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.

Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas from: Me, Asher...and the rest of the Thompson crew (Emily, Greyson, & Tatem).

Goals...

As the year is coming to a close...I find myself sitting back and reflecting on some goals I had set for myself and Lifepoint Church. I spent about 6 hours in the car yesterday driving out to Abilene to meet with a friend and church planter...so I had a lot of time to think. During my talk with Chuck, that's not what I call myself when I'm alone...Chuck is my friend in Abilene, I realized that one goal in particular was most likely going to be reached before the end of the year...possibly even this Sunday. What's that goal?!?! I'm not saying...it's my goal...not yours. But it's an important church planting milestone.

All that rambling to say this...if you don't have goals in your personal life, marriage, with your kids, at school, work, and most importantly spiritually...you'll never reach them. If you don't have goals...you won't achieve them. Sounds incredibly simple...yet so very true.

If you don't have a goal / desire to grow closer to Christ in your daily walk (through reading the Bible & prayer)...guess what? You won't grow. Other things might just happen to you at work, home or school...but spiritual growth just doesn't happen. I challenge you to set spiritual goals for yourself and your family. Grow, grow, grow...

P.S.~ I found this in Abilene...Christmas is just around the corner. Hint, hint!

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.

XBOX 360...

I need an XBOX 360...since I'm going to be confined to my bed or the couch for the next several weeks. Anybody want to hook me up?!

Hope to see you Sunday.

Stinks...

My fantasy football team STINKS!

My "midget ninjas" (that's my team name - I hope no midgets or ninjas are offended) aren't living up to their potential. Here we are 3 weeks into the season and I'm looking at a possible 0-3 start...not cool...especially when I'm playing against guys from the church who like to talk trash.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Wind Knocked Out Of Me...

So this morning, around 9:30am, I had the wind knocked out of me. Not literally...but emotionally and mentally. I finally went to an orthopedic specialist...they're gonna cut me open and do knee (ACL) surgery next Thursday (9.25.08). I knew it was coming and I want it done...but to actually sit with the doctor and schedule the surgery...wow! I left the doctor's office less than thrilled.

What does it all mean? Well...pain, probably...and lots of it for several weeks after the surgery and physical therapy multiple times a week to get back to "NFL ready" condition. It also means that I'll most likely miss at least 1 Sunday...which I hate doing...but I know my staff will do a great job in my absence. It also means being confined to either my bed or the sofa (since we have a two story house and stairs are out of the question for a week or two afterwards). It also means being waited on hand and foot...which I will actually enjoy.

Don't think about me during this time...pray!

Hope to see you Sunday.

Missing In Action...

Wow! It's been over a week since my last entry...it feels like it's been longer than that. This has been one of those weeks where no matter how hard I work...I just can't get ahead or caught up. I've been working on t-shirt designs, invite cards, door hangers, the outreach event this weekend, and this coming Sunday's message "Don't Lose Heart"...I really think it's gonna be a good one. All that to say...I'm back and not M.I.A (missing in action). I'm sure Heath (one of our drummers) was worried about me...I think he's the only one who reads this blog. LOL.

Anyways...I'm excited about this weekend. It's a holiday weekend and we're doing a big outreach with the Savannah community. I really believe that we'll have a bunch of new families join us on Sunday, as a result of the event Saturday. Then the following Sunday, September 7th, we celebrate our 1 year anniversary! Lots of stuff going on...this is fun.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Yankees vs. Rangers...

Last night me, Micah (MC Director), Johnny (Student Pastor), and Clint (our kidz director's husband) went to The Ballpark In Arlington...or whatever they are calling it this week. We watched the New York Yankees (my favorite team) play the Texas Rangers...we had an awesome time!

We had fairly decent seats (upper deck - home run porch in right field)...but we never made it to our seats. I got us reservations at the Diamond Club (air-conditioned, upscale, restaurant & buffet - overlooking left field). The food was good...not your typical ballpark meal - nachos, hotdog, 72 oz coke and peanuts - we had pasta, fish, prime rib, salad, fruit, and iced tea...did I mention it was air-conditioned and nice?!?! Oh...and to top it off...we met Nolan Ryan! He was 2 people behind me in the buffet line...supper nice and friendly - Clint talked his ear off and Micah got a handshake.

We watched a good portion of the game...my team lost...but the hang time was amazing. I love hanging out with people, building relationships, living life together, and laughing.

Genuine relationships is a key focus of Lifepoint Church- Lifepoint Church is a community of real people who are committed to connecting individuals to Christ through: Genuine Relationships, Engaging Worship and Relevant Teaching. Building relationships and connecting people to Christ...that's what it's all about, right?

I challenge you...spend some time with people this week...your family is important, but for this challenge they don't count. Have dinner with a friend or someone from Lifepoint, spend more than 5 minutes talking to your neighbor (how about inviting them to church?!?), take to to connect with people...they matter to God...they should matter to you.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Get Away / Work...

I'm out of town right now on a mini-vacation. We're currently in Mission, TX (about 3 miles from the Texas / Mexico border) at our "sister church" - Palm Valley Church. Emily and I have the privilege and honor of spending time with our dear friends at the church for a few days...then the work begins.

On Sunday I get to teach at Palm Valley Church...an amazing church with an awesome pastor and creative staff. Now, I get to (as a lead pastor) teach every Sunday at Lifepoint Church...and currently Lifepoint Church has about 120 people who call it their church home. Palm Valley Church however, has roughly 2500 who claim it as their church home...so, needless to say the crowd for this Sunday will be a little bit bigger than what I'm used to. Not only will the crowd be bigger...but there's 3 different services I'll be teaching at on Sunday morning! Be praying for me...my strength and delivery.

I'll be praying for Lifepoint while I'm gone...Johnny (our student pastor) will be teaching and Blake is back...so Lifepoint is going to have a great day this Sunday.

Hope you're at Lifepoint Sunday.

Upgrade...

I finally got an iPhone back in February of this year...and I love it! Then...the new 3G came out this past weekend...and I gotta have it. Problem...I don't have the money for it. So I put an ad on www.craigslist.com for my phone and sold it for more than an enough to get the new iPhone...in fact, I could get the 16GB if I wanted to...and I'd like the 16GB...but I'm cool with the 8GB.

So after I met some lady in a restaurant parking lot and sold her my iPhone...I headed straight to the closest Apple store. I had cash in hand and and was ready for an iPhone upgrade. But as I rounded the corner...I found about 100 other people in line wanting to get their hands on the same thing. So I waited and waited and waited...after about 2 hours an Apple employee came out and said the 8GB iPhones are all gone. So, I figured...if I get the 8GB I'll be able to pocket a bit of money...if I get the 16GB I'll be out a few bucks.

I know you're sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what I decided to do. Let's just say this...don't try to call me for a day or two...I'm currently without a cell phone. I'll let you know when I get the upgrade.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Creating Margin...

"I just spent a lot of money, but guess how much I saved you?" - sounds like something my wife might say...but for the first time in my life...I find myself saying a phrase similar to that. "I just got a new car and I'm saving us a ton of money!" It's true!

We finished a great teaching series a few weeks ago called "How To Be Rich"...not how to get rich...but how to BE rich in a way that pleases and honors God. The series was full of tons of practical thoughts and applications...that we all need to hear...including myself. It was one of those teaching series where I personally walked away going "man, I gotta change somethings myself."

One of the thoughts / applications from the teaching was that we consume EVERYTHING God has given us...we spend everything we make. We have no margin...and when we have no margin we can't tithe or give generously...when people don't tithe or give generously, the church suffers...when the church suffers, the church can't do all that it's been called to do. Having financial barriers and constraints in your personal finances is no different from what the church experiences. Lifepoint Church, like many churches, has plans and visions to reach people (locally and globally)...which takes finances.

Anyways...back to creating margin. In our household we had very little margin...after tithe and our normal bills. I wanted more margin to be able to relieve the financial pressures at home and to be able to give more generously. So I got a new car. I sold my 2003 Acura (which I loved) and we're getting rid of our van next month...downsizing from 2 vehicles to 1...and lowering our insurance. So back to one of my opening statements - "I just got a new car and I'm saving us a ton of money!" Overall...I'm saving us roughly $350 a month. That's creating margin!

Hope to see you Sunday.

Injury & Excitement...

So...it's Thursday morning and I've been laying on the couch for the last 5 days...why?! Because last Saturday I blew out my right knee playing football. Yep, it's a torn ACL (see diagram). So...I'm really frustrated and angry with myself. I had 2 years of college football eligibility still left...but now I'll never be able to play college football again. Which means I won't be drafted into the NFL...which means I'm thrilled to be able to fully focus on Lifepoint Church.

If by some strange reason you're still reading...I'm excited about the conference my wife and I are going to next Monday. We're going to Atlanta, GA for the "Drive 08" conference that Andy Stanley and North Point Church is putting on. Not only is it going to be an amazing conference with tons of much needed information...but I get to go with two pastors: 1 - that I've yet to meet & 1 - that I consider a mentor. I can't wait to be able to apply the information and experience to Lifepoint Church.

Hope to see you Sunday

Kids Are So Smart...

So last night we went to a Christmas banquet...it was great...three beautiful words - "child care provided." The food and fellowship was a lot of fun.

We came home late - one of those nights where you just want to put the kids straight to bed - and go to bed yourself. Emily went straight to our room (her contacts were bothering her) and I tucked the boys into their beds. Our boys: Greyson 5yrs & Tate 3 yrs old (below picture is Tate - my 3 yr old).
I tucked them in and turned to leave the room...and Tate started yelling for mommy - "mommy...read me a story...mommy...kiss me." I told him mommy was already in bed - it was time for him to sleep. I turned and he yelled "daddy...kiss me again...read me a story." I firmly told him "Tate...no more yelling for MOMMY or DADDY, ok." He agreed.

As I left the room and took about 10 steps down the hall...I suddenly heard "Pastor Rick...read me a story!" I almost lost it...it took everything to keep from laughing. He didn't yell for mommy or daddy...but Pastor Rick. 3 yrs old and so smart.

I tell that story for this reason - they may be young...but they are so smart...if you have kids you know what I'm talking about. We must realize this and be a Godly example to them at all times...they are constantly learning and watching...we as parents need to be aware of this.

Hope to see you Sunday

Sick

Have you ever had a big test at school, a presentation at work, a trip scheduled...and you got sick just before zero hour?

That's where I'm at today. We start this great Christmas series today...and I'm sick. Can't breathe, sore throat, coughing, and snot...lots of snot. Here's the thing...this series is (in my opinion) gonna be amazing...and I truly believe that this is just an attack from the enemy...the evil one.

You see...there are things that God wants us to do...that He's called us to do. Then there are things that the evil one doesn't want us to do. At this point...I'm under the impression that the evil one doesn't want today's message to be heard by Lifepoint Church...I don't blame him.

Not only is this a Christmas series...but it will also challenge those in attendance to reach out to their friends, family and neighbors.

Pray for me...I'm believing that God is going to do something great today and during this series.

Hope to see you today.

Tired?!

Does anyone else ever get tired...or is it just me?!

This week is no different. I'm heading to Phoenix tomorrow morning and coming back late Friday night...going for a church plant conference. I'm excited about the trip...but I've had to do twice as much work this week, so that the two days I'm gone doesn't put me two days behind.

This weekend is going to pretty cool. Saturday - I'm going to marry a couple who have been attending Lifepoint sense day 1...how cool is that? And Sunday we start a new series - The Christmas Series (see blog entry below for more info).

Hope to see you Sunday.