Things have been crazy here so I guess I wanted to relive a simplier time in my life tonight so I downloaded about 10 power ballads from the late 80’s. I miss the hair bands.

Songs downloaded:
Don’t know what you got till it’s gone - Cinderella
Every Rose has a thorn - Poison
Without You - Motley Crue
Honestly - Stryper
Bed of Roses - Bon Jovi

Just to name a few. Man, I am lame.

Isn’t it funny that as pastors we ALWAYS think it is God’s will when someone feels led to join the church we pastor, yet when people feel called to leave, it can’t be God’s will? I agree that the majority of people leave the church for selfish reasons but that isn’t always the case. There are times when it IS God’s will to move on.

I shared that thought with our church today after our service as I told them that our adminstrative pastor since before we started was leaving. Tadd had been feeling the tug on his heart for about a month and a half. It was very obvious that it was coming and it was the right choice for him and us. It still stinks. Our people love him and I know we wouldn’t be where we are now without all of his hard work.

I have made many poor decisions in regards to staffing since we started. This is the #1 area I have had to grow in. Tadd wasn’t one of those mistakes. God has just moved him. I wish I could be mad. I wish I could disagree with his decision. But,I can’t. It was time. That doesn’t make it any easier. It was time but I hate to see it have to happen.

The one thing that is nice is to be able to bring some one who is leaving up on stage and give them the honor they deserve for all the work they have done. It is weird for me to have a staff guy leave on good terms. I prefer it this way.

Tadd will be joining the staff of Big Sky Church in Sugar Hill, Georgia. Big Sky is actually our sister church as we were both started by West Ridge Church. They are getting a top notch guy. In place of Tadd we will be adding 4 part time staff people and bringing on our administrative assisitant almost full time. We are getting some great people. It is a win-win situation.

Tadd left all of his ministries able to run without him. That is a sign of character and leadership.

He will be missed but it is about THE Kingdom, not my kingdom.

I don’t always like that.

Stressful day. Novemember Rain is the jam. Starts with the piano to make you a little less tense. You begin to relax and then they just rock it out. Plus it is 9 minutes long, which is time to rock out without the tune ending too soon.

Preston and left the ATL at 5:30 this morning to head to South Carolina and hook with up some of the staff at New Spring. It was a long day but I had a blast.

Preston is our Family Pastor (meaning he is over everything doing with preschool, children, and teens). He doesn’t lead all of these directly but he gets the butt chewing if they aren’t running right. I love Preston. He is sold out to our church and buys into what we are doing. There is nothing else you could ask. I had a great time just hanging out with him and I am glad he is part of our team.

We hooked up with Ken Wilson at a great little coffee shop in downtown Anderson. Let me say this: Anderson is a GREAT town. I was really impressed. We had a great time shooting the breeze with Ken and hearing all that God is doing with him.

For lunch, Preston and I split up, and I hooked up with Perry Noble, Senior Pastor at New Spring. The guy is insane. I had a great time talking to him and it was like drinking from a fire hose. The dude is one of the sharpest cats I have been around and I was ready to drink the Kool-Aid. Man, he is getting it done and I left there ready to get back to Canton and make it happen.

Long ride and well worth it.

Oh Man, it is getting good. All six are good singers and can rock. Believe it or not, I am thinking J.D. could win it. Though it will probably be Marty. However I do think INXS likes J.D. Though Marty can bring it. But….

Oh well, we will find out soon.
If you haven’t checked out this show, then you are missing out.

At 5:30 in the morning, Preston and I are heading to the booming town of Anderson, S.C. I’m having lunch with Perry and Preston is hooking up with Pudge. I am also trying to hook up with Ken. I am looking forward to it!!! However I am not looking forward to the drive. I think that means I am getting old. I can remember before I became a believer getting off work on Friday afternoon, driving straight to Panama City Beach and partying all Friday night, all Saturday night, and driving back Sunday in time to be at work on Monday. Now, I am whining because of a 2.5 hour drive to hook up with some people who are going to help me be a better pastor. That is sad.

Pray for Preston. Being in a car 5 hours with me is not good for one’s sanity.

We are probably doing our Christmas Eve service around Narnia and I had called a guy last week about bringing in a live Lion to be on the stage. I thought it would be cool and creative. I mean I am all about “winning” and that in my mind would have put me ahead of Ed Young or Perry in the “cool and creative” department. Well today I read this and I am willing not to win. There is no way in (insert your favorite word) I am getting on stage with a Lion now.

I love Tally’s blog. I love Ben Arment’s blog. I love Perry Noble’s Blog. I love Chris’s blog (plus he likes all the same music as me). There are so many others that I don’t have time to list but I love them as well. I love hearing what church planters are doing. I think the thing I love the most is how God is using every one in different areas and with different visions. It is so awesome that God is not creating carbon copies. I can’t wrap my mind around a church built around a village like Ben has a vision for. I don’t totally understand the video church like Chris has. I can picture it one day but right now 4,000 people like Perry had Sunday seems a long way away. I don’t picture some of these ideas and they are not for me but man, God is using these dudes to get the job done.

I often find myself after reading the different blogs wanting to leave and go plant a church that is like what they are doing. But it isn’t me. God has given me a vision that is unique to RSC. I tell people we are called to reach the postmodern rednecks of North Georgia.
Vision is an awesome thing and I love being around people with it even if I can’t picture it.

I have posted on here many times that I am a wannabe rocker at heart. Well, my favorite of group of all time is Guns N Roses. After the hairband craze, it was awesome to see this rock group come out and rip your face off. Axl is a nut and they never made it to what they could have been but today I got the Greatest Hits CD. Man these guys were great. Axl is one of the greatest front men ever. Slash could shred a guitar and they just flat out rocked. The guitar solo at Sweet Child of Mine is off the hook.

If you e-mailed me at my ridgestonechurch account, I probably didn’t get it today. We have had issues so if it was important, resend that sucker and I will get back to you.

Thanks!