There are a few prize give-aways too!

1. If you come to Freedom Rock and bring the most friends, you and 22 of your friends will get to ride in this cool stretch Hummer Limo! Yep, its complete with neon lights on the floor and ceiling and leather seats! Every camp rocker needs one of those, right?

Want to see the interior of the limo? You will as it will be at Freedom Rock the very first night! Its unlike anything you have ever seen!

2. If you come every night you will get a ticket and every ticket you get goes into the drawing. We then will draw one winner who will win a trip for their family to Disney! Yep, that is what I said, a trip to Disney!

There are so many amazing things planned for your children! Don’t miss this! You will be sorry! Sign up online today and to get further details by visiting the link below!

http://www.freedomhousechurch.org/rock

I cannot believe we are finally here! We are breaking ground this Sunday! Yep, Sunday, May 22, 2011, Freedom House Church is moving the dirt! It’s just the beginning of a crazy, fun adventure! I am way too excited!

So what will Sunday look like? We will be having ONE HUGE church service! We have an enormous tent that fits a few thousand, so we have room for you and your family. Pastor Troy will be speaking and our worship team will be doing their thing as well. We also have a lot of surprises planned after our church service but I can tell you a few things you will see on Sunday!

Ritas Italian Ice and Papa Johns will be on site to help with food. We also will have kettle corn, cotton candy, and tons of rides! We have pony rides and a petting zoo for the little kiddos as well as many other fun things for every age in your household! YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS DAY IN THE HISTORY OF FREEDOM HOUSE! It will be spectacular!

The ONE BIG service will happen right across the street from our current location, on our nearly 30 acres of land. You will park where you normally do each Sunday and then you will walk over. If you  have small children or special needs, we will shuttle you over. We will also have police and a parking team to assist with vehicles but to avoid that you just have to arrive early and get your seat! Again, make sure you get there early to get your seat!

Here is the latest picture of YOUR new building!

This Mother’s Day is going to go down in the history books of Freedom House Church! So many amazing things are happening and I am just beside myself with excitement!

First, every single mother who shows up on Mother’s Day is going to get a gift and be honored but ONE MOTHER is walking away with a brand new car, $250.00 in gas, a 1-year service program and a 10-year/100,000 mile warranty! How cool is that?!

I have one other HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT to share on Sunday but I don’t want to let the cat out of that bag just yet, come Sunday and you will see what I mean! You can bet there will be pictures to follow!

Next, Pastor Troy will be out of town so there is a little sneaky fun happening in his absence! Let’s hope he doesn’t see this! I am sure there will be pictures of this, too!

Lastly, the message on Sunday will be sure to impact you. Here is a little sample:

Under The Broom Tree
Am I the only one? When Elijah felt scared and alone, he sat himself under a broom tree and cried out to God.
We’re sure any mom can relate! All mothers go though things, and we sometimes feel we’re the only ones who feel that way. It’s like we’re under the broom tree…except maybe ours is more like a broom than a tree!
No matter what stage of mothering you’re in, you’re not alone.

We will see you this Mother’s Day! Bring all the moms you know! You won’t soon forget this day!

After all my years of counseling couples, I’ve learned that a woman falls in love with a man who sacrifices to meet her needs. She also stays in love with this kind of man. In fact, nothing in this world can endear a man to a woman more than the quality of sacrificial love.

In the same way, nothing embitters a woman’s spirit more than a selfish or abusive man. Much of the spiritual decay in our society—including the breakdown of the family—can be attributed to selfish and abusive men.

When men change, so will our society.

I’m not just theorizing. I have personally experienced the reality of an angry and embittered woman. As sweet as Karen was on the day we met, she had turned into a very different person after only five years of marriage.

Instead of greeting me at the door with a kiss, she met me in the kitchen with a stare. Her “sweet nothings” at bedtime turned into complaints.

At the beginning of our relationship, I tried my best to win Karen’s heart. But by our fourth year of marriage, I’d stopped pursuing her at all. The little energy I did direct toward her was to meet my own sexual needs.

It wasn’t long before she began to complain about being used only for sex. I accused her of being unreasonable. I was wrong.

During those years, I worked, played golf, and went home expecting Karen to take the load off me. I intended to watch television and rest while she cooked, cared for the kids, cleaned the house, paid the bills, and did yard work. If she asked for my help with anything, I got annoyed and told her how tired I was.

Then, when I requested sex, she got annoyed and told me how tired she was. A woman is a reflection of her husband.

I was lazy. I took Karen for granted. I was a chauvinist. Without even realizing it, I had adopted an attitude that women were not as important as men.

I am ashamed today that I ever believed those lies, but that attitude fueled my neglectful, selfish behavior. The angry woman in my house reflected her unrighteous husband.

Am I saying that women don’t have minds of their own? That all a wife does is react to her husband?

No. That’s the last thing in the world I’m trying to say! Women were created by God as equal to men in every spiritual, moral, and intellectual sense. Emotionally and physically, women are not inferior or superior—they are just different.

Even though women are perfectly capable of controlling their behavior and making their own decisions, they are not immune from a destructive husband. The emotional agony, insecurity, and suffering caused by the men in their lives can take a very serious toll.

That is why God’s plan for husbands—for men to love their wives sacrificially, “as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25)—is so important. Nothing reverses the course of a destructive husband and a failing marriage like a commitment to Christlike, sacrificial love.

If a husband loves sacrificially and a woman reflects her husband, then her life will reflect the character of Christ. There is no better hope for hurting marriages.

Trend #1

From french nails to short, neutral nails. You see this everywhere. Of course square nails would be appropriate, round shaped went out years ago. If you struggle to let go of your round nails then compromise and get a square nail with a rounded corner to help you transition. There’s always a compromise!

There are lots of neutral shades. Pick one for you. Simple and clean.

Trend #2

From graphic T’s to plain and simple, just one color T’s. No more wings, swirls, crosses, etc.

The new trend is fitted not baggy tees, so your workout really does show! Its all about fitted!

This was the graphic tee look.

Trend #3

Straight, dark washed, slim-line jeans. No more blinged out pockets or embroidered pockets. A sleek European look is what is in. Very simple and clean looking.

Simple colors, clean lines and a tailored look is whats hot!

The sparkly, blinged out phase is gone. Here is an example.

Trend #4

Chucks are out. The younger kids can wear them but the adult version is gone. Instead, ankle boots, half laced are all the rage.Some people prefer to wear Tom’s but I dont think I would invest in a pair if I didn’t already have them. I think their time is coming.

There are lots of varities of these, here is just one to show you.

The good ole faithful "Chucks". Bye bye for grown-ups!

Trend #5

Fashion for your home is fun too. Colors this year are blues, grays, and oranges. Fun but still with a hint of earthiness. My home sure does need a fashion boost!

Great use of neutrals with a punch of blue!

Great example of a neurtal wall with a punch of color provided by the accessories.

Trend #6

Another tip for your home is this. Stay neutral with you wall and your flooring. If you are one who likes color, like I do, then bring it in with pillows, pictures, and fabrics. Keep walls and floors basic and it will help you when it comes time to sell. It also allows you to change out a few pillows when trends shift!

Ladies, Discover Your Joy, Strength & Dignity

For many, the sight of a butterfly triggers joy at its beauty and conveys a sense of dignity. At the same time, we admire its strength – it is no small feat to emerge from a chrysalis and take flight.

Joy…Strength…Dignity…these are also the characteristics of a resilient woman…and the theme of this year’s Resilient Women’s Conference with Pastor Colleen Rouse and Special Guest, Christine Caine – author, speaker, pastor and founder of the A21 Campaign against human trafficking.

Senior Pastor, VIctory World Church

Hillsong Church, Sydney Australia

Ladies, we invite you to join us for inspirational messages, passionate worship – led by Beckah Shae – door prizes, games, refreshments and more as we celebrate and become Resilient Women.

Simply grab some other ladies and hit the road! All you have to do is find a hotel Firday night and some friends to take the trip with you. Why not take the day off work and enjoy some relax time before the conference begins? The schedule for the weekend is up to you. You can find fliers for the event in the lobby of FHC.

There is no charge for this event. Instead, we’re asking everyone to bring canned goods  to donate to the Norcross Co-op (especially canned meats, tuna, pasta sauces, peanut butter and jelly), and a love offering will also be received. Also, you must register and be present to be eligible for door prizes – including an iPad & a Kindle.

Friday, April 15th @ 7pm
Saturday, April 16th @ 9am-noon

Victory World Church
5905 Brook Hollow Parkway
Norcross, GA 30071

Telephone:
(770) 849-9400 telephone
(770) 849-9500 fax

Go to http://www.Victorywc.org to register for this FREE event!

I was just thinking about how much my son has been touched by being apart of such an awesome ministry.  I am also reminded of the incredible impact the leaders have had on him as well. Vertical has some of the best leaders I know! If your teens are a part, you already know what I mean! If your teens are not, then they need to find out!

Here are a few pics from our latest Vertical night! The place came unglued! The VIP lounge they made for first time guests was ingenious, too! The teens loved every second of it!

I could go on and on, hopefully you get the point! Get your teens to Vertical every Thursday at 7!

The other side of the room was packed out too! Teens all up in the corners and down the sides! Love it!

Here is Pastor Cliff praying over the teens as the night kicks off! If you have any questions about Vertical contact capugh@freedomhousechurch.org for more info!

I had something happen the other day. At first you might think it was a little silly, but then you might find yourself not far off from this thought either.

I was leaving Harris Teeter and to my delight there were rows of bubble gum machines lining the exit. For those of you who know me, you know that I have a bubble gum fetish. Yes it’s weird but I do. I love bubble gum and especially the kinds you find in the bubble gum machines with the crunchy outer-shell.

This was pure utopia! It was as if the clouds parted and the violins played in the background when I saw those machines. The best part was that my favorite flavor, orange, had its very own machine. There was one whole machine just for me and it was filled with orange gumballs. How glorious this was! Anticipation was building! Where is my wallet with my quarters?

I quickly pulled out my wallet. I was like a little girl in, well, a candy shop. I inserted the first quarter into the machine with the orange gumballs. Here she comes! I heard it drop!

I opened up the flap and there sat a white gumball. What a fluke! Was it an albino gumball? I dug for another quarter and heard it hit the metal. Time to lift the flap for my delicious gumball!  It was green!

By this time I was getting a little angry. How in the world could these colors come out of a machine with all orange gumballs in it? I said quietly to myself, “Figures this would happen to me!”

Third time is a charm, right? Nope. Pink. Why is this happening? Who is playing a cruel joke on me? Yep, I was just mad enough to try again and again. I got another white one and a yellow one, all from the orange gumball machine. It made no sense.

After WASTING $1.25 I was pretty hot and felt like I had gotten ripped off. As a matter of fact I felt my heart quietly whisper, “This is always what happens to me. I always feel like I get the short end of the stick.” It was ever so soft, but I heard my thoughts express it. I felt slighted and without knowing it I was inadvertently blaming God. It really wasn’t about gumballs but a little seed I let sit in my heart. It was a seed of “God somehow was forgetting about me”. I felt like I had a right to pitch a tent and camp there in my mind. After all, who gets 5 gumballs that aren’t orange from a machine that only seemed to have orange gumballs in it?

Just then I noticed a machine that required 2 quarters to get one big gumball. I remember being a little bit sarcastic in my thinking and in my self talk said, “Well, even though there is not an orange one in sight in this machine, at least it’s a big one and I have already wasted $1.25, why not make it $1.75 while I am on this amazing roll?”

I pulled out those 2 quarters and heard the familiar clink. I opened it up to see my gumball. What happened surprised me greatly. Not only was there one huge ORANGE gumball, but the machine accidentally gave me two ORANGE ones! Yep, they both happened to be orange and I got 2 of them when I should have gotten only one! What?

I felt God say, “Even when it comes to gumballs, don’t ever think you are overlooked! I always got you even when you don’t feel like I do! You are never forgotten!”

Now I know that the whole gum thing may not resonate with you but surely the thought that somehow God has overlooked your situation has weighed heavy on your heart. If he cares about silly, orange gumballs, surely he cares about the weighty matters that are on our hearts. He surely cares about that bill you need paid. He surely cares about the relationship you lost. He surely cares about addiction that seems to hang over you. He surely cares about the dreams that have yet to be lived out in your life. He surely cares about the loneliness you feel. He surely cares about the pain you have experienced in life. God has not forgotten you even if it feels like he has.

Let’s not let a situation that does not turn out the way WE think it should dictate God’s motives to us. His motive is always love. There is always a giant bubble gum machine waiting with more than enough of what we need. He is just that kind of a God. Let’s never, even subconsciously, reduce his love to a situation again. God is love!

Oh and for the record, my jaw hurts! Here is the pic!

Each year our entire church unites for a cause. I mean, we all rally around the cause of Jesus every day! But once a year we rally together financially too, so we can make a significant impact in our community. We believe powerful things will happen through our Liberty Offering just like it has each and every year!

This year we’re focusing on campus expansion. We’re launching two brand new campuses, and we know that every single seat represents a life that will potentially be impacted for Jesus. We don’t take that lightly, and we know you don’t either. Reaching people for Jesus is a very big deal. It’s actually what we are all about.

We’re also taking 10% of every dime that comes in and giving it to Mercy Ministries to see a home for girls built right here in Charlotte, NC. Please check out Mercy Ministries and find out all that’s happening with them. It’s an honor to be a part of building the 40-bed home here in our very own city! (Yes, there’s a lot of building going on with FHC in Charlotte this year!) Can you imagine the impact that this Liberty Offering will have? It’s crazy!

Our Liberty Offering is March 27, 2011, and it will be a church-wide event. Even the children at Freedom House are involved and have started saving up! They understand the importance of seeing lives changed, and they wouldn’t miss this for the world. I love how my kids have already started plotting out their money-saving ideas. Can’t wait to see what your kids come up with too!

With that said, I want to share some money saving tips with you. Some people may not have very much margin in their monthly budget. If that’s you, I want to share some ways you can create more margin and fully participate in this year’s Liberty Offering! All of us can contribute, no matter what our financial picture is or how old we are.

Here are a few quick tips for saving money:

1.     Eat at home. Did you know that the food you eat at a restaurant is priced 3 times higher than food you eat at home? That can quickly add up. If yours is a family of 5 like mine, and you decide to eat at home instead of having Sunday dinner out, you can save approximately $300 per month or more (depending on where you eat).

2.     Brown bag your lunch. An average lunch out at the office can cost between $6 and 15. If you brown bag it just 3 days a week, you could save as much as $180 per month.

3.     Buy staples in bulk. Buy items you use a lot of in bulk, particularly items that don’t perish like trash bags, laundry detergent, diapers, etc. This will cut down on their cost per usage quite a bit .

4.     Look for free stuff. Lots of restaurants and entertainment venues offer things for free on certain days. Find out what days your kids eat free at restaurants, what day is free at the museum and the like. It really adds up.

5.     Look for coupons. A lot of stores accept coupons. Look through the paper and online to find big sales and buy-one-get-one-free items. Also use loyalty cards at participating stores, and take advantage of double- and triple-coupon days.

6.     Free shipping. Most every time you buy something online, there’s a way to get it shipped free. A friend showed me how to find free shipping codes online. It’s simple! For example, if you want to order from Pottery Barn, just Google “free shipping Pottery Barn” and the free shipping codes pop up. Give it a try.

7.     Rent movies. My family loves family night. If we don’t plan well, it can be expensive to have 5 people go for a night on the town. There are fun ways to have family night be spectacular without breaking the bank: Rent a movie and make your own popcorn;  make s’mores over a fire in your backyard; make homemade pizzas together; play games or puzzles together. The list goes on. **Make sure you take the movies back on time!**

8.     Drink water. Drinks at a restaurant can cost as much as $2.50 per person. Switch from sodas, tea and coffee and save a lot. For a family of 5, that can be a big savings! If you happen to be addicted to Starbucks (like my husband) that’s another great way to save money: Make your own coffee.

9.     Break habits. Some habits can be very expensive; what better time to quit? Things like smoking or drinking wine and beer can be very expensive. There are better and cheaper ways to de-stress.

10. Use the library. Many of us buy lots of books. A great way to save money is simply to check them out from the library and then you have no fees at all. They also carry movies for your family to watch as well, free!

11. Slash the incidentals. Read carefully through your credit card statements. Be on the lookout for ongoing monthly fees and charges that you may have completely forgotten about. Cancel club memberships you don’t use and any magazine subscriptions you may not be reading.

12. Cancel the land line. Most people I know don’t even use their home phone! They haven’t cancelled it because… well, they’ve just always had it. You could save more than $30 per month by using your cell phone instead.

A little about Nancy.

It was during and after college that Nancy Alcorn, a native Tennessean, spent eight years working for the state of Tennessee at a correctional facility for juvenile delinquent girls and investigating child abuse cases. Working for the state on a daily basis gave her direct encounters with the secular programs that were not producing permanent results that exemplified changed lives. Nancy saw many of the girls pass the age of eighteen and end up in the women’s prison system because they never got the real help they needed. After working for the state and recognizing that true transformation would never come as the result of any government system, she was appointed Director of Women for Nashville Teen Challenge where she worked for two years. Through her experience, she began to realize that only Jesus could bring restoration into the lives of the girls who were desperately hurting and searching for something to fill the void they felt in their hearts. Nancy knew God was unfolding a plan prompting her to step out in faith to help hurting young women.

In January 1983, determined to establish a program in which lives would truly be transformed, Nancy moved to Monroe, Louisiana to start Mercy Ministries of America. As she began to lay the groundwork for the establishment of the ministry, she knew that there were three principles to which she must always remain faithful: (1) do not take any state or federal funding that may limit the freedom to teach Christian principles, (2) accept girls free of charge, and (3) always give at least ten percent of all Mercy Ministries’ donations to other organizations and ministries.

Several years and many changed lives later, Mercy Ministries has established locations in Monroe, Louisiana, Nashville, Tennessee, St. Louis, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. The organization has grown beyond the borders of the United States, including affiliates in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada. In addition, plans are underway for more sites in America as well as internationally.

According to Nancy, “It is our belief that if we provide places at no charge where girls can come and receive new life through Jesus Christ, as well as professional training in other areas, their lives will never be the same!”

A little about Mercy Ministires.

Since 1983, Mercy Ministries of America has provided hope and healing to generations of desperate young women who are seeking freedom from life-controlling issues such as:

Physical & Sexual Abuse Including Sex Trafficking

Eating Disorders ^.

Self-Harm

Drug & Alcohol Addictions

Depression ^.

Unplanned Pregnancy

Our free-of-charge biblically-based program serves a diverse population of young women from various socio-economic backgrounds, aged 13-28. Many of the girls, who come to Mercy for help, are facing a combination of debilitating circumstances and have been in various treatment facilities with unsuccessful long-term results. We are committed to providing the young women we serve with the most excellent program services that allow them to recognize their self-worth and prepare them to reach their full potential. Our non-conventional approach to healing allows young women to permanently stop destructive cycles and prepares them to take hope out into their communities.