Inconsistent & Ready For Summer...

Inconsistent would be a great word to describe my blogging...my apologizes.

It's the 21st of May...and it's already in the 90's here in North Texas. My wife, Emily, is a school teacher and my oldest son, Greyson, are both ready for school to be over. Me and the Tate are indifferent (everyday is like summer for a 3 year old and a stay at home dad). I am excited to teach the boys how to swim and to get the training wheels off of Greyson's bike...it's going to be a great summer for our family!

(Oh, the picture...it's our community clubhouse and water-park area...just so you can see how AWESOME our summer is going to be)

It's also going to be an amazing summer for Lifepoint Church. When so many churches do all that they can do just to "maintain" during the summer months...we've decided that we're going to do everything we can to see tremendous growth this summer. We currently have about 120 people who call Lifepoint Church their home and we've positioned ourself, during our first eight months, to see some amazing things happen this summer.

So What's On The Schedule This Summer:
1. Our first ever "Sports Camp" (VBS alternative for elementary aged children) June 9th-13th.
2. Our first ever missions trip (Mexico - youth group) // June 16th-21st.
3. Our 3rd "Class 101" will take place in late June or early July.
4. Lots and lots of water baptisms!

I truly believe that we're going to double this year and well exceed the 200 mark. My prayer is, if it's God's will, it will happen during the summer months. Why not?! We've resolved to not be a church that simply "maintains" during the summer. I'm well aware that when it comes to church growth there are seasons of growth and seasons without growth...but why? Is it because we've been told that's the way it is? Is it because churches run on auto pilot during the summer? We're not going to be that church...EVER! Help us see some amazing things happen this summer. Invite your neighbors and friends to experience God like never before at Lifepoint Church.

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

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.