We shot our video sermon for One Prayer tonight and it was strange to teach in that setting. I have never taught in a studio setting and focusing on the camera and the people on the other side of the camera instead of the people in the room was different. I think I could have done a lot better job, BUT I was very pleased with it being the first time we have ever done it.

Most amazing thing is I kept it to 25 minutes! It took me longer to record all the personalized intros for the guys who requested them than it did the sermon.

Shout out to Ryan Fitzgerald and Joe Wiggleston for the video help!  This was our first time working with Joe and I dug the dude.  Ryan is always awesome and I enjoyed catching up with him for a few minutes.

We are getting ready to shoot our sermon for One Prayer and I am actually nervous.  Not sure why but to know others will be showing our video has me a little freaked out and this is the first time I have ever taught in front of a camera so that will be different.

The good thing is I have a ton of video intros to do for churches who are using our sermon so I can warm up a little doing those.

Earlier today I mentioned that had cut way back on which blogs I read.  At one time I was reading about 120 through bloglines, but I am now down to around 20.  After that post I have gotten several e-mails asking me how I decide which blogs to read so that got me thinking about it because I guess I had an answer since I did pick which ones to keep and which ones to delete, but I had never thought about it before.

So after looking over the blogs I have kept, here is how I decided which ones to keep:

• I have a relationship with most of the bloggers whose blogs I read
• 90% are church planters.  I am one and I relate to those planting churches
• I kept guys whose church and leadership speak to me
• Most of the guys I keep up with mix their blog with leadership stuff, church stuff, and personal stuff.  I like that.
• Guys that I just like.  I know that sounds dumb, but at one time I was reading guys just because everyone else was.  Now, I am focused on guys that I simply like to read their stuff

Some of the ways I decided to quit reading some blogs:

• If you are always selling your crap on your blog, I ain’t reading
• If you post very long posts, I ain’t reading
• If you aren’t being real, I ain’t reading
• If I don’t really know you, I probably ain’t reading

That doesn’t mean any of those above things are bad, they just are some things that personally drive me nuts.

I will still keep up from time to time with some of the blogs I deleted and I will hopefully be adding guys back as they connect with me during different stages of this adventure in pastoring.

Preston beat me to the big news, but I am excited to announce our newest hire at Revolution. You can go here to see a video of him in action.

Nice

EDIT:  Just realized this guy is going to be down by my buddy Chris so I might have to go check him out.  Chris, can I crash on your couch?  I HAVE to see this guy kick someone in the face or leg drop a pastor!

I am at the warehouse right now listening to the band (they are rocking) and let me say this:  IT IS FREAKING HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!  As you know, our AC was put in wrong in the warehouse so it is NOT cooling down right now.

I said all that to say if you are planning on coming to the One Prayer taping tomorrow night you need to dress in summer clothing.  Conditions are perfect for a sermon on hell.

See ya tomorrow at 7:00!!!!!!

Thursday night we are filming our message for One Prayer at The Warehouse.  It is going to be a fun night and would love to have you join us.  The Warehouse doesn’t hold many people, but we’ll fit you in!  I am going to be teaching on the subject, Lord, Make Us REVOLUTIONARY.

We’ll start at 7:00 p.m. and we’ll close the doors at 7:15.  After 7:15 you will not be allowed in as we will be filming.  So be on time

I get asked a lot about what a typical day at the Revolution office is like.  I know that seems weird but I totally understand the question because it is one I ask a lot when I met with various pastors and something I try and observe when visiting other churches.  I have been at both ends of the spectrum.  I have been at a church that had NO office environment at all (you came and went as you wanted) to one that was very corporate (dress code, you had to be quiet, etc.).

I’m not sure how you would describe our vibe, but I can try and give you a glimpse into a typical day:

• LOUD!!!  I am loud, Preston is loud, Taylor is loud, it is loud!
• LOTS of music!  There is always music blaring and you never know what you are going to hear except that it is going to be loud.
• Lot of “hall meetings.”  I think our best meetings are unscheduled and just happen
• Lots of Revolutionaries in and out.  We always have people up at the office serving, dropping off food, and just coming by to tell us some crazy story.
• Lot of working in each others office though this is changing a lot.
• Occasionally Adam walking around with certain parts of his clothing not on.  Trust me there is nothing good about a ghost white man covered in tattoos walking down the hall uncovered.
• Heated debate.  We can get pretty passionate and pretty heated about topics.  I love that.
• Lot of the girls telling us to hold the noise down.
• Meetings.  Man, we have a lot of meetings.
• Lot of sharing awesome stories from the people of Revolution
• Normally there is some type of bet taking place or betting pool to join.  Right now we have all selected wrestlers that we think will die next.  Winner takes all.
• A lot of asking how much money would it take to do or eat something gross.  Tim normally is willing to do it for the least amount.
• Probably one good fight a day.
• We do lunch together 90% of the time
• 75% of our time is focused on Sunday services
• Dress code is pretty slack though we are getting tighter but we do ask that they at least wear clothes
• LOTS of fun!

Between all this A LOT of work is happening as we are getting people celebrating, connected, and contributing to the vision of Revolution.  The only day things aren’t like this are Wednesday and on that day it is a ghost town.  That is my study day and it is very calm and very quiet which I like.

June 1st we have a huge announcement to make that is going to stretch us like never before and put us in a position to reach more of Cherokee County like never before.  It is a total God thing and I can’t wait to share it with all of you!

Today we spent the last few hours looking over some things involving the announcement and it is going to be awesome!

Hang on because things are about to get more fun!

I am sure this true for anyone in ministry, but at a church like Revolution where the large majority of people were out of church before attending, I have learned that I can’t ride the roller coaster because it will wear me out.  The highs and low of Revolution are hardcore and it is hard for me not to be vested in the lives of our people.  I joke that I am pretty non-pastoral, but the truth is I have a huge pastors heart….in my own way.

Just this week, these are some of the highs and some of the lows:

Highs:

• One of our addicts is doing so well in recovery he got to come home for the weekend
• Another one of our addicts relapsed a year ago in a BIG time way and this weekend is sharing his story of rebounding from that and God doing awesome things in his life
• We closed a deal that is 100% God and is going to enable us to reach more people in Cherokee County and this time the deal is actually DONE before I told you about it!
• Thad sold his home in S.C.
• Got a ton of awesome e-mails from people regarding last week’s message
• RECORD crowds last month
• Another one of our addicts (man, we are the addict church) was back in church this past week after going through hard times.  Loved seeing him!

Lows:

• One of our addicts relapsed
• Dealt with a couple that I love as much as ANY couple in our church in regards to physical and emotional abuse.  HARDEST thing I have ever had to do.  Lost sleep over this one, but I believe God is going to do awesome things through it
• Guy disappeared and his wife got a letter in the mail the next day saying he would be “gone” by the time she got the letter.  Why?
• Thad sold his home so we are stuck with him. (Just kidding)

Thanks for the prayers!  God opened the door for us today in a very cool way and I am excited about what the future holds for Revolution!

What was the deal?  You’ll have to wait until Sunday, June 1st to find out.

BTW, since any time I have a big announcement people assume we are moving out of the theater, I will go ahead and tell you that ain’t it.