J.R. Lee

Week 4 of Don’t Miss It continues this week!  Called a message audible on Wednesday that I am super excited about.

It’s going to be a fantastic week!

See you at North Cobb High School at either 9:45 or 11:15.

Great quote by Eugene Habecker in The Other Side of Leadership ::

Whenever I am tempted not to act in a difficult personnel situation, I ask myself, ‘Am I holding back for my personal comfort or for the good of the organization?’ If I am doing what makes me comfortable, I am embezzling.  If doing what is good for the organization also happens to make me comfortable, that’s wonderful.  But if I am treating irresponsibility irresponsibly, I must remember that two wrongs do not make a right.

Your decisions will be much better if you do what’s right for your organization rather than what is right for yourself.

If you were at Freedom on Sunday than you already have a head start.  If not, let me catch you up to speed.

We need your help for an upcoming Series ::  Text your favorite message & song to (323) 739-4631 :: Not Tech savvy – email your response to rewind@freedomchurch.tv

Messages ::
Face the Music :: Fill the House with Jars
Dominate :: We’re Here to Dominate
We Bare All :: We’ve Got Issues
Full Of It :: We’re all Full of Something
Awakening :: Can These Bones Live?
Rebel :: When Pride walks on the Stage – God Walks Off
Old Time Religion :: New School Church / Old School Values
The Real F Word :: Forgiveness
We Believe :: All Things are Possible
Come Home :: No matter where you are – It’s Time to Come Home

Songs ::
Apologize :: One Republic
Wanted Dead of Alive :: Bon Jovi
Somebody Lie You :: Keith Urban
Separate Ways :: Journey
Fix You :: Coldplay
We’re Not Gonna Take It :: Twisted Sister
Bleeding Love :: Leona Lewis
Livin’ on a Prayer :: Bon Jovi
Home :: Marc Broussard
Dirty Little Secret :: All American Rejects

I received this email recently in regard to our 90 Day Giving Challenge that we kicked off a couple months ago ::

Hi Pastor JR, My giving story begins over a year ago and actually has two parts.
Faith and Trust:
My husband brought quite a bit of debt into our marriage and didn’t tell me about it for several years….It (40K of revolving debt) put a lot of tension on our marriage as I solely supported the family due to hard economic times. We cut back on everything and after a year and a half we were still 13K in the hole.  I was to the point of a nervous breakdown.  I had only one other time reached out to God and he was there so in church I wept and handed this over to to not let this consume me. I also promised to work on loving my husband more, to forgive him and try not to resent him, and to give even more to God through the church. We had put off doing our 2008 taxes because I had estimated we were going to owe over 5K and after finally biting the bullet we had our taxes done – late.  Less than 24 hours later we got the call from the accountant saying that not only did we not owe but we were getting a bit over 13K back. I’m not kidding to the penny what we owed in the remaining debt. Wow – I felt guilty asking for this kind of help and certainly wasn’t testing God but I couldn’t believe it He was there for me, again!

The Giving Challenge:
A few months later and only a couple of months after we began coming to Freedom came the giving challenge. I remembered my promise to give more. We were giving a bit but not nearly enough so we took the challenge with no personal expectations. However, my husband had been looking for work for over a year and after accepting this challenge and giving our first offering he got call for an interview the very next week and had a great new job within 2 1/2 weeks. Coincidence - I don’t think so!

Learning to become a generous giver was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. Not because I’m selfish and do not want to give but because I was always taught to be wise and save. As a result of the challenge, I now realize I am being wise, I’m saving in a different type of bank account – one that will last forever!
Thank you for the push and for the challenge!

God always comes through on His promise!  Always.  I love watching people have their faith increased exponentially!
We are in the middle of the 90 Day Challenge but if you want to start right now – feel free to email us at info@freedomchurch.tv and we will send you all the details!

The past several weeks have been incredible.  I am so grateful for this journey that God is taking us all on.  That being said, here are a few opportunities that I am super excited about ::

1. Sunday, May 2nd :: In addition to two Worship Experiences that morning we will be hosting a friend from Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC.  He will be with us that evening (6PM) to speak to our staff and partnership team.  We have rented out Mojave Southwestern Grill in Acworth just for this event and it’s going to be a blast.    Do whatever you have to do in order to be there (childcare is provided)!!! RSVP right now with Joni at jlollis@freedomchurch.tv .  Seriously, do it now!
2. Sunday, May 9th :: Mother’s Day is going to be an incredible day at Freedom.  We are doing something we’ve never done before and it’s going to be a blast.  Can’t wait to see how this plays out!
3. Renovations at North Cobb High School!  ::  At the end of May, North Cobb will be getting an Extreme Makeover.  They are totally revamping 2 major areas that we use each week.  I am grateful that they decided to make these upgrades just for us
4. Rewind Series ::  This series is going to be all about the “Best Of” Freedom Church.  You will vote on your favorite songs and messages and we will relive many of them throughout the course of this series.  I’ll give you a few more details in the days to come.

There are many more things I could write but you will have to wait til Sunday to hear the rest.  Continue praying that God would do what only He can do.  It’s going to be continue to be an incredible ride!