Now & Then

It is so easy for God’s people to drift from God’s ideal. As a church, are we in danger of drifting away from what God desires us to be? Every now and then, it is important that we remind ourselves that our standard can only be God’s Word. We must be a church that pleases Jesus according to his standard …

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Driveway

I resealed my driveway yesterday. Before: After: Today, I am tired, but I do love closure.

Town Hall for Hope: Real Time Blog

6:34 PM TravisAgnew – 30 minutes before Town Hall for Hope. People were outside our doors waiting before 7:00. If you can’t come, I will be blogging some thoughts in real time to follow the event. 6:47 PM TravisAgnew – 6:56 PM TravisAgnew – I love Craig Groeschel. He’s the real deal. 7:01 PM TravisAgnew – Sigh…it’s working…now it’s time …

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Bailout #3 (Are You a Broke College Student?)

Our college group at my church was traveling to invest in some children at a missions project during the summer, and I was driving one of the vans full of students.  I had just finished reading Dave Ramsey’s, The Total Money Makeover, and I was befuddled at some of the stats I read.  I polled those riding on the van …

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Potential Leaders (May is Me & My Shadow Month)

One of the greatest needs for leaders is to identify and equip potential leaders.  Every congregation is comprised of potential leaders eager to serve.  If a leader can maintain a view of the long term success of the church versus a daily task mentality, that leader will intentionally develop potential leaders in the congregation. After discovering these potential leaders, we …

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Bad Church Sign of the Week: Do We Really Care

This week’s bad church sign states: “DO WE REALLY CARE” Ummm…I don’t know, why don’t you tell me? What do you think they are talking about?  Come up with your best thought and post it here.

Final Exam

That’s right.  I gave the final exam today for my RELI 101 students.  It’s been a good semester, but I am also thankful for a break.  After I grade these exams, I am entering in the grades, and…probably getting busy with something else.

Your Money. Your Job. Your Marriage.

While your money, your job, and your marriage should be a source of stability and comfort, oftentimes those three areas can cause more stress than anything else in life.  We understand that.  That’s why North Side is holding three events within the next month to help you out in those three specific areas.  Go to our website for more info or evite …

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Bailout #2 (Stop Spending Money You Don’t Have)

A few weeks ago, I did a post on the bailout and realized I had more to say about the current situation of the America economy, so here goes: Previously, I mentioned that America is in trouble because of our greed.  Due to our greed, most consumers have learned to spend money that they do not have. Since the college …

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Eternity from GRACE

The gospel begins with God, but we messed it up through Rebellion. Our sinful ways separate us from God, and there must be a way back to God. Through Jesus’ death, he provided Atonement for our sins and gives us the chance to be forgiven. Once someone experiences Conversion, that person can have hope in Eternity. Today, we looked at …

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Jesus is My Friend Video (Is This Legit?)

I stumbled upon this video last week.  I can’t tell if it is serious or a joke.  I would love to hear your feedback on its a) intention, and b) your favorite moment. What’s your opinion?  Is this video legit or a joke?  And what’s your favorite moment?

The Greatest Need for Leaders

Due to the reading on leadership and time of self-reflection, I have identified some areas in which I need to change concerning my own leadership skills. First, I must constantly develop my own personal relationship with Jesus.  In order for me to leave a legacy to my family and my congregation, I need to ensure that my personal relationship with …

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Dave Ramsey is Coming to North Side

I am so excited to tell you about this event.  If you are like the most of America, the economy is overwhelming you.  North Side is going to help provide Greenwood with some practical help through a simulcast with money guru, Dave Ramsey.  There will be no childcare.  There is no cost.  You just need to show up next Thursday …

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Fusion Tonight: Going Ol’ Skool

Tonight, Fusion is wrapping up for this semester with a special worship service at the Greenwood Community Theatre at 7:30.  Jamie, Cory, and myself will be leading a night of worship/concert of sorts. I am going to preach with my bass guitar.  I am actually going to have a message about the change that happened in me in college, but …

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Easter Celebration – Conversion of GRACE

Yesterday was amazing. We had more people at North Side than ever before. More people came into a saving relationship with Jesus.  During this GRACE series, so many people have found peace with God. Our volunteer teams stepped it up yesterday and knocked it out of the park from the parking lot to the pulpit. Our God shone bright as …

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By His Wounds (Isaiah 53)

Isaiah 53 1 Who believes what we’ve heard and seen? Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this? 2-6The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a …

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Flying Fleet

Yesterday, OG and I went to the metropolis of Due West, SC to speak in the chapel at Erskine College. Paul Patrick, chaplain, does a fantastic job leading students on that campus.  I spoke on purity (any step away from God will always be too far).  The majority of the content was chapter 5 of Freshman 15. Some times I …

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Bad Church Sign of the Week: You Won’t Be Too Busy to Die

This week’s bad church sign states: “YOU WON’T BE TOO BUSY TO DIE.” While this church is trying to coax passerbys into coming to church now, I don’t know if this is the right message to send.  I agree with this church that church attendance is helpful to one’s spiritual well-being.  If people think they are too busy to come …

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Parent Survey – We Need Your Input!

North Siders, I have received a bunch of surveys coming in from C-Groups and Sunday School classes, but if you haven’t had a chance to take the parent survey yet, you can take it here. This survey is for parents and will help North Side figure out how to further equip families in Greenwood.  So go ahead and take it.  …

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Have You Experienced Any Progress in YOU?

Due to the topic of leadership being such a discussed issue, it is easy to neglect the process of personal development.  Since I desire to have a meaningful ministry and an effective presence for Jesus in this world, then I must commit myself to continual development.  Since Jesus continues to work on me in this life (Phil 1:6), I must …

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Submerge Deadline Approaching Quickly!

Submerge signup deadline is approaching quickly! CHURCH LEADERS: You need to register the number of students going with you with the Lakelands Association office by Thursday, April 9th! You can contact them at 864.227.6261. STUDENTS: You need to talk to your youth leader and make sure you are on the list to go. Don’t miss out on what promises to …

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Atonement of Grace

a·tone·ment (ə-tōn’mənt)  Pronunciation Key n. Amends or reparation made for an injury or wrong; expiation. Reconciliation or an instance of reconciliation between God and humans. Atonement Christianity The reconciliation of God and humans brought about by the redemptive life and death of Jesus. Obsolete Reconciliation; concord. The gospel begins with God, but we messed it up through Rebellion. Our sinful …

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Midweek Starts this Wednesday!

In 1 Peter 3:12 we are told, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.” What a wonderful privilege we have to be able to obtain the attention of our Savior! Prayer is a special component to the walk of any believer because it not only allows you to grow …

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Freshman 15 Cover

Here is Cory’s design for the Freshman 15 cover. He took this picture and did all the fancy stuff to make it look like this. I think it looks pretty stellar myself.  He’s so stinking talented!  What do you think about it? I am currently finishing some editing. I am waiting to receive the proofed version of the last few …

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Bad Church Sign of the Week: Awakening the Goddess

This week’s bad church sign states: “ALL ARE WELCOME WOMENS GROUP AWAKENING THE GODDESS.” If it is a women’s group, are all truly welcome?  Can men come to this women’s group? Which goddess needs to be awoken? I am kind of frightened to understand what type of church is on up this road.  Many people have stopped focusing on the …

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Maximum Impact Simulcast Coming to North Side

The Maximum Impact Simulcast is coming LIVE via satellite to North Side on May 8, 2009. You will have a rare opportunity to leverage the collective mind share of 10 great leaders of our time. These renowned speakers will place you in the craftsman’s workshop, hearing wisdom and experiences from the world’s best. The 2009 speaker lineup includes Tony Blair, …

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Rebellion from GRACE

Today was the second week in our GRACE series. To help us understand the gospel, we are using the acrostic “GRACE:” God, Rebellion, Atonement, Conversion, and Eternity. The gospel begins with God, but we messed it up through Rebellion. Our sinful ways separate us from God, and there must be a way back to God. We worshiped to: Here I …

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Are You Too Prideful to Delegate?

I have many weaknesses.  When you are put in a position of leadership, your weaknesses become on display for all to see.  As a leader, one of my greatest weaknesses is my inability to delegate. While people who struggle with delegating normally say that they were too busy or didn’t want to bother someone, that’s not the heart of if …

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Freshman 15 Cover Arrived in the Mail

As I am making some more adjustments on my first book, Freshman 15, I am pleased to announce that my cover came in the mail yesterday. Funny story: Cory and I found a picture on a stock photo place that we loved, but we then discovered to use that photo on a published book would cost over $100. Target had …

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Korean Drummer Takes the Show

Jamie showed me this video yesterday and it changed my life.  Never before have I seen a drummer add so much to the live performance.  Watch how this guy completely changes the way you feel about the song.  I am really expecting great things from Jamie this Sunday.

Bad Church Sign of the Week: 4 Mile

This week’s bad church sign of the week is due to inconsistent communication. The sign reads: “Four Mile Baptist Church: 2 Miles” I don’t know why this church is called Four Mile, but it is only 2 miles away.  The communication is very confusing.  Is this like the narrow road and there is a riddle to figure out to find …

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True Love Waits: The Isothermal Edition

Last night I was honored to speak at Isothermal Community College in Shelby, NC.  Over 25 churches worked together to do a community True Love Waits rally and rented out the beautiful facilities at the Foundation.  I was blown away to see how these churches of the same community worked together to reach their students. The worship band from Element …

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God of GRACE

Today we started a new series at North Side called “GRACE.” To help us understand the gospel, for the next few weeks, we will use the acrostic “GRACE:” God, Rebellion, Atonement, Conversion, and Eternity. The gospel begins with God. In fact, it is accurate to say that everything in life begins with God.  Jeff’s message was so powerful: anytime you …

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New Song Sunday: High and Lifted Up

This Sunday, we will be doing a new song for our congregation that I am very excited about.  The song is from Hillsong entitled “High and Lifted Up.” The first time I heard this song was last year riding on my lawn mower listening to my iPod.  I almost had to pull the lawn mower over and park it because …

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Your Leadership Circle

In John Maxwell’s book, entitled Developing the Leaders Around You, he focused on the intentional development of other potential leaders.  In one lesson, Maxwell stated, “The greatest leadership principle I have ever learned in over twenty-five years of leadership is that those closest to the leader will determine the success level of that leader.” While I truly believe that previous …

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Fusion is Going Green

Just a reminder that tonight is Fusion!  Fusion is officially going green.  Whoever wears the most green on this St. Patty’s Day will get a $25 gas card. My green clothing today is a name tag I put together quickly in order to miss being pinched at staff meeting. For any college students, 20-somethings, or just interested people, we will …

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The Messiah Tension

Yesterday, we concluded the Crossroads series with a message entitled, “The Messiah Tension.”  Many people are confused really if Jesus meets the qualifications of the long-awaited Messiah.  I talked about three major objections to Jesus in my message before getting to the real objection. The real objection to following Jesus for many people is they simply don’t want to follow …

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