I have to be honest and say I have always been a fan of Tony Morgan.

He has always taken time to answer my emails and has been a fan of what we are doing since we started.   I was excited when he emailed me and told me he was moving to New Spring Church.  I have always been a fan.

Then today he punked me out.

In this post he called me fat.

In this post he mocked us because Steven had more people sign up for Unleash then we did (I love Steven but I see a gang fight happening at the conference between our people and his) AND made fun of God’s team which of course if the Georgia Bulldogs.

At first I thought about vengeance.

I even made an attempt to post a comment but either it didn’t go through or he didn’t post it.

I then thought about making fun of his new long hair that he was sporting at the conference this week.

I thought about making fun of Clemson but that was to easy.

I thought about making fun of the fact that he is a Yankee but he keeps talking about the BBQ at the conference.  Do Yankee’s even know what BBQ is?

In the end, I decided just let him know here on my blog for all the world to see that I think he is a great guy who is sold out for Jesus and how much I appreciate him.

For once, in my life I decided to take the high road….something a Clemson fan would know nothing about.

After last night it is official that Heroes is THE best show on television.

I still love 24 and Prison Break but Heroes is off the freaking hook.  I can’t stand how good it has become.  If you are not watching this show you are missing out.

It is just another thing me and my friend Evan agree on :)  Now, if I could just get him believing on one other thing with me that would be even cooler….

I forgot to mention that one of the coolest things that happened to me at the conference this week is a dude I went to high school with came up to me and he is a youth guy in a church plant and then a teacher I had in high school (I think the dude failed me) was at the conference and he is planting a church!!!

I was so hell on wheels back in those days that it was very cool for God to allow SOMEONE who knew how I was then to see where God has brought me.

I finally got around to checking out some of the blogs from people at the churchplanters.com conference and so far I have gotten decent feedback. I guess the guy who walked out of my session doesnt’ blog.

Here are some of the blog comments:

Tony McCollum

Roger Blackmore

Tadd Grandstaff

Dave Anderson

Jason Salamun (includes Squirm count)

Brad Martin

Chris Elrod 

I got to meet Todd Wilson who is the head of Passion4Planting and is leading up the National New Church Conference.  One of the nicest guys you will ever meet in your life and I was very impressed with him.

This dude has got a heart for church planting and church planters like no one I have ever met in my life.  I just really really liked the guy.

I did two podcasts with him today and I appreciate Todd taking the time for me.  I look forward to getting to know him more in the future.

Well the conference is over.  It has been a long time since I have been this tired.  In the last three days I preached twice, participated in two podcasts, taught two breakout sessions, and said a few words at the blogger breakout.

I am way to out of shape for that.

Today was awesome.  I got to hear Dave Ferguson for the first time, got to do a podcast with him, and talk to him one on one for a few moments.  I was very impressed by him.  He is the real deal.  He might be on of the most approachable “big time” pastors I have ever met.  Very humble.  I was really drawn to him.  He got my staff FIRED up about multi-site church.  Of course we have had that in our vision for a while but it pumped me up about doing it sooner rather then later.  I was just really really impressed by him.  I was also impressed that in his session he talked about a failed attempt at going multi-site.  How freaking refreshing to hear someone admit they did something and it didn’t work.  I am praying that God allows our paths to cross again.

I did my breakout again and they were sitting in the hall again.  If you know me, you know I don’t hold anything back and this was no exception.  I shared my passion and I loved it.  There were some uncomfortable people there in the room and one guy walked out but so many people seemed to click with what I said.  I was honored that Shawn allowed me to teach and I hope it was what he expected.

After lunch Perry did a breakout and a main session and it was typical Perry.  He told it flat out like it was and pulled no punches.  God has allowed me to be around him a lot so I know how he is and what he is going to say and I LOVE IT.  While I enjoyed hearing him teach I had as much fun watching those around me that were hearing him for the first time.  There were some shocked people to say the least.  IF YOU ARE A PASTOR OF ANY TYPE OF CHURCH YOU MUST PURCHASE HIS BREAKOUT SESSION!!!!  The thing was one of the best talks I have ever heard in my life.  He talked about the 5 things every leader must admit.  GREAT stuff.

I don’t do a lot of conferences.  I am way to ADD  but I am so glad we took time to attend this one.  It was nice to get away and get recharged for what God has called us to do.

We left out around 10 today to head over to the churchplanters.com conference.  The place was slammed.

It was VERY cool to meet some other church planters whose blogs I read.  I felt bad because I didn’t get to talk to any that long but I hope to make up for that tomorrow.  I was suffering from Monday hangover big time.  Sunday left me wore out big time.

Shawn was great in session one.  I am blessed that Shawn was active in our church before we launched and his discussion today was on being mean about your vision.  Before we launched he told that to me and our core team who visited his church one day and it literally changed how I do everything.  We lost our whole core team within about 6 months and we lost some staff early on and the bottom line is I could care less because I KNOW the vision God gave me to do church for the unchurched.  Shawn changed me that day with a simple statement when he said BE MEAN ABOUT YOUR VISION.  He taught that again today and I was proud to say the vision has not changed here since day one.  It was a great reminder.

After session 1, we had the first breakout and I was up for round 1 of teaching on Going All Out For The Disconnected.  I was very surprised how nervous I was but I didn’t think anyone was going to show up.  By the time the session started they had to open the doors to our room where people could sit in the hall.  I honestly was humbled and that is not an easy thing for me. :)  I don’t know if anyone got anything from it but I had a freaking blast bringing it.  I just shared my passion for doing church the way we do and I think the large majority of people enjoyed it.  It was a blast and I am honored with the doors God has opened for me to share the Ridge Stone story.  I got to do it again tomorrow so pray someone shows up this time as well.

I have to be at the conference at 7:00 a.m. in the morning to do a podcast with some guys and I am excited about that.

The thing that excited me the most was hanging out with my team.  I love those guys and I am so proud that I honestly think we have the sharpest staff around.  They are amazing.  They understand me and understand our vision and they have my back and will fight for me and our vision at the drop of a hat.

It was a fun day and I appreciate the prayers and would appreciate them again tomorrow.

Today was day and night different between the two services.  I felt like I laid a big egg first service.  If we charged admission, I would refund your money but we don’t so you’ll just have to accept my apology.

The second service was a good vibe.  I got comfortable with the message and it was good.

Today was the last day of Winter Break so our attendance should go back up next week though the second service was actually good today.  Today was without a doubt one of those Sunday where I was glad we got to do it again.

We were supposed to have a ton of planters in the service today but one after another kept emailing us saying their flights into town were cancelled due to bad weather.  I hope they got out today where they can be at the conference.   I think we had one church planting team but somehow I didn’t get to hook up with them.

If you have friends, family, or neighbors who don’t know Christ then do WHATEVER it takes to get them in the service next week as we will be telling the greatest story every told!!!

I am jacked up about tomorrow!!!!  The first day of a new series always gets me pumped up and this series is about my passion.  It is winter break here so hopefully someone will actually show up to hear it but either way it is going to be a fun day.

Then Monday and Tuesday the team is heading to churchplanters.com to hang out and hearing some great teaching.  I am so excited about hooking up with some old friends, meeting some guys I know only online, and meeting new guys.  NO ONE gets me pumped like church planters.  I am jacked up about my breakout.  I am so passionate about doing church for the unchurched and I can’t wait to teach on it.  I am convinced that most church plants and planters don’t truly do church for the unchurched.  Sure the might reach a few now and again but there is a difference in making church comfortable for the unchurched and totally doing church for the unchurched.  I am excited about the session.  I keep laughing because everyone keeps emailing me to remind me to be on good behavior.  :)  Shawn knows me and he knows what he got himself into when he asked me to teach so I think we are good. My wife has made me promise not to cuss so we are good there too….

I also found out today that I am doing a podcast for the National New Church Conference during the conference.  That should rock.  It is going to be a roundtable with Dave Ferguson, Ed Stetzer, me, and hopefully I am going to get Perry there as well.  I’m not sure his schedule.  How did I get invited to be with that group?  I am like the rused-out pinto around a bunch of hot rods. 

It is going to be a freaking crazy bunch of days but I am looking forward to it.

Anyone who knows me knows I am not a fan of Christian music. I think the large majority of it us BAD. However I do have a few guys I like and I always have a soft sport in my heart for the boys from DC Talk. So when the new Toby Mac CD came out last week I downloaded it. It is typical Toby. That is a little disappointing but it is still good.

I LOVE the song Made To Love You. GREAT jam. If you are looking for some good music, it is worth a download.