Wow! What a great way to kick off 2009! If today was any indication, this is going to be an unbelievable year at Coastal. Let me begin by saying that I was not feeling well. The “crud” that has been going around finally made it’s way to me over the weekend - scratchy throat, congestion, coughing, etc. (just grateful the stomach junk didn’t accompany it). On top of that, I took a pretty easy week this week to enjoy some much needed time with my family. Which means that I knew that on Friday and Saturday I’d be working overtime to finish up my message and everything else for Sunday. The only problem was that I didn’t feel like it - at all! I finally went to bed around 1:30AM and got up at 6:30AM. Funny thing though, I felt better this morning. Still some congestion, but I didn’t lose my voice today and I was “rarin” to go! Thanks for the prayers.

We have awesome volunteers at Coastal. This past year we definitely raised the banner of service here at Coastal. The sheer numbers of people who serve at our church is mind boggling for a church our size. Well, this year we’re going to take that to a “whole nutha level” in the expectations we have for those volunteers. And they are already responding. People want to know what the expectations are for ministry and if they understand the “why” and the vision, they tend to respond.

And that’s what today was all about - the why, the vision God has given us for Coastal. God has simply called us to change the world, to grow, one life at a time. Our mission is share and experience the LIFE of Christ with those who don’t yet have it. We must grow, we must reach out, we must include, we must serve, we must recruit and reproduce leaders - because people are lost and need Jesus. Jesus is the hope of the world. And if we truly believe that, we will do whatever it takes - short of sin - to accomplish that mission.

From the excitement, the emails, the comments, the txts - our people are in! They are ready! I’m ready! Honestly, I’m also a little scared. I’ve got a lot of growing and changing to do - systems, leadership, administration, the list goes on and on. And change is always scary. But I will not let my fear stand in the way of moving forward. The stakes are too high.

I shared a few specific goals today. One year from today, we will be a church of at least 250 people. Now for some that might not seem like a big deal. But for a church that is 18 years old and has NEVER been consistently over 150 - it is. It’s a very big deal. In many ways, launching a new church is easier than growing and changing an existing church. And the longer a church stays around 100 and never really experiences significant growth, the less likely it ever will. I know all those statistics and more. BUT, I also know our God and He has told me that He’s not finished with us yet! He uses the small to do the big!

So, like I said today, I’m writing it down, one year from now we will be a church of at least 250 people. This Spring we will test the waters with a third service - probably a Sunday night service. We will add a third service in the Fall. I can see 500 people without even building another building. Then, within the next 5 years, we’re going to build an auditorium on our campus that seats at least 800 people. There - I said it. Now let’s get busy. Pray. Build relationships. Invite. Serve. Lead. Let’s change the world - one life at a time! By the way - we had 160 people in church today.

(I can’t close this out tonight without saying what a great job Mike, Daniel, Tristan, George, and Prisca did! Way to go guys! You ROCK! Wes would be proud. I know I am! It’s so easy to cast vision following great worship!)

Here’s a great resolution for 2009:
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” I Corinthians 2:2

It’s been almost a week since my last post. Here a recap of what’s been going on:

• We had one of the best Christmas Eve services ever! Wes & the band did an awesome job! Great attendance! Lots of guests! It was definitely Rockin! Next year, however, right before my message, we will dismiss all the children to an age appropriate environment just for them. Had fun with them in the service, but when it comes time for the message we need to eliminate all distractions for people to hear the gospel.
• Stayed up way too late Christmas Eve (2:30AM) and got up way too early (7AM)! Christopher set his alarm for 5AM (an hour later than last year) and then he and Lydia watched a movie together in his room before they came down and woke us up. It’s a fun tradition they started a couple of years ago. They watched Get Smart.
• Our Christmas morning tradition: after waking me and Janet up (and we actually WAKE up), we gather in the family room, read the Christmas story from Luke 2 (this year I read it from my iPhone!) and pray together. Then we start with the kids’ stockings. After stockings we open gifts from Santa. Yes we still do Santa. And at our house, Santa wraps each gift very meticulously and has funny name tags on each gift. It’s also not a free for all. Each person takes a turn and everyone watches. We pick up after each gift and then move to the next. After Santa’s gifts we do breakfast. This year I made sausage gravy, grits, and biscuits. Then we move to the gifts from each other. My mom came over for lunch and we exchanged gifts with her. For lunch I grilled steaks! We had so much fun! I crashed around 4:30!
• Friday & Saturday I was back at the office getting ready for Sunday. Had Wes, Bri, and Charlotte over for dinner Friday night. We just love those guys!
• Had a much better day than expected on Sunday. There were tons of people gone, but our attendance wasn’t that bad, and we continue to have guests every week. My message was entitled, “2008-The Year In Review.” It was a look back on all of the message series we did last year and a few highlights. This Sunday is going to be, “2009-The Year Ahead.” I really think this is going to be a tradition.
• On Sunday after church our family went to see, “Four Christmases” (no Youth Group). There were several very funny scenes! Vince Vaughn as Joseph in the Christmas Pageant at a local Mega Church is worth the admission for the movie. Hilarious!
• On Monday I wrote a bunch of letters to 1st & 2nd Time Guests and then took the rest of the day off. Hung out with Christopher and watched, “Eagle Eye.” Pretty good flick. Monday was also Wes & Bri’s 3rd Wedding Anniversary!
• Today I met with Wes to talk through our “Fuel” Leadership Meeting on Saturday, January 10th. It’s going to be great! I can’t wait. If you are a leader or volunteer here at Coastal - you have to come! This is going to be one of the best things we do!

Well, that’s about it. I just wanted to let you know what’s been going on. I plan on taking some much needed family time this week, so this is going to be a light blogging week for me. But I’m jacked about Sunday! I’m going to be sharing vision and talk about where we’re going in the New Year. I’m also going tell you about some of the series we’ll be doing and some big events. You won’t want to miss it.

Here a few pictures from the Rollins Christmas:

Our Tree!


Caption on shirt: “If My Music Is Too Loud - You’re Too Old”


Can’t have too many Clemson shirts!




Girls love purses . . .


and shoes!


My son loves tape!


Just what I needed! Socks & underwear!


Lydia is making me a Clemson Blanket!




That expression never gets old!

Before I get to Sunday (yesterday), I wanted to tell you about Saturday. I performed a wedding downtown at MUSC’s St. Luke chapel. The couple was very sweet. She is a Dental student at MUSC. And he is a tennis pro. He is ranked 74th in the world. Last year he made it to the 3rd round of Wimbledon. I told him that I am deceptively quick like a puma on the court. He laughed. I get to meet a lot of cool people at weddings.

On Saturday night Janet and I went to a Christmas party. It was hosted by a friend of mine from High School and her family. I’m so glad we went! We had a blast. Got to connect with some old friends and make some new ones. Had several people tell me that they were going to come and check out our church.

What can I say about Sunday! It was absolutely awesome! Two interesting signs of growth: we ran out of bulletins and went through 7 airpots of coffee! Funny thing is I started printing more bulletins last Sunday and we ran out. I decided to print more this week and we ran out again. I also bought two more airpots this past week because of all the coffee we were going through. We had the largest non-special event attendance we’ve had in a long time. Every week we are having 1st time guests and return guests.

Just two weeks ago, we began improving the way we follow up with our guests. I know it’s too early to really see a difference, but it’s as though God is blessing our efforts. The best part of Sunday for me? A friend of mine from High School came to church! And guess where I invited him? On Facebook! I “friended” him several months ago and he asked me if I was still preaching at a church. I told him I was and invited him to come. He showed up on Sunday! He came up to me after church and said, “Chris, this was great! I’ll see you next Sunday.”

God is up to something at Coastal. I can feel it - always have. But now I think everyone else can to. And people are talking about it every week - talking about the growth, talking about all the guests, talking about the full parking lot, talking about running out of bulletins and coffee. Call it a buzz or momentum or whatever you want. I call it the Spirit of the Living God! Here are a couple of comments from Sunday’s Connect Cards: “I am very happy I found this church!” “We will be back. This was so real and refreshing. I felt Jesus every where and the love He has for me.”

I can’t wait for Wednesday night! Invite & bring a friend!

If you care about people and the mission of the church you have to take 5 minutes and watch this video. It’s Penn (of Penn & Teller) talking about “proselytizing” and his experience with a Christian. Of course, Penn is a well known, self-described Atheist. In fact, interestingly enough, Penn and his Vegas Show just came up in conversation at my Men’s Group. Watch this. Believe it or not, Penn is very convicting.

Well, if you haven’t guessed yet, I got an iPhone for Christmas! Two weeks ago, my phone bit the dust and then my current contract with T-Mobile expired on Monday. So with all the planets aligning (no, I didn’t purposely break my phone), I decided to switch networks and take the plunge. Most of you know that I am a Mac Addict. I have owned everything Apple since 1989. In fact, my first computer was a MacPlus (pre-Windows). I have never used a PC in my life. I was an Apple guy way before it was hip and cool.

I can come up with all kinds of reasons to justify my purchase - iPod, phone, internet & email access, GPS capability - all in one. I can even spiritualize it and tell you all about YouVersion’s Bible application. But truthfully, it was a want, not a need. But I absolutely love it! If you love gadgets and technology and eye candy like I do, you will be amazed! The only drawback is that when I come home, my kids want the iPhone and my laptop - not me. Although they now call me iDaddy!

I know you’ve probably seen this a hundred times by now. Every time I see this it just blows my mind. I know I’m weird, but I have questions. Where were the Secret Service? I know they’re supposed to be willing to “take a bullet” for the President, so how come no one was willing to “take a shoe?” And not only was this guy able to get off one shoe and throw it, but TWO?! I mean I know these people are known for throwing rocks, but SHOES! (Okay, that was politically incorrect) Years from now will Oliver Stone do a movie asking about a second “shoe-ter” conspiracy. I do give Bush props for his puma-like quickness and moves!