J.R. Lee

You could have never convinced me when I was in High School that I would read as much as I do now.  I can single-handedly keep Amazon in business during most months.  I’ve ordered 26 books in the past 6 months – not including those that I have purchased in order to give away.  Here are the next five on the reading list…

1.  Integrity by Henry Cloud
2.  The Great Exchange by Jerry Bridges
3.  The Noticer by Andy Andrews
4.  You Can Change by Tim Chester
5.  Speak Like Churchill – Stand Like Lincoln by James Humes

Becoming better is a process not an event. The events are great but its the process that gives the greatest return.

The process is a lot like exercise.  Imagine having out-of-shape people sit in a room and listen to a speech on the importance of exercising, then watch some tapes on how to exercise, and perhaps then spend a few minutes simulating the acts of exercising.  would you be surprised if all the people in the room were still unfit a year later? The source of physical fitness is not understanding the theory of working out.  It is engaging in regular exercise.                                               Marshall Goldsmith – What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

Charting the right course is a necessary start but maneuvering through the process brings measurable results.

• I was very pleased with Sunday in spite of the rain and the tail end of Fall Break.
• God has been very good to us at Freedom Church and I am more than grateful!
• Primary thought from Sunday :: When progress is being made the enemy will emerge.  Do NOT come down off the wall!  (Nehemiah 4)
• We officially announced that we are very close to securing a 2nd location for Freedom Church in Acworth!
• That may not be the only major shift that is taking place in the weeks ahead. More to come on that soon!  These are exciting times.
• God is increasing our capacity to reach people in a way that I didn’t expect at this stage of the journey.
• Revolutionary movements of God demand revolutionary sacrifice and guarantee revolutionary reward!
• We are having a Baptism Celebration on 10-10-10!  If you’ve accepted Christ but have not been baptized since that moment – sign up right here.
• The next three weeks are going to serve as incredible opportunities to invite and bring your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to Freedom.  Seriously, be praying and inviting people even more than you normally do over the next three weeks!
• See you Sunday!

This has already proven to be an incredible series and Week 3 of Give Me Freedom continues this Sunday!

It’s going to be another powerful week at North Cobb High School at both 9:45 and 11:15.

See you then.

• Pretty phenomenal day on Sunday!
• Instead of scaling back a little on Fall Break – we decided to go full steam ahead.  I am really glad we did.
• The band integrated the chorus of “Not Afraid” with one of our songs “Rise Up”.  Incredible!  Grateful for our new friend Darnell (Jac Rip) for taking it to the next level.
• To make an important point in the message – I was carried on stage in a casket.  It was intense.  You can watch the message if you want to see what that was all about.
• As I type this, I am looking at the names of thousands of people who are far from God.  Our staff is praying with those who wrote these names and believing God to do what only He can do in the days ahead.
• If you remember what it was like to live in the realm of Ephesians 2:1-3 than you will consistently do whatever it takes to help people experience the life-giving message of Ephesians 2:4-6.
• Jesus has empowered you to speak into the lives of others!  I believe you will!
• Here is the chorus of Not Afraid in case you were wondering ::

I’m not afraid to take a stand
Everybody come take my hand
We’ll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just let you know that, you’re not alone
Holla if you feel that you’ve been down the same road

And I just can’t keep living this way
So starting today, I’m breaking out of this cage
I’m standing up, Imma face my demons
I’m manning up, Imma hold my ground
I’ve had enough, now I’m so fed up
Time to put my life back together right now