Grunt, grimace…naah, JUST BREATHE!!!

There’s plenty of ways to respond to bad news.  I think we’ve all been there and were forced to live w/ the regret of responding inappropriately or stand proud for responding the right way!!!

This is one of those times when responding inappropriately LOOKED SO GOOD!!!

My finally doomed G4...well at least the screen is history!!!

My finally doomed G4...well at least the screen is history!!!

The above photo is a picture of my DAMAGED vintage ibook G4 (yeah, it’s old & they were not calling them Macbooks when I got it)!

My eight year old son decided to carry my opened notebook by grabbing the top corners of the screen.  Oh, did I mention it was in the presence of my closest & dearest loved-one who will remain nameless?  Needless to say, it dropped from his little filthy hands landing on the carpet, sources say.

Now, I was informed of the incident three-plus hours afterwards and after I opened the computer to see, once again, the above pic (note to the audience: always provide an explanation immediately after a catastrophe…never let the victim learn they’re a victim on their own)!

In that moment, I wanted to lose it (key words: WANTED TO).  Instead of entertaining any of my “quite often used” options, I sat down on the couch, and started to watch a movie I had DVR’d earlier…just so happens to be one that the aforementioned “nameless” family member and I enjoy watching together!!!

For some reason, with all of the options going on in my head, a question took forefront.  And the question was this: Is it really worth it?  The attitude and silent treatment that I’d normally stink up the house with…sucking my teeth every time Myles comes in the room all because he’s ONCE AGAIN, broken one of my toys.  Is it all worth it?

After the movie started and I got to one of the early & HILARIOUS scenes, I started to reassess the damage.  I paused the movie and felt my blood pressure start to increase again.  Then, as if I was talking to someone else in the room, I told myself (albeit in my Daddy’s voice) BOY, IT’S A COMPUTER!!!  Stop worrying ‘bout this thing & get a grip, NEGRO…because CLEARLY Myles didn’t have a good one!” LOL

I believe that sometimes no response is the godly response.  The Scriptures speak on more than one occasion of not allowing our things to have us.  Jesus spent “all day” talking about how our attitudes should be during his famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 & 6).

Right responses are not at all easy ones and in my case too few to be the norm.  The goal is to have the “proper” response ongoing…even if it’s just breathing!!!

Just In Case You Missed It

North Region Group Social

North Region Group Social

Just in case you missed it, our regional socials were held a couple of weeks ago and considering Atlanta’s weather recently, it was so refreshing to see both the excitement and the turnout from those attending.  In our North region, several of us came together and shared a few of our personal experiences.

Not to put anyone’s business in the streets, but I thought it was rather interesting to hear…

“If had to be an animal, I’d be our dog growing up, who looked a lot like Lassie.”

“The first time I heard about Blueprint Church was through Dhati preaching at a church in North Carolina about a church he was planting in Atlanta!”

“If I could have an endless supply of any food, it would be Captain Crunch cereal!”

“I read about Blueprint Church on a website-forum, attended the service at the end of August & now I’m here.”

“A movie about my life would be called, ‘Out of Balance,’ and the actor playing my life would be Jim Carrey.”

“My superhero growing up was my grandfather…he kept the family together.”

“If I could accomplish one thing in life, I’d travel the world.”

Ok, since the individuals making the above comments will remain nameless, let me just say that this was from ONE of the FOUR regional groups Blueprint Church is launching and if you’d like more information, please check out our website or contact John Onwuchekwa (John@blueprintchurch.org)

Blueprint Church Social

Time to Reconnect!!!

So, maybe you missed the Sketch of Blueprint weekend!!!  No worries…we’re all returning to a less formal more relational setting in Candler Park this coming Saturday from 11:00am – 3:00pm.  There will be LOTS OF FOOD with LOTS OF FUN for the family. We will also be providing more information regarding our upcoming Regional Meetings as well as our Upload Series (beginning in October)!

More importantly, this weekend is for YOU and we’re looking forward to connecting with as many families and friends as possible!!!

The address for Candler  Park is 1400 McLendon Ave NE Atlanta, GA.  Feel free to bring your blankets & lawn chairs…HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!

Candler Park

What A Weekend!!!

blueprintT

What a weekend, what a weekend, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE WEEKEND!!! If you attended, thought about attending, or simply prayed for our Saturday & Sunday events, we THANK YOU!!! If this weekend was any indication of the Lord’s plans for the city of Atlanta, WOW!!!

It all kicked off with over 2,000 (that’s right, over 2K) Reach Records fans jammed into the Georgia World Congress Center.  Talk about a HOLY ROAR in the BUILDING, these guys showed Atlanta how Christian Hip Hop is supposed to be done!!!  This being the last stop of their Don’t’ Waste Your Life tour, the artists (Flame, Lecrae, Sho Baraka, Tedashii & Trip Lee) gave a “second to NONE” performance.  The energy in the room shook the ground, the walls and the windows (LITERALLY)!!

For those of you who were not aware, Reach Records has actually moved their headquarters to Atlanta and will continue to partner with Blueprint to impact this city for God’s glory…

yeah boyeeYEAH BOYEE!!!

Please continue to pray for their families and their transition!!!

Fast forward to Sunday morning, the day began with anticipation, energy and excitement.  I think the entire team was antsy to see God do something unique during the service.  Believe me when I say that He did not disappoint.  Close to 300 in attendance.  An unbelievably diverse crowd.  Engaging and meaningful worship coupled with a practical and profound message.

dlewsketchLead Pastor Dhati Lewis

Special thanks to Pastor Ken Rucker, Shawna McBee and the incredible team from New Branch Community Church (who left their Sunday service up in Dacula, GA in order to come assist us). With their help, we were able to offer a fun and meaningful children’s service.  Great are your rewards in Heaven guys!!!

To say we were extremely pleased with the weekend would be an understatement.  In fact, check out what @drewflet had to say on his blog:

“The love and passion for Christ was so thick. It was so exciting to see such a diverse group of people in the same service, there were brothers and sisters from all ages and races praising the Lord together.”

Amazing!!!

areyoubluThe Sketch weekend also marked the launching of our “Are You Blu?” campaign, along with our new-look website and a host of dates & times of upcoming events (including a picnic in Candler Park on September 12th).  For more information, visit us online and as always, feel free to pass this on to any family members and friends!

Above all, continue to pray for us.  Our total confidence & dependence is in our Heavenly Father.  We’re daily relying upon Him to keep us true to our mission:  Unleashing healthy people to do ministry where life exist.

FINALLY!!!

BP-101-Sketch-Poster

It’s FINALLY here!!! After months of planning, preparing, and PRAYING, we’re only a day away from the eve of our BIGGEST weekend to date. Sure, there’s stillTONS of stuff to do and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.  We couldn’t be more “amped” about getting out of the blocks this weekend and running at an Usain Bolt pace for the remainder of the year (not familiar with the track phenom below YOUTUBE him)!!!

usain bolt

We learned early this week that our Saturday concert is SOLD OUT (special thanks to the many fans of Reach Records).  To no avail, we were unable to accommodate the number of people who missed out. No worries though…our Sunday service is the clearest way to witness firsthand what we believe Blueprint will offer the city of Atlanta.

saturday concertNow, we all know experiencing the first EVER Blueprint Church service is pretty historical (that one thing later on in life you can tell the grandkids)!  Seriously, we’re making known all of the “what’s,” “why’s” and “when’s” of our church during this service.  Learn of upcoming socials, regional group meetings and even dates of our next service(s) which are probably sooner than you think.

A couple of quick pointers/reminders…the Sunday service will be held in the Georgia Tech Hotel, which is downtown Atlanta (800 Spring Street).  Service start-time is 10:30 a.m (not 10:45 a.m as falsely advertised on the top poster).  There is parking along the street near the hotel.  However, WE RECOMMENDparking in the hotel deck which  is complimentary for Blueprint guest(s).  Guest(s) may exchange parking tickets for vouchers at the service.

Also, childcare will be provided for ages six months  up to the 5th grade!

We GREATLY appreciate the interest many have expressed regarding our efforts.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers and hopefully we’ll connect at one of the two events this weekend.  Again, feel free to pass this on to any of your family or friends!!!

MasterLogoNoCompass

Reminder & Request

BP-101-Sketch-PosterThis is a reminder as well as a request for one of the BIGGEST weekends in Blueprint’s young history.  We’re only NINE days away from our Saturday concert and 10 days away from our Sunday service.  Excited?  Yes!  Nervous?  Yeah, a little bit of that too!  Prayerful?  ABSOLUTELY!!!  In fact, that’s where the request comes in.

MasterLogo

We’d love to see each and every Atlantan (that’s right, all 5 million plus) at this event, although finding a venue would be a nightmare!  Seriously, we can’t wait to connect with everyone who has already made plans or are considering being in attendance.  Seeing old friends and making new ones are two of the things we MOST look forward to with the Sketch of Blueprint.  Yet, we realize there are in-towners & out-of-towners alike with previous commitments.

Our request…no our PLEA is that you’d carve out some time over the next 9-10 days to pray for us. There are a slew of assignments, projects and task(s) being completed by a few “faithful folk!”  Could you please commit to praying for them as well as their families?  Pray for our leadership.  Pray for those in attendance.  Pray for our time. Pray…pray…PRAY for us!!!

Again, feel free to pass this on to any of your family/friends who may enjoy hearing about our journey.  For more information, check us out online:

www.blueprintchurch.org

www.facebook.com/blueprintchurch

www.twitter.com/blueprintchurch

saturday concert


Big Weekend For Blueprint

Sketch of Blueprint Weekend

Sketch of Blueprint Weekend

August will be a landmark month in the life of Blueprint Church. We’ll close out the summer with two events that will highlight what is to come for us. Mark your calendars and invite a friend.

Don’t Waste Your Life Concert – Reach Records
Saturday, August 29 – 7:00 p.m.
Georgia World Congress Center
http://www.reachrecords.com/dwyl/

Introductory Service
Sunday, August 30 – 10:30 p.m.
Goergia Tech Hotel & Conference Center
http://www.blueprintchurch.org

Our team is working diligently as we prepare for this weekend. Many of them have just relocated to Atlanta and have hit the ground running. Please pray their transition will be smooth. Also, if you or anyone you know is interested in serving during this weekend as a volunteer, please contact Laura Ashby at laura@blueprintchurch.org.

We will keep you posted and would LOVE to see you during this weekend!

saturday concert