New Blog Post

Please note - that beginning next week my blog will move to www.mikelinch.wordpress.com

I am working to have it forwarded to my www.mikelinch.com account.  Working on getting that done!

See you at the new spot!!

Thanks.......Giving

When I look back on this past year, I have so much to be thankful for.  The funny thing it all revolves around someone else "giving" to be bless my family & my life!  I have so much to be thankful for.....in fact, I feel sort of guilty for being so blessed!  An incredible family - an unreal church - the best friends in the world.......a relationship with with God that is like a spring "of living water".........Thanks to all that "give" to my life - I am truly blessed!!

Rearview Mirror

• Incredible Sunday wrapping up "Still Standing"
• Expected low crowds due to holiday....was I ever wrong!! Place was packed - standing room at the late hour!!
• Left after service and went to a "cabin" in Topton, NC on Lake Nantahala. No cell service, no tv, no computer access......it was just what we needed!
• Maybe the most beautiful place I have ever been!! It was NOT quite a cabin - more like a castle nestled in the woods on the lake and it was absolutely incredible!
  
• It has been so long since I rested and just enjoyed the family....just what I needed! We played games - fished - and basically just chilled!! I ate way to much - but it was so good!!
• Came back today and sort of hated to leave! Hated to see how many e-mails & phone calls I had missed and guess what I learned........Life had moved on just fine without me for a few days.
• Got home to watch some good TV that we had DVR'd
• The return of 24 was SOLID and it was good to have Jack back!! Should be a great season!! Good stuff - new story line but same Jack!! Welcome back 24!
• The Unit once again did not disappoint - what a great show!
  

Last week of Still Standing

Tomorrow we will wrap up our "Still Standing" series!  It has been super timely in my life and I think in the lives of a lot of others!  

My prayer for today is that my faith will be in "who God is" not "what God does"......The easiest time to quit and get out of the race we are in is when God does not come through like we thought He would.....or He should!

I pray that I will trust Him no matter what and seek His best not just mine!!

Hard....you bet

Worth it.....no doubt!!

Can't wait for Sunday!!

I am off to watch my favorite little girl, Mary-Michal, cheer in her 6th grade football superbowl!!!  It is going to be COLD but totally worth it!!

Crazy week

I can't even describe what a crazy week this has been!  I am so behind on my post....Here are a few highlights:

• Great management team meeting on Monday.....It is always great to meet with sharp leaders who help me in guiding NStar.  Their servant hearts but great business & leadership minds are a blessing to be around!
• Spent the rest of the day of Monday planning our next 8 months of sermons with Steve Roach.  It is always a blast to hang with Roach and plan!!  We have been best friends since 2nd grade and it is incredible that we get to do life together now!!
• Tuesday AM - We had our early morning executive bible study - room was totally full!!  Some of these guys are really hurting - it is so cool to see them be there for each other. 
• Spent the next few hours planning the next 2 weekends and going over what we did from the week before!
• Every year our team at NStar helps the City of Acworth sort canned goods....It is a ton of work but a ton of fun!!  Watching everyone pitch in and work together is great!!
• Came home to find the house completely decorated for Christmas!!!  Annie is amazing!!
• Tomorrow is my last day in the office before taking some time off next week.....I sure need it!  Can't wait to get away & chill for a little while!

Rearview Mirror

• May be one of the greatest days we have ever had at NorthStar.......We were in part 3 of Still Standing....talking about "Knowing" God personally
• We had Rev. Clarence Jett there live - it was pretty powerful!  I brought him out about 10 minutes into my message and he received a standing ovation in both services!  Nothing like seeing a young cutting edge church embrace a 94 year old man!
• I interviewed Rev. Jett and it was beyond incredible....His wisdom was so on the money and the way he could recall scripture blew me away!  I interviewed him for over 25 minutes in both services and it was totally unscripted and he nailed every answer!
• Check out our some of the video footage that we had shot previously with Rev. Jett...
• I would never encourage to listen to our podcast but I would REALLY encourage you to hear this one!!!  Check our site to dive in to the great AM!
• Steph & our band nailed the last song - a remix of the Old Hymn "Give me Jesus"....it said it all!
• It was an incredible AM all the way around!  Major packed house both hours and big crowds in True North!  My son (who thinks his old man) came down and said, "Dad, you would have loved it upstairs in the Student Area - it was packed"......Love that boy!!
• Lindsay Arnold did the welcome in the Compass and was "spot on".....Lindsay used to be in the college group that met in my house.  She is now a wife & mom and I was SO proud of her this AM!  She will be one of the host of our new "In the Know" Sunday video segment that is coming in December!
• I got to take Rev. Jett & my mom and dad to lunch - it was so fun to spend time with them!
• The Falcons battled so hard today - I love pulling for that team!  It was so close to being another Falcon win!
• Tonight was "The Gathering" - Daniel & the band introduced their 2nd CD "Things Unseen"....It was slammed and a ton of fun to watch NStar people engage with God!  The team did an amazing job putting on the night and it was a blast to just sit in the crowd & enjoy!!  I got to sit with my little girl and watch her worship.......watching her was worth the whole night!!
• Now I am settling in for "The Unit"!!!  Love that show!!
• Short night sleep - early morning Management Team meeting.  I love meeting with these wise men who help stand beside me and lead NorthStar into the future!

His voice

Today we are in part 3 of "Still Standing" and talking about knowing God personally!  I am praying today for 2 things:

• Those that do not know Him at all....to meet Him for the first time and give over their lives to Him
• Those that do know Him but for what ever reason have not followed Him passionately - to "Hear His voice" and follow Him with all they have!

In the craziness of our times - if we have a relationship with God and we follow Him and not just what we want to chase.........We will Stand!!

Can't wait!!

I cannot even tell you how excited I am about this coming Sunday!  Week 3 of "Still Standing" is going to be one of the most unforgettable services we have ever had at NorthStar!!  I hope that you are making plans to be with us!

On another front, I have an idea for something that if it comes through could be HUGE!  

I am off to spend a day with Annie.....I love our Fridays together!  We have had a crazy few months with one in high school & one in middle school and going different directions - we always enjoy our Fridays!!  Today we are going to catch a new movie.......!!!

Still Standing - week 3

I absolutely cannot wait until Sunday @ NorthStar! We are talking about a personal relationship with Jesus and how that will always keep us Still Standing! We have something so incredible planned.....if you are a regular at NStar, you absolutely have to make plans to be there & bring a friend with you!!! If you don't normally come & you are one of my, I guess, 5 readers......make plans to either come or listen in next week!!

Can't tell you any more - just know - you can't miss!!!

Rearview Mirror

• Great night Friday night for Allatoona Football, the team finished their first season by beating the Varsity Team from Murray County!  These guys came so far this year - I was so proud of them!!
• Tough day in the College Football World on Saturday with GT and WVU taking big losses.....Not a lot of smiles around the Linch house!!
• Incredible week 3 of Still Standing!!  Packed house at both hours in our Compass Room and at True North at 11am!!  I talked about "Truth" and God's word.  We gave out bibles to anyone that did not already own one.....WOW....we ran out!  Hard to believe in the world today there are still people who have never owned a bible!  Met a couple that just moved here from Cuba and it was their first time ever in church and they had never had a bible of their own!!  Pretty awesome!
• We did a video of Rev. Jett, the 94 year old pastor I interviewed, mixed in with "Word of God Speak".....it was strong!  Visit the NorthStar site to catch up on the video interviews....they are pretty awesome!
• Started talking about our 5pm service beginning in January - great feedback so far!!  We are praying for 500 people to make the move from Sunday AM!  I can't wait!!!
• Baptized after our last service - nothing like closing the morning seeing people take their faith public!!  One of our staff, was able to baptize his mom & dad......pretty special!!!
• Enjoyed being outside yesterday afternoon with some good friends....playing a little cornhole & football and going back inside to keep up with the Falcons who spanked the Saints!!!  How bout the Falcons!!!
• We had Newcomers last night and had a full crowd!!  Hearing the stories of how people got to us never gets old!!  Long night but a fun one!!!

Allen Hunt

Yesterday, Allen Hunt, from the Allen Hunt Radio Show led our staff meeting!!  He was incredible and right on the money for the challenge that we needed!  Allen was a super successful pastor at a great church in Atlanta when God laid on his heart to start a talk show on a secular station that deals with faith & life.  The show is going huge across the country right now and is currently on weekend (Saturday & Sunday) evenings!!  In Atlanta, you can catch on WSB 750-AM.....!!!  Allen eventually resigned his senior pastor position and left for the vision that God had laid on his heart!!

The challenge for me was the passion he has to reach "lost sheep" and to do whatever it takes to stay connected to that world!  The main strategy in putting it all together was....prayer.  Amazing when prayer takes front & center, how much power there is!!

Make sure & listen in and I promise, you will not be disappointed!

Happy Birthday!!

Today is the 1 year birthday for my little niece & nephew (John David & Lucy Linch)!!!  They are two little miracles!

Rearview Mirror

• Incredible AM at NorthStar.....HUGE crowds - great energy to start our Still Standing series!!  
• You could have heard a pin drop while we were talking about what it means to be "forgiven"
• Anne walked in the 9:30am service and said it was the wildest she had ever seen it trying to get on campus!
• I sat in a meeting a few years with Rick Warren and he said the 4 biggest attendance of the year are:  Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day & Time change Sunday in the fall!!  He is SO on the money!
• The band nailed "It's not my time" by Three Doors Down.....pretty rockin!!
• Went out and enjoyed the afternoon with Mary-Michal....she is SO fun!!  I love that girl - she has more energy than anyone I have ever met!
• Got home to watch the Falcons smack the Raiders!  It is a new day in ATL!  Way to go Birds!! 
• Matt Ryan is the Rookie of the Year and Mike Smith should be the Coach of the Year!
• New Polls are out in College Football and GT is at 22 and WVU is at 20....Anne is thrilled!
• Great day yesterday with GT surviving FSU and UGA getting slammed against UF!  LOVED IT!!
• Big week this week - have tons to get done getting things ready for our new Sunday night service in January.....It is going to be awesome!!!
• Watching the Amazing Race right now and getting psyched up for "The Unit".......after I pick Casey up from Satellite Groups at NStar!
• Great weekend - sad it is over already!

I am Forgiven!!

Today we begin our "Still Standing" series at NorthStar talking about what it means to be "forgiven".......this is true "debt-free" living!!  When we get what it means to be forgiven completely - it will give us a freedom we have never known!!!  

Heading out....can't wait for the morning!!!

Still Standing begins this week!

With the economy being up one day and down the next, the election next week, and everything in the world appearing to be so uncertain - we wanted to take a few weeks and talk about the things that are unchanging and the things in life that can keep us on solid ground!  This Sunday we begin a series called Still Standing, which will take a look at God’s eternal foundations, and how they outlast everything the world tries to hold onto. I hope that you will not let fear rule your life during this time, but rather come and discover the principles that will keep your life "still standing" when everything else is crumbling around you!!  This is a great series to invite a co-worker or neighbor to attend with you since we are all facing these uncertain times together!

 

Hope to see you - and a friend - this week!

 

Mike 

PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW A SNEAK PREVIEW OF OUR UPCOMING “STILL STANDING” SERIES

Bobby Richardson

I got to go over at lunch today with a good buddy of mine Barry Nash and see one of my heroes again!!  Former NY Yankee great and 1960 World Series MVP Bobby Richardson was in town speaking for FCA.  He is one of the all-time greats in Yankee history and played from 1955-1966 during the peak of the Yankee dynasty!   Beyond his remarkable playing career....multiple all-star appearances....gold gloves.....world series rings......world series records.....he is one of the kindest, most humble men that I have ever known!

One of the highlights of my life was getting the incredible opportunity to play for Coach Richardson from 1987 - 1990 at Liberty!!  I learned a ton of baseball from him but really more than that....I learned a ton about life!!  

It sure was great to see him today!!

Rearview Mirror

• Anne & I went out Friday night to Maggiano's and then stayed down by the Galleria - awesome night!
• Casey went on the CLOSER student retreat from NorthStar - heard it was unreal!!  I am so thankful for our student team who are creating an incredible ministry that my kids & hundreds of others get to grow up in!
• Watched Tech go down against UVA....I put the game on our DVR since I had a wedding..came home & watched it - fast forwarding through it and then they lost!!  What's worse is the "Dawgs" won and the fans are getting a little cocky again!!  Maybe they will break back out the black jersey's against UF!
• Incredible AM at NorthStar talking about forgiveness.....tons of people stood that said that there was something in their past that they were holding on to that they needed to let go of!!  
• The band knocked out of the park the Tim McGraw tune "Let it Go".....I have heard that song a 1,000 times but the words were dead on for what we were talking about!
• Quote I used from Max Lucado "Resentment always begins as a hurt but then moves to hate"....strong stuff!
• Came home & watched the Falcons....SO close to pulling off the game against the Eagles!  Coach Mike Smith is an amazing coach to rally those guys after the year they had last year!!!  They are going to be a solid group in years to come!
• MM had a good friend over and they had so much fun playing!!  I thank the Lord for my kids good friends!!!
• Picked up Casey from the retreat (he was so TIRED) but tons of homework...
• Watched "The Unit" late last night - THE BEST show on TV right now!!! Love it!
• The Phillies are smoking the Rays.....a little surprising actually!  Hate the Phillies but like the National League (dilemma)!
• Can't get over how much I enjoyed being at Liberty last week!!  What a place - it has come so far since I was there!
• Video shoot today for our "Still Standing" series which begins next Sunday! In the times we are living in - how do we withstand all of the "storms" around us and "stand"......It is going to be an incredible series!!!  
• Full week ahead!!

17 Years!

17 years ago on a beautiful fall day in Charleston, WV I married the greatest woman in the world! She was more then than I could ever ask for: loved the Lord, funny, great friend, loved sports, (thought I was good at baseball), smart and absolutely gorgeous!!!! I remember standing there that day and thinking that I was the luckiest guy in the world!

Today, 17 years later, there is NO doubt that I married the greatest woman in the world! She is more than I could ever ask for: loves the Lord, loves to laugh, still drop dead gorgeous, my closest friend, loves sports, (still thinks I was pretty good at baseball), incredible mom to the 2 blessings in our lives, loyal to her friends, never misses a chance to give a holler for anything that has West Virginia on it, great sister, awesome daughter to her parents, believes the best about people, loves NorthStar and believes in me often more than I believe in myself, great Aunt, incredibly hard worker, can build or fix anything (thankfully), volunteers for everything and absolutely the 1 person in this world that I cannot imagine living life without!

She is more now to me than she was the day that I thought she was everything!!! I cannot wait for all of the years to come.....they just keep getting better!!! Happy Anniversary Annie!!! I would say yes again today and everyday for the rest of my life!

Home from the burg!!

After an absolutely slammed Monday & Tuesday of this past week - I jumped on plane (which I never do) and flew to Lynchburg, VA for 2 days. I was invited to speak at Liberty University (Go Flames) on Thursday and to share about the work that we do at NorthStar with business leaders! It was a blast to be back at LU!

After graduating in 91 - I have only been back a couple of times through the years. I am absolutely blown away at how HUGE the campus has grown and all that is happening there! I was so proud of the school and its leadership in continuing to expand & grow but not losing the focus of why they are there!!

I spent Wednesday going around the campus and just taking it in and remembering my 4 incredible years there......Some of the greatest days of my life were spent on that campus! Here are a couple of the highlights of the trip:

• Ran into Jeff Alder, Head Men's Soccer Coach, Jeff was a student & soccer player during my time at LU. He was a great guy then but it was so cool to see the passion he now leads the program with!! I was so proud of him!!
• Went by dorm 18 where I spent 3 years.....didn't go in however...it didn't smell good 18 years ago - cannot imagine now!
• Drove by Anne's dorm and remembered all the trips I used to make across campus to pick her up!
• Went to the area outside DeMoss Hall where we all used to hang out so much!
• Visited the spot behind Carter-Glass mansion where I proposed to Annie!
  
• Spent the afternoon at the baseball field...met the new coach (nice guy) and took a tour of the fieldhouse that we were promised would be there when they recruited me in 87...It was sweet! Watched an intra-squad game and just relaxed for a little while and took in the time!
  
• Sat behind Atlanta Brave favorite, Sid Bream - also an LU grad - who was there watching his son play who is a freshman!
• Ate at Shakers.....used to be the best spot in town!!
  

Liberty University is a one of a kind place! It was hard to be there and not think about Dr. Falwell and his larger than life personality! Doc - you would be proud of how alive your dream still is!!

Rearview Mirror

• Anne & I went out to dinner together on Friday night.....it was nice!!  We had some Japanese food at Sapporo's and met some super nice people!  Great to be out with my girl!!
• The Allatoona baseball team had a team "yard-sale" on Saturday at AHS - it was chilly - felt like fall!!
• Came home and watched GT hang on for a victory of Clemson.....I worried for a little while but the Jackets came through!!
• Thanks to the kindness of a good buddy from NStar, John Greer, we went to the new Cobb Energy Centre to see Lady Antebellum & Josh Turner!!!  We had a blast!!  Both Lady Antebellum and Josh were incredible - nothing like watching great performers hold a crowd in their hands!!  Great concert - great friends there - with my family - what a fun night!!
• Solid AM at NorthStar today..heavy topic on Everyday Joe "Loneliness"....it was so sad to look out in some people's eyes and see sadness.......Joseph left us some great lessons on how to defeat "loneliness"
• In the 9:30am service our drum shield crashed on the drummer during our intro song - it was crazy but it was funny!!!  Look out on "you-tube"
• I dedicated a child this morning that was related to former Atlanta Falcon great Tommy Nobis....he sat on the 2nd row.....one of the all-time football greats in this city!  I was a little nervous!
• Went to my in-laws for a good lunch!
• Spent the afternoon at Allatoona on the baseball field with Casey getting some work in!!  I am so proud of that boy and how hard he is working!
• Mary-Michal brought home incredible grades from school - she is adapting to middle school really good!!
• Huge week ahead - Management Team meeting early in the AM and a good full day ahead!!  I wrap up at Allatoona on the baseball field with the "Bucs" as they get ready for their final 2 weeks of the season
• On Wednesday, I fly to Lynchburg to speak at a Liberty University alumni function!  Look forward to going back to the place I had so many great memories!!

Chemistry

Once a month we have 3 or 4 of our staff team share their stories of who they are -  where they are from and how they got to NStar!!  It is always great but yesterday was incredible!!  When you hear someone open up and let you into their world it helps you understand them better and also appreciate them more!  Great teams have great talent but even more they have the intangible of chemistry...........It is fun to play the game with people you like & people you understand!!  I love our team!

Full Court Press

One thing that I can't stand is just watching things happen.....there is nothing like a full court press!  I don't want to wonder what could have been, I want to fail trying to get ahead!

This may be our best season ever as a church and the one thing I do not want to happen is to pull back and "play not to lose".  I want to push it ahead and "play to win"!  

We have Merge in the AM and due to one of our team being out - some of the other teammates have stepped up to cover the holes and "push" it ahead!  I love it!!

I love this team and I love this church because "holding" back is not an option!  Winning attitudes are contagious!

Rearview Mirror

• Great day at NStar!!  Huge crowds.....usually down a little in October but slammed today!
• Week 2 of "Everyday Joe" on temptation - it was thick in the room.  I am sure that there were a bunch of people that thought I was talking about them....What a morning!
• The team did "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns - it not only rocked but the words were right on the money!
• Casey pitched this weekend in a Varsity game for Allatoona and had a pretty solid outing - I am really proud of him!
• Had a great time at Jonathan Berry's wedding last night - it was fun to see so many kids from our youth group......I can't believe Jonathan is married!
• GT almost blew it vs. Gardner Webb....so glad that they survived!!
• How about the Falcons win today over the Bears!!  So much for the 1-15 prediction - these guys are the real deal!
• Saw "Eagle Eye" with Annie on Friday......it was pretty solid!
• The Cardinals just beat the Cowboys on a blocked punt - a day of upsets!!
• Went & watched 2 of my old "Titan" baseball players play today - it was great sitting with their parents and catching up!
• Getting Ready for a big week!
• Eddie Bishop made some big strides this weekend - thanks for your prayers!

Hope

I have super strong political views therefore I find myself loving this time of year! I love to watch debates and hear policy and see which of the candidates (whether I like them or not) is connecting with the audience & viewers! Part of it is that I was a speech major and we were always studying communication styles, the other is that I love to hear "vision" for our country and how that is cast & sold.

With all of that being said, I think this year our country is looking for something that is really sort of an intangible and that is "hope"....The ability to say, it is going to be okay and we are going to make it and come out stronger on the other side of the darkness that we are now in! If one candidate could capture this and feel it in their heart (not off the tele-prompter or from debate prep) they would walk away with this election.

Isn't great that all of scripture talks about what we all crave the most......HOPE! God told us all that He did so we could hang on and know - there is always a better day to come!! I guess He knew we all needed it!!!

Prayers for NorthStar!

• Pray for the marriages & families at NStar!  I have never seen so much stuff going on in peoples lives......I am praying "What the enemy intended for evil, God will use for Good"
• Pray for wisdom as we navigate the church through these tough economic times......We have been blessed in HUGE ways and are exceeding budget every week but we just want to make smart decisions as we continue to move forward!
• Pray that we will continue to expand our influence "to show God's love" in our community & world!!  I am praying that as things may seem "dark" in the world that the light we carry will be super bright and draw people to Jesus!!

Rearview Mirror

• Allatoona lost a tough game to North Paulding on Friday night....the guys are fighting hard and are a tough group to be a first year team!
• GT rolled over Duke - I am loving the Coach Johnson era!!! Way to go Jackets!
• Had a great time at Chris Huff's wedding.....he & Kimberly were precious and it is so great to be with a couple who is walking the walk and just glow while they are on the stage reciting their vows! They are precious!
• Great day at NStar today......We started the Everyday Joe series with "expectations".....What do you do when God gives you a vision or dream but things do not turn out like you thought they would?? Haven't we all been there? Take-away.....God teaches us more in the darkness than He does in the light!
• Today was the 1 year anniversary of the True North building so I spoke from there and we broadcast the service into the Compass Centre! It was cool to be with the True North crowd!
• I am so proud of Winfrey, Daniel, Bonnie & Stephanie who put in so much time getting everything ready for the morning! They are awesome!
• Got to be home today to watch the Falcons beat the Packers at Lambeau!! Good stuff - loving the Falcons right now!
• Casey went to "Satellite Groups" tonight at NStar - they are having Nerf Wars and there are a ton of HS students upstairs right now!! (I am in my office and they are right above me - I love the noise)
• Still praying for Eddie Bishop and praying that God will continue to heal him!
  

Everyday Joe

Sunday we begin a new series at NorthStar called "Everday Joe".......Everyone experiences; unmet expectations, temptation, being forgotten and then being faced with forgiveness of those who wronged you!

If someone had laid out a plan for our lives we would have never dreamed we would have to face & go through some of the things that we have. The question is do we have enough resources within us to face those times and bounce back and keep walking.........

Hope to see you Sunday!!!

Pray

Please take a second and pray for one of the men who has invested so much into my life, Eddie Bishop. Eddie was one of the first people I met when I arrived in Kennesaw in 1991 and to this day he has poured so much into me & so many others.

Eddie is fighting off an infection in the Kennestone ICU right now and the doctors have said the next 5-7 days are critical. Please keep Eddie & his precious family in your prayers! His wife Ludell is my assistant and his kids (Adam, Nan & Chad) are some of my favorite people in the world.

Thank you for your prayers!

Rearview Mirror

• Great weekend
• Got to escort my little girl at her football homecoming on Saturday - that was pretty cool!
• Watched UGA vs. Alabama Saturday night - Roll Tide!!  As a Tech fan, it was great watching the dismay of the Dawg fans as they were in disbelief in what was happening.  Kind of felt sorry....for a moment or two!!
• Great day at NStar today - wrapped up Kingdom series by talking about being out on the front line!!  Really a picture of who we are as a church and why we do church the way we do it!
• Had baptism tonight at our house - 20 baptized!!!  Awesome stories walking through the cold water!!!
• After baptism we had about 14 new people at our Newcomers - also at our house!!  We had an awesome time hosting these 2 great events!
• The Unit is back on - one of my favorite shows!!
• I am absolutely worn out and ready to chill for the night!!!

Idea Nation - You have to join!

One of the things we work hard on at NorthStar is staying creative and ahead of the curve!! A good buddy of mine, Josh Webb, who is one of the most brilliant minds I know has created a site that I think is going to be huge for leaders!

Join Idea Nation and be a part of this awesome grass roots "sharing" opportunity!!

Praying for big day!!

I am about to head out to teach the last week in our "Kingdom" series......I am praying for a big day not only for NStar but for our partner churches!!!  Will you pray for these Pastors & Churches as well that God would show up today in big ways.........Praying for a big day "Out on the front line"

Kingdom Pastors & Churches........

• Brian Bloye & WestRidge Church
  
• Mike Stephens & Burnt Hickory Baptist Church
  
• Billy Moss & Noonday Baptist Church
• Ken Williams & West Cobb Church
• Ike Reighard & Piedmont Church
• Ronnie Cheatwood & Mt. Calvary Baptist
• Tom Tanner & RiverStone Church
• George Wright & CedarCrest Church

Highlight of the week!!!

On Tuesday, Anne & I were able to go out and eat lunch with Brian & Amy Bloye and Jr & Devin Lee. We had a blast and it was so great to hang out with like-minded friends who love the same things we love and experience all of the same things we experience!! What I love most about these guys is that they are real and what you see in public is really who they are!!

Brian & I have been friends for the past 11 years and he is absolutely one of the most solid leaders I have ever met! He knows what he is about and sticks to his plan better than anyone I know!! I love that guy......he is a true friend and I cannot even begin to tell you what an encouragement he has been to me!

JR & I met a few months ago and outside Brian when WestRidge started, I knew there was a new game in town! He is funny, super sharp & a learner! Freedom has big days in store and JR is the perfect guy to lead this great church! My next Sunday off I am heading to Freedom and checking it out!! Can't wait!

I can't wait until we all hook up again soon!!

Praying

Do you ever reach those times that you really can't get a handle on what you are thinking or feeling?? NorthStar has never been blessed more than we are being blessed right now but yet you know there is something more & bigger for us! I trust God knows so I will trust Him!

Rearview Mirror

• Great time speaking to the NStar men on Friday night at Berry College!!  There was a ton of energy in the room!!  
• I love my time with the Allatoona football team.  They are a first year team and they have a ton of fight in them - we are talking about the life of Paul and learning to "play to win"!  Being a chaplain is pretty cool!!
• Got to see the GT Jackets on Saturday - these guys smashed Miss. State!!  Should be an interesting year!
• Another solid day at NStar on Sunday.....crowds down a little from last week but still very solid!  Lauren Boyd & Ryan Williams led in Compass and they were extremely good!
• Heading out to executive study and then a day of worship evaluating & planning!  I love starting the day early with my executive small group - there are some super sharp guys in that room and I always learn so much from them!
• Casey has a baseball game tonight at 6pm way up at Creekview High School between Canton & Cumming.......good full day ahead!!

I want to be great!

I want NorthStar to be a great church! I truly want this body of believers to make a HUGE difference in Kennesaw & Acworth (GA)! Personally, I want to be an incredible leader and lead in a Godly way not only at the church but also at my home! Bottom line, if I am involved in something I want it to be Great!

We learned yesterday @ NorthStar that God's view of greatness is a little different than ours!

To be great - I have to be a great servant and go to the back of the line! I have to be okay that no one knows my name and no one knows of NStar - they just have to know about the God that I serve!

Greatness is exhibited most by serving.........Everything in me tells me to step up and go the front and God says....stay in the back and let others go first!

I pray that at the end of my journey, God finds my life to have been a "great" one!!

Hope

Last night I spoke to 2 very different groups about 1 subject that they both needed to hear!! The subject was HOPE and they reason that they both need to hear it, is that when the day comes that our circumstances or crisis are bigger than the hope we have within us.....we are in big trouble!!

Hope..........keeps us moving forward, gives us light to walk in, at the end of the day expects to win & not lose......We can't lose hope!! The enemy that we all face wants us to quit and to look at what is going on right now as the end. The reason, if he can get our eyes off of "hope", he can get us out of the race and get us to quit!!

My prayer for the group of 80 football players at Allatoona and then later that night the "men of NStar" at their retreat - is that they hold on to HOPE with all that they have!! Our hope is not in anything we can do, but rather what God has already done & accomplished on our behalf!!

Hold on buddy..........Hope in a God who will never let you go and He will always see you through!!!

Serve!

We had the opportunity today to serve lunch for the teachers of North Cobb High School! What a great way to say thank you to these people who are on the front-lines with our kids! The lunch today was a joint effort of Mayor Mark Matthews & The City of Kennesaw and Mayor Tommy Allegood and the City of Acworth and NorthStar Church!

The school is so crowded, they have 5 different lunch periods and at each hour we prayed over the teachers at each hour....it was awesome!! Partnering with both of our cities and using the time to bless teachers & leaders is a blast!! The interim principal at NCHS, Dr. Mike Johnson, joined us for a time as well....he is an incredible leader!

I am so honored to have so many friends in our community who want the same things we want and that is to make our community the greatest place in America to live & raise a family!

Strategy!

Tuesday for me is a strategy day.......Here is a peek at a pretty normal Tuesday:

• 9am - evaluation meeting of this past weekend (What worked in our services and on our campus and what did not work in the services and on our campus)  If it did not work - who is going to work to correct it......Great meeting!  Pretty honest & open!!  
• 10:15am - creative worship planning - we do a quick overview of the upcoming service and then do the process & planning for the service 2 weeks out.  I go over the sermon for that day with the team and then we begin to creatively lay out the flow.  This meeting has been paying huge dividends since we moved to this design!
• 12:30pm - future planning - The key question of this meeting is what in the world are we going to do with the crowds??  We know we will be adding a service....when will it be?  what else will be offered?  is it live or on video or both?  how will we market?  how will we move current Nstar attenders to it to create seats at our prime hours?  Right now, we have more questions than answers but we are getting there!!!
• 2:00 - done - Return calls & e-mails from AM

Today, I get a break after the last meeting and I will be going to Kennesaw Mountain High School to hear Dr. Jack Llellewyn speak to all of their coaches!  It is early release day in the schools, so they are bringing in Dr. Jack to speak to their leaders!!  I am going to go & sit in and serve and then....just enjoy!  NStar is providing snacks for the coaches to say thank you for all that they do!!   This is going to be a blast!!

Tonight - Casey has a game against North Cobb High School in fall baseball!  Looking forward to the game and catching up with some good friends at North Cobb!

Rearview Mirror

• Clothesline was this weekend at NStar.......over 400 people were lined up around our building to get in to shop!!  We had over 250 volunteers that served and there were 1200 33 gallon bags of clothes given away!!  Incredible!!  I could not believe the crowd that was there - thanks to Melanie Mooney and her team for the super job they did!  They lived out our mission statement "To show God's love in such a way"
• Today we had the 2nd week in our Kingdom series......WOW - where do I start?
• I preached early in the service on the "Kingdom of God" is like a treasure out of Matthew 13.......when we find the treasure - everything else pales in comparison to finding what God has for us!
• We then sang "He loves us" with the stories of 4 NStar people who have given their lives to Christ in the past year or two......It was unreal.....I cried the entire song and just hearing their stories while listening to that song was over the top!  
• At the end of the song, in the Compass Centre Daniel led in a time of prayer for people to meet Christ - when he closed he asked those who had accepted to Christ to stand......there were 15 in the 9:30am and 25 in the 11:00am......The stories of some of those who stood - I know and they sent me over the edge!  It makes everything you do WORTH IT and more!  
• When they stood - the roar of our crowd was SO loud!  Then we sang the old hymn "I stand Amazed".....the words captured all that we were feeling and then the band kicked it in and it rocked!
• It was the most amazing service I have ever attended.....I cannot put it into words what I am thinking & feeling today!
• Heard that Cedarcrest Church (part of our Kingdom network of churches) had close to 40 baptized in a spontaneous baptism!!  Awesome!

If you were at NStar today - I would love to see your comments and what the day meant to you - maybe you can capture it better than me!

Great meeting

I had a great chance to catch up today with Aaron Coe, who is the pastor of the Gallery Church in NYC!  Aaron served with us at NStar and I knew he would be a guy would not keep long when he came....he is a visionary leader who runs in a different gear!!  It was so great to catch up with him and hear his new dreams for NYC and what they are putting in place to reach the city!

The Allatoona baseball team came up short tonight (8-6) - with only 1 junior on the field they are battling Varsity teams and it is good to see them hang in!!

Look forward to going to the NCHS vs. Harrison football game tomorrow night - the Top of the Rock classic sponsored by NStar Church!!  Should be fun!

Allatoona kicked off FCA this AM and had over 100 students for their first meeting!!  I got to speak and it was cool to be a part of the very first one ever!!  That school has some good days ahead!

5 reasons I love NStar!

• Big dreamers everywhere (staff & people)!
  
• No one ever minds adjusting on the fly!
• The greater the challenge, the more excited people become!
• People love our families!
• It is where I would go to church even if I did not work there!!
  

I could do 20 reasons but.......I gotta go!

Rearview Mirror

• The Kingdom series started today......NStar joined 8 other local churches to talk about "The Kingdom" - I heard a phrase last year from Vance Pittman who pastors in Las Vegas...."The church is a gathering place where we teach & talk about the kingdom"
• The Kingdom of God = the rule & reign of God in our lives!
• Services were slammed and standing room only in the main room at our 11am service and standing room only at 11am in True North!  WOW!
• Used Matt Papa song "Kingdom Come"....it was strong!
• Introduced "God of this City" as our close each week - the passion our people sang with gave me chills!
• We shot a video today for next Sunday that will be unreal - you can't miss seeing it next week!
• We were home this afternoon and I watched the Falcons whip the Lions!  I was so happy for the Falcons after the long year they had last year - it looked they were having a great time!
• GT looked good yesterday - big win over BC on the road!
• Mary-Michal did great cheering again Saturday - I am so proud of her, she looks so big out there!!  I love that girl!
• I so miss coaching right now but I am enjoying going and being a spectator at Casey's practices & games....
• Had a great time with Allatoona as chaplain again this past Friday - I am going to enjoy watching these guys grow up!  Coach Varner & his coaches are doing a super job!
• Big week this week - big decisions and big prayers being prayed!!  Can't wait to see what God has in store!

• 
  

Red Sea Rules & Meeting Notes

This past Wednesday we had our monthly "Learning Leadership" challenge with our staff! I love the first Wednesday of every month because we have some of the greatest leaders in our area come in and share their leadership area of expertise and there is no doubt that we are all better for it!! We have had some HIGH octane leaders and I always leave better and challenged to be better!

Ike Reighard, our founding Pastor at NStar, was our guest and he knocked it out! He shared principles from a book by Robert Morgan called Red Sea Rules. The info was solid and right on the money for where we are and we are facing! Ike filled in at the last minute and he was incredible! There is absolutely no leader in the world that believes in people like Ike does.....it is His gift in life! For a full look at what Ike covered, go to Randy Elsters blog and check it out!

On Tuesday, I met with a good friend named Brian Dodd who works for Injoy Stewarship Services. Brian is a great leader and as perceptive about the church world as anyone I know! He made a statement that was huge for me about where we are at NStar......I will share it with you this weekend!

Making life count!

One of my goals in life is to make a difference in people's lives that God has put me around! I want my life to count....I want to use my influence to make a difference for Christ! As I was reading Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson, I found a story that will forever mark me!!

A missionary named A.W. Milne felt called to a tribe of headhunters in the New Hebrides. All of the other missionaries to this tribe had been martyred, but this did not stop Milne from going. He lived among the tribe for the 35 years and never returned home. When the tribe buried him, this was written on his tombstone........(page 149)

"When he came there was no light. When he left there was no darkness."

Rearview Mirror

• Biggest crowds I have ever seen at NStar for Labor Day....it was slammed!!  Incredible!
• We closed the August Rush series by taking the Lord's Supper and building the whole service around it.....it was solid!!  The package the team did was spot on and it was just refreshing!
• Remembering what Jesus did on our behalf never gets old
• It was so cool to watch so many people just sit & cry, overwhelmed with His mercy & grace!
• Anne is happy - WVU won & Michigan lost!  
• Mary-Michal had our first football game to cheer for yesterday and she did awesome!!  Her Hoya 6th grade feeder football team won big!
• Casey finished his fall baseball tryouts for Allatoona High and found out he was on the first team!  I am so proud of all of his hardwork - season starts Tuesday!  This will be the FIRST time I have ever sat & watched and not been out on the field coaching......should be interesting!
• We are keeping some good friends of ours kids and enjoying them this afternoon while their mom & dad get some time away!
• Looking forward to the day off tomorrow!!  We are going to hang here at the house - maybe go to the ball field for a little while and swim!
• Finished Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson - what a great book!!! 

Here we go!

• Great creative team day at Red Top on Tuesday! We brainstormed the next 3 series and came out with some awesome stuff!! So fun to be around smart/creative people!
• Met on Wednesday with good friend, Ira Blumenthal, who just wrote a book called Brand You. Ira is one of the leading people in the world in branding and everytime I spend time with him - I leave better! You have got to pick up his book - it is right on the money!
• NStar is blowing it out on the weekends and we are in the process of figuring out what to do next.......some of the ideas are pretty exciting!!
• Met with Alan Riley on Wednesday.....Alan works with 316 networks and is just a great guy and brilliant in the media/streaming world! I always learn so much when we hook up!
• I was able to spend some time on Thursday with Jeff Cranston, pastor of Low Country Community Church in Hilton Head, SC. When we used to vacation in HH, LCCC was where I would attend on Sunday's, and I always loved it! Jeff is on a sabbatical and coming through ATL and we were able to spend some good time together! I know he came to ask me some questions but I left with more than I am sure he did!! He is a sharp guy! My good friends, Todd & Cynthia Cullen, are serving with him now and they are leading the new campus on the Island! Look forward to talking to Jeff again soon!
• Casey started tryouts for the Allatoona High fall baseball team yesterday....it was weird watching and not being on the field! They will tryout again on Saturday and Monday.
• I spoke to the Allatoona Football team for a minute and I will do a devotional for them before their first home game tonight! Should be fun!!
• I am off to enjoy my day off with Anne....a little shopping, some lunch, a movie - all before the kids get out of school!!!
  

Have so much to tell you!

What a week....I have started about 10 posts and I have been too busy to get them finished!! Tomorrow, I will recap the week!

Rearview Mirror

• We had our 3rd week in our "August Rush" series yesterday......this has been a timely series for me & for many at NStar!
• May have been the largest crowd outside Christmas & Easter that we have ever had! The hospitality team had to start finding seats during the first song.....this is crazy!! We have always been the "LA Dodgers" with our crowds arriving late....things are changing!!
• The new Third Day song "Slow Down" was right on the money!! Ryan Williams nailed it!
• Met tons of new people and it was so incredible to hear all of their stories!
• Over 5o went through our monthly membership class....the room was slammed
• 32 people went through the Growth Starts class on prayer
• There were over 400 middle & high school students again....WOW!
• We had a super Management Team meeting early this AM and these guys had some solid stuff that was right on the money for me! Their wisdom is so good and timely in my life!
• A few of us went to Red Top Mountain for a day of "brainstorming" for our next 3 series.....The Kingdom, Average Joe & 21 - Some good stuff was flowing today - I am always blown away at the creativity of our team! There is no doubt I am the dunce on the room but it is fun being around smart creative people!
  
• A little bummed that Casey's tryouts for the Allatoona High School baseball team got rained out.....he is so ready to get out there!
• Started Mark Batterson's book "A Wild Goose Chase" -----quite possibly one of the best books I have read in a long time! You have got to get a copy and read it!! I will post some of his thoughts soon that spoke most to me!
  

Ken Blanchard

This morning, J.R. Lee & I went to a breakfast with the renowned business expert, Ken Blanchard. He had tons of great thoughts but one line I have thought about today was "Leadership is going somewhere"!

He said that as a leader, people are all looking at you to take them somewhere........real leadership is picking a direction, hopefully the right one, and going!! I am praying that I always take NStar the right way!!

Excuses

This morning I am about to head to our business leaders gathering called "Merge".....I love this group because they are people that are out on the front-line in business but they are trying to balance their faith with their daily life!

Today, we are talking about the life of Moses and some of the excuses he gave God of why he could not do what for some reason God thought he could......Isn't that a funny thought, the God of all of the universe calls you to do something but you feel inadequate and think He must have made a mistake!

Little bit of advice from our biblical mentors we read about.....if He calls, save the excuse and give what He called you to do a shot! I bet He knows better than we do!

Rearview Mirror

• Another incredible day at NStar.....heard from our student guys (Brad & Nick) that they had over 400+ students in the AM! Unreal - these guys are knocking it out of the park!
• Marsha, Tricia, Lendy, Terri & Tim (our preschool & elem team) had promotion and it was flawless.....hundreds of kids switching classes and I never heard a word about it - why - because this amazing group of leaders made sure everything was in order!!! They are super!!
• On Saturday - Ruby (women's league) coordinator had over 70 ladies from NStar and some other great local churches training for the fall......WOW!
• Daniel & the band nailed another one yesterday.....they just get better every week!!
  
• We talked yesterday about how the "August Rush" robs us off relationships....so true! I know that when I am in a rush, I do not listen.....especially to those closest to me....
• We had our 14u Titan baseball party yesterday and it was pretty emotional....these guys are going to 7 different high schools and moving on - I absolutely loved every minute I spent with them and their families over the past 3 seasons.......I pray that I impacted them half as much as they impacted me!
• Last night we had NStar newcomers - due to the baseball party running late, I did not have time to change clothes....I was in bright orange swim trunks - a brown youth camp t-shirt and in flip-flops...I apologized to all of our folks that were there but no one seemed to really care - in fact one guy said, "that is why I love this church!!".....Steve Roach on our staff said it was pretty comical to see me up there answering a pretty deep theological question looking like I just left the beach!! Just the thought of me answering a deep question is funny in itself!!
• Roach & I just got done writing the sermon for this week! We wrap up August Rush talking about "interruptions"....
• If you wondered who the famous person was that sat next to us at lunch last week, it was Jeff Franceour....you will have to listen to the podcast to hear the whole story....still makes me laugh!!
• I heard yesterday that Cedarcrest Church doubled their crowd when they moved to Allatoona High School!! I am so excited for these guys - George Wright (Lead Pastor) has a great group of folks there!! Way to go!
  

Random thoughts

• First week of school is over.....Casey & Mary-Michal survived going to High School & Middle School.......!! I am really proud of them!
• It has been a pretty crazy week at NStar - lots of lessons I have learned
• I am so proud of your team - nothing unites a team like a little heat and I am so proud of our guys for sticking strong & together!! I would go to war any day with this team!! I love them more than they will ever know!
• Had a great future planning meeting on Thursday - these guys are studs and challenge me a ton! We have some cool stuff ahead!!
• Met with the local pastors who are doing the "Kingdom" series with us in September - this is going to be incredible!! More to come! What a great group of men - seeing 10+ churches come together is going to be cool!
• Today, Anne & I had the day off and went to IKEA shopping (her trip) then went to Houston's to lunch.....special day for us getting our Friday's back with the kids in school! We were eating when someone sat down beside us that caused Anne to lose her appetite and get a little fidgety......come to NStar Sunday and hear the whole story - pretty funny!!
• Tonight - Allatoona had their first football scrimmage and looked good overall! I was so proud of Coach Gary Varner and his coaching staff for pulling all of this together! I am looking forward to being their chaplain and getting to know the team!! I have to admit, I am a baseball guy but this will be fun!
• Just saw Phelps win again - He is the man - move over Jack Bauer!!
  

We'll take it

Saw an article today on Drudge Report about a church in FL that would not accept giving from someone who won the lottery.........To recount what I heard Dr. Falwell say at Liberty a ton of times when asked if he would take money from someone who had won the lottery or gotten it in another fashion, he would always say, "Of course I would, the devil has had that money long enough"!!

See article below....

Living the August Rush

This past Sunday we began our new "August Rush" series......This week I am living the series - no matter how hard you try to slow down and get a handle on this time of year, it is tough!! With two kids in two different schools in different locations, you have to do your best to divide & conquer!

We all live with this tension of balance....this week my goal is not to procrastinate the big things but focus on them and let all of the other things fall in as they can!! Nothing like trying to live what you teach.........sure is easier to teach it than live it!

Rearview Mirror

• Great back to school Sunday at NStar!!  
• We prayed over teachers in both services (both rooms) - there are tons of teachers that come to NStar - I love that!!!  These people are on the front lines!
• We totally flipped our services today with an opening video and coming out with "I stand amazed" - it was STRONG!!!  Great to switch things up!
• One thing we talked about today that is so true - we "procrastinate" the things in life that are most important when life gets in a hurry!
  
• Closed service with "Stop & Stare" by One Republic - our new guy, Eric Abney, nailed it!!
• I have chilled this afternoon and I cannot believe that summer is over & school cranks up tomorrow!!
• Watching Olympics tonight (Anne loves the Olympics).....if she loves it - it is good for me!!
• Great weekend start to August Rush!

Stuff

We had a great last blast of summer yesterday.......We left out early in the AM and went tubing down the river in Helen, GA! We had a blast and just enjoyed the time and enjoyed each other!

I am a little sad that summer is over for the MM & Casey....the two of them going back to school means they are one year older and not little anymore!!

This past week when Bill Purvis was with our staff and shared some incredible lessons that he has picked up over 25 years - his lessons were right on the money! It is so refreshing to learn from people who are on down the journey from you and can pass on wisdom!!

NorthStar Leadership

We kicked off our "Leadership Training" for our NStar staff & other church planting friends from the area on Wednesday! This is an incredible time for us because we bring in an high octane leader ,once a month, who can help us sharpen our skills in a ton of different areas! Dr. Bill Purvis from Cascade Hills in Columbus kicked us off in a big way and I know for me, threw out some stuff that I needed to hear!!

Randy Elster on our team captured his notes - hope you enjoy!!

Rearview Mirror

• Had a great time on Saturday with my family at our house!!
• Super Sunday again at NorthStar - hearing people start cheering when we showed the baptism video from last Sunday night was so cool!
• We talked yesterday about being generous people and what that looks like in every area of our lives - when we want God to meet our "needs" He is waiting on us to meet others needs.....
• Met last week with a young lady who 3-4 years ago met with me to ask me if she could join but not be a Christian......never had that question before! After letting her know that would not be possible and what she should do going forward.....she has stayed all of this time and just recently met Christ and began a relationship with Him!! Pretty cool story that I am so glad that she took the time to come & tell me the whole story!
• NStar campus is FULL of teachers today as they prepare to get ready for the students next week! Just spoke to about 150 "Cobb County Staff" and thank them for the investment they are making in kids lives! The plug they gave NStar was huge......you could not pay for that kind of advertising!
  
• This is grill week - we have teams going all over Cobb cooking for schools & teachers and welcoming them back for the new year! I will be at Big Shanty Elementary today! Visit our website and or go to NorthStar in the Community to see what all is going on!!
  
• We do this to "Show God's love in such a way" and build relationships with tons of people who are daily influencing our children!! We have been blessed to reach unbelievable amounts of teachers through the years!!

Another great note on Skip

Here is a great post from Alan Riley about the passing of Skip Caray......

A voice that will be missed!!!

I will never forget the words across the TV......."Braves win....Braves win.....Braves win" from Skip Caray as Sid Bream slid across home plate to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates to clinch the National League!! I never dreamed growing up as a life-long Braves fan that you could become so attached to a voice calling a game. You see, growing up in Fayetteville, GA there was not a whole lot to do in the summer, so we spent virtually every night either listening to Skip & Pete on the radio or on Channel 17.

The Braves were awful during those days in the 70's & 80's and were out of contention most years by the All-Star break. Skip & Pete would banter about nothing and I felt like I knew him and could close my eyes and see the game through his voice. I am so glad that Skip & Pete both got to be a part of a Braves World Series Championship in 1995!!

I just saw posted on AJC. com that Skip had passed away in his sleep here at his home in Atlanta. Thanks Skip for your love of baseball and your love of the Braves and for all of the stories that you passed on to me as a kid that I now pass on to my own son who has grown up listening to you as well!! I am going to miss your voice - it took me back every time I heard you!!

Family

Tomorrow, we are celebrating all of the summer birthdays in our family with a party at our house!! I can't wait to see everyone and just enjoy the day!

One more week of summer before school cranks up - I cannot believe that the summer has gone so fast! I know a ton of people are ready for their kids to go back but we LOVE having ours home and it is nice not arguing over homework!

We wrap up our "Meet Joy" series on Sunday with "Come Hungry Leave Happy!" We usually want God to meet our needs but Paul teaches in Philippians that we create an area for God to fill when we are generous with what He has blessed us with! I am praying that NorthStar will continue to be generous church with what God has blessed us with!!

This why we do it!!

I was wrong about Sunday - there were actually 97 people baptized at the lake!! How awesome!

Tonight, Marlon Longacre called me to let me know that at FCA football camp last week, there were 40 of the 74 football players at North Cobb High School made first time commitments to Christ!! To all of those at NStar that gave to help those players go - your investment was an eternal one!!!

My heart is so full tonight!

Rearview Mirror

• Great morning - another day of huge summer crowds!
• There is a ton of momentum going into the school year
• Got to slip out of the 11am service and watch the end of the True North service - that was fun to see how many people are in that service every week!
• Met a bunch different people this Am that teared up when telling me their stories of finding NorthStar and then finding God!
• The NStar picnic tonight was incredible.......around 700+ at the lake with us!
• The best food yet at any of our picnics.......solid effort on bringing food - Casey & I loved it since we are living without our girls!
• Great to meet so many people that I just see every Sunday and getting to meet their families and learn their names!
• Once again baptism was huge!!! There were over 80+ baptized tonight...all ages, all backgrounds, all walks of life......a true picture of what God can do with a willing heart - no matter your age!! I will post some pics this week!
• We have now baptized around 150 this year - and there are tons still waiting.......I never get tired of watching people exchange ordinary for extraordinary!!!! Gotta love it!!
  

Praying for Sunday!

I am praying for a big day at NStar tomorrow......We continue our Meet Joy series and we will be talking about contentment! If we could get a grip on contentment our "joy" would change a ton!

Tomorrow night we will gather for "NorthStar @ the Lake" - our picnic and baptism!! There are over 80 already signed up and I am sure some more will hit tomorrow - always one of the highlights of my year! I am totally blown away by what God is doing all around us!

I am sitting here tonight after a good Saturday:

• Hung out with Casey all day - I love that boy!!
• Went & saw my brother & his wife (David & Nancy) and their twins.....the kids are getting so cute and it was great to see them!!
• C-man & I went and saw "Dark Knight" - what a great flick!! The spiritual overtones are unreal!
• Got home in time to watch the Braves blow their lead - that was brutal!!
• Casey just smoked me in "major league baseball" on PS2.....you know you are old when you get ripped that bad!
• Sitting here going over my notes for Sunday
  
• Missing my 2 girls like crazy - we are having fun but the house is just not the same!!

I can't wait to tell you what all God does tomorrow!!!

Fun Night!

Casey & I are "batching" it this weekend with the girls away at Mary-Michal's cheerleading camp! Anne has the fun job chaperoning 6th grade cheerleaders, they are at UGA all weekend!

Tonight - Casey & I went with David Eeles and his 2 boys to see the Rome Braves baseball game - we had a blast!! There is nothing like minor league baseball (quick trip, easy cheap parking & cheap dugout tickets) The boys got tons of autographs from many future major leaguers who are not jaded yet by their profiles and they are still playing baseball because they love it!

Dave & I had a blast catching up on our Liberty playing days and it is crazy to think that he has moved here from Phoenix and will be coaching at Allatoona High this fall!! He is such a great guy and great friend!!

But........we sure do miss our girls!

Parenting

Okay, this is the week of no original thoughts but.......when other people's are good, why not post them?? As a parent of an 11 year old and 14 year old (one starting middle school and one starting high school) and a former youth pastor.......I realize that my greatest years of influence are almost behind me! I am so thankful that I had some great mentors in my life who kept me from wasting away those years! Below is a great post from Tim Stevens about the influence of parents........

Thinking About Parenting

By Tim Stevens

I've been thinking alot about parenting lately. Maybe it is because we have four kids at home, ages 7, 11, 13 and 15. Yeah, our quiver is full.

I think everyone would admit that there is a point in a teen's life when the influence of his/her parents becomes less, and the influence of their friends becomes greater. I did an informal survey yesterday on Twitter, and again last night at dinner with some friends. It seems that the age at which the parents' influence drops dramatically happens somewhere around 13- to 15-years old.

As I reflected on my life as a child, the influence I perceive that I have with my own kids, and my informal survey, I charted it like this...

As a parent, the awareness of loss of influence can be alarming if you didn't see it coming. So be warned young parents, I have just given you a glimpse of the future.

Here is the key learning: Environments matter. Who my daughter is influenced by as a 15-year old is dependent greatly on the environments that my wife and I placed her in as a 10- and 12- and 14-year old.

It's a little early to tell whether we will survive life with teenagers, but here is the advice I would give parents of pre-teens...

• Get involved in a great church with strong youth leaders.
• As they start middle school, don't give them the option to stay home from the youth program.
• Find a school that has strong values and where there is good chance they will be able to find solid friends. That might mean paying for private school or moving to a better school district.
• Get them in situations where they are hanging with young adults who are following God. That's why we had college-age students live in our home for two years.
• Teach them the joy of serving when they are very young.
• Let them participate in events where there is a good chance they might take a step spiritually, like summer camp, missions trips, or weekend retreats.

Oh, and one last word of advice for those with teenagers---stop lecturing and start listening. Stop giving direction and start asking questions.

It's your turn now...is my chart way off?

August Rush - new series starting August 10

Here is a great article from CA Phillips about our upcoming series August Rush......Good word CA!!

What a weekend....

• On Saturday, the City of Acworth broke ground on the special needs baseball field!! This is going to be one amazing field (full synthetic turf) so it can navigate wheel chairs & walkers and also a special equipped concession stand so some of the players can work when their teams are not playing!! It tore me up to stand back and just experience the excitement of these children & their families!!! What began as a dream and a "extraordinary giving" at one of our services now is a 1.2 million dream that united the entire community!!
• Services today were beyond slammed.....
• Kaitlyn Howell was home from Hillsong Australia and she sang in both of the Compass services! We are so proud of her!
• We continued our series on "Meet Joy" and talked about how to handle stress God's way....the room was pretty thick with what people are going through & facing in life!
• At the 9:30am service we had the Head Football Coach from Kennesaw Mountain High School (Scott Jones) share about his team going to FCA football camp this week and tons of his players & coaches were there as well!! Coach Jones is the real deal and loves the boys and his #1 goal is turning out young men who get that God has a plan for their lives beyond the football field!!
• At the 11:00am service - Coach Shane Queen (head football coach at North Cobb High) shared and then had one of his players share as well.....this young man worked his way through high school, made great grades, played football & supported his mom. He had his life changed last year at FCA camp and there was not a dry eye in the house! A bunch of the Warrior football players were there along with coaches and their new principal Dr. Bynum!!
• We gave our people a chance to give and help sponsor players who want to attend FCA football camp but they can't afford it!! I will say it again, "NStar is at our best when we are giving!!!" I just love our church!!
• I left the campus today and could have stayed there all day just soaking in what God had done all morning!
• It is easy to sit & focus on how disconnected schools are but if you "invest into their life" there are days like today that you begin to see the fruit!!!
  
• I am so proud!!
  

Lessons Learned

Yesterday I had to do the funeral service for a good friend who left this world a little too early. He & his family were HUGE in the early days of NStar and through the years he was a big encourager to me & to our church! There was a day early on that we were out of money on a Friday and this guy called to tell me that God had blessed his business in huge ways and he blessed us in big ways...It was so hard to look out and see his sweet family - they were rocks through the whole ordeal this past week - I was so proud of them!

The family had moved to the other side of town and been attending North Point during that time. Though they asked me to do the funeral, they wanted to have it at their home church. I guess the expected response from huge churches like North Point is that, "well, we are sorry for your loss but you are on your own". I notified the NP on Monday AM and by Monday afternoon they were in touch with me & the family and walked with them every step of the way! I was blown away and reminded once again that they are a fabulous church for more than just their Sunday services! I shot Andy a note and let him know how proud he should be of his team!

They put most churches to shame on how they loved on the family and were there to help meet any need they possibly could! I know this - I learned a ton and there are some practices that I will put into place at NStar ASAP! We do a good job with families but there are things that we could certainly do better! As I said earlier this week - you never go wrong when you love on people!

Cookout

Tonight about 40 "hungry" college students descended on our house for their weeknight bible study!! We cooked out and had a blast just hanging out in our backyard and chilling!! They swam, talked & then I did about a 15 minute bible study to close out the night!

Bryan & Lee Ann Barton have done an amazing job leading this group and it was so fun to meet many of them for the first time and get to know them a little!! God has His hand on some of these guys in HUGE ways and I am so pumped about what is in store for them & for NStar!!

I am praying that we reach KSU in a big way and I have a good feeling that the catalyst to make that happen are with us right now!!

It's not that hard!

I think sometimes in ministry & in life we make things too complicated! We forget the things that really matter and we focus in on things that do not! It is really easy to begin to focus on the quality of our program and let the people around us become the interruption and see them as a hindrance rather than what it is all about!

Let's "uncomplicate" things a little bit and enjoy what God has called us in to! It's about people......it's about their hurts, their joys, their ups & downs....it's about people! If it worked for Jesus - I betcha it will work for us!

It's not that hard!

Homerun Derby

Sitting here watching the All-Star Homerun Derby!! Gotta love it.....Sad part is that I am having major flashbacks to pitching in college and giving up some monstrous shots!!! Bad memories!!!

I'm Back!

After a week of baseball at Disney and the other time spent at the parks enjoying the world of Mickey and a few days with the fam at Clearwater Beach chilling.....I am back!

Of course, I have heard nothing but raves about the past 2 weekends at NStar! Brad last week and then Daniel this past week knocked it out - it feels so good to be away and know that your team is blowing it out!!! Way to go guys!

As you can imagine, I have a ton piled up to get done and I know that the next few weeks leading up to school are going to be nuts!

I lost a great friend as well this past weekend and I am so sad for his sweet family that he left behind. He was one of our original core families at NStar and though they moved to the other side of town, I had kept up with them pretty well through the years. The funeral will be late this week and they have asked me to do the service.....please pray for them!!

Here we go.........

Cry me a river!

Check out Bonnie Hoover's blog.....she gives a shout out to my favorite little girl in the little world!

Disney

Sorry I have been off-line for the past week. We are at Disney in a baseball tourney and having a ton of fun hitting the parks!! We play ball every AM and then hit the parks until night - we are whooped tired but having a blast!! Can't wait to catch you up!! Off to Hollywood Studio's for the 2nd time to hit the "Rock n Roll' Coaster and then we play the Cayman Islands in baseball in the AM!

Rearview Mirror

• Strong Crowds at NStar this AM! Hard to believe that it is the middle of summer and things are so strong! This is sort of scary for fall!!
• I love our people - their faces when you are speaking are so open and ready for what God has to say to them!
• Great video behind the "History Maker" song this morning - Strong!!
• I used a quote from Mark Batterson from his blog "Jesus did not die to make us safe, He died to make us dangerous" - went perfect with the message "It's on me" on being a difference maker in this world
• Looking forward the morning and seeing how many cards came in responding to the challenge!
• With no baseball this afternoon - I made a solo drive to Fayetteville and spent the afternoon with my parents. Mom whipped up a big dinner (nice treat) and it was good to get caught up! They were great parents and I love them a ton and thank God daily for what a great home they raised me in!!
  
• I have a ton to cram in my day on Monday trying to get ahead before being out for the next week - trying to get ahead a little bit tonight!
• I looked out this AM and saw tons of High School Coaches - how awesome is that - these guys are difference makers in a lot of kids lives!!
  

I'll keep you posted!

Tribute to my boys

Back in early February my 14U travel baseball team set a goal of 40 wins for the 2008 season. This was huge in light of the fact we play a very tough schedule and it is a long season and with injuries and just 14 year old schedules of kids being out - 40 seemed like a big reach! Our first tourney found us going 1-2-1......not the start we expected! Then the guys turned on the jets and today swept a double-header from a Muprhy, NC team and picked up their 39th & 40th wins!!

I have never been more proud of a group of "determined" young men who put together an absolutely unforgettable season! The guys have played as a team from beginning to end and they are one solid group!!

We now head to Disney for our end of the year trip!!! I can't wait to spend a week in Florida with these guys!!

I am a little sad that this years run is almost over.....I love these guys!

Leap Week

Our campus has been rocking this week with "Leap"!! Over 160 middle & high school students & leaders worshiping and serving.......incredible! My son Casey is a part of the week and he is having a blast!! J.R. Lee is knocking it out speaking & NorthStar's own Chris Huff is leading in worship! Brad, Nick & their team have done an awesome job leading the way!!

Tomorrow (Thursday) at 4pm - they will be baptizing 40 students out on the lawn in front of our True North building!! I can't wait to be there to be cheering them on!!!

"Let me Sing"

Daniel & our NorthStar worship team just came out just recently with their first worship cd "Let me Sing"..it is amazing!!! I can't quit listening to it!! Visit the site and listen in and make sure and order yourself a copy - great stuff!! Their goal is to produce 2 a year.......way to go Daniel!! I love all of the cuts on the cd but my favorite is "Blessed Assurance"! Let me know what you think!

It's Just another Manic Monday!

• The Carrier funeral was HUGE! The place was packed - it is so unusual for a 48 year old man to have touched so many lives. One word described his life....Others! Robbie Carrier was a man who invested his life in others and so many lives were touched by his life! Please pray for his 3 sons and sweet wife as they continue his legacy!
• Today began "Leap" week at NStar! Over 160 adults & students spend the morning doing "camp" (worship with Chris Huff and teaching by the one & only J.R. Lee) and then they serve all over the community in the afternoon. This week NStar has partnered with FBC/Kennesaw to do Leap.....talk about coming full circle - FBC is where I was youth pastor for 5+ years and it is so cool that their youth pastors now (Jimmy & Melanie Gunderman) were in my youth group there!!
  
• 12 students accepted Christ this AM to start the week!
• Check out our prayer net to see all of the unreal stuff people are living with in their lives
  

Rearview Mirror

• Great AM at NorthStar
• Down at 9:30am and packed out at 11am
• Great friend Kevin Burrell, scout with Chicago White Sox, was in the 9:30am service! What an awesome guy!
• Worship was STRONG - I love our team at NStar!!
• Message today was on "how to diffuse conflict" - just good practical stuff from Philippians!
  
• No games this afternoon - swam and hung out with the family & friends....how nice is that!!
• Have a funeral on Monday & Tuesday of this week.
• Went to funeral home to visit with the Carrier family - Robbie passed away early Saturday and left behind 3 sons and his wife Kenya. Please be praying for them during this time! We are expecting a huge crowd for his funeral tomorrow at NStar.
• My heart breaks for this family - I look at them and put my son & little girl and wife in their spot and it just tears me up.....

If you get a chance tomorrow around 11am - please pray for them and for all of the others at the funeral that the good news of where Robbie is now will be a story that they can't forget.

Week Recap

What a great week of "The Adventures of Kennesaw Brown"! On Thursday night we had 30+ (3rd -5th graders) say yes to a relationship with Jesus Christ!! Pretty Cool!!

Some of our men are going to a weekly rental lodge and bringing the children from there.....one of those young men got saved and the looks & tears from the guys who are investing in their lives was incredible & unforgettable!

Last night they had the closing night with a new kids artist (Lyndee Link) and God's Warriors put on a strength show - it was pretty awesome!

Today, I am heading out to a double-header at Harrison Park in East Cobb for games with two different teams! We play at 10am & 2pm - should be a fun day! The great news is that I am off tomorrow - a Sunday afternoon with NO baseball! Like every other pastor I am toast on Sunday afternoons but usually I have to go into a different gear to have the energy for the baseball games I go to - tomorrow......no gear needed - I will crash!!!

Tomorrow we continue our "Meet Joy" series at NorthStar with "May I see the Manager"....talking about how to handle conflict & still have joy!! Should be fun!

Adventure Week

What a crazy week around NStar!! What do you get when you cross 300+ adults and a couple of hundred kids.....you get Adventure week!!! It is VBS on steroids!!

I have had a blast hanging out meeting tons of new NStar families and watching our NStar team pull off an incredible week!! "The Adventures of Kennesaw Brown" is the theme and it is totally unreal - all of the scripts & curriculum were written by our team for the week and it is so cool to see it all come together!!! What I love most is looking around and seeing men everywhere helping & serving - that is just cool!!

Marsha ,Tricia, Terri & Lyndi & Tim have been awesome leaders making "The Adventure" happen!!

I sure wish I was a kid again!!

A father's day to remember!!!

A Father's Day to remember....

• Great day at NStar - strong crowds and so cool to honor Dads.....if these men only knew how big God's plan was for their lives!
• We were in part 3 of Meet Joy - Hungry Man's Special.....pretty cool stuff from Paul about men....if we could live out the attributes he laid out, our lives would count in a big way!
• Coach Jimmy Whittemore and his wife Melanie did the welcome in the Compass Centre...it was so cool to see a Kennesaw Mountain Coach up on stage talking about exchanging ordinary living for an extraordinary life through the transforming power of Jesus Christ! Thanks Coach Whit!!
• Daniel & Stephanie & the worship band were rock solid as usual!!
  
• My 14u travel baseball team lost their first game of the morning (10-6) the boys showed up for 7am bp and and then the game started at 8am. After the loss the team had to drive 25 minutes to another park (won 2 in a row there) and then came back to Big Shanty to win the 14u USTBA National State Championship!! The boys were at the ball-park for 13 hours today and these warriors had enough left in them to win first place in their division - I am so proud of these guys! I have never played 4 games in the same day in my life and these guys hung in there and pulled it out!!
  
• We set a goal of 40 wins before the season started and the team is now (35-9-2). Unreal!!! Still a lot of baseball left to play!!
• Adventure Week @ NorthStar is this week!!! I can't wait to see the campus covered up with kids & adults - it is going to be a fun week!
• I am worn out and going to call it an evening!!
  

Truly - a father's day I will never forget!!! I am so blessed!!!

Happy Father's Day!

Knowing that tomorrow will be a little crazy......services at NorthStar (continuing Meet Joy series - Hungry Man special) and some action on the diamond (Titans are currently 2-0 in the USTBA State Tourney) - I wanted to say a Happy Father's Day to my dad Charles Linch!

I guess nothing could conjure up Father's Day memories more than being at a baseball field. My dad was an incredibly dedicated & hard worker in business (he went 35+ years while only missing one day of work). He taught me so much about loyalty, honesty and the willingness to work hard to move up. However, he also taught me about family. I don't know how he worked his schedule, but I do not ever remember dad missing one of my baseball games. He had his little cooler, lawn chair & umbrella and he would find a quiet spot behind the plate and he would sit & take in every pitch!

I do not remember him ever saying a word to me during those games but I knew he never missed a thing! We would replay the game over & over as we would ride home and it never crossed my mind that he could have been a million other places! On days we were not playing, we were sitting at a ballpark together somewhere dissecting hitters and other teams in hopes that we would play them and put our notes to work! It was years later when I finally realized that you had provided me an opportunity that you did not have and that though you had to work as a teenager and give up your gift of baseball, you allowed me the chance to work at baseball & to be a kid! I will never forget you saying, "You have the rest of your life to work - be a kid and enjoy playing and see how far you can go". I think you were as excited as I was about getting the scholarship to play for Coach Richardson at Liberty - you sure deserved it as much as I did!

I still remember looking up while in college on a March afternoon in Lynchburg and seeing my dad in the bleachers at Liberty with his luggage from the airport and realizing that he had flown up to catch my DH. Those were some great memories! He had did not pour I love you's & hugs but what he did give me was a love that was spelled "T...I...M...E" - He was there and we bonded not by organized sitting together but by doing life together and by just being there.

Thanks Dad........though you were quiet & I am loud and you sat in a chair at ballgames & I pace the dugout & field - you taught me what it means to be there for my kids & to provide for them the very best way that I can! Everytime I feel the hot blazing sun and the take in the dust swirling around me on a field - I think of you and all of our years together on a field!

Happy Father's Day dad and thanks for taking time for me when I know (now) that you didn't have to!!!