HWY 380 Meeting & Websites...

This morning...VERY EARLY (630am is early for me)...I met with a few pastors who are working to reach people along HWY 380. My visit with them was short b/c I had to leave early to get my oldest son ready for school. However, I enjoyed my time with the guys. It's always fun to meet up with new pastors and discuss "business."

For me it's so very important to not be "territorial" when it comes to people and ministry. To many churches, in cities and towns, have a territorial type mindset...it's rather sad and amusing. You've got these churches and pastors who are so concerned with "their people" and making sure they don't lose them. What pastors like this fail to understand is that "their people" are God's people. My opinion, which doesn't carry much weight, is that if someone doesn't enjoy or fit into our church...let me help you find a new church. I'm not gonna hold onto someone who doesn't enjoy worshiping with us. What's worse than holding on to them...is trying to change the church style or cater to their needs...JUST LET THEM GO! There are enough churches out there...life is to short to NOT enjoy church.

Here's something you may never see another pastor do...direct you to another church! Below is list of local churches that are currently in the area...if you don't attend Lifepoint Church or if you're looking for something stylistically different than what Lifepoint offers...take a look at these churches:

Church of Celebration Metro - www.cocmetro.com
Vinelife Church - www.vinelifechurch.com
Savannah Life Fellowship - www.savannahlife.org
Harvest Point Bible Church - www.harvestpointbible.com

Anyways...my heart's desire is to care for and pastor those who call Lifepoint Church home and reach out to those without a church home or relationship with Christ. And over the last several months and this mornings meeting...I truly believe that the other church planters along HWY 380 feel the same way...which is awesome!

Hope to see you Sunday

My friend...

My friend Micah (see picture to the left) said he stopped checking my blog because I wasn't consistent in blogging...he's right. I tend to forget about the blog, be consumed with other things, or at the end of the day I'm just to tired to mess with it. The thing about planting a church is that there's TONS of stuff to do. I'm not a gifted secretary, accountant, or highly organized...but I'm great at delegating. But you can't delegate your blogging to somebody else can you?! Can you outsource your personal thoughts, ideas, what's going on in your world, or relationships?

I think to many Christians tend to outsource their relationship with Christ. They leave it up to some guy on Sunday morning to feed them, teach them, and try to connect them with what God wants to do in their life. It's so important that our only time with God is NOT just on Sunday mornings at church. You wouldn't go 7 days without feeding yourself food...you'd waste away if you only ate 4 times a month. Your relationship with Christ isn't any different.

Anyways...I've come down off the "soap box". It's my friend Micah's fault...he's the one that got me thinking.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Lies & Class 101

I love our current series "Identity Theft"

Within this message lies the truth. Actually, it's the truth about lies. The lies we tell ourselves and the damage they do if we let them take hold of our lives. There's nothing little or white about them - lies keep us from finding our true identity: the identity we have knowing that we're living up to the amazing potential that God has planned for our lives.


We're still running well over 100 (just 7 months into the game)...we've had several new families in the last several weeks / months...so we're starting a new round of "Class 101" tonight ...I'm pumped...another 12 adults wanting to become members of Lifepoint Church = +30 members in just two classes. We'll do another class at the end of June and one half way through September. My desire is to have 60-75 members by the end of September (at our 1 year anniversary) and weekly attendance to be close to or over 200.

Hope to see you Sunday

Lifepoint's First Easter

Easter 2008 was amazing! We met new families from our community, Lifepoint regulars invited friends and neighbors, and lives where changed forever. And to top it all off...we had our largest crowd ever! Bigger than our launch, bigger than our 6 month anniversary, bigger than any single day in our short history.

You have no idea how excited I am! The atmosphere Sunday morning was electric...I know that sounds lame...but everything just felt so right. The worship band was lights out, children of all ages had a blast, and I was told numerous times that the teaching was great.

Do me a favor...
Will you help us keep this amazing momentum going?
I hope so!

Hope to see you Sunday.

Church Membership Done Different...

So...last Thursday we did our very first "class 101" - we had 20 adults become members of Lifepoint Church. How awesome is that?!?! 20 adult members for our VERY FIRST membership class!

The entire premise behind the classes are simple:
Class 101 - is membership (understanding what we believe, our statements, and our strategies). Class 201 - is spiritual growth and Class 301 - is ministry growth (getting prepared to take ownership in ministry roles).

We will hold 101, 201, and 301 once every 3 months (or more often if needed) and these classes will be a part of the culture of Lifepoint Church. Our desire is to do "church membership" different - all to often membership benefits the church and not the member...at Lifepoint Church we are committed to the "member" just as the "member" is committed to the 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.