Tomorrow big changes are coming to the way we do things at The Stone.  There is probably not a decision that needs to be made more then this one and there is probably not a decision I have held off on this long and there is probably not a decision that I have prayed over and have peace over more then this decision.

We are at another level now and it is time to start acting and being structured like it IF we want to go to the next level.

Pray for me and our Lead Team as we meet in the morning to discuss the future.

It is going to be exciting!

I survivied camping out with the kids last night.  I didn’t know how they would do but they were awesome.  I forgot how awesome it is to sleep outside and look up into the sky and see all the stars.

As crazy as it seems, it was one of the most relaxing nights I have had in a long time.

On top of my enjoying it, the kids had a blast!!!!!

These are simply thoughts running through my head that one day I can look back at remember where I was mentally during this time.

• Today was as much fun as I have ever had pastoring RSC.
• Let me say it again: Today was a freaking blast!
• We baptized 81 people!
• We dedicated 22 babies!
• ch-ch-ch-changes are coming to The Stone. They are going to be awesome!
• God is laying an audible on my heart for this Sunday. If I get peace about it, I will be talking to the church about some things God has been doing to me and sharing what it means to RSC. If I do it, we won’t be recording it because I want to share my heart with our church family ONLY.
• Taylor was a beautiful bride yesterday!
• Chris was a very hairy groom yesterday!
• I’m camping in the yard with the kids tonight. They will have a blast, I will have a blast because they are having a blast.
• Ridge Stone Rocks starts this week!
• My mind is stil spinning from the pastor roundtable I was at last week.
• You ever had a friend email you and tell you some things God told them to tell you? I had that happen Friday and I have read the email about 15 times and my wife read it and thought it was great. I am taking every word of it to heart and it is going to change me as a leader.
• I’m taking some Sundays off this summer to recharge my mind. I love teaching but my mind is fried.
• I’m done dwelling on those who don’t get IT. 700 people come on a Sunday and I dwell on 1 negative comment by someone who wouldn’t be happy anywhere, anytime, and listening to anyone. I am the king of dwelling on idiots who don’t get IT. That is over and won’t be happening anymore.
• I’m done letting people steal my joy. Sounds cheesy but I’m over listening to negative people.
• It was hot outside doing church today!
• I’m realizing all Christians aren’t bad.
• I want to see Pirates 3 again. Yes, I thought it was that good.
• I’m heading to Elevation Church soon. That is going to be fun!
• I’m teaching at New Spring in July. That just seems crazy to me!
• I am praying for 25 volunteers who will commit to giving us 10-15 hours a week as volunteer staff.
• Every week someone at church thanks me that we are launching a site in Jasper. Very cool.
• I thought I dreamed BIG but you ain’t seen nothing yet!
• I am getting VERY specific in my prayer life lately.
• I find it funny that some people don’t get along or have bad experiences at EVERY church they attend or work at yet it is NEVER their fault they had a bad experience. People love to blame others.
• Got last nights UFC fight recorded and the guys are getting together at Adam’s tomorrow night to watch it! I already know Liddell last and that sucks.
• Speaking of Adam, he is THE man! Finally we have a guy who is rocking and rolling in our student area. The dude is going to do big things!
• I need some people to open up their homes for some students for an overnight thing we are doing.
• Summer means new move-ins. I look forward to the new people who will be coming to The Stone soon.
• I think some old faces are going to be back over the next few months. Call it a gut instinct.
• Jennifer Popp is a FREAK!!!!  Seriously, she pulled the entire lunch off almost by herself.  She backed 1000 cookies and cut up and wrapped 1000 brownies, got ALL the chips, and junk together.  She was amazing!
• As people were getting dunked today I almost lost it thinking of the different stories each of them have.  God has used The Stone to truly make an impact on lives of people.
• I have to set up a tent now.  If you know me that is NOT an easy task.

Just thought I would throw out some numbers from today for you.

We had a GREAT outdoor service today!  We had at LEAST 650 people in attendance, dedicated 22 kids, and baptized 81 people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been battling a lot lately and today just reminded me of how BIG our God is and how BLESSED our church is!  Our people are awesome and they deserve way better then me as their pastor!  Our volunteers went above and beyond today in making things happen and for that I say THANK YOU!

Today was the kick off to what is going to be a GREAT SUMMER!!!!

We showed up at the school and they had stripped the wax off the floors and laid down new wax and we couldn’t walk on it for a week BUT they forgot to tell us?  Again we ended up having church in the parking lot and it was HOT!!!!

Yep I remember that.

My assistant Taylor is getting married in a few hours to the hairiest guy in the world, Chris Garcia.  Even though he is hairy as bigfoot, he is a GREAT guy and I am so freaking happy for them that I can’t stand it!

They are a great example of waiting for the right person, listening to God, saving yourself for THE one, and doing it God’s way!  Their testimony is a great example for everyone to follow.

They are getting married outside and right now there is a smoke haze over the entire metro area from the south Georgia fires but I don’t think even that will rain on their parade.

I am going to be sharing my heart with them with some lessons I have learned during their wedding in a way I have never done before in another wedding.  Taylor has been a Godsend for me at the office and I couldn’t do what I do without here.  I want ot seem them have a GREAT marriage.

Then tomorrow we party outside!!!  Because of Pirates 3 we are doing church outside the theater and doing baby dedications and baptisms.  It is going to be awesome to see so many people step out and follow Christ in obedience thorugh baptism!  I am so excited about it!!!

I honestly could tell people were praying for me and God showed up in a big way.  I had the honor of being invited to a pastors round table with about 10 other pastors in Anderson, S.C.  I can honestly say for me it was probably one of the best things I have ever been to in my life.

I will admit I have been in a pretty big funk lately just dealing with the stress of pastoring a growing church and dealing with all that goes into that.  For the first time ever in my life I have been feeling very overwhelmed.  I really needed God to speak to me and He did!

I made some decisions over the last couple of days that I think are going to change Ridge Stone Church and more importantly they are going to change me as a leader.  I felt like I was drinking from a fire hydrant the last couple of days and I didn’t want it to end.

For the first time in a couple of months I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can feel my passion starting to come back and I am excited.

Let’s face I have been crabby lately. :)  If you attend RSC I am sure you could hear it in my sermons.  I’m sorry.  If you are my friend, I am sure you could tell (poor Greg had to ride to SC and back with me being a grump).  I’m sorry.  I don’t know how DeAnna puts up with me and to her I am sorry.

Today I made some decisions that are going to save me as a leader.  God answered some big questions for me while I was gone and for that I am thankful and thank you for praying for me!

Stay tuned over the next week and I will share with you some BIG changes that are going to be coming to The Stone.

Went last night to see Pirates 3 and it was sold out in EVERY theater in our movie complex.  Good thing we meet there because I got in.

I LOVE the Pirate movies so I was excited big time for this movie to come out.  The move was very good!  Visually it was GREAT!!!  There were some cheesy things and at times it was VERY confusing.  I think they had way to much going in in regards to storylines but who cares????  The movie will probably break every record this weekend and it deserves to do it.

The best thing is they left the possibility at the end of a part 4 down the road one day!

Tonight I will be getting back in time just time to head back out with our team to go see Pirates 3!!!  I am pumped!

I am at a pastors roundtable with about 10 pastors.  It is an awesome group and I am way out of my league.  I am excited to be here.

For those of you who read my blog, I would like to ask a favor.  If you would pray for me while I am here that would be awesome.  I really want God to speak to me while I am here, I really want God to renew me while I am here, I really want God to stretch my vision while I am here, I really want God to make a better pastor while I am here, and I really want God to make me a better husband and father while I am here.

I need a recharge right now and I would love your prayers for me tomorrow while I am here tomorrow!

Thanks in advance!