Thou Shalt Hang Out at Wells
OK, How can I not give another great Buzz Commandment on an awesome morning like this? This is my other favorite of the 10 Buzz Commandments, Commandment III:
Wells were ancient hang outs. They were the BC version of coffeehouses, chat rooms, and malls. Jesus didn’t invite people to the synagogue. He hung out at wells. He was often accussed of hanging out with the wrong people at the wrong places. But Jesus didn’t let that keep him from a party with a tax collector or a conversation with a Samaritan woman at the well. He went to where the people were.
Thou Shalt Read the 10 Buzz Commandments
I’ve been reading Mark Batterson’s 10 Buzz Commandments. This guy is cooler than the other side of the pillow. He’s got a handle on ministry culturally relevant, no… culturally engaged ministry. Plus, he is operating on a scale that is achievable by any of us. His church, National Community Church is an excellent place and I’m seriously buzzed about going there this week. I think my favorite of the 10 Buzz Commandments is this one:
Buzz Commandment VIII: Thou Shalt Offend Pharisees
If you want your church to buzz, you’ve got to be willing to offend some Pharisees along the way. That is part and parcel of following in Jesus’ footsteps!
Here is a lesson some of you have learned the hard way: as your influence grows larger so does the target on your back. If you dare to be different you’ll be criticized. That’s a promise. And those criticisms will probably come from the religious establishment that is content with maintaining the status quo.
UM Hall of Fame Banquet
In the world of sales and marketing, some might say I have “fire in my belly.” The fire is reserved for a few passions I have in life. I get fired up about my God, my family, my friends, my work, and a few other things. Among those other things is my passion for competition. And, no one competes better than the University of Miami Hurricanes.
That’s why I can hardly wait for May 8th to come around. I’ll be found at the banquet inducting University of Miami Hall of Famers. Among them is Ray Lewis. I can’t wait!
Thoughts on "THEY" Passed on by Tadd
Tadd Grandstaff posted these thoughts about “They” after attending the C3 Conference in South Carolina.
• T – Tuff – will fight for your vision and values
• H – Honest – Leadership above friendship
• E – Encouraging - put wind in your sails
-“Your critics don’t believe in explanation and your friends don’t ever need one”.
• Y – Yielded – Yes Men
– Say yes to God and to your vision and leadership.
– Behind closed doors they give you their true opinion.
Which Theologian Are You?
This quiz was passed along by a friend on a message board I read daily. It came by way of Ingrid Schlueter of the Slice of Laeodacia blog. It takes a couple minutes. A couple of the questions came across as slightly vague. It was very cool though. Here are my results:
 |
Travis scored as Martin Luther. The daddy of the Reformation. You are opposed to any Catholic ideas of works-salvation and see the scriptures as being primarily authoritative.
Which theologian are you? |
I’m Rollin’ in the My Space World
I’m rollin’ in the My Space world.
If You don’t have love, you don’t have jack!
Paul is one cool cat. He’s never afraid to say it like it is. He was looking at the church and encouraging them to have one voice. It’s not that he wanted a bunch of clones hanging out in the New Testament Church. But, he wanted the good people in the church to speak with one voice, the love voice…encouraging each other. This is what he said:
When things weren’t going smoothly in the arena of unity, he was just as direct, maybe moreso. In response to people that would use pieces of the faith to take potshots at one another for their own personal benefit and create division, Paul said:
In a really current environment, a discussion on the formation of their church by-laws, Pastor Mark Batterson from National Community Church says it like this, “I’ve always believed that life is too short to be part of a church that you’re not excited about. That may be right at the top of the list when it comes to leadership qualifications: how excited are you about what God is doing at NCC.”
You’ve got to love and appreciate straight forward talk and basic expectations. Paul lays it out like a real man. Mark does a pretty decent job too. I’ll add my voice to the conversation as well. God is at the Box Office today. I couldn’t be more excited. We’re running with that vision. Lives are being changed. We’ve had tremendous response. Our people have never been more excited. And, most importantly, we are reaching more people than we have at any point since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
I’m quick to change things up and often run ahead of the pack when change is concerned. But, we are running in this thing together so well. We have never had more active volunteers with 45% of our Sunday morning attendance involved in weekly volunteer service! Its an awesome time to be at the Pointe. You guys are incredible. You have not lagged back because things are different. You’re not missing this incredible moment in our history.
I want to thank you all and challenge you to share this awesome unity and love we have found through Christ!
Really Cool People Getting Married
Today, I had a great time marrying two really great people, Gary Macintosh and Beth Truluck. There is a really great story behind how we met. It is too long to share here. To sum it up, Gary and Beth are real champions. I am honored to have been such an important part of such an important day! Enjoy a few of the pictures.
Buzzin’ about the Buzz
I’m psyched about the Buzz.
5.4.06.
Washington D.C.
Mark Batterson
Ed Young
Ebenezer’s Coffeehouse
AMC Union Station
National Community Church
The Coolest Churches According to Time Mag
Thanks to Todd over at the MMI Blog for this one. Time Magazine did an interesting little article on the coolest churches. Some are big. Some are small. Some are drive thru. Some are artsy. You check ‘em out and let me know what your take is.
What the church ought to be about
I simply argue that the cross should be raised at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the Church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves; on the town’s garbage heap; at a crossroads so cosmopolitan they had to write His title in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek; at the kind of place where cynics talk smut and thieves curse, and soldiers gamble. Because that is where He died and that is what He died about, that is where churchmen ought to be and what churchmen ought to be about.
– George MacLeod (1956)
Thanks to the awesome volunteers @ LPC
Every volunteer that made yesterday possible is absolutely incredible in my book. I cannot possibly list everyone here. But, I will say a huge thanks to our awesome team that made yesterday a phenomenal day!
Kourtney, why do we celebrate Easter?!?
I asked my 2 year old sweetheart, Kourtney why we celebrate Easter and here’s what she said (post Easter Kids Life Service).
We saw God at the Box Office!
God is really cool. I know first hand because I saw him at the Box Office today. He graced the theater as powerfully as the greatest cathedral man has ever built. He changed some lives. Right at 20 people made “the walk” into the altar (which is the aisle between the stadium seats and the floor level seats) to invite Christ into their lives.
Prayers were prayed, songs were lifted up, friends were made, a message was given, lives were changed. I can’t wait to go back next week for another helping of God at the Movies!
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Final Thoughts before Easter Grand Opening @ the Cinema
24,000 postcards mailed. 7,700 phone calls made. Hundreds of invite cards handed out. Posters hung. New location tested out. Sound System absolutely rocks. Prayer continuing to go up. Many thanks to the 71 volunteers generously giving their time. That’s great!
God is at the center of it all. THAT’S AWESOME!
I’ll see you at Flagship Cinemas tomorrow at 10 AM.
Look for the Trailer Sunday Morning @ 10
Look for the Life Pointe Church at the Movies trailer. It will be parked at the entrance of Flagship Cinemas. Pull into the parking lot a little ealier than the scheduled start time of 10 AM on Sunday to be sure you grab a cup of Starbucks Coffee on the house! See you there for a great Easter Celebration!
The New Home of Life Pointe Church
Our Last Service at 1100 Old Dixie Hwy
Well, our last day at the 1100 Old Dixie Hwy facility was a big day I hear. As you know, Kelly and I missed it. I want to say thank you to everyone that wished Kelly well. Our early morning trip to the ER was unexpected. It was her second Kidney Stone since having McKenna. She is now at home resting.
Before going to the hospital, I made a couple of phone calls and you guys jumped into action covering our minstry responsibilities and taking care of our girls. I like to be available for my church family. It means so much to know that when we need you, you are there for us in a big way.
Its also pretty cool to know that you all got to meet a very good old friend of mine in David Barron. I grew up running all over his house with his two girls and his nephews. He’s really like family to me. Thank you for taking the time to minister to him and the family from his church in Arkansas that is facing a pretty difficult situation.
Life Pointe Church at the Movies Almost Here
Life Pointe Church has one more Sunday (last Sunday @ 11 AM) in the 1100 Old Dixie Hwy location! After that, we move into our new digs at the NEW Flagship Cinemas. That’s a new location and a new time! On Easter, we move to a 10 AM service time. I’m stoked!
If you want to be a part of this fantastic move, here are some things you can do:
- grab some posters and get permission to hang them in really cool businesses around town,
- grab a fistful of invite cards and buzz your friends with your enthusiasm for Christ,
- grab a few post cards on Sunday and write a personal note to someone you love with an invitation to LPC at the Movies.
- Forward your Life Pointe E-Card Invitation to everyone on your email directory. If you do not get the Life Pointe Newsletter, sign up here.
Make This Easter Count
Easter comes around once a year. While Easter bunnies, peeps, and colored eggs are a part of our commercialization of the holiday, we have chosen this day as a day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the most powerful day of the year for Christians.
There is even more power for the person that has not yet chosen to follow Christ. The opportunity to be forgiven, healed, and changed into the person of destiny that we were all created to be is so available.
With that said, here is the question for you: Are you preparing to introduce your friends and family to this Christ that has transformed your life on this Easter?
Between now and Sunday, invite cards will be available through Life Pointe for you to share with people close to you. I challenge you to make every second count. Reach out of your comfort zone and touch someone with the love of Christ. Afterall, He reached out and touched you with an amazing and transformational touch.
Check out the Flagship
Friday, the new Flagship Cinemas opened here in Homestead. Its a hit with the masses. Its going to be a hit with the good people of Life Pointe. Its a definitely hit with me.
Sunday, April 16 @ 10 AM will be our first Life Pointe Church service in the theater’s Pier 2. The place is going to rock. But, you don’t have to wait until next week to go to the theater. Check it out now by visiting these two great events.
FLAGSHIP GRAND OPENING DAY – Friday, April 7th. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 10:00am that morning with doors opening to the public at 11:30am. Flagship is offering a special promotional size $1 soda and $1 popcorn from Friday, April 7th through Thursday April 13th to all patrons.
Saturday, April 8th: Flagship’s famous “Dive for Prizes.” Keeping with the Flagship tradition, they will be holding their annual dive for prizes into a giant kiddy pool filled with popcorn and prizes. Patrons may win a chance on the “dive team” by: attending either charity night on the 4th or 5th and entering the raffle (names will be drawn each evening for a dive team spot) or listening to the following radio stations for an opportunity to call in and win a dive spot: WFKZ, WKEZ and WCTH. You can tune in to these stations for Flagship announcements starting Monday, April 3rd! Prizes in pool include: A one year FREE pass to Flagship Cinemas, Miami Heat Tickets, DVD Player, Free movie passes, movie themed hats and tee shirts, and much more!
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