Troy Marshall

Does Tithing "Work"?

My first answer is yes. Wait a minute. But it could be no. It depends on how you look at it. You see, I have heard a lot of talk from people who say they tithe and are still struggling. There in lies the problem. People have been duped in to believing that if they tithe, they shouldn't have any financial worries. That's just not true. You still have to be a wise steward. Tithing is not a "get out of debt free" card. Let's pick it apart.

First of all, what is a tithe? It is 10% of ALL your increase. What is increase? Could be a lot of things but one thing for sure, it is pre-tax salary. Not net. It is also a bill. The Bible says that you OWE your tithe to God. What happens when you don't pay what is owed? Bad stuff. A tithe is not just an "Old Testament" principle. Jesus said that we should pay our tithe, I choose to do what He says. In the original text, the word 'Carem' (I think that's how you spell it) is used for a tithe. That means "set apart for God's use or His destruction". That means that it is cursed. It belongs to God. Ever heard that 1 bad apple spoils the whole bunch? Well it's a Biblical principle. It's what happened to Achan in the Old Testament. Jericho was the first of 10 cities that Israel had to conquer in the promised land. A dude named Achan kept some of the spoils (that's loot) from Jericho. God had told Joshua that the gold and silver from Jericho belonged to Him and to bring it back to the temple. It was a tithe. All the stuff from the next 9 cities was free to keep. So Achan kept some of the tithe- just a little bit. Know what happened? He was killed, and his whole family. That's 1 bad apple! But his disobedience caused Israel to get their butts kicked in the very next battle. (What would a church be like if EVERYONE tithed?)

You see, tithing is more than a principle- it's a command. When you keep the tithe, even some of it, the whole thing is cursed. So tithing is the minimum. It removes the curse from your finances. The real wealth comes from taking risk and trusting God. And wealth isn't always money. Giving offerings (above a tithe), sacrificing in order to give more, and giving alms (giving secretly) brings you closer to God and causes you to trust Him at a higher level.

So tithing does "work". It removes the curse. But if you want to prosper, step it up a notch. Give sacrificially. If you would like further study on what I am talking about, listen to the "ticket to a sold out show" here. And watch for the "curse of the tithe" uploading this week.

Freak of the Week

This week's freak is one of the most dependable, consistent people who calls BCC home.  I first met Cathy on our first visit to Brickcity. The Patterson's had just started to attend BCC themselves. They made us feel welcome.  I've watched Cathy over the years, serving behind the scenes. She doesn't like to talk much, but she speaks loudly with her commitment. She has served in the children's services, creative team, vocals for the band, Brickcity Brew, group hosts, white glove and I am sure I am missing other areas. I have watched her family take steps towards Christ for 9 years now and am proud to serve beside them every week. Cathy, we could never give you enough thanks for your service to the vision at BCC. You are definitely a FREAK! Thanks for your dedication. Your rewards will be many! And your husband ain't so bad either :o) BTW- she got her hair cut off so you might not recognize her now.

Freak of the Week

What's a freak? A freak is a person who is obsessed with or unusually enthusiastic about a specified interest. At BCC we have freaks everywhere.

Week in and week out, they come in at the crack of dawn and prepare for the guests who will arrive for one of our services. Why? Because they know that every service, people will come who have not decided to follow Christ yet. They realize that when they serve those people every week, that sooner or later, they will make that decision. You see more often than not, it's those who are serving that helps bring life change. Not the sermon. The sermon just gives the directions but it's our volunteers who take away all the obstacles so that they can hear clearly.
 
From scrubbing bathrooms to teaching children, directing traffic to folding programs, from playing a guitar to counting the offering, none of it would happen without our freaks- our volunteers. So I'm stealing Gary's term and right here, I'm going to celebrate our freak of the week.
 
This week- Kim Marshall. She has attended BCC from the beginning. She has realized that her purpose in life is to help others find Jesus and she found places to make that happen. She has faithfully served by cleaning toilets, teaching kids, greeting you at the door and doing countless tasks behind the scenes. She has prayed for this church more than most and given of herself until it hurt. It's people like her that make our mission happen. Kim, thank you! I know it's a thankless job but hundreds are following Him today because of you! You are such a freak- keep up the good work. I forgot to mention- she's my wife. I love you baby.

What is Sacrifice?

Sacrifice is this: Giving up something of value for the sake of something more important or worthy.

I've heard a lot of talk around BCC concerning the commitments that we will make in May 2009. Many are looking for ways to free up money so that they can give 3 year commitments. It's all going to come down to sacrifice. What are you willing to give up, so that people in our city can find Jesus? I jotted down a few ideas hoping that it would spark your thinking. Here they are:

• Do your own manicures and pedicures. You could save $15-$35 month
• Give up that latte every morning. $3.85 per day is $4200 over 3 years!
• Get your hair cut 1/2 as much. Shaggy is in anyway. They charge the same to cut 1/2" or 1".
• Turn off your cable or satellite. You can see all your favorite shows online-for free.
• Give up lunch every day. Let's face it, most of us could afford to do that anyway. Potential savings? $5-$12
• Block long distance on your landlines. They call you, you save money.
• Cut out all snacks. I know, but we are talking sacrifice.
• Split a meal with your friend & add a salad. The portions are way more than we should eat.
• Rent a movie instead of going to the theater. Family of four can cost $50.
• Give part of your tax refund or bonus. Planning those ahead will reduce compulsive spending.
• Clip coupons. Add up your savings each month and give that as an offering.
• Pre-pay your cell phone. We pay for minutes each month that we never use.
• Pay at the pump. When you walk in to the store, you just spent more. Hey that rhymes!
• Wash your own car at home. Save $7-$25.
• Only eat out without kids. Enjoy the quiet meal. They throw away 1/2 of their's anyway.
• Shorten your vacation by 50% and save 50% of the money.
• Give your pocket change daily. $1 per person@BCC/ per day= $450,000 over 3 years.
• Turn off your movie channels. $10-$50 per month adds up fast.
• Negotiate lower insurance policies. Give to God instead of Corporate Execs.
• Refinance mortgage, pay the difference to your commitment.
• Quit smoking. A two pack a day smoker spends $5500 in 3 years! And you might actually live 3 more years.
• Potty train those kids! If they can hold their head up, they can sit on a toilet!

There are many other ways to save. What are your ideas? I'd like to hear. Maybe one of them will save me money so I can give more.

What's Holding Us Back?

There are times in the history of a church that are definitely pivotal. For BCC, this is one of them. For the past 3 months, we have never been more serious, more focused, or more motivated to see life change in the lives around us. The only thing holding us back? Space. We can't get many more people in this building. 300 people in one service in a 7200 sq. ft. building is absolutely crazy! I don't know what the "comfortable" per person space is, but it ain't ours for sure! This past Sunday, we started a series called 'Live Life Out Loud'. BCC is committed to being the loudest, craziest, most in your face church in this city. Why? Because that's what Jesus did. He was loud in His actions, he was crazy (in the eyes of the religious), and He was black and white when it came to sin but grace flowed from Him every minute. He spoke the loudest on the cross. He came to "seek and save the Lost". Then He said, "do what I do". You see, we are mandated by our creator to change this world and BCC is not backing down. Even when people begin to leave. We are staying the course. Even when people complain. We will not divert. One day, we will stand before God and give account for what we did on this Earth. I want to hear well done. But I don't get to unless you hear well done. We need everybody. No matter how insignificant you think your part is, you are changing the world. I just watched an interview of a woman who began a journey with Christ at BCC. In the 7 minute interview, she named about 22 people who helped her to take steps towards Christ. She said it has been a 'slow and steady process' and many of you had a part in it. For those who help her, you'll hear 'well done'.

So for those of you who call BCC home, I have two questions for you.

1. What are you willing to do to serve people who don't follow Jesus?
2. What are you willing to give financially so that people can begin that journey?

We need space. Space takes money. A lot of it. BCC is moving, will you be a part?

If you don't go to BCC but you want to contribute to what is going on in our city, send some money. We'll use it to change lives. You think I'm kidding? Make the check payable to Brickcity Community Church, 1408 Burns Dr. Sanford, NC 27330. Give $2 million and I'll name my next kid after you :D

What Will I Give?

Brickcity is preparing to launch a stewardship campaign in the coming weeks. We are in desperate need for a building and all the banks are telling me that we need to have money to borrow money (imagine that!). It will take quite a chunk of change to make this happen. So what's my part? Initially, my mind says, what can I afford to give? I have a wife and three kids (one in diapers). That in itself costs a lot of money. Faith and commitment tells me what I want to give. The problem is that there is a gap between the two. We are called to be wise stewards of what God has given us. So I wanted to list the things that Kim and I have done to prepare us for giving sacrificially as well as what I am considering to do to improve our income/ expense ratio.

• As of this month, we have no credit card debt. We made a decision long ago to eliminate that and we are now done.
• We have driven our cars for 4 and 7 years and am determined not to get rid of them until we have to. Saving for their replacements starts now- before we need them.
• We have decided NOT to tap into our house equity. One of the highest monthly bills you can have is house interest.
• We cashed in our reward points on our credit card for restaurant gift cards. That makes dating very inexpensive without sacrificing the experience.
• We repair our cars, house and appliances quickly when something breaks. Problems cause more problems.
• We pay our tithes and bills FIRST, everything else is budgeted out of what is left. When you do borrow money, you save much more with a good credit score.
• When we eat out, we often split an entree' and add a salad. The portions are way too big anyway, and when we eat at home, we both eat the same thing so why not, when we are out? Also, we can stay slim and save money. It's a no brainer.
• We always watch our statements. Many companies load extra charges for services not received. I guess they think no one will notice. I do.
• We track bills on a calendar, that way nothing slips by. Late fees can add up quickly.
• We eat before shopping. This is a very important habit if you want to keep your grocery bill down.
• We plan meals ahead of time. Talk out what we like and don't like. And buy what we need.
• We shop at 4 different grocery stores. Meats on sale is what we eat.
• We research before making large purchases. Often the internet will save us hundreds of dollars on an item we are willing to wait a couple extra days for.
• We cancelled collision/ comprehensive insurance on our vehicles. They don't pay out enough to replace the car anyway. Why not put that money into savings?

Here are some things I am considering:

• Installing a tankless water heater
• Canceling cable and watching my shows on Hulu.com.
• Changing my lights to LED
• Recycling rainwater for my irrigation
• Buying stock while it's really low

I'll let you know how it goes. If I can reduce my expenses and win people to Jesus with the savings, what better investment is there than that?

Today's Top 10

I was thinking today about the people BCC is attracting. They are definitely not the usual 'church folk'. Don't get me wrong, lots of people come in with prior church history but a large percentage of our attendance has little or no experience in church. So I wrote a top ten list of how you know you are attending BCC. Here it is:

1. If it's too loud, you're too old
2. You take communion and wash it down with a smoothie
3. Your knees are in the back of the dude in front of you
4. Your kids cry when you pick them up
5. You've been attending for 6 months and you're 'the old timer'
6. You wish you just had 6 sq. ft. to yourself
7. You've ever thought, "Can we do that in church?"
8. That "sinner" sitting next to you is on staff
9. You were shacked up and now you're not
10. The fastest spreading gossip is when someone picks up a red bag

I love being at BCC. God is doing some amazing things. You want to know what they are? Come out Sunday with the start of "Dangerous Church". Is BCC one? We want to know.

God Called an Audible

For several years now, the senior staff has been very intentional about planning. We  have been planning everything. It's a good practice. It keeps you organized, it keeps stress levels down and it makes sure you are prepared. So this year we planned out the series for the beginning of the year. In February, we planned a series to get people to invite their friends. A week before it started, God called an audible. You know, like the quarterback of a football team does when he steps up to the line and decides the play he had planned might not be the best one to succeed against the defense that is presented. He calls an audible, he changes the play on the fly.

God impressed on us to change our series to a marriage series. We had one planned later in the year but wasn't fully developed. So we threw it together, realizing that God knew the best play for BCC. We ended this past Sunday and I took time to reflect on what happened in the last 4 weeks. Here it is.

• Our Lead Pastor, Bill Maye, took a much needed 3 Sunday break from speaking
• 9 people made decisions to follow Jesus (in the middle of a 'marriage' series???)
• 11 people were baptized
• 30 couples started a 'Love and Respect' study (Some engaged couples included. Sweet)
• Many singles (heterosexual and homosexual) began to wrestle with their immoral relationships and have taken steps towards Christ (I live for life change!)
• Our staff went through a major structural change
• 80+ married couples reaffirmed their wedding vows
• Financial giving increased 72% over the same period last year (in a sucky economy!)

I love being on God's team. When we let Him lead- we always win. I definitely like to win.

Is BCC Boring?

As I stated, I am going through the book "Killing Cockroaches" by Tony Morgan. But I'm not just reading it. Every few pages, I stop and assess where I am concerning what I just read. Not that Tony has all the answers- even he will tell you that he doesn't. But he is a wise leader who works for one of the fastest growing churches in the nation. Growing not just in attendance, but growing the Kingdom of God. I came across one of his "almost famous" top ten lists. Here it is, the top ten ways to make church services boring.

1. Don't worry about when you finish. 'I'm sure no one has plans after the service'
2. Straight Scriptures, no stories. 'Jesus didn't teach that way, but you are obviously a much better teacher than Jesus'
3. No television, no movies. 'It's just a phase. People don't really need visual stimulation. They prefer talking heads'
4. Use the same service order. 'Every week. No exceptions. Ever.'
5. Make more announcements.
6. Encourage elementary kids to sit through your services. 'They love 45-min sermons. It's good for them. It builds character'
7. Talk more about the past and less about the future
8. Use the same song every week. 'And try the chorus one more time'
9. Use lots of big words that no one uses in normal, everyday life
10. Forget relevant topics and life application. 'That's overrated. People are only interested in hearing what you think, not why it matters to them.'

Although there is some humor in this list, I agree with every one of them. I don't think BCC is boring, but I'm an employee. Sometimes that can cloud things up. What do you think? Are you bored at Brickcity?

I killed a coackroach

There is a right way to do it. And I know just the guy to teach it to you. His new book will explain it all. I'm lovin' it. I don't like to read for extended periods of time (my ADD won't allow it) and this book is set up just for me.

I've been following Tony for 4 years now. I've met with him face to face, I've watched football on his couch, I've ridden in the infamous Audi, but I bet he doesn't know how much his ministry has shaped mine. His insights and strategies have helped me to grow in my leadership. Over the last six months, I have been stretched, challenged, and led by one of the nation's top strategic thinkers. Thanks Tony for your ministry and keep it up. 'The Church' needs it.

If you are in leadership of any kind- buy this book!

Big

For months I've been talking abut something called "Big". And it is. We've been meeting, planning, dreaming, and scheming for a long time. I will give more details as they arise. Plans are being made even as I write. More meetings tomorrow to plan. But here's some info. Big is the next location of Brickcity Community Church. Right now it's just a huge empty building.

You'll hear a lot about it in the coming months but here are a few facts.

• The total space is 60,000 square feet (that's 8.3 times our current facility)
• We are planning to open with a 750-800 seat auditorium and launch with two services from day one
• We will only owe about 50% of the value when we move in (and that's before we raise any money through commitments)
• We are kicking around a VERY innovative way of raising money for this project. Stay tuned, you may want to get involved no matter where you live!
• We will have the most innovative children's services of any church that I have ever seen.
• Our current building is for sale. Interested or know someone who is? Contact me.
• We are planning to move in around September 2009 (now that's aggressive)
• Most importantly- thousands will begin to follow Jesus through ministry at BCC.

Last Week Sucked

 I know, the snow was cool. History was made. A holiday was celebrated. But for me, it was one of the worst weeks ever. My brother, Todd, was found dead on his couch on January 17th. It was the fourth year anniversary of my dad's death. It snowed then, too. The results from the autopsy will not be in for months so there is still no closure for his family. He lived a turbulent life. Many ups and downs. Many dreams and goals. He has patents in the system and hopes of making a difference. He was 36.

My initial thought was that I could not speak at his funeral but my mother and sister-in-law asked me in front of the whole family to give a message of God's grace at the service. I said, "sure" without hesitation. So nervous, grieving, and mentally drained, I did only what I know to do. I told of how Jesus was so good that He accomplished what we couldn't. He died for us and rose again. It was a simple message of Jesus- that's what His message is, simple. I don't know if anyone began a journey because of what I spoke. I seldom do. All we can do is tell our story and let God do His work.

I have been reflecting on my own life this past week. Am I doing everything that God wants me to? If I died today, would I be finished with my race? Have I run in a way to win? I don't think I have yet but this experience has given me a shot of adrenaline to run harder, focus more on MY race. In the end I want to hear "Well done".

I miss my brother. I'll see him again. But for now- there's work to be done.

I'm Back

I've been away from blogland for a couple of weeks. Some shocking, challenging and unbelievable things have happened in my life lately. I will fill you in on those soon but I wanted to give an update of this weekend at BCC.
God is doing some amazing things around here. Yesterday we set a new attendance record for a week that wasn't Christmas. We were up 33% over the same week last year and had 120% capacity in the second service (what was that about an 80% rule?). We baptized 9 people (I hear one used to be a Wiccan, Buddhist!- very cool). Our local Sheriff attended and said "God dealt with him regarding his relationship with Jesus". There is a buzz in the air, momentum is growing and "Big" is coming. Don't worry, you'll know VERY soon.

Things that make me say "hmmmm"

During my time off last week, my mind was still going and going. But because I refused to entertain anything related to 'work', it veered off on some wild tangents and left me with a few questions.

1. Why do vegetarians try to imitate the stuff that they are so against eating? (like this stuff) Just grab a burger already!
2. Why is it when you start to lose the hair on your head, you begin to grow hair in your ears? (can they transplant ear hair and kill 2 birds with one stone?)
3. Why do politicians promise change to Washington and then hire 30 year veterans to make it happen?
4. Why do I complain about $3.50/gal gas but I don't mind paying $3.50 for a 12 oz. latte?     
5. Why do men have nipples? (that one really bothers me)

As you can see, it's very dangerous for me to have time off. How about you? Does something make you say hmmmm?

2 Weeks

That's how long I took off. No blogging. No church stuff. Didn't go anywhere. I was at home for more straight hours than any other week since the big snow of 2000 (20" shut down this town for 2 weeks). I did "work" on Sunday and Monday each week. But other than an occasional outing I lazed around like an out-of-work brother in law at their parents house. But today, it's back to reality. There is lots to do. I will keep you up to date as this month develops.

Best by far!

Just got home from the single most awesome service that BCC has ever done. A new record attendance was dazzled by a rocking band, beautiful kids, hot chocolate, a tremendous message and a bell. We had 3 services, 2 of which were completely "sold out". Attendance was up 39% from the same week last year (110% capacity) I don't think another person could have made it in. But the single most impressive statistic is, 10 more people made a first step towards Christ by picking up a red bag. That makes 120 for the year! Now that makes all the hard work worth it.
Everyone who volunteered to pull this service off- Thank you so much. You definitely put away a few rewards in heaven today. We have the best volunteers on the planet.
You are definitely going to want to come back next week. We are going to unveil "Big". Back to 2 services (not for long).

I did it

Alright, I broke down and registered with Facebook. Mainly because my wife asked me to be her friend. (Better me than some ex- boyfriend from the past)
I'm just kicking the tires right now. Not sure if I will use it to communicate. I do like the way I can link my blog and grab more potential readers and visitors to BCC.

I feel like a first time guest at church all over again. I find myself asking questions that I imagine they ask when they visit a service for the first time.

• Who are the members here, do I know anyone?
• What benefit will this place bring to me?
• Will anyone reach out to me and want to be my friend?
• What kind of commitment is required?
• If I didn't come back, would anyone care?
• What is the best way to connect?

The jury is still out. We'll see what the verdict is soon.

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words... or is it?

 This weekend is  our conclusion of the Christmas Series. The message is entitled "Just Believe". We will use scenes from "The Polar Express" to communicate the simplistic message of Jesus Christ. Because  of the anticipated record crowds, we have added an extra service and asked for everyone to get tickets so that we can disperse the crowd evenly.

The series promotions have been quite different. This year we did no advertising of any kind. We could have plastered graphics, images, and pictures all over the city, but we did not. No printing fancy signs, no billboards, no press releases no give-aways, nothing. There are no posters up anywhere. So how will people come? We have challenged our BCC'ers for a month to invite. We are convinced that the absolute best way to get someone to visit BCC is through a personal invitation in your own words. Will it work for this weekend? I am sure it will. I was checking over the numbers of tickets dispersed so far and was surprised to find out that all three services are going to be more than 80% full. One person has invited 22 of her family and friends and came back to pick up 10 more tickets. I am so excited to hear the stories of life change that is happening through those who serve at BCC. If you are planning on attending, you had better get here early. It will truly surpass your expectations of a church service.

Weekend Download

Busy weekend at BCC. We are in our Christmas Series which is drawing huge crowds. We are desperately trying to come up with solutions to our space problems. More on that soon. But the highlight os the week had to be the Christmas Party on Sunday night. Every year we have a party that is just for those at BCC. We eat, we party, we get loud. But not this year. Well, we did eat, party and get loud- but this year it wasn't for us. This year we adopted kids at Get Smart. It's a local preschool who gives kids a head start on school who would normally be at risk of being left behind and therefore doomed to poverty. It is privately funded and free to the students. Our BCCers went shopping this month and bought gifts for the studens. We invited them to a Christmas Party, honoring them and presented them with gifts. 450 people showed up to participate and they were thoroughly blessed. Santa showed up and with the help of 12 big eared elves, every child left with a bag full of stuff. Now I know some of you religious people out there in blog land probably can't believe that "Satan" "Santa" was at a church. Well, if you weren't there last night, I don't want to hear your opinion. There was more 'Jesus' there last night than any church service in the city. When we do it unto the least of these, we do it unto Jesus. He was glorified last night. And all you who participated and made it successful- thank you. BCC, you Rock!

Coaching "Quotes"

I went to Greenville, SC for my coaching network with Tony on Friday. We had some fascinating discussions on Marketing, Communication, and Discipleship. I can't cover it all, but here are a few "almost famous" quotes.

• "Don't communicate everything" (it becomes noise)
• "Keep your promises" (Do what you say you're gonna do)
• Ask this question of ministry, "What value do people get by coming to _________?"
• "The reason people aren't coming is because your ministry sucks"
• "If we took out all marketing for an event, how would people come?"
• "It's never fun when your balls shrivel" (you just had to be there!)

This discussion definitely made me think about lots of stuff at BCC. We want to be as effective as possible when doing what God asks us to do. There is definitely room to grow.

Reel Christmas

We started this past week. The "Reel Christmas" opener was a big success. Historically, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is poorly attended but not this year. Attendance was up 26% over the same week last year. Bill used "The Grinch" to challenge us concerning our attitudes at Christmas.

Who will we accept into our lives? Will we really accept anyone? What kind of risk will we take to reach others who are not necessarily like us? These are just some of the questions that were asked.

This week, "Elf" Spread Some Christmas Cheer. Don't be late, seating is still limited.

Change is ___________?

We've heard a lot about change lately. Or more importantly, the need for it. In the government, in the economy, in our spending habits, in our health, in our sleep habits- you name it. There is rarely debate on the belief that we need change but we rarely do change. We become comfortable with the present and are afraid to take risk. To find change, we always look to the past and try what worked 'back in the day'. And if we ever hear of someone who is doing something entirely different- something that has never been tried before, immediately the criticism arises. It's as if everyone knows what works but no one will try it.

To understand the need for change, we must first know what it really is. According to my MacBook dictionary (which knows all things), Change is this:

• To make or become different
• To transform
• To move from one to another
• Alteration or modification

Now apply this to Brickcity. Everything we do is focused on change. We want people who are not following Christ to change their direction. We want people who are half-heartedly following Christ to change their focus. We want fully devoted followers of Christ to change their city. We want people in Brickcity to realize they need to change.

Is change coming in Sanford? Absolutely! Is Brickcity pioneering this change? Absolutely! Can we keep being at the cutting edge of what God is doing without continuing to change? Not a chance.

Change is coming. Brickcity will change. And because of it, the Kingdom of Satan will change. It will be a lot smaller than it is today.

www.TroyMarshall

Have you ever 'googled' yourself? I have. I found many Troy Marshalls out there who are doing some stuff to be remembered by. There is a Colorado Beef Producer who also serves as an editor for a beef producer magazine. There is a traveling minister who is doing stuff in 45 nations, there is a VP of rap promotions for Universal Motown Records and then there is me. I want to be the Troy Marshall that everyone remembers. Not because of who I am or a title that I hold but for the work that God did through me. I want to accomplish everything that God wants me to do. Last week, when I was in my meeting with Tony, we discussed the need to clarify the win. For me- that is my city following Christ and becoming more like Him. Whatever it takes for that to happen, I want to be a part of that.

How about you? What is your 'win' in life?

That's bad but tastes so good!

I don't like fast food. Most of the time I get a pain in my chest just picturing the grease, fat and cholesterol in all that fried crap. But this morning was different. I was riding by the "Golden Arches" and all of the sudden I had a craving for this breakfast sandwich.

It was a sausage, egg and cheese McGriddle. I don't know if you have ever had one but this just might be the best tasting breakfast food in the world. It was hot, perfectly assembled, and dripping with flavor (OK- that was grease). When I bit into it, the pillowy goodness of the hotcakes loaded with pockets of sweet syrup, perfectly complemented the saltiness of the sausage. after I ate it I immediately thought of this verse. I won't be doing that every morning but today I was weak. I'll do an extra lap through my neighborhood to make up for it. Maybe even an extra low dose aspirin for a couple of days. What do you think? Was this a sin?

"Big"

For some time recently, I have mentioned "Big" on this blog. I still can't disclose all the details but I can tell you this. It is "Big"! And we made an offer on it and we should hear something soon. Concerning "Big", I also met with Noah, and the Ark- well a representative of Arks.

Confused? good, keep checking in.

What are we doing

Just finished an interesting conversation with Tony and the guys. Although some of them will try to take credit, let me clear, it was started by yours truly. We discussed the difference between empowerment and delegation. Here are some of the differences we came up with.

Saving mo money

I never thought I would see it again but today I did. I was driving my wife's car to a breakfast meeting and I decided to swing in and fill her tank with gas (she loves it when I do little things). The price of gas was $2.08! Just months ago I paid $4.06. Although I have very strong opinions about the economy, politics and business, I rarely voice them publically. The price of gas is just an example of the free market correcting itself. I truly believe the bailouts that are being executed lately are the wrong road. God has blessed this country in a unique way. Freedom should be free everywhere. What do you think?

Would you like fries with that?

Well the numbers are in. We had 323 kids come to our house last night. It was a lot of fun watching my 7 year old handing out candy. He kept saying "look at all the people we are inviting to church!". It will be exciting to see if anyone cashes in a free smoothie coupon.
There were plenty of cool costumes. Spiderman, Iron man and Batman are always popular. But for the most unique costume of the night, it has to be this little guy. Not only was he cute, he had the personality that complemented those fries just perfectly. Very cool kid, I hope to talk to him at church.

Tis the Season

Thanksgiving is almost here! It's hard to believe. Cranberries are being sauced, turkeys are in hiding. I snapped this shot at the fair. This turkey sold for $6600! What kind of wine do you drink with a bird like that?

The start of the holiday season these days, starts on Halloween. This Friday, I am expecting 350 kids coming to my door for some candy. At BCC, we are going to seize the opportunity. Our members scooped up thousands of invite cards to our children services last Sunday to give out to the trick-o-treaters. They will receive a free smoothie from our Brickcity Brew- a treat for sure, plus they will enjoy one of the most innovative children programs that they could ever be apart of. Seriously. One thing is for sure, we do children stuff well. After all, their parents are our target.

For the adults, it's the closing message of "Got Questions". How can you know God's will? I've got a feeling it will involve reaching others with the greatest mesage on the planet. We are launching our Rockfest Grocery Project this weekend. It is definitely a blast to be involved in. Come out this weekend and get involved, you won't be sorry.

Rockfest 2008-2009

I told you about completing the playground for Rockfest recently. Here is a video update of that project. It was put together entirely on Apple's 'iMovie'. Lee, if you want to sue someone for using your song that is copywrited, Tony can give you my contact info- maybe we can work something out. The song is awesome!

Thanks

I love being a Dad. I used to think it would be "inconvenient" to have to care for something all the time. But everything changes when you see that child for the first time. On Fridays, I get to hang out with my one year old daughter. I really get a taste of Kim's life. She is the best mom in the world. I certainly hope my children realize that. She so eloquently juggles a hectic life style and hardly thinks twice about it. I got to find out how difficult it is to do every day things while handling a toddler. Here is a shot of a life saving contraption in the Walmart bathroom. I probably don't say it enough, but thanks Kim, for everything you do.

Almost game time

Today was winter basketball sign up. I love this time of year. We get up early on Saturday mornings and go watch the boys play their games. Then we head out to Hardees and eat breakfast. This year I have two boys playing. One is a superstar and the other is just beginning. I heard Tyler tell Caleb, "don't worry, I'll teach you what to do". Caleb smiled and didn't say a word. It was as if he knew he was in good hands. After all, he has watched his big brother play most of his life and he knows that Tyler knows his way around the court.

It reminds me of what I want to see at BCC. My desire is that everytime someone picks up a red bag, they meet someone who says, "don't worry, I'll show you what to do". After all, that's what a big brother or sister is supposed to do, isn't it?
Want to be that mentor in someone's life? Drop by guest services and sign up for the Starting Point team. Help change some one else's life.

What's going on?

Last night we had a meeting with a few of our leaders. We met with a consulting company that helps churches move forward in stewardship, giving, facilities and community. The Senior Management Team at BCC has been seeking God concerning the next step as a church. We have been looking at "BIG", considering our options and planning strategies to get us there. We found a company that will help us in that process. They are based in Raleigh, the president lives right here in Sanford, and we found out today that their parent company vice president is the father of one of our members. Are you confused?

Well come out Sunday night at 6:30p and let us put the pieces together. God is doing some really cool things and opening some really exciting doors for us. 2009 is going to be a year of amazing things and it all starts this weekend.

You Pig!

We went to the state fair this week. What do I have in common with this pig?

Like every year, I spent most of my time there eating everything I could get my hands on. It's the one day every year that diet goes out the window. Here's a rundown of some of the cuisine that I tasted.

• London Broil
• Italian Sausage
• Fried Pickles
• Roasted Corn
• Fried Snickers
• Potato Ribbons
• Ribs
• Pork BBQ
• French Fries
• Rolls
• Popcorn
• Peanuts
• Beef Jerky
• Maple Cotton Candy
• Chocolate Milk

I'm sure I left something out. I rolled out of there, got home at dark, sat down and thought, "I'm hungry!" I'm going to have to go on a fast and repent from gluttony.

By the way, that pig sold for $8800.00! What kind of slaw do you eat with $8800.00 pork chops?

The Old Days

Thursday, I was on my way to Greenville, I was a little ahead of schedule, so I decided to visit Rock Hill, SC. I've been gone from there for 20 years. I moved to Sanford immediately after graduating from High School. Things have changed a lot. I hardly new my way around. The picture is the place of my first 'legal' job. I got a work permit when I turned 14 and made big bucks in the produce dept. I quickly became the youngest dept. manager in the company at 17. I managed to find my old house, church and school. I hung out a little while with my former pastor. He was a few pounds heavier and completely bald but otherwise the same as I remember. (I guess most men end up like that). I left not missing where I used to be and glad to be where I am now. I had some time to think about past and future and I have to be honest, I am really, really excited about the days not yet here. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me, my family and BCC. If I had it to do all over again- I don't think I would. Proverbs tells us that we make our plans but God orders our steps. I'm ready to take my next one, what ever that step is. I know God has them ordered and that gives me a peace that only He can give.

Pennsylvania, Texas and North Carolina descend on Greenville

 I met three smart leaders tonight for dinner. What makes a leader smart? The ability to take risk and try new things. So we did. We went to a local restaurant in Greenville, SC called Saskatoon. I highly recommend it. Everybody knows that men have to have meat. Show me a man that doesn't eat meat and I will show you one who let's a woman make his decisions for him.

Tonight we were truly smart. We ate buffalo, emu, kangaroo, venison, and yak. That's right. We took a risk and it paid off! Some of the best red meats I have ever eaten. (And why I have been chasing cows for years?).

The best- hands down? Kangaroo. I would have never dreamed that an over grown, rodent lookin' mammal would be that good. Two good things come from down under, Hillsong United and kangaroo. Those people got it going on. You throw that in with a cool accent and it makes me want to move. Can you do a satellite campus all the way around the globe? I'll open a kangaroo ranch and build a barbecue. Now that sounds like a plan!

Now the yak was pretty good, too. I have to admit, if I had been born a gypsy in Kosovo, I wouldn't have any thing to pull my buggy with. Something that tastes that good should not be pulling a wagon around.

Gone for 2 Weeks?

No, I actually haven't been "gone", just gone from blogging. I have been REALLY busy with lots of stuff. Here's a run down.

• Meeting with new leaders who will help launch our Growth Groups in January
• BCC Church Planning 2009
• Preparing messages for our current series
• Letting my creativity run through video (more to come)
• Meeting with financial institutions to prep for "BIG" (seems there is money available out there)
• Calendar items including last quarter goals
• Implementing "red bags" for children and students
• Final preps for upcoming Rockfest projects (This weekend- Rockfest update)
• Planning for Christmas Series (this should be fun)

And finally, I'm off today to Greenville to hang out with some of the greatest up and coming leaders in the country at Newspring. Tony's coaching Network is tomorrow morning.

My Heroes

Today, another project from our Rockfest 2008 was completed. A group of people from BCC went out to Get Smart and installed the playground that until today was only a dream. Why would they give up a Saturday to do something like that? Because they know that Brickcity is called to change our city. Change comes in many, many ways.

Get Smart is a Pre-school that is for at risk kids from our community. These kids are at the highest risk of being left behind when they get to school. Many of them come from single parent families or people who are living in very poor conditions. This school has never had a playground. So Brickcity decided to change that. Thanks to all of you who give to Rockfest and you who showed up today. You guys rock! Don't forget what Proverbs says.

What's next? Several things. The Ice Cream truck is plugging along. The motor and transmission have been machined and are set to be put back together this week. Planning is beginning for the Christmas Outreach beginning in November. More details to come. Don't forget the service times are changing tomorrow- 9:30 and 11:00.

My Day

Today's the day. I'm only doing what I want to. The temperature today is a 70 degrees, the sun is bright, my 13 month old is asleep, the boys are in school and my wife is at work. Very rarely do the planets line up and allow these kind of days to happen. My message for Sunday is complete, the Keynote is done, notes are printed. I'm sure if I look around, I could find something that needs to be done. But I'm not going to. I'm working in the yard today- that's where I escape. But I think I will cook up a little pecan crusted chicken for lunch. Kim should be home soon, nothing wrong with a few brownie points:)

Watch where you aim that thing!

I heard this story this morning and had to laugh. I can't imagine this being true, but it's on the record.

Weekend Jams

I'm finishing up my message for the weekend and have been looking for music and video elements that would support the theme. One of the staff members sent me this sweet video that I am thinking of using. But before I do, I need some feedback. Check it out and get back with me.

What's a "Red Bag"

In talking with other church leaders about what is going on at BCC, this question has arisen many times, "Do you do altar calls?" Well the answer is, "No". Well kinda. We don't do the traditional snot slingin', tissue usin', knee killin', back breakin' altar calls of days gone by. Nothing wrong with them. To be honest, we tried to do them for years. But every church has a culture unique to itself a "thumb print", and for us, those altar calls didn't work. We literally only saw a dozen or so people respond in the past several years. That is until the red bag. It started as a fluke. Just an idea by the Senior Management team to give a gift at Christmas last year to people who wanted to make a decision to follow Jesus. It worked. So we decided to leave the bags on the stage the following week, and it worked again. In fact, it kept on working.

I spent many years in the service/ repair business and there is one thing I know for a fact. Don't fix something that isn't broken! So we don't. Week in and week out, we communicate that following Jesus is a journey not an event and every journey starts with a first step. For us, that first step is picking up a red bag at anytime. During a service, after a service, during the week- "when" doesn't matter. When they pick up that bag, someone who is trained approaches them and helps them unpack what is inside.

What's inside? I'm glad you asked. There is a New Living Translation Bible, a book by Andy Stanley a sign up card for a Purple Book Study, a simple tract telling the good news of Christ and an info card so we can follow up. To date we have given away 96 of these! That accounts for 25% of attendance on a weekend.

We finally figured out that it is OK to experiment. We don't have to do what everyone else does. And best of all, God is in it. Do you want a red bag? Don't hesitate. It's easy. It will change your life.

J Glenn Edwards Update

I went to the Lee County School Board meeting last night. (That has now been added to my list of the jobs I never want to have) The principal of J. Glenn Edwards asked us to attend. When it was her time to speak she read letters to the Board from her students, thanking Brickcity Community Church for being part of their open house. They told of how proud they were of their academic attire and how much they enjoyed the hot dogs and "bouncers". I was so proud of our volunteers! You guys and girls rock! The school thanks you, the school board thanks you and the students thank you. They are going to deliver the letters from the students to us soon. I will highlight a few in the coming days.

Many, many "got in the game" today. They took a step towards Christ by signing up to serve others at BCC. 4 others decided to take their first step in following Jesus today. They picked up a red bag and asked Jesus to be their Lord. We had another record non-holiday attendance today. An 89% increase over the same week last year! Life change is happening everywhere I look. And I love being a part of what God is doing. Next week is the finally- someone is going home with a $1000.00 of free gas. Invite your friends, let God do the rest.

Back Home

We made it. Hanna is gone. The 5" of rain is over. I got home from Newspring safely. I really enjoyed the coaching meeting with Tony. I went away with several observations.

• Tony is a smart leader, bringing 10 church leaders in is just as much for his own leadership growth as it is for each one involved. He is always seeking to learn something new.
• No matter how big a church is (or small) the same problems will creep up at any given time.
• A church is ALWAYS under staffed and under financed to do what God wants them to do. I think God designs it that way. After all, would we really trust Him if we already had everything?
• As together as Newspring appears to be, they still haven't got it "all figured out".
• Communication is one of the keys to the success of a church.
• If they ever open a "Buckle" targeted at old guys- they should use cardboard cut outs of Tony in their windows!

Homeward bound

Met with Tony and the guys. It was a good time. I'll talk about that later. I'm trying to beat Hanna home. My wife said it's coming through our area tonight. I've seen no rain yet but the wind and clouds are moving in.

Get out of my way!

Usually when I plan a tight schedule, I run in to snags that threaten my ability to stay on time. Why should today be any different?

Pit stop

Quick stop at the Apple store and back on the road again.

Road Trip

Typepad is one of my favorite applications on my iPhone. I can blog from anywhere at any time. Right now I'm on the road. I'm headed to Greenville SC to tour Newspring's first satellite campus. Then on to Anderson. Tomorrow I will join 9 guys for Tony Morgan's first network mtg. I'll give updates soon. Got a traffic circle to navigate.

Flat Back Fred

I have listened to Bill Maye speak for 8 years. This past Sunday, Bill gave one of his top ten messages of all time. It was entertaining, it was truth, it was relevant and it was exactly where BCC is right now. How did those four guys lower their friend from the roof? When he said, "Just drop him, it's not like we can hurt him any worse", I almost choked on my smoothie! I talked to a few people since Sunday and everyone is so excited about inviting their friends to BCC. Life change is happening. We are currently taking a survey to find out what kind of questions those who attend have. Just by these questions, I see that God is working on people. They have a true desire to "follow the rules" and do what it takes to follow Jesus. We had 20 more first time guest families Sunday. Attendance was 34% higher than the same week last year. Very cool, extremely exciting- I love being part of what God is doing in our community.

If you don't know who Flat Back Fred is, you can listen to Bill's message here. Should be up by Wednesday. Click on the "Space Invaders" message.