Consumerism and the local church

In many respects we really can't help it. We live in a time and place where nearly every institution is competing for our time, attention, money, adoration, dedication, and promotion. It turns out that marketing people are very smart...they know how to get us to do just about anything they want. Quite simply they strive to appeal to our basest of qualities, a quality derived straight from the Garden of Eden; that is....the elevation of "self" to a level that makes our own desires outweigh anything else. Marketeers are constantly telling us all the things we deserve, how we should treat ourselves, pamper ourselves, lookout for number one, etc. And we have bought in to it "hook, line, and sinker!" Why wouldn't we....we love getting what we want! I personally love a good thick steak.....and when some guy with a thick aussie accent tells me that I deserve it and I should "treat myself" to some Outback tonight....well, how can I argue with that?

Unfortunately, alot of us bring that "it's all about me" attitude to church. We want to sit in our chair every Sunday and "consume." Afterall, that's what we do at Outback Steakhouse, or Starbucks, or Chick-fil-a, or Bell's! We choose what we want, what sounds good to us, how we want it cooked and then we wait on someone to serve us so we can "consume." The difference is.....now listen closely.....this is the good part..... "Church isn't about what you want, it's about what God wants." The local church serves 3 purposes....1) to worship and give GOD glory, 2) to equip believers to reach others, 3) to provide an environment for those who don't know Jesus to hear the gospel. I believe that the local church is God's primary tool for reaching the "lost." So, (this may sting a little) if you are a believer...it's not about you! I have heard Pastor Greg say that the difference between the church and a country club is that a country club exists to serve it's members....in the church, the members exist to serve the church.

Remember Mark 10:45
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

So how are you serving your church today. Are you doing more than just taking up a seat on Sunday morning? Do you see the bigger picture....that there are people that will only be reached by the local church....and it is our job to put our desires aside and to prepare an environment that is welcoming, safe, engaging, and "real" so that someone we don't even know yet can come to a relationship with Jesus. Consumer church is NEVER satisfying. True satisfaction comes through serving others. Don't miss out. Find a place of meaningful service today.

This Sunday @Foothills Toccoa

I haven't been this excited about a Sunday morning in a long time! As we finish the What If... series with a message entitled "What if today was your last day", tomorrow has the potential to be HUGE! This is a service that you seriously need to invite your friends, co-workers, neighbors,....anyone who needs a relationship with Jesus. It's going to be amazing!

See you tomorrow...and don't be late....you don't want to miss a single minute!

workdays at the new bldg this week

Hey everyone! We are making great progress in the new bldg, however, we have a tons more work left to do. We need as many people to come help as possible. This week we will be working wed during the day...9-3 and then Wed night 6-8. We will be working then again on Sat from 9-3. Please make plans to be there...its always a lot of fun!

workday aug 29

Hey everyone! The demolition inside the building is finished! Tomorrow we will be beginning to frame up walls in the children's side. There won't be as many opportunities for youth workers this week except to be runners between the saws and the carpenters. Also there will be a little painting on the outside if the rain holds off. Bring saws, nail guns, etc used for framing. Can't wait to see you there!

Workdays this week

Hey everyone....the workday this past Saturday was amazing! Got a lot done.

This week we are going to be at the building working Wednesday night from 6-8 doing some clean-up of demolition that was done on Saturday and probably starting a little demolition on the children's side of the building.

Then Saturday we will be there from 9am - 2 or 3pm. It will be a lot of the same as last weekend. Painting of the outside of the building and demolition of the childrens side interior.

Can't wait to see everyone there!


Shannon

First workday!

We are going to have our first workday at the new building this Saturday. One of the first things we want to do is paint the exterior. We will be doing at least a coat of primer this weekend....maybe paint if I can get the color sample in time. We will also start some demolition of existing walls inside. We will be starting @ about 9:00am. Please bring paint brushes, rollers, ladders, and any other painting tools we might need.

For the demolition bring sledgehammers, saws, pry bars, etc.

It is going to be a hot one on Saturday so if someone could volunteer to bring water, etc to keep the workers hydrated that would be awesome!

If you have any questions call Sam McMillan @ 864-903-5137. Sam and Jody have agree to be the point person for organizing and directing all the remodeling activities! Please give them your support.

Shannon

Building Dedication and what's next

Hey everyone! The building dedication last night was awesome! I really enjoyed getting to worship for the first time in our new building.....and you guys sang your hearts out! This building is going to be an incredible place of healing and life change for people we haven't even met yet....that is exciting for me. I hope it is for you too.

As far as what are we doing next...here is where we are.

We are waiting for the thrift store to empty (we anticipate them being out by Tuesday) and we are waiting for a layout drawing from our architect. As soon as those things happen we will begin demolition of the walls that currently exist that we are not going to use.....and from there we will begin framing.

Just check here everyday for updates as to what and when we will be doing work.

Thanks,
Shannon

Video message format

Some of you may have noticed that we have been trying a couple different formats for the video message at the Toccoa campus over the last few weeks. I am wanting to get some feedback from ya'll about the different formats...what you like best.

Basically there are 3 formats that we are looking at......

1. Lock-down center screen shot of full size speaker with magnified images with lower-third notes and scriptures on the side screens. (This is the original format that we have done 99% of the time since we launched the campus last September)

2. Magnified waist up image of the speaker on the center screen with full-size notes and scriptures on the side screens. This is the format that we used this past week with the message by Daniel Lucas. We ar e going to do this format again this coming week in case you missed it.....

3. Same magnified waist up image on all three screens with lower-third notes and scriptures.

Just comment back on this blog or email me at shannonchiles@foothills.cc and let me know what you think.

Shannon

What a GREAT day!

Yesterday was just a phenomonal day at Foothills Toccoa Campus! The message yesterday was incredible.....if you missed it be sure to watch it at www.foothills.cc

And then yesterday afternoon we had a baptism party out at the lake.....it was awesome! We had great food....ribs, chicken, sausage, hotdogs, and then a slew of side dishes and desserts. But the best part was that we saw 6 people follow through in baptism......awesome day!

If you want to see the pictures.....check out this link or this one on facebook.

I love you guys! I love being your pastor! I love being able to serve with you...passionately reaching those in Stephens County who are far from God and helping them to know Jesus.

Baptism Parrrrrtayyyyy!

We are having a big baptism party Sunday, July 5th starting @ 3:30pm. It is going to be at Josh Schaeffers lakehouse. Come ready to eat, swim, boat....bring tailgate games.....etc....it's going to be a blast!!!

Here are the details:

Location: 538 Imperial, Martin, GA (map to follow)
Time: 3:30pm - ?
Food: Grilled chicken, ribs, sausage, and hotdogs will be provided. Bring a side dish or a dessert to share.
Drinks: Drinks will be provided.
What else: Bring lawnchairs, swimming stuff, boat, tailgate games.

If you don't feel confident that you can find the location....we will have groups leaving from Toccoa Campus and the Walmart parking lot @ about 3:15.

Also...if you want to be baptized, please let me know!

See you there!
Shannon


CLICK IMAGE TO SEE LARGER

When "date night" goes terribly wrong....

If you were at FCC Toccoa Campus this past Sunday, you realize that I WASN'T! It was the first Sunday that I have missed since we launched the campus last September......and I hated not being there. I heard that Jonathan did a fantastic job of making sure stuff happened....I love that guy! I am truly blessed to have him on my team. Also heard that Brian Rhodes came down and lended a hand....it really is cool to be part of a family of staff members who got each others backs.

So this is what happened...

Saturday night, Amy and I were in Seneca. We did not have any kids for the night and were planning on having a nice date night alone. Maybe some dinner and a movie....something like that probably. I have a small hernia on my bellybutton that I had had for about a year. I noticed the night before that the hernia had become hard and tender to the touch....so while I was waiting for Amy to finish up some business before we headed out to date night, I called my brother, Jon, who is a doctor and asked him about the hernia. From what I described to him, he said that it might be strangulated and cutting off blood to whatever was poking out the hernia. He said that it was fairly serious and he would not wait until the coming week to take care of it because if it were bowel or intestine poking out and it was strangulated, that tissue would die and leave me with a hole in the bowel. So, Amy and I went and grabbed a bite, and headed to the ER (very reluctantly). Both of us thought for sure that this would turn out to be nothing and they would send us home........WRONG! Jon pretty much nailed it! They admitted me to the hospital right then and there and did surgery to repair the hernia Sunday morning. Crazy huh?

Can't wait to be back at church this Sunday....I missed everyone so much! Love you all, and thanks for the thoughts, prayers and calls.

So much good stuff going on!

Just wanted everyone to know of some of the exciting things that are going on.....

First - This weekend FCC had a weekend students event at the Seneca Campus called Ignite. From all accounts the weekend was incredible! We had 5 students from the Toccoa Campus attend.....1 of which who was baptized! WOW! That is what it is all about people....life change is happening all around us....even with our middle schoolers and high schoolers!!!

Second - We are seeing spiritual decisions weekly at Toccoa Campus. It is incredible....God is working! The awesome thing is that it is we are just being true to the VISION that God has given us! People are inviting their friends....their friends are getting plugged in and inviting their friends....and peoples lives are being changed. I am blown away at all the new young families that are coming! Everyone at Toccoa Campus is doing a great job of keeping their focus off of themselves and on the people we are trying to reach. We are doing the most important job in the world! Thank you so much for bringing your A+ game every week!!

Finally - SAVE THE DATE! We are scheduling a party at the lake on June 14th. Where on the lake? The place is TBD...but the party is going to start about 3:30pm. It's going to be a covered dish dinner so plan on bringing enough of something yummy to feed your family plus 2-3 others. We are also going to be doing baptisms......so, if you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior but have not followed through in baptism, or you were baptized before you accepted Christ....please let me know...this baptism party is going to be a huge spiritual marker in our campus' life. Email me at shannonchiles@foothills.cc if you want to be baptized.

Student Ministry - What, When, How?

Okay.....last week we had our first ever youth event. We did what we called "Staff on a Stick". It was a blast.....for pictures be sure to check out my facebook.

This week we are launching our weekly student get together. It is going to be at my house.....if you need directions email me. Planning on getting started at about 6:30...we will have snacks, games and a video from our Student Pastor Brian Rhodes. It is going to be a good time making new friends, and learning from God's Word and how it all applies to our lives as middle school students and high school students. I can't wait!

Still looking for a name for the group.....if you have any ideas post them here as comments! Looking forward to seeing everyone and seeing what God does through this new ministry area for FCC Toccoa.

Tweeting the Word

Team Leader Meeting

Staff on a stick

Last night we had our very first student activity in Toccoa! We did a staff on a stick scavenger hunt around town and it was a blast! We had 7 students show up and I believe they all had a great time. Starting this coming Wed we will be having weekly student meetings...! Until we nail down a host home, it will be at my house. Anyone who is interested in hosting the students once a week....please let me know. Also if you would like to be a volunteer leader let me know....

If you want to see pictures from "staff on a stick" you need to checkout my facebook at www.facebook.com/playdemkeys. Facebook is a great way to keep up with me and Jonathan and all the staff at Foothills....plus it is a great tool to get the word out about our campus! Join today!

Shine 09

Hey everyone....if you missed this Sunday at FCC Toccoa....you missed a GREAT one! Greg spoke on serving others inorder to show them Christ. It was awesome. Remember you can always view past messages online at www.foothills.cc After church, people had opportunity to sign up for 1 of 3 SHINE09 projects that we are doing in Toccoa. There is a landscaping project at Big A Elementary, Pressure washing and cleaning at a homeless shelter, and painting at another homeless shelter. If you missed sign-ups and want to participate in this incredible event where we get to reach out to our community, email me at shannonchiles@foothillscc.org and I will get you hooked up!

Failblog.org

Found a new site to me....... www.failblog.org It is hilarious, but be sure to select G-rated pictures and movies only!

here is a funny sample

This is an amazing interview....full of grace and truth

http://www.elevationchurch.org/mediaPlayer.php?sermon=170

Monday Morning Thoughts

Yesterday was a great day at Foothills Toccoa! The band flat out rocked and the peoples energy was great. Brian Rhodes message on undeserved love really touched me and many others I believe. One of the best parts of yesterday was that I got to play the keyboard for the feature song "This Kind of Love." I hadn't played since before we launched the Toccoa Campus...so I felt a little rusty, but it was a blast being able to play again. I didn't realize until after the service how many people had no idea that I played keyboard or was musically gifted at all.... which is kind of strange for me because most of my life people have known that and associated me with music. But there are so many new people at Foothills Toccoa that had not been in Seneca that it really shouldn't have surprised me. Anyway, I appreciate Jonathan letting an old guy up on stage to play a song this week!

The second highlight of the day was that the Toccoa Softball team won our first game! It was awesome! Some highlights of the game were Aaron Krumenacker playing third base. This dude can flat out play third! It was amazing to watch. Also, we had two in the park homeruns yesterday. The first was Tom Ross....amazing shot out center field. And the second was a grand slam by Jonathan Wright. I think everyone had a good time.....

Today we have an off-site creative planning meeting to plan series' for the next 6 months. I love these meetings where we just brainstorm and come up with creative ways to engage people in church! Creative planning is definitely one of my favorite parts of my job.