Sunday Report (5-11-08)

It was a nice Mother’s Day. We chose to give one big gift to one deserving mom instead of splitting the money up and buying all the mom’s flowers like is typically done. We also didn’t want to do that because it is typically done. However, I still think our kids area got a hold of a ton of flowers and gave each child one to give to his or her mom. And Michaels’ message…was on why men hate going to church based on the book by the same title. Very well done.

Here is the set list:

• We Stand (Lee McD)
• My Savior Lives (Desperation Band)
• O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Crowder)
• Awesome is the Lord Most High (Tomlin)

OLC Sunday Report (5-4-08)

Great Sunday! It was nice to play behind the scenes and sit in during the worship instead of leading. We participated in communion for the first time in the Leaf’s history (on Sunday morning). Outside of everyone drinking out of one cup, I thought the way we presented the elements was right on. I understand the whole health/germ thing, I am just think people should suck it up and get over it – or at least have faith God will protect them while they are participating in the Eucharist. That might even be a good way to filter out those who probably shouldn’t participate. Now I’m stepping on toes. I’ll move on.

Here was the set:

• Where the Streets have No Name (U2 – want to guess who led this week?)
• Burn For You (Fee)
• Nothing But the Blood (Even Adam arrangement – very nice)
• Beautiful the Blood (Fee – what can i say, he writes good songs)
• Marvelous Light (Charlie Hall – with long acoustic intro that Michael led – I’ll be looking for chance to preach some day soon )
• Surrender it All (Joel Bridges)

OLC Sunday Report (4-20-08)

Way too much 80s stuff this week. My wife conned me into doing MJ’s Beat It before the service began. That on top of Journey’s Faithfully (lighters waving and all) and our own 80s hair band, Iron Scepter, rockin’ out Bon Jovi’s Wanted Dead Or Alive via Rock Band, it was a little overkill. Lesson learned: if things change causing you to bump planned elements to another week, don’t try to fit them all into one week.

Here was the set:

• Beat It (pre-meltdown Michael Jackson)
• Faithfully (Steve Perry style)
• Wanted Dead or Alive (it was only sung with a real instrument so this really shouldn’t count)
• God of this City (Tomlin’s version)
• God of this City (same)
• Call Me (Blondie – Rachel rocked it!)

OLC Sunday Report (4-13-08)

It was a sad day at Oak Leaf Church this morning. I cried in both services when Tim Samples was brought out to be prayed over by all the people whose lives he has so deeply impacted while serving on staff at the Leaf. Everything else that happened today seems like a blur. Tim, I love you, brother, and will be praying for you everyday. You are a dear friend and it is hard to accept the different directions God is taking us.

On a lighter note, we kicked off our first ever Church in a Bar service last night. Around the office we call it CIAB – like its the lesser known second rate federal intelligence organization whose headquarters is located in Cartersville. There were about 50 people there last night. We’ll do another one May 4th – and we’ll be making several tweaks to make it even better.

Here is the set list for Sunday morning:

• Sweet Dreams (Eurythmics)
• My Savior Lives (Desperation Band)
• God Of Wonders (Rebecca St. James’ version of the Hindalong’s classic)
• Sing to the King (Passion’s version of Foote’s classic)

Here is the set for Sunday night (CIAB):

• Salvation is Here (United)
• Happy Day (Tim Hughes)
• Where the Streets have No Name (U2)
• Surrender It All (Even Adam)
• All That You Do (Even Adam)
• Doxology (a nice variation Joel put together)
• Pride (U2)

OLC Sunday Report (4-06-08)

Many have said we copied the idea for an 80s series from such prestigious institutions as New Spring, Elevation, or Granger, but I can assure you we’ve been thinking about this month long before we ever knew those larger than life churches were doing something similar. Regardless, we pulled off some crazy stunts this morning and Michael gave a challenging message to read the Word and devote ourselves in prayer. Unfortunately, if you missed it this morning, there is no catching up. We had some severely frustrating technical difficulties and lost both the audio and video of this weeks message. Yeah, its a bummer.

Here was the set:

• 80s Medley – Money For Nothing, ‘Summer of 69, Tainted Love, Paradise City, Footloose, & Power of Love
• Your Grace Is Enough (in the style of Smells Like Teen Spirit, Free Bird, In the Still of the Night, and slight 80s flavor)
• Jesus Paid It All (Kristian Stanfill)
• Everlasting God (Todd Fields version)
• Here I Go (with a little Sweet Child of Mine mixed in)

Google Always Does the Best April Fools Jokes

 

Check it out!

OLC Sunday Report (3-30-08)

I spent the weekend with Wade Morris at BHBC’s disciple now and was really blessed to be able to worship with him at the Leaf this morning. We continued (and ended) our Tattoo series with Wade’s emphasis on Tattooing the Word of God on your heart instead of relying on your pastor to spoon feed you just on Sunday mornings. No special effects this week, but next week we start our 80s series and we’ve got some crazy fun stuff planned.

Here is the set:

• My Savior Lives (Desperation Band)
• Lead Me To the Cross (United/Brooke Fraser)
• Mighty to Save (Hillsongs)
• Sing To the King (Billy Foote)

OLC Sunday Report – Easter 2008

We prayed for 1000 and there was 1350. We prayed for 50 decisions for Christ in the month of March and there were more than 60 yesterday alone. The services were powerful but I think the most powerful moment was seeing everyone declare their allegiance by signing their name on the large wooden cross we made and laid at the foot of the stage. It was neat to see people getting tattooed on stage (yes, a real, live tattoo on stage during an Easter service) but it was even more exciting to see hte tattoo artist come down front during the third service and sign his name on the cross. It is hard to lead worship when the Spirit is moving like that and all I ant to do is fall on my face and weep before the Lord. POWERFUL!!!

Here was the set:

• Tattoo (Jordan Sparks – for cheese sake)
• In Christ Alone (Stuart Townsend)
• Beautiful the Blood (Steve Fee)
• My Savior Lives (Desperation Band)

And in case you were wondering, her is the set for the Egg Drop:

• Where the Streets have No Name (U2)
• Clap Your Hands (Audio Adrenaline)
• Love Song (Sara Bareilles)
• Black Horse and Cherry Tree (KT Tunstall)
• When You Were Young (Killers)
• Beautiful Day (U2 – lots of U2 fans in the band)
• See You Again (Miley Cyrus)
• Tattoo (Jordan Sparks)

1st (and maybe last) Annual Cartersville Egg Drop

We prayed 2000 people would show up and more than 2000 people were there an hour before it was supposed to begin. Thankfully, the 200+ volunteers from the Leaf were on hand to help make things go as smooth as possbile. All was going smooth until just before the helicopter flew in to drop the eggs. That is when the nightmare began. Close to 6000 people showed up (some say it was more around 5000 – but I side with the higher estimation) Children were getting separated from their parents. Kids and parents were attacking other kids and parents to get eggs. The idiot flying the helicopter deviated from the plan and started telling the passenger to dump the eggs on top of peoples heads. Kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. Parents were having conniption fits. To top is off, most of the problems were being broadcast over the sound system.

It looked like it was going to be an enourmous failure, but I personally think it ended up a huge success. Even if 1000 people went home upset their kid didn’t get any eggs to put in their basket, there were thousands of other people who had a great time. In fact, there were probably 1000 people that didn’t even make to the park because of all the traffic. We’ll have a meeting about it Monday, but I think next year we do it again and go over the top with 100,001 eggs dropped from military helicopters with 20 inflatable bounce houses and 100 grand prizes to give away in special eggs.

OLC Sunday report (3-16-08)

I’m a day behind because I was not at church yesterday (in Utah) and am just now watching the service. Matt did a great job and seeing all the City kids on stage shouting and doing hand motions to “One Way” was pretty amazing. Michael wrapped up the Kid Nation series with his message on discipline and announced our new campus opening August 17th. Several people were baptized and more people surrendered their life to Jesus. God is just getting started and it is so exciting to be a part of it.

Here was the set (real short with all the extra stuff):

• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Crowder)
• Salvation is Here (United – with a Matt Moody twist)
• One Way (United)