|r. mark ayers|

I'm Back

2009-09-10T11:04:00.002-05:00

After much consideration I've decided to start blogging again. This is something I obviously stopped doing for a while for many reasons, but nevertheless I have made the decision to reenter the blog world. Later I will blog about exciting things that are coming up in the next few days....thanks for coming back!

Weekend Wrap Up

2009-03-15T19:22:00.002-05:00

Got to spend much needed time with my AWESOME family
Took Noah my 2 year old to eat breakfast Saturday morning at Burger King then to Starbucks where he loves to get "MELK" as he calls it
Took some time to rest and the weather permitted me to do it well
We are on a tour of churches right now to show the rest of our team some of the churches that have inspired us in our journey to plant Reveal Church
There are so many churches it is difficult to decide which ones...geography has played a big factor in the decision process
This week we visited Mountain Lake Church West Forsyth Campus
Ran into Casey Graham who always makes me feel like we don't have enough money...I really like that dude
Excited about what God is leading us to do in this city!!
The next steps that God has led us to take are HUGE ones, but they are the RIGHT ones!!
Full week ahead....keep praying for us as we take this city for Jesus!!

Quick Hits

2009-03-13T15:17:00.003-05:00

Wow!! Thanks to all for tuning back in to the blog...sorry I missed a couple of weeks again.
I got really sick after CP Conference and it put me out for a week and half...glad to be recovered!
Went to Unleash at NewSpring yesterday...love that conference love that Church and love Perry Noble!!!
I left so encouraged to charge the gates of Hell with the Gospel of Jesus!!
Thanks to Oakleaf for the ticket and much thanks to Fusion for the ride!!
Tony McCollum and Stephen Lowe are some AWESOME guys!! Thanks for letting me ride to SC with you!!
Tony McCollum encouraged the fire out of me to and from Unleash!! So very grateful for him and what God is using him to do at Fusion!!
Thankful for this week concluding...going to spend some time with my 3 favorite people: Heather, Noah, and Hannah...love my family!!
Looking forward to visiting Mountain Lake Church portable campus this week with our team!!

Alive At Last

2009-02-25T11:23:00.002-05:00

Yeah so it's been an incredibly long time since I sat down and wrote a blog. Many that I reconnected with with at this years churchplanters.com conference reminded me of this fact. So, here I am to arise from my slumber and begin the glorious journey of blogging once again. In addition the tweets will resume as well....so sorry about the absence I hope you'll regain confidence soon and participate in the reading of my blog....

In My Absence

2008-12-05T11:04:00.004-05:00

It's been a bit since I sat down long enough to do some blogging. The holiday really took me for a loop. Here's life to me since my absence...

Spent a lot of time back "home" in the Canton/Woodstock area

Not only did I have several Family T-Day parties spread out over the course of the weekend, but also lots of family B-day parties as well

Mourned the loss of the Bulldogs to the GT Yellow Jackets...in the words of Tommy Boy..."even the sun shines on a horse's a*@ sometimes"

I really believe it's time for Coach Mark Richt to make some personnel changes if he ever wants to see another championship game

I found it rather humorous that those who constantly whine about SEC fans "suddenly" became ACC fans in spite of their disdain for people being "conference fans"

The Clemson fans were the worst...they were so excited that they beat the worst team in the SEC....but it's apparent they understand even the worst team in the SEC was no easy game, especially for them

Making some HUGE plans right now in the life of Reveal Church, very excited about the next few weeks

Plans are coming together for our next PreLaunch Worship Experience December 21 @ Flowery Branch High School...that's 10AM!!!

My poor car Goldie was deemed a total loss...I'm pretty sure this is going to work out way better for the insurance company

Why is it that insurance companies are so sketchy???

I had to go to Loganville, GA to clean all the stuff out my car...they would not let me go to the car, rather they brought it to me...using a giant fork lift

Then they would not let me take pictures of my car...something is weird about that....

I was almost ready to purchase another car, but the stinking car dealer sold it before I could get there for less than I was going to pay...punk

Reveal Church is going to rock the city of Flowery Branch!!

Can't wait for December 21, but also what is to come after that...

My little boy Noah Mark turned 2 on Wednesday!!!

I bought him a remote control truck...thought he might be scared of it, but he actually loved it

He loved it so much in fact that we had to take it Cracker Barrel where we went to breakfast

I loved sitting across the table from my little boy, just me and him...I can't believe he's already 2!!

We are down in Canton for the next few days because Noah's B-day party is taken place where all the family lives.

This morning I took my little girl to McDonald's for Bfast....she loved it...she pretty much ate the majority of the Deluxe Breakfast...the girl can freakin' eat!!

Big decisions before us in the journey....I couldn't me more excited!!

Echoing Angels

2008-11-24T16:51:00.002-05:00

On the 16th of November we had our second of three PreLaunch Worship Experiences. We were so very fortunate to have Echoing Angels come and lead our worship. It's kind of crazy how it all happened to work out for them to be there. We never had any real plans to bring someone like them in, but it just so happen we met one of the band members who shared the heart they have for the local church and their desire to serve and lead people in worship. They came and ROCKED the freakin' house!! But it wasn't there music that blew me away as much as it was their pure desire to serve. These guys are the real deal. I've had the opportunity to be around a whole lot of bands that play "Christian" music, but these guys by far are the most real, sincere, and servant minded guys I've ever been around....and they are filled with freakin' talent!!! I am a fan of these guys and I hope to make them a regular occurrence at Reveal Church!!

Saturday According To Mark

2008-11-22T12:10:00.001-05:00

• Good banana waffles courtesy of Santa Clause...aka Jay (my step dad)
• Play time with the most beautiful little girl in the world, Hannah
• A liitle less stress thanks to Bulldog by week
• Fun time with my favorite little boy...Noah Mark
• B-Day celebration for my pops
• Starbucks @ some point I'm sure
• Lunch with me madre
• Twitters off
• Decision of where to experience church

Friday Confession

2008-11-21T09:07:00.001-05:00

Confession: I love ice cream. I once heard John Maxwell say, "I love sex and ice cream. And pretty much in that order." I couldn't agree more, but i'd rather over indulge in the former rather than the latter. If you come to my house and are looking for some food you probably won't find much variety. In the pantry you'll discover mostly crackers, cherios, and fruit snacks...all for the little ones. However, one thing you are guaranteed to find at any given time in my freezer is ice cream. This past year I lost over 40 pounds. I did it by being careful what i ate and by the dreaded exercise. But one thing I didn't give up is ice cream. How? One word: moderation. However, if I'm not careful I can easily over do it on the ice cream. Not sure what it is but you can take away any dessert in my life and I'll be ok so long as it's not ice cream. I have a long way yet to go on my weight loss journey, therefore, I must be cautious and disciplined...especially in my love for ice cream.

Steve Flockhart

2008-11-20T18:28:00.004-05:00

Today I had a meeting with Steve Flockhart. Steve is the pastor of New Season Church in Dallas/Hiram GA area. New Season is a "restart" church. The church was once called Paulding Baptist Church and was on the brink of dissolving. God led Steve there last December. When he arrived there were about 30 or so people. They shut down the church and did some remodeling and vision casting. They relaunched in February of this year and are now averaging over 400+ on Sunday mornings! What's more than that, they've seen over 180 people begin a new relationship with Jesus!! It's amazing what God is doing at New Season Church through the incredible leadership of Steve Flockhart. I am thankful for Steve taking the time to pour into my life. He offered me wisdom, advice, and encouragement in the journey....and a free lunch at Shogun's....Thanks Steve!!!

Meetings and Hanging Out

2008-11-20T18:17:00.002-05:00

Today was a day of meetings and hanging out. This morning I attended a church planter "round table" of sorts held by our sponsoring church FBCW. I am so thankful to have FBCW as our sponsoring church. They are the epitome of a missional church. After that I had a meeting with Pastor Steve Flockhart from New Season Church. I left that meeting very encouraged and with some things to process. The rest of the day I hung out with JR at Freedom Church. We talked a lot and I tagged along to some meetings. I am so excited about what God is doing at Freedom and I know that its just the beginning of an unbelievable movement of God in Acworth GA! Now its time for hanging out with my family...great day!!

MY Weekend

2008-11-17T11:03:00.003-05:00

Watched the Bulldogs under perform....AGAIN
Had some of our good friends over for dinner, Drew and Alicia ...love them!
Had our 2nd of three PreLaunch Worship Experiences in the life of Reveal Church!!
Put out lots of signs all over Flowery Branch
Tried to get the insurance company of the people who hit my car to start the process of fixing it
Had to go to the GA State Patrol office...they were watching ESPN...WOW!
My wife demonstrated once again how amazing of a cook she is
Took down lots of signs from all over Flowery Branch
Prayed
Dreamed
Watched some House....never really liked this show until recently, now I can't get enough
Thanks to USA its on all the freaking time

Saturday LIVE

2008-11-15T05:12:00.001-05:00

This Saturday will be one of....

Georgia Bulldog Football as they take on the underachieving Auburn Tigers...hoping we can make a much needed statement, pretty sure we'll end up being in a crappy bowl game anyways
Early rising as the serving of coffee awaits me...unfortunately
Mentally, physically, and emotionally preparing for a long, yet exhilarating, day in the life of Reveal Church...pray for us
Finalizing my message
Praying a whole freaking lot
Hoping for some major upsets for the sake of rescuing an overestimated season
Believing that Jesus is stirring a revolution in Hall County
Loving my beautiful family that makes my life so unbelievably awesome!!

Friday Confession

2008-11-14T16:51:00.002-05:00

I Confess: I like to please others. I'm not talking about being a nice guy and serving others. What I'm talking about is sometimes when faced with a major decision I will let the possible feelings, reactions or thoughts of others be my guide rather than what is really best. This IS dangerous. I don't want to piss people off, or let anyone down on purpose. Further, I love people and want them to love me. However, I can't let the opinions of others override what the Spirit of God is leading me to do. This doesn't mean I rule out wise counsel. It doesn't mean I ignore the advice of others. It doesn't mean seeking others opinions goes left undone. It does mean, however, that if God is leading me to do something that will carry the consequence of negative reactions of others, I must never compromise for the sake of others approval. The consequences of doing so will be catastrophic. However, it is true that I struggle with this one....am I alone?

Smashed

2008-11-12T12:34:00.006-05:00

I was in a minor car accident yesterday. Fortunately, no one was hurt and it was not my fault. Stuff happens...won't see my car for a while...here are some pics from the scene:

So FUNNY!!

2008-11-12T11:42:00.001-05:00

Go watch this....love it!!

Call

2008-11-11T14:05:00.003-05:00

So often along this journey of starting Reveal Church I hear other church planters and leaders utter the phrase, "don't plant a church unless God calls you to plant a church." I've nodded my head in affirmation and echoed their sentiments over and over again. What I have not realized is that these church planters and leaders are not merely blaring out "preacher talk", nor are they speaking to hear themselves speak. Rather, they are speaking from their hearts out of a reality that at several times along the journey they have found themselves in circumstances and situations where the only thing they can lay claim to is the clear call of God. They have found themselves in moments where the only thing they DO know is that God called them. Further, it's been the call alone that has allowed them to keep their sanity and purge forward (arguably, church planting and sanity may in no way be connected).

As I progress in the journey I am learning, not solely from the utterances of other church planters and leaders, but from the realities of my own journey that if God doesn't call you to plant a church, DO NOT plant a church. Because there are days coming when the only thing you can cling to and the only thing that is clear is the call of God.

MY Weekend

2008-11-10T19:41:00.002-05:00

-Glad to see that my Bulldogs pulled off another W...unfortunately it was ugly
-The Dawgs need to make some statements...not sure they can with a D that gives up 40 pts
-Had Door Hanger Mania for our next PreLaunch Worship Experience coming up on November 16...that's this Sunday!!
-Spent some good time with the most incredible people in my life...Heather, Noah, and Hannah Ayers
-Speaking of my family...my little Hannah has some kind of Bronchial thing...not good
-She has to do breathing treatments...not good...she hates it
-Took me a Sabbath again this weekend...kind of...is it possible to do nothing...that's a tough one!
-Proud of the way the Atlanta Falcons are doing this year...I knew they were going to get it together...didn't think it would be this soon...hope they keep it up
-Since in I live in Flowery Branch where the Falcons training camp is...think I'll go over and see them this week!
-Actually, I am going there, but its because Drew is coming up tomorrow to meet with a friend of his that works there and he invited me along:-)
-People are already mad at us for our door hanger...got an email that wasn't very nice
-Guess I don't understand why people can be so offended and yet be so hateful themselves...oh well

Friday Confession

2008-11-07T07:00:00.002-05:00

I Confess: I hate to wait. Whether its in a line at Starbucks or getting something I'm expecting in the mail, I hate to wait. Whether its a line at the mall or sitting in unexpected traffic, I hate to wait. I must admit though, if the aforementioned where the extent of my waiting issues then it would not seem half bad. I get into trouble, however, when it is waiting on things that bear great consequences. For instance, I often hate waiting on the results that I perceive to be the best. I hate waiting on the proverbial "God's Perfect Timing." I want things to happen the way I think they should happen and I want them to happen fast. Also, there is almost always additional exterior pressure that makes the waiting all the more difficult. This presents a great tension in my life that produces a struggle with the process. Getting to the so called "there" requires a process that begins with "here". What's in between is the process. The process involves lots of work, which I'm not scared of. I like to work. As a matter of fact that's probably another confession in and of it self. In addition to work, the process also involves waiting. The thing which I confess today that I hate. Am I alone in this?

The 19th

2008-11-06T10:14:00.001-05:00

On October 19 Reveal Church had its very first of three PreLaunch Worship Experiences. The three worship experiences are a part of our strategy to effectively gather and build a team of people that will enable us to launch Reveal Church. Here are some of the details of the the 19th:

Series: Jump: Experiencing the Life of Your Dreams

Production Coordinator: Bryan Noel (da freakin' man)

Worship Leader: Stevie Flockhart

Set List:

All Because of Jesus (Steve Fee)
My Glorious (Chris Tomlin)
Mighty to Save (Hillsong United)
Time of My Life (David Cook)

Message: Jump Off: Matthew 14:22-31

We'll do it all again on November 16th....BE THERE!!

The Day After

2008-11-05T11:42:00.002-05:00

I will pray diligently for our president elect Barack Obama. You have to be grateful for the process our country has established in order to pick our leaders. I would try to write something about my thoughts post-election, but Chris Elrod says it better than I could even try, so enjoy...

I Voted!

2008-11-04T15:19:00.003-05:00

This morning my family and I made our way over to our designated polling place to cast our vote for...well I'm not telling you that. As we did, we were uncertain what to expect. With all the recent hype and the dramatic stories of people waiting hours just to cast their much anticipated ballots we were uncertain what it might be like. When we arrived we were pleased to discover that the line was not backed out the door. As a matter of fact, there was no line at all. My wife and I voted and it took us less than 15 minutes. The only reason it took that long is because we had to take turns so that one of us could stay in the car and watch the babies. I am sure that others were not so fortunate, and I am certain there will be many waiting in those exasperating lines tonight as those yet to vote do so after work. However, I think the biggest wait will be the tallying of all the votes. I believe this could be longer than the Bush/Gore fiasco of 2000. Hopefully not, but more than likely it is going to be a while before we know who will be presiding over our country in the oval office.

Election Day Thoughts

2008-11-04T15:17:00.001-05:00

I am a dual citizen. I am an American by birth, and I am dedicated to the great nation that God has allowed me to live in and grow a family in. First and foremost, however, I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God. It is a Kingdom in which the economy does not crash, that can never fall from power, and whose King is and will always be victorious. No matter what happens the King is not shaken, nor caught by surprise. He rules, not by the power of the people, but powerfully over all people. His plans cannot be thwarted, His term never expires, and He conquers all His enemies. It is a Kingdom not merely limited by the borders of the United States of America, but rather expands globally to emcompass people from every tongue and every tribe.

As a dual citizen my responsibility is great. My citizenship as an American takes 2nd place to my citizenship in God's Kingdom. Further, my citizenship in God's Kingdom greatly effects my citizenship as an American citizen. As an American citizen I have been given the responsibility to vote for my leaders. As a Citizen in God's Kingdom I have been given the responsibility to vote according the values which God has set forth in His written Word. Therefore, I must approach the voting booth with a mindset that the leaders I choose to give my voice to must align mostly with the values that my King holds dear. This does not mean what the Candidate says he/she holds dear, but rather the values he/she displays and demonstrates.

Today I vote. I have a duty, and I have a responsibility. As a citizen in God's Kingdom, choosing not to vote is a dangerous choice because I am well aware that the America before me is the one I have the responsibility to choose. The America that my children will inhabit longer than I is the America in which I presently have an active voice. Choosing not to vote is not only a bad choice, but an irresponsible one. It is not merely irresponsible as an American citizen, but as a citizen in God's Kingdom.

MY WeekEND

2008-11-03T12:09:00.002-05:00

Had a GREAT weekend...here are some things I did, or didn't do...

Halloween night we gave out tons of candy, the kids brought even more home
We also gave out hot apple cider, coffee, and dessert for the parents (people loved us for that...just trying to meet our neighbors)
Remembered the Sabbath and tried to keep it holy
The Bulldog game made it hard for it to stay holy :-)
Why is it that we lose at least 2 games every year and why can't we beat UT and UF in the same season...frustrating
Spent some time with my awesome family
I love my family, I am richly blessed!!
Read a book about Starbucks
Went to church and worshipped Jesus
Also heard an incredible message on politics from PK @ 12 Stone...you should download it

My Trick or Treaters

2008-10-31T18:16:00.001-05:00

Friday Confession

2008-10-31T15:25:00.002-05:00

Today I'm starting a new Friday entry for my blog. I'll at least attempt it for a while. I am going to make a confession each Friday about some of the things that I tend to struggle with. Hopefully it will serve to promote authenticity as expose instead of hide the real Mark Ayers that Jesus loves wholly and completely. So here is my first confession....

I Confess: I get unusually mad in traffic. I'm not talking about the kind of mad that makes a snide comment then gently moves a long. No, I'm talking about the kind of mad that causes me to want to ram a persons car off the road, yank them out of the car and teach them a good "driving lesson." It's not pretty. I am super aggressive in traffic and I wear a my game face. Sometimes I get out of control. It's an area of growth for me. Pray for me as I progress in my sanctification process.

How about you?

New Friends

2008-10-31T14:59:00.002-05:00

Lately God has given me the privilege of meeting new people that are becoming my friends. The other day I told you of Austin. This week God allowed me to hang out with another new friend. A few months ago just after moving to Flowery Branch I saw an add in the paper that a church was doing a gas buy down. It was the heat of the gas crisis and we have one of those gas guzzling SUV's (I'd love to rid of it for those green people who are mad at me for having an SUV). It was a no brainer for me to hop in the Xterra and roll just down the road to get some cheaper gas. When arrived I met the pastor. Turns out he is a church planter who started just over a year ago in the Braselton area...basically the same area as Flowery Branch...kind of. His name is David Walters. He is a rocking church planter that God is using to lead a dynamic new church that is unquestionably reaching people for Jesus. The name of the church is The Vine. The other day I finally had the privilege of sharing coffee with David. The camaraderie that is almost immediate with church planters is amazing and was no exception between David and myself. I am looking forward to getting to know David a lot more in the future and am excited about how God is going to continue using The Vine and begin using Reveal Church to transform this area with the gospel!!

The Shack

2008-10-30T09:19:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend I read The Shack. I cannot stress to you enough how much I recommend that you click on the link and order this book. YOU must read this!! Once you open the book and start reading it will suck you right in. It has the potential to revolutionize your relationship with God. Hands down the best fiction book I've read in a long time. So go now and get it...times a wasting.

Encouragement

2008-10-29T17:00:00.002-05:00

As I am doing this church planting thing I am discovering that I need all the encouragement I can get. A couple of weeks ago a new friend came into my life. He showed up at my house with the Freedom crew who crashed at my pad for Catalyst. We had some good conversations while he was here and it was great to meet him. He is a church planter who is planting a church in North Carolina. His name is Austin Porter. God is doing big things in his life and is going to use him to do the extraordinary. The other day he called and spoke words of strong encouragement into my life. I could not be more thankful to God for him. I am grateful God allowed our paths to intersect, and I'm grateful for what God is going to do through this young man who is passionate about seeing the name of Jesus made famous.

Confessions of a Bad Blogger

2008-10-27T12:07:00.002-05:00

Ok...I admit that I am terrible at blogging. I didn't used to be a bad blogger. I was at one time or another much more intentional and consistent. I know that my inconsistency in blogging has caused many a reader to grow weary and thus turn their attention and blog-affection to other more notable, consistent and time worthy reads. I, at one time, made a point to blog at least 4 to 5 times a week. I shared, what many other consistent bloggers possess, a passion for exposing written thoughts, experiences, ideologies, or just randomness to a following world, known and unknown alike. I hoped that by some chance a more esteemed blogger might one day intersect my path of scattered thoughts and my words would send them into a state of euphoria as they become mesmerized by my breathtaking blogging abilities. Then, overwhelmed by my well articulated pontifications on a plethora of interesting topics they would do for me what all bloggers secretly hope for...the LINK. Yes, the link. Who does not dream of the link? Not just a mention of the name, but a link to a watching blogger world that sets in motion a chain of reaction, an endless wave in a blog-thirsty cosmos. With vigor they would link me to a watching world where I could be exposed to a host of readers craving to read more of what I might say. Hanging on each intriguing blog title that I could muster and thus propelling me into a blogospheric utopia...a blogtopia if you will. But then, I lost my edge. I lost my desire, that passion that once raged so intently inside of me began to fade. The flame fizzled. But still trapped inside of me is a blogger filled with meaningful and meaningless expressions alike. So today I not only confess, but I commit that I will begin afresh and anew "everyday thoughts, everyday life" for your daily amusement and pleasure...link or no link.

Monday Madness

2008-10-13T19:21:00.002-05:00

This is a week full of madness, and today was full force. We are getting ready for our first of 3 worship experiences at Reveal Church. Our plan is to do 3 once a month experiences until the end of the year. Our first one is Sunday the 19th, and needless to say I am pumped about it!! You can check out the site for all the details....We are busting tail to get everything done this week in prep for Sunday. Fortunately, I have the right people on the bus so far and can't think of any other people I would rather be changing a city with!!

My Week

2008-10-11T20:05:00.002-05:00

Spent some great time with my great friend/brother-in-law JR...I asked a lot of valuable questions, got some incredible insight, and just had fun
Had the majority of the Freedom staff crashing at my house for Catalyst
Had a great time at Catalyst....with the staff and wives
Connected with some old and new friends at Catalyst
At Catalyst I was crazy challenged...and encouraged
Steve Fee is incredible
I know it's wrong but I really wanted to jack a lot of the AVL equipment from Catalyst...especially a couple of those flat screens around the stage...they prob wouldn't even have missed them there were so many
Father forgive me for that last statement
I definitely need to get some rock star clothes...wonder if I could send a support letter for that....
Got to meet and hang with Austin Porter...awesome guy pumped about what he is going to do in expanding the kingdom of Jesus
I missed my little ones terribly...they stayed with family while we went to Catalyst
I have watched football all freakin' day
I've also worked on a whole lot of stuff for next weekend
I am crazy nervous, excited and jacked up about next weekend
Go Dawgs!
Great week!!

WeekEnd Wrap-Up

2008-09-22T14:58:00.003-05:00

We had an AWESOME day at the Chili Cook Off and Car Show in Flowery Branch!!
We gave out lots of balloons to children...
Lots of people registered to win a $50 gas card...
People were diggin' playing Guitar Hero for FREE at our booth...
It was a great day...we invited lots of people to our first Worship Experience coming up in October!!

On another note.....

The DAWGS pulled off another victory...big test this week against the Tide though
Looking forward to the blackout in Athens...just wish I was going to be there!!
Looking forward to going to Elevation this weekend....I am pumped about this!!
Also going to hit up NewSpring on the way back down from Elevation...
This weekend we will be drinking from the proverbial fire hydrant

Netflix: My Hero Of HEROES

2008-09-18T17:06:00.008-05:00

Last year I was given the set of Heroes Season One. Not a big Sci-Fi guy, but I was told that this show was awesome. From Disc one to the end I was hooked. I missed season 2 because I was still trying to catch up on Season 1...Now that Season 3 is set to start on Monday its time for me to catch up. I went to Blockbuster to try and rent Season 2, but they charge $5 bucks a disc and and there are 4...it almost cost as much to rent as it does to buy. I am not about to buy the set because I can't justify purchasing something I know I will only utilize one time. There in lies my dilemma. But then I remembered Netflix. Monday I signed up for a 2 week free trial, Wednesday I got my first disc, this morning I mailed it back, and I should be receiving disc 2 in the next day or so...all at the cost of $0! You can't beat that. Netflix is my new Hero...and if all goes well...I will be able to fully catch up and not pay one dime!!!

Saturday In The Branch

2008-09-18T17:06:00.007-05:00

This Saturday we are going to be a part of a Chili Cook-Off and Car Show taking place in Flowery Branch, GA. It has become an annual event for the city and we wanted to jump in and be a part. In addition to just serving at the event we will have a Reveal Church booth set up. We've decided to use this event for some exposure. At our booth we are doing the following:

1. Giving out balloons to kids that have our logo and website on them
2. Doing a drawing where we will give away a $50 gas card (who does not want that right now?)
3. Setting up Guitar Hero so people can come by and play around
4. Giving out invite cards to our 3 Worship Experiences coming up in October, November, and December (more on that later)

On top of all of this I have been asked to give the invocation and talk a little bit about our new church (I'm not kidding when I tell you they asked me to do this!!!). It's going to be a great Saturday!!

Tax, Tag, and Commitment...

2008-09-18T17:06:00.002-05:00

A couple of months ago me and the family moved to the Flowery Branch, GA area. Things have been so busy that I have not had the chance to do all the things that go along with relocating...like transferring car tags, new drivers licenses and all that fun stuff. Well, Monday I was forced to because of a little thing called taxes. Our first set of property taxes were due Monday so I had to drive to the tax office and make sure we were all good on that. While there I needed to file homestead exemption for next year. Doing that led me to having to finally transfer our car tags. I was driving around doing all this stuff and began thinking about all that goes into being a homeowner and relocating. I was thinking about why we moved here and why we bought a house and things such as that. It all came down to one word...commitment. We could have rented and just kept our roots back home in good ole Canton, GA...you know "just in case". But God called us here and we are committed to what God has called us to. Solidifying this call meant planting ourselves here...no turning back! I love this city...and I'm pumped about being here and calling it home! I am officially taxed, tagged, and committed!!!

True Fans

2008-09-13T18:36:00.000-05:00

Always Good....

2008-09-02T14:05:00.001-05:00

It's always good when Tennessee loses...Congrats on a job well done UCLA!!

Stuff

2008-08-27T15:21:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since the last blog....here are some hits from the Mark...

- Been busy planning the next step for Reveal Church....
- Announcement to come on what we're planning really soon
- I could not be more excited about College Football starting this weekend!
- Go Dawgs!
- Thanks to Shea and Amber Heather and I went on a date last Saturday...it was awesome!
- DNC...wow...this is very interesting...funny actually
- Noah loves to watch "D" (aka Wheel of Fortune)
- Recently I discovered free wifi at a local bar called Jeffery's...way cooler than a coffee shop
- I've missed the rain glad to see it again
- It's pretty sad when you get excited about paying $3.38 for a gallon of gas
- When I got married almost 6 years ago I distinctly remember paying .79 per gallon for gas
- This weekend is going to be awesome...can't wait!!

Plans

2008-08-11T14:58:00.002-05:00

We are in the process of making some BIG plans. I am very excited about what we are doing right now. Reveal Church is making some HUGE steps...Irreversible Steps you might say! One thing is for sure, this city and this county will NEVER be the same! God is up to something way bigger than we are...we're just along for the ride! I'll keep you posted as we move forward in a big way!

Foffu, Nacks and Nannu's

2008-08-11T14:50:00.003-05:00

Noah (my 1 1/2 year old) is learning to talk. I love it! Foffu = Coffee. He uses this every time we pull into a Starbuck's Drive-thru and when I bring it home. Nannu = Banana. This is his favorite thing in the world to eat and is repeated quite a bit when he desires it. Nacks = Snacks. This is pretty much said all the time. I love my little boy!

Just Because We Care

2008-08-06T13:24:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we took 100 gift bags to the teachers of Flowery Branch High School. We know they are getting prepared for another big year and we wanted to let them know that they are appreciated and encourage them as they head into another year. It's just the beginning of a new thing Reveal Church is doing called "It's On Us" .

Camp For A Cause: Wrap Up

2008-08-06T13:17:00.002-05:00

We wrapped up Camp For A Cause: Backpack Edition on Sunday afternoon around 2pm. We closed the weekend successfully with 38 backpacks!! Even though we came up 12 backpacks shy of our goal the event was still a success! The impact we were able to make in the lives of those 37 students and the school we gave them to makes the event successful, not the number of backpacks. We learned a lot from doing the event. We will now debrief on it then move on to the next big thing to come with Reveal Church!!

Camp For A Cause: Day 3

2008-08-03T07:30:00.003-05:00

Day 3 turned out to be a good day...it was blazing hot and it was everything we could do to stay out of the sun. By days end we counted 34 total backpacks!! A local salon called Gabrielle's jumped in and supported and now we're able to put a free haircut voucher in the backpacks as well!! We also had people tell us they read the article in the Times so they drove down to FB from Gainesville to be a part! Much thanks to the Times for the article!! We will wrap up today after lunch and say good bye to the first ever Camp For A Cause.

Has Anyone Counted?

2008-08-02T14:28:00.003-05:00

Has anyone counted how many beloved ACC teams are ranked in the top 10 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll? Well, in case you didn't...I did. One, that would be the number...and it's Clemson, and let's just be honest...we know how that will go. Sorry Todd, Perry, and all you other faithful Clemson fans...don't mean to hate...but let's be honest. However...its just preseason...who knows what will happen, right? All that matters in the end....GOOOOOOOO DAWGS!!! SICK'EM!!!

Camp For A Cause: Day Two

2008-08-02T08:08:00.003-05:00

Day two was unbelievably HOT!! But we had a great day...early afternoon the Mayor of Flowery Branch and the City Clerk stopped by and participated in Camp For A Cause by providing us with some backpacks filled with supplies. Later on in the day the Gainesville Times stopped by and they put us on the front page of the local section this morning!! Much thanks for that...even though the picture is kind of stupid...and they left off the website. But I'm glad they decided to run that article and help us out!!

From dinner time on last night people just kept stopping by...we had some friends come and hang with us bit, and we made some new friends as people were dropping off backpacks. We ended the day well on our way of obtaining our goal...today should be our best day!! Stay tuned....

Camp For A Cause Banner

2008-08-01T09:26:00.004-05:00

Here is a pic of the Camp For A Cause banner set up at the campsite....thanks to our new friends over at Signamics for hooking us up with a sweet deal and a sweet banner!!

Camp For A Cause: Day One

2008-08-01T09:21:00.002-05:00

Camp For A Cause day one went well. First things first, we got over late afternoon and got everything set up. Then, we had people randomly stopping by seeing what in the world we were doing. We even had a couple of folks give us money to get some Backpacks!! We are anticipating that today and tomorrow will prove to be our most effective days!! Can't wait!!

How It Works

2008-07-31T09:53:00.002-05:00

Camp For A Cause: Backpack Edition goes full swing starting today!! Here is what you need to do if you want to be a part. Simply come by the Camp For A Cause site or, go by Target's service desk and pick up a list of the supplies. Purchase the backpack and the supplies. Then bring the backpack filled with those supplies to the Camp For A Cause site. It's that easy!! Look forward to seeing everyone out this weekend helping make a difference in Flowery Branch!!! BTW...You can track our progress right here everyday!!

Camp For A Cause

2008-07-30T18:48:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow Shea and I will participate in the first Annual, first ever Camp For A Cause! This year it is themed...Camp For A Cause: Backpack Edition. Camp For A Cause is a strategic event created by Reveal Church designed to meet specific needs in our community. Backpack Edition has been specifically designed by partnering with our local Target Store to raise 50 pre-supplied backpacks for children at Spout Springs Elementary in Flowery Branch. How does it work? The staff of Reveal Church camps out during a specific time until the need is met or exceeded. This year we are camping out all weekend in the parking lot of 5911 Spout Springs Rd (Next to Rite-Aid, Across from Publix) just outside of the Target Store in Flowery Branch until we raise 50 backpacks. Camp For A Cause: Backpack Edition is happening Tax Free Weekend 2008 July 31 through August 3. I could not be more excited about the opportunity of making an impact in this city!!!

The Danger Of Comfort

2008-07-28T14:08:00.003-05:00

This is something that has been consuming my thoughts lately. Don't settle for being comfortable. More than likely...actually...I am certain that if God is calling you to do something GREAT there WILL be a great level of discomfort that you will have to endure. You will have to do some things that are outside of your level of comfort in order for your God-Given dreams to become a reality in your life. Playing it safe is the most dangerous thing you can do in this kind of situation. You've been given one life...make it count, and never sacrifice the extraordinary on the alter of comfort!

Here Before There

2008-07-24T17:10:00.002-05:00

In our journey of planting Reveal Church I am constantly thinking about THERE. I think this is a good thing....after all that's vision. However, I am learning that before I can get THERE I have to be HERE. I sometimes want so bad to be THERE and just skip over all the difficulty I am facing HERE. But journeying through HERE is how THERE becomes HERE. And THERE will be so much greater if I work that much harder HERE. Furthermore, I know that THERE is just a mirage...or at least it should be. Because if I ever arrive and THERE becomes HERE with the absence of any more THERE, then I have stopped dreaming, I have stopped growing and I have stopped progressing. And I NEVER want to be THERE.

Something Big

2008-07-23T13:57:00.001-05:00

Something big is brewing...details coming soon!

6 Months

2008-07-22T19:15:00.007-05:00

Six Months ago today God gave us this beautiful blue-eyed baby girl...who will undoubtedly make for a lot of trouble for me in the future...Happy 6 months my beautiful Hannah!

Her big bubba Noah is pretty happy about her being here too...

Trailblazer

2008-07-17T22:12:00.000-05:00

Trailblazer...that's what I became today. I was told by a man who owns
a running store near my house that there was a trail behind my
neighborhood that runs along a river that made for a good run. So I
decided to try it out. It made for a hard run...the trail was great
but I ran a little over a mile just to get to the trail then ran
another mile and half along the trail...then I walked another mile
back to the house. After all was said and done I was wore out...but I
plan on doing it again. It was a nice change of pace.

No

2008-07-16T19:07:00.001-05:00

We are in the "no" teaching phase with my son Noah. I know that he
understands the word because he tells us "no" when he does not want
something. However, he often ignores "no" and does things we don't
want him to. This is where love gets tough because discipline results
from his disobedience. Its the hardest thing in the world to
discipline Noah especially when he looks at me with those big
beautiful brown eyes he got from his mom, but I know this is shaping
who he is and who he will become.

It reminds me a lot of my relationship with my heavenly Father. He
gave me His Word and The Holy Spirit to instruct me and guide me, yet
I often do things I know He has said "no" to. How much more must it
pain Him to enforce discipline. But He knows its vital to who I am and
who I am to become.

Church Visit: 12 Stone Church

2008-07-15T13:16:00.002-05:00

This past Sunday we visited 12 Stone Church Hamilton Mill Campus. They are one church with 2 locations. We visited their main campus about a month ago and were blown away. This week we traveled to their 2nd campus that is a little more modest and reminds me more of a church plant...which in a way I guess that is what it is. They did an incredible job of making an office building look like a church. The environment they have created is unbelievable. They also have one of the most incredible creative teams because they always do it top notch!! The set for their new series was awesome. This is an incredible church that is serious about making Jesus famous and there is a lot to be learned from them. Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend a little time with the college pastor Miles Welch who leads an incredible Thursday night college gathering called Water's Edge at the 12 Stone main campus. He did the teaching on Sunday and did an amazing job!! We really enjoyed 12 Stone Church and I am thankful for churches like them!!

Air Conditioned

2008-07-09T16:49:00.002-05:00

Near the end of last summer the AC went out in my 95 Honda Accord. I have been enduring the heat of this summer with no AC. I have leather interior so needless to say its been a wet summer....but no longer!!! I got my AC fixed last week and its FREEZING cold and running full blast!! I don't care how cold it gets in my car the AC is staying on....I will let jack frost start nipping before I even think of turning it off!! I endured to many hot days to not enjoy it....

New Logo

2008-07-09T16:35:00.003-05:00

We recently had our logo redesigned....thanks to my wife (who is an untapped reservoir of creativity) and Ben over at Typical Tuesday for making it AWESOME!! Ben is also redoing our website...I have seen some of the design already...and I must say it will be incredible!!! If you need good design work at a reasonable price...Ben is your man!

Funny....

2008-07-07T11:16:00.001-05:00

This is funny.....the blog entitle..."Hmmm"

Fusion Visit

2008-07-07T11:04:00.002-05:00

We took the opportunity to visit Fusion Church in Suanee, GA yesterday. Had a great time. Tony McCollum is a fantastic communicator and his message really nailed me right where I was in my journey of following Jesus. I could tell his heart was full and he was ready to bring it...and he did!! We also were able to enjoy lunch on their dime because they had a "Cook-In" to celebrate the 4th and invited everyone. Yummy! Thanks for lunch guys!! I really loved the experience at Fusion. Great people and great atmosphere. We really felt welcomed!! Tony also took the time to encourage this young crazy church planter and that meant a lot!! God is doing awesome things through this church and I look forward to seeing more as they reach people with the message of Jesus!! Keep rockin' it Fusion!!

First

2008-07-07T11:01:00.001-05:00

Saturday night at my house marked the first ever meeting of Reveal Church. Very humble beginnings, but I felt that this step to begin meeting was a must in order to move forward. Awkward as it was I am pumped that we are officially meeting weekly. Undoubtedly, church planting is a huge faith journey, but as my friend JR once said so beautifully..."incredible journeys begin with irreversible steps." Saturday night was an irreversible step forward in the life of Reveal Church. It will undoubtedly be an incredible journey!!

Cuatro De Julio (belated)

2008-07-07T10:37:00.003-05:00

Read this post....pretty awesome stuff!
Hung out with my awesome family most of the day...
Shea and his family came over and brought some awesome steaks...yummy!
We also made homemade ice cream...i love ice cream!!
Tried to watch fireworks from my drive way...didn't work out to well
We did see a plane flying really low almost get drilled by some fireworks...from our perspective it looked like a missile was trying to take the plane down...it was hilarious!
Did I mention homemade ice cream:-)
It was a good 4th!!
Just noticed that my last 2 blog posts have Spanish titles...didn't do that on purpose:-)

Mucho Calor (Very Hot)

2008-07-01T14:01:00.002-05:00

In the past few months I've lost around 30 pounds. How? Working my butt off, plain and simple. I had to stop eating so much of the food I love, the junkie stuff that's full of grease and only cost 99 cents on the value menus, and I started running. Running, for lack of a better way to describe it, sucks. However, pushing myself to do these two things has made me successful at losing weight. I can't afford a gym membership so running outside is all I got....and it's hot. If I'm not careful I can easily slip back into old habits and find every excuse not to run. It takes work. It takes diligence. It takes motivation. It takes results. It takes determination. But if I am committed to all of these things I will not only be able to fit into cooler clothes, not be embarrassed to take off my shirt at the pool, look healthier, but most importantly, I will be healthier. And being healthier is my greatest desire. So even though its hotter than the fiery pits of darkness and I will sweat like rabid banshee...I will endure because I have a goal, and I desire to achieve that goal.

Freedom Church

2008-06-30T14:20:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I had the awesome opportunity to preach at Freedom Church in Acworth, GA. To say these guys are effectively advancing the Kingdom of God is an understatement. God is doing HUGE things through Freedom Church and I know they are just at the beginning of all that God will do. I love the people of Freedom, and I love the culture of Freedom...and I most definitely love the staff of Freedom!! Thanks to JR for the opportunity and thanks for making me feel so at home!!! I look forward to more great things!!!

COMING SOON.....

2008-06-28T15:11:00.002-05:00

ME :-) I apologize that it has been so long...I decided to take a break on the blog, but will return beginning July 1....with the exeception of maybe 1 or 2 before then. Until then...much love!

-Mark

Lately...

2008-06-10T15:39:00.002-05:00

Lately its been...

extremely crazy...
ridiculously busy...
insanely stressful...
amazingly insightful...
sincerely frustrating...
overwhelmingly confusing
most assuredly fun!!!

I love church planting!!!

Get It

2008-06-04T15:23:00.002-05:00

I love the simple, yet, profound way in which the wisest man ever to walk the earth discussed the pursuit of obtaining wisdom. He says, "the beginning of wisdom is this: GET wisdom..." (Proverbs 4:7). It's simple in the sense that he is saying that the intro class to obtaining wisdom is to just go get it. The profundity of it exists in that even though it is simple most people never obtain it. The vastness of wisdom is not lacking, there is an abundance out there for the taking. The Proverbs are replete with the truth that wisdom is crying out and screaming aloud. However, most people never reach for her. Wisdom is everywhere obtainable, but you must GET IT!

Last Week Wrap-up

2008-06-02T13:45:00.002-05:00

1. We held the first ever Reveal Church Informational meeting on Saturday!
2. We had some families come out and hear about our vision to transform the city of Flowery Branch with the Gospel.
3. We already have people committed to our team which I am pumped about!!
4. We checked out some potential places to meet for our launch team meetings...there are some great options.
5. We visited 12 Stone Church...they have an awesome building...and an actual Starbucks...great church!

Falcons Drive By

2008-05-28T13:05:00.002-05:00

Drove by the Falcons training camp today. I wanted to get down there and get an up close look at how the boys were doing, but they were not letting anyone in. I'm looking forward to the Dirty Birds stepping it up this year and hopefully we can get over this whole Vick/Dog thing...

In The Works...

2008-05-28T12:59:00.002-05:00

We have put in the works a strategic event that will impact the lives of young families in a significant way in the community of Flowery Branch. We are in the preliminary stages of putting this event together. I can guarantee it will mark this community in a huge way. Reveal Church is not coming here to be just another church. I refuse to waste space and resources by just being another option. We have have come here to TRANSFORM this city and to proclaim the love of Jesus in a LOUD and REAL way.

Sh-yesh

2008-05-28T12:55:00.002-05:00

Sh-yesh is a Noah word used by him to communicate that he wants something. He will repeat it over and over and over again until you satisfy his sh-yesh. It is a derivitive of the English word yes. I love this kid.

Ground Breaking

2008-05-27T11:58:00.002-05:00

Saturday we spent the day at the Grand Opening of the new Hall County Library Spout Springs Branch. It was a huge event that turned out approximately over 2000 people. Lt. Governor Casey Cagle was the key note speaker and several Flowery Branch officials were in attendance. We heard about the event and took the opportunity to be LOUD in FB with no strings attached. We provided for the event a Moon Walk Bounce and a Snow-Cone machine. They were undoubtedly a hit because most of the attendees were young families with kids. We were non-stop at both from the time the event started till it was time to breakdown. It was a great day to be around people in this community and serve with no agenda except to serve. Awesome day!! We were met with a reality of one thing this city needs….I love this place!!

Wet Moving

2008-05-15T22:42:00.002-05:00

This morning I picked up a moving truck and then headed over to our storage unit to load up all of our stuff to move. By noon the rain came down...and it never stopped coming down. It made for a seriously wet and extremely long day of moving. My house has boxes and furniture everywhere. Tomorrow we will go back to try and sort it all out and attempt to make it livable. It sucks to try and move in the rain.....but I don't care because we are pumped about getting to the place that God has called us!

Closing

2008-05-14T21:05:00.002-05:00

Well...it's official. I'm a homeowner! We closed on our first home today. Which means we will be landing in the Flowery Branch area officially. We no doubt will hit the ground running. We have TONS of stuff rolling as we begin the hands on of planting REVEAL CHURCH!!

Mother's Day Review

2008-05-12T17:06:00.002-05:00

I had an awesome Mother's Day weekend...yeah I made a weekend out of it. I have an awesome mom, mother-in-law....and I'm married to the best mommy ever. I spent Saturday night with my mom...she is the epitome of a strong woman...she did everything possible to make sure I was taken care of growing up...even if it meant working 2 jobs. She is still that same woman...always making sure my dreams become a reality by playing a very active part...I love her and am thankful to be able to call her mom! My mother-in-law is simply amazing...she treats me as her own son and is my biggest supporter. She is a prayer warrior and believes in me like few do...I am unbelievably blessed!

And then there is the mother of my two amazing babies Noah and Hannah...the woman I am privileged to call my wife. I spent all day Sunday making sure she knew how amazing she is! I'm not elaborate enough with words to be able to describe this woman. I already new she was the most beautiful and amazing wife, but observing her as a mother has blown me away. The way she loves and nurtures Noah and Hannah....she is simply amazing...I love her and I did my best to make sure that she felt extremely appreciated for all she does, but if I only do this one time a year....shame on me. My goal is to always let her know how incredible of a mother she is by expressing it to her continuously and striving to help make her successful!!

Marathon

2008-05-12T16:41:00.003-05:00

I was reading what Chris had to say today about things over at his church this past weekend and he offered some great insight about the journey of church planting. One of his thoughts got me thinking a bit...he said "church planting is a MARATHON not a SPRINT. Now, I've never ran a marathon, but if I understand it correctly when you're running a marathon its more about pace, endurance and getting in the zone (the mental factor). Sprinting I have done...you just freaking run as fast as you can and hope you get done faster than every body else without dying. Being in the pre-launch, pre-launch team phase of church planting it feels more like I'm in a sprint trying to achieve this thing called a "public launch". I have a huge vision, a long list of things to accomplish, and a date in which to make it all reality. But, what I'm learning is that "launch" is not my goal, it's only the beginning of the mission. It's simply the take off point...and even though it is significant and sets the pace...I must be thinking beyond it...setting my pace, being prepared to stick it out, and staying in the zone....running the "MARATHON."

Reveal Church Worship Leader

2008-05-09T19:32:00.001-05:00

26

2008-05-07T12:54:00.000-05:00

I stepped on the scale this morning after my run...and since the
beginning of March I've lost 26 pounds! I'm excited about it, but it
does kind of suck for 2 reasons...1) it sucks when you lose 26 lbs.
and you still have a lot more to lose. 2) it sucks that I've allowed
myself to get this way. But nevertheless...past failures do not
determine my destiny...right JR:-) And that's why I'm moving forward
and not standing still.

Walk Man

2008-05-06T16:37:00.004-05:00

Remember the CD Walkman? It was innovative, simple, and state of the art....about 13 years ago! The other day as I was running at the track I saw this woman running towards me with something in her hand. I was thinking, "what is she carrying?" As she got closer I could see it...it was a CD Walkman. She was running and carrying it ever so carefully so her CD wouldn't skip. It took everything in me not to laugh. I couldn't believe it! In the day of iPods and MP3 players why would anyone go through the torment of trying to run with a CD player???? To save money? To be stubborn and rebel? Because they think its better? Because their scared of change? I'm not really sure why anyone would want to run with a CD Walkman when you don't have to. What's unfortunate is that many churches are "running with a CD Walkman." The culture has changed all around them and they have become completely irrelevant....and quite possibly obsolete. I'm not exactly sure why this happens, but I am certain that I never want to be guilty of it.

WeekEND Review

2008-05-04T20:21:00.002-05:00

1. I spent some time on Friday with my family and hitting yard sales...great day!
2. Saturday we hit some more yard sales looking for baby stuff....
3. Saturday evening we headed up to Dawsonville, GA to the Ayers family reunion...good food and good times!!
4. One exception to the good times at the reunion came when a swing made of steel hit the car and left major damage...the worst part is that it was my mom's car....I had borrowed it to save money on gas...I have never felt so bad:-(
5. Went to The Point Church today...I really like Daniel and Brian...great guys!
6. I love learning from other churches...I know that the time is coming when I will not have the luxury to spend this much time learning from other churches...
7. I must say though...I can't wait for that day!!

MYDAY Friday

2008-05-02T22:13:00.002-05:00

1. Hit up some yard sales this morning...I know its not very manly, but when you're on a tight budget and you need some things it's a great way to save!
2. Hung out with my babies while Heather was getting her hair done...things got a little crazy, but my sister met me for lunch and saved the day!!
3. I can't believe the ability of my son to fill up a Huggies beyond capacity!!
4. Never a dull moment when you have kids...I would not trade it for anything in the world.
5. I've never been more excited about the vision of Reveal Church!
6. People often ask me to tell them about Reveal Church...bottom line...there are 46,000+ people within a 15 minute drive of where we want to launch who are lost...and we are insanely and ridiculously, out of our mind PASSIONATE about reaching EVERY one of them!!

No Longer Computerless

2008-05-01T20:00:00.002-05:00

Thanks to the generosity of one Tony McCollum and the folks at Fusion Church I am no longer computerless. I am typing this blog from the computer that they donated to me. I could not be more grateful or more thankful!! Thank you, thank you, and a million times thank you!!

ATL

2008-04-29T18:42:00.002-05:00

I had the chance to hang out with Todd Briggs today who is a church planter in Atlanta. He started Epic Village and is doing a great job. He has a passionate desire to reach the unreached in the city. I was simply amazed at the lack of solid churches down town, but I am thankful for people like Todd who are answering the call to go and make Jesus famous in the big city. Pray for Todd as he desires to see city transformation take place.

Officially Computerless

2008-04-28T21:19:00.001-05:00

I took my Gateway laptop to a computer specialist. He called me a day
later and told me he would have it up and running by the end of that
day. An hour later he called and said..."I'm sorry Mark we did all we
could, but your computer has gone home to be with the Lord." Ok...I
added that last part but he did say it was gone. I have officially
been computerless for over a week. I'm surviving with my iPhone, on
which I'm writing this blog. I'm really surprised how I've managed so
well with out it...but its seriously getting old. Not sure what the
future holds for me as far as a new laptop goes...let us pray together.

WeekEND Review

2008-04-27T18:56:00.001-05:00

1. Had a great, but extremely busy weekend.
2. Had 2 b-day parties to attend on Saturday. Had fun hanging out with
folks I haven't seen in a while.
3. I hung out with a friend who won a Dove Award for his Spanish
album...unbelievably talented.
4. Attended Buckhead Church...Andy was there so it was really
cool...my wife and Shea's wife enjoyed it but not as much because of a
childrens area blunder.
5. Had a opportunity to share the vision of Reveal Church this
morning...I am pumped when others get excited about God' vision and
want to jump in!!

Excited!

2008-04-24T19:12:00.001-05:00

I'm excited about 3 things tonight....

1. The return of LOST...to those of you who gave up on it...you're
truly missing out.
2. Date night with my unbelievably beautiful amazing wife!
3. We found a house and today they officially accepted our offer...FB
here we come!!!

Where Oh Where...?

2008-04-24T12:43:00.002-05:00

I have been out of the bloglite lately, but I've been busy...here is a brief recap of where I've been and what I've been doing, and where I'm going....

1. We have been in heavy house hunting mode....I feel like I should have been on an episode of House Hunters or Property Virgins.
2. Traveled to Greenville last week with some friends from Freedom...good times, good times.
3. Did some preaching for the students at this church.
4. Making some head way in Flowery Branch, but learning that God's timing is not mine.
5. Sharing the vision of Reveal Church this week for some potential partners....very excited!
6. I've been learning a lot about myself and my need to be prepared to lead this movement coming to Flowery Branch known as Reveal Church.
7. I've been making sure that I don't sacrifice my family on the alter of Reveal Church.
8. I've been dieting and exercising like a fool, but I'm pretty sure we are going to lose the competition to the Embassy boys anyway...but I'm a winner either way because I've lost over 20lbs and I ain't stopping.
9. I've visited several churches and have learned a lot.
10. I'm looking forward to visiting this church Sunday.
11. In the process of having our logo and website redone...very excited about this...I'll keep you posted on when to check it out!

Down

2008-04-16T20:11:00.001-05:00

Well...I was able to extract some important files from my laptop
today...and I worked hours trying to resurrect it to no avail. Not
sure what I'm going to do now. The laptop is down and so am I :-
(...but I do have my iPhone so I do have access to most things and am
able to blog a little:-)

iNEED

2008-04-15T17:41:00.001-05:00

I'm no guru but I'm pretty sure my computer was pronounced dead at the
scene today at around 2:30pm. I'm now in need of a new one...not sure
how I'm gonna swing it quite yet. Right now I have to make
arrangements for my gateway then I can explore the possibilities of a
new one...perhaps a mac!

Lesson From My 16 Month Old

2008-04-10T16:00:00.004-05:00

Noah is the coolest most handsome little boy on the planet! He is a fully engaged, fully charged BOY! He definitely keeps my wife and I going. At this phase in his development he has quite an "explorative" spirit, which I hope he maintains throughout his life. Along with his "explorative" spirit comes a lot of risks. The problem with these risks are that at his stage of development they are completely "uncalculated". Basically what I'm learning is that his unquenchable desires to explore often out weigh his capacity to achieve. For example, the other day he had the desire to run down a fairly steep hill to chase down the ball he rolled down the hill. What he could not calculate in his mind is that his little legs would not be able to sustain the weight of his body at the speeds he would achieve running down the hill. The results of his exploration would only be realized at the point that his little body would tumble the majority of the way down the hill. Fortunately for him his father was there to guide him to prevent the inevitable.

What's the lesson? Well, as a church planter I will have to take risks that will often out weigh my capacity to achieve. The magnificent thing about this is that in these risks I will see my Father demonstrate His capacity, which is incalculable. When I'm NOT stretched beyond my capacity I am limited to only experiencing MY capacity. When I AM stretched beyond MY capacity I place myself in position to only be limited by HIS capacity. Which is where I would rather me!

Bittersweet

2008-04-04T10:58:00.003-05:00

I am excited about the arrival of Jersey Mike's to Canton. When I lived in Louisville, KY I frequented Jersey Mike's with commendable loyalty. It is by far the best sub joint around. The sad thing is....I'm moving soon and I'm pretty sure there are none near by my new place of residence. But I've visited twice this week, and I'm sure I will make the journey several more times before moving.

The Art Of Decision Making

2008-04-04T10:26:00.003-05:00

Nobody has ever said, "I want to make stupid decisions." At least I would hope. Rather, everyone desires to make good, smart, effective decisions. Proverbs tells us to "ponder the paths of our feet." This means that impulsive decision making is not very wise, particularly for big decisions and especially as leaders. In fact, I would venture to say it is extremely harmful. Thinking and processing over a decision is the pathway to effective decision making, and often it requires expediting the process. This includes seeking wisdom and insight from various sources (including from people smarter and more experienced than you), contemplating the consequences and ramifications of each path, and praying for the guidance of the Spirit of God. Doing this allows you to experience the second half of the aforementioned Proverb, "then your ways will be sure." When you make thoughtfully and prayerfully considered decisions you enable yourself to move forward in those decisions with unparalleled confidence. This confidence does not eliminate risks involved nor guarantee you will avoid adversity, but it does mean as you encounter these things you can walk with security that you have made the best decision you could have made.

One Thing I Do Know

2008-04-02T14:36:00.003-05:00

In John 9 there is a story told of Jesus healing a blind man on the Sabbath. Instead of focusing on the miraculous healing of a man who had been blind from birth the Pharisees were ticked about the fact that it was done outside the bounds of religious tradition. They were more concerned about nailing Jesus for breaking the "rules" than they were rejoicing in the new life this man had received. I love the response of the healed man to the bickering questions of the Pharisees..."Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"

Reveal Church is committed to providing environments that will allow people to encounter Jesus in such a way that they can echo the sentiments of the once blind man..."one thing I know. I was blind but now I see!" Even when it means challenging religious tradition.

Wierd Sayings...I Don't Get

2008-04-02T14:25:00.002-05:00

Have you ever heard any of these sayings...or perhaps even said them....I have no idea what they mean....

"I'm chasing a rabbit here...."

"That ought to be a blessing...."

"Does a wild bear climb a tree...?"

"I need to get my ducks in a row..."

"That dog will hunt..."

"Not to toot my own horn..."

"I'm finer than a frog hair split 3 ways...."

"I'm as confused as a termite in a yo-yo..."

Only In The South...

2008-03-27T20:51:00.002-05:00

Today I'm driving home and I see this....only in the South would someone pay the kind of money for one of these...I love it!

Burning Up The iTunes

2008-03-27T13:57:00.003-05:00

Here's what's burning up my iTunes:

Jack Johnson (several)
David Cook (Billie Jean--unbelievable)
Fallout Boy (Beat It--I know another MJ remix)
Linkin Park (Shadow Of The Day--love it)
Buckcherry (Sorry)
OneRepublic (Stop and Stare)
Alicia Keyes (No One)

...just to name a few.

D-Fat From 5th

2008-03-27T13:43:00.002-05:00

With a little over a month to go in the D-Fat competition we are trailing in the back of the pack in 5th place. This is a little disappointing...however, the heat has been turned up over the past couple of weeks and I think you are going to see team REVEAL make a quick jump to the front of the pack and REVEAL (sorry I couldn't resist) our true potential. I'm not saying we're going to take the lead just yet, but we will end there. Regardless, I'm losing weight. I am down a minimum of 12 pounds since beginning, and that's a good thing. I have a long way to go, but I'm determined. Bottom line....we may be 5th now, but we're gonna be, as the Jeffersons might sing, "moving on up!" I don't care how far Gary rides on his bike:-) or how good Ross' personal trainer might be.

Out With Chikezie!!

2008-03-27T08:42:00.003-05:00

Finally they ousted Chikezie from American Idol and I was very excited. If David Cook gets voted off like Chris Daughtry did a couple of years ago it can me rightfully stated that the majority of people who watch American Idol are clueless about real authentic talent...remember Taylor Hicks...I didn't think so.

Trust

2008-03-26T21:53:00.003-05:00

I have really been digging Lee McDerment's CD. My favorite song has to be (thus far) "Our God Is Love". My favorite line in that song is :

"You are bigger than we let you be. You are strong enough to set us free."

I have been reading a book called True Faced. I highly recommend it. It really deals with trusting God, particularly as it relates to who He says we are in light of what Jesus has done. It really is an incredible book that will set you free from the bondage of religious spirituality, and move you to basking in the unmerited grace of Jesus. Jesus said: "If you abide in my word, then you are truly my disciples. Then you will know the TRUTH and the TRUTH will set you FREE."

Abiding is trusting, not doing. It is trusting in the words of Jesus and trusting that what He has said about me is TRUE. And that TRUTH sets me FREE! Jesus really is, as Lee sings, "strong enough to set me free", and indeed He has. I must trust Him. Lee closes out his song with a great Hymn.

"Tis so sweet to TRUST in Jesus. Just to take Him at His Word."

Easter As An Observer

2008-03-25T15:08:00.002-05:00

Easter 08' has come and gone and I spent it as an observer. I spent my time attending events and services, reading blogs about other churches, and talking to some planters about their experience. It's good to observe because it is in observing that you learn....or at least you should. On the flip side, however, there is an explosion building up inside of me as I wait and anticipate what is to come for Reveal Church. I am so excited for the next phase of the church planting process. Sometimes it makes me crazy because I become weary of the learning and observing and am ready to start putting things into action. But as with everything you must endure the process, learn all you can where you are, plan like a wild man and stay consistently moving. This is what I'm doing.