Join Me At Church on Sunday...

Below is a letter that I wrote to all my friends about the launch of www.northpointonline.tv on Aug. 16th at 6pm EST...And you're my friends too so you should read it and then join me...

And, here's a brief look at what we'll be watching/listening to....

Promo: "Losing Your Religion" from North Point Media on Vimeo.

To All,

I truly hope that this email finds everyone doing well in your respective locations. Things in the ATL are great and the married life is treating me well. Time certainly flies by as Amanda and I celebrated our one year anniversary over a month ago. Craziness I tell ya…

So, I’ll cut right to the chase…You’re my friend and I want you to join me at church on Sunday. That’s as clear cut as it comes. But I know some of you are thinking, “Hey Jonathon, I live in California or Vegas or Michigan or Texas or Louisiana or Chicago (or you name the city) and I really don’t see myself coming to Atlanta this weekend”. Or “Hey Jonathon, I live in Atlanta and you invite me and I’ve told you several times that I’m not into it.” Or “Hey Jonathon, you know my beliefs and you know they don’t line up with yours, so put down that crack pipe you’re smoking?” Or maybe it’s some other question…Nonetheless, I have the answer for all of them…It doesn’t matter…

And why you ask????

Well, let me tell you why…

Buckhead Church (www.buckheadchurch.org), the church Amanda and I have been a part of for a few years is launching a brand new live online service (www.northpointonline.tv) at 6pm EST this Sunday August 16th. That means, regardless of where you live, as long as you have a computer with internet connection, you can join me. I’ll be in person there during the actual service and if you’re watching, it’s like we are there together. Cause it's live...Not recorded...But live...Maybe we can shoot a text or tweet back and forth to really form that bond…The possibilities are endless…So, no Sunday’s best, just you and your computer sitting in your chonies watching some incredibly awesome music and hearing a life changing message…

And I know there are several on this email that have totally different beliefs than me on this whole church thing and I honestly and sincerely understand. Regardless of our differences, we are still bros. But, I can say from the bottom of my heart that the message you will hear will be none like anything you have ever heard. It’s not the if you drink a beer you’ll go to hell stuff. It's not old ladies with funny hats. It's not old hymns being sung by grandmas...I promise you that it's not....It’s relevant, it’s applicable, it’s real and it’s potentially life changing. And once again, all you have to do is take up some bandwidth on Sunday afternoon in the comfort of your own home. So has they say in St. Lucia, “No pressure, no problems.”

So…Recap…

1) You’re my friend

2) You should join me on Sunday at 6pm EST at www.northpointonline.tv

3) That’s 3pm EST

4) That’s 5pm CST

5) And something else for Mountain Time but they’re kind of weird with their whole time change thing so you’ll have to figure it out…

6) And if you’re up to it, shoot me an email or text to let me know what you thought


Check out www.jburnside.blogspot.com for a little teaser video…

You guys shred and I miss all of you who I don’t get to see very often…

Your Red Headed Friend,
Jonathon

The Walk 09....

A few weeks back, Amanda and I headed down to Panama City Beach with about 400 high school students from Buckhead and Brownsbridge Church. It was absolutely amazing. The students were awesome to hang with and God just lit my heart on fire...I took some video while I was down there and finally got around to editing it. This was my first shot at using iMovie so if you think it's lame tell me in a constructive manner so I don't get all boo bears since I'm such a sensitive dude.

Andy bros down with Barack...

The Pastor of the church that I go to, Andy Stanley, encouraged us to pray for the new President. Well, apparently, he walked the talk...Andy was invited to say one of the few prayers said at the National Prayer Service the day after the inauguration.

It's also pretty cool that he's the only dude that's not rockin' a robe or a crazy hat. I'm sure Andy wanted to pimp some jeans and a polo but went with a suit instead...

Check out below...

Great Quote

"Blame who you want...If people would have listened to the voice of wisdom opposed to the voice of greed or the voice of discontentment, we wouldn't be in such a mess today." - Andy Stanley

Marinate on that for a little bit....

Heart for the Homeless...

This past Saturday, Amanda's Xtreme small group was involved in a service project with several other small groups...They were going to make bag lunches and serve them to the homeless in downtown Atlanta.

There was a great turnout of kids and adults and we ended up making about 500-600 sandwiches and lunches...

From there we headed to South Atlanta to meet up with Seven Bridges to Recovery, the ministry that this was all through...

Initially, I was merely going as protection for the girls but when I got there, God totally spun my heart around and said "You're here to serve"

The head dude of the ministry was a gnarly looking harley dude that brought the Word for all of us there in a KMart parking lot. It was real, it was raw and I loved it.

From there, we split up into two groups and headed out to feed the homeless of Atlanta.

It's always amazing to see poverty up close and personal. It's a huge problem and it's right here in our backyard of Atlanta. There are about a million reasons why...Nonetheless, it's there...

We went under bridges and left food on beds. We prayed over beds together. We talked to the homeless and prayed with them. We gave away clothes and told these unfortunate souls how much we love them.

It was faith in action.
It was real.
It was organic.
It was beautiful.
It was the way I think Jesus would want.

Fortunately, there was a photographer there capturing the day. Here's just a taste...

The sandwich making line...
Here's the entire group of Buckhead Churchies after making the lunches...
Some of our friends we met...The lady really wanted something to warm her head and one of the guys pulled off his beanie and gave it to her...
This is Pastor 7 of Seven Bridges to Recovery throwin' down the Word before we hit the streets...
A team of folks praying and encouraging...
A typical sleeping set up under the bridge...
Praying over a bed...Asking God to lift up whoever sleeps there...
Lets get involved this holiday season. Lets get our heart turned upside down. Lets get in really uncomfortable situations and serve. Lets love on people that we don't know. Lets forgot about our standard of living and care about lives.

Photo credits: Michael Martin @ www.capturedbeauty.smugmug.com

Buckhead Night of Worship

As I said in my last post, Amanda and I had a hot date last night for our two month anniversary. We went to an awesome Night of Worship at Buckhead Church. This night was all about worshiping, praying and taking communion. Sunday's typically comprise of a few songs so Buckhead does something like this every once and awhile...

It was phenomenal. Music was great and the presence of God was felt big time. It's so insane to hear 2500 voices in unison praising our Heavenly Father.

I was able to get in a lot of prayer throughout the evening and at one point I just said "God, I want to go balls for the wall for you". I even kind of laughed after I said it...But seriously, I've been totally luke warm lately and I don't like it. It's always great to have a kick in the tail like I did last night.

Also, last night, the team at Buckhead Church talked about the launch of the Buckhead Music Project. Basically, a lot of the musicians that play on Sunday mornings (And they are stupid talented) are going to be playing different bars, clubs and venues around the Buckhead area. It's not going to be all praise music but more of their own stuff that they've written. And I can honestly say that the musicians and singers that rock out on Sunday mornings are very talented...It should be pretty cool and hopefully spur some conversations...I'm looking forward to it...Check it out here

Two post in one night...I'm going to bed now...

So True...

Buckhead Church does baptisms in a very cool way...They pre-record the person's testimony and show it before they get dunked...It's truly awesome...

Anyways, heard this today during one and let out a "heck yeah grunt".....

"I realized I didn't have to commit intellectual suicide to have a relationship with Christ"

May have botched up the words a tad but that's pretty close...

So true bro...Loved it...Whoever you are, thanks for having an awesome testimony to share with 3,000 people this morning...

My Boyz Part Sixer...

About three years ago, I met Jim. I didn't meet him at work...I didn't meet him through mutual friends...I didn't meet him on mySpace...I met Jim at an event call GroupLink...An event which brought seven strangers together to meet once a week for fellowship, bible study and prayer...We've been doing that one Wednesday nights for the last three years...Some changes to the group but Jimbo's been there the entire time...

Jim has seriously been a huge part of my life over the last few years. He's a great listener and has a huge heart for people. When Amanda and I had our brief sabbatical, Jim was there. I was bummed and he was by far my best bro during those times when I just wanted to revert to making bad choices, he held me accountable... Thanks so much Jim...

I'm actually chillin' in his house right now writing this because he's been gracious enough to let me crash on his couch the past few weeks as Amanda lives in our place...

And I'm super stoked for the guy because he just got engaged to a totally awesome chick...Just like two weeks ago...Way to go Jimbo-Dini...He's marrying way out of his league...Don't worry dude, I totally know the feeling...

The rest of the gang...

2 to 1 Mentoring...

Probably the most important things that Amanda and I have done since our engagement has been taking the pre-marital mentoring class through Buckhead Church. We decided from the get go that we were going to do this and I must say it has been the greatest thing to strengthen our relationship today and into our marriage.

For eight weeks, we met with an awesome couple (Brian and Catherine) and jumped into the issues that married couples deal with. It was so refreshing to get things out on the table and to get tools to help resolve things within a marriage. The conversations that were spurred from the sessions have brought Amanda and I closer together. We had to make some tough decisions going through the class but they will be so worth it in the long run.

I can't thank Brian and Catherine enough for the time they spent with us.

I highly recommend to any engaged couples to go through something like this. Whether it's church affiliated or not, you should do it...Marriage is supposed to be a one time thing so why not invest in it on the front side...

Just one more reason...

Check out this post by a dad of one of the kids in my small group on Sunday mornings...Made my heart melt reading it...By far the best part of my week...

And Yet Another Reason why I enjoy my Church...

This was the opening song yesterday at Buckhead Church...Freakin' insane...And then Jeff Henderson gave one of the best messages I have ever heard and want to apply to my life...Listen to it here...It's called out of the Shadows...

Why I do what I do...

As many of you know, I teach Sunday school (UpStreet) at Buckhead Church. I've been doing this for almost two years and I absolutely love it. Of all the things during the week that I do, this is by far my favorite thing that I honestly look forward to. I get the opportunity to hang out with 15 third graders that I think are about the coolest kids ever.

Well on Saturday night, Buckhead Church had Family Celebration which is an event where they baptize the kids (k-8th) that have accepted Christ as their Savior and want to publicly profess it. Well, one of the little girls in my group, Maggie Leigh got baptized. The cool part about it is they film a short one minute clip of the kids of why they are here getting baptized. Their testimony basically. Maggie Leigh was absolutely adorable and did such an incredible job.

Also, to make the night even better, one of the girls in Amanda's 7th grade group got baptized as well. She did such an amazing job as well and had a great testimony of why Christ is her Savior.

All in all, 19 kids got baptized. Watching their videos made me realize how complicated I make things some times. Some of their videos just hit me right in the gut and were like "Duh Jonathon, why do you make this harder than it is?"

It was by far the best B-Day present I've ever gotten...

A Somewhat Bitter Sweet Sunday

Today marked the last day at the current Buckhead Church. That's right, the old grocery store held its last services today. We are headed into our new building beginning on May 6th. The grocery store had this real intimate feeling that I will miss but what a great opportunity we have to have a bunch of empty seats in this new building to invite our friends that haven't heard the Good News or have been turned off by Church before.

It was a little over two years ago that I was wanting to get back to Church and happened to find Buckhead in lo and behold...The Yellowpages of all places...And I am sure glad that I did. I've met a bunch of new friends, get to hang out with 15 little kids on Sunday mornings, got Baptized and have learned how much God wants to have a personal relationship with us. It's just so awesome. Although the grocery store will be missed, the new building is going to be absolutely incredible with amazing opportunity to make a difference in the community.

You'll be missed but not forgotten