Well it took quite a while, but we now have the video from our Intervention series when Joy Honeycut was at Foothills. I have had so many people asking about it.
It was one of the greatest services we've ever had. It's hard to get the total feel of a service like that if you weren't there in person, but here it is anyway.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Love
I am glad to see my daughter is blogging again from South Africa, where she is on staff with Youth With A Mission (YWAM)
She had a great post today defining Love, and I think she nailed it.
How would you define love?
She had a great post today defining Love, and I think she nailed it.
How would you define love?
Monday, October 27, 2008
Back In Black Challenge
I just got the final numbers on our Back In Black financial challenge. Absolutely amazing!
360 people signed up for the 90 day tithing challenge
325 People signed up for the Financial Learning Experience seminar
The bottom line is this. Financial struggles have become commonplace because of the economic crisis, but God has the answer. If we apply Biblical principles to our lives (not only in our finances), then there is hope and freedom.
To all of you who are taking the tithing challenge, be sure to email me your God stories of what God is doing in your life to challenge@foothillscc.org
360 people signed up for the 90 day tithing challenge
325 People signed up for the Financial Learning Experience seminar
The bottom line is this. Financial struggles have become commonplace because of the economic crisis, but God has the answer. If we apply Biblical principles to our lives (not only in our finances), then there is hope and freedom.
To all of you who are taking the tithing challenge, be sure to email me your God stories of what God is doing in your life to challenge@foothillscc.org
Sunday, October 26, 2008
sunday debrief
I got a chance to relax today, because I didn't preach. Instead I asked Joe Sangl to come and do a message about money. Joe is the author of the book "I was broke. Now I'm not!" He did a great job. He is passionate about helping people get financially free.
This Wednesday Joe will be back to lead his Financial Learning Experience seminar at Foothills this Wednesday at 6:30pm. Lots of people signed up for the seminar.
As I mentioned I had an easy day. All I had to do was introduce Joe at the beginning and make a couple of quick announcements at the end of the service and then set up a short video introducing our new series which starts next Sunday, called Switch. Unfortunately I forgot to set up the video in both services, so it didn't get shown.
Speaking of our new series, Switch; invite everyone you know that doesn't attend church or have a relationship with Jesus Christ, because it is going to be one of the clearest series we have ever done about how to have a relationship with Christ.
Attendance was off a bit today. Either it was because the public schools are out Monday and Tuesday OR because we were talking about money! Hmmm?
Toccoa campus has been doing a great job, and from a technical standpoint they seem to have worked out the glitches.
This Wednesday Joe will be back to lead his Financial Learning Experience seminar at Foothills this Wednesday at 6:30pm. Lots of people signed up for the seminar.
As I mentioned I had an easy day. All I had to do was introduce Joe at the beginning and make a couple of quick announcements at the end of the service and then set up a short video introducing our new series which starts next Sunday, called Switch. Unfortunately I forgot to set up the video in both services, so it didn't get shown.
Speaking of our new series, Switch; invite everyone you know that doesn't attend church or have a relationship with Jesus Christ, because it is going to be one of the clearest series we have ever done about how to have a relationship with Christ.
Attendance was off a bit today. Either it was because the public schools are out Monday and Tuesday OR because we were talking about money! Hmmm?
Toccoa campus has been doing a great job, and from a technical standpoint they seem to have worked out the glitches.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
cardboard testimonies
I have had a ton of requests for a link to the message I did where we included the cardboard testimonies. So here it is.
It was an amazing day, for sure. Hope you enjoy watching them.
It was an amazing day, for sure. Hope you enjoy watching them.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
WOW!
The response to last Sunday's tithing challenge has been amazing (we have over 200 people who have taken the challenge!), and God is already doing some cool things.
I received an email this week that I think is amazing that I wanted to share with you. It's a story of faith in a God who promises that with Him everything is possible.
If you have not taken the tithing challenge because you thought it would be impossible, then read this!
Dear Pastor Greg,
My name is ----, I have been in limbo for almost 2 years now. I have seen my way of life change dramatically. I have been humbled and know that I could not have survived if not by the grace of God. I have been struggling financially in ways that I never thought I would ever know. I have recently felt my life slipping away from me, and knew it was the work of Satan, trying to make me feel that I was just not good enough for the Kingdom of God. I was hurt, lonely, depressed and felt unaccepted. I had not been able to get to church on a regular basis. Fuel prices were my excuse, I was running out of gas on a weekly basis, and was conserving, not to go anywhere but home and work. Bad excuse huh. But it was the truth. I was eating where I could eat, and had to do the unavoidable by asking for help from friends, family and Aid Centers. I was not wasting my money. There just was not enough of it to make my bills.
I woke up one Sunday and told Satan he was not going to steal another minute from my life. I got dressed and drove to church on fumes. I came in and felt the world was lifted off of me...
So, this brings me to why I am writing you. I have always strongly believed in tithing and when I was faithful, my finances were usually not too much of a problem, just bad stewardship. I have just found myself in such bad financial shape that I did not see how I could possibly tithe.
I do believe with all my heart and soul that God is in control of my life, and your message has hit home in such a powerful way that I am committed to taking the challenge. I believe in his word and know it is true that he only wants us to succeed in life to the fullest.
Thank you for being a Pastor that is not intimidated to preach his powerful word. I will be tithing and believing that God has a plan for my life that is greater than anything I could have ever imagined. If you would, please pray this for me too.
I received an email this week that I think is amazing that I wanted to share with you. It's a story of faith in a God who promises that with Him everything is possible.
If you have not taken the tithing challenge because you thought it would be impossible, then read this!
Dear Pastor Greg,
My name is ----, I have been in limbo for almost 2 years now. I have seen my way of life change dramatically. I have been humbled and know that I could not have survived if not by the grace of God. I have been struggling financially in ways that I never thought I would ever know. I have recently felt my life slipping away from me, and knew it was the work of Satan, trying to make me feel that I was just not good enough for the Kingdom of God. I was hurt, lonely, depressed and felt unaccepted. I had not been able to get to church on a regular basis. Fuel prices were my excuse, I was running out of gas on a weekly basis, and was conserving, not to go anywhere but home and work. Bad excuse huh. But it was the truth. I was eating where I could eat, and had to do the unavoidable by asking for help from friends, family and Aid Centers. I was not wasting my money. There just was not enough of it to make my bills.
I woke up one Sunday and told Satan he was not going to steal another minute from my life. I got dressed and drove to church on fumes. I came in and felt the world was lifted off of me...
So, this brings me to why I am writing you. I have always strongly believed in tithing and when I was faithful, my finances were usually not too much of a problem, just bad stewardship. I have just found myself in such bad financial shape that I did not see how I could possibly tithe.
I do believe with all my heart and soul that God is in control of my life, and your message has hit home in such a powerful way that I am committed to taking the challenge. I believe in his word and know it is true that he only wants us to succeed in life to the fullest.
Thank you for being a Pastor that is not intimidated to preach his powerful word. I will be tithing and believing that God has a plan for my life that is greater than anything I could have ever imagined. If you would, please pray this for me too.
Monday, October 20, 2008
weekend recap
We had an incredible day yesterday at Foothills. Started a new message series called, Back In Black. It's about finances.
Money messages usually freak some people out, but as bad as things are economically for people, everyone seemed extremely receptive.
I issued a tithing challenge for 90 days. I'm not sure how many people signed up for the challenge, but there is a huge stack of cards! All of you who said "yes", better buckle your seat belts because God is about to do something great in your lives!
I told a story about a guy who put in his offering check with a note that said that he was only going to give half of his tithes one week because he said he only enjoyed half of the service! Unbelievable!
Also we have another huge stack of cards of people who will be going through the Financial Learning Experience on October the 29th with Joseph Sangl. (Joe is on a crusade to help people get their finances in order). Joe also wrote the book, "I was Broke. Now I'm not!"
It's not too late to take the tithing challenge or sign up for the Financial Learning Experience ---you can do it this weekend.
Money messages usually freak some people out, but as bad as things are economically for people, everyone seemed extremely receptive.
I issued a tithing challenge for 90 days. I'm not sure how many people signed up for the challenge, but there is a huge stack of cards! All of you who said "yes", better buckle your seat belts because God is about to do something great in your lives!
I told a story about a guy who put in his offering check with a note that said that he was only going to give half of his tithes one week because he said he only enjoyed half of the service! Unbelievable!
Also we have another huge stack of cards of people who will be going through the Financial Learning Experience on October the 29th with Joseph Sangl. (Joe is on a crusade to help people get their finances in order). Joe also wrote the book, "I was Broke. Now I'm not!"
It's not too late to take the tithing challenge or sign up for the Financial Learning Experience ---you can do it this weekend.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Passing on what you've learned
One of the things that I feel most strongly about is our responsibility to pass along lessons we've learned along the way.
Today I had the opportunity to have lunch with a guy that is preparing to enter the world of church planting. I love those kinds of conversations. Every time I have them, it reminds me of all the people who had those conversations with me when we were getting started. It's kind of like a pay-it-forward kind of thing.
I encourage my staff to learn from others, and to help others who want to learn from them. Tomorrow, I'm excited about bringing two of my staff members to my coaching network. I'm sure a lot of what they learn, they will be able to pass along.
Who are you learning from?
Who are you teaching?
Today I had the opportunity to have lunch with a guy that is preparing to enter the world of church planting. I love those kinds of conversations. Every time I have them, it reminds me of all the people who had those conversations with me when we were getting started. It's kind of like a pay-it-forward kind of thing.
I encourage my staff to learn from others, and to help others who want to learn from them. Tomorrow, I'm excited about bringing two of my staff members to my coaching network. I'm sure a lot of what they learn, they will be able to pass along.
Who are you learning from?
Who are you teaching?
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Super excited
** We are starting a new message series this Sunday called, Back In Black. It is going to help people--alot.
**Just finished writing this week's message (I'm ahead of schedule). I can promise you it is going to challenge a whole lot of folks.
**This Sunday's message topic changed my life almost 25 years ago!!
**This weekend's message is actually one that has rattled around in my mind for probably 2 months. It is an angle on the topic that I've never heard anyone preach on before.
**In case you're wondering, no, I'm not going to tell you what the topic is yet. You'll have to come Sunday to find out!
**Just finished writing this week's message (I'm ahead of schedule). I can promise you it is going to challenge a whole lot of folks.
**This Sunday's message topic changed my life almost 25 years ago!!
**This weekend's message is actually one that has rattled around in my mind for probably 2 months. It is an angle on the topic that I've never heard anyone preach on before.
**In case you're wondering, no, I'm not going to tell you what the topic is yet. You'll have to come Sunday to find out!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Clemson football shake-up
By now most of you college football fans know that Clemson head football coach Tommy Bowden will no longer be the coach of the team.
Coach Bowden has done great things for the Clemson program, and will be missed by many people. One thing that is undeniable for anyone who has spent time around him is his passion for Jesus Christ. He has been a blessing to Foothills Community Church over the years, and for that I am very thankful.
Coach Bowden we wish you well in the future.
His interim replacement is my friend Dabo Swinney. Dabo is also a fully-devoted Christ follower, and I think he will fill the role as head coach well.
One thing that is certain about life---it's very uncertain. Many times unexpected things come our way. I'm sure Coach Bowden's life is a little upside-down right now, but because of his faith in Christ, he'll land on his feet.
Coach Bowden has done great things for the Clemson program, and will be missed by many people. One thing that is undeniable for anyone who has spent time around him is his passion for Jesus Christ. He has been a blessing to Foothills Community Church over the years, and for that I am very thankful.
Coach Bowden we wish you well in the future.
His interim replacement is my friend Dabo Swinney. Dabo is also a fully-devoted Christ follower, and I think he will fill the role as head coach well.
One thing that is certain about life---it's very uncertain. Many times unexpected things come our way. I'm sure Coach Bowden's life is a little upside-down right now, but because of his faith in Christ, he'll land on his feet.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
sunday recap
**Wrapped up the Intervention series today. It will go down in the books as one of the best series we've ever done.
**We had over 20 people share their cardboard testimonies --- it was extremely moving to watch.
**We have had tons of people giving their lives to Christ in the last month or so!
**Heard that they had a great day at our Toccoa location today. They also had a few technical glitches. We will get them taken care of.
**Being one church in 2 locations is harder than it looks!
**Got a chance to go to the Catalyst conference last Thursday. It was really good. Steven Furtick knocked it out of the park. The best part was hanging out with some of our staff.
**Tons of stuff going on this week. Really looking forward to my coaching network meeting on Thursday.
**We had over 20 people share their cardboard testimonies --- it was extremely moving to watch.
**We have had tons of people giving their lives to Christ in the last month or so!
**Heard that they had a great day at our Toccoa location today. They also had a few technical glitches. We will get them taken care of.
**Being one church in 2 locations is harder than it looks!
**Got a chance to go to the Catalyst conference last Thursday. It was really good. Steven Furtick knocked it out of the park. The best part was hanging out with some of our staff.
**Tons of stuff going on this week. Really looking forward to my coaching network meeting on Thursday.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Hope
In Hosea 2:15 God says, "I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of trouble into a gateway of hope."
God promised to the Nation of Israel, that if they would just turn back to Him, he would restore hope once again to their lives. Hope is an incredible thing!
All of us at some point in life find ourselves in the valley of trouble. It could be a failed marriage, problems with your kids, a health crisis, financial ruin or unemployment. But when we are in those valleys it can seem hopeless, but if we will focus on God and not so much on our trouble, He will transform that trouble into the gateway of hope. By the way, He doesn't always remove the trouble. Sometimes the transformation is what happens in us, not our situation.
God promised to the Nation of Israel, that if they would just turn back to Him, he would restore hope once again to their lives. Hope is an incredible thing!
All of us at some point in life find ourselves in the valley of trouble. It could be a failed marriage, problems with your kids, a health crisis, financial ruin or unemployment. But when we are in those valleys it can seem hopeless, but if we will focus on God and not so much on our trouble, He will transform that trouble into the gateway of hope. By the way, He doesn't always remove the trouble. Sometimes the transformation is what happens in us, not our situation.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Sunday recap
Sunday was another huge day at Foothills. God is continuing His work in such an incredible way.
Tons of people experiencing life-change right now. This Sunday we are going to be having cardboard testimonies, and I can assure you, it will be awesome. Do not miss church this Sunday!
Our Toccoa campus had a few glitches with technology, but they had phenomenal services as well. Joy Honeycutt helped lead worship. She has an unbelievable story of God's intervention!
Toccoa campus had around 170 people in attendance, which is a great showing for a second week in a row! I am so proud of you folks in Toccoa!
We will be wrapping up the series, Intervention, this weekend, and then we'll be starting a new series called, Back In Black. This will probably be one of the most helpful message series of the year.
Tons of people experiencing life-change right now. This Sunday we are going to be having cardboard testimonies, and I can assure you, it will be awesome. Do not miss church this Sunday!
Our Toccoa campus had a few glitches with technology, but they had phenomenal services as well. Joy Honeycutt helped lead worship. She has an unbelievable story of God's intervention!
Toccoa campus had around 170 people in attendance, which is a great showing for a second week in a row! I am so proud of you folks in Toccoa!
We will be wrapping up the series, Intervention, this weekend, and then we'll be starting a new series called, Back In Black. This will probably be one of the most helpful message series of the year.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Purpose
Last year while on vacation in Florida, my son Cole and I were fishing in a golf course pond. He was on one side of the pond and I was on the other side. Some golfers hit a ball near the water and one of the golfers said to my son, "hey son,what are you fishing for?"
Without skipping a beat my son said, "whatever bites!"
I have thought a lot about his answer, and from a fishing standpoint, it's not a bad strategy. Essentially he was saying, "it really doesn't matter to me, as long as something comes along and takes my bait, I'll be fine."
But unfortunately many people go through life basically approaching life that way. "Hey what are you living for?" "I don't really know. I'm just sitting here waiting for something to come along and take the bait." So many people go through life not really having a specific purpose.
Did you realize that God has a purpose for you? I meet so many people who are brand new Christians at Foothills, and they've never been able to figure what their purpose in life is. I know one thing that we're created to do, and that's to serve God and others. If you have never volunteered for a serving team at Foothills, you're missing out!
There are several ways to get plugged in. You can check off the box on your Foothills Flier for serving opportunities on Sunday. You can attend the BELONG Class the first Sunday of every month at Foothills. You can stop by the Welcome station and get information. And very soon you will be able to register online at our website. (we're in the process of finalizing a brand new website!)
At Foothills we're committed to helping you discover your life-purpose.
Without skipping a beat my son said, "whatever bites!"
I have thought a lot about his answer, and from a fishing standpoint, it's not a bad strategy. Essentially he was saying, "it really doesn't matter to me, as long as something comes along and takes my bait, I'll be fine."
But unfortunately many people go through life basically approaching life that way. "Hey what are you living for?" "I don't really know. I'm just sitting here waiting for something to come along and take the bait." So many people go through life not really having a specific purpose.
Did you realize that God has a purpose for you? I meet so many people who are brand new Christians at Foothills, and they've never been able to figure what their purpose in life is. I know one thing that we're created to do, and that's to serve God and others. If you have never volunteered for a serving team at Foothills, you're missing out!
There are several ways to get plugged in. You can check off the box on your Foothills Flier for serving opportunities on Sunday. You can attend the BELONG Class the first Sunday of every month at Foothills. You can stop by the Welcome station and get information. And very soon you will be able to register online at our website. (we're in the process of finalizing a brand new website!)
At Foothills we're committed to helping you discover your life-purpose.
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