appointments, surgeries, planning sessions...etc

Sunday Remix

-great day with tons of guests several who I have met at different times in the community. way to go emc keep investing in people's lives and inviting them to come and experience what God desires to do in their lives.
-I invited another barista from the coffee shop and he came yesterday. that's always cool when that happens.
-music sounded great. the mix was hot.
-The God at the movies series ended great and we had the best attendance we've had all summer.
-there is definitely some buzz taking place. the next few months are going to be off da hook. I know it's labor day weekend but take off after church because I want to tell everybody what's going to be happening at the embassy over the next 8 weeks.
-we had a chic come last week as a guest of an emc-er. she then came to the 80's party Saturday which by the way was great fun. Loved the mullet and ACDC shirt on Rich it reminded me of 3/4's of the guys in my home town during the 80's. anyhoo, this lady shows up Sunday with her fiance'. I love this...after church I met him as he is nervously apologizing about his rock t-shirt and tattooed arms. He said if he knew he was coming to church he would have worn long sleeves. I told him, "two things, first I like tattoos and you don't have to worry about covering them up we have a lot of people with tats and we want you to come as you are. second I said laughing, "now explain to me what you meant by, if I knew I was coming to church I would have worn long sleeves." It's not like you accidentally end up at church.
He proceeded to tell me how his fiance' told him on Sunday, "let's go for a walk" so walk they did when they got to the theater she said let's go in." and they did that too. He then experienced the environment that I am always saying the emc-ers create with acceptance and dedication to making people feel valued by God and us. Well, the rest is history. The dude loved it and is planning on coming back, hopefully he'll come just as he is. I love to see people who bring people who bring people. Too Cool.
-one of our college age guys got a mohawk...holy pointy hair batman. actually it looked quite nice.
-Todd hooked me up with his ipod transmitter because his new car has one built in. Can't beat free swag. Thanks
-My oldest daughter Adalee actually beat me at a game for real. That's the first time one of my kids beat me when I was actually trying to win. No more air hockey for her. I'm only going tp play against grant from now on.
-I was beat from the weekend. Saturday I taught 2 one hour sessions on church planting to around 20 future church planters in Griffin, GA then attended the rest of the days workshops. got home just in time to get to the 80's party and didn't get to sleep until late. Went to lunch with some emc-ers and then I crashed Sunday afternoon taking a four hour nap. You got to love church planting.

New Group I'm Diggin'

Josh Brown tipped me off to a trio from Mount Pleasant, North Carolina that really have a great sound. This is what Wikepedia says about them: The Avett Brothers combine old-time country, bluegrass, punk, pop melodies, folk, rock and roll, honky tonk and ragtime to produce a sound described by The Washington Post as "post civil-war modern rock", or by other reviewers as "grungegrass".

Everybody that knows me knows I have a broad range of musical tastes. I like everything from rock to bach and from rockabilly to hillbilly. For some reason the music of the Blues and Mountain Music have always served to make me feel the most rooted. These guys do a great job putting a modern twist on mountain music so that it feels like I am listening to something fresh and new, but I swear Great Grand Dad A.J. Hatfield would have liked it too.

Flooding in my county back home

Here's a friend of mine who made the Mansfield News Journal. He has 4 feet of mud in his basement. I guess stories like this are happening all over Mansfield & Shelby OH. I'm glad Gary got his hound out. It's awful what he'll have to face when it's all over, but I know there's a bunch of good people at Mansfield First Assembly our home church that will be there to help. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Richland County.

80's Party Coming Next Saturday

This was something I was doing a great deal of in the 80's. If you have a photo from your 80's experiences e-mail them to me at ross@embassymetro.org

By the way, Pastor could shred back in the day. SX8 or Die poser!!!

Life Limiters

Someone who wants to lead in life has no desire to achieve status quo. They will do what it takes to find momentum and maximum potential. So at times evaluation needs to take place to discover what it is that is restricting or limiting that maximum potential.

In NASCAR there is a device called a restrictor plate. This device limits air flow into the intake of the engine decreasing the potential power from 700+ horsepower to a little over 400 horsepower. The goal is to bring the track speed down to a safer level and to create an equal level of competition. The problem is at a track like Talladega where the cars begin to run so tight it puts everybody at risk when a crash occurs. One of the best ways to stay safe is to get out ahead and lead. Every analogy breaks down if you take it too far, but I see in this the leadership lesson of doing whatever it takes to take the restrictor plates off of life and off of our organizations. We have to live to lead life, not allow things that limit to cause us to run in the pack risking our potential and success.

Life Limiters:

-Surrounding yourself with people who praise you but never challenge you.
-Ceasing to read, listen, and gather information from a wide variety of sources.
-Obsessing on things you can't do when you're not even doing what you can do.
-Making excuses for what you are not willing to do
-Failing to seek out resources for what you are unable to do.
-Thinking that success in life has nothing to do with spiritual principles.
-Doing life, business, or ministry alone.
-Continuing to repeat & maintain the same patterns, decisions, and relationships and hoping they will lead to a different outcome.
-Blaming everything and everybody else for the life or quality of organization that you currently have.


I'm sure we could all add to this list a hundred things. Why? Because we all have individual restrictor plates that try to limit us. Look at yourself, stop making excuses, and rip that baby off. Your life, business, and ministry wants to soar, to be lead to new heights, to achieve and maintain a speed that brings success. Don't be the restrictor plate in your family or organization. Do whatever it takes to lift your life limiters

Sunday Recap

-Thankful that our air conditioning is working at the theater.
-enjoyed the bottled cokes instead of coffee in the cafe'
-the band, you guys sounded great today, but the girls were amazing on vocals. Go Mary, Hannah, & Charla!
-We launched our God at the Movies series entitled "Searching for something reel" this week we looked at "Searching for Real hope". We used Spiderman 3 as our storyline as we looked at the thought that "there is hope for the goo in you". We dealt with the sin nature that every person has. You'll have to check the podcast out for details. Some weeks things just really click and this was one of those weeks.
-We had a bunch of guests and I was glad that a visiting family won the friends and family movie pack give away thing (4 tickets, coke and popcorn) We'll be doing a drawing weekly during the God at the movie series so there is still a couple of chances to win.
-Shout out to Terry & Monica Smith for bringing the guest family that won the movie give away.
-EMC we are on the verge of an explosion. Our attendance was great and we were missing a ton of our Cobb County folk who were most likely getting their last weekend away before school starts.
-I'm posting this from the Serene Bean and as I do it I look around at those who work here and realize that four people working today go to the embassy. Too Cool!!!
-The greatest thing that happened last night is that the dude who did the blues piece at the start of our crossroads series came to Christ last night!!! It was too cool he spent the afternoon with the sermon in his mind and his cousin talking with him about stuff. They called last night and showed up at the house. Pastor Jared showed up too. I was fishing down at the lake with my kids, my usual Sunday night unwind acitivity. Here they come down the hill. We sat on the rock, started to pray and I told the dude man you've seen this done if you want to begin this with God you just pray what you want. I loved it as he spoke to God about the "crap" in his life that he needed God to take care of. It was awesome. We all have spent a bunch of time together fishing off those banks and now my friend was allowing himself to be caught by the great net of the one who came to fish for men, Jesus. I loved the whole experience to because it was so raw and rough, not neat and sanitized. there was something very warrioresque about it as Ken full opened himself to God and put his foot on the neck of Satan. What so cool is, this is a guy that we have been doing life together with for months. All you emc-ers you have created an environment where a person can come and find themselves, find God, and find life. I'm just really proud of you all for making the difference in people lives for eternity. And Ken...Way to go bro!!!!!!!
-You know I don't talk about numbers much, but experiencing that with my friends last night makes me want to see that happen in the lives of hundreds in the next year!!! I want to see it happen in the lives of your friends and family members. You may not feel comfortable sharing your faith and until you are get them to the embassy and I promise we will do everything we can to point them to Christ.
-I can't wait until next Sunday only 6 days to go!

Grant's First Day of School

Here's my boy on his first day of kindergarten. He loved his first week at school and was so proud everyday that he stayed on green. Last year in preschool I got called in to preschool a few times...you know like father like son. I was asked to not come back to a Baptist elementary school after my fourth grade year. I was just a little hyper...oh and I liked to fight too. Grant is a lover not a fighter, but he is all boy and we are constantly helping him understand his parameters. Anyway, he was really proud of himself this week and I was proud of him too.

Time Flies

This week has reminded me how fast life really goes. Amie got her hair cut yesterday (Zoe you did great!)and as I saw her I did the typical husband stuff like..."you look great, wow, etc..."

It was the first time in probably six months. And so all the streaks and stuff (I'm not sure if that's what you call it) were cut out leaving Amie's naturally beautiful dark hair to be seen clearly. As I took her into my arms I got a close up look at her scalp and then I put my foot right in my mouth. I said "dang girl look at all those gray hairs" To which she pointed out the arrival of my first gray hair in my beard. I say all that to say time flies. I remember thinking how cute Amie was when she was ten...I was almost 13. I remember when she was 12 and the flirting began...OK I was flirting, she thought I was a dork, but a couple years later and the flirting became mutual. When she was 16 I took her into my arms for the first time and when she was 19 we gave our lives to each other until death we part. Now I find myself holding someone who I have admired for 22 years and to know that we will grow old together is very comforting. It's just strange how time flies, grey hairs come, and smile marks slowly begin to form into permanent lines (Amie quickly points out that I have more of those than she...can I help it if I smile alot?)

Another marker of time is the coming of a new school year. Yesterday we dropped Grant off at school for the first time. All our babies are in school now. That just feels weird. Grants in kindergarten, Aubrynn is in third grade, and Adalee is a fifth grader. Amie was taking it pretty hard so I took her to IHOP for breakfast before we started work. Looking across the table at her I realized how amazed I am that I have got to do life with this girl. She amazes me. Well anyways I wrote all this just to say embrace what you have every moment and live fully in each moment because time flies and you can never do yesterday again.

Sunday Recap

-My man Dale Stephens brought it. It was nice being at the embassy today, and being able to just chill. Dale did a great job talking about what evangelism is (doing life with people in such a way it points them to Christ) and what it's not (Christian T-shirts). It was great how he tied in embassy's theme "with you on the journey".

-The cafe team did a great job with set up!

-We are getting ready to completely redo the cafe area.

-19 months into this I'm realizing we have some maintenance issues. Time to replace some of the kids stuff, a few tables, etc...

-For being the last Sunday of the summer break we had great attendance... I love it when you see momentum building.

-I love what God's been doing in people's lives at emc recently.

-I love our band and what Jared is doing with the rotation of musicians and vocalists.

-We said bye to Josh who was going to be taking a job and moving 4 hours away. Man I'm glad I have to retract that good bye. Yesterday was very pivotal in his life and it looks like he's staying around. I got the call last night. too cool.

-God has always provided for us and He continues to amaze me at the faithful giving of those who get what we are attempting to do together for God. Thanks to those who have allowed God to touch their hearts in such away that they have financially engaged in the vision of what we are accomplishing at the embassy.

-I love seeing people back who have been gone this summer. Our college students are coming back. Our vacationing families are rolling in. It just feels good having the family home again.

Great E-mail I received from a fellow emc-er

Hey Dude,

I just wanted you to know how you have really upset my routine! Every time I'm about to yell "You moron!" in my customary road rage snarl; Every time I'm gonna show my rear at the drive thru at Mickey D's, etc.; Every time I see some weird lookin dude dressed like an american indian but with pale white skin and Red Man stuffed in his jaw, and I'm wanting to really do some old fashioned 'Judging'...
This guy named Ross Wiseman whispers in my ear..."Jesus died for them, Jesus died for them, Jesus died for them!"

Man I hope your satisfied!



I love it and hope to see hundreds more become real about living their faith out in real time day to day situations. No excuses, no shrinking back, just straight up livin' it the way Jesus would have 2000 years ago.

Proud of you Bro. Keep the revolution alive!!!!

*If any other emc-ers have experiences like this I would love to post them. shoot me an e-mail at ross@embassymetro.org

Can't Sleep

I am so jazzed tonight I can't seem to shut down. We had a great Sunday and today was everything you want a Monday to be. This was a fifth Sunday and our team like always did a great job getting everything ready for church. We actually had one less room to set up. We did a family day and had k-6th in the service with the adults. The kids did a great job leading us in worship with some of the songs they do in kids church. We then did a game show skit that went really well. Thank you Lela, Jason, Dane, and Chuck. The show was called "You're all Wet" by the end of the show Jason (a parent) was soaked, corn flaked and floured. His son dane was fine because he covered himself with an umbrella when the stuff was poured on him. We used the umbrella to teach the idea of staying under the authorities that God places in your life such as parents, teachers, bosses, God's Word, our marital covenant, and so on. The skit led us into the teaching reagrding staying under what God has put over us so that we can stay over what God has placed under us. (Thanks to Ed Young from Fellowship Church for the idea of using an umbrella to symbolize the authority of God)Yesterday we had several guest even a young girl that I have invited to church came and brought her fiance. Another young guy that I had invited came back for the second time in the past three weeks so that was cool too.

After church we went to Tom & Susan's house and had a party. Great food...great fun. Games were going on all over the place inside and out (Go Lawrence, king of Texas Horseshoes...you owned me) and the kids enjoyed the pool. By the way I got a new nickname out of the day, "Pastor Shark" we played poker and it was just my day. What can I say? A blind acorn will find a squirrel once in a while (or something like that) I think Mitch is going to take it out on me on the golf course. By the way, Marybeth showed that she could hang with the big dogs.

Robert brought his green glorious goo of gluttony again (This man can make some serious guacamole)He is now my best friend....ha ha, but I do love the stuff.

Now about today...I just had a very productive day concerning the next five months. God has really been bringing clarity to me in where we are headed as a church. Tonight it was exciting hashing things out and planning with my staff. I want to challenge everybody at the embassy to embrace your place! The next 5 months are going to blow our minds, but just like anything good we are going to have to go for it. I know you all are up for the adventure. So find a ministry and serve, find your wallet and give, find a friend and invite and when we celebrate our 2nd anniversary on January 6th we'll look back amazed at what God did through all of us together.

Thanks for allowing me to be your pastor. I look forward to being along side of you as you accomplish great things for our God!

Tallest & Smallest

You just have to love this picture.

Sorry no posts the past week. Family has been in and I've been spending all my extra time with my sister, bro-in-law, 2 neices and nephew. Had a great week with them. I even got to show my 14 year old nephew that I could still skateboard. Pulled off some shove its, olley 180's and a few other things he was surprised I could do. Frankly I was just happy I didn't snap my leg in two. Nothing will remind you that you are getting older than a compound fracture to the tib-fib.

After and hour of skating that still small voice in my head said, "OK Ross time to quit before someone gets hurt"...and you know I couldn't bear to see my nephew get hurt so we quit.

All in all (by the way, where did that expression come from?) anyhoo, all in all we had a great visit.

Upcoming Series

Those who go to embassy metro church or follow this blog know that we usually preach in series. I have found that it is the best way for us to focus in on a subject and really do some discipleship with the subject over the period of 3-4 weeks. At times I pull an audible after God's leading and change everything up. Like with our June "Dive In" series and this months "Crossroads" series. For the most part we stick with what God has directed us to do months in advance.

In June at our creative design meeting we decided to bump our God at the Movies series from July to August which will be a better fit for the series anyway. One great thing that came from this is that it has allowed us to work two full months ahead on series design. We have our series laid out through the end of the year, but work for a particular series usually never began until the month and weeks leading up to a series launch. It has been great being able to design our series so far in advance. In August the series is designed to make outsiders insiders when it comes to their relationship with God. You don't want to miss a week of the "God at the Movies" series Aug. 12th, 19th, & 26th. Invest in and invite like crazy your unchurched friends, neighbors, and workmates. Take part during the month of August in changing somebody's life by inviting them to hear teaching regarding "Reel Spirituality" during our God at the Movies series . August will be followed up by our September series dealing with teh subject of sex. We have been referring to this series since our Marriage series in May.

The next two months at the embassy will be life changing as we seek to reach people for Christ through our "God at the Movies" series and then as we cover a subject that each of us face in someway or another daily and uncover the lies of the Devil concerning sexuality and his corruption of it, and discover the truth in God's Word regarding the gift of sex that God has given to man.


*does anybody have a blackboard we could use during our series in September...and no it isn't for diagrams. That's not what the series is about.

As your pastor I want to say thanks to you in advance. You do want emc to be a place that tackles the tough subjects and you do want me to be a pastor who is willing to risk in order to reach. EMC-ers ya'll are great. Keep doing what you are doing and just watch the continued impact you will make in the lives of people in this area.

Ear Report

I went to have my left ear tested again today. They don't expect it to improve, but I know God is able. The doctor had me do testing with the audiologist. I found out today that they can do a type of hearing aid that will not make my left ear hear, but the sound going from my left will be transmitted to my right and some how the brain figures it all out. It means wearing hearing aids in both ears, but they said it will be a dramatic improvement in social environments. That's exciting! weird to be 34 and have hearing aids in both ears, but you know I'm a pastor and pastors aren't vain....so it's no big deal ha ha yeah right.

The cheaper CROS (Contralateral Rerouting of Offside Signal) unit had both aids going over the ear and then a wire that connects the two being my head. All I could think of when she said that was that one kid on Barney years ago. So quickly I asked is there is another option for the mildly vain. There is! An aid in each ear that sends the signal wirelessly. They cost a little more and you might pick up mexican radio stations but it's better than looking like you are wired for sound. So that's where I stand on the whole ear thing. Soon I'll be functioning normal again in groups until then don't sneak up to me from behind on my left side cause I might punch you in the throat...just kiddin'...no really.

Sunday lived up to my anticipation

I enjoyed telling the story of the woman who poured out oil from an alabaster box upon the feet of Jesus as an act of worship and devotion. Charla did a great job with the song "alabaster box". We looked at the model that this woman set for us in worship. She came as an outsider and left as an insider. God welcomes us into this relationship with Him and something powerful takes place as we respond to Him in worship. Her action revealed to us four aspects of a heart full of worship for our God. She came to him in reverence, submission, adoration, and with a sacrifice she poured out all she was in response to all that He is. It is said of her story that it would be spoken of as a memorial wherever the message of Christ was told. That's amazing she would be known for all time because of her worship to God. I challenged emc to respond to God with everything they have asking them will we be known as a people that loves God extravagantly, worships him expressively, and serves Him explicitly. Then we need to be people who reverence, submit, adore and sacrifice.

We saw three come to Christ on Sunday. We don't have people come to the altar after giving their lives to Jesus, but we do have people fill out a connection card so we can follow up with them later. It's great when people have been coming for a while checking things out and then they take the step of faith and place their lives in God's hand. All three of these people have been at the embassy for more than a month. One person has been coming for over a year. Thanks church for doing what it takes to show Christ to people week after week. It does make a difference.

FYI (we talked about this on Sunday here's some details):

Since June our set-up crew has been kickin' and the physical preparation for Sunday morning has been getting finished by 9:00am. The tech/band stuff still is being finished right up until service time, but the rest of the areas of ministry are complete between 9:00-9:15. I told the church that we are going to make space available for prayer from 9:00-9:40 for those who would like to pray before service. Between that time come and go as you like. There won't be too much structure to it other than at 9:30 we will all pray together for the morning service. Bring your Bible and find a corner to be quiet in, walk around and pray by yourself, gather with a few friends and pray together. This might be just what you need to decompress from the week in the presence of the Lord. I know it is what we need to see God do what He desires with emc. Remember if you come to pray and it is your week to serve on a ministry team you need to be at your area immediately following our prayer for the service at 9:30 in order to receive guests.

God is getting ready to blow our socks off and it will take spiritual preparation to be ready for what He desires to do in and through us.

Also let's not make this a "we're the spiritual one's" club. "Oh, I am going to prayer, what are you going to do?...Oh just stand out here in the lobby and talk....tisk, tisk." I'm sorry I had to go there, but I've seen "spiritual people" act like this and make those who don't sense the draw to prayer as much feel like second rate believers. Man that's why it's called the body of Christ we all have different functions so get a grip and realize that this time is an invitation to quiet our hearts before God, seek His heart and will, pray one for another, and ask God to be with our worship experience. It is not a litmus test on who is really spiritual or not. Cool?

One other thing that happened this week we had several first time visitors that came who we saw at the concert in the park we served on Saturday night. One guy even helped us set up in the morning. Another guy I have talked with on several occasions at the Serene Bean came with his wife. We had a lot of emc-ers gone and attendance was still great. I love who God is drawing to the embassy!

Sorry for the length of this entry this morning.

Anticipating Tomorrow

Some weeks more than others I find myself hardly able to wait until Sunday morning. Here's a few things that I'm looking forward to tomorrow:
#1 meeting with God. I know He is always with us, but there is something about worshiping together that brings us experientially close to our creator. God is so going to visit us tomorrow I can't wait!
#2 I really do love digging into God's Word to see what He desires to speak to us and I love teaching His word to a room full of people hungry to know God
#3 I get to see the lights come on as they grab a hold of the teaching for themselves.
#4 I get to be with friends.
#5 I get the privilege of being your pastor. Thanks

And God Said Unto Abraham, "Look I Have Provided a Ram for You in the Thicket"

God provided for Abraham and Issac a ram in a thicket and God provided me a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab Pick-up Truck!

If you go to the embassy or you live in Woodstock you probably have seen me smoking in my old truck. When I say smoking I don't mean Marlboros, I mean 2-3 quarts of oil a week. My old truck over the past 18 months kept me broke. After putting five grand into repairs I decided it was time to pull the plug. I made up in my mind that I was done putting money into it. Well that decision was made 3 months and 36 quarts of oil ago and the thing keeps chuggin' along.

Here's where the story gets interesting. Over a month ago we had some friends down from Ohio. They took Amie and I to a great restaurant and when dinner was over gave us a sweet letter and slid a check over towards us upside down. They said they had wanted to give us a significant gift for a long time. Man it was huge! We all cried and I spent weeks in disbelief with a fog around my head...wait that was the burn-off out of my truck's exhaust.

Some people from church started asking me if I was going to get another truck and I told them the story about the gift from our friends. To make a long story short someone from our church decided to get involved. He found a truck said he wanted to through some money toward it too. (no way I can't believe this is happening to me)

Last week Amie and I were able to do a large maintenance item on our mini-van, get new tires, and fix it's sliding door. This week with what was left over from our friends in Ohio's giftand with the generosity from our friend at the embassy I was able to pay cash for my truck!!!!!!! Still can't believe it, but my head has definitely come out of the fog.

Thanks to the two families that allowed God to use you to put a Ram in my thicket!

What's amazing is their stories of how God blessed them right back. Our friends in Ohio sold their home, in a very slow market, before they even listed it!
The person from the embassy had a financial deal come to a close this week the day after I got the truck. They were blessed 30X's what I was given by them!!!

I wanted to say all that just to remind you God sees where you are at and He is making a way for you!

13 year Anniversary

July 9th 1994 Amie and I walk down the aisle now 13 years later we have 3 kids, years of serving the Lord together to reflect on, and a future that is sure to be great because we get to spend it with our best friends each other. There was a time that I thought that whole "my wife is my best friend" stuff was a bunch of pink panty wearing psychologist babel, but over the past two years Amie truly has went beyond being my spouse and the mother of my children...she has become my best friend. Well I'll write more about that later. It's late and I need to get a shower and go to bed...." hey Amie where did you put my pink panties...." HA HA!
Amie may be my best friend, but by goodness I still ain't going to relinquish my man card...now where did I put those wool boxers?

(Robby Nichols: Student Ministries, Jared Hager: Worship/Media, Micah Hildebreth: intern from Evangel University, Ross Wiseman: Lead Pastor)

We had a lightning strike last week and it took out our modem, wireless router, vcr, and playstation. I am finally back online and don't have to go to the Bean in order to use the free wireless.

I can't imagine what ministry was like before laptops, blogs, podcasts, and the net. Actually I have been in ministry over 15 years. I can remember cutting and pasting and blowing up clip art and cutting and pasting and then I would put my creations on transparencies and would use it to help get my messages across in a visual way (Oh yeah even in '92 I was tapping creative elements.

It is so much easier now, but if we're not careful it is also easier to get clogged up with all the technology and miss just being quite before God, hearing His voice, and responding in obedience. Next week i am taking a couple of days to fast from technology. There are 12 acres of land by our house and I just found out it belongs to my landlord. He said I could go on it if I wanted to. Amie, Aubrynn, & Grant are going to go see Amie's parents next week (Adalee will be at kids camp) so I am planning on camping for two nights. No power, no internet, only a book, my bible and my journal.

Having our intern Micah with us for five weeks reminded me of being young and just starting out in ministry. I find myself longing for those simple days.

Sunday Recap

-We were a couple people shy on our set up crew, buy the team picked up the pace and was three minutes earlier then schedule.
-Jared and the Worship Team did a great job. Jared's rotation seems to be working well. It's been great seeing new people involved on stage the past month. Ya'll are doing a great job.
-I had a hard sermon to deliver. We challenged people to step up and live life in light of being a Christ follower. That changes everything and when we come to crossroads of decision in our lives we need to take the path laid out by God in His Word. God has a better way to go and if we are going to go where we have never gone than we are going to have to live like we have never lived.
-Sunday night 12 or so guys came over and we caught combined 22 fish in about 2 hours.
-Jammed until late with the guys. We had guitars, bass, home made guitars and a dulcimer, we even passed a mandolin around. This was the first time all of us had jammed together so it was a little crazy everybody doing their thang, but boy it sure was fun. One of the non-musician guys said "man I didn't know we had so many guitarists at the embassy." I LOVE IT.
-Made new friends and had a great day...went to bed tired.
-God's Good.

July 4th Thoughts

-everything went great this year.
-we had over 40 people take part in helping on July 4th. Some helped line up floats for the city, we had a great group that walked with the float, we had two different groups that manned our booth doing face painting, handing out water, and balloons.
-We handed out 2000 invite cards attached to microwave popcorn packets.
-we heard along the parade route..."now that's a great idea"...."hey that's a church"...etc...
-One family that walked in the parade with us this year had received a invite card last year during the parade and the first time they came to emc was the very next Sunday. I hope in the morning we have a bunch of people in the house because of the parade. If you are thinking about coming for the first time in the morning...Just do it! We won't call you out, down, or show up at your house with brownies, but we will guarantee that it will be one of the best hour and 15 minutes of your week.
-We were going to crash the rest of the day, but then we decided to go see the fireworks at a neighborhood called Legacy park in Kennesaw. Amazing show only 15 minutes, but right over your stinkin' head. Jared & Charla's van got covered in debris.
-Robert Warnock made his way deeply into my heart...oh my gosh he made the best guacamole I have ever had. They pulled me from the kitchen counter after I grabbed a turkey baster and was trying to mainline the green goo of glorious gluttony.
-Laying out under the fire works on grass so thick it felt like a mattress with new friends all around and my family at my side and the thoughts of the day that point to a growing and thriving church was truly a great moment.

EMC-ers You Rock

I love the people at the embassy. They always seem ready to jump in and make a difference. From home make overs to showing God's love in practical ways to our community, and from creating an environment week to week that God uses to touch lives in a powerful way introducing people to Christ and helping people journey through life successfully.

Last night I was so proud to pastor this group. We had a work night at Jared's house to get things ready for the parade on the fourth. Upstairs there was a room full of people stapling 2000 invite cards to microwave popcorn packets to hand out along the parade route Wednesday. We even had a lady come to help that Sunday was just her second time at the embassy! How cool!

Downstairs there was a slew of people painting and getting things ready for the float. I was talking to one person who before moving to the area was a part of a church plant. He was amazed at the amount of people we have that get involved. Our percentage of volunteers at the embassy is off the hook. I am so proud that people come and quickly begin to get involved in creating the environments God is using to reach those who desperately need Him.

God is putting together a force not to be messed with. A group of people who are willing to do whatever it takes and give whatever is necessary to reach people for Jesus. I heard a guy say recently that he wants to see the church he pastors dominate their area for God. I feel like God is just beginning that with us. Step up and be a part of the revolution as we endeavor to impact our communities with the message of Christ's love, acceptance, and purpose for life!!!

New Children Church Team Leaders

Most of you know that my wife Amie runs our children's ministry. She has done an amazing job leading Embassy Kids. Although she loves the children she misses interacting with me and others on Sunday in "Big Church" we have had our eyes on a young couple that we could mentor into the leadership of our kids church. Beginning in August Brantley & Hannah Johnson will be leading Embassy Kids church K-6th grade.

They will be in charge of staffing, preparing materials that go with the Kidmo lessons each week, and taking our Kids church to the next level. Amie will still be overseeing all of the children's ministry birth-6th grade, but Brantley and Hannah will serve as Children's Church Team Leaders and will lift the weekly responsibilities from Amie for K-6th graders. These two have tons of energy and a heart for children they are going to kick!!!

To begin with they will run the Kidmo program the first and third weeks of the month and Amie and Lela will fill in the other two weeks of the month. Parents we are working hard to provide a place that is the highlight of your child's week and we believe that Brantley & Hannah will help us achieve our objective in the lives of children to provide a fun and planned environment where children can learn character development, Biblical understanding and grow up loving God, themselves, others and the church.

Thoughts about EMC and Summer so far

-Our Journey groups are on a break starting this week until August. Attendance at the past session of journey groups was great.

-Camping went great with everyone pitching in to make killer meals (thanks Jody and Lawrence for the fresh Halibut), the guys didn't do so well fishing, but we all had a great time tubing. Thanks Jay for bringing the boat. And thanks Kevin for letting me be the last man standing at poker.

-The "Dive In" Series went great. It was a simple series (no video, no props) but something that God used to challenge us to go deeper. I want to be a church that meets people right where they are, but definitely doesn't leave them there. Let's challenge ourselves as Christ followers to live like that changes everything.

-God is bringing more musicians and vocalists our way. I love our worship team you guys are doing great. Others with talents and giftings are making their way to the embassy. it will be awesome to see how Jared mixes Sunday mornings up with some of these new musicians and vocalists.

-For it being summer attendance has been great, but finances have been rough. I guess that's part of summer.

-I am blown away at the percentage of people that serve during the month at emc. We have enough volunteers that most of our areas to serve in are just one time a month. We are still a little weak on week four of the month so if you're not doing anything yet at the embassy let me know and we'll get you hooked up.

-We are all going to miss Micah our intern. He's been a great addition to the team.

-We need to get our signs back out in the community on Friday nights-Sunday nights. If you want to volunteer to place a sign each week just let me know.