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!