These Guys Rock

Tonight we had a meet and greet for our new youth ministry team. These guys rock. Robbie, Ryan and some help from Chris is going to be an incredible team. These guys are the real deal. They connected with our students tonight. Next week we kick it off full force. Remember the challenge that was issued tonight. It could be a big payday.

We have some awesome adults as well or maybe just adults that give in to peer pressure as Jason Allen took a dive head first into a huge puddle of mud beside Ingles. Hard core is what I am talking about. He is the man. A couple of students have taken joy the last two weeks in deciding to decorate my car for me. Retribution will come at a later day.

Remember September 7th begins uncensoredpastor . We will be live 24/7. Be sure to tell your friends and we'll see you on the web.

Sunday Recap

I a day late because it has been a hectic last 3 weeks. Things are now starting to get in a groove.

Yesterday was smooth. We had a lot of new faces yesterday. I spoke on my skinny corn and the parable of the sower.

I'm really jacked about our next three series coming up. I wish I could do them all this coming Sunday. You probably wouldn't like that though because we would be at church for like 15-20 hours.

Next month we begin our new series uncensoredpastor . October 5th is our 1 year anniversary and the rest of October is our Breaking the Bank series. We worked on the November series today creatively and I am amped up. You will laugh, you will cry, but most of all my prayer is that you'll leave unchanged. I won't let any details out right now but it is going to be crazy.

Chris Brank came on board yesterday to help in Powdersville and the guys rocked out. He was playing a keyboard through his mac on stage which is cool. We have several NGU students that will be helping us in several areas. Wednesday night we are having a meet and greet for all youth and parents to meet the college students and get to know them a little better.

Week in Review

Exciting stuff and tremendously encouraging this week.

Some new folks from NGU coming on board. We're going to see several areas go to the next level with this group and probably the coolest thing is that they are going to be the base for what we do in Traveler's Rest.

Crashing Jericho rocked out Wednesday night. These guys are the real deal.

Thursday and Friday is one of the most encouraging conference type things I have ever been to. I have been to conferences and round table discussions across the country but this was the best. Just hearing others hearts for their area, their joys, their struggles, their mistakes. Man, it made me feel normal.

Kid's World Powdersville was today. Awesome time, several new families we were able to connect with. Yes I did go down the inflatable water slide. That thing is huge. I could see all of Powdersville from atop the slide. There was tons of Freeee Ice Cream. I had 5 cherry screwballs throughout the course of the day. The best part is the two gumballs in the bottom. To say I'm a little hyped up is mild. I took over the title of adult champion in the 60 foot inflatable obstacle course. My record was 7-1. My only time losing came when I tried to cheat. Proof that cheaters don't win ......when they get caught. Just ask Joe Gibbs racing teams.

Church tomorrow ought to be awesome. I'm praying for big things and for people to Live Full. Anderson 9:15 a.m. Whitehall. Powdersville 10:55 a.m. Behind SunTrust. Go ahead and bring someone with you.

Gotta run, Isaac and I are about to watch the Bristol race.

Hanging out with church planters

I'm in Tennessee hanging out for a couple of days meeting with a several church planters from South Carolina and Ohio discussing strategies in new church plants. Here are some of the guys that are here Ryan Bishop, Art Fulks, Jim Reppart, Ray Brock, Walt Tanner, Dorrien Hinsey, Dino Senesi.

Live in Tennessee

I am live right now in Tennessee waiting for lunch meeting with other church planters from SC an Ohio. The chat room is on the left if you would like to drop a question or just chat.

Day Gets Better

Today got started off great with Isaac in school and only got better from there. I have been working on some stuff over the last couple of months with some students from North Greenville University and today we met to finalize some exciting stuff that is taking place in the church. So far we have three guys that will be coming on staff at Stone Bridge as semester missionaries. They will be sponsored and appointed by the Collegiate ministry division of the convention. They will be helping out in the areas of youth, worship and video. We will be introducing these guys on Sunday and will be having a meet and greet night coming up next Wednesday night for all youth and parents. There is the possibility that we will be adding a couple of more girls and guys in the coming weeks as semester missionaries. This is huge because it is going to give our youth area a huge boost and it will take several things off of my plate. I'm jacked up about what God is about to do.

These guys will be the nucleus for what we will be doing in Traveler's Rest as far as planting a campus there. We will begin core group meetings up there on September 9th and meet every Tuesday night for a time of vision, fellowship, and Bible Study. We will continue these meetings until we have a solid core of around 45-50 that are bought in and then we will proceed with a launch there.

Huge Day

Man, today has started off just awesome. Isaac started what will be his first full year in public school. Years back I remember when Isaac was diagnosed with his liver disease and the doctor looking across the table and telling us that he probably wouldn't live to make into the first grade. My prayer then was that I would get to see him walk down the aisle at high school graduation and see him live a normal life.

Then I remember 3 years ago sitting across the table with a group of bone marrow doctors and them telling us that Isaac wasn't healthy enough for a bone marrow transplant. Things were really scary but again my prayer was the same that I would see him walk down the aisle at high school graduation.

I remember 2 years ago, 6 months after his bone marrow transplant and the doctors telling us that it looked that the transplant hadn't took and they were starting plasmapheresis. Again, my prayer was that I would see him walk down the aisle at high school graduation.

Today was a huge step in that direction. Isaac still has his central line coming out of his chest which they still use for IV meds and he stills goes to the hospital once a week for his infusions. With his liver transplant and bone marrow transplant behind him, today was another huge step forward.

Prayers Appreciated

This is a busy week and I would appreciate your prayers. I'll be in Tennessee for a church planting conference on Thursday and Friday. I've got a ton on my plate and on my mind right now. I've got some meetings tomorrow that hopefully will take some off my plate and take a couple of ministry areas to the next level. Remember Crashing Jericho concert is Wednesday Night at 7 p.m. and Kid's World is coming up this Saturday from 1-3:30 p.m.

Creativity Meeting

Creativity Meeting will be live shortly click the play button to get the feed and feel free to join in on the chat room.

Coming Down the Pipe

There are some very cool things headed down the pipe in the next few weeks. This week has been crazy busy. We've been getting our video set up and configured for something cool that I'll let you in on the details about next week. Also, remember Monday we are trying out our first live video creativity meeting. You don't have to be there to join in. Also, future Stone Bridgers are welcome to join in as well. I say future because you may not be with us yet but soon enough you'll come on board and we'll be excited to have you. Basically, anyone is welcome to participate via the chat room.

Tomorrow at 8 a.m. is Freshman move in day at Anderson University. Wednesday Night at 7p.m. is Crashing Jericho in concert. Next Saturday August 23rd is Kid's World from 1-3:30 p.m. In the midst of all of this, I will be in Tennessee at a church planters round table on Thursday and Friday.

Tuesday is a huge day in Isaac's life because he will start his first full year in public school. He is going into the fourth grade. This is the first time with all of his transplants that he will be healthy enough. He was in K5 for a few months before being sick and he finished out the 3rd grade in school. The rest of his years, he has been home bound. He is supposed to be in 5th grade but he spent one whole year in the hospital so we didn't really care if he did school work or not. We wanted our son to be well. AWESOMENESS. God has done some huge things in his life.

Video Shoot

We are live testing the system once again. Enjoy.

Success

The trial for the interactive live feed today was a success. We had several hundred hits on the website today. You can check back here live on Thursday from 10-12 and watch a video shoot we do and you will have a chance to particpate in a creativity session for an event coming up in October. Can you say Great Pumpkin? It ought to be a blast. I'm off tomorrow so ther probably won't be a live feed except maybe tomorrow night.

Test

We are conducting a test over the course of today. We are going to be using live video streaming to conduct online creativity sessions with our volunteers. Today we are working the kinks out of this and hopefully next Monday and Tuesday we will be live. For now you can watch a normal day in the life of Stone Bridge. Also we have set up an interactive chat where you can send us your comments and ideas. Look to the left and enter the chat

Update

On Mondays, we evaluate everything from Sunday and I suddenly realized something. Yesterday, we had our second highest number of kids in our Children's Ministry ever. Pretty encouraging stuff considering school doesn't start back for a week and a half. Even more reason to be inviting people to Kid's World on August 23rd in Powdersville from 1-3:30. Freeeeeeeeeeee Ice Creeeeaaaaaamm, Stone Bridge people will understand.

Sunday Recap

Today's message was very personal and I did a lot of sharing from my heart. We focused on the book of Ezekiel. The response afterward was very cool. I had several different people pull me aside and tell me that it really hit home. It was encouraging to see people being encouraged in the situations and events that they are facing.

Announcement video went over well. Bands did a great job. I am zapped after a long last two weeks. I'm looking forward to a more normal week this week and hopefully a couple of normal nights at home.

This Saturday, StoneBridge is taking part in freshman move in day at Anderson University from 8-12 a.m. I will be at North Greenville University this Friday with a couple of folks giving out ice cream for their freshman move in.

Next week we swing into full gear with a Crashing Jericho Concert for the youth on July 20th. I will be in Tennessee on the 21st and 22nd meeting with a group of church planters from Ohio. Saturday the 23rd we are having Kid's World Powdersville from 1-3:30 p.m. . A busy couple of weeks and then looking forward to a little rest.

Watching the Olympics and Green Screen

Today was getting ready for Sunday. We have a green screen room now which will help in shooting videos for some of the funny videos we shoot for announcements and message stuff. I shot one today and it makes for some funny announcements.

I'm watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Incredibly creative. I'll have more thoughts on that in the coming days. One quick thing though, speedwalking should not be an Olympic sport. Something I can do when a bad bowel movement hits me in the mall is not what I consider an Olympic sport. One more quick thing, where are all of these countries? Man, I am geographically illiterate.

New Worship Leader?

So we may be on the lookout for a new worship leader. Why might you ask? Well our current one called me today to tell me that he was riding a Steer at a Rodeo tonight. I have an image of Evan trying to play guitar with two broken arms after a large hoofed animal decides to slam him into the mud and then proceed with trampling him. Just kidding we aren't getting rid of him......as long as he has one unbroken arm.

Evan and the band are playing at a rodeo in New Mexico. Chasen has gone country. I guess they could start off their set list with a new version of Crazy Beautiful. Instead of the Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ohhhh , they could start it like this Rooooooo deoooo.

I will post pics of his Steer riding when he sends me one.

Reality Check

There is nothing that will quite bring you down to reality than a walk through Children's Hospital. We have gotten accustomed to the check ups in Cincinnati every 4 months. Many times it can seem mundane, that is until you go up to the 5th floor where the BMT unit is and every time it is like reality slaps you in the face. Today, we passed two BMT kids in the hall on the way back from treatment or surgeries. They are easy to tell because they are wearing their protective masks and are missing their hair. As soon as I saw them, immediately I remembered the eight straight months Isaac spent in his room there and our one and a half years up there. We will probably never forget that time and that is a good thing because it serves as a constant reminder of all we have to be thankful for.

P.S. If you would remember a little boy named Jack Huffman in your prayers. He is from this area and currently going through a bone marrow transplant.

You're Not Preferred

You're not preferred. What does that mean?

This was the message we got from the assistant manager from the not to be named hotel when we arrived to check into our room that we had booked weeks ago. So apparently if you are not preferred that means when you show up after driving all day from South Carolina to Cincinnati and you go to check into your hotel in Covington,KY that you don't have a room. What did we're not preferred mean to us? It meant that at 9:30 p.m. at night that we had to go riding around looking for a hotel room because Holiday Inn chooses to treat their customers horribly(I could use other words here but I am proud that I did not lose my cool). What did you're not preferred mean to us? It meant that I will file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and that Holiday Inn(which we have used many times on our trips to Cincinnati) will never see any of my money ever again.

Thank goodness for the Hyatt. They were life savers. We tried several hotels before finding the Hyatt which was more than happy to accomodate us at a lower rate than the not to be named hotel.

This got me thinking. The not to be named hotel would rather cater to a "select few" of their "preferred customers" than to reach out to a new customer base. They allow their "prefered customers" to come in at the last minute and bump other people out of their rooms even when they have reservations long in advance. Basically they allow a select few to keep them from attracting a new customer base.

The sad thing is that the same thing happens in the church as well. Many times we will sacrifice reaching new people for Christ all for the sake of keeping the "select few" happy. They may be the big givers or those who run particular ministries in our churches and many times we tip toe around them in order to keep them satisfied. Many times rather than doing the right thing, we do the easy thing at the expense of seeing new people come into our churches and receiving Christ. I am so thankful that StoneBridge doesn't operate that way. You guys are way more better than the not to be named hotel.

P.S. I don't know if that sentence is good grammar or not but you guys are definately the Hyatt all the way.

Hope and Cincinnati

This week we continue on in our series Thirst and we'll be dealing with the subject of Hope and Possibilities. If you know someone who is struggling right now or has given up hope, get them there this Sunday. Just a reminder, Jason Patterson will be speaking at youth this Wednesday night and everything kicks off at 6:45 p.m. with pizza and then youth at 7 p.m..

The church office will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Evan is heading off our on tour to New Mexico and I will be heading up to Cincinnati with Melissa and Isaac for a Isaac's check up. Evan and the band will be riding for 23 hours over the next couple of days and we will driving around 1000 miles in the next 36 hours. I think we qualify for some type of frequent driver mileage.

Without a Hitch

Today was awesome. Both services went really well. I must admit I was a little nervous about the Powdersville location based on the fact that today was our first time in the new auditorium. We had just finished up running some of the cables and wires as late as yesterday. And everything went off without a hitch. After the service I had a couple of different people that made the comment about how smooth all of our transitions went.

We got a couple of leads on some possible semi permanent locations in Anderson that we will be following up on. I say semi permanent because part of the vision of Stone Bridge is that we probably will never own a facility but rather lease. Our location in Powdersville is a great example of what can be done in a leased facility.

This past week our volunteers really stepped up and went above and beyond to get things painted and set up for today. This gives use much needed kid's space on Sundays and makes for a great venue for our youth on Wednesdays. The band really stepped up and a lot of folks were back in town as vacations are rapping up. The next three weeks we have several projects and events that will be targeting the community. This is an exciting time in the life of StoneBridge. Remember to invite everyone you come in contact with and watch what is going to happen in the next couple of months.

Here is a pic of the new auditorium.

Just a Reminder

Just a reminder to everyone at the StoneBridge Powdersville Campus, we will be meeting at the front side of the building in the new auditorium. Kids check-in will be in the front double doors to the right at the normal location. Everyone is asked to park in the front. Service time in Anderson is 9:15 a.m. and 10:55 a.m. in Powdersville. There have been a lot of volunteers who have put in a ton of effort this week and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. See you there and bring a friend.