Yep, you read right. It’s moving day! TonyStaires.com is officially up and running. I’m still updating several things on the site, but in the meantime feel free to go and check things out. I will be using the new site for my blog, so I will no longer be updating this page. I will be keep this blog up for a few months in order to make everyone aware of the new site. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you at the new place!

I came across this video on Elevation Church’s Creative Blog and thought I would share the fun.

I want to share a some quick thoughts that I got from the video.

1) Be heard - sometimes it’s not what you say, but how you communicate it, that gets you heard. Be creative, be truthful, be love.
2) Every rap needs a beat - surround yourself with people who have the rhythm to your rhyme.
3) Take it to the next level - “Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all for the glory of the Lord.” Don’t settle for “good enough”.

These guys are from my hometown and now are now out rocking across the US. I know several of them, so it’s really cool to see how far they’ve come. Check ‘em out. This is Colour Revolt.

Here is one of my newer songs “Mercies New” recorded live at PPBC’s “Crazy Love” Dnow. All of the video was captured by Sebren using my Flip Video camera. I’m thinking this will be the title track to the album when I finally get it finished. Hope you enjoy!

Mercies New Live from Tony Staires on Vimeo.

I pulled this video from Tony Morgan’s blog. I know I recently posted a video on giving, but I really loved Perry’s view on church offering and I thought I would share. He is totally dead on when he mentions how for some reason it’s easy for us [church goers] to get fired up over a “worship song” but totally neglect financial giving as a part of our worship to God. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Tithing from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

I finally joined the rest of the social networking world and signed up for a Facebook account. So look me up and be my friend.

After a poor week financially at GCGC, this video brought a little laughter into my day. I pulled this from Wes Watson’s blog who is the Lead Producer at Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC.

Yule-Tithe Cheer from Tony Staires on Vimeo.

I encourage everyone to give more than they receive this Christmas season!

I was thinking earlier today that “I can’t believe it’s been over a month since my last blog.” I think it’s because lately I find myself wearing many “hats” or dealing with many different responsibilities throughout my day. I can go from church management staff to web developer in a moments notice. It has been really easy as of late to allow the responsibilities of my day to knock me into a tailspin and before I know it I’ve accomplished nothing. Here is a list of the many hats I wear on a day to day basis. Church management staff, IT guy, Web developer, Computer expert, Graphic designer, Worship pastor, College/Young Adult pastor, Youth pastor, Production coordinator, Guitar player extraordinaire, Iron Chef, and the best husband ever(not really), just to name a few. Well… maybe the last few aren’t totally true, but you know what I mean. When working on the ground floor of a small church you find yourself filling many different rolls. It’s easy to get frustrated by the circumstances that come from wearing so many hats, but sometimes God give us a set of skills for a specific time and purpose.

Thanks for reading about my many hats, and I promise to all 5 1/2 people who read my blog not to take so long between post.

I love marketing. Specifically church marketing. New ideas in presentation, advertising, and communication really peaks my interest. I think there is always room for improvement in the way the church markets itself to the community. I pray that one day the church can set the standard in global marketing, but until then check out this YouTube video. It really made me think about how my church represents/markets itself, and how we can better serve others by our presentation and representation.

This post as been a long time coming after been subjected to what I like to call “twitter abuse”. Twitter abuse can come in many different forms, such as: excessive tweets, tweeting outside of normal waking hours, excessively long tweets, and the list goes on. I’ve warned several of the people I follow of this, but they seem not to listen or care about the abuse. So, I’ve scoured the web and have assembled as list of rules for “Twitter Etiquette.”

1. Never send more than 140 characters. What part of 140 chars do you not understand? The 140-character limitation leads to concise thought– if you need to tweet 5 times in a row (and they’re not @ someone else), write a blog entry.
2. Spread out your tweets. Don’t tweet five times in a row (though I think we have all done it before). Consider quality vs. quantit.
3. Limit your daily tweets to 10-15. For God sake most people or only awake for 16 hours a day and I don’t need to know what you are doing in 15 minute intervals. Twittering 30-plus times an hour pushes other people’s messages off followers’ homepages, and sends mobiles into convulsive twit-fits (to say nothing of excessive SMS charges). If you have a lot to say, but still want to engage with followers without alienating them, consider making more liberal use of DMs. Also, don’t you occasionally need to use the restroom? Please don’t take your phone in there. Thanks.
4. Keep private conversations private. If you’re deciding what movie to see with your girlfriend, no one else needs to receive those updates. If someone is not following both parties in the conversation then you only get half of the info. DMs are a better option in these scenarios.
5. Remember everyone can hear you.
6. What’s rude in life is rude on Twitter.
7. Plug moderately. Lots of people ignore this guideline, but if you’re almost exclusively using Twitter to plug your blog posts, events, or products, or to ask people to vote for one of your projects, you’ll lose some followers.
8. Content, content, content. For me, at least, seeing a bunch of “ME TOO!” and “YEAH!” twitters are a big turnoff. Interacting with other Twitter users is important, but I want to see your thoughts, too. Don’t think it’s silly to post what you’re having for dinner, or what you’re doing at work. Just post!
9. Block mass followers. They seem to be peddling porn, or stealing other people’s tweets, or worse. Block them, so that they can’t see your tweets or find other people to follow from your list. The more you twitter, the more you attract these types. It’s sort of gratifying to block them.
10. Leave when you want. If you want to stop following someone, stop. There’s no need to send a breakup note. Unless you’re having Twitter sex.

Wait. Do people have Twitter sex? Yeah, of course they do. Direct messages (from a secret Twitter account) are an ingenious way to communicate with slightly creepy, but intriguing, one-night-stands. Besides, what dedicated Twitter user remembers their own cell number?

There’s my compiled list. If I’m following you consider this your warning!

You can return to your mobile devices now. People are wondering what you’re doing.

For some reason I’ve read more books in the last year than I’ve read in my lifetime. I wanted to share some quick thoughts on a book I recently finished. “Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God” written by Mark Batterson, who is the paster at National Community Church in Washington, D.C.

This is another phenomenal book in the line books I’ve recently finished. In the book, Mark addresses six “cages” or circumstances that keep us from the Wild Goose and the life He has for us. Mark really challenges us to step out or break free from whatever “cage” that is keeping us from the spiritual adventure God has destined for us. Whether it is responsibility, routine, assumptions, guilt, failure, or fear, I believe all of us can identify with one, if not all, of the circumstances that are holding us back from passionately pursuing God.

So stop being a spectator. Go buy the book and read it! I promise when you are finished you will be challenged to: stop “maintaing the status quo”, and start living today “like it is the first and the last day of your life.”

I’ve posted before about Perry Noble and Newspring Chruch, but just wanted to share a video clip from last weeks message that kicked off the new series named “Beautiful”. This new series is totally geared toward women, so if you are a lady check out this message and stay tuned in to this series. If you are a guy you might also want to pay close attention as well, because as we all know, Perry is going to “tell it like it is”. I’ll stop typing to you can check out this clip of Perry from this past week. If you want to check out the rest of the service/message then go to www.Newspring.cc

Beautiful_01 Crumbs Outtake from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

I recently finished a fantastic book “It: How churches and leaders can get it and keep it” by Craig Groeschel, who is the lead pastor at LifeChurch.tv. I would recommend this book to anyone who is any sort of leadership position, whether it be ministry, secular, staff, volunteer, high or low level leadership. Craig really lays out some great fundamentals for leadership and how to strategically apply them in your organization or circle of influence. Craig hits it home by showing that; if you don’t have It, then get It, if you’ve got It, then keep and share It, and if you’ve lost It, then get it back. In the book Craig never defines what It might be for your ministry or organization, but does state that It only comes from God.

If you are in leadership go buy this book and read it cover to cover. Once you’ve read it, read it again!

I’m totally stoked! I’ve been without my iSight for several months, but somehow it started working again today. I’m not sure if it was me dropping my computer yesterday or uninstalling parallels that fixed things. Well all I know is…I once was blind, but now iSee.

Maybe you’ve heard this story, and maybe not, but when I found out about this I didn’t totally know what to think. I’ve gone through mixed emotions with regards to this, so I’ll let you be the judge. I totally believe there’s truth to be sung in this song, but will be hard to lead with the mixed feelings about the heart from which it was written. As I type I’ve come to the thought that maybe God is using this story to say to us that we all have hidden sin we need to confess in order to grow closer to Him. Anyway, watch the video and let me know how you feel.

Alright I need all of my readers to hook me up with some votes @ the Ragamuffin T-shirt Design Contest. The person with the best score after 2 weeks wins. The winner gets a free shirt and some crazy link love from Ragamuffinsoul.com. Also, the shirt will be sold @ Blirts.com and all the profits go to a great cause. You can only vote once per computer, so if you have multiple computers then vote from each one. You can click on the icon below to check out my design and vote (5 stars of course).

If you want to put my icon on your blog please email me and I’ll send you the code to post. Thanks to everyone who has voted. Leave me some comments as well and let me know what you think.

Ladies, it’s been a long time coming for this REVOLUTION. We (men) have been oppressed for many years to submit to your authority over this household fixture. This is a sacred fixture where many men find inspiration, solitude, and the meaning of life. I want to salute the lone soldier who posted this notice in our “temporary” church location (St. Martin High School) mens restroom.

“One small step for man, one giant step for mankind.”

There’s something to be said about someone who “tells it like it is”. I’m not saying that we all should walk around telling people the first thing that comes to mind, but someone who “speaks truth in love” at all cost.

As most of you know I try and watch Newspring church online on a weekly basis. The messages are truth, and the music will rock your face off. The thing that draws me back from week to week is Perry. Perry is the pastor at Newspring and on a weekly basis speaks truth in love, by telling it like it is.

I encourage all 5 of you who read my blog if you haven’t ever watched Newspring online, then do so this week. They are in a series called “You Asked For It” which addresses topics that the church wanted to know about. This past week was on drinking. Totally incredible message! You may not agree with Perry on this issue, but I believe that you’ll be blessed by someone in the church who finally…tells it like it is.

Here’s a link

So I picked up Francis Chan’s book “Crazy Love” a few weeks ago and wanted to share a little from the chapter I’m reading. Chapter 4 describes people who are just living “lukewarm” lives for God, but there was a statement about 2/3 through the chapter that just really hit me.

“LUKEWARM PEOPLE do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they don’t have to. They don’t have to trust God when something unexpected happens - they have their savings account. They don’t need God - they have their retirement plan. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them to live - they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a regular basis - their refrigerators are full, and for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God.”

This quote shouldn’t totally be a measuring tool for our faith, but should be reminder to live differently and otherly from this world. That sometimes faith and our pursuit of God isn’t or shouldn’t always easy.

“12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out[c] the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
Phil 2:12-18

So I had some people comment wanting to hear more of my “Lynn” stories. Well my wife told me of a great “Lynn” moment that happened this past Friday.

My buddy Lynn and his wife are expecting a baby around December (Lord help us). Like most expecting couples, they went to their OB appointment this past Friday to learn the sex of their baby. (It’s gonna be a a girl by the way) As the ultrasound was coming to a close, the tech made mention that the baby is about 10 oz at this time. To which Lynn replied, “that baby don’t even weigh as much as a can of beer.”

You might be a redneck…

Please comment!

So I was lost in the world of blog reading today and came across this video from Lifechurch.tv. As you know when it comes to reading blogs, you can dive in one blog world and come out in a totally different one.

I’m sort of into church marketing and creative design, and it saddens to see church ministries put out sub-par material. I know I’ve been guilty of this, but I hope this video from Lifechurch shows that there should be excellence in the things we use to promote our ministries. We live in a consumer/pop culture driven world and our ministries are constantly in a battle for the attention of the people we’re trying to reach. If our promotion, productions, or anything else for that matter is sub-par (or less than excellent); then we might as well tell people or God that they aren’t worth our best.

I know Lifechurch is a “mega church” with a huge budget but excellence shouldn’t be defined by your budget, but by your effort and heart. I also know that I couldn’t sit down tomorrow and produce a video of this kind of quality, but I can strive to learn. This is a pretty rad video and it inspires me to step up my game. I hope if does the same for you.

Anything Short of Sin from kevin ely on Vimeo.

Here is my contribution to the Ragamuffin Soul Creative Chaos #16.

This is a video we used to intro a message in our “Running On Empty” series @ Grace Church Gulf Coast. We got the idea from The Late Show w/ David Letterman. Our pastor didn’t show up at church at all before service and at the end of the video he comes running into the church/school, where we meet, out of breath. It was a great way to kick off the message. Hope you enjoy. Please comment!

Untitled from Tony Staires on Vimeo.

Here is the Revolution band performing “Mighty To Save” on Tuesday night of Revolution Mission Camp. I don’t believe this was part of the original set that night, but felt like it was an appropriate ending to the night. Thanks to all who make this camp a success every year. This could never happen without your humbleness, hard work, and prayers.

Blog updates on mission camp will soon follow. I hope you enjoy the video…we enjoyed making it!

REVOLUTION Worship (Mighty to Save) from sebren on Vimeo.

This is a picture of Lynn. Most of you that know me know Lynn and his stories. Oh, if you didn’t know, he was in the Navy for 6 months and 9 days (inside joke). Lynn’s a pretty cool fella, but sometimes he amazes me with his redneck encounters.

While fishing with several of his friends this past Saturday, someone managed to cast their reel and hit him in the back of the head with a fishing lure. So, Lynn missed out on his fishing trip and spent the afternoon in the ER waiting for a doctor to safely remove the lure lodged in the back of his head. A funny thing is that Lynn told me that, "if I had some pliers we might could have got it out ourselves." Now Lynn has to spend the next week on antibiotics and can’t get sweaty, in order to reduce his risk of infection. 

Well people…You might be a redneck if you have ever had a fishing lure stuck in the back of your head.

I finally received my copy of "Pop Goes the Church" by Tim Stevens today. It took a while to come in, but that’s life I guess. I hope to be able to finish up my current book (UnChristian by David Kinnaman) soon so I can get started reading. I can’t read more than one book at a time because neither one will get finished. If you haven’t read either one of these books then quit what you’re doing right now and go by them!  

UnChristian has totally rocked my socks off as I’ve read the staggering statistics of how many young people are walking or running away from the Christian faith. It shows the prospective of the way young outsiders/unchristians view christianity today, and ways we could possibly change their perceptions without compromising our beliefs. UnChristian will really challenge you to take a look at the way you live out your Christian faith, because unChristians are watching a seeing Jesus by the way we live.

Like I said, run don’t walk to buy both of these books, but watch out if you’re on staff at a church! (you might quit or get fired)

I was so moved by Newspring’s mothers day video that I had to share. I don’t think of myself to be a big crier, but when I see God’s people move and God gets the glory something moves in me, and I become like a baby. While watching the video from Newspring’s weekend service I couldn’t fight hard enough to keep back the tears, while seeing how they are being Jesus to the world around them. As christians I know we can all take note and stop just going to church and start being the church. If you haven’t seen the service from this past weekend, then stop reading now and go check it out. www.newspring.cc

"Something that God’s laid on the hearts of this leadership team is: when we see a need, we just step up and meet it. I know too many christians that will see a need and pray about it, but won’t meet it. And God has call this church (Newspring) to make a difference in this community and meet needs in the name of Jesus." - Perry Noble (Pastor Newspring Church)

A wise friend told me one time, that a wise friend told him, "where ever you’re at…be all there." I’ve pondered this statement many times over the past months because of circumstances, frustrations, and just doing life. As I ponder on this statement I pray for the wisdom to understand the depths of where and why God has me right where I am, and where He wants me to be. As I type I’m reminded of what Paul was wrote to the church in Philippi. 

 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus…11 for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Phillippians 4:4-7,11-13

Sometimes the hardest thing in ministry, or life for that matter, is to be "all there." To somehow find a balance between contentment in where you are, and a holy discontentment for where you feel like you should be. I don’t really have the answer to say how to "be all there", but say fix your eyes on Jesus. If "there" is not where he wants you to be, then He’ll lead you in His sovereignty. So as for now, I’m holding on to Col 3:17, and hope that as God connects the dots of my life that it will paint a picture of His glory.

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." 

So it seemed about time for me to step into the big boy realm of blogging. I’m still not really sure why other than to make my site look better than Sebren’s. As I take baby steps into this grand world of blogging, I hope my faith, stories, and life will somehow speak something into the nothingness of the world. Who will listen? I don’t know, but if you are blessed praise God. If not, I know there’s others out there with better things to say, that always seem bless my life. So here it is, my first post. I know it’s not much, but like I said "baby steps". God bless and bless God! 

(ps. I failed english in high school and also didn’t do so hot in college english either, so bare with my grammar and spelling.)