I guess just an update...

I guess you could just call this an update. I have been just posting pics of our new house, but haven't really had anything spiritual/personal on here in a while. So....I though I could get a little personal on ya'll. (That's a southern word if you didn't know, so don't get your panties in a wad!)

The church I have been employed with for over a year is coming to a close. Velocity Church is shutting her doors. I have to be honest and say it's a bitter sweet moment. The rest of the staff and I feel this is the best move for our church, but what sucks is that it puts me out of a job.

The hardest thing for me to deal with personally is how I am going to provide for my beautiful wife. Thank God we have no debt (well except that FAT bill from the pictures you see below! HAHA!) Other than our mortgage, we will be debt free (thanks Dave!)

So what does the future hold? I have no clue to be completely honest. In the mean time, A Ransom Plea (ARP) will continue. We are playing at Christ's Church At Cobb 8/2 (am service), Trinity Church in Dville on 8/9 (am service), Douglasville FUMC 8/9 (pm service), CrossView Community Church in Rockmart 8/16 (am services), and The Discovery Church in Villa Rica 9/13 (am service). So come out and see us. We are also continuing in our recording this weekend.

It's been taking a while to record our album, but it's tough getting all the schedules just right. Keep us in prayer (my wife and I) and please keep the future church(s) of Paulding/Cobb/Carroll counties. God is going to move big and I hope that I can be part of that in some way!

GO FALCONS!

I got a pretty awesome opportunity to go to the Falcon's game yesterday afternoon with my father-in-law (later referred to as FIL). To be completely honest, after getting off the MARTA train, I was saying to myself, "there is no way in hell I am coming to another game." I felt like I was being herded with the other cattle on the ranch as they blocked off certain sidewalks so that EVERYONE had to walk one way.

Eventually we got to our seats and sat down. I am not really one to get into NFL games. I don't jump up and hollar on 3rd down "DEEEEEE-FEEEENCE!!!" That's just not what I like to do. I am usually the one at home on the couch with an ice cold Dr. Pepper in the reclining position. But, nevertheless, we were there, and I was truly looking forward to it.

About half way through the first quarter, an older man sat down next to my FIL. I never caught his name, but man was he excited! If anything happened, he was up and yelling, then slapping fives with us. He made the experience worth while.

As I was sitting there in the dome I started thinking. If Jesus was down on that field, I bet I would be up screaming at the top of my lungs for Him. But what about the other 60,000 people in that place...would they be doing the same?

I truly believe that if Christians started living like Christians, this world would become a drastically different place. WE ARE ALL IN NEED OF THE MERCY OF CHRIST! We need to be about Jesus' business of changing lives for HIM!

I continue to pray that 2009 will be a huge year for Jesus. I pray that he would use us as His agents of change in a world shot to crap. What are you going to let Christ do through YOU for OTHERS??

Launched

Velocity Church has officially launched. We had an awesome time worshiping Jesus yesterday and I am looking forward to the weeks to come and see what God is going to do through HIS church.

Clarity

It's been a while since I have logged on, so there are probably like two people who will read this.

This past week we wrapped up another "practice" for our church plant Velocity. It has been an interesting learning experience. Setting up, tearing down, "what goes where, how many of these do we need, what exactly do these things do?" So many questions, and sometimes I just want to crawl in a hole in the ground.

This coming week is our last practice before our official launch. It seemed like only yesterday I moved back to Georgia looking for a place to get involved, and now we are about to launch. I am excited to see what God is going to do through this little plant. I look to the future to see other churches planted in the Villa Rica and Dallas areas.

I don't know how or why, but sometimes we get so caught up in the "ins and outs" of church that we lose sight of Jesus and HIS mission. I pray that the pastors on staff here can keep Jesus lifted high and ourselves as low as possible.

A couple of things I am really looking forward to:

- Georgia vs. South Carolina this weekend

- Worship this Sunday

- The official launch of Velocity Church

- CATALYST!!! (It's going to be AWESOME!)

"don't knock it till you rock it!"

PACK it UP!

Saturday, we all met up to pack a rental truck full of our crap to transport to the school. It was a pretty crazy experience. The funny thing is, the staff had come up with a "teams list" that we were going to use to keep the chaos to a minimum. Well, that didn't work. I am sure that it could have been a whole lot worse, but God was totally in control.

It took a whole heck of a lot longer than we thought it would to set up the sound and staging. By the time we were ready to start the sound check, we had to leave. We only had from 1pm-4pm. That wasn't long enough! I know, that sounds pretty crazy! 

The awesome thing was that on Sunday morning, we all gathered together and Christ was praised. No other name was lifted high this past weekend but Christ Jesus! That is the way it is always going to be.

This week should be much more smooth. We know what goes where now, so we are pumped about getting back to it.

PRAISE CHRIST!

Fourth of July

This past weekend was pretty awesome! Velocity really took some great steps in making our voice heard! We had a couple of tents set up at the parade in downtown Douglasville on the 4th, and on the 5th we were at Taylor Farms giving away some free stuff. It was truly amazing to see what God did through all of that. We had several individuals express interest in a relationship with Jesus. Praise Christ for that!

This coming Sunday, our "plant team" is assembling at New Life Christian Church to worship together. I am guest worship leading there and I am pumped about it! We are going to have an awesome time of prayer for our plant and really seek after God's will for HIS church!

Today, Paul and I started talking about some details and some housekeeping issues. There is so much to do, and really, our start date is just around the corner! It's so exciting, but at the same time, it is kind of a scary beast we are dealing with. So, keep us in prayer. I love Jesus, and I want the community we plant in to know that. We must be bold; we must BE THE CHURCH!

I don't have a title

Velocity Church is moving forward pretty quickly. It is a pretty scary time, but exhilarating! 

- We have confirmed our location which is awesome

- We have nailed down our logo design

- We have some events coming up that give us a chance to serve this community

- We have started praying over our new meeting place weekly

- I am still in the search process for band members (not an easy task!)

I read a blog the other day about a key verse for worship leaders-  John 15:1-11. It's kinda long, so I won't post it here, but it's so true! I pray that I can stick close to this verse and truly run after what God wants, not what I want. 

Velocity Church is committed to Christ and the power that He and He alone possesses. We will not back down from the gospel of Jesus Christ in this church!

Huge Hurdles

This week we have jumped some huge hurtles regarding church planting. 

1) Our logo is finally decided on

2) We have a location nailed down

These are two issues that needed to be solved fast, and thank God they are now! Velocity Church will be meeting at Baggett Elementary School! We prayed over this school because we knew it would be conducive to our worship services, and God answered, almost immediately! Praise Christ for that!

I am really looking forward to what is in store for us. Keep us in your prayers!

-cg

What is Church?

I saw this video today and I thought it was great! Perfect example of what the Church should be:

New Song To Be Released!

Without You is going to be released next week! I am going to release it on the 3rd!

Keep checking the myspace and be the first one to hear it in it's entirety!

In other news- I read (and was told) yesterday that Giglio and Tomlin are starting a church in my neck of the woods! I cannot even being to express my excitement! Thousands of young people will come to know Christ because of what they're going to be doing. I do not know many details at this point, but when I know I will be posting something about it, I'm sure.

 

Wait

It is so hard to have patience! Courtney and I are having to practice this daily. We are sharing some mixed emotions about our current situation...

- I just resigned from my job
- I don't have a new job
- We move in two weeks
- It's hard not to be anxious, or frustrated, or scared
- The scariest part is that a church plant is an unstable entity
- I KNOW God is going to provide.

I am constantly reminded that if all my "ducks were in a row" then I would not have near as much faith in God to provide our needs. If I am too comfortable, I may forget that God is being merciful.

I pray I never, NEVER forget that!

I'm Going Home

Today was a hard day. I resigned from my position at Shore Fellowship. It was hard, but I know the right move. God has really laid on my heart to pursue church planting back in Georgia.

So, please pray, and pray hard. I do not know where this is going to take us, but Courtney and I are relying on God to get us there. It's so scary stepping out in faith, but it's refreshing in the same sense that God is in control and is sovereign. That eases me.

While in prayer, please keep Shore Fellowship lifted as well. God has a purpose and a plan, and I know he is going to bless this church with a great worship leader.

On a lighter note, I got a sample mix of my song "Without You" today. I am blown away. It's a little different than some of you remember, but none the less, awesome! I am so pleased with what Jon has done to it. I hope to have it totally mixed and mastered in the next few weeks. I will post it then.