• Last week being one church in one location!!!!! That IS weird!
• Can you believe our Holly Springs Campus launches NEXT week????? God just blows my mind!
• I guess no one told our people it was a holiday weekend because we were slammed at the 10:30 a.m. service!
• Preston taught today and I thought it was the best message he has ever taught. GREAT job.
• Every staff should have a Preston. He will lead you to drinking, but he is loyal and buys into the vision like very few people. Love the dude!!!!!
• Work day tomorrow at our office AND Holly Springs campus. See ya there!
• Tim May has knocked it out in completing our Holly Springs campus.  I’ll be glad when it is over because I am ready to have an executive pastor again.
• Thought the band was rocking today!
• New digital board today. Very nice. Check it out here.
• Nate Liston was with us today. It blows me away that a church planter would come from Iowa to hang out with us.
• Jason Noble who I pastored in Iowa and who moved here to help us launch Revolution was here today too. LOVE that dude and really miss him.
• Have I mentioned we launch a second campus in 7 days???????????
• Thad rocked it out on the song NOT MY TIME by Three Doors Down. BEST song he has done.
• Even though he forgot the words to the new song he wanted to do, I thank God for sending him our way. Jill and Thad are a answered prayer. Love what they bring to the table here at Revolution.
• They are Clemson fans though. No one can be perfect.
• Speaking of Clemson….  I can honestly say I have NEVER seen a team just quit like they did last night. NO heart. They quit.
• How bout them Dawgs!!! Offense looked great. Defense has a way to go if we want to win a National Championship.
• Jonathan T. Bryant was with us today too.  He’s been with us a couple of times now but I haven’t really had a chance to connect with him yet.  He’s got a good voice.
• Fantasy Football draft today. VERY pleased with my team.
• Denise Alvarez is the total package. She is pretty and she cooked this for us today. That meal was whole nutha level!
• Loved watching college football yesterday! Glad it is back on!
• One thing I don’t understand about college football is dude cheerleaders. I’m sure they could beat the crap out of me because they all look huge but I don’t get it.
• I love our church. Honestly, there is no other place in the world I would rather be. Sadly, I don’t think most pastors could say that.
• I love that the parking lot is full of motorcycles, I love that you smell cigarette smoke when you walk in, I love that there are BMW’s parked next beaters, I love that there are young and old, black and white. I love that a lot of people smell of liquor and that it is full of imperfect people.
• I love that God allows me the HONOR of pastoring Revolution.
• This fall we go to the next level.  God has prepared us for what is about to happen. Look out North Georgia!!!!
• September is going to be one of the most crazy months of my life! Launch second campus, teaching at Next Conference, coaching network with Perry Noble, Going on vacation, and taking our Lead Team to the Multi-site Exposed conference. C-R-A-Z-Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Get friends to church next week as I can promise you our Ultimate Fighter series is going to be The STUFF!!!
• Praying for Dino Rizzo as they get ready to deal with the mess from the hurricane
• I’m more tired when I don’t preach than when I do.
• PLEASE PRAY FOR MY VOICE. I’ve been battling some type of sickness and my voice is fried.
• Going to rock it out with the family before getting to bed early and getting up early to head to the office.

Today I got the opportunity to meet with a church planter. In the grand scheme of things, not a big deal. A huge part of our DNA at Revolution is doing what we can to help church planters.  There isn’t a week that goes by where there isn’t a church planter in our office, our services, or talking to someone on our staff by phone.

Today was different.  Today was one of those days where it is awesome to see how God works and from time to time He allows us to see a bigger piece of the puzzle.

Today I had the opportunity to meet with Nate Liston. Nate is planting a church in Ames, Iowa.  About 9 years ago, God called DeAnna and I to start a church in Ames. We had never met someone who had started a church, had never read a book on it, and knew NOTHING about it. We moved there and started a church and God used that church as my seminary.  I learned how NOT to do church in Ames, Iowa.  When I was about to walk away from ministry for good, God sent a dude named Tony Liston to invest in my life. He showed me church could be different, that you could focus on lost people and that it didn’t have to suck. God used Tony to keep me in ministry. I will never forget that.

As awful as our church experience was in Ames, we truly loved the city. It was a college town (home of Iowa State), was a great place to raise kids, was beautiful, and we loved the city. There has been very few days that have went by that I haven’t prayed for Ames. It is a city in need of a great church that is focused on reaching lost people.  Due to it’s location, I believe you can change Iowa from Ames.

Today I get to spend some time with Nate who is planting a church there that will start in January. Nate’s brother is Tony, the guy who invested in my life when I was ready to leave ministry. Because of the investment Tony made in my life almost 7 years ago in Ames, today I got the opportunity to return that invest in his brother who has now been called to Ames. Not sure I did a good job of explaining that, but I find it very cool.

Investments we made there in learning the area and reaching people, I get to share with Nate. He came down today with one of the guys who was in my church in Iowa and was here at Revolution the first 3 years. He’s back in Ames and helping start a church that will reach a city we started reaching years ago.

Today I get to see the reaching of a city come full circle.

Pray for Nate as he launches Freedom Ridge Church to reach a city that I love. You can follow his adventure on his blog here.

You would think after 4 years of being the pastor of Revolution Church, I would be use to God doing His thing. I have seen him meet our needs and exceed our expectations over and over through the planting of Revolution. Yet, I always find myself amazed at the awesomeness of the God we serve. I never want that to change. I never want to get use to seeing God move. I never want to get use to God doing awesome things. I never want to take for granted that God is so much bigger than us. I love the feeling of being overwhelmed by the goodness of God.

Hands down, we are in the most crazy time in the history of our church.  We are 10 days away from launching a second campus, we are out of room in our 10:30 service, we are trying to figure out how to manage two campuses when we don’t know how to manage one, we are stretching a dollar as much as we can, we have more people going through CRAZY times right now than ever before, YET I wouldn’t trade this time for anything.

I am more sold out to what God has called me to do in North Georgia today than ever before. I am more consumed with reaching truly lost people than ever before.  I have the conviction that the style of church we are is the most effective for this area than ever before.  I KNOW God is going to use Revolution to do great things more today than ever before.

There is no place on earth I would rather be than Revolution. There is no other team I would rather do this with than the staff we have. There is no other people I would rather lead to change the world than the awesome people who call Revolution home.

Today, in the midst of the craziness I was overwhelmed with how lucky we are to be part of a movement of God.  Churches and pastors all over the world would give everything they have to be part of what God is doing here. I know this to be a fact because I talk to guys every day who tell me that.  What God is doing here is not normal. I forget that at times.

Revolution, God is doing awesome things and we get to be a part of it!

That blows me way.

• POWERFUL SUNDAY!
• We heard the story of Christina Clayton, who attends Revolution and has bone cancer in 88% of her body.
• Her video testimony was so powerful. After the last two weeks  of hearing powerful stories from people around the country, it was over the top today when we heard a story from someone who is part of the Revolution family.
• After her story we brought her on stage and anointed her with oil and had our Lead Team pray for her.
• Closed out the service with the song Healer from Hillsong. That song is a perfect example that God can use anyone to communicate truth. GREAT song.
• Totally no our normal vibe this morning and yet it was so powerful. One of those Sundays that really hit home.
• I felt like my sermon was a little off today, but God showed me that it isn’t always about me. Which is a good thing.
• LOTS of opinions on my shirt today. I really liked it but it would seem no one else did. It was a kinda of like the scrubs that doctors wear but tattoo art on it. I guess what I think it cool, isn’t to anyone else.
• ALIVE appears to be hitting home with people big time. We have never had such a response to the messages like we have. Tons of stories of people changing their lives through this series. It is awesome!
• We wrap up the series this coming Sunday with a message called, “Life Doesn’t End Here.” If you have friends who don’t know Jesus than get them to church Sunday!
• We have some hurting people at Revolution. Know I am praying for you during these difficult times!
• Can you believe we are two weeks away from launching our second campus? Blown away!
• Tim has done a GREAT job leading up our construction project. Love him and Courtney.
• We have a lot of work left to do this week. We will send out a work schedule later this week.
• Lot of buzz with what is about to happen with Revolution Students. Pumped about that!
• I will try and get pictures posted of our Holly Springs campus tomorrow!
• HOLLY SPRINGS LAUNCH TEAM MEETING THIS TUESDAY!!  If you want the 411, e-mail Preston at preston@therevolution.tv
• HUGE WORK DAY ON LABOR DAY. WE’LL COOK OUT AND PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON EVERYTHING! BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!
• Pumped about Ultimate Fighter, our new series that starts in two weeks! We are going to be tackling the issues men face head on. Power, Sex, Money, and a a lot more!
• We are about 90% full in our second service and we need some of you to move to the first service!
• We are working HARD to allow the theater to let us move our two services times to 9:30 and 11:00. Please pray this happens because it will even out our services more and free up more seats.
• Ashlyn had her first slumber party this weekend. CRAZY! The girls were awesome but they were crazy!
• My parents came to church this morning and over to the house for lunch. I have great parents and it was nice to have them hang out for the day.
• We live about 1 1/2 from my parents which I think I perfect. They live close enough to see them on a regular basis but no close enough to see them every day.
• The next two weeks are going to be insane!
• I honestly can’t remember a time in our church where things were so busy! It is insane!
• The vibe among our people right now is off the hook! Seriously, God is doing some cool things.
• College football starts next weekend! Yeah…come on!
• How bout them Dawgs!
• New burger join in Towne Lake that has a Grilled Cheese Cheese Burger. It is a half pound burger with two grilled cheese sandwiches as the buns. Wow! I got to try that.
• Is summer over? It feels like it is, but I don’t think it is here to stay.
• Going to do some fasting this week. Don’t want to, but feel like I need to.
• Before that happens, there will be a Waffle House run with the family tonight.
• NEXT Conference is coming up. It’s free and I’m sharing the Revolution story so why aren’t you signed-up? Seriously, if you are a church planter, get signed up for this conference.
• Okay, I’m done though I have a ton more things to say. I’ll save them for another day.
• Peace. I’m out.

One of my jobs at Revolution Church is to be the primary Sunday morning teacher.  I take that role very seriously and much thought, planning and prayer goes into our Sunday morning experience.  I have always thought we have done a great job of covering topics that both the church and unchurched are struggling with. Obviously, we connect better at times than at others.  When you nail a need there isn’t a better feeling in the world.

To say we have nailed it during our current series called “ALIVE” would be an understatement. We’ve been asking the question if you only had 30 days to live, would you continue living life going through the motions or would you live life ALIVE?  We knew the series would connect but we had no idea it would connect at such a high level!

The response to our current series has been insane!  We have received more feedback from people during this series than ever before. The sermons are hitting a nerve with people and the video stories are connecting in huge ways.  I truly believe this is going to go down as one of THOSE series that we look back on as a turning point in the life of our church.

As awesome as the series as been, you ain’t seen nothing yet. This Sunday things are going to hit home like never before.  We’ve been watching stories from people across the country the past few weeks as they face life-threating issues. This week we will be hearing from one of our own.  This story will inspire you to live each moment to it’s fullest and it will make you thankful for the life God has given you.  After the sermon we are going to be doing something we have never done at Revolution and I think it was will be a very impactful moment for our church. I truly believe this is a life-changing Sunday coming up.

If you call Revolution home, do everything you can to be in church and do whatever you can to bring someone with you. It is going to be one of THOSE Sundays!

It is crunch time at Holly Spring and we are finally at the point where it is all hands on deck! If you have time (or if you don’t have time) we will be busting out work Friday and Saturday. We’ll be painting, doing small construction projects and cleaning up. We need everyone that can be to be there.

Friday 8a.m.-9p.m.

Saturday 8a.m.-3p.m.

Come whenever you can and leave when ever you need to leave. If you have any questions contact Tim at time@therevolution.tv

Let’s make this thing happen!

To say things are CRAZY around Revolution right now would be the understatement of the year! We are gearing up for our normal fall push, we are gearing up launch a second campus that we are building out ourselves, we are planning long-term on some huge things, and we are doing our normal, weekly things.

I told our team today that things will not slow down for a while and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We started Revolution Church to change North Georgia and that means being all out, sold out to what God has called us to do. I love it!

If you are part of Revolution, you rock! Thank you for all you do to make this place happen week in and week out. We are in one of the most insane times in the history of our church and it is all hands on deck right now. Let me give you some ways you can continue to partner with what God is doing here:

• PRAY!  This is where it starts. The devil would love nothing more than to derail what is happening around here.  Please pray for the staff of Revolution, the volunteers of Revolution, the work of Revolution, the unchurched in this community, and all that God is doing.
• SERVE! If you aren’t plugged into what God is doing here at Revolution you are missing out on being a part of a REVOLUTION that is going to change North Georgia. Don’t sit on the sidelines, get in the game. I can promise you it will be one of the most fulfilling things you have done your life.
• LEND A HAND AT HOLLY SPRINGS! It is crunch time. We are on schedule with construction but we are in the stage now where everyone can help. Contact Tim at tim@therevolution to lend a hand.
• GIVE! You have heard me say many times that BIG vision takes BIG money. God has chosen to fund His work through His people. I am smoking what I am selling when it comes to this subject. You can’t outgive God. Thank you for your faithfulness in this area. Because of your giving, we are able to do what we do.
• INVITE!  Get your friends to church. You are the church’s best marketing.

REVOLUTION, hang on for the ride of your life!

• GREAT day!
• ALIVE is turning out to be a great series!
• Pre-service was CRAZY. Couldn’t get lights to work, sound to work, or video to work.
• Adam and his team got it all working by service time! GREAT job by those guys!
• Tony Morgan was in the house. I’ve known Tony for a while now and was thrilled to have him and Emily in our services today.
• Tony is going to be giving us a hand for a while with some things. Thrilled about this.
• I’m constantly blown away by the high caliber leaders God allows to have a heart for Revolution and a heart for me. God is awesome like that!
• Seems our people are bad of hearing because they seem to think I dropped the F bomb on stage. I can promise you that while I did mess the word up, I was saying the word “function”
• YES, that is my story and I am sticking to it.
• Not sure what is worse: Me dropping the F bomb (I didn’t) or our guys clapping non-stop after I did it.
• Yes, I also meant to say if something should happen to DeAnna that God might send me a blind woman who would love me. Instead I said God might send a blonde woman. Slight difference.
• No, she isn’t making me sleep on the couch.
• Also had Jonathan Bryant in the service. I thought it was Jack Black so I was a little disappointed. Seems like a cool guy.
• Might move service times to 9:30 and 11:00. That might lead to people coming to early service. It is difficult to do but it is doable. Thoughts?
• The videos we have been showing during ALIVE have been messing me up.
• This coming Sunday things are really going to hit home. This Sunday might be the most powerful service we have ever had. I can promise you won’t leave the same.
• Holly Springs is 3 weeks away! I can’t believe it! Someone told me they didn’t think it would work today. That just motivates me to do it more.
• Can you imagine a day when there will be 10,000 people attending Revolution? I can.
• Two people I am enjoying getting to know a lot better lately: Ross Wiseman and JR Lee. They are rocking it out in their respective towns.
• Went on a killer bike ride tonight. It was hard.
• Got to get Boggs to show me how to clean my bike.
• Glad Phelps is done racing because I need to go to bed earlier!
• We start painting on Friday at Holly Springs. Yeah, come on!
• Celebrated my Granny’s 75th Birthday yesterday. Think it is sad that part of my family wasn’t there. They’ll regret it one day and it will be to late.
• The good thing about them not being there was more food for me.
• I am so pumped about what God is getting ready to do at Revolution that I can’t stand it.
• I’m sitting here watching my family run around the house and I feel so blessed!
• It is a great feeling to be so happy with your life.
• Pumped about all we have planned for the rest of the year.
• God is good.
• I’m out.

DeAnna is out of town for a day and I on kid duty. That doesn’t mean much to you but for me that means I don’t have time post because the house could burn down while I am doing it. Thank you for the prayers the last few days, I had a great time and my mind is spinning with I learned.

Here are some quick hits:

• Had a blast riding up with JR Lee and Chris Elrod. I’ve hung out with Chris many times but this was really the first time I had done more than lunch with JR. The dude is sharp and makes me laugh.
• Got to finally meet Exposed Pastor, Clay Nesmith. Very sharp dude and I think we freaked him out.
• LOVE the Exposed Pastor series. We bought ButtNakedPastor.com and are thinking of doing this series in January. Can you imagine us doing this series? Insane!
• Had breakfast with Jason Moorhead who is one our Board of Overseers. Love that dude.
• Met Radio at breakfast. Yep, I got my picture with him.
• Got to see Greg Oraham.  Everytime I am around him I am reminded how sharp he is and how much I enjoy him.
• I want to be Jeff Kapusta when I grow up.
• Dean Herman didn’t have a Clemson shirt on for the first time ever. Pansy.
• Perry rocked my face off. Still processing everything.

I’m about to load up and head to Anderson, S.C. to hang out with a small group of pastors who were selected for a Leadership Coaching Network that Perry Noble is hosting. To say I am pumped would be an understatement!

One of the hardest things for me as the pastor of Revolution is to find time to grow as a leader. I get so caught up in all that is happening around here that I don’t focus on leadership development enough and that is not a good thing. There probably couldn’t be a worse time for me to head out of town than right now, but the reality is that there is never a good time.

I am looking forward to the next 6 months of hanging out with sharp leaders and learning what Perry has to share.

If you are part of Revolution, I would appreciate your prayers. I want God to rock my world during this time. Pray that I learn what God is wanting to show me and pray that I come back a better leader.  Seems a little selfish to be asking for something like that for myself, but I’m asking anyway. Thanks in advance for the prayers!