Saturday Night Feeling

Got the Saturday night, sermon is ready, but feeling weird blues...

This has been an eventful week emotionally, a good friend's dad died who was also related to my family, so there's been that.

There's several families who are hurting at Peachtree; I always feel their pain...

And I'm going through one of the biggest faith tests I've ever had...

Tomorrow's sermon really addresses it, and tonight, I'm in that "I've got to believe this truth and live it out in my heart before I can preach it to others" feeling.

If you're reading this, pray for me.

Hero of the Week: Brian & April Bolden

I just got back from an incredible time at summer camp with our 6th - 12th students. The spiritual growth and Christian community among our students this week was awesome!

I never say it often enough, but we have the most talented and committed staff of any church plant I know. This week, my heroes are Brian & April Bolden, our youth pastor and his wife. Brian & April have been at Peachtree from the beginning with a heart to reach students in West Georgia. They started with 2 youth and have grown our group to a thriving community of over 30 students. The kids' love for the Boldens is evident, as is theirs for the students.

Lives are being changed significantly as our students are being built into.
Brian & April, Christ's light and love shines through you. May your tribe increase. Thank you, Brian & April, you are my heroes!

Wow!...Super Wow!

This is our last morning of youth camp, and it has been incredible! Katie and I have LOVED getting to know our incredible students! The teaching and worship has been off the hook...I've been super challenged in several areas (I love to be challenged in my walk with Jesus!)

But last night was the greatest part of it all. 24 students stayed up until 1 am praising God, praying for each other, and sharing their renewed commitment to following hard after Jesus.

Two of our students trusted Christ for the first time on this trip (awesome!) and all of us are returning from a mountaintop.

Lord, use these students mightily for your glory in West GA!

Off to Camp!

Katie and I are excited about going with 23 of our students to SuperWOW at Jekyll Island.

I'm praying God is going to do incredible things in the lives of everyone who goes. I'll try to post during the week and give you updates.

Pray for us!

Hero of the Week: Brenda Lynn

Brenda Lynn is the hero of the week for making Jason & Belinda Stradley (relatives of Brandy & T.J. Savage) feel very welcome at Peachtree recently. They've been coming about a month.

Here's what Belinda wrote to me:

"I wanted to tell you Brenda came up to me in the parking lot and introduced herself and invited me to Girls' Night Out. I have been to other churches and no one has ever approached us like to people at your church. Great job for Peachtree. You all make people feel so welcome.

Thank you so much, Brenda, for taking time to love our guests! You're my hero!

Many Thanks for Your Heart-felt Sympathies

My Uncle Kenneth died Wednesday night of kidney cancer after an almost three-year struggle.
It’s been a hectic weekend since I did the funeral, but what a neat celebration of his homegoing.
So many PCCers came to comfort my family or sent emails.  Thank you guys so much.  We have felt really loved.
I can’t wait to see you guys all tomorrow and to get to teach.

Church Planters are the Neatest People

Take Tony McCollum.  He is one of the most creative and funny people I know.  Not only that, he would give you the shirt off his back (or at least ones that didn’t make the cut for his congregation). 

Tony sent me a free “These are my church clothes” t-shirt, and Tony, I’ve worn it already.

Tony’s blog is a must-read for planters.

Thanks, Tony.

FAQs on Heaven

Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven is a GREAT resource about the place we most long to go (in God’s time!).

Here’s an article with some of Dr. Alcorn’s frequently asked questions.

We have the book in the church library as well as the unabridged CDs.  It is wonderful to hear what God has in store for us!

 

Keeping On For the Long Haul

As a melancholy whose thorn in the flesh is discouragement, I collect articles on how to stay up in ministry.  Love this post from Tony McCollum summarizing Bob Russell’s advice after a great long run in ministry.

What a hero!

This has nothing to do with anything I normally post about, but last night Katie was in the Carrollton Wal-Mart on Aisle 1 and a purse snatcher took her purse with Abbie and Ben sitting in cart as Katie had walked to pick up some produce.

My sweet wife instantly began yelling loudly (according to her testimony, I wasn’t there): “Stop that man!  He has my purse!” over and over.

A UWG student Chad Krish chased the thief down, tackled him, and retrieved the purse.  An accomplice helped the thief get away, but they got his description, tag #, and vehicle description.

What a story.  Chad, thank you so much for stepping in to help out.  BTW, Chad is a criminal law major.  Way to go!

Blaize & April - Getting Married!

I have the privilege today of performing the wedding of a wonderful couple who is very dear to me.

Blaize Stewart was a college student at University of West Georgia when I came to West GA to plant Peachtree. Blaize and I clicked and he has been a very faithful servant and launch team member until he went to New Orleans Seminary.

There he met April Price, an awesome partner for him, who actually came to Peachtree for many months after Hurricane Katrina to see if Blaize was the guy for her. We LOVED having April at Peachtree, and were sad when they returned to New Orleans to finish school.

We had the best time meeting April’s family at the rehearsal dinner last night, and the wedding is going to be a very worshipful and meaningful time today at 2:00.

Blaize & April, congratulations, and thanks for giving me this great privilege!