This video was posted as a Myspace Video by a high school student who went to Superwow the week I preached there this summer. You rock, bro!!!

SuperWow 2008 Anson McMahon

Speak of the devil.....

Last week I started to preach a brand new sermon series at The Point (12Stone's High School Ministry). To listen to the talks from the point just visit the link at the bottonm of this post!

The title of the series we just began is MAN VS. WILD. Obviously it's taken from the Bear Grylls TV series of the same name which can be seen on the Discovery Channel each week. The metaphor I am springing off of as a launching pad for this series is as follows: Just as Bear Grylls is trying to overcome and conquer the wild as he is dropped into places like Siberia and Iceland, those of us who are Christ-followers are also in a battle to overcome our own adversary. Namely the devil (or Satan) & his army of demon-cohorts. Spiritual warfare isn't just something that really freaky "charis-maniacs" with colorful prayer banners and green point of contact handkerchiefs sticking out of the pockets of their leisure suits believe. It is real and the church, in my opinion, desperately needs to learn more about it. This by implication means that those of us who are pastors need to begin to step to the plate and teach more about it.

In week one we focused on the idea that Satan is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. He is constantly lying and attempting to deceive us with lies like "If it feels good do it..", "This world is all there is..." and "You are the only one that matters..." If we are not alert and constantly on guard against these lies we will soon be led astray by them and destroy ourselves. John 10:10 tells us bluntly that Satan comes "only" to steal, kill, and destroy. He never ever comes at us will beneficial things in mind for us. His objective is always to lure us away from Christ until we openly rebel just as he and the demons have already done!

Could it be, however, that GOD has communicated to us through His Word, the Holy Bible, some vital survival skills we can and should implement in order to overcome our adversary the devil? This is the question we are seeking the answers to in our series MAN VS. WILD. I hope you'll comment me with some thoughts of your own!

Visit the link below to listen to messages from THE POINT High School Ministry.

http://apps.facebook.com/filefactory//folder/1201615135/83def2634a31d1d1f9f3b257cf78dbe4/

SuperWow 2008

During the week of June 16-20 Heather, Annabelle, and I travelled south down less-than-interesting Interstate 16 to toasty Jekyll Island, Georgia. I was to speak that week for a summer camp that's pretty near to my heart. SuperWow. Besides having the coolest name on earth, there are many other reasons I love this camp so much. This is the same camp I use to travel to as a High School student years ago with my youth group. It's the place I first saw Dave Busby preach. It's the place I first felt GOD's leading to surrender my life to full-time vocational ministry. The place where I first sensed a clear call to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus loudly and passionately until I either die or go mute (whichever comes first).

During the evenings I preached on a variety of different topics; Noah the righteous man, Jonathan the warrior, the parable of the warrior king, and the parable of the sower. During the morning sessions, however, I felt a leading to teach on the topic of Heaven. I first taught on this topic about 6 months ago when we were still in California. The thought was to set up the topic of Heaven in the first session and then answer a ton of frequently asked questions in the last two sessions including, "Who goes to heaven?", "Do we become angels in heaven?", "Are there animals in heaven?", "Will we know each other in heaven?", "Is there sexual intercourse in heaven?" and the all so popular "Will we use the bathroom in heaven?". Now- before you get upset at my crassness you must understand that these are the questions teenagers are asking today! One of the problems with student ministries today (in my opinion) is that we're answering a bunch of questions that nobody is asking! That may actually be the problem with a lot of churches too for that matter. So on-and-on we go each week as more and more people stare glassy-eyed at the preacher and wonder how much longer it will last. By-the-way, is it just me or does it seem like for a place we as Christ-followers will spend all eternity, Heaven is a topic that seems to be conspicuously missing from our teaching series calendars?!!!

Anyway, it was incredible to hear the responses of people throughout the week as we spent time on this topic. The Lord did it again! He alone knows what people most need to hear! It's amazing to watch what the Holy Spirit does in the hearts of spiritually lost people when you discuss the place called Heaven and spend time teaching the scripture texts in GOD's Word that speak of it. Many students came to Jesus. Not because of the preacher. Not because of the music. Not because of the illusions. But because of the promise to be in the presence of Christ forever......... in the place called Heaven.

Lessons from Denver

I spent this past week in the Denver area at Group Publishing's headquarters with my buddy Brett, the Middle School Pastor at 12Stone and my boss Shannon. We were hanging at a small conference only a few churches had been invited to. The conference (or should I say round-table discussion) ws moderated by Rick Lawrence, editor of Group Magazine and the Student Pastors from Saddleback Church, Doug Fields and Kurt Johnson.

I had never been to Colorado before. The following items are the Top 15 things I learned this past week.

1. Brett Moore makes me laugh so hard I think I actually busted a blood vessel in my eye. "I love...."

2. Doug Fields and Kurt Johnson are way more down to earth than I expected. I'm not sure why that surprised me.

3. Pastors have the same heart issues for the most part! Longing for more intimacy with Christ. Longing for Christ-centered accountability with other dudes. Longing to spend our lives for the Gospel in healthy ways.

4. Being trapped in conversations where others are talking about nothing more than ministry, numbers, and strategy makes me wanna jump off a building. I fantasize about being a Wal-Mart greeter in those moments.

5. Coors Field in Denver is nowhere near as sharply and technologically pimped out as Turner Field in Atlanta is!!

6. Downtown Denver is the bomb at night. VIVA LA ESPN THE ZONE!!!!!

7. The student ministry dudes from Lancaster County Bible Church in Pennsylvania are some of the coolest dudes I've ever hung out with!! I'm looking you guys up when I'm in Philly next year!!!

8. The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park looks nothing like it did in the movie The Shining!! "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

9. Frontier Airlines needs to get their act together!! 40 minutes on the tarmac with no explanation?! DUDE?!!

10. The words shared with me on the last morning of the conference by a few fellow Student Pastors are words I will never forget. Thanks to my brothers from So-Cal, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

11. The indoor pool at the La Quinta in Loveland, CO is strangely warm. Almost too warm. EEeeeeewwwwww.

12. It's never easy to sleep at night when you have salsa music thumping right outside your window all night and a roomate who is ready to kill the guilty parties.

13. The students who work in the bookstore at the University of Colorado in Boulder are the rudest people I have ever met. I will pray for you.

14. Ernest from Seacoast Church in Charleston, SC is a cool dude. Keep walking with Jesus, my friend.

15. There's no place like home.

"I am Iron Man!!"

Last Wednesday after THE POINT was over, me and a few of our High School Ministry volunteers bolted and went to the IMAX Theater at Mall of Georgia to see the much talked about Iron Man. It's been years since I caught a late show and I was pretty concerned that all the nights of going to bed early over the past 2 years because I'm getting old (and that's what you do when you have kids!) was going to ruin me. I was sure that I probably wouldn't last through the first couple of previews.......especially after preaching and sweating profusely for 2 hours!!

The cool thing was that we were the only dudes in the Theater!! Except for the 2 couples in the back who kept giggling and speaking spanish. Seriously. Anyway, there we were.....all 5 of us men. Of course we each had the obligatory "I am not on a date with this man....I'm married to a woman!" empty seat between each of us.

Just so you know, I thought the movie was absolutely bomb-a-licious!! Iron Man is the quintiscential American Superhero. I will say, however, that I honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cringe at his arrogance. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance and most of us end up crossing it if we're not careful.

My favorite scene in the movie was when Iron Man saves Lois Lane from falling off of the Eiffel Tower and then traps the Joker in that web he shoots from his wrist right before turning into a really muscular green monster. This movie rocks!!!!

UNDER THE SEA!

Last week I loaded up the family in the trusty Honda Pilot and we headed out on an adventure. The mission: To explore the ocean without getting wet or having to put on really uncomfortable scuba gear while avoiding the sad experience of becoming an appetizer for some famished Tiger Shark. The Destination: The Georgia Aquarium. 

Living in California for over the past 5 years, and having only heard about the aquarium, Heather and I honestly weren't sure what to expect! For all we knew it was a large pool in downtown Atlanta surrounded by a rusty barbed-wire fence with 50 pound catfish and a couple Alligators, wrestled away from their home in the Okefenokee Swamp, only to be dropped into midtown! We would buy our tickets from a man in a straw hat named Cleetus who would then point and say "It's down yunder yawwwll." Man, were we in for a huge surprise!!!

During our time in California we were blessed to be able to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium a few times and I really do think that this one could give that one a run for its money! Or maybe this experience to an aquarium was just a trillion times more fun because of the little girl I had on my shoulders who about every 6 seconds would scream out, "DADA FIIIISSSHHHHH!!"

They had just about every underwater creature you could possibly imagine with the exception of live mermaids and the loch ness monster (though I'm pretty sure they have probably sent some south Georgia big-game hunters to Scotland to bag that one!!). There were tropical fish, fish from rivers, and fish from deep down in the darkness of the ocean. There were penguins, beavers, sea lions and my personal favorites: Four Tiger Sharks!! I think the Tiger Sharks are my favorite because if I were a fish that's probably what I would be. Tiger Sharks remind me a lot of myself in-other-words. They are strong, intimidating, sleek, extremely cool, it's known for eating a wide variety of items, and, according to Wikipedia, "It has sometimes been found with man-made waste such as license plates or pieces of old tires in itsdigestive tract."  

Don't ask!!

Finally, there were the Beluga Whales. Spectacular, massive, creatures that almost look like they have a human face on them. It kind of reminded me of Randy Jackson. Seriously!! Find a picture of one and tell me that dude doesn't look just like a Beluga Whale!! I mean no disrespect...just tryin' to speak the truth!!

Anyway, as I walked through the Georgia Aquarium that day with my wife and my daughter surrounded by water and a vast array of ocean life I was struck with a realization. Only a fool would say, "There is no god!" YAHWEH has revealed Himself in what we call General Revelation in spectacular ways!! Whether it's through the smile on the face of a Beluga Whale, the stripes on a tropical fish, the tail on a stingray, the waddle of an emperor penguin, the laugh of my own daughter as she watches the emperor penguin or the way my wife winks at me because I remind her of a Tiger Shark. All of these incredible miracles reveal that there must be a Creator behind all of this creative-creation!! 

I am consistently amazed by the fact that there is a huge segment of our American populace that goes home at night after a day surrounded by the miracle of creation while living on a planet that hangs unsupported in space, miraculously and yet consistently revolving around a gigantic star that helps sustain life on this planet, while they eat and drink and laugh with their families and yet they still believe that GOD is not. We ask for GOD to show us miracles and then we'll really believe. Maybe He's already answered that prayer. Look! FIIIIISSSSHHHHH!!

30

This past Saturday (May 17th) I experienced my 30th birthday. Yes, that’s right………30. It was an amazing day. My beautiful wife Heather made the day extra awesome by giving me some great gifts and taking me to the Braves game with some friends. Even though they ended up losing 5-4 to the Oakland A’s, I didn’t let it get me down. I mean it was my 30th birthday for crying out loud!!! Now some people freak out about milestones like this. I on the other hand don’t really get too obsessed with it. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I work with teenagers. They really do keep you young when you spend a lot of time with them. Then, when your kids become teenagers I hear it all catches up with you and you age three to four times faster than normal!!

What’s the point of letting a 30th birthday bother you?! It’s inevitable!! It’s called the space-time continuum and none of us have any control over it whatsoever. With every tick of the second-hand on a clock we age until it all compounds and finally we’re 73 years old sitting in a padded rocking chair, rubbing the few hairs still clinging to the back of our head, asking “Pardon me?” after every question we are asked, while our spouse wipes the prune juice from our chin.

Actually I’m kind of glad I’m 30. I was reading a blog the other day where the author pointed out that the Talmud (Pirkei Avot 5:26) declares: "At age 30, one receives strength." The author of the blog went on to say:

“The Code of Jewish Law (O.C. 581:1) instructs congregations to seek certain qualities when choosing a cantor to lead the services on the High Holidays. One of these qualities is that he should be at least 30 years old. Why? The Mishna Brura explains that it is because a 30-year-old is humble and broken hearted, and can thus sincerely "pray from the heart."

It would seem that the Torah understands age 30 as a "moment of truth" when certain realities of life firmly take hold, and it is only through the acquisition of these realities that one can be a leader -- whether in public life or in prayer.”

I’ve always thought it was interesting how according to Genesis 41:46, “Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” And Jesus, of course, was 30 when he began his public ministry. So maybe 30 isn’t that bad. Why should I be depressed about it when apparently it’s quite a significant milestone in Jewish culture?

I have entered into a new season of my life. I want to be a faithful, passionate man of God for the next 30 years of my life and beyond. Thirty years from today I hope to be talking with my wife, Heather, about all the amazing things we saw the Lord do in and through us. And hopefully the vast majority of them occurred after I had turned 30. But until then I will thank my Lord for the 30 years he has given to me so far. And maybe….just maybe……I’ll go buy some dark socks, wear them with my flip-flops and purchase a really huge fanny-pack to put my chapstick collection in.

Leaders

I had lunch with my friend Keith Sargent yesterday (aka "The Sarge"). Keith is a high school teacher/ driving instructor extraordinaire and he serves faithfully in the High School Ministry. I first met him when we went on our Philadelphia mission trip almost 2 months ago. Keith was in my van (or should I say I was in his) and he drove us all the way from the ATL to "The City of Brotherly Love" without ever taking a break. I offered to drive but Keith said he was OK. I still don't know if this is because he just really loves to drive or if he was still trying to figure out if I was over twelve years old. I knew, however, that this guy was an ironman if he could drive a van filled with cackling/ laughing/ singing teenagers over 13 hours straight without ever stopping to bang his head against a guard rail.

Yesterday as we ate at Chic-fil-A {thank you sweet Jesus!} and talked about things like high school ministry and Greek Orthodoxy {you don't wanna know} I was reminded how blessed this ministry is to have people like this serving in it. Keith stands tall like a linebacker but he has an incredible heart that beats for Christ. And he can grow facial hair which, as always, causes me to envy greatly.

The Trail

Yesterday when I left the office I went for a run. Little Mulberry Park is really close to our house so I changed, muscled down a sandwich, gulped a water, and jumped in the car. I needed a little time to re-boot and clear my thoughts.

I haven't had much time for recreation since we moved back to Georgia and joined 12Stone. With the move, learning my new job, and all the small tasks in between, putting my body through a grueling regimen has not been high on the list. I felt the need to renew this discipline yesterday though.  

Little Mulberry Park is a magnificent place with miles of running trails with views of incredible forests and lakes. It is definitely a place where you can clear your mind and think deep thoughts. My deep thoughts however consisted of plugging the i-pod into my ears and blasting Drivin' & Cryin' while focusing on dominating the trail that lie before me!

I once heard a leadership guru who visited my former church in California talk about the importance of making time for play and how it is especially vital in the life of a pastor. He spoke of how sad it is that many guys in full-time ministry never make time for recreation and even sometimes feel guilty for doing so. I agree with him.

As I ran I got tired which made me breathe faster which caused my heart to beat faster which caused the oxygen to be pumped throughout my body at a much greater rate of speed which caused my brain to receive more oxygen than usual which caused me to think clearly and even sort of relax mentally and emotionally which made me want to run more. Very cool. Not to mention the song Fly Me Courageous was causing me to want to break something with my bare hands while I sped forward.

Last night after my friends Jason and Brett left, as I watched the NBA playoff game I had a thought. Running a trail like the one at Little Mulberry Park is a lot like living life. There are tons of different variations to the path you find yourself on. Some parts are curvy, some are straight. Some parts of the trail are a downhill cruise while others seem to go straight up a 70 degree incline. There are places in the trail where the scenery overlooks a majestic array of green trees, reflecting lakes, and even a large swan leading her baby chicks like a scene right out of a Mother Goose book while other portions are dark and over-layed with gloomy trees straight out of an Edgar Allen Poe story. Sometimes while looking at the scary scenery you even fall and scrape your knees.

You pass a lot of different people while on the trail. Old and young, skinny and not-so-skinny, young yuppie professionals and blue collar workers, nice looking couples and even the occasional scary looking man with dark eyes who looks exactly like that crazy dude from No Country for Old Men who made me have bad dreams for like a week and the whole time you're passing him on the trail you are totally freaked out just praying under your breath that he doesn't pull out one of those creepy bolt-gun things from that movie and start to...... wait....... sorry.

My point is that the trail we're running on is always changing. The hope that we have is that the ONE who runs with us never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same GOD who is running with me and leading me on this trail of my life is the same GOD who led and ran with the Apostle Paul on his trail of life. I find amazing peace in this truth.

Right now in the ministry I lead there are 2 separate sets of parents involved in serving in the ministry who are dealing with pretty big health issues with their children. They are incredible parents with an inspiring faith and trust in the Lord Jesus. I have learned a lot from them as I've talked to them over the past couple weeks. Right now they find themselves on an uncomfortable piece of the trail. Sometimes it's probably even scary. But nevertheless their eyes are staring ahead. And with the promises of GOD blaring out of their invisible i-pods into their spiritual ears they press on. They are heroes and they inspire me to do the same. 

And the cool thing is that one day, when this trail comes to an end, those of us who have trusted in Christ will begin to run on a brand new trail. A trail where there are no more gloomy places, no more dark corners, and no more creepy villains with dark eyes, a bolt gun, and a really bad bowl haircut. That trail will never end. And we will never ever fall and scrape our knees again.

Preach

This morning I spoke at Mill Creek High School about 2 miles from where I live. The most recent studies show Mill Creek to be the largest school in Georgia with over 4,000 students (Thank you Wikipedia!). A club called "Morning Manna" (See Moses and the book of Exodus) meets every Tuesday morning at 6:45. Tomorrow night I will preach at The Point @ 12Stone Church. No matter where it is I absolutely love to preach. It's the reason I'm in ministry. Along with having relationships with the people I'm ministering to, preaching is what fires me up about ministry.

In the 80's Oscar

 winning movie Chariots of Fire, the main character Eric, an Olympic sprinter makes the famous statement "When I run I feel God's pleasure." Well, when I preach I feel God's pleasure. Don't get me wrong.... it's not easy. Not ever. The Word messes with you in preparation, the Spirit convicts, and the Truth many times hurts. To this day I feel a mixture of queasiness, excitement, and extreme adrenaline rush before I step before a group of people to unfold and teach the scriptures. But it never ever gets boring!

When I was a kid in school (even in high school) I hated the thought of standing before a crowd and talking. In fact, I'd have much rather been strapped to a chair and had metal clips holding my eyelids open while being forced to watch a 10 hour long Justin Timberlake concert than speak in front of a crowd. A lot can change when the LORD grips your heart and (thankfully) refuses to let go. 

Preaching teaches you a lot. It forces you to pray more because there's no way you can share anything eternally significant relying on your own carnal strength and wisdom. It forces you to study because you need to preach as one who has authority. It forces you to repent because not to do so would be hypocrisy. It forces you to listen because the preacher who is worth his salt needs to know what the LORD wants to say and what the people desperately need to hear.

I'm reading a classic book on preaching right now called Preaching & Preachers by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. It is both challenging me and blowing my mind. The following excerpts are a few that I've loved.

"Emotion is regarded as something almost indecent [in preaching] . My reply to all that, once more, is simply to say that if you contemplate these glorious truths that are committed to our charge as preachers without being moved by them there is something defective in your spiritual eyesight."

"But, if there is no power it is not preaching. True preaching, after all, is God acting. It is not just a man uttering words; it is God using him. He is being used of God."

"What is preaching? Logic on fire! Eloquent reason! Are these contradictions? Of course they are not. Reason concerning this truth ought to be mightily eloquent, as you see it in the case of the Apostle Paul and others. It is theology on fire. And theology which does not take fire, I maintain, is a defective theology; or at least the man's understanding of it is defective. Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire.......I say again that a man who can speak about these things dispassionately has no right whatsoever to be in a pulpit;and should never be allowed to enter one."

"Preaching is the most amazing, and the most thrilling activity that one can ever be engaged in, because of all that it holds out for all of us in the present, and because of the glorious endless possibilities in an eternal future."

So tomorrow I will take the platform again. After feeling a mixture of exuberance and intense nausea, I will ask the Holy Spirit to empower me and speak through me with words that only he can give. I will sweat like a horse in Haiti and spit like a sprinkler in a corn field. I have to. It's truly like a fire shut up in my bones. I pray that the LORD will show up in a huge way and that many lives will be changed by the Gospel. And maybe......just maybe.....we might even have fun!

ENGAGE Retreat and Hebrews 11

So I just got back from taking about 30 student leaders in our high school ministry on an overnight retreat. I'm just now getting to know these students so it was a blessing hanging out with them on a retreat like this. There's nothing quite like driving a van full of teenagers singing "Grin Again Gang" for 30 minutes straight and telling stories of a barber named Bill, his doll-faced wife, and and the dinosaur he tried to shave {don't ask}! I'm learning that transitioning into a new ministry is a lot like being a space shuttle making a re-entry into the stratosphere. It's a bit bumpy and awkward at times but the payoff for persevering is well worth it.

During the retreat I shared a devotion with these students. The Lord had put the topic of "real faith" on my heart. We read from the incredible faith chapter, Hebrews 11. What amazes me about this scripture is that you see what it means to really have faith. In the case of everyone mentioned in this chapter (From Noah to Rahab to everyone else in between!) there is a specific "faith progression". First, God made a promise. Then the person with faith risked it all by believing God. Then God showed up in a HUGE way. But none of the people were shown exactly how everything would turn out before they lived by faith and believed God.

The scripture that burned a hole in my heart was the last part of verse 27. When talking about Moses, the writer of Hebrews says, "he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." What?! Does anyone else see something weird here?! How in the flip do you see something OR some-one that's invisible?! Then it hit me. The more often I risk it all to live by faith the more often I will likely see God. If I never live by ridiculous faith I probably won't see the invisible God. Moses saw him who is invisible because he believed God and obeyed Him. The result: God showed up! Moses saw God show up! Moses saw God!!

This idea seems to carry even into the New Testament when we look at the ministry of Jesus. The end of Matthew chapter 13 tells us about Jesus going to his hometown of Nazareth. He had grown up there which made it difficult for the people there (parents of the kids he played with, teachers at the local school, etc.) to believe he was actually Messiah. They did not have faith. The result is what seems to me to be a haunting scripture.

"And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." (Matthew 13:58)

There seems to be a connection between believing God and seeing God move. Rather than doing more miracles in a place where unbelief reigned in order to prove who he is, Jesus instead does few miracles. All because these people lacked faith.

The bottom line for me is this: I don't want to miss God. I don't want to not see the invisible God. May my life be one of ridiculous faith that I may see God move in powerful ways. And if He chooses not to move in the ways I long for Him to I will still believe that He must have a better plan than I ever did!

I believe that God has brought me to this place. I believe that God has brought me to this ministry for such a time as this. I believe that God has brought me to these students. I believe that God has brought me to these adult volunteers. I believe that God has led me to this city. For such a time as this I find myself here. I believe that God is getting ready to unleash a whirlwind of power. I want to risk it all for the sake of my King. And if I perish I perish. But either way..... I will see God

2

Last weekend we got together with a few friends to celebrate Annabelle's second birthday. Elmo and Abby Cadabby (of Sesame Street fame) were plastered all over our house as toddlers blew bubbles, bounced balloons into the air, and scurried up and down the stairs like ants marching in a parade.

I was reminded on that day that one of the most amazing sounds in the galaxy is a child's laughter. There may be no other sound so filled with hope and optimism. 

It's hard to believe that this little girl is already two. As I write this blog my little munchkin is flopping around on the floor like a captured fish singing a song that has only one lyric: "da be doo-doo-doo.....da be doo-doo-doo". Her little pink bow (strategically matching her shoes) hangs sideways like a tattered war-torn flag......a casualty of her new game. The more I watch my daughter play her made up games, blow out Elmo-candles, and eat cake with her hands, the more I continue to understand why Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me."

What Friendship Means

Today I spent some time with one of my best friends, Joel. We talked about life and ministry as we ate hot wings and way too many curly fries. We laughed about old memories and dreamed about what the future may hold for each of our families. As we sat there in Beef O'Brady's Restaurant surrounded by sports memorabilia and about 16 flat screen tv's,  I felt blessed. Striking up these old friendships has been a gift from GOD over the past month-and-a-half. In addition to being at a church where I have learned a year's worth of lessons already, I have been able to hang out with friends I feel a real kindredness to. Joel is one of those friends I can imagine myself sitting on a patio with when I'm 70 complaining about the rising prices of prunes and milk of magnesia. 

Another good friend of mine is Jason. We have been friends for about 10 years now (Dude, i'm getting old!). I love talking to Jason (whenever we have a serious conversation) because even though we have vastly different backgrounds we think extremely similarly about ministry. His office is about 7 doors down from mine at the church. We actually live officially 3 doors down from Jason and his family. I consider it a joy getting a knock on my front door at 11pm from him asking if he can borrow one of my Nintendo Wii games. 

Here at 12Stone I feel like I've already made some pretty cool friendships with the guys on staff with me too. Brett (Middle School Pastor) is a stinking trip! It was a touching experience spitting lugies off of the bridge at the church and racing the 12Stone golf carts in the parking lot in our own makeshift Daytona 500. Berry (One of the Children's Pastors) is the master of one liners. The dude literally makes me laugh every time he opens his mouth! Miles (the College Pastor) is an inspiration to me. The way he blasts his music next door so loud that it makes my bookcases rattle inspires me to buy ear plugs. But it also makes me laugh. The favorite part of my week is when we find ourselves huddled around someone's computer watching the latest hilarious youtube video that one of us has victoriously tracked down.

I've learned some lessons about friendship over the past few weeks. Friendship is a gift. To have compadres in this life is crucial. Especially when you're in ministry. Having dudes with you who can relate on a close level to the life GOD has called you to is vital. Having guys I can laugh with and who can remind me that "we should take Jesus seriously, but not ourselves" is a blessing I am thankful for.

I miss the friends I had over on the west coast. Especially the few fellow soldiers who know me deeper than anyone. I miss them greatly. But I am very grateful that the LORD has provided more here at 12Stone. What does friendship mean to me? It means always having a reason to smile.............. and laugh my butt off at a youtube video.

SIMON was at Church!!!

Remember the 1980's smash hit electronic game SIMON? Any true child of the 80's does! Well, yesterday morning at 12Stone church we played it. No, they didn't pass out thousands of little electronic games during each worship service. Instead during the middle of the sermon they passed out thousands of different colored glow sticks. Each section of the auditorium received a different color. I had yellow (the coolest color by far). Then instructions were given, the lights went out, a diagram to lead us came on the big screens, and 2 guys in glow-in-the-dark suits started playing some funky electronic music on the keyboard! It was the trippiest thing I've ever experienced in a church service. And it fit right in with the truth being communicated in the sermon!! The truth is that GOD is like "Simon" in the sense that He gives instructions and we must be attentive because He expects us to follow.

I know my descriptions of what happened yesterday don't do it justice. That's OK. Just trust me when I say it was stinking amazing!!

From MySpace to Facebook: A coming of age.

In the past 24 hours I have officially begun my Facebook experience. It feels like the first day of Junior High to me. I have officially graduated the 6th grade of Myspace where everyone laughs at really immature jokes, lies about their boring lives, and mass mails  absurd chain letters that say If I really love GOD I will forward the chain letter to 10 of my friends (I guess I missed the chapter in my Bible where Jesus talks about that! Oh darn!!). 

I am now roaming the hallways of Facebook. Unsure of what to do, where to go, or how to be cool but pretending to know exactly what I'm doing.

I must say that it seems like everyone is in the Facebook world except for me. In less than a day I already have almost 60 friends!!! I feel so popular!! This has been a very solid day for my self esteem. Like I'm the cool kid in Junior High who just got a brand new pair of Air Jordans and that really sweet Chicago Bulls Starter Jacket. I'm walking down the hall with my walkman in my ears blasting Vanilla Ice while everyone smiles and says, "Hey look! There's Anson! Check out his cool new Donnie Wahlberg haircut!!" Oh yes..... Facebook is great! I just hope the teachers here are nicer.

TO VISIT MY NEW FACEBOOK PAGE SEE THE LINKS ON THE SIDE OF THE PAGE!!

Being a Daddy...

Growing up without my biological father around I was always sort of freaked out about becoming a dad. I literally compiled numerous books on "being a daddy" and devoured them.  It was a bit like preparing to be a professional sailor without ever having seen an ocean. (OK...I'm not quite sure if that illustration makes sense to you but it does to me.) Don't get me wrong....I always wanted kids! I just didn't feel like I had what it took to be a great (even good) dad.

Then my daughter was born. One day soon after her birth as I watched her coo and poop it suddenly occurred to me that whether I liked it or not she was counting on me. Whether I felt ready or not she was ready and expecting me to be her daddy. Not perfect. Just competent. 

A few years ago John Mayer wrote a really intense song called "Daughters". If you haven't listened to it for a while I'd encourage you to pick it up on i-tunes after you read this. It's actually one of my favorite songs of all time. Probably because of my own experience of being estranged from my dad. Every time I hear the following line from that song I do a double take: 

Oh you see that skin?

It's the same she's been standing in

Since the day she saw him walking away

Now she's left

Cleaning up the mess he made

So fathers be good to your daughters

Daughters will love like you do

Girls become lovers who turn into mothers

So mothers, be good to your daughters too

I'm not sure why I started thinking about this today. Maybe it's because me and Heather took our little one to the park today. As she played in the sand and obsessively picked the pine straw out of her bucket, placing it in it's own orderly pile, I started to see a lot of me in her. I couldn't help but stare. And wonder at the miracle of life. And pray in a whisper that when she's 29 like I am today...... she won't be cleaning up the messes I have made.

I am a dad.

Leadership & Ministry

The church I work at (12Stone Church in the Atlanta area....woot woot!) is getting ready to host the Maximum Impact Simulcast tomorrow. Leaders like Andy Stanley, Dick Vitale, and John Maxwell will be speaking. Our staff was treated to a surprise today when John Maxwell came in early to spend some time with us. In short- I just had a boatload of leadership wisdom unleashed upon me. The wisdom of this man was quite inspiring. In addition to a signed copy of his new book Leadership Gold, I got to ask him a question. "John, when you were 30 what books shaped you the most?" Want to know what he said? Ask me in person some time and I'll tell you.

Dear Cheesesteak!

Dear Cheesesteak,

I needed to write to you because no matter how hard I try I just cannot stop thinking about you. I can't shake the memories I have of you. When I saw you in Philly I wasn't sure quite what to think about you. I must admit I couldn't take my eyes off of you. The whole time I watched you, I quietly prayed you would choose me. Little did I know you were hoping I would choose you too! When you ended up on my plate I breathed a sigh of relief like a jaywalker who had just escaped the overzealous cops.

Oh, my cheesesteak. So warm. So greasy. So cheesy. So steaky. So good.

I chewed you to my heart's content. I whispered sweet nothings to you. I promised you the world. I would lasso the moon for you, Cheesesteak.

I shall never forget the 4 minutes we shared in Philly.

For such a brief moment in history you made me so very happy.

And then you were gone.

Until we one day meet again,

Anson

My Trip to Philly

Last week I went on my very first trip with the high school students of 12Stone. With the help of some incredible adult volunteers from the ministry I led a trip into the inner city of Philadelphia, PA. We spent the week doing ministry on Kensington Avenue. It's one of the most broken and dark places I have ever been. The streets are laced with prostitutes (male and female), drug dealers, and crowds of homeless people. The graffitti-clad buildings cast shadows over the people while the air is constantly filled with the sound of booming-bass from cars thumping the likes of Chris Brown and Nelly. And all the while time seems to stand still under the elevated train that covers Kensington.

Throughout the week we worked with some incredible people in an organization called AIM. These people have such a heart for the people on Kensington Avenue and all those living in Philly's inner-city. They actually live there year-round. They minister full-time to the broken people who fill those streets. 

We walked the streets of Philly having providential conversations with the homeless, grilling them hot dogs, serving them steaming coffee, and praying for them as they expressed needs. Much can be learned in a week like this. The LORD taught me some staggering truths during my time in Philly (The Birthplace of America). I'd like to share a few of them now.

• -I've been incredibly judgemental toward the homeless and their plight. I've acted like a jerk toward them my whole life. I need to grow up. I repent.
  
• -I see why Jesus chose to spend so much time hanging out with the "riff-raff". There's not an ounce of pre-tense in them. They're just happy you're there.
  
• - Processed hot dogs smothered with sauerkraut and canned chili can actually taste good when you're eating them with hurting homeless people in Philly who really appreciate them.
  
• - People living on the streets care about the same thing I do like the presidential election, the war in Iraq, and whether or not the Braves will beat the Phillies in the NL East.
  
• - There's so much more to Christianity than just Bible studies & church attendance. Start to serve and give yourself away to those in need and you'll realize this.
  
• - The only real difference between those of us living in the suburbs and those who sleep in the dark alleys of Kensington Avenue in Philly is where we sleep and live. Our struggles are the same. Lust, selfishness, addictions, anger, greed, and pride to name a few.
  
• - The absence of fathers who care for and lead their families seems to be the root of all this brokenness.
  
• - People in Philly really hate the Dallas Cowboys. I mean with a vitriolic hate.
  
• - Flyers fans are psycho!
  
• - One day even the darkness, sin, and despair so visible in a place like Kensington Avenue will be defeated by Jesus Christ. Every knee on Kensington will one day bow to the King.
  

Here's to you, Philly! Thank you for the lessons.

What I'm Reading Right Now: A LIST OF BOOKS PROBABLY NO ONE ELSE CARES ABOUT.

So anyone who knows me is aware of my obsession with books. Part of it is just about leadership. A mentor of mine in college once remarked to me "A leader is a reader". I'm pretty sure he stole this quote from John Maxwell or Oswald Sanders or someone like that but the truth of that statement remains. I have never forgotten this!

Another reason for my obsession, however, is just therapeutic. Books are so full of wisdom and insight. Way more than any TV show or web site. So, in my spare time, I try and discipline myself to study and read. My most influential mentors are dead guys who wrote great books.

So, with all that said, here's what I'm reading right now:

The Deliberate Church by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander

This book was actually given to me by an older gentleman at my previous church in Cali right before we left a few weeks ago. It's subtitle is "Building Your Ministry On The Gospel". This should give you a clue into what this book focuses on. It's a great look at how to lead a church that is truly about the Gospel. A church where a "win" is defined by how well we're carrying out the Great Commission and not just whether or not a worship service was, in our own relative definitions, "cool".

Preaching & Preachers by D. Martyn Lloyd Jones

Ummm..........wow! Gone to be with Jesus in 1981, this incredible pastor of Westminster Chapel in London is fast becoming one of my dead mentors!! This book is so before it's time. In it he addresses the idea that preaching the Word has become stale and is no longer effective. He asserts that not only is preaching still effective it is indeed the most effective task we could carry out in a church. Sometimes as I'm reading this book I actually feel as if I'm reading a contemporary book addressing the emergent church. I love it and hate it when I read things like "If people are not attending places of worship I hold the pulpit to be primarily responsible." OUCH! I totally recommend this as essential reading for anyone who preaches GOD's Word on a regular basis!

John Wesley: A Theological Journey by Kenneth J. Collins

I don't read as many biographies as I should. This one has been a challenging one but it has definitely been beneficial. I have never known a whole lot about Wesley so reading this book has made him human to me. Reading about his struggles and even depressing seasons has encouraged my soul. Reading about how he and George Whitefield disagreed so strongly on theological topics such as predestination and yet how they remained good friends respecting one another's ministry has challenged me in my own life. This is a man who persevered and his work for Christ lives on hundreds of years later. Lord, help me to be a man like this for your glory!

So that's a bit about what I'm reading. So, what are you reading?

Ribs anyone?

Looking for some BBQ pork ribs that'll make you drop to your knees, raise both your hands, and thank the Lord for creating pigs?! Visit the Blues City Cafe in the heart of downtown Memphis, Tennessee!!! I'm still licking my fingers!!! I just can't figure out why every time I try to cook ribs they end up tasting like dry tar on a hollow bone. Anyways, these guys at Blues City Cafe in Memphis have indeed perfected the art!! They are the Mozart of rib cooking! The Picasso of BBQ! The Michael Jordan of the grill! The Michael Vick of the ..... oh....... oops.

HUNKA-HUNKA BURNIN' LOVE!

I may never recover from this one. Yes..... I went to Graceland........ willingly. I'm not sure what it was. I mean we had to pass through Memphis! I guess I figured since we were so close we just needed to go ahead and take the plunge! I mean, what could it hurt, right? 

Well, let me just say, if Branson, Missouri is known as the Redneck Riviera then Graceland must be Hillbilly Hotel. Don't get me wrong..... I love Elvis! I really do! This sin't about Elvis Presley. It's just very interesting to me the demographic of people who compose the vast majority of what I lovingly refer to as Graceland-grazers! They can be described by the following bulletpoints:

• Over 50.
  
• White.
  
• Brightly colored shirt made of at least 75% polyester.
  
• Dark socks with sandals.
  
• Oversized Camera hanging from strap around neck.
  
• Oversized Fanny-pack hanging from waist.
  
• Oversized fanny hanging from body.
  
• A hat that appears to be way to big for the cranium it houses.
  
• Breathing through the mouth in amazement as they stare at the jungle room.
  
• A look of awe whenever they see any of Elvis' white ceramic monkeys.

I guess I had fun. It definitely wasn't boring. No more boring than it would be walking around Saturn as you watched hundreds of native Saturnites tour the planet with you. I'm not making fun of people like this. I just feel really out of place when I'm around hundreds of them! Besides.... I wonder what Elvis would think if he knew thousands of fanny-pack armed fans were shuffling through the hallways of his Memphis home each day taking pictures of his parent's bed. WOW! We humans can be a weird sort.

GOD Bless Oklahoma City

During the McMahon trek to Georgia Heather and I visited The Oklahoma City Memorial in downtown Oklahoma City. I wasn't expecting to be as moved by this experience as I was!

I can still remember watching the events of that day take place on the news when I was in the 11th grade. A federal building in Oklahoma City had been destroyed by a massive homemade bomb of fertilizer and explosives hidden away in a Ryder truck. 168 people had been killed in the worst act of domestic terrorism to date. Many were children who had been in the day care on the 2nd floor. The Ryder truck had been parked right in front of the day care just before it exploded. It would later be discovered that Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were the mastermind of this evil plot.

What would cause someone to plan something so wicked and sinister? Even if he was acting in retaliation against the government why would he plan to kill innocent people? 

As I toured the museum and walked the memorial yard with my wife I felt as if this memorial stood not simply to honor those killed but also to remind all of us that there is real evil in this world. Satan and the demons are real. Their plots and hierarchy are cunning and insidious. The destruction they cause is dark.

Light does overcome darkness, however. One day Satan will finally be destroyed. Jesus Christ has defeated the devil through His magnificent work on the cross. And, as Revelation tells us, every tear shall one day be wiped away..... forever.

My New Favorite Song!!

I have decided that my new favorite song until further notice is "Society" by Eddie Vedder. It was on the Into The Wild soundtrack. I actually posted a blog a long time ago on this page about what I thought about the book Into The Wild and how it impacted me. This song by Eddie Vedder expresses the heart of this book and Chris McCandless amazingly. I highly suggest you download the song from i-tunes right now and then listen to it while reading the lyrics. You can google them. Then comment this blog and let me know how it spoke to you!!!!!

Red Rocks of Sedona

Along our journey headed east we stopped in Sedona, Arizona. Honestly, I had never heard of this place before but when we got there I wondered why! Sedona is famous for the blazing red sandstone formations most famously known as the Red Rocks of Sedona. As I toured Sedona I felt like I was a gun-slinging character right out of 3:10 to Yuma. 

We took a trolly ride tour through Sedona and for about 3/4 of the tour we were the only people on it! As we sat in the trolly on wheels with the jackalope head hanging from the rear-view window speeding through Sedona I felt happy. It's moments like these you don't get too often.

I'm trying to learn to slow down and enjoy the simple moments in life. A bumpy ride in a Sedona trolly. A moment standing in front of a giant red rock towering high above the ground like an indian warrior. A moment talking with our New Age tour guide about how long she's lived there and why she believes that Sedona's mighty red rocks have magical vortex power. I've been reflecting recently on how the passing moments of life are gifts that we will never get back. Once they are gone they are gone forever. So as the famous line from The Shawshank Redemption goes, "Get busy living, or get busy dying."

I don't believe that the mighty red rocks of Sedona have magical vortex power. But I do believe the One who made those rocks is mighty indeed.

The Grand Canyon

On the way from California to Georgia, Heather and I were able to stop at the Grand Canyon. Actually it was about 70 miles out of the way but how do you pass up the Grand Canyon?!

As we pulled up to the south rim we couldn't help to drop our jaws and say "sheeesh". I think we stopped on the perfect day! The sky was clear, the air was crisp, the sun was bright, and the colors of the canyon catapulted from the cliffs like a fire! We must have stood there for ages as we took in the beauty. After the obligatory picture in front of the majestic canyon we walked across the street to the gift shop to buy our daughter something. While we were in there I saw a book for sale on the shelf called DEATH IN THE CANYON. It was a book about hundreds of people who have died in the canyon. It was the actual stories of what happened! From suicides to drownings in the river to hiking accidents to everything else!! I decided not to buy this for my daughter and instead opted for the Grand Canyon building blocks.

I wonder what it must have been like for the first men who discovered that gigantic hole in the earth. I wonder how long it took them to grasp the beauty of what they were beholding. I wonder if any of them found it possible to be an atheist after seeing it? But most of all I couldn't shake this nagging thought............ I wonder how many people have accidentally dropped their expensive digital cameras in it?

Journeying On

What a ride it's been over the past few months. The LORD has been up to some serious stuff in the life of the McMahon fam! After much prayer, struggling and wrestling HE confirmed to us that the next season of our life was to be spent ministering to students in the Hotlanta area at 12Stone Church. WHAT?! SERIOUSLY?! Honestly we never saw this coming. Once we finally got up the nerve to be obedient and put the house on Novi Drive on the market the LORD showed us how serious HE was about this. 36 hours later a lady wanted to buy our house for cash in a market that's as dead as a Kansas City Royals Baseball game in the middle of September.

After a transition that turned out to be pretty emotional for a plethora of reasons, we pulled out of California with the G.P.S. system programmed for the big GA. As we crossed over the California/Arizona border somewhere near Needles at dusk we wondered if we'd ever return to this sunny state we knew as home for a little over 5 years. I guess the Father only knows. Now as we begin a new journey we feel like kids going on their first roller coaster ride at a theme park. A little scared. A lot of excitement. And an incredible desire to enjoy every moment of it, one day sitting with good friends and Bible heroes of old being able to tell them, "Dude....check out what we did!!"