New Look...

I've spent some time over the last several days working to get the Lifepoint Church website updated. The main page has a new feel...I've removed some of the previous elements and added a cleaner looking "rotating banner." The rotating banner (when clicked on will take you to the information within the site that directly relates to the image clicked on) is just a simple way to make the site look cleaner and to change things up a bit.

From time to time we personally need to change things up and get a cleaner look in our personal lives. Even when it feels like and seems like we're rolling along in our journey with Christ. We need to be willing to pray the prayer that David prayed in Psalm 139. David says "...search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts..." - and this is a deep and powerful prayer that we should all pray. We need to pray this prayer often because we at times, not intentionally, can deceive ourselves and overlook some things that may be in our lives, thoughts and hearts...that shouldn't be there.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Crazy Awesome...

So, I had the opportunity to go to C3 last night...and took it! What's C3? C3 is the "creative church conference" that Fellowship Church puts on every year. Last night was amazing! Pretty much standing room only and the crowd was truly electric. There was a tremendous sense of anticipation around what was going to happen.
Last night's session had both Ed Young (Pastor of Fellowship Church) and Craig Groeschel (Pastor of Lifechurch.tv) speaking...and what they had to say was incredible!
In all honesty when we pulled into the parking lot last night I was sick and really just wanted to go home. I decided to tough it out and I am so glad that I did. I walked away from the conference last night excited, inspired, challenged and ready to take on the world. To all my friends in ministry...let me just say this - go to C3 next year OR any conference that inspires you! I LOVE being around so many creative, innovative, inspiring and God fearing leaders!

If you can't tell...I'm pumped!

Hope to see you Sunday.

The Heart Of The Matter...

Yesterday we continued our current series "Red Letters" - looking at "the heart of the matter." It's interesting when you fully examine Matthew 5:8 how wrong so many churches and religious systems are. To often churches, leaders and religious systems try to "fix" people from the outside in - "...don't do this...don't do that...start doing this..." and that's not what it's about. Here's the question we need to ask "...if you stop doing 'bad habit XYZ - aka SIN'...will your heart be right with God...or have you simply changed your habits?"

The problem is not with external issues OR habits...it's ALWAYS a heart issue. Always. And for the church world to place so much emphasis on externals is wrong. And what is saddening is that those who have yet to cross the line of faith...they see this and want nothing to do with the church because they think it's all about rules.

When our hearts grow cold...our values get inverted. It's that simple. When our heart grows cold - things that should matter don't. When we don't have God as our single-minded ambition...everything gets out of whack. The heart has to change...has to be renewed. It's the heart of the matter...it's the heart that has to change. And we are all in need of a new heart...a begging dependancy on God.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Leadership Thought...

After watching a recent televised event I came to several conclusions...here's one that I want to share with you:

A true leader will take responsibility and deal with what needs to be dealt with...without blaming those who came before him / her. A true leader (regardless of the setting: church, marketplace, politics OR even the local PTA) will take care of business and not push blame, will handle situations and not say "...it's not because of me..." and a true leader will lead even if nobody is following.

I'm continually honored and humbled to be able to lead such an amazing church, amazing people, and those in the surrounding area. While we are currently reaching roughly 175 people on a weekly basis...I do everything I can to lead as though we're reaching thousands. Why? Because someday we will be reaching thousands...and we're already praying for them and that day.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Always Check You Child's Homework...

Things aren't always what they appear...just remember that as you go through this journey of life.
From the mom (the names have been changed to protect the innocent)

Dear Mrs. Jones (the teacher),

I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer.
I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn’t show me dancing around a pole. It’s supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot. From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Home Depot

Thought you might enjoy this...hope you did.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Change Is In The Air...

This morning was yet another great day at Lifepoint. It was also a sad day, because today we announced the departure of our student pastor - Johnny - and his wife Stephanie. They have accepted a full time position at a church in Flower Mound and as they leave we will miss them. Johnny is a great friend of mine (in and outside of ministry) and God is going to use him in an awesome way at his new church.

We're also so incredibly excited about what God is doing at Lifepoint. The time for mourning and goodbyes must be short...we've got a great deal of work still ahead of us. The "Big Mo" is still in full effect...

Hope to see you Sunday.

It's Official...

It's official...Lifepoint "Point Groups" are kicking! Tonight we launched our Men's, Women's and Student Point Groups...and the turn out for the very first night was awesome. We had around 10 or 12 who made an effort to notify us saying that they wouldn't be able to make it for various reasons...and still had well over 80 in total attendance!

For those of you who read this blog...I'm sure you're tired of hearing it...but I'm so pumped! You have no idea how excited I am with what God is doing at Lifepoint Church. The direction, momentum, buy-in, and future has me absolutely thrilled and humbled.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Messing With My Head...

Here's a few quotes / ideas that I came across today that are completely messing with my head:

-A problem cannot be fixed by the same consciousness that created it.

-The church needs artists to help people see clearly what they have always vaguely felt.

-Churches too often look for "Lights, Camera, Action" instead of "Father, Son, Holy Spirit."

-Technology functions somewhat as alcoholism and drug abuse used to. As a counterfeit experience of the ecstatic.

-Every 500 years the church has a yard sale and decides what to keep and what to get rid of...we are in that moment.

-It's amazing that in a faith where we see death and resurrection as beauty...yet we're unwilling to let our churches die (some churches just need a proper burial).

Pretty heavy ideas...but oh so very good!

Hope to see you Sunday.

What Can I Say...

What can I say except...wow!

We moved to a new location this past Sunday and did everything we could to notify those who attend. In fact, we sent out a mass email and letter to anyone who has ever even stepped foot into one of our services...just to let them know about the change in location. All that time, finances (stamps are getting to be expensive) and energy...and we still had nearly 30 of our regulars not show up. And guess what?!?! We still had right around 130 in attendance! Wow!

We've got a firm base of around 160 people...that doesn't include all of our students that show up on Wednesday nights...add in those students and we're currently reaching as many as 175 people on a weekly basis! How crazy is that? For a church that's 16 months old, with NO mother church, and a original "core group" of only 15 adults...that's flippin' awesome! And guess what?!?! We're no where close to being done!

We're starting our brand "Point Groups" this Wednesday night for men, women, and students (Pre-K through 12th grade). What are Point Groups? Point Groups are what we at Lifepoint Church refer to as our "gatherings & studies" outside of Sunday mornings. They will be a time of cultivating genuine relationships and spiritual growth. We'll have seperate men's and women's Point Groups...and what's really cool is that our students (Pre-K through 12th grade) will have their own groups as well. Savannah Elementary, on Wednesday nights, will now be our "student center"...full out children's ministry and youth service...with plenty of room for growth!

All that to say...I'm pumped about the momentum we have and direction that we're going as a church. Next "growth barrier"...here we come...and we're not just gonna break it...we're gonna shatter that mug. God is amazing and using us to do amazing things!

Hope to see you Sunday.