Retreating

Today we leave for the Boyce Leadership Retreat! It will be a great time to reconnect with everyone! We will be going to some place in Indiana and will be preparing for new student orientation. To be honest, I don't know if I am ready. I am not in school mode yet. I still want to just have fun and enjoy the rest of my summer. So, pray that I get focused! I am excited, don't get me wrong! More than anything, I don't feel ready for another heavy academic work load. I think I am ready to be done and get to sink my teeth into ministry. In time, I suppose! Anyways, I hope to post again when we return on Wednesday evening!

Baugh Wedding

I had the privilege of shooting my friends wedding on Saturday! Emily and Brandon are good friends and the opportunity to shoot their wedding was an honor! The wedding took place Bullitt Lick Baptist Church and the reception in a little place in downtown shepherdsville! Here are some of my favorite images.

Some laughs before the ceremony.

The look of anticipation!
What a gaze!

A look down the isle.
Overhead View

Flower Girl & Ring Bearer

A stroll down the tracks

The Decor!

Witnessing the marriage license

Some love after the ceremony!

Stevie Flockhart

Just a note... Any of you who love good music, you need to check out Stevie Flockhart's website! I met Stevie this summer and was able to hear him lead worship and he is awesome! He just got finished recording a CD which will be out in August! You can listen to some of it here. I've been listening to it while I piece my room together and its amazing! Keep it up Stevie!

Thoughts

1. I am excited to be back in the Ville, but sad to have left everyone in Atlanta.

2. My room is a little small but with a little thought I can make it work.

3. My room feels like a Freezer, but its a nice change after not having AC all summer.

4. I LOVE having the internet in my room instead of having to go to the coffee shop every time
I want to use it.

5. I am excited about shooting my friends wedding today!

6. When I got up today I read Psalm 145 and it flat encouraged me! Why do I constantly doubt
Him?

7. Unsweetened Coffee is gross!

Moving On

Today I must say goodbye to Atlanta and Freedom Church as the summer comes to a close! I can't believe its already over. It seems like I just got here! I never anticipated all that I would learn and was admittedly a little apprehensive about the whole thing seeing as they are still in the beginning stages, or so it seemed. In the beginning, I wondered if I had made the right decision when deciding to come to Atlanta instead of going back to Venezuela but now I can't imagine having missed this amazing opportunity! Thank you J.R., Todd, Mark, and Jon for letting me be a part of what God is doing through Freedom Church, as well as and ask a million and one questions about everything! You guys are awesome and I can't wait to see all that the Lord is going to do through you! Acworth won't know what hit them! We will keep in touch, know that I am praying for you all!

Kids Shoot

Yesterday, after my last day at the office, I had the privilege shooting some images of J.R. and Todd's kids. Taking pictures of children is an art for sure. Candid shots seem to work the best many times, especially when the kids don't want to cooperate, as was the cases with London this go round. I was able to get some good ones though. I am really going to miss these kids that's for sure!

A little brotherly love!

Can you tell that Lexi likes the camera? There was no coaching for any of these pics by the way!

Since London didn't seem to want to take pictures yesterday I thought I would include a a past picture I had taken.

Loving People

At times, it can be difficult to know how to effectively love someone. A situation came up late last night that challenged/reminded me of this and I was again brought back to the question of how to love someone effectively yet not condone there actions! Sometimes loving them means a good rebuke, at other times it means just being there for them in a difficult time. Sometimes I have trouble knowing when to do which. In the past I have been accused of being judgmental, and in some instances I was. At other times, however, a kick in the pants was needed and I have no regrets. Wisdom is needed in either case I suppose. To love as He loved is the goal. I pray for wisdom to know how to do this effectively.

Days Past

The weekend finished pretty well! Sunday morning we attended NorthStar Church in Kennesaw where the Lead Pastor, Mike Linch, kindly introduced our team! It was a good service! I think, for this area, they are the church that will be most like what we will be like. And, as I have mentioned previously, they are an extremely helpful and giving church. They donated all our office furniture and have also offered to help in many other ways. They are also one of the few churches in the area that are effectively reaching the community, they always have there hands in some sort of community event. They are not creating there own community events but participating in the events are are already exist in Kennesaw. This is what Freedom Church desires to do in Acworth.
The Last week in the office has gone well so far! I continue to be challenged each day by new things and ideas. It has truly been a great summer!

Water Works

Yesterday J.R., Mark, Todd, and I got the opportunity to go to a friend's (shea Ferguson)'s in law's private lake and use there Jet Ski's. I was a great day for it too. It was one of the first truly sunny days we've had in a while with no rain. I think we all got a little sun burn but it was totally worth it. The activities consisted of seeing who could throw off the other person. I was the 'other person' a lot, but I held my own; even with shea who tried very hard!

Although he will probably hate me for this, I had to post this pic, Mark's face is hilarious!

And this is where we almost always ended up!

Wedding

One week from today I head back to Louisville in time to shoot a friends wedding. Emily is a good friend from my church and it will be a pleasure to shoot her wedding. I can't wait! I love shooting weddings, there are so many moments to be captured! It will be a lot of fun!

I was also able to shoot her sisters wedding last fall. Here are some of my favorites.

Productivity

Today has been one productive day! I was able to:

1. Go to the Gym
2. Do some random errands (funny word)
3. Get my hair cut
4. Get new tires for my car
5. Get a good bit of reading done
6. Embark on another lengthy project!
7. and will finish the day seeing a movie with my cousins!

I love feeling like I accomplished a lot in a day, it's so rewarding! Most days are not like this for me.

Great People

We got to eat lunch with Mike Linch, Pastor of NorthStar Church in Kennesaw today. What a great guy! He has been such a help already to Freedom church. A couple of months ago, they moved into a new building and he gave us a ton of their old, yet very nice, office furniture...gave it too us, even though we didn't have anywhere to put it at the time. He is so willing to help get things going for us and that is such a blessing! I have been very encouraged by all the people that we have met this summer that get it. They realize that its not about territory or stealing everyone else's people but that we are all on the same team and just desire to reach as many people with the gospel as possible. People like this, people like Mike Linch and others we have met this summer encourage me greatly!

Come one come all!

Tonight will the the first official Launch Team Meeting of Freedom Church. We are six months out, as of a couple days ago, from the official launch Sunday. Tonight, however, you can come and hear J.R. cast the vision and learn what we are about. The meeting will be held in the Club house in J.R.'s neighborhood @ 7:oo. Hope to see you there!

Sister Coobs

Over the years my sister (Terri-Lynn) and I have shared a number of the same hobbies and enjoy many of the same things! She is one of my best friends and someone I love spending time with. Rarely are we together where we are not laughing hysterically at the dumbest of things. We in the family effectually call her Bear, kind of a nick name derived from Terri...Terr Bear...to just Bear. Anyways, lately, she has been spending more time and energy at photography as well. Actually, she was interested in it before I was. She is getting pretty good as you can see...Keep it up Bear!

Meetings, Meetings, Meetings

First of all, let me give a hand to Jon, the digital arts pastor of Freedom Church! Although he may not be the best with a marker, anything he touches on a computer looks amazing! I know he will do a phenomenal job making Freedom look great!

On another note, the last couple of days have been filled with little but meetings. I am learning the art and value of networking! I am also meeting some great people. Yesterday we were able to have lunch with Michael Lucaszewski , one of the pastors of Oak Leaf Church in Cartersville. He was nice enough to give us two hours of his time so that we could just bombard him with questions. It was a good meeting. I was the official scribe, writing down anything and everything from the meeting. Later in the afternoon we meet with Tommy Allegood, mayor of Acworth. He is such a nice guy! It will be great to partner with him as we get in to the community. Today we had another meeting with a contact at FBC Woodstock. Can I just say that I am so grateful for nice people that will buy you lunch! I have eaten out 3 times in the last 24 hours and all three times, people have paid for it. What a blessing for a poor college bum like me! All in all, they have been good meetings, and it looks like we will have several more before the week is over.

Jealousy

I just want to say that I am officially jealous of my friends Chris Bumbalough and Bobby Wood! I just got a call from them from Venezuela (awesome!!) and they just told me that last night they got the opportunity to go to the Argentina/Brazil soccer game! If you have ever been to a hispanic country you know how big soccer is to them and how crazy those games can be. Needless to say I am crazy jealous! I am glad they got to go though, Bobby is a soccer fanatic so I know that it was amazing for him to go.

Hippies

I am sitting at the Cocoa Bean Cafe and I am pretty sure the gentlemen next to me have no idea that the 60's are over! Hippies to the core: Mustache, long hair, cowboy boots, wife beaters, and skin tight women pants. Classic!

NewSpring Church

We had our second unofficial launch team meeting last night at J.R.'s house. The actual official launch team meetings will start this Wednesday at 7:00pm. I am pumped! I get more and more excited every time I hear the vision cast!

This morning we got up early and headed to South Carolina to attend NewSpring Church! The Staff has been building up curiosity and excitement from day one about how awesome this church is. J.R. wanted anyone and everyone to go with us and see it because it is the church that most closely resembles what Freedom will look like. Perry Noble is the pastor but unfortunately he was not speaking this morning. It was o.k. though because the guest speaker was Steven Furtick, Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC, another Church plant that is flourishing and growing rapidly. NewSpring was amazing and inspiring! I could see Freedom in everything I looked at! Steven Furtick was awesome as well! His passion for the lost was so evident in his message from First Samuel. It was a great visit!

Two More Weeks

Yesterday was the two week mark for when I must head back to the Ville. I must say that I have very mixed emotions. On the one hand I am very excited! Can't wait to get back and see everyone at my church, can't wait to get started with everything at Boyce this coming year etc. On the other hand, I have learned so much here and have been so involved with everything to do with Freedom Church that it will be hard to leave. I can't wait to see what it will become! I hope to come back periodically and see its progress. This next year will be great regardless!!

Thoughts on the Conference

We returned home last night from what seemed, at times, as a never ending set of sessions at the Georgia Baptist Convention's Church Planting "Boot Camp." We laughed a ton and met some really nice people, but there was something that bothered me all week. As we sat in session after session writing vision statements and mission statements and master plans and evangelism strategies, I noticed something that made me both frustrated and sad. We (the church) have been using the SAME ideas, the SAME events and the SAME activities, for the past 30 years to try and reach people! These ideas are not bad and 30 years ago I'm sure they worked great and may still work in some areas but for the most part these methods will NOT reach the younger generation, my generation. The world is changing and we must adapt and find new ways to reach people with the never changing message of the gospel! Sadly, many people are not willing to step outside the comforts of tradition to reach them.

...that is, until Freedom Church!

A Wandering Mind

1. Hanging out with J.R. and the Freedom staff is hilarious!

2. I have so much to do between now and the end of August its not even funny.

3. Why would you ever use the word "frothing" in your vision statement?

4. I wonder what this next year has in store for me?

5. I have learned so much this summer!

6. They just told us that you should have 12 people in your small groups because R=(R-N)2 or something...?

7. ...Mark just said "doodled"...

8. Being an R.L. at Boyce this year is going to be awesome!!

9. I wonder if God will ever call me to plant a church?

10. What the heck is a "gospel sing" and people actually still have them?...?

Georgia Baptist Church Planting Conference...

Yesterday morning myself and the Freedom Staff headed up to Toccoa Georgia for the Georgia Baptist Convention Church Planting Conference. As with everything, its an experience! We're having a lot of laughs, for sure! I don't think we've quit laughing since we got here. These are some crazy guys! We should be heading back to Acworth on Thursday! Can't wait!

Party at 10!!!!

We visited His Hands Church this morning and let me just say, it was the first time I have ever done the wave at church! I was quite an experience! The church has it's services in an old K-Mart building they have refurbished! They did a great job, it looks great! The music was really good as well! It was a bit more charismatic than I am use to but that's ok. On a sign on the out side of the building it says "Party Starts at 10!!!" ...and they mean it! I guess last week, in light of the fourth of July, they had some indoor fireworks and the neon light bands you see at amusement parks! They were all great people and extremely friendly I will say though!! Another good experience!

Launch Meetings

Well, we had out first launch team meeting for Freedom Church on the ground in Acworth last night! From now on we will be having these meetings weekly on Wednesday nights. I was definitely exciting for everyone and more and more reality is starting to sink in as each day goes by! January will be here before you know it! I will only be here through the end of July but would love to come back for the first launch service! I was great to here J.R. cast the vision for the Freedom church! I can't wait to see it happen!

Weekend Fun

Yesterday, one of my best friends and also roommate, Jessee, went fishing with his younger sister, so that he could teach her how to fish. I haven't been fishing in years and was excited about the opportunity to just hang and relax a bit, I love fishing, its so relaxing! It was a good time! I caught about 5 little sunfish, nothing exciting but it was still great! Alina did great, she hooked the worms herself and everything! She caught 4. Jessee, on the other hand, caught none. I don't know why but... It was a fun outing either way!

Frustration

Today, thus far, has been extremely frustrating. Many of you know that I love photography! Well, before I loved photography, I loved videography and even began doing some weddings for friends. NEVER AGAIN! I have had so many problems with everything: the computer, software, camera, cables, at every stage of the game I have encountered a billion and one problems. I realize that others have not faced these problems, love videography and are great at it! Wonderful! I am glad that they have not had to go through the problems I have been through! I admit and still believe that there is a magic about video that you cannot create with still images but sadly, the problems that I have encountered have curdled any taste I had for it! Since I have been more involved with photography, it has been smooth sailing, no problems, no hassle, everything has worked properly etc!!!! That is not to say that I will never encounter problems in the future, I know I will, but in comparison, I am sure they will be small!
For now, as my patient mother said as I was venting, I am sure there is something to learn, and for this understanding, I wait!

4'th of July

I must say, it was nice to be in the country this year for the 4'th of July! It seems like most summers I am out of the country, which I love, but it is a different experience, to say the least, to be away from your country on it's independence day. In many of the countries I have been in during the 4'th, the U.S is hated and it's not really the best idea to be patriotic. So, it was nice to be at home this year!
It was a great day as well! Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon myself and a bunch of close friends went up to Liz Noel's sister's house to just chill out by the pool and play crazy games! It was a great time! I am nice and sunburn today, but it was worth it! Last night, I went over to Acworth with the with the Freedom Crew to watch the fireworks by the lake! There was a lot of people, but it was fun!

People watching is always fun at events like this!

Lexi and Brayden loved this slide!

London saying "cheese!"

Some of the kids didn't like the loud fireworks!