Ben did a great job on this one. Read it here.
Archive for September, 2008
Last weekend, when Buckhead was getting ready to baptize, the sound on the video for Simon Shirley’s testimony would not work. Jeff Henderson, campus pastor, and I went to UGA together and used to do weekend missions to different churches together. He was a master in this clip! Sometimes, God just shows us that we need some simple spontaneity. Beautiful!! Wipe your tears now…………
Many times, believers do not understand what it means for their personal lives and the Kingdom, for them to adopt a generous giving spirit in their lives, financially. What we’re really saying is, start giving a % of your income to your local church! Watch what happens! It’s required by God for blessing in Malachi 3. If you were to ask me how you should start the journey of pleasing God and what you should do first, this would be really high on the list of one of the things you need to begin doing immediately to find yourself in obedience. I learned this principle when I was a teenager and my life has been blessed! Yours can be too! Start today, especially our crew at Origin Church; it will take us all to make our launch happen! Enjoy a few great pieces on this subject.
Videos (Go here on youtube and watch/listen to Andy Stanley’s 6 part series on this subject; you can find parts 2-6 down on the right-hand column under related videos; it will change your life!)
It is no secret that our world is in challenge, our nation’s economy is in limbo, and our uncertainty continues in this life. We really have two volitional choices today: Choose to worry or choose to replace worry with the many things we all have to be thankful for. Having money or the lack of money does not define a person, contrary to the world’s definition! It is a compartment of life that we USE to function, just like gasoline or groceries or highways.
Unfortunately, the “system” has used it as a guage to define if you are successful or not. Don’t believe that! It is not a guage; Not in God’s economy! It is easy to believe the media reports because they do a good job dictating how people feel, but I would encourage you to turn off the TV, get a good Bible to study that you can understand, and find comfort, peace, rest, and assurance during turbulent times. Jesus had much to say about money! If you goal at retirement is being able to pay cash for a large home on the intracoastal waterway and being able to pay cash for a nice Mercedes every few years thrown in with a Colarodo vacation, then I can assure you, you are not living this life fulfilled. It is always a hollow win, especially, if Jesus Christ is not involved in your life. Nothing wrong with any of the above goals, it’s just that if you do it all without Jeusus and die, what have you gained? Ask around.
Recommendations: You must read Mark Batterson’s new book, “Wild Goose Chase” and go see the new movie that premieres today, “Fireproof.” Life-changers!
Doesn’t get much more beautiful than this about sundown, eating seafood in downtown Chattanooga! You guys need to move on up and over to this part of the country…launch a church with us…retire here…relax here…name it.
This is a great picture of my good friend, John Buckner and his band, The Buckner Brothers, playing at the fabulous Blues Train Cafe in Dalton, GA. John has played with some of the most talented and gifted musicians around the nation. Matter of fact, he is one of those talented and gifted musicians! He’s amazing! John will be our music production team leader here at Origin Church. He will be building a depth chart of some of the great musicians available in our area of all genres and instrument style. John will also be scheduling these guys to stack a band each week at Origin Church, which, as you might observe, will equal quality and excellence in the music arena. Wow! Thanks John for your vision! You gotta hear John! Coming soon…..stay tuned! He can do it all!
p.s. The late Randy Stennett was one of John’s good friends and known as one of the best musicians around this part of the country. John carries a picture of Randy with him. Randy’s widow, Lorie Stennett, who is a great gal, is on our launch team. A small world!
Come fall of every year, the Southern tradition of grilling out, hanging out, and going on out to the old ballgame comes around. Lots of great memories at our old school, UGA! Come on over to Athens this weekend and enjoy some good downhome tailgaitin’ with us. We’ll be there; all invited!
It takes a lot of funding to launch a new church! Many times we don’t realize ALL that it really does take to do it right and really, at a minimum. It’s worth it though. If you can help us in these areas, we are on a quest to raise this funding by the end of December so that we can still have time to purchase equipment before we launch on February 1, 2009. Thanks in advance!
- Computers & Trailers $20,000
- Advertising $15,000
- Children’s Ministries $5,000
- Children’s Bldg. Rental $10,800
- Office Rent $10,800
- Utilities $700
- Office Equipment & Supplies $4,500
- Misc. $1,000
- Adult Worship Bldg. Rent $4,000
- Programming $1,000
- Postage $1,100
- Bands & Audio/Visual Equip. $25,700
- Insurance $2,000
- Hospitality $2,000
- Communications $2,000
- Ministry to Community $10,000
TOTAL $115,600
I graduated from The University of Georgia in 1988 and my mom asked me where I thought I would go to church. I didn’t know. She told me about First Baptist Woodstock and the article she had read about the explosive growth it was having in an old part of downtown Woodstock. For the most part, I didn’t want much to do with dead orthodoxy and felt like, from the distance, (without knowing of course) that another First Baptist Church was just that. I went anyway, and my story began to be written.
When I heard Johnny Hunt, I knew I must get to know him. 
I followed him around everywhere he preached. I met him in other cities just to be around him. My dad would let me use his frequent flyer miles to fly places with Johnny. We developed a unique and unusual comraderie that has affected my family intensely. He’s been a huge influence in my life!
It was in a Wednesday night service in his church that my wife Kim prayed and told God that she would give up her life, if her daddy would come to know the Lord. It was a very emotional night. It was in my first church, Mount Rachel Baptist Church, in Dalton, GA, on a Sunday night, 
that Jody Ridley would give his life to Jesus Christ. I remember baptizing him and him saying to me; “I’ve waited 20 years for this day.” Wow!
I got to spend these last two weeks with Johnny, once again, at his Timonthy Barnabus pastor’s school in Gatlinburg and Atlanta. He’s still fun to be around, worth being around, and awesome at doing what God has called him to do. He’s the real deal! He loves people authentically. His life’s success is not about his ministry but about WHO he is down on the inside, and HOW he lives his personal life.
To me, if his ministry declines tomorrow or skyrockets next week; it has absolutely nothing to do with WHO the man, the Christian, the father, the husband, the influence, 
and the friend Johnny Hunt is and has been to millions around the world, including me! If it were possible to one day dissect Johnny’s heart, I believe you would find as you peer through the microscope, the words, AUTHENTIC.
Johnny, thank you! I love you!
