as for my blogging hiatus...

I really can say that I haven't felt much like blogging lately.  When I first began blogging I started because I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings with the people that I love (family, Ridge Pointe Church, etc...) but can say with complete honesty that lately it had become a popularity contest for me...how many views in a day?  where are the people from that read this?  

I have come to the point where I have realized and am now trying to act on being the man that God has REALLY called me to be.  Forget the garbage, forget the baggage; whatever it is that's holding me back.  I have to get back to loving our people with complete abandon, putting their needs before my own, and sharing Christ with others.  Every so often God gives all of us a reality check.  We get ahead of where He wants us.  Some of us move back in line, others think that their ideas are above Gods.  It's time for me to move back, get in line, and follow Christ.

When Jesus was going to resurrect Lazarus, Thomas said, "let us go so that we may die with Him" (Anthony Johnson version 2008).  Sometimes it becomes necessary to follow Christ against all conventional wisdom, against ideas of "successful" churches/pastors, and against our own wills and desires.  May God help all of us to have an agenda created and shaped by Christ.

Just Do It

So this past week Ridge Pointe Church had an article written about it in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal.  It seemed for the first day or so that everything we had heard back was positive.  From then on, however, it seemed to take a downward spiral.  While this does not at all bother me, I think it's important to say one thing: no matter what is going on or what others may think, Ridge Pointe is going to do it's absolute best to make sure that what we do and who we are glorifies God completely.  What agenda would be worthwhile if God were not involved?  What plan would work without God in it?  We often joke that all of the rules of church planting have been broken by this church, yet we still seem to succeed.  

Success is not what we think it is.  When I think of the "success" of Ridge Pointe I don't look simply at numbers, but at lives changed.  I think of the countless people that even one year ago would not have stepped foot into a church that are now great partners with us.  I love this church, the people in it, and our mission.  Let's remember to always strive, whether as a church or personally, to follow the mission of Christ: love God, love others, make disciples.

Message Recap from 11/9

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to speak again at Ridge Pointe Church.  Here are some notes from our final message in the series "Fanatic":

-God seeks "true worshipers": John 4:23
-Four characteristics of true worshipers:
1. Worship with awe: Revelation 1:16-17
2. Worship with abandonment: 2 Samuel 6:21-22
3. Worship with intimacy: Psalm 27:4
4. Worship with their lives: Romans 12:1

Hopefully this can jog some memories and help out for our home groups this week.

Sunday Recap 11/9/08

Today was another great day at Ridge Pointe Church.  Also had a great day in general with my wife and some friends.  Here are a few highlights from the day:

-band was once again FREAKING AWESOME.  Great job guys.
-attendance was back up to normal again after being way down the week before.  People either thought I was good or that Shane would be back this week...who knows?
-saw the movie "Fireproof".  Acting was definitely not the greatest, but the movie was actually better than expected.
-had a great time hanging out with Mitch and Candice.  They are both really great youth leaders.  
-really enjoyed being with my wife last night.  She was sick, but it was good to have time just to hang out and be together.

On a side note, I will be glad to be back to putting my full focus The Pointe this week after doing double duty between them and "big people church".

Great Weekend At Ridge Pointe

Yesterday I had the privilege to speak in our main service in the AM.  I always love to speak in "big people church".  It's refreshing for me and motivating all at the same time.  I think anytime you get so used to preaching in one venue that you tend to take it for granted.  Switching it up and speaking yesterday (as opposed to just on Thursday nights) was a blast.  Our people were awesome, responsive, and attentive.  With that said, here are some highlights from yesterday:

-the numbers were down but they were into it
-music was awesome.  Had a dude from the Marshall Tucker band.  UNREAL how good he was
-enjoyed having someone yell "snake handlers" as I referenced my Pentecostal background.  Truly funny stuff
-had to tell them if part of following Jesus was handling snakes then this man would have to "peace out"
-enjoyed having my parents in town to hear my speak

True Love Is Contagious

As I was sitting at my best friends wedding this weekend I couldn't help but smile.  Everyone there was so happy for the couple that was married.  No matter how they personally felt towards marriage, other people, or the couple themselves, every single person there was ecstatic that day.  I realized something then and there at the reception: true love is contagious.  When we see something so pure and real we cannot help but be amazed by it.  Not only are we amazed by it, but we desire it.  How would the lives of those around us changed if we could put on display our true love for God?  Would people be changed?  Is our love for God so pure that other people cannot help but admire and desire it?  My challenge is that if you want to see those people around you changed, what can you do to help them along the way?  Show your love for God through your service and good deeds.  Show your love for God through your interaction with others.  Love your spouse with everything you have.  I promise that if we do then we will change our world and the lives of those around us.

Excited about "Changed"

Let me first say that I am really pumped about this series that The Pointe is getting ready to start on Thursday night.  Here's why: it deals with a man whose life has been drastically changed by Christ.  It's a change of heart, change of attitude, change of perspective...ultimately what is awaiting change is his reputation with people he used to come across.  The book of Philemon deals with a man being restored to others.  It's a story of redemption.  It's my prayer that at the end of these three weeks we will all see the process of change in our lives and put it to action.