If you haven’t confirmed with the church office that you are coming to Leadership Weekend, what are you waiting for?  

We now have almost 400 volunteers registered for this volunteer celebration, and we really want as many of you as possible to show up. 

As I mentioned previously, we have a lot of cool stuff planned, but just a few minutes ago, I confirmed one of the best surprises in Leadership Weekend history.  I can’t tell you what, because I’m sworn to secrecy, but I will tell you that the surprise happens Friday night, at the very end of the evening, so you definitely don’t want to leave early!

Remember that this event is also for potential volunteers, so just because you’re not connected in a ministry yet doesn’t mean you can’t come.  In fact, we hope you show up!

See you then!

Here are a few things I saw / heard this morning

1.       One of the funniest “What’s Happening” videos ever.  Check the website to watch it.

2.       Music was amazing this morning…the audience was responding big time to “Never Let Go.”

3.       Might have been one of the largest 10:30am services I’ve ever seen.

4.       There was a point in the hall that I was trapped and could not move…people everywhere.

5.       Matt said that Fusion was “record breaking” attendance.

6.       Pastor was “on” this morning…said in the 10:30 service that men should “smack their wives on the back side and say hey baby…your hot.” …getty up.

7.       Sermon statements – “never had a man come to me for marriage counseling and say their wife did not give them enough cuddle time.”

8.       I told my wife on the way home “your hair looks like a bunch of goats running down a hill.” …just trying to be biblical.

9.       I’ll never look at the Righteous Brothers the same after the sermon intro video.

10.   Huge Weekend next weekend…

a.       Fall Leadership Conference (Friday 22^nd / Saturday 23^rd)

b.      Class 101 (Sunday 24^th at 4pm)

c.       Night of Marriage (Sunday 24^th at 6pm)

Leadership Weekend 2008 is coming! 

If you’ve been to one of our leadership weekends before, I don’t think I have to beg you to come.  I’m pretty sure you’ll show up.

If you’ve never been to this awesome volunteer event, then I want to give you a couple of reasons to sign up this Sunday.

1. Sonic is catering dinner on Friday night and breakfast on Saturday morning….and it’s free!!!
2. We will be giving away lots of gift cards
3. There is a video that you absolutely have to see!
4. The band will be playing/singing a song that all of you who grew up in the 80’s will go crazy over!

Currently, we have almost 300 people who have made this weekend a priority on their calendar and obviously, we would love to see every single volunteer in our church show up. 

So, if you’ve one of our many incredible volunteers, please show up for this great event…you won’t regret it!   

I thought I would pass along a couple of suggestions for you to download.  I’m currently wearing these five songs out and I thought that those of you who appreciate good music might enjoy them too.   

1. “Healer” by Hillsong -  This is one of the most moving and powerful songs I’ve ever heard, even more so after watching this video.

2. “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath- I can’t listen to this one without being convicted of my lack of love for other people.

3. “While I’m Waiting” by John Waller-  Just found out about this song and I love it! 

4. “The Impossible Dream” by Luther Vandross- I know this isn’t a “Christian” song, but get over it…I love this song!!  I remember first hearing this version during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.  I loved it then and I love it just as much now. 

5. “Happy Day” by Fee or Tim Hughes-  This is one of those songs that once you start singing it, you’ll be singing it for the next few days. 

So, what are you listening to these days?  I’m always looking for good music and would love to hear what’s playing in your world.

A few things I saw / heard this morning…

1.       Had a lot of people tell me they saw my picture in the newspaper…I won the award “Middle GA man of the year.”

2.       The doughnuts were excellent this morning…growing the church 1 lb at a time.

3.       Music was “off the charts”…which is a cool way of saying “it was very good.”

4.       We sang “God of this City” again…what a great song and message.

5.       Mark sang part of a Johnny Cash song “walk the line” before pastor preached…for those of you wondering, it was pastor’s idea.  I suggested an 80’s rock song, but pastor has boycotted all 80’s music.

6.       Pastor - “Marriages don’t create problems, they reveal them.”

7.       Pastor – “God wants you to be the right person, not find the right person.”

8.       Pastor – “If God can raise Jesus from the dead, He can raise your marriage from the dead.”

9.       We hosted a Starting Point this morning and had (at last count) 89 new adults commit to being in a Life Group.

10.   What was really cool was watching some leaders who are brand new to Southside step up and assist “other” new people in the process…sign of a healthy church.

11.   Overall, just another cool day at a cool church.

I went to Cafe Erotica today.  In fact, most of the staff did.

In case you’re shocked by my admission, you need to know that today the former strip club is shutting down for good.  It’s being demolished. 

And I just wanted to be there. 

Several men in our church were part of a team of investors that made this happen and I can’t thank them enough. 

If you want to watch a video of today’s events, you can click here.  You’ll notice that our pastor opens the festivities with prayer, and if you look closely enough, you’ll even notice that Billy and I make are own brief cameos as well.