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99 Days.  puts into perspective my days and begs the question: How are you spending yours?

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Man, this just released from LifeChurch in OK.  Very nice way of tracking attendance, giving, etc.  Best part about it is it is free and can be accessed by your iphones, smartphones, etc.

Church Metrics

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I have heard Steven Furtick say this in a message several weeks ago at Innovate 08, and I think he said something similar at Catalyst in Atlanta a week or so ago.  Basically here is the idea:

Between the Promise and the Payoff there is a Process.

He spoke from 1 Samuel about the life of David and how he was annointed king as a young teen (promise) but didn’t become king (payoff) for years (process).  He spoke about David’s process and how because he was doing what he was told (carrying cheese to his brothers) he was positioned to fight a giant - the process.  He said something that really struck a cord with me: “We forget the promise, and forfeit the payoff because we’ve fainted in the process.”  Another point that hit home with me was “The process wasn’t pointless!  The process was the point!”  This has really been eating my lunch lately.  God has given, I believe to everyone knows Him, a dream, a promise, a passion.  That thing inside of you that says, “If I could do anything for the Kingdom of God, something that would make Him famous, and would be my dream, it would be…..”  I don’t believe that has to a job in a ministry for everyone, either.  It reminds me of Eric Liddell, the runner whose story was made famous through the movie chariots of fire.  He said, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.”  The payoff is the dream that you KNOW deep inside it would bring God pleasure.

Right now, I’m in the process…and it is the hardest thing to do to wait on the payoff.  The process is the point, but I think I might say the above statement like this:

Between the Promise and the Payoff there is a Process and a Price.

The Price is the patience, the pain and the persistence (okay, I thought I’d roll with P’s ..)  it takes to wait on God’s timing: to work through the process.  It is even more difficult when you can see glimpses of Payoff.  I don’t think ANYONE sees the full Payoff because we would sell God way too short.  But I do believe that God helps us to see glimpses of the Promise or we would lose all hope.  So, to those of us who are in the process, here are a few thoughts:

1. Don’t faint in the process.  It’s hard, it is gut-wrenching, it is painful but don’t flinch.  Don’t faint in the process.
2. Be faithful where you’re planted in the meantime until the Payoff.  Remember, it was David being faithful to carry cheese that put him in the postition to face Goliath, to take the next step in the process.
3. It is not up to you to complete the process.  God will do that.  It is simply not your job to bring about the Payoff.  You can’t do it.  You can prepare, equip, study, serve and be as diligent as possible but only He can bring the Payoff.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will
continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ
Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6

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We had a great weekend at the Jones house.  We pretty much chilled, hung out, ran some errands, watched the Dawgs hang 52 on LSU, and watched some movies.  Love this time of the year.  For a Sunday post, thought I’d post a story that I saw yesterday on ESPN Gameday on Coach Mark Richt and the story of their adoption of two children from Ukraine.  I’ll say this, Coach Richt is a very good coach, but he is an even better man.  Check it:

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hey, sorry I’ve been absent some as of late.  I’ve had a lot on my plate and A LOT on my mind.  When I’m processing through and thinking through things, I tend to get introspective and not very expressive Have a full day ahead but wanted to jot down a few notes while I’m thinking about it:

• today is my birthday…not sure how to feel about birthdays anymore.  36 today….and glad to be alive
• feel like right now is the calm before the storm with multi-site.  Over the next several weeks we’re going to be getting in a lot of the equipment.  New camera, projectors, lighting rig, etc.
• Love my kids like crazy.  They are just so fun at times and just say things that make me laugh.
• Been reading a book that I’ve been wanting to read for a long time called Confessions of a Reformission Rev. by Mark Driscoll.  I’m not a very consistent reader of books.  I like to read but tend to do so in spurts.  This is one book that I think EVERY..and I mean EVERY…pastor should get there hands on.  One of those that I have a hard time putting down.  It tells the Mars Hill Church (seattle) story but more importantly addresses some key issues that I think churches that consider themselves “contemporary” need to seriously pray and ponder over.  CCC included.
• Would appreciate your prayers.  God has really been stretching me in some areas of my life.

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Here’s a teaser I created for Revolution Church in Canton, GA.  It is for an upcoming message series.  I’ll shoot upload the full bumper after they launch the series.

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Okay, so I had to post this because it is so cool.  My sister Kristen is an actor, actress, whatever term you want to use….anyway, she does theater as well as commercials, voice overs, etc.  Here she is in an infomercial for power tools.  It is so trippy to see her because she just isn’t the power tool, bob villa type.  Check it:

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Been a very busy week.  So much going on, but just wanted to give a quick update.  We’re alive and kickin’, but man, I am tired.  It’s raining outside right now and I feel my bed calling.

• We have a lot of cool video and other elements in store for Sunday at CCC as we kick off a new series called CONNECT.
• Kim and I are dropping off the kids tomorrow and heading out on a quick weekend getaway.  We’re heading to Athens for the game against Vandy and then spending the day together just hanging out.  Sunday morning we’re going to check out Revolution Church in Canton, GA.  Really looking forward to it.
• Speaking of Vandy, when was the last time we played them and they were ranked?  Gonna be a tough game as Vandy usually plays us pretty close.  Will this be the game where UGA peaks?  We moved the ball at will against a very good UT defense so we’ll see.
• Still got some painting to do on the trim by our floors.  Just been so much going on that it has been tough to find time to take care of those things.
• Filled up Kim’s van today and it was so nice to pay less than $3 a gallon.  Was thinking about it and then got back in the car to the news that OPEC was going to be raising the price again.  Better stock up while you can.  That is why we need more energy independence….different post, different day.
• Been working on several new web and video projects lately.  I’ll be posting some of them soon.
• One of them is fairly recent.  It was a redesign for the Western Carolina State Fair.  It has been getting a ton of traffic as the fair is here in town now and has been fun to see a site that you design and setup get so much traffic.
• Speaking of the fair, I’m looking forward to taking the kids to see the monster trucks next week at the fair.  They’re gonna love it!  Redneck entertainment at its finest..WOOOOOO!
• okay, I’m out.  got a few more things to wrap up and them I’m off to bed.

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Here’s the message bumper for Richard’s message this morning.  That’s Hannah in the video. I thought she did a very good job (totally unbiased opinion of course :).

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If you’re like me and you didn’t get to make it to Catalyst in the ATL, you can keep up with some of the happenings at Catalyst Backstage.  Blog updates, video, etc.

Check it: CatalystBackstage.com

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