I often get asked from pastors/planters if I could only give them one piece of advice than what would it be?

It would be simply BE SECURE IN YOUR CALLING.

There are days when nothing will get you through the day but your calling. There are days that the only thing that will keep you from quitting is your calling. There are days when you think you are in over your head but you know you are called.

People who don’t pastor will never understand the pressure that goes into the position. I’m not complaining about that, but it is the reality. I pastor, lead, stress, and think about Revolution Church 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is like the Waffle House, it is never closed.

When those people you have poured your life into, have cried with, laughed with, have been there when they were hurt and yet they still decide to leave, the only thing that will comfort you (and not much) is the fact that you must KNOW you are called to this thing.

When other Christians are criticizing, blasting, and preaching against you, the only thing that will keep you from responding and sinking to their level is knowing you are called to do church the way you are doing it.

When other people are trying to get you to do church “their way,” trying to get you to change, blasting you because you don’t emphasis their passion enough, the only thing that will keep you on the straight and narrow is your calling.

When other churches around you are seeing more success the human reaction is to think you suck and blame yourself. Your calling allows you to praise God for their success and yet still celebrate what God had done through your work because you know that is what you are called to do.

It has taken me 3 years to become secure in my calling. My insecurity lead me to being competitive about other churches, caused me stress out if someone didn’t like us, caused me to lose sleep for fear of losing someone, and led me to continually feel the need to justify the way we do church. No more. More then ever, I know the type of church God has called us to be, the leader I am called to be, and the people we are called to make. It is a great feeling to be secure in your calling.

Here is something that EVERY pastor and planter needs to learn and accept: No matter what you do, people leave. No matter what you do, people will criticize. No matter what you do, people will say you are doing it wrong. No matter the vision God has given you, people will try to tweak it. No matter how much success you see, others will see more. No matter your focus, others will say you should focus on something else. No matter how much you love and care for people, they will hurt you and you will hurt them. No matter how much you have it together, you will drop the ball. No matter how much you plan, you will hit a dud. Those things are life.

I would love to be running what Steven Furick runs, I would love to teach like Perry Noble, I would love to have 10,000 people sign up for small groups in one week like Michael, I would have loved to have been as prepared as Tadd has been for his launch, I would love to meet in such an awesome High School as Tony McCollum, I would love to be launching a 4th campus like Mark Batterson, but I am not them. God has a different calling on my life and the life of Revolution that is unique to us. Being secure in that calling helps me sleep at night, helps me stay excited about what God is doing here, helps me celebrate what God is doing in other places, and helps me have the peace in my life that I am doing this thing for an audience of ONE.

Be Secure In Your Calling. That is the best advice I can give guys in ministry and planting churches.

Quick thoughts:

• Georgia will win but it will be CLOSE.  Okie State ain’t no joke.  This game makes me nervous.
• Georgia Tech will play Notre Dame close but lose.  Chan always plays good teams close, then gets killed by bad teams.
• Upset of the week:  Auburn will lose to Kansas State.
• How in the heck is Clemson the Monday night game?  That is a joke if I ever saw one.
• Cal will beat the volunteers.

I’m in a 80’s state of mind right now and this is the playlist I have been jamming to the last week (I think this would make Chris Elrod proud):

I will remember you - Skid Row

Livin on a prayer - Bon Jovi

Pour some sugar on me - Def Leppard (ugly rumor this could be played this Sunday)

Sweet Child of Mine - G n R

Heaven - Warrant

Rock of Ages - Def Leppard

To Hell With The Devil - Stryper

Separate Ways - Journey

Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue

Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC

Don’t Know What You Got Till It’s Gone - Cinderella

When The Children Cry - White Lion

I’ll Be There For You - Bon Jovi

Wait - White Lion

Come Sail Away - Styx

Rocket - Def Leppard

Gypsy Road - Cinderella

Close My Eyes Forever - Ozzy

Sister Christian - Night Ranger

I think I am going to wear spandex and grow my hair out for Sunday!!!!

Next Sunday (September 9th) we are launching what I think could be the biggest series we have ever done at Revoluton Church!!!! We are pulling out all the stops for this series and really hitting on some issues that people are dealing with.  Last week and this week we have been giving out poker chips that have the series name, start date, and website on them.  We have two billboards going up this week, we will have blackjack tables set up in the lobby, the stage set-up looks incredible, we have some awesome man on the street interviews we did in Vegas, and to kick of the series we have a VERY special guest coming (trust me, you never thought you would see this person in church).

We are going to be looking at the following topics:

• What to do when life deals you a bad hand?
• How live an All In life?
• Four of a kind is hard to beat.
• Is God Bluffing?  Get your friends here for the entire series but do WHATEVER it takes to get them here this day as we will be presenting the Gospel in one of the most relevant, creative, and clearest was you have ever seen.

On top of this we are pulling off the biggest community event we have EVER done in the history of our church.  The last week of the series we are hosting the ALL IN TEXAS HOLD-EM TOURNAMENT!!!!!  Yes, you read that right.  We are hosting a HUGE Texas hold-em tournament.  We will be holding the tournament at Jocks N Jills (the owners go to our church, so eat there. ) and along with them we have had several awesome places partner with us in the tournament.  The sponsors are Jocks n Jills, Around Canton Magazine, Jyl Craven Salon, Mark III customs, Premier Heating and Air, Cornerstone Media, and Canton Chevrolet!!!!!!  To reserve you spot at the table is $50 and 100% OF ALL THE MONEY  that comes in  is going to the Cherokee Children’s Shelter!!!!  We are planning on writing them a check between 10 and 15 grand!!!!!!!!!!!  Around Canton has already written an article about it, I am sure the local newspapers will be writing about it, and the local churches are already in an uproar!  I can’t wait for the opportunity to serve our community by giving back and have fun doing it!!!!

Revolution, buckle your seat belt because things are about to get WILD!!!!!!!!!

We are again looking to add to our incredible team here at Revolution.  We are looking for a part-time graphic designer.  We currently outsource everything and it is the biggest hassle in there is.  We outsource to some GREAT people, but it is time to bring someone in house.

If you have crazy skills in this area, then contact Amy at amy@therevolution.tv.  This is the perfect gig for a college kid who is looking to work a couple of days a week.  If you want to be part of team that is looking to dominate a region with the message of Jesus Christ, you might be the person we are looking for!

Hopefully, we will have our new REVOLUTION podcast up and running tomorrow.  It is actually up now but only has one sermon on it.  We decided to start podcasting from the day we changed the name so all the old stuff will still be on the old Ridge Stone podcast.

I’ll keep you updated….

I have been a little busy and just got back in town, but here are some quick hits:

• Had a GREAT time at the pastor’s roundtable.  Met Eddie Cox for the first time and loved him!!!!  This dude has literally done some of the craziest things I have ever heard of in a church.
• After talking with these guys, I am even more excited about going multi-site!!!!!!  Revoluton Church:  One Church, 100 locations!!!  I like the sound of that.
• I am going to get a physical.  I just don’t feel right so hopefully I’m good.
• I can’t wait until this Sunday to tell you what we have planned for our All In series!!!
• I’m going to be starting a new monthly thing called “Dinner with Gary.”  Okay, the name might need to be changed but it is going to be cool and is going to be one of the ways I thank our volunteers for all they do!!!!
• You ought to see the new T-Shirts that are coming!!!!
• I have fish in the tank!!!!!!!!  After I add the eel next week, they will be eaten but they are there now and they are pretty.  Taylor named them Tail, Stripe, and Dot.  I just called them Dead Fish Swimming.
• I am actually a little nervous about what DeAnna is going to say this Sunday.
• We interviewed several preschool directors this week.  I’ve never interviewed anyone before.  In the past, we always knew who we were hiring and just hired them.
• Vince Antonucci hit me in the gut today with this post.  GREAT thoughts.
• After leaving the roundtable here are two things I want:  I want a building and I want to be on TV.  I want the building just because it would be awesome and I want to be on TV because I have self-esteem issues.
• I’m trying to quit drinking Rockstar energy drinks but I think I have an addiction.  Seriously, I can’t stop drinking them.  I’ve tried, but it doesn’t work.
• I came home today and my amish wife is now recycling.
• I’m in countdown mode to next Wednesday when DeAnna and I get away for a few days!!!!!!
• I turned down Georgia Bulldog tickets today.  I just can’t do the late games and be ready for Sunday like I should.  Make me sad.  But as good as that would be, the greater thing is what I get to do on Sunday mornings.
• I’m still not real happy with my Fantasy Football team.
• The band is playing one of my favorite songs when I was growing up this Sunday.  Should be cool.
• See ya Sunday!!!

Do you ever have those times where you are simply slammed!!!!  I have felt the last month that we have been non-stop and while I love it, I am tired tonight big time!  I always said things would slow down after we launched the church.  Yeah, right!

I have learned that when you are pastoring a fast, growing church that things NEVER slow down!

• I leave tomorrow for two days for a pastor’s roundtable with 10 pastors who are all going multi-site in the future.  Should be a great time of learning.
• I wasn’t teaching this weekend but DeAnna and I are now finishing our message this weekend.  It is going to be a lot of fun!
• Monday is Labor Day but I will be working trying to get ahead before heading out of town again.
• Next Tuesday-Saturday I am taking some time off!!!!
• Tuesday I’m taking the family to the Braves game.  This will be Avery’s first so that will be a lot of fun.
• Wed-Sat, DeAnna and I are heading to Panama City Beach WITHOUT kids!!!!!
• Next Sunday we launch what I think will be the biggest, most creative series we have ever done at Revolution called All In.  It is going to be off the hook!!!!!!!!!
• During the series we are doing a huge event for a local chairty that we FINALLY found out today IS legal, but barely. :)  Which considering we have all the print material done is a good thing.
• Second week in September I am heading down to Tampa for a couple of days for another thing I am doing.
• In October we are launching another huge series called Pirates: Reclaming your lost treasure.  It is going to be about handling our finances, budgeting, getting out of debt, and saving for the future.  It is going to be off the hook!
• During the Pirates series we are bringing in Joe Sangl to do a financial seminar that YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS!!!!!
• Than before you know it is Christmas Eve services!!!!!
• Did I mention somewhere in between there we will be getting ready and holding preview services for our Jasper Location?

Things are busy and the fact of the matter is, I LOVE IT!!!!!  I love Revolution Church and I can’t believe I get to pastor this place!!!!

I go through stages with blogs where different ones are speaking to me at different times. I don’t know if it is a stage of life, what I am going through right now, or what it is, but I’ve noticed being really drawn to about 5 blogs right now. I’ve already posted a few of these as new blogs to check out but I want to point them out to you again.

Video Church Blog - Eddie Johnson is the pastor of Cumberland Church in Nashville. Eddie is on his second North Point church plant and is giving some GREAT insight into the life of a video church. Maybe it is because we are about to launch a second location, but I am soaking up everything he is writing right now. What makes Eddie’s blog so great is he believes in video church. He buys into it 100% and as such he is giving some great thoughts. If you are thinking of going multi-site and aren’t reading this blog, read it and learn.

Buddy Cremeans - This cat has it going on. I love his style of writing and I am loving what he has to say. I love GREAT churches that you have never heard of. It is like finding a hidden treasure. I have been watching them for a while but Buddy has stepped it up in blogging lately. His new Monday feature called Creamen’s Couch is great. He is taking different leades and doing video interviews with them. Good stuff.

Perry Noble - 3 years and still no one pushes me like this dude. What they have experienced in the month of August has been insane!!!! I do a lot of my morning devotions to the posts Perry puts out. They are full of scripture and challenges. Love this dude.

Life Church Dudes - GREAT blog. I love how Craig posts in series and he posts short! GREAT information and I learn a ton every time I read him. This blog is one of the great things about blogging. You are getting daily insights from a pastor of one of the largest churches in America. You couldn’t pay for that kind of learning.

Mark Batterson - I go through phases where Mark is really speaking to me and times where I don’t pay much attention to his blog. He posts so much that at times I just simply get behind on what he is writing and don’t catch up. Right now, I am digging him big time. He is a great writer and the stuff he is saying is really kicking with me right now.

This list could change next week, but for the last two weeks those are the blogs that are really doing a work in me. If you aren’t reading any of them, put them on your radar.

We’ve never not finished a message and felt led to finish the next week, but that is exactly what happened this past Sunday.  DeAnna taught with me and we spend so much talking about marriage issues that we never got to sex issues. :)  Of couse, I said GREAT SEX COMES FROM A HEALTHY MARRIAGE so we had to lay the foundation on a healthy marriage first before we could even think of talking about GREAT sex.

This week, DeAnna and I are going to be sharing some of the insights we have learned about how to keep the flame burning 11 years into your marriage.  It is going to be a blast!

I enjoyed the music yesterday BUT I am looking forward to doing what we do best and that is rocking it out!  Tim and I were inspired at the concert Saturday and the band will be busting out a song that fits with the message and that EVERY ONE will know!  It should be fun and should be a great way to kick off the service!

Labor Day is a day when many churches just accept that their attendance is going to drop, but that won’t float here.  EVERY Sunday is a big Sunday and we are coming out with guns blazing this weekend!

If you plan on being on the lake, go after lunch because you don’t want to miss Sunday.