Slow & Easy...Is Hard...

After having ACL reconstruction about 5 weeks ago...I'm still on crutches and going to physical therapy once a week. I've been told by doctors to take it slow and easy...and that's hard for me to do. I hate not being mobile, not being able to drive, or even help set-up and tear down on Sunday mornings. I have little to no patience with some things...and apparently recovery from a major surgery is one of those things.

This entire process has me thinking about Lifepoint Church. Studies and experts say "take it slow and easy"...they say "stay the course and growth will come." Here's the thing...my expectancy level for what God can do is sky high...which makes being patient difficult for me. When I look back at the last year of Lifepoint's existance...I'm floored! We started with next to nothing financially, only 15 adults & 10 kids...and today we're seeing services with 100-115 people in them...we've even had services with nearly 150 in attendance.

I fully understand that statistically what has happened at Lifepoint is extraordinary...but it just doesn't seem good enough. I love our people and Sundays are my favorite day of the week...and it's a thrill when the building feels packed. However, even with a packed building...I can't help but think about all the people in our communities who aren't in attendance...those who may still be far from God.

Physical recovery and church growth...experts suggest take it "slow and easy"...but slow and easy is hard. For those of you who call Lifepoint your church home...I need your help. I will continue to challenge you to bring in friends, neighbors, classmates, and co-workers. Let's continue to make difference in our communities!

Hope to see you Sunday.

Another Amazing Day At Lifepoint...

What an amazing day at Lifepoint today...we had an awesome crowd, engaging worship, and a bunch of positive feedback on the teaching!

Today we started a brand new teaching series called "So You're Dead...Now What?" Today we examined death, next week we'll look closely at Hell, in two weeks we'll talk about Heaven, and in the final week of the series we'll have a Q & A session. I was extremely impressed today with our set up team and our stage team...they did a great job transforming the stage between worship and the teaching. The set design looked great and we heard nothing but good things about the props. Way to go Lifepoint Church...what a great win today!

Hope to see you Sunday.

Car Troubles...

So this past weekend, my wife decided that she was going to exit a parking lot by jumping the curb (because there was a truck in her way). We've got a huge Dodge Durango...and going over curbs have never been a problem. However, this attempt left the skid plate, under the truck, looking like an accordion...which is gonna cost over $100 just to straighten out.

If that wasn't frustrating enough...the front passenger window doesn't roll up right (not because of the curb jump...it just broke). Shouldn't be a problem for the dealership to fix, right? Wrong. They said it's not the orginal window and they won't work on it. Which means my wife isn't gonna be getting any fresh air while we're driving...the window will stay rolled up.

So...we're without a car, while it's being repaired, the joys of being a 1 car family. I hope your week is going better than mine so far!

Hope to see you Sunday.

One Ends & Another Begins...

We had another great day at Lifepoint Church today: powerful worship, a great crowd, and a message that touched many hearts!

Today we ended a 7 week journey of talks entitled "Love Wins"...we looked a many different aspects and characteristics of love...ending today with "love is forgiving." This teaching series, in my opinion, was the most powerful and deep cutting series of talks that we've experienced at Lifepoint Church. Week in and week out during the journey...one person after another told me how they were impacted by the weekly talks. I loved studying, preparing, and teaching "Love Wins." Overall, the series was a HUGE win for Lifepoint Church...and even though the series is over..."Love Wins" will continue to be a mantra for Lifepoint Church members and attenders.

As one teaching series ends...another must begin. Starting next Sunday, October 26th, we'll begin a 4 week series called "So You're Dead...Now What?" This is going to be a tremendous group of talks...that will be both informative and life changing. During the course of the next 4 weeks we'll be discussing: death, hell, heaven, and we'll wrap up the series with a Q & A session. I'm really excited and looking forward to teaching some deep and powerful truths.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Another Reminder...

A few weeks back I posted a blog with a very important quote in it. The quote was "pray like it all depends on God and work as if it all depends on you." I just wanted to remind myself and you of that quote...that's all.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Another Great Day...

We had another great day at Lifepoint Church. A bunch of people, great worship, fun kidz stuff, relevant teaching, and a successful blood drive! I want to thank everyone who participated in the blood drive today...you make me proud. In fact, all the Lifepoint staff, volunteers, and attenders / members make me proud...I'm proud to know you and to have you a part of Lifepoint.

Hope to see you Sunday.

What Do You Take For Granted?

So it's Friday night and I've just made my way, very slowly, up the stairs on crutches. I've been on crutches now for about two weeks moving slow, carefully maneuvering, and rarely getting up...only when I have to. This immobility has really got me thinking about my legs and how up until two weeks ago I really took them for granted. I could walk, jog, and even run if I wanted to...now, I hobble along and can't wait until mid-November when I get clearance to ditch the crutches.

My legs, the ability to freely walk...I took that for granted. My question to you is: what have you taken for granted?! Your job? Your family? Friends? Your stuff - house, car(s), clothes, etc...? A pantry and refrigerator full of food? How about your relationship with God?

So many of us have either had a relationship with Christ for so long that it's just not "fresh" or new to us anymore...we're not excited like we once were OR we've recently crossed the line of faith and maybe we just don't know how to share Christ with our friends, family, co-workers or neighbors. Either way, I'd submit to you that all to often we take our relationship with Christ and what he's done in our lives for granted.

We need to...we must...be diligent to keep our relationship with God fresh and new. This will require work on our part. We need to spend time with God daily (prayer & bible reading), surrounding ourselves with other believers (for encouragement & support), and we need to keep our eyes open and see others as God sees them. Don't take for granted the greatest gift you've ever received...grace, mercy, and salvation. Value it, embrace it, and most importantly share it with those you come in contact with...we're living for Christ...let's wear His name well.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Lifepoint Blood Drive...

This coming Sunday, October 12th, we're hosting a blood drive at Lifepoint Church. If you are able to help donate blood...come by Lifepoint Church between 9am-1pm this Sunday. We meet at Paloma Creek Elementary // 1600 Navo Road - 76227. We've got several of our people donating and we've opened the doors and invited our friends from local churches to participate as well.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Signs, Signs, Everyone Signs...

Today at Lifepoint Church we continued our current series, "Love Wins," with a talk entitled "love is respectful." We dug deeper today into our study of love and what love is, using signs (stop, no u-turn, yield, and scenic route ahead) to highlight and emphasize the importance of showing respect to those we come in contact with. There was a ton of positive response to today's message...if you'd like to listen, go to our "podcast" page (http://www.lifepoint-church.net/index-6.html) and click on "love is respectful" from 10.5.08 - message will be available Monday morning.

Hope to see you Sunday.

I'm Alive...

For those of you who read my blog and noticed it's been over a week since my last post...let me just assure you that I'm alive. Alive and in more pain than I've ever been in!

My right knee (see picture above) feels like hamburger after going through a meat grinder. I've been in bed for 7 days now...just getting up to use the restroom and go to physical therapy...at this point I hate getting out of bed...it hurts. I'm debating on if I should get some adult diapers from Clint (his wife Jenna is our children's director and he sells medical supplies and diapers to hospitals)...if I had the diapers I'd only need to leave the bed for physical therapy. I'm joking of course...kinda.

So, since I'm a pastor...this blog should tend to have something spiritual in it, huh?!

During times of extreme frustrations, pain, depression, and uncertainty...regardless of how difficult it may seem...we must trust God. Just because my job is to "pastor" and teach...it doesn't mean that I'm immune to trials and hardships. During the last week I've been beat down emotionally and physically and my strength can't be my wife or kids...no. My strength and yours, in times of difficulty, MUST be God. Nobody else can provide the comfort, support, love, and understanding we need during our darkest times. Dark times like: job loss, divorce, financial instability, personal struggles, loss of loved ones, or even knee surgery. You are loved...never forget that.

Hope to see you Sunday.