Some exciting news a couple of weeks ago was released at 12 Stone Church. They are going to open a Flowery Branch Campus. I am pretty stoked about this! This is an exciting time at 12 Stone. There are so many wonderful things going on here.
So, just a break from my normal Crown news and financial stuff to this awesome news taking place at my home church.
By the way, the Cliche series is rocking! Literally, and you know what I mean if you were there last Sunday. You never know what you are going to get when you show up to a service. For those who are not familiar, 12 Stone is doing a series on cliches we use in our Christian walk and they have partnered with Crown Financial Ministries for this awesome series. If you are available, come check out the final two Sundays in the series. You will love it.
Well, one of the perks of coming to my blog is from time to time you will get to hear about stuff possibly before anyone else. This is one of those times. Well, at least a few hours early.
One of the most exciting things I have been apart of while at Crown and really in my whole professional career has been the God Provides short film series. Tomorrow we will be launching the companion website to go along with the teaching component of the film series. This is one of the projects I have been “managing” for the past couple of months, but the real heroes are the awesome web/creative guys at Crown. (Thanks, guys!) The website is the first step in our promotions plan for the film series. There will be more exciting things to follow. You will want to keep up to date through the new website.
I could go on and on about the films, but I would rather let you see for yourself. Words can not express the power within these films. Please visit the new site HERE.
You can see the trailer for the films in HD on the website, but of course I want to personally share the official trailer with you here on my blog, but promise me you will visit the site, too. After you view the site and the trailer please comment you thoughts below. Also, please feel free to share the website address and the trailer with your family, friends and on facebook or twitter. All of the links to do this are located on the website.
Ok, I will be the first to admit I did not vote for him, I do not agree with about 90% of the things he stands for and on a personal level I don’t care too much for him. But, as I was sitting pondering some things about the economy, politics and life this morning, it hit me, “What have I done to make things better?” I have complained, I have voted, I have voiced my opinion, I have listened to other people’s opinions. I thought well God why haven’t you moved in this situation or why haven’t we even heard you mentioned in anything as being the solution or that we need you involved.
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was like that still small voice we hear ever so often…”You haven’t asked me too.” eesh… Ok, so publicly, I confess and admit, I have not been praying for our president, my president. Again, I don’t agree with him or even care too much for him, but I am called by God to love and pray for him:
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 (The Message)
So, I have taken time this morning to pray for him and the other leaders in our country and around the world. Now, more than ever, we need to be interceding for them. Things are being decided and put into motion that will have a ripple effect from now on and will effect billions and billions of people.
Whether you like him or not, or whether you voted for him or not, I challenge you to take some time today or this week or when ever you read this blog post, and pray for President Obama and the leadership of this country and other countries around the world. God is still in control not matter who is president of this country or any other country in the world and that will never change. Our task it lifting them up before God that they will make the right decisions, not just for the country but for God’s Kingdom. We have to take off our blinders that it is about our individual happiness and remember it is about furthering God’s Kingdom.
I did not post this out here to say hey look at what I am doing, but more as a confession of what I have not been doing.
Chuck did a great podcast on Friday in follow up to some of the stuff going on in the economy and the “economic earthquake” we have been experiencing. Some great insights in there.
Here are some great quotes from the podcast:
We are in a sugar high economy.
The government’s bailout plan will make things better for a season, and create an economic calm, but in putting this massive infusion of money into the economy, we’re spending money we don’t have.
When you’ve borrowed too much, you can’t solve the problem by borrowing more. All the borrowed money also will cause inflation down the road, maybe hyperinflation.
Since I am in the process of selling my house and buying another one (that is a whole other blog – a long one at that – for another time). I am always watching the mortgage rates and looking for the best one and watching the news for any current issues with the housing market. There is a lot of good stuff out there. I stumbled across this article on the Crown website – I know, I know I work there, but I can’t keep up with everything. It really has some good points in it. Check it out. Here an excerpt below:
An Article from Crown Financial Ministries, by Dale Vermillion, called Rate is not the # 1 consideration in a mortgage loan.
During the week of January 9th, mortgage rates hit the lowest level recorded since the Mortgage Bankers Association survey began in 1990 (4.98%). And although interest rates have increased about one-half percent since then, there are still great rates available on mortgage loans today (see www.bankrate.com for the latest rates). In these times of economic uncertainty, this is great news if you are a homeowner who is thinking of refinancing. However, let me tell you something that you may have never been told before – the interest rate is NOT the most important consideration on a mortgage loan!
Here is a great article from Runner’s World. about improving your running abilities.
Almost everyone who runs wants to get better. Indeed, in a recent survey on runnersworld.com, 89 percent of respondents hoped to take their running up a notch in 2009. Whether you want to dial up your mileage, pick up the pace to make yourself a stronger runner, qualify for the Boston Marathon, or use training tools to better focus your efforts, achieving your goal doesn’t have to be complicated, say running coaches from around the country. Here are five common goals and simple ways to make a change for the best.
I have found one of the best things for me, that helped me challenge myself more and improve was a little tool for my Ipod called Nike+. This thing rocks! It tracks your distance, pace and calories burned and it keeps a running list of your best times and total runs on your own personal website within the Nike+ site.
Well, I did what I said I would not do…I neglected the blog. I am goign to try to be more intentional in tryign to get new and relevant stuff on here. We are doing a lot of exciting stuff with the short films that I have talked about many times, and I will be sharing more from those very soon.
In the mean time, here is a very thought provoking video…
Hey everyone…it is kind of tough out there right now, huh? I think everyone is feeling the pinch of the economy right now.
Just a bit of news to help you navigate these rough times, Crown Financial Ministries has set up a new website design to provide ”Help, Hope and Insight” into what is going on for you personally and in the economy nationwide.
I can tell there is a huge interest in what was proclaimed as the “the Coming Economic Earthquake” just by the hits to my blog. There is and will be more info about that on the Help, Hope & Insight website.
Check it out…HHI Website and be sure to check out the blog as well…HHI Blog
Also, I am just curious. What is most conerning you in this economy? Please take the poll below:
The article gives statistics showing that for the first time since 1990, Americans are starting to save again. Before then, Americans had been saving an average of 9 percent of their income. In the 1990s, the percentage began to decrease, and it has been less than 1 percent for the last 3 years. We have relied on easy credit instead of saving for needs.
With the turmoil in our present economy, easy credit has become a thing of the past. This is causing Americans to begin to spend less and save more. The article presented the idea that this is a bad thing, that without the continued spending of our consumerist society, the troubled economy would only worsen.
We know from the Bible that saving money is a good thing. Proverbs 6:6-8; “Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.” God teaches us the biblical principle of not spending everything we have, but saving for future needs.
For those who have been following this biblical principle, these uncertain economic times may feel a little less frightening. It is a comfort to know that money is put aside for emergencies such as a broken appliance, a car repair, or medical bills.
In a planning meeting for #reun09 with Tracey, Gabi and Elaine, scary huh? I feel like we just finished one event last week, oh wait, we did 2 days ago
Working on #reun09 stuff, lots to do in 2 weeks,but it will be EPIC! I am diggin the new time change,I feel more productive in the mornings. 4 days ago
Posted by JT 
Posted by JT 
Posted by JT 
