I often say that I am not a Richt fan because he is to nice a guy on the football field. But I actually love the guy. He is a class act and a great coach. With Coker on the way out at Miami and Bowden set to retire in the next couple of years, I figure both will go hard after him.

• He played backup QB at Miami behind Jim Kelley
• He was the offensive coordinator during the glory day at FSU

Well today the rumors hit print:

There’s no front-runner yet if Miami’s Larry Coker is fired. Butch Davis has some internal support, but it’s not universal — one top UM official wasn’t impressed with his work in big games at Miami. If Coker is fired after this season, Miami intends to conduct a national search, and Davis and Rutgers coach and ex-UM assistant Greg Schiano would be among those considered, several UM officials said. UM also would consider two others with UM ties — Auburn’s Tommy Tuberville and Georgia’s Mark Richt.
– Miami Herald

I was looking over some things this week to prepare for our INKED series that starts next week and I turned my attention to the media aspect. As I have said before, we outsource our video work and our graphic work and have from day one. We can’t afford someone full time who is as good as the people we outsource our work to and we have been totally happy with the results.

Anyway, I said all that to say: I was looking over some of our stuff and was blown away with the video stuff we have so far for this series. When I use someone I want someone good (duh!) but because I also want someone who has their crap together. I want the stuff when I am told I am going to get it and I don’t want it at the last minute. That sounds like common sense but when dealing with artistic people that isn’t always easy. That is why I LOVE doing work with Ken Wilson, the video guru at New Spring. Ken ALWAYS knows what we want, is always on time, and the stuff always rocks!

If you are looking for a video dude to do some outsourcing, give Ken a shout.

I just got done watching a video that we are showing Sunday. I am finishing up our TOGETHER series and talking about Overcoming Addictions Together. We are launching a Addiction Support Small Group next Wednesday and we are showing this video I just saw. It is so powerful. It is two guys in our church who were into drugs as bad as anyone I have ever seen in my life and how God has brought them out of it. Hearing them talk about God and how God used The Stone in their lives had a lump in my throat. THESE GUYS ARE THE REASON WE STARTED RSC!!!!!!!!!!!

For those of you who don’t know I was very involved in alcohol and drugs before becoming a believer. I have a biological father who if he is still alive is a meth addict and I have a real dad who raised me my whole life who has been clean for over 20 years. I have a passion to reach out to those who are caught up in addiction and from day one I knew we would start something focused on these people. This week we start with just the first small step and I am pumped up!!!

If you attend RSC, make sure you are there this week!!!

My friend Greg Rohlinger started Palm Valley 5 or 6 years ago with a handful of people. Today they are running over 2,000 people in a portable location. They still meet in a high school!!! Last October DeAnna and I speak the week out there hanging with the staff, Greg, and seeing Palm Valley for all it is worth. I came back with a bigger vision for Canton and it was truly a turning point for us here at The Stone.

I just noticed on his blog that they are now going to start Palm Valley Backstage weekends. It will be a no holds barred look at Palm Valley. From meeting with the staff to seeing their set-up, to seeing how they plan the services, it sounds like you will get to experience the total package. Plus Greg is going to fed you and trust me when I say he will fed you the best food around!!!

If you are a church planter, you should check this out. I think one of the hardest things as a planter is seeing people who are still portable and are a mega-church. They are few and far between so when the opportunity arises, I would jump on it.

Check out more about it here.

Traded my whole team basically and I still can’t score 90 points. I get killed this week by John. Because he beat me he no longer has a job here but it was fun while it lasted.

Tom Brady is killing me.
Randy Moss is killing me.
Ben Watson is killing me.
Reggie Wayne not getting in the end zone is killing me.
TO is killing me.
Today Reggie Bush and Ahman Green killed me.

My only saving grace today was Chicago defense and Chad Johnson. I got beat by almost 30 points.

Not sure why I am posting this but why do I see so many pictures of church bands with music stands in front of all the band members? Why do so many worship leaders use music stands? How can you lead your people in worship if you are looking at a music stand?

Learn the music and quit using stands!

End rant.

We got the bright idea last week in staff meeting to open about 100 more seats and simply ask God to fill them by faith. So today we did that. I walked in and the place was as empty as I have ever seen it. I was very confused and then it hit me that this week is fall break (we do year around school) and we had a ton of people out of town. I just laughed thinking we had made a huge mistake by opening up the new seats. I decided there was nothing I could do so I went to the front row to enjoy the worship.

By the time the band got done, I walked on stage and the place was packed!!! It was a awesome vibe. We are doing a laid back series called TOGETHER about small groups and it has been amazing. There is a buzz like I have never seen about small groups here and I am excited about it.

On top of that we are launching a class on studying your bible and the sign-up was huge and we are starting a support group for addicts that we will talk about next week. I think this is going to be huge for a church like ours.

Then in October we are launching a series talking about the future and I can’t wait to share where we are headed.

Anyone got any good online T-Shirt companies they use for Church shirts? The joys of living in a small town is the guy who does all of our shirts just got married and is closed for two weeks, but I need shirts for our series we start in two weeks.

Two weeks in a row, 0 points given up by the Junkyard Dawgs!!!!

3-0!!!!!

Miami get killed today and I am telling you now that Larry Coker WILL be fired at the end of the year. To be honest I could care less about Miami except that I have a feeling they will go hard after Mark Richt, the Georgia coach next. Richt played at Miami as the backup to Jim Kelley and I always am afraid he will leave Athens to go to Miami or FSU, where he as the premier Offensive coach in America during their glory days.