Thankful For God's Second Chances….

Elena and I are heading out of town for a couple of days so there won’t be any twittering or blogging but before we hit the road, I want to give you some IMPORTANT quick hits regarding all that is happening around C3 Church:

• This Sunday we will be holding services at 10 a.m. at the Canton YMCA! This will be our last Sunday in this location but it will be at the Canton YMCA.
• After church on Sunday, we have to move all of our equipment out of the building and into a trailer. If you can hang out and help us load it up, that would be awesome!
• The move to the Art Center is a pretty inexpensive move but we do need about $5,000 to purchase the needed equipment. Be praying about how God would have you to give this Sunday.
• Next Sunday, September 12th we are moving to the Cherokee County Arts Center!!! We are out of our mind excited about this move!
• See ya Sunday morning at the YMCA!

This past week we celebrated our 4th service as a church and God has been doing some really cool things.  I really had no idea what to expect when we started C3 Church but I knew it would be a wild ride!  However, I didn’t think we’d be moving locations after just four weeks of services BUT God has opened a huge door for us and I’m pumped about walking through it!

Starting Sunday, September 12th we will be moving our Sunday services to the Cherokee County Arts Center.  We really weren’t looking for a new location but the opportunity to meet here fell in our lap and we could not be any happier!  The Art Center has bent over backwards to let us know they want us meeting there and it is going to enable us to better fulfill our mission of doing whatever it takes to reach those far from God!

The Art Center is a better fit for us than the YMCA for several reasons:

• Our start-up funds were very limited.  Because the Art Center has a phenomenal sound and lighting system this eliminates us having to borrow equipment and the need to save money to purchase equipment.  We can now use those funds to improve and tweak the thousands of little things we haven’t been able to do.
• Our set-up/tear-down is cut by 75%.  The art center auditorium is already set-up every week so that means we will only have to set-up and tear-down our children areas every week.
• We get the building ALL day on Sundays so we can add as many services as are needed.
• We love the fact that it is in Downtown Canton! Downtown areas always have a great vibe and we look forward to being a part of what is happening there.
• We are in the process of leasing office space downtown so this will enable us to be close to our meeting facility at all times.
• Parking is great!  The Art Center has a huge parking lot on one side of the building and a parking garage on the other side.
• It allows us to do what we know how to do and that is put on a quality weekly service.
• It gives us a great organization to partner with. We look forward to partnering with the Art Center. We don’t intend to simply be renters, we intend on being an active part of the Art Center life.
• It fits the vibe of what we are trying to do at C3.

The YMCA and it’s employees have been great to work with!  They have done everything possible to make our time there great and the facility is great for a portable church but at the end of the day, the move to the Art Center is a much better fit for where we are now and where we are headed as a church.

This will be our last Sunday at the Canton YMCA.  Starting September 12th we will move to the Art Center and we will be holding our services TEMPORARILY in the evenings at 5 p.m.  Currently, there is a great church called City Church meeting in the Art Center on Sunday mornings.  They have secured the lease on a permanent building and as soon as their build-out is complete, we will move to a Sunday morning worship experience.

Anyway, I rambled long enough.  C3, God is setting us up for HUGE things and all I can say is hold on for the ride because I promise it’s going to be a wild one!

• I’m rusty at starting a church. This is my third church start and I forgot until today the highs and lows of church planting.
• Today was one of those days where you just want a do over.
• I hit a dud today. I was not happy with my message at all.
• The funny thing is I had more people tell me they loved it than any Sunday yet.
• As unhappy as I was with the message, I was over the top happy with the worship today.
• I know every pastor exaggerates everything under the sun BUT that version of Amazing Grace they put together was off the freaking hook!
• Seriously, I thought it was amazing.
• I love seeing Andrew Black loving to play at C3.
• Seriously, the guy has got chops and I’m loving seeing him use his gifts to serve God.
• I have a very large announcement to make about C3 sometime this week.
• I’m jacked out of my mind about the opportunity God has given us and I can’t wait to share it…once it is 100 confirmed.
• One of the things I have to focus on at C3 is developing leaders.  We have some GREAT volunteers but the potential is there for us to have some GREAT leaders!
• Tomorrow I start a 4 week roofing job that should be my farewell tour.
• I’m looking forward to the job and I’m looking forward to being done with roofing. It has served me well but it’s time to get focused on what God has called me to do.
• Prayers would be appreciated for the next 4 weeks as my schedule will be CRAZY!
• We had a C3 party Sunday night and needless to say we have some people with issues.
• Elena and I live in an apartment which means no grill. That has been driving me so crazy that we finally broke down and bought a George Foreman Grill. I think that officially makes us apartment people.
• It looks like God is going to put me a bigger position to help fallen pastors soon. I’m excited about the opportunity.
• I want to see LOST season 6 but I refuse to pay that amount of money for a DVD set.
• I feel C3 is SOOOOO close to hitting that tipping point and getting the momentum we need. I’m ready for it.
• I’m learning lately that EVERYONE wants to be part of a great church but VERY FEW want to be part of making a church great.
• Next week College Football season kicks off. That makes me very happy.
• Let this be the my first post of the year where I say Go Dawgs!
• Calling it a night.

• Don’t forget we’re having a C3 Kick off party tonight at the home of Jeff and Tracy Sell.  If you are part of C3, we’d love to have you come hang out with us! The party starts at 7:00 p.m.  Email me through my blog if you need directions.
• This Sunday we kick off a new series called LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE.  We’ll be looking at some the biggest lies of Satan and I truly believe it’ll be an eye opening series for many people.
• Andrew Black will be back leading worship on Sunday. I’m pretty excited to have him with us again.  The cat can sing.
• We’ve got a pretty big announcement this Sunday regarding the future of C3 Church. Don’t worry, we aren’t calling it quits.
• Continue to pray for each other! Just remember to lift each other up in prayer!

It is a running joke around our church that I can’t do it all. The truth is I do very little but I love to go around on Sunday mornings and jokingly remind our people that I can’t do it all while I’m actually doing nothing but keeping them from working because I’m talking with them.

However, I am learning very quickly as we launch C3 that I can’t do it all.  This is the first time I have ever been bi-vocational and it’s a whole different ballgame.  I’m learning very quickly if I don’t want to fall back into the burnout stage that I have to learn to say NO to a lot of GOOD things in order to focus and stay healthy.

What I am learning is the importance of filters. For this time in my life, I have listed the things that are most important to me and those things get my focus and nothing else gets it.  This actually makes decisions a lot easier. I don’t have to think about what gets a yes and what gets a no.  These filters are open to change as my life changes but for right now, here is what gets a yes from me:

• My family. Elena and the kids get me whenever they need me. Nothing else is as important on my calendar.
• Personal Growth. This is my time alone with God, my exercise time, my time meeting with my mentors, etc.
• Pastoring C3 Church. It has been YEARS since I pastored a church. Notice, I didn’t say lead a church. God called me to pastor and that is what I want to do for the people that God sends my way. If it involves C3 Church, it gets a yes.
• Helping Hurting Pastors. This is a huge door God has opened for me and I take it very serious.  After what I went through, I wouldn’t have made it without a few pastors being there for me and simply being a listening ear and reminding me that the sun was going to come up.
• Roofing.  This is last for a reason.  It is very quickly moving off this list as God allows me the finances to move away from it.  However, at this moment this pays the bills and it gets a yes.

That is it.  As I TRY and to run my calendar instead of letting my calendar run me, those are the things that I am willing to give my time to. Trust me, those things are MORE than I can handle. Saying yes has never been the problem, it is saying no.  You’ll notice some very important things on there that at this time in my life I say no to:

• Talking with church planters. Church Planting has been my passion for 12 years now. I have ate, slept and drank it.  I LOVE talking shop with church planters, coaching church planters, and learning from church planters.  However, at this time in my life I don’t have the hours in the day to do that.  So for now, I don’t.  It is not that I don’t want to, it is I don’t have time to.
• New opportunities. I am an entrepreneur at heart. I am always wanting to start something new and I have a lot of opportunities to be part of start-up groups. At this time, I don’t even consider them. I don’t have time.
• Simple things like Fantasy Football.  I love playing fantasy football and there is nothing wrong with playing fantasy football but I don’t have time. In order to say yes to that, I have to say no to my family, C3 Church, hurting pastors, my health or what pays the bills. I can’t do that.

I am an addict. Whatever I do, I do 110% and that leads to me making the same mistakes I made in the past if I don’t operate with filters.  It doesn’t come natural to me and it is actually a lot of work (getting in the grove of doing it) but I already see the benefits in my life from having filters.

What about you?  Do you operate with filters? If not, I can promise you that you are headed towards burnout sooner rather than later….

Just some things that caught my attention this week online:

• Loved this blog post by my friend Charlie Pharis. Charlie has been pastoring in Cherokee County for a while now and I always love his thoughts on the church landscape here locally.
• Trinity Jordan is a guy I’ve known on a very limited basis through my church planting adventures.  He nailed it with this post on a huge problem I see in many younger pastors.  I feel into this trap 100%.
• This was a GREAT article by Mark Driscoll on Manhood.
• I still believe that Perry Noble is one of the greatest leaders in the church world today. If he writes it, read it, and apply it. He was dead on with this post for guys starting churches.
• I loved this thought from David Trotter about how his wife wants to be treated.
• Steven Furtick had this powerful blog post that rocked me this morning.
• I think Ben Arment is one of the great thinkers in the church world today and he has a great thought with this blog post.

This week we are kicking off a new series called “Love The Way You Lie” where we’ll be looking at some of the biggest lies that Satan tell us!  I am convinced that we have put such a Hollywood spin on Satan that we truly underestimate how sly he is.  In this series we’ll be looking at the lies that Satan has so many Christians believing.

The best way to expose lies is with truth and we’ll be looking at what the Bible has to say about the lies that Satan whispers in our ear.

SEE YA SUNDAY!

10 A.M.

CANTON YMCA

I’m about 6 weeks away from being back full-time ministry. God has given me a tremendous opportunity to live close to a year without a salary from the church,  that will allow me to focus full-time on C3 Church.  I am excited about getting back to living my passion and calling full-time but as I venture back into full-time ministry there are some valuable lessons I have learned over the last 18 months that I simply don’t want to forget.

It’s amazing what happens when we get out of the “Christian Ghetto” and actually get around people who have zero interest in church.  I use to pride myself on being connected to unchurched people as a pastor, but the truth is I was still viewed as a pastor when I was around those who didn’t attend or care about church. Because I was a pastor, that always skewed the way they acted around me.  All that changed when I was simply Gary.  When you move into an apartment complex and drive a big honking roofing truck, you are simply Gary, not Pastor Gary.  That totally changes the way people act around you.  You get real people doing real life in a real way.

I was in bed last night thinking of some of the things I learned in regards to leading a church from those who don’t do church.

• 99% of the unchurched/dechurched people in your community don’t even know your church exists. Maybe this isn’t surprising to you but it was to me. I was an arrogant prick as a pastor and I thought everyone knew Revolution Church.  With all the direct mail pieces, all the signs we put out, the billboards we had, and the amount of people coming, I would have told you everyone knew who we were.  After being around “regular” people the fact is they don’t think about church and because they don’t think about church they don’t notice that you even exist.  Christians know you exist but non-church attending people have to much going on in their lives to even notice you are around.
• Unchurched/Dechurched people could really care less how many people attend your church. I have heard Rick Warren say the only people who care about church attendance is you and other pastors. This is so true!!!!  Those who don’t attend church were never impressed when I would say how many people Revolution had attending. They could care less.  I actually think (I have no proof) they are more comfortable in a church around 250-300 people.  Anything smaller feels awkward and bigger churches are often intimidating the first time you attend.
• Unchurched/Dechurched people aren’t looking for a “cool” church, they are looking for relationships. Hands down, the thing that amazes me the most is how desperate people are for relationships.  I see it in my apartment complex where you can tell people are looking to have someone to talk with but simply don’t know how.  People hang out at the bars not because they want to drink (they can do that alone) but because they want to hang out with people. I’m not totally sure how the church can make this happen but I do know that forced friendship in things called small groups isn’t the answer.
• Everyone has someone they look to for answers and guidance and most of the time that isn’t a pastor. When people are hurting, their lives are falling apart, and they need someone to be there for them, they turn to the person who has been there for them. Sadly, that isn’t their pastor or church staff in most cases. I joke that I spend more time “pastoring” people from my former church than I ever did when I was actually their pastor.  I spent 5 years building and pouring into their lives and they turn to those that have been their before when their world is falling apart.
• Financial Pressure is ruining people’s lives. Holy Smokes!!! It is amazing to me the financial mess people are in. I mean I kinda knew it when I was pastoring but there needs to be a financial revival in America.  People are in bondage because of their finances.  In my apartment building are people who use to make 6 figures and now live in $600 a month apartment.  I’m more convinced than ever on the importance of the church hammering over and over the importance of learning how to manage finances.
• Business World is way more ethical than the church world. I’m in about one of the most crooked industries around (roofing) and I have never seen the competitiveness, cut-throat, bad mouthing, and general unethical behavior that I see in the church world. I love what Andy says in Shawshank Redemption where he says he had to come to prison to be a crook. In some ways the church world is the same way.  You want to see a pastor freak out, let a new church come to town or let another church start growing. They’ll smile on the outside but they are fuming on the inside. You would think it would be that way in the business world but that hasn’t been my experience at all.  In the business world, I have actually had people way more willing to assist me, help me, guide me, and offer advice.
• People need Jesus. After being in the “real” world for the last 18 months I am more convinced than ever that people need Jesus.  I am more convinced than ever that the church needs to stop catering to Christians and get busy about the Father’s business.  People are searching for answers and we have that answer!

• What a week!!!!
• Today was a very cool day at C3 Church!
• It is amazing to see a vision move from the dream stage to the reality stage. Today was another step in moving to the reality stage.
• Andrew Black led worship this morning and it was unlike any worship set I’ve ever been part of.  I’ve been around some talented singers in my life and Andrew is as talented as any of them. The dude was great!
• The music set was not your typical worship set at all but it was as worshipful as I’ve seen. They played I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me, Free by the Zac Brown Band, Go Tell It by Lee McDerment, Somebody To Love by Keith Urban and closed out with Run To You by Lady Antebellum.
• I know that sounds like an odd mix but it was off the charts!
• We had another great crowd and it blows my mind every week the people that show up!
• It took me three weeks but someone finally walked out of the service today. I must be losing my touch…or maybe I have changed a little. 
• This week we got a couple of curve balls thrown at us BUT it simply confirmed that C3 is supposed to be in Canton!
• I would appreciate your prayers about a possible open door regarding a HUGE prayer request we have at C3! Thank you in advance!
• You ever felt like someone was picking a fight with you, you know you could get dirty and beat the crap out of them, but you really have no desire to fight? I have felt a little like that lately.
• I’m about a month and a half from “retiring” from the roofing business. God has blessed me in such huge ways through that business but I am thankful that He has put me in a position to focus 100% on C3.
• Did I mention that Elena sang at church today with Andrew? Loved seeing how shocked everyone was that she can sing! I love that woman!
• Next week we are starting a new series called Love The Way You Lie and we’ll be looking at some of the biggest lies of Satan! Should be a blast!
• I have a secret about C3 and it is driving me crazy!! I have unveiled stuff before that wasn’t 100% so I want to wait but I can’t lie, it is freaking killing me!!!
• We had people cross the line of faith today and that jacks me out of my mind!
• I can’t ever remember being part of a church where the devil was attacking people so much like I see at C3! I’m sure it is everywhere but in the past I ignored it. I refuse to do that anymore.
• I still laugh every time I walk around C3 and see how simple our set-up is. We still have no mic for me to preach through and no projector but people could seem to care less.
• The Y is such a great facility to meet in but it is hard to create a good environment in a gym with no finances. Our people are doing wonders with what we have.
• I was asked today why I continue on in this city when I know I am going to put up with so much crap. Simply, because I feel called to this city.
• I am convinced that there are a lot of guys that are here because this is where they ended up, because they saw blood in the water, or because the salary was good. I’m called here, I love this city and if no one but Elena is there every week and we’re meeting in a tent, I’ll be there preaching.
• One thing that has BLOWN me away is the Kingdom connections God has allowed us to make lately. I’ve pastored in this town for 6 years and I am meeting people lately that I didn’t know even existed and they are bending over backwards to assist C3.
• I’ve been reconnecting a lot lately with people from my past.  It always reminds me that when people have crisis, when their lives are falling apart, and they have questions, they don’t care who is preaching on Sundays, they call the person they consider their pastor because that person has walked with them before.
• I’m also being reminded lately the power of a vision. Friendships will keep you at a place for a while but if the vision doesn’t resonate with you, you will eventually die.
• God opened some huge doors for my kids this week. I’m so happy for them.
• I love how God is putting my wife in positions to be used. She has a heart for hurting women and God is using and getting ready to use her in crazy ways!
• I think LOST season 6 comes out this week on DVD!
• Ok, I got to get off the computer and figure out what the rest of the day holds.

• You don’t want to miss this Sunday at C3! We’re closing out our Second Chance series by talking about the ULTIMATE Second Chance!
• This is a Sunday where you want to do whatever you can to get your unchurched friends to church! I’ll be preaching on how to have a personal relationship with Jesus in one of the most simplest ways I know how.
• As with most new church starts, music is one of the hardest things to get up to par. This week we’re bringing in some friends and I believe we’re going to find our voice when it comes to worship. Trust me, you don’t want to miss worship this Sunday!!!
• Today, I am trying to work an undercover operation that could change EVERYTHING at C3!! Yes, we are only three weeks old but I’m always trying to be led by God to put us in the position to reach the most people.
• Come to C3 this week READY and EXPECTING something great to happen. We are laying the foundation of what C3 will be in the future and we are going to be a church that treats Sundays like a huge celebration!
• I’m Very excited about our new series launching next week. We’re calling it Love The Way You Lie. We’re going to be looking at some of the huge lies that Satan tells us.
• See you Sunday at the Canton Y at 10:00 a.m.!!!!