Sticky or not?

We kicked off "Sticky by Design" today and had really great start. We started the conversation about the difference between the stuff that sticks and the stuff that doesn't. Listen HERE. The opener was a little game show with "sticky" prizes (including sticky fingers sauces) if the contestant could guess the "stick in your head" song, artist, and decade. The band killed it with tunes from:

• Topgun theme
  
• Survivor "Eye of the tiger"
  
• Nirvana "Smells like teen spirit"
  
• Hanson (yes, that's right...mmmbop!)
• Lynard Skynard "Sweet Home Alabama"

It was a very entertaining and memorable day. Rusty did an amazing job with some of the creative elements. Here are a few pics and the title package. The stage backdrop is made entirely of "Sticky Notes."

Sticky by Design

Some advertisements or slogans stick in our minds while others don't. Some commercials are memorable while others are quickly forgotten. Some marriages seem to stick while others don't. So what is the secret to stuff that sticks?

This three part series, "Sticky by Design" will discuss several principles that you will find not only in organizations and products that have become "sticky" but also in homes and marriages that stick. And this series is going to be very, very memorable. We have a ton of helpful, fun and funny stuff in store.

Our national Motto? (video & pics)

Do you know what our national motto is? I'll give you a hint but you'll have to go HERE to get the full scoop. Here is the hint: The new motto was officially adopted in 1956 under Eisenhower. You might be surprised. That's all you get!

God and Country
We kicked off an awesome series called "God and Country" on Sunday. Part one was outstanding. I can't wait for this Sunday. Here are a few pics and a "few seconds" of footage from a camera phone at the production table. I love being part of Ridge Church. You will too!

Unconventional entry

The way Zach found our church is pretty funny. He followed a girl he was interested in and dating to an event we do at Ridge Church called "group link." It definitely isn't designed as a great entry point for first time guests but somehow it worked for him. God providentially placed him with a really awesome group of single men that were authentically and honestly pursuing Jesus. He was able to ask tons of questions and along the way he placed his trust in Jesus. A month or two into group he actually attended a worship service for the first time! His life is radically different now! Oh yeah...he isn't even dating the girl any more but I've heard him say that God used her to get him into that group where his life was changed. Awesome! I love this stuff.

Faith with feet?

On Location: Road Trip
For most people that are either attending church or have sometime along the way become followers of Jesus they can trace the origins of their current status back to someone in their workplace or school that found a way to introduce faith into the workplace. They cared or listened at the right time or they lived with such integrity that people began to ask why? But at some point their faith had to actually have feet! As we wrapped up our series "On Location" we talked about this idea that the workplace (or school) may be the most difficult place to introduce faith but it is perhaps the most important! Check out these two incredible videos that tell one amazing success story. I pray this will happen all across the amazing city of Charlotte!!...and I believe it will.

Faith with Feet!

The rest of the story:

I told you so!

Without a doubt this past Sunday was one of the best days yet in the life of this young church. It was pretty electric and it was powerful! People cheered and celebrated as they heard life change stories. I'll post a video each day until they are all up. AND...for all of you that that have asked or were wondering--YES we did those baptisms live in the building! They were not pre-recorded. They were happening as you were seeing them. Pretty awesome day. If you missed it I must say "I told you so:-)"

You can listen to the message HERE.

A question you must answer

I read through the sermon on the mount this week (Matthew 5-7) and there are so many valuable and often challenging nuggets in there. When I got to Matthew 6:19 I sort of stalled and couldn't get it out of my head. I wrote this question down in my journal and I believe it is a question you and I must answer: "What am I doing (investing my time and $ in) that will outlast me?"

If we are in fact part of a larger story where we are not the main character (I fully believe and Scripture teaches that is the case) then we simply must wrestle with and be bothered by this question.

On Location: Road Trip (part four)
**I'm making a prediction: This Sunday will be one of the best services we've ever experienced at Ridge Church. You can just hear about it later or experience it first hand. I hope you will choose the latter. See you Sunday.**