Retreat report

First off I have to say that I was very disappointed in the lodging at Ridgecrest. I don't see us going back there for a retreat.

Laying the lodging aside, we had a great retreat. I loved how everyone worked together to help create systems. I am so proud of our team. I loved having everyone's input in creating processes.

Yes, we worked hard, but we also had a bunch of fun. You can check out a mildly embarrassing video here to see some of the fun. I got to play "rock band" for the first time. LOVED IT!!! Now I want a wii and Guitar Hero or Rock Band. My birthday is in 10 days if you want to contribute!

Prayer

We could use your prayers this weekend. Our Launch Team is heading to Ridgcrest for a 3P retreat (Planning, Praying and Playing). We leave Saturday at 1 and come back on Sunday at 2. It should be fun.

Also, pray for Josh and Kenzie Rogers. Kenzie just gave birth to Josiah James. He was 7lb. 7oz. We're celebrating with them over their healthy baby boy.

Posts of the week

Here are some posts that are worth reading.

• I love this idea. I'm planning on doing it with my boys. Now I need to start saving $$$.
• Ben's posts here and here on cultivating the soil for church planting are must reads. I think that's what Movie's in the Park and three years in Spartanburg has done for us.
• Seth's post on how to organize a room is great.
• I don't know how we got connected to this blog, but this was a moving post that I totally agree with.

On another note, Nathan's trying out for the swim team. I think he could make the Olympics one day.

I can't see

Really, I'm pretty blind without my contacts in or glasses on, but right now I really can't see. Even the words I'm typing are blurry. After 4 years I decided it was time to go to the eye doctor. I was officially told that I was growing old. But the reason for my current blurriness is that they dialated my eyes. It's horrible. I'm wearing those stylish fake sunglasses that they give you and I look good.

On another note, we are in need of a 15 passenger van this weekend. Our launch team is headed to Ridgecrest for a planning, praying, playing retreat. I'd love for us to be able to ride together. If there's anybody out there who could hook me up please give me a call.

Now I'm off to find something else to do that doesn't require sight.

Adoption

Last night Liz and I went to this adoption orientation meeting. We're not adopting a kid right now, but we want to be open to that possibility. The best thing I got out of the meeting was a couple of stats.

• Currently there are 5000 kids in South Carolina's foster care system.
• 1600 of them are available for adoption.

That's a lot of kids, don't you think? But, also, it's a manageable number. The book of James talks about how true religion is taking care of the orphan and widow. What if 5000 Christian families in SC decided to take that seriously? Talk about making a tangible difference in this state.

Meet Henry

Tonight we've added another member to our family. Yes, we know, you don't have to tell us... we're crazy. We got a puppy tonight. Now I need to say, this wasn't a rash decision. We've been thinking about this for a while. Liz has done all kinds of research. So, we decided to take the plunge. Henry's a "goldendoodle." I didn't even know the breed existed (it's a mix between a golden retriever and a poodle).

Whoa!

I've got to say, I'm shocked and amazed. It rained yesterday all around Spartanburg, but the rain bypassed Barnet Park (except for a few drops). I figured the surrounding showers and chances of rain would have kept people away. I was wrong.

Somewhere between 2500 and 3000 people showed up to watch Evan Almighty. It was incredible. God continues to blow me away with all he is doing on our behalf. Besides a small riot that almost broke out over some gift certificates and the sound going out for about 30 seconds of the movie, it was a great event.

I want to give credit where credit is due. If it weren't for our awesome team and the volunteers that came to help out there is no way that we could have pulled off Movies in the Park. Honestly, I believe this is one of the reasons that God is blessing us. Big, enormous, gigantic kudos to our AWESOME launch team. I love you guys. Your hard work and go-the-extra-mile attitude is incredible.

Here's a crazy idea for someone out there... I think it's pretty big to get 3000 people to come out to see a movie and would love for MIP to get more press. Somebody needs to contact the TV studios and let them know that MIP is worth their time (they could have gotten video of an "almost" riot). The paper needs to report of this event. Like I said, it's just an idea, but if you wanted to run with it....

Next MIP: July 19 - Shrek the Third. You can click onto Frankie and Melanie's blogs to see a couple of pictures.

Can't wait

I love this story. I can't wait to start hearing stories like this at Hub City Church.

I also can't wait for our second Movies in the Park tomorrow night. Pray that people will come. Pray for good weather.

Movies in the Park #2

This Saturday, @ Barnet Park, starting around 9 PM, we’ll be showing Evan Almighty for our second Movies in the Park. Enjoy free popcorn, sodas and hundreds of dollars worth of gift certificates that we’ll be giving away. Bring a friend or two or three. Coolers are welcome. See you Saturday!

Great quote

Seth had a great quote on this post: The object isn’t to be perfect. The goal isn’t to hold back until you’ve created something beyond reproach. I believe the opposite is true. Our birthright is to fail and to fail often, but to fail in search of something bigger than we can imagine. To do anything else is to waste it all.

Date Night

I told Liz that all I wanted for Father's Day was to be able to go on a date with her, so on Saturday night she recruited my parents to come watch the boys and we got to go out. It was great. First we went to Renato's, a local Italian place. The food was excellent. The atmosphere was perfect. Then we went to see The Happening, which was a great movie, freaky, but great.

On the way from Renato's to the movie theater we drove by the Olive Garden. There was a line a mile long of people wanting to eat there. Here's my question: Not that I have anything against the Olive Garden, but why would you go stand in line for an hour for some not-so-good Italian when you could eat some authentic Italian in a much better atmosphere and support a local business. I'd choose Renato's over the Olive Garden any day. I'd make the same recommendation for you too!

It's not that the Olive Garden is that bad (it's not that good either) it's just that it seems to be our tendency to choose the familiar chain restaurants over potentially better but unfamiliar local places. Take a risk. Try something new. Buy local. It helps make Spartanburg a better place to live. Now if we could just get Renato's to donate a gift certificate to Movies in the Park!

What if...?

In light of the chapter our Launch Team read out of this book, Tony's post here and here are very relevant.

Perry had a great list of "What Ifs...?" It got me thinking, so I came up with my own:

• What if all the Christians in America started handling their finances like it was God's money and not theirs?
• What if we leveraged our power and influence for the good of others instead of ourselves?
• What if we started doing sex, relationships and parenting the way God says to do each of those?
• What if every Christian family in the US would adopt one orphan?
• What if each of us were so in tuned with what God was saying and doing in the world, and what if we lived in obedience response to that?
• And on a totally non-spiritual note: What if God were to zap all the Japanese Beatles that are in my yard at this moment eating my once beautiful Japanese Maple trees?
  

BIG NEWS!!!

Ok, now I can share our big news. I've been trying to figure out how to capitalize on the momentum from Movies in the Park. We've had a lot of people show interest in Hub City Church, but their only options for being a part are to join the launch team (which isn't a bad option) or wait until September 21 when we launch to check us out. So, I've been wondering what kind of step could we create that would move people from the crowd into our discipleship process? Well, two weeks ago on I-26 I had an epiphany (maybe it's not a real epiphany, but I did get some direction from God about what to do).

We are going to be having two preview worship experiences. We'll have one in July and one in August. They will happen the Sunday immediately following Movies in the Park (July 20 and August 17). This is an easy, obvious and strategic way to move people from MIP to our community. Second, we are going to be starting small groups in mid July. These are going to be designed for people who wouldn't consider themselves Christians, but who might consider exploring what this Jesus stuff is all about.

I am pumped about this next step in our development. I'm pumped about our Launch Team's work and enthusiasm. I'm amazed at how God has and is orchestrating things and people for all of this to happen.

So, if you don't go to church somewhere, why not consider checking out one of our previews? What do you have to lose? We'd love to get your feedback about your experience. Or maybe you want to parter with us as a volunteer. We could use your help. See you on the 20th at Spartan 16.

Back in the saddle

Vacation was nice... very nice. I wish I could stay for two weeks. Maybe next year. At the same time it's good to be back working. These are exciting times for Hub City Church. I'm going to be posting some big things later on this week. I can't wait to share them with the launch team tomorrow night.

On another note, this post from Seth is extremely relevant, especially in light of our September launch. You can check it out here.