Thanks for Praying for my Friend Gary

I just got off the phone with Gary's wife Ruthann. She said that Gary is in ICU, but he is beginning to get feeling and movement back in his arms and chest. The doctors are amazed that he isn't needing help to breath. He still has no feeling or movement in his lower extremities, but everyone is hopeful. The doctors said that his C6 & 7 are broken, but his spinal cord looks really healthy. Continue to pray for him and Ruthann as they go through (operative word) this ordeal.

On a side note....I did talk to a guy today about buying my bike. This has just hit to close to our hearts.

Tragic Day for my Friends

Many of you know I have been riding dirt bikes since I was a kid. Over the years I have crashed my brains out on numerous occasions and because of that I have a plate that keeps my humeral head attached to my arm and my knees feel like they belong to a 60 year old, but I just keep going back for more. Don't ask why? I don't know. All of the guys I have ridden with through the years have their "war" stories and usually mine tops them all. Dirt biking is definitely a risk reward activity, and injury is just a part of it. You heal up, shake it off, and on to the next riding adventure with your friends.

Well, Tonight I got the kind of call that you just don't ever want to receive (I'm not sure if I'll ever ride again). All my guys we're together back in Ohio at our friends "G's" (Gary Ferguson) house. Memorial day is always a great day to kick off the new season of riding and Gary's track is a great place to get the cob webs out. If I still lived in Ohio that's where i would have been, but I was here enjoying the North Georgia Mountains with my family when I got the call from Med-central Hospital in Mansfield, Ohio. One of our friends Gary Kula who has just started riding again after a long hiatus crashed on a double and was hurt bad.

My friends were calling for me to pray, and to break the news that he could be paralyzed. They sad that everyone was taking a break and getting some food when GK decided to go out and get a feel for the jumps on the track. He hit the double to fast then chopped his throttle and crashed hard. "G" said he started to turn blue in his helmet. They got it off and he was gone...they began cpr and they got him back praise the Lord! After arriving at the hospital in Mansfield they life flighted him to Columbus. Please be praying for Gary Kula and his wife Ruthann. This is a great couple who I had the priviledge of marrying a few years ago. They even were down for a visit when we were just a small group meeting at the coffee house and helped us financially to launch emc. Pray also for Gary & Amie Ferguson and all our friends and their children who were there when it happened.

media woes

Every week I say how great sunday went and blah, blah, blah. Well to be honest this Sunday stunk. On Saturday night I pulled the plug on our Sunday morning teaching. It's the first time I have done this since we launched emc. I felt led of the Lord to take a different direction with the teaching. Even though it was a holiday weekend I just new we were going to have several people coming to the embassy for the first time. The sermon I had prepared, had media designated for, and was ready to roll with was going to be one of the deepest as far as teaching goes that we have done to date. Now some people will say that teaching is boring, I don't feel that way at all. I don't feel that teaching is boring, I feel that boring teaching is boring.

I had prepared an exciting teaching that I was calling "revealing God's covenant code." The thing was God on Saturday night led me to take a different direction. So I decided no media (slides, clips, etc.) this weekend we we're going to do "embassy unplugged" and I was going with a completely different sermon. I heard from many that the sermon touched them deeply so I know I made the right decision to go unplugged and shoot from the hip. This should have been an easy day because we had 50% less media than normal.

Once the sermon started everything went fine until the lights went unplugged for the first time in 21 weeks. I looked like Sting in an old Police video. One blue light shining on my cheek that was growing red quickly. Well that would have not been such a big deal had not every single media element crashed leading up to the sermon. We had a baby dedication and somehow back ground music from our pre-service mix was playing behind the images of children that we're to be dedicated. This music was definitely not the nice eclectic lullaby/ambient sounds tract that Jared found and would have been so fitting.

Dedication ends and our trailer promo-ing our next series only gets half played. All this combined gets me off my train of thought and I commit the church planters cardinal sin...I forgot to take up the offering...duh! Then like I said while I was preaching the lights went out in Georgia. Maybe you can't expect a win every Sunday, but we drive into our team it is all about Sunday. So yes, I expect a win on Sundays.

The whole reason I switched up the week was because I felt that many would be there for the first time and what I had planned wasn't what God wanted to use to speak to these people their first time at the embassy. Then we go on to put forth a sub-par presentation that I didn't feel honors a God who is never sub-par. Some would say Ross that's pride, and you are just red faced because things didn't go well. You know maybe I am proud of the fact that our team with the little resources that we have week after week hits home runs. I guess that's what frustrated me so much. We have what it takes, but this week we blew it, and you can't get that Sunday back.

The great thing is we have another Sunday coming in 5 days. The team will regroup, look at the mistakes, figure out what happened, and then we will go back to the plate and seek to hit another homer for God. Next Sunday we will plan for a win, next Sunday we will give our best. Why? because God deserves it and people need it. That's why we are all about Sundays and that's why when we miss it, it is so frustrating.

bama boy wins big!

The last two nights the Wiseman clan has been glued to the tube. Yes for two nights we became American idolators and Talyor is to be praised (No you can't do that! remember I will have no other gods before me...kind of known as one of God's big 10) Well anyhoo, I was glad Taylor one.

Can't go wrong with a southern boy that rolls like a cross between Joe Cocker and Ray Charles. I also love the fact that he is so non-typical. Taylor is not what you would think the industry would put out if the industry was voting each night, but America loves him. Why?

I think we are all tired of the plastic, phony, surgically improved, mass mediacized
stars the industry puts out so often. Taylor comes across just like one of us. So his hair went grey early and he dances kind of weird (so do you) and he's probably not going to get asked to do a Haynes Taylor's Way commercial (neither am I), but that's the point. What he does he does well and all the other stuff becomes part of his appeal.

I think that's how we should view everyone. Look at everyone for the star that they are and grow to appreciate them for all their idiosyncrisies. If we don't then the only alternative is for all of us to buy into american idolatry (not the show, but the sin) and try to look like, act like, and be like what is elevated by the industry on every front.

I say be yourself, and if you got gray hair and a weird danced who cares. Do all you do for God, and while you are being "the you" God made then people will see "the Him" in you!

To podcast or not to podcast that is the question: an open dialogue

This entry is more of a query for info regarding podcasting from other church planters or leaders.

Many of you are currently using podcasting and some of you have chosen to not go that route. I am looking forward to hearing some responses for and against. I would like to see some dialogue concerning the adventures and misadventures of beginnning podcasting. Finally it would be great to see some of the different hardware and software you are using to get the job done right and what creative ways you are using your podcast or drawing attention to your podcast. I guess that's enough to get us started.

crazy day at the embassy

In October of 2004 I made my first contact with the Cherokee 16 theater management. This was done on one of our many recon visits to Woodstock before we moved here. Ricky the GM was awesome to us from the beginning I was really looking forward to him taking me out and whoopin me at golf, but that day will not come. His wife Ann Marie is from New England and they are moving near Boston. It was great having them attend the embassy several times before they moved. Ricky we're going to miss ya. With that said let me run Sunday by ya.

Yesterday was nuts! We have a new general manager at the theater. This guy is awesome with lots of plans for our theater. I'm lookin' forward to getting to know him, but getting up early on a Sunday morning to let team emc in to set up sanctuary at the cinema was not yet on his mental calendar. Needless to say after several phone calls and a few minutes of panic we got word he was on the way!

We began set up 1/2 late which may not seem like much, but it sure made 10:02 come real quick...whew! Well like always team emc rose to the occasion and kicked butt! It seemed to put us on fast forward and for me I felt a little off in the opening words and even in my preaching a little, but I know God used the day to touch lives. Our video celebration of our first baptism added so much to our worship experience (nice job jared and deena). Following the teaching we had a time of extended worship and communion.

The day got started crazy, we mixed up the service schedule for the day for a little freshness and reflection...all in all with a great deal of help from God the team pulled off another great Sunday! Thanks guys for jumping in there and making it happen. emc is blessed to have each of you and I am grateful for all you do to serve our God! See ya next week....Oh and Erik set the alarm for 7:30 next Sunday :0) -just jokin'

Young Missionaries to Africa

About a month ago I got an e-mail from Damian McCrink. He grew up in the area and now lives near Chicago. He and his wife Nancy are preparing to go to Mozambique to work with rescuing children. God has given them a heart for the lost, hurting, and abandoned children of this African nation. They will be leaving next year for Mozambique to begin developing and building group homes. We had a great time getting to know them today as we talked over coffee and mango smoothies at the Serene Bean.

As a new church we are just now making plans to begin supoorting missionaries. Being a church plant in a sense we are a mission to a mission field that is 75% unchurched called Cherokee County. On the other hand I believe God will take care of your church if you will help take care of His world. God help us be faithful at home and abroad even when to do so at this time is a big step of faith.

emc's 1st mother's day

Yesterday we opened with a song and then I came up to welcome everyone to the embassy. Obviously we wished everyone a happy Mother's Day and then I said that Jared's mom wanted to come from Ohio for the day. but she couldn't. I went on to say..." speaking of Jared's mother...Jared yo momma is so stupid she tripped over the cordless phone" to that he went off saying...Oh no you didn't, Oh no you didn't and then he slammed my momma with "her teeth are so yella she spits butter" or something like that. After a couple more everyone was laughing large. It was definitely not what you expected, but everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Worship was wonderful and to be honest God really took control of the sermon. It was one of those days you could just sense God's presence (yes even after the "yo momma" jokes) As people left many were smiling with tears in their eyes (not that you have to be emotional to experience God, but God was definitely touching hearts at emc yesterday.) At the close of our experience Amie and I got to the theater exit to give away mom' gifts for the day (a relaxation pack: bath salts, lotion, luffa, & a candle).

It was great being able to stand with my wife and speak with everyone as they left the embassy yesterday. I love the people God is drawing to the church and I just can't help but feel as if He is going to use us together in a great way for many years to come!

I can see clearly now the rain is gone.....

it's going to be a bright, bright sun shiny day! Well the past 3 weeks have been a bit crazy. For two weeks I was doing a side job and then last week I was at 2 conferences so to be honest I felt like I was in a cloud a little bit. I like having a heads up and working a head, but it seems like the last month I have been playing catch up. well the clouds have rolled back and the past two days have been amazing. I couldn't stop getting ideas and writing! It looks like we have the rest of the year laid out concerning series subjects and for most of them the weekly break downs/purpose also.

As everything was coming to me so clearly it dawned on me that there is a reason God is giving me such a heads up. See to be creative in ministry it takes preparation. What brings about good preparation is time, energy, & resources. All of which one cat is limited on. So you need others in the process, but if you are only working so far in advance it is hard to include others into the equation.

I really think that God has given me a serious look into the future because He is beginning to bring key creative players into the embassy who will greatly impact what is presented on Sunday mornings in order to reach people more effectively. Really I think as a ministry that is where we are on a whole. We have more than doubled in average attendance since our launch and now it's time for all of us to find our roles and in doing so we will see God impact lives in powerful & creative ways. If you call emc home jump in, link arms, and lets just see what God could do through us!!!

emc's first baptism party

Sunday following the emc experience we made our way over to Sharon & Rick's house where we had an incredible day. When I got up sunday morning it was raining and I thought our baptism party would have to be post-poned. Five minutes before service began we decided we'd go for it and I'm so glad we did. The weather broke and we had a beautiful day.

The first person I baptized as a pastor in Georgia was my oldest daughter Adalee. She came to Christ the day America was attacked, Sept. 11, 2001. We wanted her to wait until she was a little older to be baptized so this past Sunday was the big day! I was so proud as she articulated here faith in Christ and identified with her personal savior through the act of baptism. I wanted her to wait until family could be here to experience the day together, but like Addie said, "it's not about them anyways." That's my girl.

We baptized three others as well. I was so proud of a mother and daughter were baptized together to hear the mother's words of what Jesus means to her blew me a way. I am so thankful that I get to live my life introducing people to Jesus and seeing Him bless their lives.

Following the baptism we had a great time getting to know many of our new emc-ers. Ya'll are the best!

buzzin' bout da buzz

Last week I had the amazing opportunity to go and hang with some of the greatest church leaders in the nation. Most of them you wouldn't know their names if I dropped them, anyways I hate dropping names. What made these guys great is they are out on the edge...pushing back from the norm...their envelopes are stretched, and they don't even know the box exists!

I would say 90% of the leaders gathered are leading church plants or are a part of a church that is less than 10 years old. You get guys like that together and the environment just gets charged. Before I say why this event was different than other conferences let me first say why it was similar.

Like most church leadership conferences it re-hashed the stuff that the majority of participants have been immeresed in for months. Why? It's not because the leadership didn't come with it's "A" game, because I think Mark and his team brought it. Ed Young (love the guy huge) covered amazing stuff that most of us have heard already from him or have read in my new favorite book "Creative Leadership" written by none another than the Edster himself. I wouldn't have changed that session one bit. The majority of the leaders present are students of all things current regarding church planting, sermon branding, media in ministry, and etc.....

With that said it doesn't mean that all of us have a handle on everything there is to know, but the philosophy and basics of doing ministry in today's market we can't afford to not be on top of it. So how was the Buzz conference different than most church leadership conferences?

To sum it up in one word I would say "desperation." You go to most conferences and the participants are relatively aloof and stick to their own agendas. Not at the Buzz. It seemed like people were networking everywhere with everyone. There was a sense of immediacy as people uncousiously realized time was ticking away and each of us wanted to gleen as much info, mutual encouragement, and ideas from each other before we all had to go back to our ministries.

The greatest part of the whole two days took place between sessions, at dinner tables, in hotel lobbies, and walking freakin 6 miles around D.C. (that was just our gang)

It was awesome hearing everyone tell their stories. With some of the stories you were encouraged with where you and your church are at, and with others it pushed you to press on.


For me I'm just at the beginning of this church planting endeavor. We launched 4 months ago and things are going great, but I kind of came to the event with the whole "what do I have to offer mindset" There is a proverb that says..."a man putting on his armour shouldn't boast like the man taking off his armour."

At times that makes me just get a little quiet at events like Buzz, but you know being with everyone I began to realize that what God is doing through the emc team is above and beyond the average church plant and I have a ton to be thankful for. I guess I just didn't realize how well things are going comparitivley speaking...I hate comperatively speaking anyways. All I know is I am so excited about what God is doing at the embassy and I feel dang blessed to be a part of it.


I want to give a shout out to some of the great guys I got to hang with during Buzz

Gary Lamb (props for fittin' my hotel bill) you're crazy, but I love ya
Tadd Grandstaff (one of the wisest young cats I've ever met) you're going to rock!
Tony McCollum (Salt of the earth, real, no wonder you're the cat's meow in Buford)
Greg Rholinger from Palm Valley Church (thanks for Dinner at Boca de Bepo's) this guy is a powerhouse having launched a few years ago and doing amazing things!
Mark Rodriquez and Bob "the guru" Franquiz from Calvary Community Church (genuine)
Roger Blackmore (most relevant 55 year old I have ever met) could hang all the time with him.
Travis Johnson (great guy getting it done)

Coming Down off the Buzz

I got back in late last night from the buzz conference....I crashed...and today I am playing catch up. I am looking forward to laying down some text regarding the event, and the pastors I met while we were all buzzing, but for now I'm going to hang out with my family. later

team emc rocks!

Hey all of you emc-ers that help make our weekend possible. You guys are gettin' it done. The embassy has grown weekly since our launch in January. Nearly 10% of those that now call the embassy home came to Christ at the embassy. That's Awesome!!!!!

This past week when we all gathered for out team prayer I couldn't believe how great that circle looked. Ya'll are definitely doing it! Thanks for being a part of what God is doing at emc and in our communities. MAN I LOVE YOU GUYS (Oh that's soooo mushy) later

T-minus 15 hours

I can't sleep because at approximately 4:00pm tomorrow I will be on a plane with some fellow church planters/new amigos and we'll be on our way to the Buzz confo in D.C. As part of the conference they will have a forum for theater church pastors.

According to their research there are 250 churches that meet in theaters across the country. 50 of these pastors will be at this gathering. how cool! I can't wait to get together and see some great things come out of the collective vibe. Well I best try to sleep even though I'm as giddy as a school girl. peace out.