evidence of the gospel from within

Like Jesus

2010-09-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

I am preparing my message for Wednesday night, for the middle schoolers. We have been in a series called the "7 channels of student culture". We have talked about the responsibility we have as Christians to create and redeem student culture through these 7 channels. After talking about this for a few weeks, we will close the series talking about what a changing culture looks like. In reality, it looks like God. Through us, we take what is broken and restore it. So the question that I want to leave with the students this Wednesday is this, "Do I look like Jesus", and in context of their channel, "Do we look like Jesus"?

Last week they wrote their stories on a sheet of paper, their experiences, the events that have been a factor for setting the course of their life at this point. After reading through their stories and thinking about this question of "Do I look like Jesus", I stop. Why? Because I think about the "stuff" that they are currently going through, and I think, "is looking like Jesus remotely close to being on their radar"? I can only imagine the anxiety they feel as the school day comes closer to ending and some of these kids have to go back home to the blow-to-blow interactions with their families. When they go to bed at night, I have to wonder if looking like Jesus is the last thing on their mind. I would say that with many, it is an easy no! Getting their homework done for some of these kids is a victory.

But I have to believe with my heart, that somewhere in the chaos of their life, that looking like Jesus can bring about a sense of peace and hope, that it can construct a foundation, it can give them substance to keep them moving. I have to believe that for an American Teenager, to want to look like Jesus, even while they are being sexually abused by their father, that looking like Jesus, they can overcome. I have to believe that it is in looking like Jesus, that they come to know their identify, they find love, peace, and a strength to endure the unique day, a love, peace, and strength for a unique day that I will never know anything about, when it comes to understanding. Jesus is that powerful, that transcendent.

And so when I think that looking like Jesus may be the last thing on their mind, I want to believe that is the very thing that must be on their minds. How much closer can you get to Jesus, than living a life that looks like his.

a need to share

2010-06-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

I am not sure that anyone will read this as I have not posted in so long, I just have to express.

I must say that there is been building a new kind of orphanage in our culture, although the parents are physically in the home, they are neither present, nor intimately involved in the life of their child.

Also, baseball being every night of the week. There is a brokenness when baseball practice becomes a substitute for church community. I am having hard time understanding the need for a kid to "HAVE TO BE" at practice every night of the week. I have heard the excuse, "I have to be there or I can't play", to which I say, "ok". Would the player who would challenge the process please stand up. When will the fellowship of believers and the body of Christ no longer be second to baseball practice.

So backwards.

2009-09-09T11:02:00.001-07:00

I talked to a student today who said he wanted to come to church, but he had baseball tonight and every Wednesday. He said he had it on Sunday to, every Sunday. I asked him when it ends, he said November, I ask him when it started again, he said January. Man, when does God become worth sacrificing for?

44 million people

2009-09-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking a lot about this. Over the last month or so, I have heard so much about the Healthcare Reform. I grew up Republican, a party in which I don't care to be identified with much anymore. I don't believe Jesus would have either, in fact, I believe he would have had cool names for them, like brood of vipers, and not just for them, but both sides. But here is my thinking. I keep hearing how this 44 million will receive healthcare that don't have it already and I can't seem to come up with a good reason why Obama's idea is such a bad idea. I hear the deal with government control and I understand that, but it's the 44 million that I cannot shake. These 44 million are people who are poor, unstable, and jobless. It is not for me to judge why, neither is it for you. All I know is that scripture spoke intimately about the poor over 2000 times. As a follower of Jesus, I don't see how I can be against this. If this reform brings 44 million people healthcare, then I have to be for it. If it doesn't pass, then does that mean 44 million people still have no healthcare? I just can't see how that makes sense to be against. I wonder if we are to consumed with thinking about ourselves, leaving God little room to care for us. Maybe that is the healthcare you need.

Prov. 14:31 Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help the poor is to honor God

Prosperity Gospel...it is not the gospel

2009-09-07T14:08:00.001-07:00

Axiom...A Year Old

2009-08-10T05:49:00.000-07:00

Last year at about this time we started Axiom, the student ministry of New Community. We started with 4 high school students and 2 middle schoolers. Our high school met in the living room of Bob and Margaret McNaughten. It was a simple bible study with food and games.

It was a risk, and what some would call stupid because critical mass is important, but we kept high school and middle school separate. We felt like that was important, they needed their space and an environment created specifically for them.

The entire year we spent time connecting with each student that walked through our doors, not only on campus, but even more in their social networks, myspace, facebook. There where countless hours spent on campus, at events, athletic and fine arts. We served, we loved in the last year. We took time learning the stories of these students. We studied their culture through their stories and by what we saw with our own eyes.

Over the last year we worked very hard, not as a ministry looking from the sidelines coaching, but as a movement who would get messy in the game, who would win with the team and lose together.

In the last year we started Serve, leading students to becoming Jesus here, in their home, their campus, and in this community. Students logged THOUSANDS of hours serving, leading small groups, planning, and being a part of what we call Axiom. Students began living out a love that is not selective.

This past year over 30 students began discipleship in Axiom D. Twice a month students are being invested in by a mentor, father or mother figure, maybe even what a student sees as a big brother or sister. Life change is happening and students ARE moving toward God.

Axiom has seen over 20 students come to know Jesus and clothe themselves in Christ through baptism. That is Massive within itself. Over the last year, students took part in over 20 to 30 trips locally and across state lines. Many, MANY decisions have been made.

So with only scratching the surface of the last year, a movement has begun. A year ago we started with 6, and this week Axiom will lead 100 to 120 students in sweet harmony. What began as something that was manageable with a few, has now turned into something bigger than anybody that makes up Axiom. We have only just begun. This year, WE WILL see new faces every week. We will alone serve thousands of hours. Students will lead in creating and redeeming culture. Our trips will not only cross state lines, but we will go global. A movement that started in a living room in Hoschton, Georgia will soon influence hundreds, thousands of lives here and in Jackson County and abroad. Welcome to Axiom, welcome to this revolution!

To the team: God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, Beth and Ron Hubers, Kelly and Gregg Therieau, Jeremiah and Tracy Eye, Jenna Monforte, Heather and Mike Swint, Becky and Kevin Flannery, Dave and Tiffani Scheel, Lynn Mulvey, Bert Blackburn, Greg Troxell, and those to come, THANK YOU. WE are who WE are because of you!

Atlanta Union Mission

2009-06-29T07:38:00.000-07:00

I am in Athens again this morning. I purchased some vintage couches at the Potters House here in Athens for my office. I had a full morning of meetings that got cancelled, so I came up early just to get a fill of the culture in Athens before I pick up my newfound treasure. I am listening to a little Macy Gray.

The Potters House Thrift Store is a pretty cool concept. It fits under the umbrella of the Atlanta Union Mission. Atlanta Union Mission is a ministry that brings Christ’s healing Power to any person in crisis through programs of rescue and recovery. In 1938, they established it to help with victims displaced by the Great Depression. It now reaches out to over 1,144 displaced men, women, and children in Atlanta. They serve over 2,400 meals daily adding up to 888,664 a year.

The Thrift Ministry provides job training to men in recovery at Atlanta Union Mission’s North Georgia campus, and it also gives merchandise to needy families in the community. It's a pretty sweet deal.

Church was amazing yesterday. I had a girl come up afterward and said that she wanted to be baptized as well. I know this Sunday we have 2 more who are making their mark. I hope and pray that we are not just burying people in water, but that these are becoming children of God, moving closer toward Him, becoming more like Him.

What you know about this?!?!

2009-06-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

Christian
The Fam
Jonpaul
Today Jonpaul Bruner and Christian Interholzinger got baptized. It was sweet. All of our students came up to participate in their baptisms. It was a family affair, something I learned from a dear friend of mine, J.P Robinson. Today was AWESOME!!! I was getting chills as students were coming from everywhere in the crowd jockeying to get to the front to be a part of their baptisms, to put their hand on Jonpaul and Christian. This is serious stuff. It's beautiful. Thank you Jesus, that I get to be a part of something so huge in your courts.

The growing Kingdom

2009-06-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

I was driving to Athens, Jittery Joe's, for some reading and writing, and I passed this eternal event happening. It's hard to tell, I took the pic with my camera phone, but four hispanic girls are getting baptized. The church sits along 441. I drove by, saw what was going on and turned my car around because I wanted see, to experience. What is sweet is that this is new family, these four girls, and although I may never see these people again, here at least, we are family, and when I walked up, I was welcomed into the celebration. It was a taste of Heaven, but it it the body of Christ, living and active.

Just Random

2009-06-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

It has been a really unique week. I was able to hash out the series we are launching into through the fall. I am pretty excited about what Axiom students and the ones coming will hear. I am looking at my brainstorming wall and it is filling up with ideas, thoughts, and such. This kind of stuff excites me. I love "ideating." I think I made that up.

I have had some awesome conversations this week with students and leaders. This fall the life of New Community is going to be sweet harmony. I love conversations about God and what He is doing locally and globally. I long for students to partner with God in these two areas. Already our students are thinking locally and it has been pretty crazy seeing what they are coming up with. Fresh air is coming to this community with new thinking, ideas, new passions and love, all Kingdom minded. I talked with Stephen today, our new staff pastor, about thinking globally more and being sensitive to what that means for us as leaders and a church. I met with Greg Troxell, an expert in leadership, and started a conversation thread about Axiom and the beauty that is evolving with what I believe will become a movement in this community, a movement led by students.

I kinda started twitting today my twitter. It is funny how people I don't know find me, crazy stuff. I love you people! Lead!

It's Crazy!

2009-06-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Long time, nuf said!

It has been a crazy day. In short, Axiom had 6 students last summer and tomorrow we will take over 50 to Six Flags. 50!!! That is just crazy. It is a beautiful thing what God does, crazy and beautiful.

This past week at Axiom, we talked how God longs to be in relationship with you, how He wants you and I to pursue Him. Jeremiah 29 talks about this all out pursuit when the Lord says "when you seek me, you will find me, and I will be found by you". God wants you to seek Him, and what's crazy is that He makes Himself a whole lot more approachable than we think. I am sure many in the room thought I would launch into this message of having a daily quite time, praying in the morning and night, journaling your prayers, and going to church every time the doors are opened.

No, that's not what happened. Although each of those are deeply important, let me not take away from that, I sought to paint a different way to experience a relationship with God. One that I believe will lead one to the disciplines.

Fellowship! I explained that fellowship alone connects us to God. When God is in the center of our friendships, our gatherings, anywhere people are, God is in that. If you look at the fellowship of Acts 2, they "ate together with glad and sincere hearts", you gotta know God is in that, the fellowship of like believers. People, you experience some deep connection, a relationship with God, sweet fellowship.

Giving yourself away! Jesus is all the time talking about serving, denying yourself, giving yourself away. This past Sunday at New Community, one of our students was handed 50 bucks from the stage and told to do something for the Kingdom, God is giving you this money to manage. Why? Because God is in giving of ourselves. You ever given someone a gift you made, or bought and it was a sacrifice, but you COULD NOT WAIT to give the gift? God is all wrapped up in that. There is something spiritual that happens when we do that. We experience God when the needs of others become important.

Creation! Have you looked in awe and amazement at the sunset, or the fact that a massive tree came from a little seed. How did that happen? God is in the very structure of that. That is God longing to connect with you and me, wanting to be relational. A middle schooler, just yesterday, said, "Keith, I love looking at creation in awe!" People, God wants us to connect with Him and He is making it easy! In Romans 1:20, "For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities--His eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so men are without excuse." So get off your lazy butt, go outside and have some real time with our Creator, seriously people!

Lastly, and above all, God made it intimately possible for us to be relational with Him, why, because He first came after us in Jesus. I love just saying his name, Jesus! "But God demonstrated His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us", Romans 5:8. He wants you so bad that He comes after you and your sin through the man, Jesus. O' how He loves you!

I love you too, but it doesn't compare. I am going running, I am coming after you God!

A 6th graders journey for forgiveness

2009-04-08T06:05:00.000-07:00

I had a message come across my myspace this past Monday, it was from a 6th grader who wanted to meet up, soon, he needed to share something with me. So yesterday, tuesday, we sat down down at waffle house in Jefferson and this kid, I'll call him Ryan, begins to tell me how he and few others ganged up on this other middle schooler cause he had "stolen" Ryan's good friend's girlfriend. They were cussing this middle schooler out, bullying him. Ryan wanted to meet with me OWN HIS OWN INITIATIVE to tell me that he was wrong and that he needed to "get it out of his heart". He said that he had already called the boy he had cussed out and asked for forgiveness, and how that was not the kind of thing Ryan does. He could have left it at the, but Ryan went even further, he told his friends that what they had done was wrong and that they needed to apologize to this middle schooler. Ryan risked loosing his other friends by doing what was right, he risked his own friends laughing at him for wanting to do right. Ryan says "I am now friends with him" and that makes him happy.
This is huge. It's huge because Ryan quickly asked for forgiveness from God and from the middle schooler. He made right what was wrong. He got it off his chest. It's huge because Ryan is free of it. He knew he did wrong, but he followed Jesus, he acted like Jesus. WOW!!! Ryan is a sweet melody of what we are all to sing, the song of forgiveness.
I told Ryan yesterday, God was emotional over you, as a mother who gets emotional with joy over her child, God was emotional over you Ryan.
Man, if we could all get it!

Pretty Sweet

2009-03-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

The mind is an amazing thing when it can produce such a video. I found myself in complete awe at how real some of this looked. The time it took to produce something so creative. IT's WITHin YOU! gO AfTer iT, whateveR iT May BE!

Space Junk

2009-03-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of "space junk ", satellites and debris that are no longer in commission, just constantly circling the earth. From time to time this waste will enter the earth's pull, crashing into earth's surface. Kinda freaky, but interesting. This probably ticks a lot of "Green People" off, which before I offend anyone, green people are good and I would consider myself moving toward being more green, so don't yell at me in the comment part of my blog.

The picture is an artists rendition and is not to scale, but is an accurate picture of the junk in space.

Brother got it goin on!

2009-03-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

This dude is the freakin man. This pic taken by Graham Miller is awesome. Brother looks smooth, hair blowing in the wind, cigarette in hand behind his 1970's dealership. He knows he is "bad to the bone" as he would say. Click on picture to enlarge.

picture taken in Australia in 2006

"Chaos" Battle of the Bands

2009-03-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

Chaos was last night. We had over 120. It was AWESOME! We had three bands, Desdenova, The Advocates, and The Justin Davis Band. The first two where punk rock, the Justin Davis Band was classic rock. All were FREAKIN AWESOME.

It was great beginning to a long line of bands playing here. Our vision at Axiom is to create and redeem student culture. We did that the last two weeks in a row. Jackson County, and for that matter, any place nearby has never had a girls weekend specifically, and as we know of, has never had a punk rock band played in a church here. We have just become the first venue for local up and coming bands.

It was incredible seeing the people that came. It is fuel for me. The were cigarette butts all over our campus, but it didn't matter. People were walking into the doors for the first time in their life. They were experiencing Jesus through our students and that ABOVE ALL is what matters. It was amazing!

Our students showed up to serve. I love Axiom students, they are so unique, so beautiful. They are the church!

Cedric of The Advocates said at the end, "Keith, thank you for what you are allowing us to do here. We support you and what this church is doing. You are creating culture for us." It is sweet what God is doing!

Inside Out

2009-03-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

We just did a pretty unique event for girls in Jackson and surrounding counties called Inside Out. 91 teenage girls showed up to New Community for a weekend specifically designed for them. It was intense, incredible. Miss Teen USA, Haley Kilpatrick of "Girl Talk", along with 20 plus AMAZING VOLUNTEERS, make-up, food donated by Anthony's Pizza in Hoschton, and so many more things filled the weekend for the girls. It is our desire to impart upon every girl that their beauty, their giftedness resonates from the inside out, that they are an expression of God, a masterpiece of His creation.

The food I heard was awesome

Just doin my thing

We had TONS of make up for them

The loved the band from 12Stone

I did not know that was coming

What a weekend they had

2009-03-06T15:40:00.000-08:00

This is the flight pattern captured over a 24 hour period. Notice how over Atlanta, the sequence is like the dove that rested on the shoulders of Jesus after His baptism. I am not saying anything, but maybe I am!

courtesy of Culture Making News

HOLY COW!!!!!!

2009-02-19T08:06:00.000-08:00

I recently heard that what took over 100 years to reach where we were in 1998, has now taken only 10 years to reach where we are in 2008, and that number is only shrinking.

road trip

2009-02-09T09:49:00.000-08:00

I have taken yet another blog vacation and am back. Sometimes it takes an hour just to script these babies out, so with all that has been happening in my world recently, there has not been a lot of time. Right now I am traveling in this sweet little ride called a coach, but this deal is loaded. I am doing my work on this 80 inch screen computer, (little exaggeration), while watching some TV, Obama's speech, (sounds like he is still campaigning and not the President) sippin of my dirty water and loving it. I am on my way back from Destin, but how I got here is crazy.

Last week during our staff meeting, which are always freakin awesome because we talk about amazing stuff, we got a phone call from a friend of mine, Redd. He told me that there was a half-pipe in Destin Florida and it had my name on it. The value of it with materials alone is over 4 grand. The only catch is I had to figure out a way to get it. So I spent the latter half of last week trying to figure that part out. My plans were to drive down with Chris, lead Pastor, drive down in my car, rent a 26 foot U-Haul box truck, and try to wedge this 30+ foot long, by 8 feet wide, and 5 foot high on both sides half pipe. So, I went to meet up with Bob McNaughton, a brilliant man in carpentry, to make sure all my dimensions were right for trying to bring this half-pipe back to Hoschton. All I wanted him to do was tell me if I was on it, or off in my math. So after 2 minutes of overview, my idea wasn't going to cut it, not even close, and the next thing I know, Bob is on the phone with a friend of his and has gotten us an industrial size flatbed trailer and 2 days later, Bob, Chris, Steven Saxton and myself are riding down to Destin in a freakin house on wheels to pick this puppy up. We left last night, parked in a Wal-mart parking lot to sleep, got up at 8am, took apart the ramp, 3 sections, loaded it up, all in 2 hours, and now we are on our way back to Hoschton to drop this beast in our skate park. It's just another way we are creating culture in Jackson County. It's a sweet thing what God is doing!

I'm Keith Trollinger, and I love my life!

Idols

2009-01-19T19:50:00.001-08:00

what idols do you need to bury?

seriously

2009-01-12T18:54:00.001-08:00

Can someone tell me how the heart of a rich kid becomes broken?

to be helpless

2009-01-12T17:38:00.000-08:00

This prayer has been on my heart a lot lately and I have been talking about it a lot as well. It started about a year or so ago. I was speaking at a private school east of Atlanta, in my hometown. I don't really remember the message title, but the thread was finding God. I drew this line on a dry erase board and called it the "line of normalcy", something that at times we all want our lives to be like. Across the line, much like a heart beat monitor, I drew peaks and valley's. I explained that it's easy to find/experience God in the peaks, or what is commonly referred to as "Mountain Top Experiences", but I wanted them to know that God is equally, if not more, in the valley's.

After hammering this with one of those crying stories at the end of the message, there was a prayer time made available to students who needed it. I was sitting on the steps of the stage when I noticed a student coming over to me. I asked him what was wrong. Long story short, he told me that he neither had mountain top experiences nor valley's. He said that he didn't struggle with the typical teenage crap. He explained that his life had been uneventful, that he didn't get much from the Bible and that God was far. Deep into our conversation, he explained in so many words that he didn't need God. I am sure he had even questioned God's existence multiple times, and considered it. I told this kid something that I myself even had trouble speaking, but it was it was repeating itself in my mind. I explained that he ought to invite God to move in such a way that would cause him to need God.

Even as I write, I wonder how God operates in such a prayer.

I just recently spoke to a group of students from Tennessee. I had told them the very same story that I had just shared with you. I took it a step further. I had explained to them of a kid that I know very closely who is dependent upon other's to walk at times. I had explained how one has help him when climbing stairs, that without doing so, he remains helpless. I wanted to make the connection that we ourselves need to know this feeling of helplessness, the need to ask for help. Our culture mass supplies our every physical, material need, driving us farther and farther away from longing to love God. I explain how we fill up the space between the peaks and valley's with so much STUFF, that it causes us to become spiritually blind to God and His movement, leading us to abandon Faith. That night I asked them to wrestle with praying to God the need to become helpless. I never expected the conversation I would have the following night with the one particular kid.

At the end of the message on the last night, there had been an invitation to pray at the back of the room. Slowly this kid, I call him Evan, made his way back to me. He began to explain to me his doubt with God and some of the scripture that I had talked about. He was struggling with whether everything in scripture was true, or just a fairy tale. I totally did not expect what came next.

Evan told me that he could not ask God to make him helpless. I asked him why. This kid, o if you could have been there, he begin to cry. He slowly, carefully worked through his words. He had told me that he was afraid that God would take away his mom, or his dad if he were to pray something like this. I know it doesn't make sense, but my heart filled with joy! Let me explain.

The very fact that he was emotional about uttering those words to God spoke so richly of his faith. This kid, who just minutes before was expressing his doubts about God, showed just how much faith he has in God. He knew, and knows, that the moment those words come out of his mouth, that God will move in his life. There was no doubt in his mind of the power of prayer, of the hand of God. He feared God. I quickly told Evan that I didn't believe God would allow anything to happen to his family, that even more, God wanted him to trust Him with his family. Throughout the rest of my talking, and his fighting the words, I kept thinking and praying, He has to pray to you God, he has to become helpless to need. I couldn't hold back the joy and the thoughts of how much God wants to reveal himself to Evan. O, I sat there, and wanted Evan to pray to God so bad, because I knew, I had no doubt that as soon as Evan would speak those words of becoming helpless so that he would depend, I knew he would mean every word. How rare had I seen faith like this in a teenager. My joy was because I was sitting next to a kid who showed through his tears just how much faith he had, and has today, and I was honored.

My prayer is that we would become helpless, because I have to believe that when we are need, we see God moving everyday in everything.

Stoked

2009-01-07T06:16:00.000-08:00

Our middle schoolers come back tonight for Axiom. I am excited. The break was awesome. I thought I was getting sick yesterday. Donna cooked HOMEMADE chicken and dumplings. DAng it was good. I am much better now. I need to do laundry from my trip. I head back out Friday for TCTC. I can't wait for that, but I hate just thinking about missing another Sunday. We had 16 new families last week at New Community. The sun is making its way out this morning. I will be eating at Jefferson Middle School for lunch, woot, woot. 2009, I wonder! Much Love to you today.

taste of Heaven

2009-01-05T17:59:00.000-08:00

Last night I tasted Heaven. Strong, I know. I mean every word.

As we made our way back to Franklin Tennessee, only God would know how beautiful His restoration project was about to unfold, but soon, so would we. About 100 people filled the room and participated, not watched, but participated in the baptism of Dominic Nanni. It was a taste of Heaven because we were fulfilling what Jesus prayed about in John 17, "My prayer is that they would be one, as I am in you, and you are in me, may they be brought to complete unity so that the world will see that you have sent me". O, how those words took shape last night, because together we touched, together we agreed, together we prayed, together we celebrated Dominic, and even more, we celebrated Jesus. Restoration breathed and filled the lungs of human souls standing in awe of God. There was a movement that began last night in that room, and Jesus was at the forefront. Nothing can stop that.

O how I can't wait to taste Heaven this year, and O how I pray it happens in the most ridiculous ways.

Welcome to the family Dominic. Shine brother, for your light has come, and it's name is Jesus.

Dude, and to think, I get to experience and do this all the time, what a life, what a life you have given me Jesus

resolute this!

2008-12-30T05:51:00.000-08:00

In about 37 hours I will be speaking at a New Years Eve event in Stone Mountain, then jumping in my car to drive to Franklin, Tennessee to sleep for a few hours before getting on a bus and heading to Winter Place in West Virginia to speak at a retreat. I will celebrate New Years twice, in my car. My first will be somewhere around Dalton, GA, then again somewhere between Chattanooga and Murfeesboro TN.

When I was in college at West Georgia, we would celebrate New Years twice, once in Carrollton, then again in Ranbure, Alabama. I think maybe 10 people lived in Ranburne. It wasn't a happening place to ring in a new year. I think just to say we celebrated 2002 and 3 and 4 and 5 twice was our reasoning. Maybe it was the thought that only so few can ring in a new year twice, who knows, I was in college, that's what you did in college. Who am I kidding, definitely would do it again purposefully.

I just wanted to write for a moment in Lieu of resolutions. Many look forward to this day for a new start, fresh beginnings. I know I did. I struggled and fought with addiction in my teen years. Every New Years in high school and through my first couple of years in college I would always say, "OK, this year I am going to stop, this is my year and I am done. I am done with struggling". A few days before the new year, I would binge thinking that I was getting it out of my system and would be through with it forever. I am sure many others did and do the same.

New Years day would come and my new beginning would take flight. It was intense, exciting. I would feel good about myself, as though the battle was over and the victory had instantly been mine for the taking. I had quit cold turkey, walked away from it just like that. I would start feeling closer to Jesus. My time with Him would increase. My journal writing would be filled with words of hope. My heart and my spirit wanted the struggle to be finished so badly, but soon, the victorious days would come to a halt. Moving farther away from my addiction would quickly come crashing to an end with one small move, yet one that would way HEAVY on my inability to fully own the victory. My resolution had been broken and my desire for a new start would lay dormant until the following New Year.

Later in life I would realize something, something that would have a drastic influence in my ability to conquer and divide. In all my failed attempts to overcome, to start new, I felt alone, fighting against myself. I didn't allow myself to listen to the One who was calling out to me, "Look my way my love". It wasn't until my 3rd year in college that I realized something, something that would set me free from New Years resolutions, from all the guilt, shame that I had carried for so long. I realized that Jesus had always been there in my pain and my struggle. Through every failed attempt, Jesus had always been there calling to me,"Look my way my love, open up your heart and let me in, I am aching with love for you".

Through the help of a friend and many to come I confessed my addiction to him, I allowed Jesus to have my heart, and even more, I allowed His people to hold it as well, people whom Jesus wanted to use, people whom had had the same experience and dealt with the same struggles. O how Jesus was begging me to look His way, to see Him through people who were, and are willing to love unconditionally. It was then in my third year in college that I no longer needed a new years resolution, I didn't need a new start, because my new start began 2000 years ago through Jesus Christ who then called out to me on a cross, "Look my way my love, look at the people I have here for you, look at the wisdom I have to give you, look at the plans I have for you, O Keith, that you would just look my way".

When you begin anew this year, my prayer is that you would begin looking His way, seeing and being sensitive to the people, to the things that Jesus has in store for you to come alongside you and help you in your resolution. There is so much planned, so much awaiting you, to partner with you in your endeavour. You are the beloved child of God, live.

My resolution this year is small...to create student culture, and I will do so looking in His direction.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T20:06:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas People. Love all my readers!

Lost Kids of Jackson County

2008-12-24T06:10:00.000-08:00

I am always at the place of wanting to change everything, wanting to be everything for every kid and reach every kid. I have noticed more here in this community of students than any other any other community I have been in something that I think is unnoticed. I don't know if it is because the population of students here is so small compared to suburban America. The high school that I spent the last 2 years engaging had over 4000 students. The three schools that I visit regularly do not even come close to that number. The high school barely reaches 1000.
What I am learning more and more is that there is a population of students who exist that seem to be lost in the mundane, hidden, and with every conversation I have with teenagers, this population continues to grow. It is largely made up of high school dropouts and those who have been expelled, but there also exists those who have left the public school and now get most of their work on a Monday from an academy, stay home all week and turn it in on a Friday.
A majority of my time during the week is spent on campuses, looking for moments where Grace can be given away, where a story can be shared, and a relationship for a student that never existed can become a reality. I had heard of students leaving, but it didn't really hit me until I started seeing and meeting students who would be withdrawing soon. I started asking more and more, why are you leaving? Where are you going? What can I do?
Thinking about this more and more, it hit me last night when I went to pick up some students to go bowling. I was entering into the neighborhood and I saw this kid walking down the middle of the street. He was a white kid with an obvious fro. It was freezing cold outside and he was wearing shorts and a jacket. He had a bluetooth in his ear because I could seeing the blinking blue in his ear. I looked at him and said to myself, I have never seen him before in my life, and if he was in school, trust me, I would have noticed him.
I picked up the students, and as we were backing out of the driveway, this kid was gone. I described what I had just seen to Ben, looking for reason. Ben quickly explained that this kid had dropped out. As we where pulling away, it hit me, where are these kids, and who is searching for them, searching for them so they too may experience Grace, so that they too may share their story, so that they too can have a relationship that never existed in their life.
I pulled out my phone and wrote in my notes..."The Lost Kids of Jackson County". They are the dropouts, the withdrawn, the expelled, and the runaways. Pray with me, as my heart seeks for them to be lost no more.

Hard Times

2008-12-23T08:02:00.000-08:00

I found this pic, I thought it was pretty cool. Current economy!

The "great sadness"

2008-12-16T07:37:00.000-08:00

This past Friday I was "chillin" with one of my students again, the one that I saw "Expelled" with, and we continued our conversation about his heart for his friends. We had gone to watch the movie "The day the earth stood still", don't bother, and we were on our way to Starbucks when we started talking about his buddy. You remember, the conversation about how his friend was missing the "foundation" in his life that "Jon" had built into him growing up. And so after re-explaining that a little bit, I had an "ah ha" moment in my head, unknowingly to Jon. I was telling Jon that we both know that this kid needs to be a part of something bigger than he is, that is the church, the bride, the marriage relationship with Jesus, but it is that which his friend is apathetic toward. I was telling Jon, rather than spending so much time trying to get his friend to realize that he needs the church woven through his life, that Jon should seek the out the emptiness in his friend, this which his friend desperately needs met NOW. The emptiness is something that is more immediate.

So many times do we feel that if the people close to us just start going to church, we have made a difference, won the battle, and where there is truth in that, there is SO MUCH MORE to Jon's friends life and our friends as well. It is this, "the more", which Jon must discover.

Jesus was in to immediate needs the more. When you think about the blind man, the paralytic, the women who forged her way through the crowd to touch his cloak, Jesus was intentional about the immediate need, always influencing the deeper need, grace, salvation, and restoration.

And so I told Jon, I believe your pursuit with your friend is to find what is causing his sickness, his pain, what is he crying for or about inside? The "great sadness" for Jon is that unlike the paralytic, the blind, and the prostitutes of Jesus' time, is that his friend has taught himself how to hide, how to cover up the sickness, the pain, that which Jon must search for. I have to believe in my heart that when we find in people what is causing their sickness, we then have the ability to begin helping them heal, leading them to One who gives away salvation.

Forfeit Christmas Cont'd

2008-12-16T06:53:00.000-08:00

Just to drop you in on the week, Juan will be getting gifts for Christmas tomorrow. Be praying for him and his family.

I forfeit my Christmas

2008-12-11T07:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was at the lunch table at one of the middle schools that I visit weekly. I sat down with a group of students and asked them how their Thanksgiving was. The normal "it was good" was their response. I reached out to give one of them a pound, that is where you make your hand into a fist and you pound the other persons fist. Well, I did something that made this one kid laugh. After we pounded, I acted like my hand exploded once it hit his fist. It was something Phil Bollier, varsity basketball coach at Mill Creek taught me. Well, Juan, the name ill give the middle schooler, started to laugh, uncontrollably. He wanted me to repeat the motion again and again. By this time I was like, "Juan, what is so funny, why you laughing at me?" His laughing made me laugh.
Our conversation eventually moved to Christmas. I asked what each one of them was getting for Christmas. Juan hesitated. I asked Juan and he said, "I just want to laugh, make me laugh, I just want to laugh". I did the exploding pound thing again, he laughed. Later in the lunch, I was standing at the door that led to the hallway. As Juan was leaving I called him over and I said, "seriously Juan, what do you want for Christmas". Juan said, "I never get anything for Christmas, we don't have no money to celebrate Christmas, we never have." At this moment I realized his hesitation earlier. I said, "if you did, what would you want?" Juan said, "clothes and a new pair of shoes", he said, "I have has this pair for like 3 years". If you could have seen the look on his face, oh if you could have just seen his face. As Juan walked away he said, "and make me laugh"
After my time at that school I was in my car on my way back to my office thinking about my conversation with Juan, and I shouted loud, "No, it's not right, it's not fair that this Christmas, I will open presents, I will be excited, I will brag, I will relish, and I will dream about all the new things that I get, whereas Juan will sleep in on Christmas morning and have nothing to do, have nothing to receive, have nothing to show or brag about when he returns to school. I asked myself, why should I be allowed to open gifts, if Juan can't. I became emotional and my heart left me. So, I forfeit my Christmas this year, I forfeit my Christmas to Juan. Juan, YOU WILL LAUGH THIS YEAR, you will have much to be joyful about.
The more I thought about Juan, I wondered if he even would allow himself to image opening gifts on Christmas morning, I thought to myself, does he even entertain the possibility that there will be a gift under the tree.
He will this year!

2008-12-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

I was encouraged to watch.

I am for you!

2008-12-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

I met a girl at lunch today, she was trying to show me where she sat, she said, "over there, with the outcast". I said, "heck yea!!!"

My name is Keith, and I am for the outcast.

read this next blog and hug your mom today.

the children are screaming

2008-12-08T12:39:00.000-08:00

There are children who will have no place to go tonight as we climb into our beds, pull the covers up to our chins, and dream big dreams. They will run the city streets aimlessly looking for food to eat, passing neighborhood kids who have fallen asleep never to awake again. They will wonder where their mothers have gone, yearning to collapse into her arms and feel the touch of her smooth skin against their face and hands, the touch that we so quickly have become numb to. They will cry themselves to sleep, a cry that is embedded deeply within there souls, a cry that for some, has become so much apart of their being, and for others, has always been, for their cries began in the womb. They have stretched out their hands, waiting for a body to come and clinch them, pull them close into their arms and madly scream love into their young hearts and souls, into their pain.

We see your tears, we hear your cries, and it is sin for us to not respond. The body that will reach out to you as you lay in the mud, the body that will wrap its arms around you child, and madly love you is Christ. We hear your cries, we're coming, no longer will you hurt for the King will heal your pain and hope will be what carries you into His Kingdom.

missing Jesus

2008-12-04T13:13:00.000-08:00

I was hanging out with a student recently, we were watching the movie "Expelled", and after the movie we started to talk about his friends and how much he longs for them to Love God. This student, I'll call him Jon, had been trying and trying to get his friends to see that being a follower of Jesus is real. He was frustrated because he felt like he wasn't making any progress, any difference. I hear this a lot with teenagers who have a longing for their friends to KNOW Jesus. What frustrates the heck out of me is that all I can say is, "Jon, keep pushing forward, don't give up, keep praying," and not giving him anything more encouraging. Although those are very true statements, I understood his feelings. He has heard them and has told himself those things multiple times, but he wanted more than that, and so did I. As I thought more about this, I came to this realization. Jon grew up with a base, a foundation, and in each of his friends, the foundation never existed.

In more and more teenagers today, they lack foundation, a journey involving the church, holistic principals, wisdom, parenting, adult leaders in their lives. Less teenagers grow up the way Jon did, with a base. As a student pastor, I have found myself trying to speed the process of creating in 3 years what Jon had over 16 years. The reality is that it's just not possible. And so the answer to Jon's frustration, to his desire for his friends to love and know God the way he does, is that the foundation was never there. The questions is, how do you make up 16 years of loss in the life of a student who walks through the doors of your church, knowing that when they graduate high school, they, like Jon, will have a strong enough foundation to continue maturing, and when crisis hits, they won't bail out of Faith? This I ask, this I pray, as I find more and more students missing Jesus.

America, God's Country?

2008-12-02T13:04:00.000-08:00

Robert Wilken, in his book, The Christians as the Romans Saw Them, writes that in the first few hundred years after Jesus, Christians were called atheists because they no longer believed in the Roman gospel, they ceased to have faith in the state as the savior of the world.

Makes me wonder, when will we stop believing in the American gospel, and cease to believe that it is the saviour of the world.

source: Jesus for President, Shane Claiborne

United Pursuit Band

2008-12-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

Please Check these guys out. They are called United Pursuit Band and they are crazy good. They are from Knoxville Tennessee.

Returning

2008-11-30T12:11:00.000-08:00

Another month or so has gone by. I am wanting to write so badly, but little is coming out. I have not written in my journal in a long time. This morning was the first in quite some time. Church was awesome this morning, it is every Sunday. We have such a passion for our community. I can't explain to you how in love I am with my community.

I always say that every student that I see is my student. I believe that, connected or not, every student is my student. Much of the last 5 months has been spent on a high school or middle school campus. Usually what I spend most of my time doing is finding ways to serve. At Jackson County I pour tea for every student that wants tea. I quickly earned the title "tea guy". I plan to make a shirt that says "Tea Guy", and on the back write something like Jackson County High School. I don't know if that would be making it harder on me or what. I don't know, well see. I usually spend a lot of time picking up trays for students and taking them to the kitchen so that they don't have to. I have found that this is a pretty easy way for me to meet students that normally won't talk, and at one of the high schools, that is a very common deal. I think a lot of these schools are not used to having someone like myself on their campus, but I love it.

And o the stories that I have heard, o the the stories are worth the trip. The harvest in these schools is so plentiful. The pain in these students is clearly visible. There is such a need for them to be heard, to express, to believe in something.

These are random thoughts today. I hope this finds you doing well today!

After you!

2008-10-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

I was on my way yesterday to Jackson County High School to talk to some of the football players about Jesus, and I just thought I would share with you what was on my mind.

In the garden, I passionately love this by the way, Jesus is on the ground praying to God a prayer that you and I will never have to pray, and He somehow comes out of this moment with God and walks over to the disciples. He sees Judas coming towards Him and Jesus says to Peter, James, and John, "let's go". What is implied here is that Judas is coming to darkly kiss him, only to begin the physical movement toward the cross, and what stokes me about this moment is that Jesus moves towards his betrayer, He moves first towards His cross. There is no struggle, there is no second thought of getting out, no, Jesus rises and says "lets go" for I am coming for them. It's crazy right. I gotta believe He saw beyond the cross, He saw me...yea, He saw me, He sees you.

My hope was to impress on them that Jesus was not only moving toward His cross, but that He was and is coming for them, out of His mind coming for us. Jesus doesn't come after our addictions, our struggles, our weaknesses, no, the Brother comes after US...YOU...ME!

Just thought I would share!

break

2008-10-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

so, i took a break...i am back. I am sure that will happen from time to time. just a very simple thought for today. I am finding it that the more I let go the more I find You, my God. I am learning it's ok to let go a little at a time only to find myself letting go of more than I ever thought I was capable of! Yes, I ended with a preposition, deal with it!

Who do you entertain?

2008-09-29T07:06:00.001-07:00

Who do you entertain? Have you ever asked, thought, wondered? If you ask one of the greatest worship leaders of our time, he would tell you angels. As I sit and write, as I preach, as I sung in the shower this morning at the top of my lungs, as I drive my car talking, sometimes flailing my hands in the air, other times raising, stretching them out the windows, reaching into the coolness of the air as it passes through my arms, people pondering in their minds where I should be institutionalized. I live to know who am I entertaining. have you ever laughed at yourself when you were alone, reclaiming a moment in your life when the words freely emerge from your lips, "what was I thinking" and being glad no one was there to witness what once would have been an embarrassment, but now brings you humor. I have to ask, were you alone? Who are we entertaining? What about in the mirror, when you spend countless moments vanishing and reappearing in different apparel, do you stop, looking back at yourself with a small grin on your face, thinking, what am I doing? I have! I have come to believe that we are entertaining something greater than ourselves; a being that transcends all understanding, a creator whom I believe creates moments for us not only to bring joy to ourselves, but to bring joy to him. You are not alone, there is someone always among you, enjoying every moment with you, living through every moment in your presence. I live to love, to please, to serve, and to bring joy to him. He lives to be with me.

2008-09-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

I just came across this. Pretty crazy. They are called Improv Everywhere. This took place in a California Mall unbenouced to the public. It's awesome.

Banksky Graffiti Removal

2008-09-25T06:06:00.000-07:00

I am beginning to appreciate art more and more everyday. I want it to be a big part of what we do here at Axiom. I just thought I would share this with you. The artist is Banksy

from: ethur.org

God of this city!

2008-09-24T06:36:00.000-07:00

You ever listen to Sean Hannity. I do every now and then. I realize that many of you may not, and I am not about to open a can of left or right wing theology, I will later as I am really trying to liberate myself, but Sean has this commercial on the radio that he does for Ruth Chris Steakhouse. He does a pretty phenomenal job of describing these steaks. It's goes something like this, "mouth watering, savory, freshest cut of corn fed beef made to perfection.". Every time I hear it, my mouth LITERALLY begins to water. I can taste it, feel it, and experience the beauty of it all in my mind and not even take the first bite, you know what I am talking about? Holy Cow.

Well, I listen to Chris Tomlin's "God of this city", and I experience the same feeling every time, although deeper, it's spiritual, and I am usually raising my hands in my office, wanting to shout it out, but I am sure I would freak out our staff. But here's the deal, I can see, experience, feel, and almost taste what God is doing and WILL do in this city. I want to be apart of it so badly, and I am, what a gift. He is the God of this city, and I am aligning myself to be deeply involved in Gods plans, WOW! For Chris Tomlin writes "for greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city". To that I give praise and glory to my creator, because I GET to be apart of that, I GET to be involved in those great things and when time evolves and I look back, I can say, "I was there. I was there."

Can you feel it where you are, can you taste it, see it, experience it. "The God of this city, for greater things are still to be done." Heck yea, we GET to be apart of those GREATER things. Bring it baby.

I leave you with this. LOVE! Love like you have never loved before. By the way, I am listening to the song as I write this, and yes, my hands are (pause)...in the air.

I missed out!

2008-09-23T07:03:00.000-07:00

This morning I was getting off 85 onto exit 129 into Braselton. There standing on the shoulder of the ramp was the epitome of homelessness. He was a middle aged man with dreads, holding a sign, standing next to his dog. I barely could make out the sign he was holding as I turned onto 53. All I could feel was my spirit telling me to stop, to love, to just listen. I convinced myself that I had to drop my keys off at the office for someone who needed our truck. I thought to myself, he'll be there when I come back, but he wasn't, he was gone. Why did I talk myself out of experiencing Christ. I just said I want to dine with poverty.

Jesus is listening, Jesus is giving us opportunity to dine with him in various forms and I missed out today, and although I am discontent with myself, he will return, and we will sit at the table together, and he will tell me everything.

I read a book about a year ago that I think would interest you. It is called "Under the overpass". Mike Yankoski, a college student, takes a semester off and lives for months in the culture of homelessness. It is an amazing journey I would encourage you to read.

An excerpt "Those places of need are where you and I discover ourselves, our faith, and, best of all, our God".

I missed out, but only for this moment.

Grace for a second...

2008-09-22T07:09:00.000-07:00

"For many, romantic love is the closest experience of pure grace. Someone at last feels that I-I!-am the most desirable, attractive, companionable creature on the planet. Someone lies awake at night thinking of me. Someone forgives me before I ask, thinks of me when she gets dressed, orders her life around mine." Yancy..."What's so amazing about Grace"
I read this last night, I could not help but think of conversations I have had, people I know, stories I hear and the thought that kept running through my head, brokenness and a longing to be LOVED in a way that no being can love, only a creator. In my world, so many teenagers, unknowingly long, and I mean LONG for pure grace. May you show a teenager pure grace this week.

Gas

2008-09-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

There is none in Atlanta. I really thought I was going to run out on the way in today. I passed 3 stations last night that were out. This morning you could only get 10 gallons at one and the other station I went to finish off was PACKED with people. Crazy stuff.

Ordinary Radicals

2008-09-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a book that is seriously challenging my thought patterns, how I view my own country. The book is "Jesus for President" by Shane Claiborne. It is intense. Seen in this film that is soon to be coming, Shane documents the stories of those who are bringing heaven to earth, who serve no King but Jesus Christ the King and pay their allegiance to Him only.
From: melaniekayec.blogspot.com

I want to befriend poverty.

2008-09-14T20:10:00.000-07:00

It's about 11pm on Sunday night. It's been a great day. Without getting to personal, I want to share something. Over the last year I have forgotten about something, and my awareness of self is the very thing that has drowned out the longing I had to be with Jesus in a way that makes no sense to the world around me, and even my own brothers and sisters in Christ. I had this deep desire to rid myself of me, to become what Paul would say as "the refuse of the earth". I was arriving at a place where possessions did not matter and wants were more of a burden, and I was voicing it loudly. I want to be back there...soon. I want to befriend poverty, I really do. I want to dine with the lepers and the blind and give myself away. I want to serve, more, More, and MORE.

Paul was in Derbe loving our people, speaking to them about Jesus, and one day some Jews heard about what Paul was doing. They came into Derbe to stir up the crowd and turn them against Paul and The Way. They stoned Paul, dragged him outside the city gates, and thinking he was dead they left him there, but Paul didn't die, and that is great, but it's what he did next that makes no sense to many. Paul gets enough strength to get back on his feet and he walks right back into the city, into the place where the people had just stoned him, and the brother began to preach again. Paul would later say, "if I am out of my mind, it's for Christ".

Wow, like, this is where I long to be, this makes sense to me. Paul was not thinking as a human, he was thinking as a follower of Jesus. I don't know, maybe that is why my passion is growing for China. I long for a moment where I am sharing it with just Jesus and He with me. How sweet, to live a life that makes no sense, that's out of our mind. I want to go there...I do. I want to see my enemies and love them, not fear them. It's almost 12, so, I am going to bed. I love you!

remember

2008-09-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

I was sleeping, my phone rang and I was too tired to answer. It went to my answering machine, my dad began to talk. He told me that we were being attacked, he thought it was terrorists and that two planes had just flown into the trade center towers. I remember hearing him say that we were being attacked on American soil. I got out of bed and started to run toward our TV room on our campus, it was already packed with students. I wedged my way in there to watch EVERYTHING unfold for the next 10 hours. ACC, my college, was only a few minutes away from Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. I remember the silence in the air, all planes had been grounded. The normal sounds of the engine roaring for take off was no longer. Atlanta was silent and every now and then, during the day, a fighter jet would fly over the city for security.
3 months later I had gone to New York to work with victims. I will never forget meeting a man, dressed just like a New Yorker, he was still looking for his brother, 3 months later, he was still looking for his brother.
I give thanks this morning to the men and women that have fought to keep this from happening again, and I pray for peace for those who lost a mom or dad, brother or sister, aunt or uncle, or a best friend. I also think about those who still have evil in their hearts to bring terror to people, may they meet Jesus.
I ask you to take a moment to just think about that day.

I met the Walrus

2008-09-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

This recording took place in Canada by a 14 year old boy who interviewed John Lennon in his hotel room. John was trying to enter into the U.S. There are so many sweet truths embedded here. I am amazed that a 14 year old interviewed John Lennon. Teenagers can do anything.

R U SERIOUS?

2008-09-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

I know this may offend some of you, but I can't stand "Christian" t-shirts, cause let me just tell you, I can see some kid wearing this to school and everybody falling over wanting Jesus, yea...NOT! It literally makes me sick when I see these t-shirts. It frustrates because I know people laugh at our attempt to be "culturally relevant" with design. Get off the "trend setting bus" and start loving the "hell" out of people with what you do, not what you wear. This has "avoid me" written all over it, not to mention the fact that it's "not easy". I welcome your feedback.

from: Kerusso.com via: culture-making.com

The views of this blog do not reflect the views on New Community Church

just had this thought...

2008-09-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

what if God is intentionally positioning his people across our globe for something...something beyond our ability to comprehend, but yet God is positioning them for that something to happen. just thinking. i will explain my thinking later.

Sweetness

2008-09-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

It was opening day at our new building in Jackson County. We had 270. Crazy stuff. God be moving. High school group was awesome tonight. Check out our video.

the online magazine world

2008-09-04T06:55:00.000-07:00

Dude, I have been getting into online magazines lately. I subscribe to Relevant and I'm thinking of a few others. I have about 30 that are on my radar right now, a few lean towards the church, but a majority are secular. Among Rolling Stone Mag and some others, my favorite this week is Wired Magazine. This would be good for you tech savvy peeps. Keep checking cause as I sort through these, I'll tell you which ones need to be on your radar. I am currently looking into Paste Magazine this week. Holla

NAS

2008-09-03T10:36:00.000-07:00

I have been listening to NAS and his song Hero. I don't know a lot about Nas. I heard it in the clothing store Ecko the other day and was like, "I have to download this song". Obviously the tag "they need someone to believe in, so in God's Son we trust, cause they know Im gonna give them what they want. They're looking for a hero" is pretty catching, but what I loved was what he says about teenagers, "think about these talented kids with all these new ideas, being told what they can and can't spit. I can't sit and watch it". I met a kid today that goes to the middle school here in town. He is what I call walking art. He is extremely expressive in how he looks, what he wears, but yet he feels the rejection everyday, the looks, people telling him he is different. He said one thing to me that spoke volumes of his confidence, he said "I can be different" keyword CAN. I was so excited, because that is the great thing, he can, and he knows it. Props to my bro at Jefferson Middle. I just hope others would follow him and be different, unique. I love teenagers, they INSPIRE me so freakin much.

NoiseTrade

2008-09-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

I was reading in Relevant Magazine last night and they featured Derek Webb's, former lead singer for Caedmon's Call, now independent and freaking awesome, new website noisetrade. Derek released his song "Mocking Bird" for free download in '06 and it was hit 80,000 times. Webb says, "If artists and fans realized how they could help each other and started making direct connections, the whole industry would change overnight". What excited me even more is that it is compatible with Mac and they even have a widget.

Jesus for President

2008-09-02T06:08:00.000-07:00

I am reading "Jesus for President". I think you ought to as well. It is Shane Claiborne's newest. You can get it on Amazon for about 12 bucks right now. I really do promote this book to you.

2008-08-30T19:17:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, at this point in my life I love McDonalds coffee. Yep, prefer it over that star place. Don't know if that is a bad thing or not, but every morning I am at the counter handing over my buck 28 for a large with six shots of creme, and I usually have it done before I sit down at my desk, although all that will change in just a month when we open up our coffee spot in Hoschton/ Braselton. So anyhow, today I walked up to the counter to order. I paid and I stepped back to wait...and wait......and wait.........and wait. After a few minutes, with me just standing there and a couple other people, I looked at the guy who took my order and said, "I was just wondering if I was going to get my coffee". I said it with a grin because I knew this kid had no idea what he was doing. In this West Coast attitude he, "o yea, ummm, sorry". The poor kid. I felt sorry for him as he walked toward the coffee pot. He grabbed a cup, poured my coffee. He went to put the creme in and I knew it was a lost cause. He just looked (I'm laughing) at it. I don't think he knew where to begin. Finally a girl came over, grabbed the cup, and helped him out. I finally got my coffee, a size too small. I asked him if today was his first day, he said, "nope, been here a while". I just had a big grin leaving as did everybody else who was watching, waiting in line, enjoying the scene. It was just an entertaining moment. I felt sorry for the kid. A friend of mine used to say, "bless your little heart", and by that he meant, "you stupid fool".

I was thinking the other night...

2008-08-27T06:13:00.000-07:00

Now, I don't want to freak anybody out about what I am about to write, it's merely just my thinking, which can be pretty chaotic sometimes.

I was pulling into my neighborhood the other night and I started to think about me needing God, like needing water in a desert. I am not going to go through the whole deal about the simple fact that we need God, most of us know that, I think, but my thinking revolved around desiring an event, an experience.

I have never known torture, never, although I do have a sister and brother, but you know what I mean. What would I do if I was kidnapped because of my faith? What would I do if I experienced severe pain and was told to stop my efforts in leading people to the King? As these questions were circulating through my mind, I came to a conclusion, that if I survived, I would have a bonding experience with Jesus, an experience that no one else had shared in, it was just Jesus and I. And for a moment, I longed for it. I longed for it because I want to need Christ, and if you would just let me entertain your thoughts for a moment, I thought, I would be willing, and even though it would hurt, the torture, I would come out on the other end, sharing with Christ in something that no one else was a part, and experiencing what it's like to need him, to need him to survive, and in the process, maybe I would even get to see his face, or feel him holding me.

I don't know, I did think it was funny that yesterday morning, the day after this thinking, I read 2 Corinthians 6: 3-13.

I met two guys one time when I was in India who were beaten and left for dead. They were preachers in their villages. They had many scars, many. You may ask, was I humbled to meet them, no, there is no word to describe the value of meeting them. Have you ever met and touched the scars of a village preacher who had been beaten and left for dead? You wouldn't be able to describe it either.

Monday, Monday, Monday

2008-08-25T06:37:00.000-07:00

You ever wonder where the word monday came from?

This past weekend was pretty awesome. I saw my family, sat on the bottom porch of my folks house Saturday morning for a few hours enjoying the perfect weather, set-up for the last time at the primary school in town that night, spoke last night at a back to school deal, and finished it off trying to fix a massive garage door that was pretty messed up.

Today I ate lunch at Jefferson high school. It's a city school. It gets a bad rap for that. They are viewed as the prep school of Jackson County, where all the elitist go to school. I don't really see it. One interesting thing though, last week I was at one of the schools for lunch and I ended up eating with a kid who told me he wanted to work in the paranormal field and he wanted to connect with spirits who are caught up in the astral world. It was one of the most interesting conversations I have ever had with a student. I can't wait till this week to see him again. I look forward to what he has to say.

Hoschton reminds me of the movie "Children of the Corn". There are scarecrows everywhere, roughly 3000.

love is looking for...

2008-08-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

I don't believe that one has to look very far to see what is missing; neither do I believe that one has to travel to find it. The evidence is everywhere and it is clear. In the last two years that I have inundated myself in the culture in which I live, I have learned one common missing element among humanity, the need to be loved.

It was my first trip to Mexico in the summer of 2001. We were working in Matamoras, a city saturated in pollution and poverty. In the late 90's, National Geographic had labeled Matamoras the most polluted city in the world. You could smell the stench of human waste at every turn.

We had traveled to the outskirts of Matamoras to feed children. It was a Thursday afternoon and it was hot. The dirt streets were cluttered with large gaping trenches made by semi's that had driven through in the rain.

I got to believe in my heart that the children looked forward to Thursdays, kind of like when you and I were young, we were told by our parents that we were going to Chuck-e-Cheese at the end of the week and everyday we would ask our mom, " is today the day we go, is it today mom", the feeling of anticipation. It was this day each week that these children would get what they considered a gourmet meal, not the usual rice and beans, but burritos and enchilada's. They looked forward to it because the food was good and they got red Kool-Aid. I remember the red Kool-Aid, the stains that is left on their clothes, but they didn't care, because it was Thursday, and they were feasting a king's meal.

What hurt the most was what took place when the children where through eating the first helping of food. Before we could even finish handing out the first serving of food, they began yelling out "una mas, una mas". I heard it over and over again. The cries for seconds penetrated the deepest part of my heart. I remember reaching over the table toward this one kid, handing him a second helping on his plate and fighting the tears. I immediately left the area and hid behind a wooden pillar crying. I had never experienced such need in my life, and I was immediately shocked by their culture.

Although hundreds of miles away, I find in my own culture the same symptoms, just a deeper need. I see starvation of the heart, the soul, the need to be loved, to be heard. I hear the screams of the children in Mexico and I think of my own culture and how they are crying "love me, discover me, see me;" and I want to hand them a plate so bad.

I don't believe much will happen until we begin listening with our God given hearts to the cries of our people. It takes a person who will see beyond themselves, become culturally shocked by what is happening in their own town and begin giving way to what the creator created them to do. John writes in his book 1 John of the scriptures, "Love, not with words, but with action", and the King himself said to "love each other". The last time I studied those words, each other wasn't selective, it covered all humanity, because all humanity wants to be loved. Here's the deal, love needs a catalyst, it's not calling out for someone to rescue the world, it already has a Savior, it's calling for someone who is not afraid. Will you become the catalyst that Love is looking for?

2008-08-12T17:06:00.000-07:00

I am in Johnson City Tennessee for assessment, it's like church planting boot camp. I pretty excited though. I hear at the end of the week I get a book that basically tells me everything about me. So anyhow, tonight, Chris and I went to Cootie Brown's. It's a local restraunt here in town. I am a big fan of eating where locals eat when I am out of town and dude, this was the jackpot. I ordered a Hawaiian Jerk Chicken with these sweet potato deals glazed in a maple dressing. It was amazing. I am not here to make any kind of spiritual connection to this experience, although I probably could, but I will tell you, your an idiot if you pass this place up. It's that good.

China...love thy neighbor!

2008-08-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

I was watching the Primetime Live episode that documented China last night on ABC. It is one of the best pieces I have seen on China so far. For some reason my interest in China is rapidly growing. I was like a kid sitting on the edge of my seat enthralled by what I was learning.

China is growing at light speed, and although they are doing little to help the quality of air, they are quickly becoming a super power that is deeply influencing the world. One thing that really got my attention was the influence China is having on Angola. Where China is reaping the benefits of the black gold that exist in Angola, Angola's economy is receiving a major makeover. China is increasingly involved in developing Angola to becoming a more stronger, more driven, independent country. The trade off for Angolan oil is Chinese construction and marketing companies restoring a country that once was forgotten about.

I got to thinking what America could be doing for our neighbors, specifically Mexico. I wonder how much healthier our economy would be if we took greater interest in the development of Mexico through education and the structural economy. We definitely would be being obedient to command.

As I was watching this report, all I could think is that China is loving their neighbor. My only hope is that China is truly repairing a country to become independent, and not so that China can have them in their back pocket.

If China is not on your radar, it needs to be.

ReConnect

2008-08-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

Last night, I had one of the best conversations I have had in a longtime. It was crazy. What made the conversation so awesome was that it was with Kaleb McElroy, a kid I had at Woodland Camp years ago, a kid, now 23, that I never really forgot, that I would wonder from time to time how was he doing? How we got connected is even more crazy.
A month ago I was speaking at a middle school week of camp, and I was sitting in the deans cabin, Kaleb, who's name I had forgotten, entered into my mind with an overwhelming feeling, a need to pray for him and try to find him. The whole week I had prayed that God would put his name in my mind, and He did. I got home on a friday and immediately got on myspace and facebook to try to find him. I searched and searched. I was unsuccessful and I grew frustrated. I felt like God had been leading me to reconnect with him. I was sure of it. Out of my frustration, I gave up and eventually forgot about it.
Two weeks later, I came into my office and started going through my normal routine of checking email. I got to my facebook. I had a message in my inbox and I went to click on the tab, and next to the message was the name, Kaleb McElroy. My jaw dropped. I was speechless. I called Chris Hoffman, our lead pastor, into the room and shared how I could not believe what I looking at. I was freaking out, and I knew God was making this deal happen. I was floored.
Last night, Kaleb and I caught up for a couple of hours. It brought me so much joy to reconnect with someone that had been a big part of all my weeks as a camp counselor. He is doing awesome and I am so grateful to God for making that happen. Kaleb and I are meeting in Atlanta for some food and more conversation. I can't wait to see what God has planned.

to live

Update

2008-07-31T08:45:00.000-07:00

It has been an insane 2 weeks. I have not got any pics of our build out in this new building. I have literally lost 12 pounds working in our new auditorium. We have pulled out over two tons of pipe, old school light fixtures, 3 huge hvac units and piles and piles of swept up trash. We have all our walls studded, half of them are sheet rocked. Leslie at Luna's coffee has sold us all her stuff so that we can begin putting together the coffee shop. It is crazy the things that are happening and will happen. God has been good to us, but I have to believe that we have to continue to be faithful, take risk, love our community even more, and trust Him with the little stuff even more. Bob and Ron are the masters at leading this project and all our people at New Community have been so good to us. They have worked so hard and put in so many hours. They are hero's.
I met with the principal at Jackson County yesterday. We basically grew up in the same town and know so many people. We talked for 15 minutes about all the people we have in common. He knew my grandfather, who was the commish in the early to late 80's. Dr. McGhee was awesome. I can't wait to be on their campus and Jefferson as well. Dr. Smith was awesome. It is going to be an incredible year of ministry for New Community. It is almost overwhelming. Satan is engaged in what we are doing and we have to be drinking from the water Jesus has to give. I fully anticipate the work we have, spiritually, mentally, and physically. It's coming.

to live

New Community

2008-07-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

I had breakfast with Jimmy Barge this morning. AWESOME conversation. Best trip I have ever had in the US was in Colorado with Jimmy.
So this whole week so far we have been renovating this old factory/school into a church. What an awesome concept. It is coming together so well. I have been pulling out so much old pipe out of the ceiling. I get to use an electric saw that cuts through metal. It is so sweet. I must post pics. Ill try to get some up today.
We put up our first wall yesterday, kind of emotional. God is good, He is so good to us. New Community...love God, love people. Heck yea baby. O yeah, I have ramps, skate ramps. Ron, Jordan, Dylan, and I built them last week. We have skate ramps. I have always wanted them...I am so stoked!!!

China maybe???

2008-07-23T07:23:00.001-07:00

I think I am going to China soon. Last night I dreamed about it, and it wasn't like a dream that was short. The dream lasted all night. I would wake up, fall back asleep, and pick up in the dream where I left off. I did that a lot. I was on a train traveling from city to city. It was beautiful.

the girl effect

2008-07-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

This is solid...gets me excited about things.

girleffect.org

Class of 98

2008-07-12T08:57:00.000-07:00

I got up this morning and there was an invitation in my inbox on facebook. It is for my 10 year reunion from high school. Dude, I am getting old. 28! It is being held at Cherokee Run Golf Course. Working at Cherokee Run was the only job I had in high school. It's going to be pretty sweet. Looking forward to it.

Wedding @ Waffle house in Dacula

2008-07-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

Check this out...a couple in Dacula GA got married at the local waffle house. They had been trying for four years on Independence Day but were never able to get off work. At the last minute, the groom got off work on the 4th and they got married in the parking lot of waffle house. The cake was inside. They had to be back at work that monday. Redneck!!! Here is the link to the article.

Viva La Vida

2008-07-10T11:20:00.000-07:00

Coldplay's new release.

Thursday...

2008-07-10T08:17:00.000-07:00

This morning I went to a committee meeting with Chris for the Hoschton City Fall Festival. The Festival is in September. The mayor was there, chief of police, city clerk, you know, the who's who of Hoschton. It was pretty awesome getting to meet them. Dude, I am a big fan of getting our butts in our communities and being apart of what our communities are doing. Chris has an awesome relationship with community leaders here in Jackson. I am pretty pumped about what we are going to do. I am going to lunch with the principal of Jackson County High and looking to make a connection with the principal at Jefferson. I can only pray that God will open the doors for connection to be made with community leaders in Jackson who work with students.

I am going to lunch with Joe today. He is a senior at Mill Creek High School. Joe is awesome.

Going to see my nephew this weekend...pretty stoked about that, and I am eating some byson burgers...heck yea. Did I mention I love U2.

to live

random

2008-07-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

Guatemala was amazing. I could have stayed again. There is just something good about not having a lot, but yet having enough. I am listening to U2, Slain Castle, best ever. I can write to this music every time I hear it. I appreciate Bono and how is being the church, he is being Jesus to the world.I know that some camps would disagree, but the brother is deeply influencing global poverty, something I hope to get Jackson County teenagers behind. I met another kid this week who lives in Jefferson, I am hoping I can build a relationship with him. Already he has a pretty unique story. He seems like somebody who is interested in issues like Africa. He and friends have built a skate park for other teenagers to stay off the street. He seems like he has some pretty cool dreams. We'll see.

I get to see my niece and nephew this week on my sisters side. I am pretty stoked about that. We are having Byson burgers, those puppies rock.

I leave you with this...you have the ability, to change the very culture you live in, God has put all the missing pieces around you, you just got to pick them up and begin putting them together...welcome to the revolution.

friday

2008-06-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

9:30 yawn

10 breakfast

11 start packing

12pm lunch at Honey Baked Ham

1 haircu

2-4:30 packing

5 run 7.2 miles, in the middle of the run, saw Andrew Smith...good kid

6:30 LONGHORNS

8 Mall of Georgia

9 Walmart in the rain

10:15 email

11:06 some texting and this last word.

I leave for Guatemala tomorrow. Ill try to send pics. Have an awesome week.

By the way...I saw no deer on my run today.

Frontline...Jesus in China

2008-06-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

I was watching this today, Jesus in China. A good documentary on the movement of Christianity in China.
I love what the Communists call Christians in China, "counter revolutionists".

2008-06-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

I try to run at least once a week. It's a track at Mulberry Park known as the horse trails. I have good friend that I run with from time to time. His name is Greg Wilson. Recently though I have been running by myself, and it seems that I keep running into deer. It has not failed me yet. I was talking with my mom about it the other day. I was telling her that I think it is kind of strange that I keep seeing them so much. She told me that she thinks that they are coming out to find water because everything is so dry. I like it though. It is kind of a cool sight. Although I waiting for one them to charge me.

3 days to Guatemala!

fatherless

2008-06-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was researching Jackson county and trying to identify some issues here. Earlier I had a McDonald's biscuit, mmmmmm, with Burt Blackburn. He had shared with me his longing for fatherless kids and more so, the ones who live in poverty. He told about two mothers who were sharing a house in Jackson, with 3 kids each, working to make ends meet. This got me wondering. So I did a little research online with the census.
After getting the info and crunching numbers, this is what I came up with...
As of 1999, over 472 families in Jackson were fatherless, of that 436 have children under 18, and of that, 41% fall under the poverty line, leaving roughly 180 families fatherless and below poverty. The census averages 2.4 kids every family, go figure the .4, but that would say that over 350 kids under 18 are fatherless and in poverty. Now, figuring that there was an estimated 2800 kids at the time of this census report, that would leave 14% of Jackson County students fatherless and in the red as of 1999.
I don't know how much these numbers have changed today, that is my next little project, but there is an answer. If you research globally how to decline the numbers of poverty, aids, and other epidemics or events that cause oppression of the weak, the answer is education. If you take a step further with fatherless kids, the you have to consider the lack of relationship in that kids life, and the need for a hero, or simply, a role model to journey with them.
As student ministers, we have to know our community, and the needs of our children, and we must be proactive of making a footprint in the muddiest parts of our culture. I wrote a couple years ago, that we must become shocked by our very own culture and become a catalyst of love.
to live...

Joe

2008-06-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a week, maybe a little longer. I just recently finished speaking at Woodland Christian Camp last week to a bunch of middle schoolers, lovin it. The week went by pretty quickly. The theme was "Transformers", living a life of transformation. Bet you never heard that one. I spoke from Romans 12:1-2. I centered most of my message around a school lunchroom and the story of this kid I would eat lunch with at Mill Creek High School named Joe. Joe is not his real name, that is the name I gave him.
Joe ate lunch by himself. He had covinced himself that he was weird, because that is what he had been told by his peers since middle school. Joe was on all kinds of medications for his bi-polar, adhd, and anger issues. Apparently, his peers knew this and they had verbally abused Joe so much that Joe began to believe what he had hearing most of his teenage life. Every week I would eat lunch with Joe, I would found every opportunity to convice him that he was the farthest thing from weird, trying to reverse the hurt he become numb to.
Everyday at camp I would speak, I drew a lunchoom scene on a dry erase board, fill the tables with students, except for one table. This is where Joe would sit. Each day I spoke, I would repaint this scene. My purpose for spending so much time on this scene throughout this week of camp was draw students into Joe's life, his story, and to renew the way they think about peers like Joe, who are seen as outcast. I wanted these middle schoolers to remember Joe when school starts in August. Ultimalty, I wanted them to transform not only the way they think about Joe, his looks, his identity, but to help transform Joe himself, into loving himself again.
Teens go to school everyday with peers who are at the bottom of the food chain, who are conviced they are unusable, unworthy of conversation. The broken relationships these kids have, have the ability to healed. It just takes one person to forget themselves, their identity, where they fit in the cool crowd, and love what society would call unlovable.
I'm for Joe.

church at McD's

2008-06-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

I was at the Braselton McDonald's this morning, the one off exit 129, doing my thing. So all these people kept coming in to get a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit and I started thinking, what a sweet picture of the church. I saw this older gentleman, long rough looking beard, nappy hair, carrying an oxygen tank, and I wondered, what church would he feel comfortable attending. There were so many cultures, demographics that walked in to McDonald's this morning, and as I was driving away, I thought, "O' how I can't wait to apart of a church so diverse in race and economic status. McDonald's can put them in a room, together, at same time, and so can we.
I believe in New Community, and Chris's vision in creating a place where all people groups come together to worship the King. It's happening now, McDonald's, except instead of the bacon, egg, and cheese, it's love, truth, and sweet fellowship.

Finally

2008-06-10T06:19:00.000-07:00

I have awesome news, I am back in student ministry full time. I am at a church plant in Braselton GA. One of my good friends, Chris Hoffman, planted New Community over a year ago. This past Sunday, we announced to New Community that I am coming on staff as the Student Pastor. I was telling my small group last night that I feel like I have some normalcy back in my life once again. This past year, working on the reality show, "All for One", and not really being involved in any kind of ministry, took a pretty big hit on me emotionally. It feels good to be positioned in a place where I can be doing what I am so passionate about, growing the church.

Jackson County, where we are located, was prized the 10th fastest growing county in the nation according to a report put out by the census in March of 2008. In the little bit of research that I have done, I know there are a little over 3000 teenagers in our community. I am used to only one school being that large, not a cluster of schools.

The exciting thing is that we have the ability to create the culture for students here, because there really is none.

I met some skaters yesterday at the depot. I gave them a flyer advertising ultimate frisbee, and invited them to come. I don't know if they will, but I made a connection. I hope that God will put students in my path, to build credibility and trust. I was excited to see them skating. Right now, I am learning how to draw these kids out to begin creating a culture for them, a culture where Christ is at the epicenter.

It will be a sweet ride, but a lot of work. It's about to get crazy again.

to live

I love my momma.

2008-05-11T17:35:00.001-07:00

Happy Mom's Day Mom.

I Love You!

consistency

2008-05-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I spoke at Young Americans Christian Academy. It is the second time this year. The first time was in the fall. We then talked about apathy among this generation of followers. It has to be in the top 5 of struggles for people who work with Christian teenagers. Michael Franzini, author of "100 Young Americans", a look at this current generation and it's makeup, calls this generation the "instant access generation", meaning everything is a click away. I would have to agree with him. With everything at their fingertips, teenagers unknowingly develop this attitude of "who needs God", and the scary thing, this attitude is more clear to outsiders looking in to see if there really is any substance to the Christian faith.
This past week I spoke on a word that I have been using a lot lately with teenagers, CONSISTENCY. Teenagers are missing this in relationships, especially with their parents. So many teenagers want mom and/or dad to be steady in their life with promises, conversations, LOVE, and even FAMILY dinners. It gives the teen a feeling of security and confidence in their parents, and that is something that they should not grow up without.
Consistency speaks volumes into the lives of teenagers. It says, "I am here today, and I will be there tomorrow.
A common place where they need it the most is in the struggle. Teenagers experience so many high and lows, peak and valley's not only in a week, but sometimes in a single day, and teenagers are looking for something or someone that is constant in those highs and lows. When the consistency is not you, or even more, shown to be experienced in something greater than themselves, they will go looking for it, and that is when it gets chaotic, scary, because they'll find it not in what I or you long for them to find it in.
I don't need to go there, I hope you understand.
And so, in the message, I wanted to draw them in to see that there is something that always is and always will be no matter where they are in struggle or in the high. The somebody it "the Father".
I had this dry erase board and I drew a line, and on line I wrote, normalcy, a place that so many would love to be when stuff hits the fan, and then I went back over the line and drew the peaks and the valley's. I told them it was in the peaks that we find God, in the moments where we are strong, where the chaos slows down and things seems to be working out. It was an exciting moment, but my excitement grew more when I took my marker and I started to draw circles around the lowest points of the valley's, I paused, I looked at these teenagers, I literally thought about their stories, that they all had one, and with conviction, I told them that the Father is so much more here, in the valley, the low, and that He speaks to us with gentleness and comfort, but with truth. I wanted them to know that God is consistent, unfailing, forever, always.
I know this, because He spoke to me in the valley, and although sometimes it's hard to accept his truth, He is the Father, and He is faithful.

eat with a notebook and pen

2008-04-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

I was on my way to Franklin TN to meet up with JP Robinson, a good friend. I wanted to stop at O'Charleys in Manchester. I was craving the rolls and potato soup. I was by myself and so I wanted to take a notebook and jot some notes down from a conversation that I had a couple of nights ago. So I walk in with my notebook and pen and the hostess ask me if I want to sit in the bar area so that I didn't have to wait, I was like, "sure". I sit down and start to write my notes and this waitress looks at me weird, as if she had never seen a guy with a notebook and pen writing, but I think she thought I was somebody, not a famous somebody, but somebody from the local paper or Nashville's Tennessian, or maybe someone with O'Charleys writing a report, because after that waitress looked at me from a distance, no sooner was there a waitress at the table. I ordered a 10oz salmon and potato soup with a Pepsi. She walked away with my order and no more than a minute later did I have my potato soup, 3 rolls, and my drink. Before I could finish my soup, another waiter brought out my 10oz salmon, and this baby had to have been more than 10. It was the biggest piece of salmon I had ever had and it was sweet. 1 minute into the meal the manager was checking on me to make sure I was ok and everything was good. I didn't have to wait on one thing. I think it was the fastest meal I had ever been served.
So the point, walk into the O'Charleys in Manchester TN with a notebook and you'll be treated like a King.

I'm Keith Trollinger
I'm 28
and I love food.

Peace

Indiana

2008-04-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in Panera Bread in Fort Wayne Indiana, a long way from home and a big city.
I have spent the last 3 days with Mick Baker, Exec Director , and Kent Yost, Director Of Campus Ministries for Youth for Christ. YFC is a well oiled machine in northern Indiana that is deeply influencing the student culture. I have met with middle and high school campus ministers, been on 3 high school campuses, attended a student leaders meeting and a campus life meeting, and let me just say that these are some of the most solid guys I have ever met in student ministry. They are extremely relational and very passionate about their campuses and the calling they have in each community they oversee.
I would have to say that 90% of their job is spent on middle and high school campuses and meeting with students individually and corporately. They are so good about what they do here in northern Indiana and are seriously proactive not only on campuses but with students.

I am learning much about YFC and the student culture in this part of the country, and believe in it so much, but I wrestling with God about where He is calling me, and it is a wrestle. I struggle with leaving my family, leaving Atlanta and so many friends. I struggle with how I would adapt to a much smaller community, with school 1/4 the size of the school I spend time in back home. It would be the most radical move of my life, fully depending on God, which as I am writing this, makes more sense than staying in what they constantly remind me of as "Hotlanta".
I have been reading in 1 Corinthians 2 where Paul writes to the church, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him". My prayer..."Lord, let me see what I have never seen, let me hear what I have never heard, let me conceive what my mind has never imagined. Lord, lead me, take me to the place that you have and are preparing for me".
Although I have yet to have any peace about where that is, I know God is moving, God is always moving, and as a follower of Christ, I have to constantly be ready for that place.
By the way, it snowed up here last Sunday, hard, that didn't really help in His leading.

I am gonna eat now...holla.

fix you

2008-04-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

So I was up the other night watching ABC's "Nightline", something that I try to not do often because each night I have this hope that I will get to bed before 10, which NEVER happens, and at the end of the show they did a story on this group of old people who sing in a traveling choir known as "young at heart". At first I was thinking, "O, that's so nice", but the more I got into the story, the more I was amazed, inspired, so much that by the end I wanted to scream, " Sign me up, please", but then I was like, "it would never work out, I'm 1/4 their age.
What took my emotions the most was Fred Knittle. This man, who had to be in his 80's, was sitting at the front of the stage with an oxygen tank to his side and tubes in his nose. The choir was off to his left, and I began to hear the melody to Coldplay's "Fix You"in the background. As he started to sing the opening line, my mouth dropped and my throat began to swell. I sat up in my bed in awe and amazement at what I was seeing. I had heard this song a hundred times, but when Fred Knittle was singing it, the song completely took life, every word. Just think, and 80 year old man, the fullness of human wisdom, and the words "I promise you, I will learn from my mistakes", flow effortlessly from his lips, and for me, it was spiritual. He defined humility.
I think if I was in the auditorium that night, and I heard him and the choir sing, no, live, I have to believe that I would have been so overwhelmed that I could not have moved.
I am reminded of when Christ say's, "I have come so that you may have life, and life to the fullest". In that moment, Fred Knittle was living life to the fullest. An 80 year old man, relying on oxygen, singing Coldplays, "fix you", was living life, yea, (nodding my head) he was living.

2008-02-06T11:41:00.000-08:00

So I met with a friend today, and he imparted on me some wisdom that brings much into perspective in my journey. I have always said I want to do great things for God. I believe that is true in all of us who seek the will of our Creator, but if I may speak candidly for myself, then I have to admit that when I make such a statement, I am only adding to the burden that I already carry. Wanting to do great things for God is noble, but does it cause us look deep into the future, forgetting about that things that we are doing now and the importance they carry in the Kingdom.
My friend said to me, not that he wanted to do great things for God, but that he wanted to do things for a Great God. Hearing this was freeing. In the moment that he said this to me, it took away expectations, responsibilities, and it didn't add to the burdens that I already have a hard time letting go of, but it took away, making my load lighter. I want to do things for a Great God, I am doing those things right now, and I CAN'T forget that.

We made the AJC

2008-02-04T13:14:00.000-08:00

We made it in the AJC while I was gone. Check it out here!

in the middle of something good...Guatemala

2008-02-04T11:36:00.000-08:00

Guatemala was indiscribable this year. What separates this year from every other year that I have gone is that I felt I had purpose. It was not that each year before was voided of any, but this year I made a connection, and I didn't want to leave.

This morning as I was getting ready for the day, I kept wanting to be there getting ready, taking a shower in the unclean water, eating eggs and toast again, driving through the downtown area, inhailing the polluted air, (lol) making our way to Saul's church. I wanted to see the kids again, arriving at 1pm excited to play, to grab our hands, to mess with our hair, to fold their arms around our necks, hanging on to us as if we would disappear into thin air.

I wanted to see Vicki again. What a beautiful child of Christ. She got on my nerves at the beginning of the week, but quickly she became a blessing to all of us. I cry just thinking about her.

I wanted to hang out with Alex, Daniel, and Alehandro again. I want to talk with them about their joys and their struggles. I want Alehandro to show me how to play another song on the violin.

I want to play soccer again, in a place that no American kid would dare play, full of gravel and dirt, no grass. As crazy as it may sound, I want to slip and fall on the rocks, scrape my knee, scream and yell at the pain, but walk away with joy. I want to yell goaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllll, and throw my shirt over my head.

I would want more Chicky's but Greg got me a whole years supply, so I am good.

The trip was amazing. I miss it.

We hiked Pacaya volcano, watched the sun fall from the sky, and hiked back down in the cool night. We roasted marshmellows on the lava and threw fireworks in it, laughing as they exploded. We saw a lava river break out of the side of the Volcano. On our way down the cone, we stopped and listened. It was one of the most intense moments I have ever been apart of, 7000 feet in the air, the city of Guatemala deep in the distance, lights beaming from the city lights, the sky full of stars new o us, lava flowing below us. Mike began to sing "Our God is an Awesome God" and we finished with a prayer, God had made himself known to us in that moment.

Gary, Hugo , and I made our way to the Pacific Coast on motorcycles the next day. We ate at this restaraunt on the canal, under a huge canopy. I had seafood soup and a steak with some crazy sauce, they had seafood salad. We rode over a 150 miles on that trip. On our way back, we went up the side of Augia, my motorcycle broke down. Hugo and I had to strap our belts together and tow the bikes all the way back to Antigua. It was AWESOME.

I attached some photos of the trip.

Really, all I have to say is that I felt safe there, in the middle of something so good, so sweet, and I think the only people who would understand would be those that were there with me. I want to be there, so bad, but I'm here now and that's good.

2008-01-25T20:16:00.000-08:00

I am in Guatemala...be back Superbowl Sunday!!!

2008-01-22T09:10:00.000-08:00

The week has already been crazy.

This morning we had an interview with the AJC concerning the TV show "All 4 One". It has been the longest interview so far. A lot of good questions though. Our last article was done in The Gwinnett Daily Post last Saturday. It was pretty cool spread by Chase, their staff writer. I can't wait to see how this one will turn out.

Gregg and our Executive Producer interviewed a couple of parents yesterday who have kids that could potentially be on the show. Many people have asked who the production company is that is filming "All 4 One", it is Horizon Entertainment. They filmed "Two a Days" for MTV, and ESPN's "Varsity Inc. You have to check out their site. We are going to have a "All 4 One" site very soon. I will let you know. I am excited about getting this project off the ground and getting the pilot done. It is going to be crazy.

I leave for Guatemala this Saturday morning. Our fearless leader Greg Morris is my hero. He has done such an awesome job putting this trip together. He has done this 3 times now for NorthView. This is my third time in Guatemala. We have been helping them build a church for the past few years. The strongest connection that we have is the relationship with the people that go to this church. The city of Guatemala is literally built on what was the city dump. Now the dump has been moved below the downtown housing area. Many people there work everyday in the dump, going through trash, looking for goods that can be sold for profit. Yea, it will make you think. There are beautiful people there who are the epitome of what it means to have faith.

I met with Mike Beaudreau yesterday to share with him the idea of a student church. He was amazed by it and gave me many more contacts that could potentially help. We talked for about two and a half hours. We had a lot in common. I never told him my grandfather was a commissioner, O well.

to live

2008-01-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

Hello world.

It's been to long.

My trip to Joplin was sweet. I landed into the small airport last Wednesday and Dan and I grabbed a bite to eat. We headed to the Bridge after lunch. Let me just say, I felt like a kid arriving to Disney World, it was the awesome. The Bridge is a machine influencing and effecting the lives of thousands of teens.

I have new found respect for Dan and his team that make the Bridge such a central piece to student cultural in Joplin MO. There is truly nothing like it, YET!

I would not know where to begin in describing to you everything that I learned in Joplin. If there is one piece of wisdom that I would share, it would definitely be "called". This is not something that you wake up one morning, roll out bed and say, "hmmm, I think I am going to build a 60,000 sq ft student center, or more fitting as Dan would put it, 'mall'" Yea, it doesn't work like that. This is a calling that you have to sold out to.

I am reminded what Steve Lee told me over lunch recently. He asked me if I was married. I said "no". He said "do you plan on getting married any time soon?" I said "no". He said, "good, because your about to marry this".

What is before me is impossible, but that is what makes it so great.

I have to get some business cards and website and if anyone has any ideas, bring it.

We start filming in February for "All 4 One". We might be the radio here soon and we will be in the Gwinnett Daily Post this Saturday and the AJC sometime in the next week.

I met with Joyce Ogletree today and shared with her the vision of this student place and she loves it. She is going to help connect me with Gwinnet County leaders. We had Mexican, it was awesome.

My birthday is tommorrow, yep, 28! I don't want to get older.

to live

you will soon.

2008-01-07T14:08:00.001-08:00

Back!

I had to move, took a few days.

I head to Joplin in two days to meet with Dan Mitchell of the Bridge. I can't wait to learn, to share, to be encouraged. One question that I keep asking myself, "is this possible", and I am reminded of what a friend of mine, Jeremy Maddox said, "no, it's not, but it is a way God will reveal Himself to you Keith".
I don't want to create a place that entertains students. I was never in to that. I sincerely want to do something that has never been done before. I don't want to copy, I want define. I want to create a place that inspires revolution. I want to create a place that communicates a message to parents about what it means to be a father or a mother to their child. I was outlining the other and this is what I cam up with,

"I see giving students a space that invokes creativity, whether painting on canvas, using clay to sculpt, or pencils to draw. Let’s say that we hold an art exhibit and the message hidden behind the exhibit is, “If you could subtly communicate something to your parents through art, how would you express it?” The doors open, mom and dad come in, they see their child’s work, and in some small way, something significant is communicated to the parents, something the parents realizes in bed that night or on the way to work the next day. Maybe the theme of the event would be called, “look”. What the parents wouldn’t know walking through the door is that their child’s art is a look into their need. We have just given teenagers a platform to express themselves through their passion and their creativity. More than that, we have just given this student generation a platform to open the door to their world, and they have given us permission to look inside. We are bridging generations together."

Can't you see it?

If you can't, you will soon

to live

warm day in Georgia...NOT!

2008-01-02T14:11:00.000-08:00

It's about 10 degrees outside and the fact that the sun is shining does not make any difference all.

Today has been pretty busy. I had a lunch meeting at Dreamland BBQ in Alpharetta GA. I met with Steve Lee and Dave Fingerlos. These guys get me so excited about the church and Jesus.

Steve is the founder of an organization called Catalyst Ad. They run capital campaigns and help start up businesses across the board. Their connected and huge blessing to me. Dave is the creative piece to Catalyst Ad. They make a pretty awesome team.

I talked with them about the student church idea and they were all over it. Steve is going to connect me with a group of people who are brilliant in creating and redeeming culture. Dave has offered to put together a blueprint of the coffee shop that will be a part of this student church.

The meeting with them today brought much clarity and will help put more structure to this project.

I am praying for location and my trip to Joplin next week to meet with Dan Mitchell of the Bridge. Please be in prayer with me as well.

The last few days have been slow. I continue to trust God in the pursuit of doing something that seems impossible. I look forward to my faith being rocked just a bit.

to live

forfeit my rights

2007-12-26T12:40:00.000-08:00

my nephew Hudson

I don't have my head phones, so I can't listen to my music as I write this...music puts me in the mood.

This coffee shop that I am in is filling up fast. I am in Albany Georgia, known as 'the good life city". I must admit, it is peaceful and incredibly convenient. The coffee shop is called Elements, and I must say, the coffee is good. Albany is a cool place, I couldn't live here though. My best friend lives here, my sister. She is married to one the greatest gifts she has ever been given, Steven. They have a son named Hudson. I love that kid. My parents and I are here for Christmas. Yesterday was relaxing; presents, spaghetti, and some home made chocolate chip cookies. I got a Garmin GPS for Christmas and a jacket. We head to Florida tomorrow, the beach, then I head home Sunday and look forward to Tuesday when sugar will fall from the sky, celebrating Georgia's victory over Hawaii.

I booked my ticket to Joplin MO. I can't wait to get there. I have been thinking a lot about how all this, the student church, will come together. It is scary to think about. I desire for it to be done right. I earnestly want and pray that it will be a Kingdom thing. Location is very important and understanding the needs of the student culture around me is of greater importance. I get nervous just thinking about it.

I was reading "The Shack" yesterday, a fiction novel written by William P. Young. Without getting to deep into the details of the book, the Holy Spirit, who is called Sarayu, is having a conversation with Mack, the main character in the book. Sarayu talks about the effects of our desire to be independent from God. She explains to him, "Declaring Independence will result in evil because apart from me, you can only draw upon yourself. That is death because you have separated yourself from me: Life". Sarayu goes on to talk about how Jesus gave up his "rights" [Independence], and "he willingly became a servant and lives out of his relationship to Papa [God]...so that by his dependent life [on God] he opened a door that would allow you to live free enough to give up your rights".

As I thought more about his, I began, and only began, to realize that as a follower of Christ, I gave my rights up. I constantly think about my rights...how that was my spot in line at the grocery store or in the parking lot, how I had to wait to long for them to refill my drink or bring out my food, or how I am owed appreciation for sacrifices I make. I get mad when the things that I feel are owed to me are trampled on, when people overlook or disregard me and my rights. But if I truly desire to know Christ and be light, then I give up those rights. I give them up, not so that people will take advantage of me, which might happen, but so that people would experience love and grace, when they expect a rude comment, a lousy tip, or regret. I give up my rights so that I will know Christ more.

I think about Paul when he writes in Philippians, I want to KNOW Christ. The Greek meaning for know is to know the other person intimately. To know Christ is to understand the life he lived out on earth and to understand that life is to live it. I think about the Psalmist when he writes, "Your love O' Lord, is better than life". It is realizing the assault on our life and how Satan longs for us to be separated from God's love. I resign my life, my rights, so that I may have life rooted in the love of My Lord, My King, My God. I want to know Christ, and to know Him is to feel the disregard of our rights but to walk away with joy when we respond differently.

I leave for the beach tomorrow. I can't wait, thanks mom and dad.

to live

100

2007-12-20T11:03:00.000-08:00

I just recently started reading this book. Although it is pretty raw, it paints a perfect picture of the makeup of student culture. If you are a parent, you ought to read. I definenlty believe that if you are working with students in any form, this book should be on your radar.

sight

2007-12-19T07:07:00.000-08:00

I have been working on another project that I think finally grew some wings yesterday. It is a project that went dormant over much of the fall, reality TV. How do I keep this short and sweet. I am hosting a reality TV show called "All 4 One",

The idea is simple. We are going to walk into the lives of disconnected teenagers, and with the intense movement of love in the life of the teen, we are going to show how their lives will be changed. Basically we are going to reveal to the world on a deep level the culture of teenagers and how to respect the world they have created. I have a trailer that I don't really know how to upload on here, otherwise I would, but the trailer is on my "myspace". Just click this word and you will go straight to it. The trailer gives a better description. We start casting and production in January and start filming in February. I am going to Guatemala the last week in January through the first week in February and won't be able to do much until then. I confirmed yesterday my trip to Joplin MO in January. I am pretty excited about going up to the Bridge and learning what they are doing. It will get me one step closer to the student church here in North Gwinnett. I have tons of questions. Mike McGuire will more than likely be able to go with me.

I had small group last night with Steven, Kyle, Derrick, Will, Brooks, and Jmart. We had a good time. I cooked Chili for them. We are going to Helen this Saturday to do what ever it is that you do there. I am looking forward to the FUDGE.

I hung out with the Windoms last night, a community family, literally. Their gift is hospitality and their not afraid to let it blaze. I have the awesome privilege of knowing them and getting to spend time with their son Casey. He is a gifted kid who I believe sees into the heart and beyond the appearance of every being. Casey has the ability to be revolutionary. I can only imagine what he will do for the Kingdom one day.

By the way...go see "I am Legend", one comment, GRAB YOUR SEAT. And "Batman" is coming in the Summer of 2008. It looks sick.

I leave you with this. The blind man said..."Whether he [Jesus] is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see".

to live

2007-12-17T11:36:00.000-08:00

I know you probably can't read what I have, click on it, it will get bigger. This is what I envision the student church to look like...it's the closest thing I have to a blue-print right now, so don't laugh

The Weekend...

2007-12-17T10:03:00.000-08:00

This weekend was insane.

Friday Mill Creek HS played Duluth in basketball and we pretty much owned the night. For those of you that don't know, I work with the basketball team. There are two of us. They call us "Inspirationalists". I guess it is a politically correct way of saying that I am a chaplain for the team. We talk about leadership skills and such. I love doing it.

This is my second year working with both basketball and football. Phil Bollier is the Varsity Basketball Coach and Shannon Jarvis is the Varsity Football coach. I love these guys and I believe deeply in what they are doing with the athletes at Mill Creek, along with Andy Dyer. These men are in the trenches everyday for the Kingdom. They are truly hero's of the faith and I am honored to know them.

After the game, I got to hook up with Brian Sellers and family for some wings at Taco Mac in Suwannee. I love being around them. It was an awesome night. The Sellers Family have been a gift to me for much of my life.

Saturday I went to watch rec. basketball, then to Mill Creek HS for "A taste of Mill Creek", the event where local restaurants come in and give samples of their food. Holy Smokes BBQ will definitely make you slap your momma, it it's so good. Then I hooked up with my folks and went Christmas shopping. I love my mom and my dad. I must say, Santa will be good to me this Christmas. I spoke Saturday night at "SNL", Saturday Night Life, in Braselton. I finished up a series I was doing on Christmas...bet you couldn't guess that. It was awesome being able to speak to these high school students. A lot of them were from NorthView.

Sunday after church, I attempted to play some basketball. Lets just put it this way, I was the guy that got picked last. I love playing though. I was on team Bollier...that would be myself, Phil, John, Travis, and Drew Bollier. We dominated.

Last night a student came over to the house, it was unexpected. Never in a million years would I have ever imagined this kid wanting any kind of help. He is extremely intelligent and will most definitely succeed in what ever he does. He comes from a very gifted family. He came into the house, sat down, and the first words that came out of his mouth were, "Keith, I've come here because I want you to help me get back to God." I won't get into the details of the conversation, but we both agreed that it would be a journey. We talked about grace and the refreshing that comes from grace. By the end of the night, he renewed his relationship with Christ, he made a mark in his life, a mark that I believe he won't forget.

So this week is stacking up quickly. A lot of meetings with students and a couple of small group gatherings. I will begin filling out the application for 501c3 and tax exemption forms. I want to try to have them done by the new year and on there way to being processed. I hope to start writing grants and begin fundraising as soon as I can. Land around here is not cheap. I asked about a place last week and they wanted $450,000 for an acre...LOL. I am not worried at all. I believe in the vision that God has given me. I find myself wondering where I will be in a year from now. I believe in students and their ability to influence on a large scale, and I believe in a place that invokes and inspires them.
I plan to go to the Bridge in Joplin the second week of January and Fort Wayne IN soon after that to meet with the leaders of Youth For Christ.

Please be in prayer for me, for location, and for a name for this Student Church/YMCA on steroids.

Also, please keep reading and and responding. I ain't gonna lie, encouragement is good for my soul.

to live