This article really saddens me. I can relate to some of it, but thankfully not a lot.
This article makes me even happier that I Pastor a great church like Foothills Community Church!!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sunday review
It was a long Sunday for me, but I had a blast! I pretty much spent the day at church. (I actually got a chance to run home for an hour or so, but had to turn around and come back)
* We continued our Social Networks series. We have been talking about relationships. But rather than talking about the common relationship topics, we have been discussing the messy side of relationships.
* Yesterday's topic was loving our neighbors and loving our enemies. Tough stuff!
* Lots of people told me that God did some serious convicting in their hearts about some people they have not really forgiven for hurting them.
* The public schools had a 4 day weekend, so I think a lot of people were traveling.
* We will be wrapping up our series this Sunday.
* Speaking of this Sunday, you don't want to miss it. We have a surprise for you!!
* We had a great Get In The Game class yesterday. A bunch of new people got connected!
* We also had our 2nd Follow-Up campus group. It was a wonderful time. I would encourage you to come this Sunday at 6:00pm in the Venue auditorium.
* I am already pumped about the next series that we'll start on March 11th called, The Genius of Generosity.
* Also on March 11th, we will be having our next baptisms. It's not too late to sign-up.
* I love Foothills Community Church!
* We continued our Social Networks series. We have been talking about relationships. But rather than talking about the common relationship topics, we have been discussing the messy side of relationships.
* Yesterday's topic was loving our neighbors and loving our enemies. Tough stuff!
* Lots of people told me that God did some serious convicting in their hearts about some people they have not really forgiven for hurting them.
* The public schools had a 4 day weekend, so I think a lot of people were traveling.
* We will be wrapping up our series this Sunday.
* Speaking of this Sunday, you don't want to miss it. We have a surprise for you!!
* We had a great Get In The Game class yesterday. A bunch of new people got connected!
* We also had our 2nd Follow-Up campus group. It was a wonderful time. I would encourage you to come this Sunday at 6:00pm in the Venue auditorium.
* I am already pumped about the next series that we'll start on March 11th called, The Genius of Generosity.
* Also on March 11th, we will be having our next baptisms. It's not too late to sign-up.
* I love Foothills Community Church!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
get connected
They say that there are only 2 things that are certain; death and taxes, but I have found something that is nearly as certain when it comes to the church.
Here it is: If people do not get connected, they will not stay more than a year.
I have seen this play out over and over. Someone starts attending regularly, and then the next thing you know, they're gone.
Sunday morning worship service attendance is not enough!
In other words, if the only connection a person has is attending a church service on Sunday morning, they won't make it for long..... no matter how much they enjoy the services.
The key is connection. The way to get connected at Foothills Community Church is through serving and Find and Follow group participation.
Let me explain these 2 connection points:
Serving: At Foothills we have dozens of ministry teams. There are opportunities to get connected through serving in such areas as KidZone (Children's ministry), Thrive (Student ministry), stage construction, administrative support, hospitality, praise team, choir, musicians, video, graphics, lighting, greeters, group leaders, care and support, and many more. In addition we have many opportunities to serve in our community and around the world with our Project Reach initiative.
Find and Follow Groups: These are groups of people that meet together throughout the week to study the Bible, and connect through relationships. Some of these groups meet in different members homes, some meet on our campus and some groups meet for different sports and hobbies.
Ideally you will serve and attend a Find and Follow group. The more relationships you build the "stickier" a church becomes.
The bottom line is, you need to get connected if you're going to stick. We want you to stick, we really do.
Here it is: If people do not get connected, they will not stay more than a year.
I have seen this play out over and over. Someone starts attending regularly, and then the next thing you know, they're gone.
Sunday morning worship service attendance is not enough!
In other words, if the only connection a person has is attending a church service on Sunday morning, they won't make it for long..... no matter how much they enjoy the services.
The key is connection. The way to get connected at Foothills Community Church is through serving and Find and Follow group participation.
Let me explain these 2 connection points:
Serving: At Foothills we have dozens of ministry teams. There are opportunities to get connected through serving in such areas as KidZone (Children's ministry), Thrive (Student ministry), stage construction, administrative support, hospitality, praise team, choir, musicians, video, graphics, lighting, greeters, group leaders, care and support, and many more. In addition we have many opportunities to serve in our community and around the world with our Project Reach initiative.
Find and Follow Groups: These are groups of people that meet together throughout the week to study the Bible, and connect through relationships. Some of these groups meet in different members homes, some meet on our campus and some groups meet for different sports and hobbies.
Ideally you will serve and attend a Find and Follow group. The more relationships you build the "stickier" a church becomes.
The bottom line is, you need to get connected if you're going to stick. We want you to stick, we really do.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Sunday review
Hey Foothills family. God is up to something big right now! Sunday was an amazing day.
* Cold, rainy day, but it didn't seem to affect the attendance or the excitement that the people had.
* The worship team did two original songs yesterday. The last song of the worship set was one that David Odom wrote. I promise you, that song could be a hit song on the radio!
* I love our new website.
* The umbrella team was incredible yesterday. Thanks to all of you that made people's worship experience a dry one!
* KidZone numbers were way up. Our kid's ministry is second to none! These kids are finding and following Jesus.
* I wish I could get people to sit near the front rather than the back. Why is it, at a football game we would rather have seats on the 50 yard line near the field, but at church the back seats are the premium seats??
* Lots of people are discovering the ease of giving online. Have you signed-up yet? You can do it in just a couple of minutes here.
* We had our first Follow-Up yesterday evening. It was very cool. Had a lot of people come, but there is room for more. Plan on coming THIS Sunday at 6:00pm
* The Social Networks series has been amazing. This Sunday is going to be the most challenging yet!
* Jeremy Lin and Linsanity has become a nationwide sensation. He is not only a phenomenal basketball player, but he's a Christ-follower. Here's a clip of him sharing a little about his faith.
* Cold, rainy day, but it didn't seem to affect the attendance or the excitement that the people had.
* The worship team did two original songs yesterday. The last song of the worship set was one that David Odom wrote. I promise you, that song could be a hit song on the radio!
* I love our new website.
* The umbrella team was incredible yesterday. Thanks to all of you that made people's worship experience a dry one!
* KidZone numbers were way up. Our kid's ministry is second to none! These kids are finding and following Jesus.
* I wish I could get people to sit near the front rather than the back. Why is it, at a football game we would rather have seats on the 50 yard line near the field, but at church the back seats are the premium seats??
* Lots of people are discovering the ease of giving online. Have you signed-up yet? You can do it in just a couple of minutes here.
* We had our first Follow-Up yesterday evening. It was very cool. Had a lot of people come, but there is room for more. Plan on coming THIS Sunday at 6:00pm
* The Social Networks series has been amazing. This Sunday is going to be the most challenging yet!
* Jeremy Lin and Linsanity has become a nationwide sensation. He is not only a phenomenal basketball player, but he's a Christ-follower. Here's a clip of him sharing a little about his faith.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Follow-Up
I have mentioned this several times, but I wanted to remind everyone again about anew campus group that I will be leading that starts THIS Sunday evening from 6:00pm until 7:00pm called Follow-Up.
Here's a few things you should know:
* We are serious about producing true followers of Jesus, so this is another opportunity for you.
* You won't need to do any preparation prior to our meetings. We will take the topic from Sunday morning and go a little deeper with it.
* We will begin at 6:00pm SHARP, so get there a couple minutes early!
* Bring a Bible and a noteook/ paper, and a pen.
* This would be a great group to attend if you've never been in a group or if you're in-between groups, or are just wanting to grow in your walk with Jesus.
* We will have a couple of acoustic worship songs led by one of our worship leaders, a time of Bible study, and prayer (and possibly a few other things).
* There will be child care from birth to 5th grade.
* It's going to be fun!
* This group will run from Feb. 19th until March 25th.
* We will be meeting in the Venue (student) auditorium, which is in Foothills north building.
OK, there you have it. Pretty much everything you need to know about Follow-Up. Hope to see you there!
P.S.
You don't want to miss Sunday morning at Foothills Community Church. I am back, and I'll be continuing the Social Networks series. Bring some friends with you.
P.S.S.
It's supposed to rain on Sunday. You're bed will be calling your name to stay in it. Don't listen to it! Bring your umbrella and come to worship! (If you forget your umbrella, you're in luck, our umbrella team will be there to assist you!!)
Here's a few things you should know:
* We are serious about producing true followers of Jesus, so this is another opportunity for you.
* You won't need to do any preparation prior to our meetings. We will take the topic from Sunday morning and go a little deeper with it.
* We will begin at 6:00pm SHARP, so get there a couple minutes early!
* Bring a Bible and a noteook/ paper, and a pen.
* This would be a great group to attend if you've never been in a group or if you're in-between groups, or are just wanting to grow in your walk with Jesus.
* We will have a couple of acoustic worship songs led by one of our worship leaders, a time of Bible study, and prayer (and possibly a few other things).
* There will be child care from birth to 5th grade.
* It's going to be fun!
* This group will run from Feb. 19th until March 25th.
* We will be meeting in the Venue (student) auditorium, which is in Foothills north building.
OK, there you have it. Pretty much everything you need to know about Follow-Up. Hope to see you there!
P.S.
You don't want to miss Sunday morning at Foothills Community Church. I am back, and I'll be continuing the Social Networks series. Bring some friends with you.
P.S.S.
It's supposed to rain on Sunday. You're bed will be calling your name to stay in it. Don't listen to it! Bring your umbrella and come to worship! (If you forget your umbrella, you're in luck, our umbrella team will be there to assist you!!)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday review
This will be a little bit different type review because I wasn't at Foothills Community Church yesterday, but here's what's going on:
* I heard the services were awesome yesterday. I am so thankful for Brian Rhodes for bringing the message. I heard that he did a fantastic job!!
* Also heard that the first service attendance was a little lower yesterday. No doubt, the coldest temperatures of the year had something to do with that.
* Speaking of cold temperatures, I guess I timed my trip to Florida about right. Although it was cold down here too. Only got up to 60 degrees yesterday.
* I'm really looking forward to the message I will be sharing this Sunday at Foothills. I am really enjoying the Social Networks series!
* Our congregation has been singing some of the original worship songs that our team has written. I love that!
* Don't forget 2 very important things: I will be starting a Campus Group called "Follow-Up" this Sunday at 6:00pm in the Venue auditorium. If you are not in another Sunday evening group, I would love to have you join me. Secondly, on Feb. 26th, I will be leading the next Get In The Game class. If you want to know more about Foothills and are looking to take your next step, this class is for you. The class will be held from 12:30-2:15pm. Free lunch and childcare will be provided.
* On March 11th we will be having our next baptisms! If you are a Christ-follower and have not been baptized put that date on your calendar! (The date for baptisms in Toccoa will be March 18th)
* I am so excited about what we get to be a part of at Foothills. God is moving in a powerful way! See ya Sunday, and don't forget to bring someone with you.
* I heard the services were awesome yesterday. I am so thankful for Brian Rhodes for bringing the message. I heard that he did a fantastic job!!
* Also heard that the first service attendance was a little lower yesterday. No doubt, the coldest temperatures of the year had something to do with that.
* Speaking of cold temperatures, I guess I timed my trip to Florida about right. Although it was cold down here too. Only got up to 60 degrees yesterday.
* I'm really looking forward to the message I will be sharing this Sunday at Foothills. I am really enjoying the Social Networks series!
* Our congregation has been singing some of the original worship songs that our team has written. I love that!
* Don't forget 2 very important things: I will be starting a Campus Group called "Follow-Up" this Sunday at 6:00pm in the Venue auditorium. If you are not in another Sunday evening group, I would love to have you join me. Secondly, on Feb. 26th, I will be leading the next Get In The Game class. If you want to know more about Foothills and are looking to take your next step, this class is for you. The class will be held from 12:30-2:15pm. Free lunch and childcare will be provided.
* On March 11th we will be having our next baptisms! If you are a Christ-follower and have not been baptized put that date on your calendar! (The date for baptisms in Toccoa will be March 18th)
* I am so excited about what we get to be a part of at Foothills. God is moving in a powerful way! See ya Sunday, and don't forget to bring someone with you.
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
The Best Investment of Your Time
Many times people ask me questions about having a quiet time with the Lord. I honestly believe that it is impossible to have a thriving, intimate relationship with Jesus without a regular, and consistent quiet time.
Let me first define what I mean by "quiet time". It is a time that you set aside for Bible reading, prayer and reflection.
I believe that the only way to be consistent, is to have a set time to have it. Maybe the first thing in the morning, or while you're having your breakfast (or lunch), or maybe some time in the evening. The time doesn't really matter (although I personally find it beneficial to have mine in the morning before I face the day), as long as it's consistent.
Once, the church I was attending brought in an author and conference speaker on the topic of prayer and quiet time. This guy was amazing. He told us how he would wake up every day at 4:00am and then have 3 hours of quiet time. I was so inspired, I vowed to start doing the same thing. So the next morning I set my alarm for 4:00am. I got my Bible and sat at the breakfast table and began to read. The next thing I remember was being woken up by my wife 3 hours later with my head laying in a puddle of drool in my open Bible! I had fallen asleep within the first 5 minutes. I felt like a failure, but the truth is, what worked for that guy, didn't work for me. the key is to figure out what works for you.
Another question people ask is, "how do I know what to pray about or what to read?" Those are great questions. I like to keep things pretty simple, so I basically start with prayer, and then some Bible reading and then reflection. (Remember, this is about increasing the quality of your relationship with Christ, not checking off a bunch of things on your spiritual to-do list)
On the Prayer part I usually pray the A.C.T.S method. A= Adoration. I begin my prayer with giving glory and adoration to the Lord. C= Confession. I confess my sins specifically by name. T= Thanksgiving. I thank Him for all He has done in my life. S= Supplication. I lift up my requests to Him.
As far as Bible reading, I generally like to read a couple chapters a day of a book of the Bible, and stay in that book until I'm finished. One thing that I do occasionally, that is really good is what is called the SOAP method of Bible reading (The acronym of SOAP is S= Scripture. O= Observation. A= Application. P= Prayer). Here's how it works. Let's say the today I am reading Hebrews chapters 2 and 3. As I am reading I am paying attention for the Lord to show me a verse that kind of stands out to me. After reading the chapters, I then come back to that verse, take out some paper and journal. It would look something like this:
S. (Scripture) Hebrews 3:13 You must warn each other everyday, while it is still today, so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
O. (Observation) Sin is deceptive. It lures, then it destroys. It promises, but never delivers. It is short-term satisfaction with long-term consequences. One of the consequences is that it causes our hearts to be hardened towards God. When this happens, our desire for God, His word and the things of God dissipate.
A. (Application) The closer to God I remain, and the further I stay from sin, the better my life will be! I must guard against sin's deception.
P. (Prayer) Lord remind me that sin leads to death, no matter how enticing and harmless it may seem. I desire closeness in our relationship, so help me to be strong.
That's it! Anyone can do that. If you don't have a regular quiet time, why not start today?
Let me first define what I mean by "quiet time". It is a time that you set aside for Bible reading, prayer and reflection.
I believe that the only way to be consistent, is to have a set time to have it. Maybe the first thing in the morning, or while you're having your breakfast (or lunch), or maybe some time in the evening. The time doesn't really matter (although I personally find it beneficial to have mine in the morning before I face the day), as long as it's consistent.
Once, the church I was attending brought in an author and conference speaker on the topic of prayer and quiet time. This guy was amazing. He told us how he would wake up every day at 4:00am and then have 3 hours of quiet time. I was so inspired, I vowed to start doing the same thing. So the next morning I set my alarm for 4:00am. I got my Bible and sat at the breakfast table and began to read. The next thing I remember was being woken up by my wife 3 hours later with my head laying in a puddle of drool in my open Bible! I had fallen asleep within the first 5 minutes. I felt like a failure, but the truth is, what worked for that guy, didn't work for me. the key is to figure out what works for you.
Another question people ask is, "how do I know what to pray about or what to read?" Those are great questions. I like to keep things pretty simple, so I basically start with prayer, and then some Bible reading and then reflection. (Remember, this is about increasing the quality of your relationship with Christ, not checking off a bunch of things on your spiritual to-do list)
On the Prayer part I usually pray the A.C.T.S method. A= Adoration. I begin my prayer with giving glory and adoration to the Lord. C= Confession. I confess my sins specifically by name. T= Thanksgiving. I thank Him for all He has done in my life. S= Supplication. I lift up my requests to Him.
As far as Bible reading, I generally like to read a couple chapters a day of a book of the Bible, and stay in that book until I'm finished. One thing that I do occasionally, that is really good is what is called the SOAP method of Bible reading (The acronym of SOAP is S= Scripture. O= Observation. A= Application. P= Prayer). Here's how it works. Let's say the today I am reading Hebrews chapters 2 and 3. As I am reading I am paying attention for the Lord to show me a verse that kind of stands out to me. After reading the chapters, I then come back to that verse, take out some paper and journal. It would look something like this:
S. (Scripture) Hebrews 3:13 You must warn each other everyday, while it is still today, so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
O. (Observation) Sin is deceptive. It lures, then it destroys. It promises, but never delivers. It is short-term satisfaction with long-term consequences. One of the consequences is that it causes our hearts to be hardened towards God. When this happens, our desire for God, His word and the things of God dissipate.
A. (Application) The closer to God I remain, and the further I stay from sin, the better my life will be! I must guard against sin's deception.
P. (Prayer) Lord remind me that sin leads to death, no matter how enticing and harmless it may seem. I desire closeness in our relationship, so help me to be strong.
That's it! Anyone can do that. If you don't have a regular quiet time, why not start today?
Monday, February 06, 2012
Sunday review
We had a great day at Foothills Community Church yesterday. I absolutely LOVE what God is doing right now!
* I was a bit worried that we were going to get washed-out because the weatherman had forecasted a 60% chance of rain, but it was a beautiful day.
* Kelly Ross was prepared for the rain with an entire team of volunteers who serve on the umbrella team. I love how our volunteers are always ready to go the second mile for our guests.
* David Odom and the worship team nailed it yesterday. It was extremely cool, that we got a chance to sing a song written by some of the FCC staff members during worship.
* I spoke on dealing with conflict in relationships.
* Conflict is 2 people trying to occupy the same space at the same time
* The word "unity" is a bit misunderstood. Unity is not the absence of conflict, it's the willingness to work through the conflict in a Christ-like way for God-honoring results.
* The goal is not to win the argument, it's to win the person.
* Always work toward resolution.
* Our student ministry, Thrive is seeing some great things happening. This past Wednesday, another 4 students committed their lives to Christ!
* Also on Wednesday, our Student Pastor, Brian Rhodes announced that he would be stepping down from our Student ministry to focus more of his efforts in our SERVE ministry. This was a difficult decision for Brian to make. He loves students, but felt that his gifts could be best used in his new position. Brian has served Thrive with excellence for the last few years, and I am pumped that he will still be serving on Foothills team! That's right, he is NOT going anywhere!!
* Brian also announced to the students that our new student ministry pastor will be Justin Terry. Justin will begin in early March. In the meantime, he will be busy winding things down in his current position in Virginia. It has been great getting to know Justin, who was introduced to us by his friend, David Odom. When he gets here, I'll bring him up on stage and introduce him.
* Brian will work with Justin during a transition period to show him the ropes. And then Brian will move to the SERVE area, and his focus will be helping people find a place to serve at Foothills. He will have some other responsibilities, as well. When you see Brian, let him know how much you appreciate him.
* Can you believe that Easter is in 2 months? We are working hard to put together the most creative, compelling services we have ever had!!
* In case you haven't seen it yet, our new website is up and running. We have a few things that will be tweaked, but it looks awesome. Thanks to Shane Smith for all of his work.
* Kidzone is really going strong . lots of kids. Also. I'm not really sure what's going on, but we have about a dozen pregnant ladies in our church right now.
* We could use some extra people to serve in our nursery. (See above)!!
* I was a bit worried that we were going to get washed-out because the weatherman had forecasted a 60% chance of rain, but it was a beautiful day.
* Kelly Ross was prepared for the rain with an entire team of volunteers who serve on the umbrella team. I love how our volunteers are always ready to go the second mile for our guests.
* David Odom and the worship team nailed it yesterday. It was extremely cool, that we got a chance to sing a song written by some of the FCC staff members during worship.
* I spoke on dealing with conflict in relationships.
* Conflict is 2 people trying to occupy the same space at the same time
* The word "unity" is a bit misunderstood. Unity is not the absence of conflict, it's the willingness to work through the conflict in a Christ-like way for God-honoring results.
* The goal is not to win the argument, it's to win the person.
* Always work toward resolution.
* Our student ministry, Thrive is seeing some great things happening. This past Wednesday, another 4 students committed their lives to Christ!
* Also on Wednesday, our Student Pastor, Brian Rhodes announced that he would be stepping down from our Student ministry to focus more of his efforts in our SERVE ministry. This was a difficult decision for Brian to make. He loves students, but felt that his gifts could be best used in his new position. Brian has served Thrive with excellence for the last few years, and I am pumped that he will still be serving on Foothills team! That's right, he is NOT going anywhere!!
* Brian also announced to the students that our new student ministry pastor will be Justin Terry. Justin will begin in early March. In the meantime, he will be busy winding things down in his current position in Virginia. It has been great getting to know Justin, who was introduced to us by his friend, David Odom. When he gets here, I'll bring him up on stage and introduce him.
* Brian will work with Justin during a transition period to show him the ropes. And then Brian will move to the SERVE area, and his focus will be helping people find a place to serve at Foothills. He will have some other responsibilities, as well. When you see Brian, let him know how much you appreciate him.
* Can you believe that Easter is in 2 months? We are working hard to put together the most creative, compelling services we have ever had!!
* In case you haven't seen it yet, our new website is up and running. We have a few things that will be tweaked, but it looks awesome. Thanks to Shane Smith for all of his work.
* Kidzone is really going strong . lots of kids. Also. I'm not really sure what's going on, but we have about a dozen pregnant ladies in our church right now.
* We could use some extra people to serve in our nursery. (See above)!!
Thursday, February 02, 2012
It's in the air
If you have been to Foothills Community Church lately, no doubt you have felt the presence of God in a very powerful way. It's one of those things that you can't see with your eyes, but you can just sense. There is a hunger for more of God. There is a passion for worship, and as a result, there are lives changing every week. Lots of lives.
2012 has started with a bang on both of our campuses. The Lord is up to something very big. I anticipate that this year will be our best ever! It reminds me of this verse: Isaiah 43:19 NLT For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert!
Here is what every one of us need to be doing: Pray for God to continue this great movement, and also pray that we would not be distracted (which is a common tactic of Satan when things are going well). We must continue to yield our lives to Jesus every moment of every day so that we can live our lives on mission. We must keep inviting people to church, and warmly welcoming them when they show up.
I can honestly say that I cannot remember a time when I sensed we were on the brink of something so great as right now!!!
I will be sharing a message this Sunday that has the potential to change your life when it comes to dealing with conflict in your relationships. If you know of anyone that is in the middle of some conflict issues, get them there.
Also, don't forget the Superbowl party at FCC this Sunday. Tailgating starts at 5:30pm.
On February 19th we will launch The Follow-Up, which is a campus group that I will be leading. It will be held in the Venue auditorium in Foothills North building from 6:00pm until 7:00pm
On February 26th we will have our next Get In The Game class. This is our membership class at FCC. It will be held from 12:30 until 2:15pm. We will provide lunch and child care. Sign-up soon. Over 100 people were at the last class in January, so sign-up soon!
2012 has started with a bang on both of our campuses. The Lord is up to something very big. I anticipate that this year will be our best ever! It reminds me of this verse: Isaiah 43:19 NLT For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert!
Here is what every one of us need to be doing: Pray for God to continue this great movement, and also pray that we would not be distracted (which is a common tactic of Satan when things are going well). We must continue to yield our lives to Jesus every moment of every day so that we can live our lives on mission. We must keep inviting people to church, and warmly welcoming them when they show up.
I can honestly say that I cannot remember a time when I sensed we were on the brink of something so great as right now!!!
I will be sharing a message this Sunday that has the potential to change your life when it comes to dealing with conflict in your relationships. If you know of anyone that is in the middle of some conflict issues, get them there.
Also, don't forget the Superbowl party at FCC this Sunday. Tailgating starts at 5:30pm.
On February 19th we will launch The Follow-Up, which is a campus group that I will be leading. It will be held in the Venue auditorium in Foothills North building from 6:00pm until 7:00pm
On February 26th we will have our next Get In The Game class. This is our membership class at FCC. It will be held from 12:30 until 2:15pm. We will provide lunch and child care. Sign-up soon. Over 100 people were at the last class in January, so sign-up soon!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
sunday review
We kicked off our new series on relationships called, "Social Networks" today at Foothills Community Church. It was a great day in so many ways.
* Most of us don't have enough deep, quality relationships. We need people in our lives that will stand by our side in tough times and people that will get in our face when neccessary.
* We are having tons of first-time guests every single week. What I really love is that so many are coming back week after week.
* Our Toccoa campus had another huge day. I love what God is doing over there!
* I am so proud of the people of FCC. You are really catching the vision of helping others find and follow Jesus. Thanks for inviting your friends!
* I also want to brag on all of the people who serve on a ministry team at FCC. Over 700 of you have discovered the joy of serving God and others. If you haven't tried serving, why not stop by the Link on Sunday to learn more.
* Planet Kidz was jammed today. Lots of kids. Lots of first-time kids!
* I am really getting excited about the new campus group I will be leading called, Follow-Up which will begin on Feb. 19th at 6:00pm. If you are not in a Sunday evening group, I would love to see you at Follow-Up.
* We have a big announcement to make this week. Yes, I am super-excited!
* I can't wait for next Sunday. I will be talking about how to handle conflict in your relationships.
* I can't stress enough how important it is for all of us to build relationships at church. Coming only on Sunday mornings does not lend itself to developing deep relationships. That's why we have Find and Follow groups meeting on and off campus. Stop by the Link on Sunday and we'll help you find a group that will fit you. Or you can find out more here.
* Most of us don't have enough deep, quality relationships. We need people in our lives that will stand by our side in tough times and people that will get in our face when neccessary.
* We are having tons of first-time guests every single week. What I really love is that so many are coming back week after week.
* Our Toccoa campus had another huge day. I love what God is doing over there!
* I am so proud of the people of FCC. You are really catching the vision of helping others find and follow Jesus. Thanks for inviting your friends!
* I also want to brag on all of the people who serve on a ministry team at FCC. Over 700 of you have discovered the joy of serving God and others. If you haven't tried serving, why not stop by the Link on Sunday to learn more.
* Planet Kidz was jammed today. Lots of kids. Lots of first-time kids!
* I am really getting excited about the new campus group I will be leading called, Follow-Up which will begin on Feb. 19th at 6:00pm. If you are not in a Sunday evening group, I would love to see you at Follow-Up.
* We have a big announcement to make this week. Yes, I am super-excited!
* I can't wait for next Sunday. I will be talking about how to handle conflict in your relationships.
* I can't stress enough how important it is for all of us to build relationships at church. Coming only on Sunday mornings does not lend itself to developing deep relationships. That's why we have Find and Follow groups meeting on and off campus. Stop by the Link on Sunday and we'll help you find a group that will fit you. Or you can find out more here.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Discipleship
Fan or Follower? from Foothills Community Church on Vimeo.
This past Sunday I spoke about what it meant to be a true follower of Jesus. (If you missed it, here's the video).
I am so pumped about the spiritual hunger of the people of Foothills Community Church!
In 2012 we are offering many ways for people to take their next step in their spiritual journey.
A couple of the things that I will be personally involved with are a new campus group I will be leading called, Follow-Up. This will be a continuation of Sunday morning's message. The format will be interactive, as we dig deeper into the scripture. Follow-Up begins on February 19th at 6:00pm in the Venue auditorium. It is open to everyone, and childcare will be available.
The other thing that I'll be doing is taking a group of people through an intensive discipleship process. On Sunday I issued a challenge for anyone that was willing to make a huge commitment of their time to growing spiritually. The format essentially would be monthly meeting with me (and the group), plus a commitment to do a series of daily activities, and lots of homework. The duration would be 1 year!
When I issued the challenge, I had no idea if anyone would be willing to be a part of that. To my surprise nearly 60 people said they were interested! Wow, that is incredible! I have no idea how many will actually complete it, but we'll see.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday review
Absolutely amazing is the only way to describe yesterday at Foothills Community Church.
* The worship services were unbelievable. David Odom and his team bring the heat every week! I'm also really proud of Mary Douglas. She has grown by leaps and bounds as a worship leader.
* So many first-time and returning guests at FCC. Just blows me away!
* Preached a message on discipleship, and what it means to be a true Follower of Jesus, and not just a Fan of His.
* That message was months in the making. I know it wasn't an easy message for most people to digest, but sometimes that's good.
* There is such a huge level of excitement in our services, but also in the concourse between services.
* Our Toccoa campus is knocking it out of the park too! They just keep growing.
* Probably the highlight of the weekend for me was our Get In The Game membership class. We had 114 people attend the class and 100 of them committed to membership!! Welcome to all of our new members.
* In case you missed Get In The Game, the next class will be on February 26th.
* Our next baptism will be on March 11th, so put that on your calendar too.
* Don't forget to hand out your invite cards for our new series that begins THIS Sunday, called Social Networks. We will be looking at the good, bad and ugly sides of our relationships.
* You should also get a direct mail card about the new series in your mailbox this week.
* I love serving as your Pastor!
* The worship services were unbelievable. David Odom and his team bring the heat every week! I'm also really proud of Mary Douglas. She has grown by leaps and bounds as a worship leader.
* So many first-time and returning guests at FCC. Just blows me away!
* Preached a message on discipleship, and what it means to be a true Follower of Jesus, and not just a Fan of His.
* That message was months in the making. I know it wasn't an easy message for most people to digest, but sometimes that's good.
* There is such a huge level of excitement in our services, but also in the concourse between services.
* Our Toccoa campus is knocking it out of the park too! They just keep growing.
* Probably the highlight of the weekend for me was our Get In The Game membership class. We had 114 people attend the class and 100 of them committed to membership!! Welcome to all of our new members.
* In case you missed Get In The Game, the next class will be on February 26th.
* Our next baptism will be on March 11th, so put that on your calendar too.
* Don't forget to hand out your invite cards for our new series that begins THIS Sunday, called Social Networks. We will be looking at the good, bad and ugly sides of our relationships.
* You should also get a direct mail card about the new series in your mailbox this week.
* I love serving as your Pastor!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
A fan or a follower?
This Sunday I will be sharing a message called Fan or Follower? I am super-excited about it for a few reasons.
First, I am excited about this message because it will be challenging. Actually challenging could be an understatement. This could possibly be the most intense message about real discipleship that I've ever shared!
Secondly, I am excited because I think it is timely. I think churches all across America are seeing a trend in people hopping from one church to another, looking for their next "spiritual buzz". Commitment and loyalty to Christ and the local church are foreign concepts to some people.
Finally, I am excited because I think this message will be helpful. I know that for me personally, just preparing this message has been helpful in bringing me back on center, and I'm hoping it will be the same for many other people.
I believe that we are going to see major spiritual breakthrough, so make sure you do not miss this Sunday!
I am praying that 2012 will be a year for incredible spiritual growth for the people of Foothills Community Church!
Here are 2 more very important things to remember.
1) This Sunday I will be leading our Get In The Game Class. This is your next step if you have been visiting Foothills and you like what you see, and you want to know more. At the end of the class you will have the opportunity to become a member at Foothills. You will also have a chance to meet our staff, and we will feed you a free lunch and provide child care. The class begins at 12:30pm and finishes at 2:00pm. Trust me, this will be a great investment of your time.
2) On February 19th we will begin a new campus group called, Follow-up. It will start at 6:00pm and last for about an hour. The format of this group will change from week-to-week, but basically I will take the message from Sunday morning and go into greater detail. This will have a more interactive, unplugged feel. Most likely we will have some acoustic worship time and then jump into the Bible, and then will wrap up with prayer. Here's what you will need to bring: Your Bible, a pen/pencil, paper or journal for notes. This group is designed for those who want to go deeper. By the way, you don't have to be a Bible scholar to attend, so if you are a new believer, you will enjoy this as well as the more seasoned Christian. There will be childcare thru 5th grade.
First, I am excited about this message because it will be challenging. Actually challenging could be an understatement. This could possibly be the most intense message about real discipleship that I've ever shared!
Secondly, I am excited because I think it is timely. I think churches all across America are seeing a trend in people hopping from one church to another, looking for their next "spiritual buzz". Commitment and loyalty to Christ and the local church are foreign concepts to some people.
Finally, I am excited because I think this message will be helpful. I know that for me personally, just preparing this message has been helpful in bringing me back on center, and I'm hoping it will be the same for many other people.
I believe that we are going to see major spiritual breakthrough, so make sure you do not miss this Sunday!
I am praying that 2012 will be a year for incredible spiritual growth for the people of Foothills Community Church!
Here are 2 more very important things to remember.
1) This Sunday I will be leading our Get In The Game Class. This is your next step if you have been visiting Foothills and you like what you see, and you want to know more. At the end of the class you will have the opportunity to become a member at Foothills. You will also have a chance to meet our staff, and we will feed you a free lunch and provide child care. The class begins at 12:30pm and finishes at 2:00pm. Trust me, this will be a great investment of your time.
2) On February 19th we will begin a new campus group called, Follow-up. It will start at 6:00pm and last for about an hour. The format of this group will change from week-to-week, but basically I will take the message from Sunday morning and go into greater detail. This will have a more interactive, unplugged feel. Most likely we will have some acoustic worship time and then jump into the Bible, and then will wrap up with prayer. Here's what you will need to bring: Your Bible, a pen/pencil, paper or journal for notes. This group is designed for those who want to go deeper. By the way, you don't have to be a Bible scholar to attend, so if you are a new believer, you will enjoy this as well as the more seasoned Christian. There will be childcare thru 5th grade.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Sunday review
Today was one of those days where everything clicked. It was one of the best services ever!
* We continued our Find and Follow series. Today's topic was living on mission. All believers are called to a mission of leading others to Christ.
* I challenged every person to make a list of 5 people that they could impact for Christ in 2012.
* Wouldn't it be amazing if all of us brought a guest with us next week?
* I really embarassed our Worship Pastor, David Odom this morning. I had him stay on stage before I began my message and bragged on him. We are blessed to have him at Foothills Community Church!
* We had a ton of guests again this morning. I got a chance to speak to many of them personally.
* One first-time family shared with me how they heard about Foothills. They said that they received a random phone call from a teenager (they didn't know the teenager) that went to Foothills. In the phone call the teenager said that he had a dream, and in the dream God told him to dial a phone number and invite the person that answered the phone to come to church. The guests told me that they had just been praying and asking God to direct them to a church! That's wild!
* I am praying that the Lord would give every person that attends FCC the opportunity to invite someone to church in the next couple of weeks.
* There are still some people that have not renewed their membership yet. Do it today online.
* If you are not a member of FCC but want to learn more, don't forget the next Get In The Game Class is next Sunday. You can sign-up today here.
* Next Sunday is a day that you Do NOT want to miss. We're going to talk about what it means to be a Follower instead of a fan of Jesus Christ.
* On January 29th we will begin a new series called, Social Networks. The series will be on improving the relationships in our life. We will be giving you invite cards next Sunday to put in the hands of the people on your impact list.
* We will also be sending a mailer, inviting people to the series. It will show up in the mailboxes of over 26,000 homes soon!
* We continued our Find and Follow series. Today's topic was living on mission. All believers are called to a mission of leading others to Christ.
* I challenged every person to make a list of 5 people that they could impact for Christ in 2012.
* Wouldn't it be amazing if all of us brought a guest with us next week?
* I really embarassed our Worship Pastor, David Odom this morning. I had him stay on stage before I began my message and bragged on him. We are blessed to have him at Foothills Community Church!
* We had a ton of guests again this morning. I got a chance to speak to many of them personally.
* One first-time family shared with me how they heard about Foothills. They said that they received a random phone call from a teenager (they didn't know the teenager) that went to Foothills. In the phone call the teenager said that he had a dream, and in the dream God told him to dial a phone number and invite the person that answered the phone to come to church. The guests told me that they had just been praying and asking God to direct them to a church! That's wild!
* I am praying that the Lord would give every person that attends FCC the opportunity to invite someone to church in the next couple of weeks.
* There are still some people that have not renewed their membership yet. Do it today online.
* If you are not a member of FCC but want to learn more, don't forget the next Get In The Game Class is next Sunday. You can sign-up today here.
* Next Sunday is a day that you Do NOT want to miss. We're going to talk about what it means to be a Follower instead of a fan of Jesus Christ.
* On January 29th we will begin a new series called, Social Networks. The series will be on improving the relationships in our life. We will be giving you invite cards next Sunday to put in the hands of the people on your impact list.
* We will also be sending a mailer, inviting people to the series. It will show up in the mailboxes of over 26,000 homes soon!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Sunday review
This past Sunday was amazing at Foothills Community Church. Every year at this time I do a series on our vision at FCC. It is one of those messages that unify the church, and bring us back to the reason we do what we do. Nothing fires me up more than talking about the heart of our church!
* I spoke on Luke 15, but the real focus was the older brother in the Prodigal son story. I compared the heart of the older brother and the heart of God.
* The older brother had forgotten what was important... his lost brother who was now found. Instead he refused to participate in the celebration.
* The Father never gave up hope that the prodigal son would one day return home. When that day finally arrived, the Father ran to his son and restored the relationship and then threw a party because he had returned. (Let's not forget that this in this story, the prodigal son is all of us, who have sinned against God, and the Father represents God, who is waiting with open arms for us to come to Him.)
* Some churches have become like the older son. Their focus shifted from ministry to maintenance. It moved from others to themselves. They don't see life change, because they don't celebrate it.
* At FCC I want us to have the Father's heart. To continue to be a place that opens its arms to the lost, broken, and hurting. In order to do this our focus must be EXTERNAL.
Our mission statement is to help people FIND and FOLLOW Jesus. It has to be balanced between those things, but we can never lose the heart to reach lost people.
* Having said that, in 2012 we are also going to put a great emphasis on helping people FOLLOW Jesus (Discipleship). In fact on January 22nd I am going to do one of the most intense and challenging messages I have ever preached in regards to becoming a TRUE FOLLOWER of Jesus! Trust me, this message is not for the faint of heart.
* Sunday was also Membership renewal Sunday. If you didn't fill out your renewal, you can do it online now. (Remember, you must have already gone through the Get In The Game Class)
* If you would like to become a member of Foothills Community Church, then you can sign-up for our next get In The Game Class here.
* Here are some of the stats from 2011 I shared on Sunday:
* 438 people gave their lives to Jesus
* 323 people made a re commitment to Jesus
* 168 people were baptized
* 185 people went to Get In The Game class
* 706 different people served on a ministry team
* over 12,000 prayer requests were prayed for
* over $40,000 was given to local families in need from our benevolence fund
* $12,500 was given to our Christmas offering to provide gifts for children
* Over $150,000 was given to Project reach and distributed to do ministry in Haiti, Harlan County Kentucky, Church Planting in North America, and 5 local agencies helping the hurting in our community.
* Over 4,500 volunteer hours outside the walls of the church to help people.
* 3 mission trips to Haiti and 2 trips to Harlan County Ky. Many teams serving with our local ministry agencies.
* I am so excited about 2012. I believe we are going to see God do more than we've ever seen, so put on your seat belts!
* I spoke on Luke 15, but the real focus was the older brother in the Prodigal son story. I compared the heart of the older brother and the heart of God.
* The older brother had forgotten what was important... his lost brother who was now found. Instead he refused to participate in the celebration.
* The Father never gave up hope that the prodigal son would one day return home. When that day finally arrived, the Father ran to his son and restored the relationship and then threw a party because he had returned. (Let's not forget that this in this story, the prodigal son is all of us, who have sinned against God, and the Father represents God, who is waiting with open arms for us to come to Him.)
* Some churches have become like the older son. Their focus shifted from ministry to maintenance. It moved from others to themselves. They don't see life change, because they don't celebrate it.
* At FCC I want us to have the Father's heart. To continue to be a place that opens its arms to the lost, broken, and hurting. In order to do this our focus must be EXTERNAL.
Our mission statement is to help people FIND and FOLLOW Jesus. It has to be balanced between those things, but we can never lose the heart to reach lost people.
* Having said that, in 2012 we are also going to put a great emphasis on helping people FOLLOW Jesus (Discipleship). In fact on January 22nd I am going to do one of the most intense and challenging messages I have ever preached in regards to becoming a TRUE FOLLOWER of Jesus! Trust me, this message is not for the faint of heart.
* Sunday was also Membership renewal Sunday. If you didn't fill out your renewal, you can do it online now. (Remember, you must have already gone through the Get In The Game Class)
* If you would like to become a member of Foothills Community Church, then you can sign-up for our next get In The Game Class here.
* Here are some of the stats from 2011 I shared on Sunday:
* 438 people gave their lives to Jesus
* 323 people made a re commitment to Jesus
* 168 people were baptized
* 185 people went to Get In The Game class
* 706 different people served on a ministry team
* over 12,000 prayer requests were prayed for
* over $40,000 was given to local families in need from our benevolence fund
* $12,500 was given to our Christmas offering to provide gifts for children
* Over $150,000 was given to Project reach and distributed to do ministry in Haiti, Harlan County Kentucky, Church Planting in North America, and 5 local agencies helping the hurting in our community.
* Over 4,500 volunteer hours outside the walls of the church to help people.
* 3 mission trips to Haiti and 2 trips to Harlan County Ky. Many teams serving with our local ministry agencies.
* I am so excited about 2012. I believe we are going to see God do more than we've ever seen, so put on your seat belts!
Monday, January 02, 2012
Foothills New Worship CD
Many of you know that Foothills Community Church just released our first live worship CD. Every single person NEEDS to buy this CD. It is incredible. I couldn't be more proud of all of the people that serve tirelessly each week to bring the best worship to us at FCC.
I just found out that it is now available on iTunes as well! Go ahead and download it today.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
sunday review x 2
Haven't updated in a while, but a lot has been going on at Foothills Community Church. Here's what's been happening:
* Our Christmas Eve services were unbelievable. Probably the best we've ever had! David Odom and his amazing team pulled off some tremendous music, while Shane Smith and his team did equally amazing things with the technical aspects of the services.
* We had around 25 more people give their lives to Jesus!
* Right after our services were over in Seneca I rushed over to our Toccoa campus and did the message live there. Kevin Robison and his team nailed the music!
* There were more people saved in Toccoa too!
* All in all, Christmas Eve services were a home-run.
* On Christmas Day we had a special worship DVD that we gave out to hundreds of people, and we had hundreds more view it online. There was a ton of positive feedback about that.
* On January 1st (today), we were right back at it again. Even though attendance was a bit light, it was a great day.
* Next Sunday we will begin a new message series called, Find and Follow.
* Don't forget that next Sunday is also Membership renewal Sunday. If you are not a member yet, you can sign-up for our next Get In The Game Class on January 22nd from 12:30 until 2:00pmpm in the Venue auditorium. There is a free lunch served and childcare available.
* Our Christmas Eve services were unbelievable. Probably the best we've ever had! David Odom and his amazing team pulled off some tremendous music, while Shane Smith and his team did equally amazing things with the technical aspects of the services.
* We had around 25 more people give their lives to Jesus!
* Right after our services were over in Seneca I rushed over to our Toccoa campus and did the message live there. Kevin Robison and his team nailed the music!
* There were more people saved in Toccoa too!
* All in all, Christmas Eve services were a home-run.
* On Christmas Day we had a special worship DVD that we gave out to hundreds of people, and we had hundreds more view it online. There was a ton of positive feedback about that.
* On January 1st (today), we were right back at it again. Even though attendance was a bit light, it was a great day.
* Next Sunday we will begin a new message series called, Find and Follow.
* Don't forget that next Sunday is also Membership renewal Sunday. If you are not a member yet, you can sign-up for our next Get In The Game Class on January 22nd from 12:30 until 2:00pmpm in the Venue auditorium. There is a free lunch served and childcare available.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
A Foothills Christmas
Some incredible things are going on at Foothills Community Church this Christmas season.
** First off, let me thank all of the generous people of FCC. Thanks to your generosity we have received over $11,000 towards our special Christmas offering and it's still coming in. This means that so far we have been able to provide Christmas gifts to over 250 kids!
** Don't forget that THIS Saturday we will have our spectacular Christmas eve services. I am pumped out of my mind about this! Here are a few things to remember about these services:
*Service Times: Seneca Campus- 2pm and 4pm, Toccoa Campus- 6pm (I will be doing the message live in Toccoa, and I can't wait!)
*Bring someone with you. Statistics show that most people would be open to coming to church on Christmas IF someone invites them. Let's hand out those ticket/invite cards to everyone we see.
*If you need more ticket/invites, you can print them online here.
*If you have a friend that doesn't know Jesus, I can't think of a better day to get them there.
*Arrive early. The services will be crowded, so get there early, have some refreshments and find a seat. Don't forget to scoot to the middle of the rows.
*Kidzone has some special things planned for the kids, so get them checked in a bit early too.
*Trust me, you DO NOT want to miss the first song. I heard that it might be THE best Christmas song we have ever done. Which is one more reason to get there a little early.
*Don't forget to pick up a special Christmas DVD we created for each family to take home with them. Instead of having services on Sunday (Christmas day) on our campuses, this DVD is meant to play on Christmas morning to have a worship time in your own home with your family. There is music from our band and a very short message from me.
*Our regular service schedule will resume on January 1. You will not want to miss this service either, we are going to have a lot of fun.
** First off, let me thank all of the generous people of FCC. Thanks to your generosity we have received over $11,000 towards our special Christmas offering and it's still coming in. This means that so far we have been able to provide Christmas gifts to over 250 kids!
** Don't forget that THIS Saturday we will have our spectacular Christmas eve services. I am pumped out of my mind about this! Here are a few things to remember about these services:
*Service Times: Seneca Campus- 2pm and 4pm, Toccoa Campus- 6pm (I will be doing the message live in Toccoa, and I can't wait!)
*Bring someone with you. Statistics show that most people would be open to coming to church on Christmas IF someone invites them. Let's hand out those ticket/invite cards to everyone we see.
*If you need more ticket/invites, you can print them online here.
*If you have a friend that doesn't know Jesus, I can't think of a better day to get them there.
*Arrive early. The services will be crowded, so get there early, have some refreshments and find a seat. Don't forget to scoot to the middle of the rows.
*Kidzone has some special things planned for the kids, so get them checked in a bit early too.
*Trust me, you DO NOT want to miss the first song. I heard that it might be THE best Christmas song we have ever done. Which is one more reason to get there a little early.
*Don't forget to pick up a special Christmas DVD we created for each family to take home with them. Instead of having services on Sunday (Christmas day) on our campuses, this DVD is meant to play on Christmas morning to have a worship time in your own home with your family. There is music from our band and a very short message from me.
*Our regular service schedule will resume on January 1. You will not want to miss this service either, we are going to have a lot of fun.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Why I'm Taking a Break From Facebook
As we move toward a new year I am making a few changes. Here is my first one: I am officially taking a break from Facebook. I thought I would share a couple of reasons why I have decided to do this. Since I am a Pastor I thought I would alliterate :-).
DISTRACTION. In many ways I have found that Facebook can be a bit of a distraction. Having to check your status or make updates throughout the day is not a wise use of my time.
DRAMA. I have found that 80% of the people on Facebook are pretty normal people, but the other 20% wear me out. It seems like they go from one crisis to another. (I shared a post about this a while back)
DISSENSION. A very troubling trend I am seeing on Facebook is the number of people airing their personal disputes on a public forum. Many people say damaging things about their spouses, their friends, their churches, etc. Matthew 18 tells us that if you have a problem with someone, you are to go directly to them and settle it privately. By expressing your disagreements publicly it causes dissension.
I am not suggesting that anyone else needs to take a break from Facebook, but this is what I am doing. I may take a break for a month, or a year, I really don't know.
In the meantime I will continue to use my Twitter account (gregoraham), and I will probably blog once a week or so (gregoraham.blogspot.com).
I love you all!
DISTRACTION. In many ways I have found that Facebook can be a bit of a distraction. Having to check your status or make updates throughout the day is not a wise use of my time.
DRAMA. I have found that 80% of the people on Facebook are pretty normal people, but the other 20% wear me out. It seems like they go from one crisis to another. (I shared a post about this a while back)
DISSENSION. A very troubling trend I am seeing on Facebook is the number of people airing their personal disputes on a public forum. Many people say damaging things about their spouses, their friends, their churches, etc. Matthew 18 tells us that if you have a problem with someone, you are to go directly to them and settle it privately. By expressing your disagreements publicly it causes dissension.
I am not suggesting that anyone else needs to take a break from Facebook, but this is what I am doing. I may take a break for a month, or a year, I really don't know.
In the meantime I will continue to use my Twitter account (gregoraham), and I will probably blog once a week or so (gregoraham.blogspot.com).
I love you all!
Thursday, December 08, 2011
random thoughts
It's already Thursday, where has the week gone? There has been a lot of activity around the FCC offices preparing for Christmas and our new series, Misfits, which begins THIS Sunday at our Seneca campus (The following Sunday in Toccoa)
* The concourse looks absolutely amazing. As soon as you walk in the doors, you get in the Christmas spirit.
* The Stage set looks unbelievable. Thanks to all of the folks that have been working so hard this week to get it ready for Sunday.
*Last Sunday we had baptisms. We baptized 24 more people! Our Toccoa campus will be doing baptisms this Sunday!
* Our Student Ministry (Thrive) Had 4 more students give their lives to Christ on Wednesday. That's 60 this year!
* The students also collected peanut butter for the Golden Corner Food pantry and diapers for the Foothills Crisis pregnancy Care. I am so proud of our students giving back to the community
* Speaking of giving back to the community. We are collecting money for our special Christmas offering. Last year we were able to get Christmas toys to over 300 children. This year we hope to surpass that!
* As I mentioned earlier, we will begin our new Christmas series this Sunday called, Misfits. I think this will be the best Christmas series we have ever done.
* Don't forget to pick up tickets for our Christmas Eve services. And don't forget to take some extras to use as invitations for your friends. I am telling you, make sure you bring some people with you, it is going to be awesome!
* Our Christmas Eve services times are: Seneca Campus: 2 and 4pm. Toccoa campus 6pm. I am extremely excited that this Christmas Eve I will be doing the message LIVE in Toccoa! Can't wait!
* Also, don't forget that on Christmas Day (Sunday) we will not be having services at the church building. Instead, we are making it possible for you to have a worship service right in your living room! We have created a DVD to play on Christmas with your family (It will also be available online). It has music from our worship team and I will be sharing a small devotion.
* On January 1st we will be back to our normal service times. You don't want to miss the New Year's day services. The worship team will be doing your favorite songs from 2011. Kind of a Best of 2011 thing. You will be able to cast your votes This Sunday!
* The concourse looks absolutely amazing. As soon as you walk in the doors, you get in the Christmas spirit.
* The Stage set looks unbelievable. Thanks to all of the folks that have been working so hard this week to get it ready for Sunday.
*Last Sunday we had baptisms. We baptized 24 more people! Our Toccoa campus will be doing baptisms this Sunday!
* Our Student Ministry (Thrive) Had 4 more students give their lives to Christ on Wednesday. That's 60 this year!
* The students also collected peanut butter for the Golden Corner Food pantry and diapers for the Foothills Crisis pregnancy Care. I am so proud of our students giving back to the community
* Speaking of giving back to the community. We are collecting money for our special Christmas offering. Last year we were able to get Christmas toys to over 300 children. This year we hope to surpass that!
* As I mentioned earlier, we will begin our new Christmas series this Sunday called, Misfits. I think this will be the best Christmas series we have ever done.
* Don't forget to pick up tickets for our Christmas Eve services. And don't forget to take some extras to use as invitations for your friends. I am telling you, make sure you bring some people with you, it is going to be awesome!
* Our Christmas Eve services times are: Seneca Campus: 2 and 4pm. Toccoa campus 6pm. I am extremely excited that this Christmas Eve I will be doing the message LIVE in Toccoa! Can't wait!
* Also, don't forget that on Christmas Day (Sunday) we will not be having services at the church building. Instead, we are making it possible for you to have a worship service right in your living room! We have created a DVD to play on Christmas with your family (It will also be available online). It has music from our worship team and I will be sharing a small devotion.
* On January 1st we will be back to our normal service times. You don't want to miss the New Year's day services. The worship team will be doing your favorite songs from 2011. Kind of a Best of 2011 thing. You will be able to cast your votes This Sunday!
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