Keep On Truckin'...

This week is a busy and exciting one...just like every other one. Monday night we had about 20 people in our home. We hosted and feed a bunch of students and leaders from our sister church (www.palmvalleychurch.com) in South Texas. Tonight, Tuesday, we're feeding about 100 college students at UNT as an outreach event. Wednesday night at Revolution, our youth ministry, one of my interns - Kevin - is preaching (I love helping and mentoring young guys who are called into ministry). Wednesday night we also continue our "evangelism" emphasis in our men's & women's Point Groups. Thursday & Friday will be devoted to prep work for Sunday...I'm also trying to score tickets to the races this weekend. Saturday we'll be painting a ton of faces and handing out hundreds of invite cards at the Savannah Easter event. And Sunday...we gather at Lifepoint Church! I love my job.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Hardcore...

So after the morning service today at Lifepoint...I dismissed the crowd, turned off my microphone, turned around and Blake was on stage and he looked at me and said "...dude, that was hardcore..." Hardcore?! A sermon, message, teaching (whatever you want to call it) hardcore?!?! I said "...hardcore good OR bad..." And his response was "...hardcore good..."

It was a really great day at Lifepoint...great worship...and the message was hardcore. It was VERY well received and very much needed. We discussed four things that we're all, as a church & followers of Christ, going to do to reach people. What are those four things? 1- Do everything short of sin to reach people. 2-Do more with less (wise use of finances / resources). 3- Work together to accomplish more (not just within Lifepoint, but working with other churches). 4- We will make a difference in our communities.

That's what we're going to do...no questions asked. Reach people, reach people, reach people. The local church is what Christ left us...and we need to step it up and be the church in action. Hardcore!

Hope to see you Sunday.

Today Was A Good Day...

To quote the great Ice Cube "...today was a good day..."

We had a really good morning at Lifepoint...starting a new teaching series that serves to remind us what our mission is as the church. From time to time we have to be reminded, challenged, encouraged and pushed. This morning's talk was very stern, but taught in love. If we, church staff, can't be honest and transparent with those who attend...who's going to do it? I'm just like everyone else...I need a firm kick in the butt sometimes.

After our time together at church...a whole bunch of us headed down to the park for a cook out and a time of just hanging out. So much food! Everyone ate way to much and just sat around enjoying each other's company. Several of us played "cornhole"...the worlds greatest redneck game. So much fun...with so many great people. Today was a good day.

Hope to see you Sunday.

NEVER AGAIN...

This past week we decided to go visit family up in Iowa...NEVER AGAIN. The time with family was great and we value every minute we get with them, but I don't want to make that trip by car ever again. I'm not sure if it's the 11 hours in the car, a screaming baby at times, a 4 year old who can't sit for more than 20 minutes without asking "...are we in Iowa yet?" or a 7 year old who's an accident waiting to happen (countless splinters, skinned knees and fingers caught in car door) that makes me never want to take the trip again.

The bottom line is that we made it...we're home and everyone is alive. I'm just now feeling "rested" from my vacation after being home 24 hours. Maybe from now on we can sucker family into driving down to Texas.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Prayer Series...

We finished our prayer series today...it was a great series. And after teaching about prayer for the last 3 weeks...I came to the simple realization that this prayer thing is really simple. The way that Jesus taught us to pray, the reasons behind prayer, the mystery behind unanswered prayers...it's all so simple. But so many of us don't pray like we should. So many of us don't have a hunger and appetite for that intimate connection with God. What a shame.

It's simple...God clearly shows us how to do it. So do it!

Hope to see you Sunday.

Saturday Night Fever...

I'm all for polyester suites, disco shoes, mirrored balls, lit-up dance floors and shaking my groove thang (yeah, I said it...lay off me). But the Saturday Night Fever that I'm dealing with right now doesn't have any of those elements. Instead, I'm working with: cold sweats, huge headache, queasy stomach and body aches...not fun. What makes it even worse...my entire family is sick OR is just getting over the same stuff. Don't come to our house. I'm going to bed...pray for us.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Question...

Question: When was the last time you set up a "portable church" in the pouring rain?

If you would have asked me that Wednesday morning...my answer would have been - never. However, this morning my answer is very different. Last night we set up our student ministry, preK, and Kidz club...in the pouring rain. It wasn't just pouring...it was stinking freezing...like 37 degrees. Me and 4 other guys pulled up and unloaded our trailer in record time! It's funny how freezing conditions and soaked bodies can increase productivity.

Setting up my thoughts instantly went to "...man, our student ministry, kids and adult activities tonight are gonna take a huge hit because of the weather..." It's so easy to dwell on the externals and not focus on the job that God has given us. I challenge you to not allow the enemy of your soul to mess with your mind. It's hard...I struggle with it just like everyone else...but the bottom line is that God is God...and we have to trust Him regardless of situations and circumstances.

When the night of frigid temps & rains was over...everyone went home, trailer was loaded and dropped off at the storage facility...we added up the total attendance for the evening. Honestly, I was shocked. We had over 70 people come out to connect with God and grow closer in their relationships with others...despite the freezing temperature and rain. Freakin' awesome! I'm constantly proud of YOU (attenders / members) Lifepoint Church!

Hope to see you Sunday.

Daylight Savings Sucks...

Daylight savings (especailly springing forward) sucks! At least that's what I was thinking about 10:05 Sunday morning, when there was only about 1/3 of our normal Sunday morning crowd sitting in the auditorium. I decided to just sit in the front row (not looking at the crowd behind me) and not worrying about the attendance...because there really isn't anything that can be done about it anyways (not at 10:05 anyways).

When I got up to teach...man, was I surprised! A whole bunch of people showed up between 10:05 and 10:30...we actually had a really good crowd. The entire service from beginning to end was lights out. The worship Sunday morning was SOLID...Blake and the guys really tore it up...it was great! And there was a lot of good feedback about the teaching as well.

You never know what's gonna happen when God shows up.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Rest...

Today I rested for the first time in...well, I can't remember when. I went golfing with my dad, ate buffalo wings, took a nap and didn't once think about Lifepoint Church. I can't remember the last time a day went by where I didn't do something church related. And as much as I love and am passionate about Lifepoint Church...it was nice to rest.

I challenge and encourage you to rest. If you have the chance to unplug...do it. I know that I'm going to be refreshed and ready to go starting early Friday morning.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Prayer...

Today we started a great series of talks called "Prayer." We kicked off the series with just a simple foundation of what prayer is: communicating with God...that's it. I'm really excited and the feedback today after the service was great. Next week we'll be looking at the mystery of unanswered prayers and in week 3 we'll learn how pray like Jesus prayed.

Today, in week 1, we covered why people don't pray:
1. People aren't sure how to pray.
2. We get bored or distracted while trying to pray.
3. We think our requests are too small for God.
4. People aren't sure if our prayers will make a difference.

We also looked at four steps in talking to God:
1. With gut-level honesty.
2. Talk to God about everything that matters to you.
3. Pray continually.
4. Listen for His response...this is the most important in my opinion!

I'm excited with what God is doing at Lifepoint and the direction, momentum and future...

Hope to see you Sunday.