Sunday night reflections 4-22-07

I felt like last night was one of those nights when it's just hard. We had some technical problems that pushed us right up to starting time in getting ready. A bunch of our folks were out of town (or at the lake). But I think it was still a good night. The sermon actually got recorded this week! I'm going to post it online in a little while. Nathan learned a Bible verse that he quoted for me on the drive home (this is a HUGE thing for me and I am so proud of him). We had some returners.

Personally, I'm really enjoying our Problem with God series. It's been good for me to focus on some simple yet profound characteristics of God. I need to be reminded every so often of who God is and what he is like. Sometimes I get distracted and forget. Sometimes I am consumed by worry and forget. Sometimes I'm just self-centered and I forget. This series has helped me to refocus on who God is and what he is like. I just wish we had more people coming to be a part of the discussion. It's good stuff. At the same time I am so thankful for who God has brought our way and for the way some of you have been inviting people.

God is way bigger than my tiny brain can comprehend, but as we've discussed, God is good, God is Generous and God is Caring. I especially am encouraged by the truth that God as a gardener doesn't mind getting his hands dirty in my life. This week I pray that you would allow our Caring-gardener God to do his work in you so that you will be all that he's created you to be.

Sunday night reflections 4-15-07

I’ve got nothing so say but good stuff about this wonderful group of people that God has brought together as The Point. I am thankful for each of you and how you’re contributing.

I didn’t know what to expect this week, as far as attendance goes. Usually there’s a steep drop off after Easter. Before Easter we were averaging around 32 people a week. On Easter we had 59. Last night we had 49 people. We had 5 first time guests. All of our guests have come because they had a friend invite them. Thanks to everyone who has and is inviting folks. Keep it up. You are awesome.

I also have to say Kudos again to everyone in the kid’s area. The environment looked GREAT and personally I am so thankful for the investment so many of you have made into the lives of my kids. You are making a difference!

Finally, the band flat out ROCKED last night. I would love to hear your comments about The Problem with God series so far. Feel free to post a comment.

59!

I've got to be honest and say that I really didn't know what to expect last night at our Easter gathering. We've done a lot to get ready for Easter. I've been planning The Problem with God series for almost a year, but I didn't want to get my hopes too hight.

Well, we had 59 people at our Easter gathering last night! I was so pumped and excited that words fall short in conveying my feelings. There was such a high level of energy and excitement from our team. Some new people stepped up to serve. The children's environments were AWESOME (thanks Susan!)! The band rocked. And I know we had a number of unchurched people in the crowd. It was a great celebration of the risen Jesus. I really felt like we maximized who we are as a church.

I really have to thank everyone that worked so hard to make last night a success: Susan, Mitch, Kevin, Will, William, Claudia, JJ, Dustin, Jackie, Rick, Josh, Linda, Linwood, Michelle, Chris, Ref, Janae, Scott and Liz. Each of you had a key part in making last night such a great night. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can't say enough about how much each of you mean to me.

Sunday night reflections 3-18-07

Last night I warned everyone before I spoke that I was about to vomit on them some things that God has been teaching me lately. Honestly, the sermon was mainly therapeutic for me. I wasn't even sure it would make sense to anyone. I am blown away by the number of positive comments people have been sending my way. It's pretty humbling and encouraging to know that God spoke to some people through me.

It's funny, because yesterday was a tough day for me. In fact, the past two months have been excruciating at times. I honestly wanted to stay home and say to @#$% with everything, but God is faithful. He got Liz and me into this and he's going to see us through it (I think). That's easier said than done.

I really appreciate all those on our team who are helping carry the load. Mitch and Jimmy did a phenomenal job leading worship. Josh did great running the video stuff for the first time. JJ did an awesome job with setting up an appealing environment. Ben and Josh took over setup of the screen and projector for the first time by themselves. Chris, as always, stepped in to help out wherever he was needed. The list could go on, but I want all of you to know that I think you're awesome. I appreciate you and there's no way I could do this without you.

I'll end this by asking you to pray for me, Liz and our boys. I feel especially needy this AM for God to intervene in our family.

Sunday night reflections 2-18-07

I started yesterday morning by accidentally running across this verse. I don’t think it was an accident. Check it out.

I am pretty pumped about what is going on right now at The Point. We had 4 new first time guests. We had some returners. I love returners. We had some new people stepping in to serve.

I really appreciate Susan and Michelle stepping up to create a preschool room on the spot. With only our team’s kids in attendance our children’s ministry needs have been pretty minimal. I think our volunteers have done an incredible job putting together some creative experiences that communicate truth to our kids, and they’ve been able to do that with one class and one teacher. Last night we had a new family with a young child. And Susan and Michelle adapted greatly to create something from nothing. THANK YOU! They showed a whatever it takes attitude.

Don’t forget that this coming Sunday we’re going to be taking a field trip. Meet at the parking lot of the old Krispy Kreme at 8:15 AM and we’ll head up to Charlotte to check out how some churches are doing church in movie theaters. We’ll still be having our gathering at 6, so invite someone.

Sunday night reflections 2-11-07

I got a little teary eyed yesterday evening. Anyone who has known me for any length of time knows how much I enjoy music…especially live music. It has always been my dream and prayer that God would allow us to have a great band leading our worship. As Mitch, Will and Jimmy played their acoustic, unplugged worship set I was blown away. I think Chris Blackwell said it best (with hand-motions): Our worship was here (his hand being at waist height), and now it’s here (his hand being at nose height). Thanks guys for being an answer to prayer, for being Dream-Enablers for me, and for being willing to use your gifts to help us plant a new kind of church.

We had some key people out, but had others step up and fill the gaps. A big shout out to William for his willingness to step in and fill a need.

I’ve heard that people are inviting people… KEEP IT UP! That is awesome! It was great to have some new faces with us last night. One new woman told me she wanted to come back next week and bring her sister who doesn’t go to church anywhere. That’s what I’m talking about.

After a great worship set we continued our talk through Nehemiah by looking at Nehemiah 2:16-20. We know that God has a dream for each one of us, but in the pursuit of God’s dream we usually run into, or become one of four characters: Dream-casters, Dream-chasers, Dream-enablers or Dream-killers. The key is to recognize which is which and respond accordingly. The big key is to know who the Dream-killers are because they have the potential to derail your dreams. The way to silence Dream-killers is to:

- Remember the source of the dream: God.

- Get to work turning the dream into reality.

- Speak the truth to those who are Dream-killers. We'll be following up on this this coming Sunday.

The recording of the message didn’t work, but if you would like a transcript please let me know and I’ll e-mail one your way.

Overall, thanks be to God for a good day and for the privilege of working with Him to build his kingdom.

Sunday night reflections

Can we say eventful???

That is the word that I would use to describe our Super Bowl Party. The Colts won (which was good). We laughed at some of the commercials. There was plenty of food. We had some new folks that were invited by our regulars (KEEP INVITING!). We had a drug addict show up, steal some stuff, had to call the cops, another drug addict showed up, I thought I might get beat up...eventful. Ah...the joys of meeting where we're meeting, when we're meeting.

Kudos to Scott, Susan and Janae who handled the theft and ensuing drama with much grace and courage. They really kept their cool in a tense situation. I've never had to call the cops out to church before. Oh well, anybody who says coming to church is boring just needs to hang out with us for a while!

We need to see about getting a police officer to come hang out around the building.

We also had a group go out Prayer Driving yesterday morning. We were going to Prayer Walk, but the windchill was below freezing and we're a bunch of wimps! God used that to open our eyes to some unique observations. I'll be sharing more about those observations in a later post.

I want to go ahead and tell you that I am looking forward to this coming Sunday. It would be a great day to invite folks. We're going to have an acoustic band!!! I'm going to be talking about how we respond to the rollercoaster-ride of following Jesus. You are going to want to be there, and you know someone who needs to be there. Who can you bring with you to The Point on Sunday?

Sunday night reflections

Last night we did a bit of follow up from the previous week's message. You can listen online here. I shared how we need to Investigate before we Initiate (thank you Andy Stanley). What I mean by that is this: If we really are going to make disciples who make disciples, if we really are going to connect people who are far away from God to God, if we really are going to create an engaging, relevant and irresistible gathering that's worth inviting our unchurched friends to, if we are going to make a dent in the unchurched population of Spartanburg County, then it makes sense for us to do a little investigation to discover the hopes, dreams, stresses, concerns, fears and needs of the people who are unchurched. To do that I said we need to do three things:

1. We need ask the right question of God: God, if you had your will and your way, what would this church look like in relation to the people you want us to reach (I stole that from Putman and Stetzer's book Breaking the Missional Code)?
2. We need to talk with and listen to God on behalf of the people we are trying to reach. (This coming Sunday we're going to Prayer Walk at 11 AM as a start).
3. We need to ask the right questions of the right people. The right people aren't those who already are a part of a church. The right people are those who are unchurched.

I am looking forward to us discovering the answers to those questions together so that we can make disciples who make disciples.

I'm trying to be cautious and not get my expectations too high, but I feel like we've got a new hope at The Point. Last night we had 4 new people (all came because they were invited by friends) and it feels like we've got a little momentum going.

It's really God's doing, so I want to give Him the credit. But he's using some of you to do it. You are the ones inviting people. You are the ones volunteering. I want to give a big shout out to Scott and Janae for stepping up and asking, "Where do you want me to serve?" That is huge. May God continue to grant us favor!

Sunday night reflections

I have to say this...I love it when new people come. We had two new guests come to check us out last night. I love it even more when we have people come back. Having returners is a very good thing. Everyone who came for the first time last week came back this week. Very, very cool. I've got to give God the credit.

I honestly think they came back for Levi. He was passed around like a cold last night. We'll use whatever means possible to get people to come back. :)

Here's an interesting observation...the people we've been attracting lately seem to be radiating out from Crossroads Coffee. Crossroads is a local, college student owned and run coffee shop. They provide our coffee and now it looks like we're connecting with a group of people that work or patron the place. What's God up to? I don't know, but it is interesting.

Another observation... most of our new people are single or newly-married. We're not really connecting with families yet. I'm not complaining, just making an observation. I passionately want us to connect with families (partly because I have one), but I am so thankful to be connecting with a group that is normally ignored by churches.

Like I said last night, I feel like I'm in way over my head. I am way out of my league in this whole church planting thing. I need God to show up and help me and use me and speak to me and work through me more than I ever have before. I know that sounds cheesy and spiritual, but I feel like a middle schooler being asked to be the lead architect for the new Freedom Tower in NYC. I would appreciate your prayers.