NEED YOUR HELP...

Hey DAGer's with Easter right around the corner it's time to get ready to BE THE CHURCH in our community. On Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Yahoola Park in Dahlonega Georgia we will be hosting a Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt. We're currently working on the details for this amazing event but what we need from you RIGHT NOW are plastic eggs and candy. WE NEED A TON OF PLASTIC EGGS & CANDY. My goal is that we have over 10,000 eggs on Saturday April 11th. Let's make this happen for the kids in our community. I promise this will be the greatest Easter Egg Hunt that Lumpkin County has ever seen. So please start bringing your eggs & candy this Sunday. Thank you for dreaming with Tami & I as we INFLUENCE OUR COMMUNITY.

NEW SERIES!

Baggage...when we hear this word we usually think of airport security lines, traveling, and of course packing. But if we were really honest with ourselves the word BAGGAGE reminds us of past pain and hurts. Those things that have kept you from living life and dreaming big. My goal and hope is that through this series you will learn how you can pack up the pain and hurt, find release from addiction and torment, and break free from the battles that keep you – and your baggage – grounded. Here is a sneak preview of what to expect in the next few weeks ahead.

• March 1st - Baggage: It's Time To Let Go
• March 8th - Baggage Check: Discovering What's Inside
• March 15th - Overcoming Addictions: Send Bad Habits Packing
• March 22nd - Emotional Baggage: Taking Out Laundry In Our Lives
• March 29th - Released From Depression: Joy Is Here To Stay

I hope to see you this Sunday as we start this new and life revolutionary series!

THANK YOU!

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all of you who have made Faith Promises to our Missions program this year. Words can't express how grateful Tami and I feel. I realize that times are financially tough right now but thank you for DREAMING OUT LOUD with us!

Here is a quick look at how your FAITH PROMISE will impact the world forever.

Because of your faithful giving churches will have a MAPS team come and help team rebuild and finish long waited projects. Because of you faithful giving lives in Europe will hear the gospel and experience the compassion Christ. Because of your faithful giving middle and high school student will experience a 7 Project at there schools. Because of your faithful giving lives in Latin America will be changed. Because of your faithful giving college students in Columbus Georgia will grow in their faith. Because of your faithful giving children in Cambodia will hear the gospel for the first time. Because of your faithful giving children in India will find HOPE. Because of your faithful giving the LA Dream Center will be able to complete their building project so they could house 1600 more people. Because of your faithful giving Missionaries will be able to purchase the resources & vehicles they need to share the gospel around the world. Because of your faithful giving lives will be changed for all of eternity.

DAGer's thank you so much for investing into something that really matters...PEOPLE! I am so honored to Pastor a church that understands that since PEOPLE MATTER TO GOD THEY NEED TO MATTER TO US.

Now let me challenge us first, if you have not made a Faith Promise for 2009 jump on board this Wednesday or Sunday and make a commitment to missions. Second if you have made a commitment...KEEP IT. Every penny counts! Once again THANK YOU & LET'S KEEP DREAMING OUT LOUD TOGETHER!

Sunday Night Mind Dump

• TODAY ROCKED!!!
• from my understanding there were 9 first-time guest this morning!!!
• it was so exciting seeing so many new faces!
• someone told me that they had a hard time during our meet & greet time trying to meet all the guests.
• what a great problem to have!
• another great problem that I think we are going to have to deal with is our parking space.
• our current parking lot is small and from what I heard it was pretty close to capacity.WOW!!!
• So DAGer's I need your help. Can you please park in the spaces furthest from the main doors.
• Let's give our guest the "red carpet" treatment when they visit us for the first time. THANKS!
• If this great problem continues I'm going to need ya'll to park on the grass and along side of the building...I can't wait to see this happen:)
• Who knows maybe by summer we'll have to update our current lot and add more spaces...JUST DREAMING OUT LOUD:)
• Once again our worship team did an amazing job!!!
• It seems like every week it gets better and better and better!
• This morning when I got to the church someone shared with me that they had a dream that the stage had a ton of people in our worship team and that the sanctuary was packed!!!
• I LOVE HEARING ABOUT THOSE KIND OF DREAMS!
• DAGer's it's just a matter of time...
• Did I mention that we had 9 first time guest;)
• I finished our God's Game Plan series today. I had a lot of fun teaching this series. It seemed like many people were challenged throughout the entire series.
• Remeber DAGer's I would love to hear about your stories of faith as you begin to step out to make the "game winning touchdowns".
• Finally, tonight we relaunched our Student Ministry.
• So with a handful of teenagers we ate pizza talked about the future and started to dream about how God could use us to start a REVOLUTION in Lumpkin County.
• I hope that Lumpkin County is really for a REVOLUTION because Revolution Student Ministries is going to turning our community upside down!!!
• I can't wait until Wednesday and Sunday!!! I love Pastoring DAG!!!

Sunday Mind Dump

• What a fantastic day!


• We had several new faces in the crowd today.


• It was great getting to meet our first time guest.


• My wife and I did notice something today. We got a little taste of what will happen when we have several first time guest at one time.


• More kids in kids church more babies in the nursery caught us off guard today.


• DAGer's it's time to step it up and become Partners in Ministry in these areas.


• If today was an indication of what the next couple of months/future is going to look like it's time to bring our "A game" every Sunday.


• Our kids deserve our best!


• Our worship team did an absolutely tremendous job today!


• I personally want to say thank you to everyone on the worship team. You guys are amazing thank you for using your talents and leading our church into God's presence.


• At our PM worship experience our worship team came together and sang and play a song that they literally learned this afternoon...AND IT WAS AWESOME!


• YOU GUYS ARE FREAKIN' AMAZING!!!


• I want to give a special shout out to Laura for stepping up and jumping on the keyboard! Seriously I almost cried as she played in the background while I was praying:)


• One of the things that I love about this church is its heart for missions.


• So today was all about Foreign & Home Missions.


• During our Morning Worship Experience Mike Holt was our guest speaker.


• He is a missionary to our public/private school systems throughout Georgia.


• It was so great to hear how God was moving throughout Georgia schools.


• During our PM Worship Experience Ben & Kami Heilman were our guest speakers.


• They are newly appointed Missionaries to the country of Cambodia.


• I am so excited for Ben & Kami their passion for the Cambodian people is so infection.


• I can't wait to see how God uses this amazing couple to change the country of Cambodia.


• If you want to invest into people who are making a difference for the Kingdom check out this website.


• Mike, Ben & Kami thank you for being so passionate about Jesus and for answering the calls on your lives.


• DAGer's I personally want to thank all of you who made Faith Promises today. I realize this isn't the greatest time to make financial commitments to anything but I am so honored and proud that you are willing to DREAM OUT LOUD with me as we send out missionaries all around this world.
• If you haven't made a Faith Promise yet I want to triple dog dare you to DREAM OUT LOUD with me as we INFLUECE THE WORLD through giving to missions.
• My hope and goal is that we will be able to continue to support ALL our current missionaries, fulfill our $10,000 commitment to the LA Dream Center and add two more missionary families to our list.
• Let me make this very clear NO AMOUNT IS TO SMALL!
• In fact one of our high school students has committed to give $2 a month to missions for the entire year. THAT'S HUGE!!!
• When you think you can't give...that is the moment to give!
• YOU CAN'T OUT GIVE GOD!
• In a couple of weeks after everyone has had an opportunity to make a Faith Promise I will be sharing with ya'll our monthly Faith Promise amount!
  
• I LOVE PASTORING THIS CHURCH!!!

DOLC CELEBRATION MOMENT!

Hey guys this is a DOLC (dream out loud challenge) celebration moment. I was sharing with someone last night about our DREAM OUT LOUD CHALLENGE. I told them that we had already raised $500 for the LA Dream Center. They were so excited about what God was doing in our church. I also shared with them all the projects we still had going on in our church. I was telling them how proud I was of Pastor Erica and her team for working so hard in our new kids area. Suddenly they asked me how much the carpet was going to be for the new kids church I told them $1,000 and without hesitation they told me that they would pay for it. WOW! We serve a GREAT GOD...a FAITHFUL GOD...a LOVING GOD! Let me just remind you that it was just this past Sunday when ya'll gave $500 and God has already doubled it! Let's continue to be lavish planter. DAGer's we are going to turn Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, and all of North Georgia upside down!!!!!

THE DREAM OUT LOUD CHALLENGE

CAUTION: After reading this post you may have a sudden urge to become a "LAVISH PLANTER" with Dahlonega Assembly of God which will result in ticking off Satan.


Yesterday I shared with our church the DREAM OUT LOUD CHALLENGE. As some of you may know I was in Phoenix Arizona attending Pastor Tommy Barnett's Pastor's School at Phoenix First Assembly of God. What an overwhelming, amazing, crazy experience. If you have ever gone to Pastor's School you know what I'm talking about. If you have never gone let me give you a quick snap shot of Pastor's School. Before I go on just know that this is going to be a long post...sorry but I got to get it out of my system:)

First of all, Pastor's School starts off on Monday night with some amazing time in worship followed by the parade of ministries. Phoenix First has over two hundred ministries going on at any given time. So for about an hour and a half you see hundreds of people walk across the stage with banners, motorcycles, signs, trains, and anything else you can imagine excited about their ministries. After the parade Pastor Tommy interviewed several people from various ministries. Finally the night ends with more incredible worship.

Tuesday morning starts off with worship followed by a speaker and then a work shop. After lunch there are a couple of more work shops. After dinner we head back to the church for the evening service. It's starts off with worship, usually this is the night Pastor Tommy does an illustrated sermon. This year it was a musical comedy. Personally I not into musicals but it was alright. Also the church buses in people from the community for the evening service. After the sermon there is a massive altar call and hundreds of people get save. VERY COOL!

Finally, Wednesday is pretty much like Tuesday except they have the PRAISE PARTY during the evening service. It's a night filled with worship...it was a great way to close out the conference. Afterwards, Pastor Barnett asked everyone to met him at the prayer chapel and prayer mountain for a time of prayer. I will never forget seeing hundreds of people in the chapel and on the mountain prayer and seeking the Lord...WOW! I still get goose bumps just thinking about it.

So that's pretty much what Pastor's School looks like. But let me finally share with you what the DREAM OUT LOUD CHALLENGE is all about. During Pastor's School Pastor Tommy share the story about the LA Dream Center. I'm sure most of you know what I'm talking about but if you don't know about the LA Dream Center go here to get more information. Anyway, I knew that Pastor Barnett was going to ask us to give towards the Dream Center honestly I was really to give a good offering but than something happened.

Even before they passed out the commitment envelopes I began to have this little discussion with the Lord. I told the Lord that I thought $1000 was a good offering and we would be able to give that amount to the Dream Center. Suddenly the Lord began to tell me that He knew that we were able to do $1000, He also knew that we could do $5000 both amounts good offerings but (why is there always a but) what amount could HE do that we could not do by ourselves. I knew exactly what amount He was talking about. As I opened the envelope I saw the amount of $10,000. The Lord told me that if I would DREAM OUT LOUD with Him, He would do what I couldn't do. I don't know about you but $10,000 is a chunk load of cash for me and my church. At first I was a little intimated by the amount especially since we average 40 -50 people on a Sunday morning at this point but then I remembered 2 Corinthians 9:6

(English Standard Version)The Cheerful Giver
6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

I love how the Message version states it:

(The Message)
6-7Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

You see as I listened to the testimonies and saw the videos, I couldn't help but hear and see Dahlonega's story. Countless lives stuck in the ruts of drug abuse, alcoholism, emotional & physical abuse, poverty, hopelessness, financially crippled, and etc. I believe with all of my heart that if I want to see Dahlonega Assembly of God's dreams come true we must be willing to invest into the dreams of others first. I'll be honest with ya'll, can DAG use $10,000 to finish projects and reach lives in our community...HECK YEA! But I am not going to miss this GREAT OPPORTUNITY to become a LAVISH PLANTER.

So yesterday I asked our church to DREAM OUT LOUD with me, to lock arms with me as we raise $10,000 for the LA DREAM CENTER. I 'm so jacked up about this that I think my head is going to explode!

DAGer's thank you so much for not looking at me like a crazy man but for DREAM OUT LOUD with me. I realize that $10,000 is HUGE but as we give sacrificially God will see our faith. I'm telling you when we begin to move in this kind of faith that's when the PARTY GETS STARTED! Oh by the way, DAGer's this past Sunday ya'll gave $500 to the Dream Center! THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU...we only have $9,500 to go.

If you are not a member or a regular attender of DAG but you feel like you want to join us on THE DREAM OUT LOUD CHALLENGE please comment me or email me. We have a huge amount to raise but I believe the Bible when it say that "nothing is impossible for God".

THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Sunday Mind Dump

• WHAT A DAY!
• It was great seeing several new faces in the crowd.
• On top of that it felt like our regular people were so jacked up about being at church.
• The worship team did a fantastic job!
• Even though we still lack some worship team members, every week our guys sing and play their hearts out. Thanks worship team ya'll are amazing!
• For the last several Sundays we have been late starting our 10:30am worship experience on time. But thanks to David we did a lot better today.
• Thanks David I really appreciate your help with keeping things moving forward.
• All the walls are finally painted in our Kid's church. It looks so stinkin' cool! PE you rock! Thank you so much for everything you and your team have done.
• We still have a lot more to get done and honestly it's an overwhelming task. We need more help, time, and money but we want to create an environment where our kids can become life long followers of Christ. So no short cuts only the best for our kids and teenagers.
• I continued our February series called God's Game Plan.
• Even though it had a football theme/feel to it, today was a pre-service for Missions Worship Experience next Sunday.
• I guess the best part of today was when I shared the DREAM OUT LOUD CHALLENGE! I'll share more on this in a later post. Let me just say I believe this verse with all of my heart.
• I finally started the process of looking for a new Associate Pastor that will pastor our teenagers. Please pray for me I don't want to rush into this just because I need the help. I need a person or couple that is passionate about student ministry.
• After our 10:30am worship experience we had a Council of Achievement Ceremony for our boys who participate in our Royal Rangers ministry.
• As always the food was great and the fellowship was wonderful.
• I was so proud of our boys as each of them went up to the front to receive their awards.
• I just want to give a quick shout out to Mike Cowan and the Ranger leaders for doing a great job today and for serving with all of your hearts. Thank you for giving our boys your best.
• Finally, I had a blast hanging out with some of our students tonight. We went to WinterJam 09' at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. It was freakin' awesome!
• All I got to say is Toby Mac is still the man!!!
• It felt great hanging out with teenagers again but the problem is that I ate like I was a youth pastor...not good:( that's all I'm going to say about that!!!
• I loved all the smoke, lights and screens. I was imagining how our sanctuary would look if we did a little makeover:)
• I am so pumped about next Sunday. We're taking the entire day to focus on missions.
• I have two incredible speakers coming to share what God is doing in their life regarding missions.
• DAGer's it's going to be an incredible worship experience! I promise you won't be disappointed.
• Lastly, I want to give a shout out to my good friends Chris and Jessica Lewis. They are church planters with the ARC. They had their very first service today in Conyers Georgia. I'm so proud of you guys I can't wait to hear about your first service. I know ya'll are going to turn Conyers upside down!
• If you live in or near Conyers Georgia I totally recommend their church Life Church

WinterJam 09'

Had an amazing morning worship experience. I love our church so much. I'll share more about this later. This afternoon I taking some of our teenager down to the Arena at Gwinnett Center. I'm looking forward to hanging out with some of our teens tonight at WinterJam 09. I'll share with ya'll later about how the evening went.

ONE GOOD IDEA!

Just read this post from Mark Batterson and wow it is so timely. I really believe with all my heart that tomorrow I am going to share a HUGE God idea. Got to admit, when I first started to contemplate what I was going to share tomorrow at church I thought it was my emotions from this week's conference in Phoenix. But as I spent time with the Lord and specifically asked Him to help me get through all the conference hype so I could hear His heart beat that's when He dropped and confirmed the "DREAM OUT LOUD CHALLENGE". Mark Batterson wrote, "when God conceives something in your spirit, a God idea, you need to take it captive. You need to pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on you until the dream becomes reality!"

To read the entire post go here and read the post entitled "ONE GOOD IDEA". DAGer's I highly recommend that ya'll read this post before Sunday.

HUGE DAY TOMORROW!

I can't wait til tomorrow. I've been gone all week in Phoenix waiting for Sunday. Tomorrow is all about DREAMING OUT LOUD. I going to be sharing how we can INFLUENCE THE WORLD.

DAGer's I hope you come ready to DREAM OUT LOUD with me tomorrow.

HEADED BACK TO CHILLANTA...

WOW what an amazing week. Sorry I couldn't give ya'll a day to day update. I had limited access to the Internet. When I get home and am able to download everything I took in I will let ya'll know. Until then here are some teasers...

• I really felt bad for my peps in GA this week. Yesterday I woke up and heard that the temp in Atlanta was 16...I prayed for ya'll while I suffered for Jesus in this 80 degree weather in AZ:)
• I was so impress with this whole conference. Everything was first-class. I hope that next we can bring EVERY partner in ministry to this conference.
• I climbed a mountain...seriously I really climbed prayer mountain. I show ya'll pics later.
• It was awesome seeing thousands of people worshipping all together.
• Did I mention the weather was amazing!
• I had my first In & Out burger a double double with cheese...not very impressed.
• I got to meet Pastor Tommy and Matthew Barnett.
• I also meet several other former pro athletes and artist...I got pictures!!!
• If you ever come to Phoenix you got to try Chuy's. I had my very first fish tacos and they were amazing...guess what I got pics of that to:)
• Finally one of the greatest things I am taking away from this trip is NEVER STOP DREAMING OUT LOUD.

I got to finish packing our flight leaves at 1:05pm AZ time. Please pray for traveling mercies also DAGer's get ready because it's time for us to start DREAMING OUT LOUD. I can't wait until Sunday!!!!

I'm headed to Phoenix Arizona!!!

At 10:00am my friend Chris Lewis and I are flying out to Phoenix Arizona to attend Tommy Barnett's 32 Pastors School. Honestly I am writing this post at 2:57am I am so jacked up about this conference that I can't sleep. I have always wanted to go to this conference and now I am finally going.

I got to saying thank you to my friends Pastor Chris Lewis and Pastor Troy Shaw of Osasis Church in Loganville Georgia. Because of these guys I got a ticket to attend the conference. But I have to say a HUGE THANK YOU to my amazing...gorgeous...and thoughtful wife. She gave me this trip for my 31st birthday. I love you so much honey. Thank you for helping me become a better Husband, Father, and Pastor. You rock my world!!!

DAGer's please pray for traveling mercies as we fly out later this morning. Also get ready because I'm coming back with a LIMP IN MY WALK. If you weren't at church yesterday ask somebody who was they will explain the LIMPING thing to you. I know this statement is over used but THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

Sunday Night Mind Dump

• What a fantastic day!
• The worship team did a GREAT JOB again!!!
• I know it seems like I say the same thing about our worship team all the time but our worship team is really amazing.
• Thank you worship team for leading us into God's presence this morning.
• I am so proud of ya'll.
• I love pastoring Dahlonega Assembly!
• All of our Partners in Ministry are awesome!
• Every Sunday I see people rising up and serving with all their heart.
• I honest can't wait to for Wednesdays and Sundays.
• Every Sunday I get a glimpse of our future.
• How DAG is going to turn Lumpkin County and Dahlonega Georgia upside down!
• I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• If this morning was a preview of the future it's going to get crazy...in a good way.
• We had several new and returning faces this morning.
• I had a blast preaching this morning. I LOVE talking about Jesus.
• I never get tried of watching people respond to God's word.
• It's kind of like when a deer looks into a cars head light...their stunned for a moment and then it smacks them in the face.
• Our Kids Pastor and her team have been working really hard on our kids church.
• It's looking freaken AWESOME and it's not even half way done!
• Pastor Erica thank you for serving with ALL YOUR HEART!
• I can't wait til tomorrow...I'm flying out to Phoenix AZ for Pastor's School at Phoenix First.
• Tommy Barnett has been mentoring and teaching Pastors for over 30 years. I don't know if I'm going to be able to sleep tonight.
• I got to give a shout out to my friend Chris Lewis for getting a ticket to the conference.
• I also got to give a shout to Troy Shaw at Osasis Church in Loganville Georgia for inviting Chris who then invited me. Thanks Pastor Troy...I'm looking forward to meeting you and your team.
• Oh DAGer's just because I won't be here for Wednesday night doesn't mean we're not going to have church.
• My father in law will be sharing with the Adult class on Wednesday night and I promise you don't want to miss it.
• So don't skip church on Wednesday!!!
• Seriously I got to try to go to sleep now I have a long day a head of me.
• Love ya'll and don't I tell you already that I love pastoring DAG!!!