News Flash:  We have space issues.  Those are GREAT issues to have, but nevertheless they are issues.  We have been praying about what God would have us to do.  We thought launching a location in Jasper was one of the ways to free up space, but God hasn’t opened that door, so we have been seeking God big time as to the next steps.

As of today, we have 3 (possibly 4) options on the table.  They are all outside the box, don’t make sense, and seem risky and crazy, but they are all awesome ways to reach more people with the message of Jesus Christ.  I’m excited.

One thing I have learned it when God starts moving, He starts moving FAST.  It is possible we will know which option we are taking as early as next week.  I love it when God stretches me, our staff, and Revolution Church!  It freaks me out, but I love it!

I never ceased to be amazed at how awesome God is and how He shows up with the answer just when we need it.  Revolution, hang on because things are about to get interesting.

This Sunday we start a new series called Prison Break that I think has the potential to be one of the most life-changing teaching series we have ever done at Revolution.  We are going to be hitting on some topics that affect everyone no matter your social standing, your marital status, or your age.

Over the next several weeks we are going to talk about breaking free from the things that keep us from being all that God intends for us to be.  We are going to look at the topic of addictions, unforgiveness, religion and this week I am going to be talking about Breaking Free From Your Past. I have been stewing on this week’s message for a while now and I am excited about showing you what God has shown me about letting go of your past hurts, mistakes, and screw-ups.

Also this week we are ending the service in what might be one of the most powerful ways we have ever ended a service at Revolution.  You are going to hear a story of life-change from one of our awesome people at Revolution and hear how that change has affected everything he does including something very cool that he will be sharing this week.  After he is doing sharing, we are going to give you something that will enable you to be constantly reminded of the power of God’s love in regards to our past.  It is going to be awesome.  The item we are giving away is only being given away this week so if you miss church, you miss out.

See ya Sunday!

I get asked a lot by our people how they can be praying for me, our staff, and Revolution Church.  I think that is awesome and as I was sitting here tonight I wanted to give you some very items I would love to have you pray about.

• Pray for wisdom as we address our space issues.  We have the possibility of three different options right now.  2 involve another campus, one involves getting real creative at the theater.  GREAT problem to have, but I want God to direct our paths.
• Pray for our staff.  We have really raised the bar in the last month and it is going to be awesome, but any transition is hard.  Pray for them as they step up their leadership, grow as leaders, put more on their plates, and balance that with their personal and family lives.
• Pray for me as I seek God as I lead Revolution, as I lead our leaders, as I prepare to teach weekly, and as I keep Revolution focused on the vision God has given us.
• Pray for this community.  We will not rest until EVERY person in this community is in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Pray for our people.  You guys give so much of your time, talent, and treasure to this church that it blows my mind.  Pray for each other on a regular basis.

I could go on all day but that should get you started.

I am ready to declare that it is officially spring in Georgia! The weather outside is awesome and I think it is here to stay! It is amazing how the weather can affect you. Tuesdays are the day everyone is working at the office (Part Time and Full Time) and today there just seems like a buzz in the office.

• We are starting a new series this week!
• New Props are being built!
• New pre-service music is being downloaded!
• UPrising Students meet Sunday night!

I love it when things are rocking! The doors to the office are wide open, there are volunteers all over the place, people are meeting, and Johnny Cash is rocking on Pandora! Life is good.

Mondays are the day where I am beat down tired.  Today was different.  After being on the road so much, I was ready to get back into the routine.  We shuffled a few things off my plate and today was the first day with those things changed.  Long term it is going to be awesome, but it is a weird feeling not having my hand in everything.

There were a couple of times I was walking around the office and I was hearing conversations taking place about ministry and I wanted to jump right in and give my 2 cents, but I didn’t.  We have a great team and they are in place because they can do their jobs better than I can, I just have to let them.

The last hour of the day we had a young guy (man, that made me sound old) from town stop in.  I’ve known the guy since we started Revolution though he has never been a part of our church.  He recently feels God is leading him into the pastoral area of ministry and he could possibly have a very cool door open for him.  I enjoyed talking to him and it got me pumped up  seeing the desire he has to see a move of God.

I also enjoyed hearing his outsider perspective on Revolution.  He lives in our community, has been to Revolution and works at another church in the county so I valued his insights.  He said some things that really made me think and said some things that just amazed me at how different the culture is in our two churches.  It was a good meeting.

I have a great feeling about what God is doing at Revolution right now not only on Sunday mornings, but through our staff and me personally.  It is a fun and exciting time to be part of God’s work.

• GREAT DAY TODAY!
• I enjoyed being back on stage teaching!
• I am still on Vegas time. I came out during the first service like a bat out of hell and crashed like crazy during the second service.
• First service has turned into a service that will preach the mess out of you. They clap and amen to everything. I love it!
• Enjoyed having Joel leading worship today, they did a GREAT job and I love Joel, but I have to admit I am partial to Tim and Thad when it comes to leading worship at Revolution.
• Rock Star was a GREAT series, but I am glad it is over and I am ready to start Prison Break next week!
• Prison Break is going to be a series where a lot of people deal with some issues that have been holding them back from being all that God wants them to be
• I have been out of town this past two weeks and I am supposed to be out of town this week but I’m not going to make it due to some things that have popped up.
• Tomorrow we start implementing the things we discussed on our staff retreat. It is going to make us so much more effective, but I have learned that any transition is difficult and these changes will be the most uncomfortable for me personally
• I have sat around the office today thinking about our staff and evaluating the job they do. They are far from perfect, but Revolution is blessed to have them serving here.
• Not only is Revolution blessed, but I am blessed to have a crew that is talented, loyal, and has total buy-in on our vision.
• I know this sounds weird, but I don’t think I have ever had a more team bonding time then last week when Adam, Preston, Tim and I all got tattoos together. It is something I will always remember. If that isn’t a sign of brotherhood, commitment, and even a little stupidity, I don’t know what is.
• I find it funny that I have had several emails from people lecturing me about getting a tattoo. Listen, it isn’t that big of a deal. You live life once. Trust me, it is fine.
• Thad and Jill put an offer in on a house. Guess we are stuck with them and I couldn’t be happier. They are going to do great things at Revolution…..even if Thad doesn’t have a tattoo. They are an awesome couple and they are going to do great things at Revolution.
• I keep getting asked about us launching a campus in Jasper. Here is the deal: We ARE committed to reaching Jasper. We are sold out to reaching Jasper. We are going to rock Jasper with the message of Jesus Christ. When God opens the door for us to go there, we are ready. At this time that door has not opened.
• There is a possibility that a door could be opening in Hickory Flat though……
• What about buying land? If that door opens we will walk through it, but if it takes land to grow a church your vision is wrong. I’ll let the other guys in town spend their time looking for land. We’ll stick with reaching people.
• What about building out a warehouse? Again, I would love a warehouse just like I would love land, but that door isn’t open at this time. If it opens, I’ll be the first one through it.
• Looks like we are going to be looking for a worship intern this summer to come in some during the week and on Sundays. I’ll post more this week about what we are looking for, but if you are interested contact Tim at tim@therevolution.tv
• We are also looking at worship leaders who want to come in on Sunday mornings and lead worship. We’ll be hiring another worship leader in the late fall/early winter and we are going to use the next several months to really look for the right fit. We are looking for a guy who loves Jesus, who can rock, who can lead people in worship and wants to be part of Revolution, not just lead worship anywhere he gets the chance. Interested in leading at Revolution, contact Tim and he will see if you pass the test.
• Watched the movie Walk The Line AGAIN last night. Love Johnny Cash.
• Now I am at the office listening to Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison. Charlie, that would make a good Sunday Night Unwind for you.
• I’m ready to go back to Vegas….this time with DeAnna.
• Back on the bike this week. I want to get in some pretty good miles. Might shoot for 100, but not sure if I can handle that many miles or find the time to get them all in.
• Tim is taking a lot of new things on his plate here at Revolution and I love it! Tim is a great leader and about as loyal and sold out to Revolution as you can be. He is going to be taking a lot of stuff of my plate. The only negative about it is he isn’t going to be able to take the new stuff on and still lead worship every week. Don’t worry though because he’ll still be leading on a very regular basis.
• THANK YOU to all of you who moved to the first service today! We had a very good crowd in the first service which was good because we were still about 80% full in the second service.
• We are going to be adding a THIRD service very soon in ANOTHER theater which means double the set-up. What amazes me about that is I haven’t heard ONE compliant from our people. Instead I see our volunteers all talking with each other about how to make it happen. It honestly overwhelms me how much they get IT. Amazing.
• Sunday nights are turning into Family Night at the Lamb house.  Tonight after I leave the house it is pizza and The Bee Movie.  Should be fun.
• I’m heading home so time to wrap this thing up!

• I’m home and I am so glad!  I love my family and I know that sounds simple, but sadly I know many men who can’t say that
• Had a blast with our guys!
• As much as I love them, I am glad I ain’t got to see them tomorrow!
• The time difference has me messed up right now big time
• I guess I am wuss but my freaking leg is killing me from getting stuck over and over with a needle
• We decided as a staff if this church thing doesn’t work out we are starting a casino called Revolution Casino and we are calling the club in it Getdown Garys
• I can’t wait for Sunday!!!  Joel and the Power Trio (his name for them) are leading us in worship this week.  I miss Joel and look forward to seeing him Sunday.
• I CAN’T WAIT TO PREACH!!!!  Seriously I feel like a caged lion after two Sundays off.  Sunday is going to be a blast!

There is also a rumor that Adam caught the first part on the video on his camera phone, but that it might not be suitable for the public to hear.

• The first one would would be Preston.  I love the verse talking about all the great things he has seen God do at Revolution!
• Second one is Adam.  Adam with it on his forearm but of course his whole body is one big tattoo so it fits.
• Last one is Tim.  It is sick!  Since I don’t lead worship I couldn’t pull the guitar off but I wanted it bad after seeing it
• You will notice Thad is missing.  Jill wouldn’t allow him to get one.  No I am not kidding.  We still love both of them but that hasn’t stopped us from making fun of him non-stop.

I’m sitting in Vegas overlooking the strip and processing what has been a crazy but awesome week!  Our Lead Team was set to head out to the Multi-site Exposed Conference in Seattle on Sunday.  The conference was Monday and Tuesday and we were going to leave there and go to Vegas for two days (Wednesday and Thursday) to do some planning for the next year.  Vegas was a great choice because it is a cheap flight, cheap rooms, and one of the most creative places around.  Since we were on the west coast, we figured it would be a great place to and do some restructuring to our org chart, talk about growth issues, talk about adding a third service and planning out our sermon series for the rest of the year.

So after church on Sunday we rush to the airport to catch a 3:30 flight to St Louis and a 6:00 clock from St. Louis to Seattle.  We get on the smallest plane I have ever seen in my life.  I literally almost passed out walking on.  Each row had one seat on one side and two on the other.  Preston is 6′6 and was literally doubled over trying to get on.  Once on the plane, it backs away from the gate and it sounds like it hits something.  The plane stops and we sit on the runaway for about 30 minutes.  After that the pilot gets on and says, “folks our computers are telling us this plane isn’t safe for flight so we are going back the gate and unboarding the plane.”  By this time it was 4:15 and our flight in St. Louis was at 6 and that was the last flight to Seattle that evening.  After going round and round it became obvious we weren’t making that flight to Seattle and there was no way to fly out in the morning and make the conference.

So we asked them to send us fly us out to Vegas instead so we could get started meeting and planning.  We left Atlanta at 6:00 and landed in Chicago around 9.  We left Chicago at 10 and landed in Vegas at about 2:30 in the morning.  Upon landing we discovered that NONE of our luggage made the flight.  At this time we were so freaking tired we just went to our hotel and went to sleep.  We got up the next morning and the airline told us they had no idea where our luggage was.  We are now stinking, feeling nasty and flat out in a bad mood.

We caught a taxi to Target put some shirts and shorts and came home finally showered.  Still no luggage though.  We started meeting and it was awesome but I got admit it sucked not having our stuff.  We finally got our luggage at about 1 in the morning on Tuesday.   It was crazy.

But we have had a GREAT week, learning, dreaming, planning, and refocusing on the vision God has for Revolution Church!!

Ed Young Jr. says “Vegas has nothing to say but knows how to say it.  The church has everything to say and doesn’t know say it.”  I agree.  Vegas is one of my favorite towns and I don’t even gamble.  I love the lights, the shows, the thought process behind getting people to buy into it, and I just love the town.  We leave out first thing in the morning and we are more focused than ever on how to get the message out that Jesus is the hope of the world!

Pray our luggage makes it to Atlanta.