New Logo

cleaner. direct. to the pointe.

If Jesus Did MySpace

The ESV Bible people are leveraging some really cool technologies for Bible exploration.  You can read about how to use this particular technology here.  Or, you can skip the instructions, explanations, and qualifiers by going directly to "Co-occurances of Names in the New Testament" (or Jesus’ MySpace Account).  Very cool. Thanks for the find, Derek.

Staff Additions

In the past couple weeks, we’ve re-organized the leadership chairs at Life Pointe.  Almost everyone has taken on new responsibilities or had their roles tweaked.  So far, the changes have been really great.  The moves have made room for a couple new people on our leadership team. 

Our new additions are Isabel Dalama who is now leading our children’s ministries and is off to a fantastic start.  And, Omar Lagudali has come on board to lead our music teams.  Both of them are rockin’ and rollin’.  Omar and I went to college together.  Its been nice to hook up in ministry with him. Welcome aboard, guys.

Homestead Rodeo Parade

There are rednecks in Miami.  They all gathered this morning at 11 for the annual Homestead Rodeo Parade.  Last year, I was out of town when Life Pointe did the parade in a Cowboy themed hay ride complete with "git-fiddlers" and little cow pokes. 

This year, since we meet at Flagship Cinemas, we followed Michael’s great idea by having a theater float.  We sandwiched our walkers (with club cards and candy) and bikers in between our 24 foot rolling movie theater and our Life Pointe Box Trailer.  The trailer had a slammin’ sound system that almost drowned out the Harley, S&S, and Honda pipes.  Armando’s bike was especially a huge hit.  It was a heck of a lot of fun.  And, we got some great feedback from the crowd.

The guys and gals that put it together are absolutely awesome.  The float construction may have been the best part.  People really made some great connections.  I also got to know some guys much better than before.  When it comes down to it, the relationships are pretty high up on the priority list of who we are supposed to be as the Church.

After the parade, we hit Mario’s for churassco, congris, y maduros and went to the Rodeo.  I’m burnt toasted.  We had a great time.  Enjoy the pics.

 

New Website

Life Pointe Church has a new website.  I dig it.

Monday Morning Football Round-up

• The Games were pretty good yesterday.  My heart is broken seeing the Saints lose.  I really wanted to see them match up with the Chargers in the Super Bowl and thought they would.
• Prince is going to be playing at halftime during the Super Bowl.  Someone’s smoking something.  Football fans want Hank, someone with loud guitars and big hair, or maybe someone that can shake it.  But, a velvet and lace wearing dude at midfield.  Come on guys?!
• I want to see the Dolphins get back into the fray.
• Saban is a sell out.  I’m glad he’s gone.
• I’ve fenagled my way into some big games for next to nothing and sometimes made a little profit in the process.  I got into Michael Jordan’s last game against the Heat, Olympic Medal Boxing and gymnastics, at least five College Football National Championship games (including the Nebrask v. Miami game where I sold Haagen Daaz), a Marlins’ playoff game, even a Lipton Tennis Tournament, and a ton of other big games.  I’ve never done a Super Bowl.  I should have been ready to give this one a try.  Instead, I think it will be a super bowl party for me.  Who knows though?  If I come across a back door, I’m taking it.

Club Cards and T-Shirts

Below are our new invite cards/club cards.  Give them away to all your crazy friends.  We also have some t-shirts on order.  Pre-ordering begins Sunday.  Stop by the welcome center on Sunday to check out the designs and get your name on the list.

More Church Planters

I just finished lunch with Matt Mahaffey.  Cool guy.  It looks like he’s planting a church in Pembroke Pines in January ‘08.  It really sounds like he’s going in with a strong plan and great support.  When he gets down here, we’ll definitely have to hang out.  He’ll be on his way back to his church in Indy soon.  But, first, I think he’ll be stopping in to hang out with Bob for a little while.

Sunday, Nathan Griffis will be visiting with us at Life Pointe.  He’ll get a good dose of Life Pointe hospitality for the weekend he’s away from his church in Clermont.  He’ll be planting in Weston soon as well.  I’ve gotten to know Nathan a bit.  He’s a sharp guy with a lot of hopes resting on his shoulders (no pressure, Nathan).

It really seems like a decent number of planters are heading down this way.  That’s exciting.  Miami and Broward definitely need more churches.  Or, maybe I should stay, our city needs more Christ.  Miami is an awesome place and deserves a ton of focus by church planting groups.  Anyway, I’ll throw out a huge welcome mat for Nathan and Matt. 

The Barber Shop

In the past couple years, I can count the number of times I felt at ease about getting a haircut.  Typically, I just roll the dice at Hair Cuttery.  My usual experience is a very nice 65-70 year old lady that speaks zero english.  I do my best with my horrible Spanish to describe the hair cut I want.  I usually walk out with whatever they give me.  I just take it like a man. 

Yesterday, I stopped in at a new shop called "Miami Clippers: a family barber shop."  Black leather seats lined the textured yellow walls.  It was clean, open, and had hard wood floors.  Really, it is the nicest shop around.  This pretty cool cat from NY hooked me up with a cut.  His name was "el control."  It was the perfect place if I needed a fade.  He had this really cool picture of a spiderman fade he had given someone on his mirror.  He cut my hair and did a decent job, especially if you like a blond headed guy with a fade.  I dropped a fat tip, threw around some mangled spanish, invited this guy to church, and jetted.

A year ago, I stopped in at Woody’s Barber shop.  What was I smokin’?!  I told them how I wanted my haircut and then proceeded to get the standard buzzcut.  Within a week, I was wearing Wranglers and chewing tobacco.

Artie has a great shop out in the Redlands.  He’s a cool guy and gives good cuts.  I’d go there all the time but it is way out in the Redlands.  I may have to start going back there.  But, the distance is an issue.  Its a 45 minute roundtrip.

So far, everywhere I’ve gotten my haircut, the people have been great but there is always some kind of barrier (language, location, or style).  I need some help with a place to get a decent cut.  Any tips from my Miami readers?  Please?!

ChurchPlanting Redone Conference

I just sent off our registration for the Churchplanting Redone Conference on February 26-27 at Mountain Lake Church in the Atlanta area.  There is a great lineup of speakers and workshops, including Shawn Lovejoy, Dave Ferguson, Ed Stetzer, Matt Carter, and Perry Noble.  Gary Lamb and Michael Lukaszewski are doing breakout sessions.

Joe Herrera is coming with me.  So, we are rollin’ Miami Mafia style.  Travelling with Uncle Joe is never dull.  He loves God and wants you to as well.  If you don’t, he won’t hurt you.  But, he might send someone by your home to pay you a visit.

If you are going, give me a shout. 

MyChurch

I’m a MySpacer.  I dig it.  I recently came across a similar service for Churches.  It seems like a pretty decent place for online church communities to develop outside of some of the garbage that goes on via MySpace.  I just setup a Life Pointe MyChurch account.  I’m the first member.  See if you can be the 2nd.  Check it out:

Travis MyChurch account – Life Pointe Church MyChurch account

Mind Dump

I haven’t really had much of a theme to write under.  However, I do have some random thoughts to put out there.  Here we go:

• Church was a heck of a lot of fun yesterday.  I really cannot wait for this coming Sunday as we go into week 3 of Revolution.  Thank you guys for being so cool. 
• If you are not receiving our weekly e-news, you can subscribe here.
• The Apprentice has jumped the shark.  Trump slammin’ on Rosie was funny.  Then, he lashed out at Condi.  At first, I thought he was just being Trump.  Now, I know the Apprentice stinks and he’s doing everything he can to stay in the news to boost a once good show.
• I hated to see the Chargers lose.  LT is a beast!  I thought I was going to see San Diego match up with the Saints here in Miami for the Super Bowl.  Now, I’m just pulling for Brees, Colston, Bush, and the rest of the NO crew.
• With the addition of new schools in Homestead, there is some redistricting coming up.  It is a little difficult to decipher.  But, if your kids are involved, I guess you’re motivated enough to figure it out.
• I’m still basking in the glory of my 2 Fantasy Football Championships.  If you are logged into Yahoo, you can verify for yourself that I dominated both the Trick Plays and Big Daddy’s Pizza league.  By the way, Big Daddy’s Pizza is NOW OPEN!  You’ve got to check these guys out.  Eddie Galvez is one cool cat.  They make a heck of a pizza!
• The rodeo parade is right around the corner (Jan. 28).  We’ll definitely be having a blast.  If you’ve got some skills, loot, or trailers, we need you
  so we can represent!
• Emmett and the guys from Something Like Simon will be at Life Pointe this weekend (Saturday night 7:30=bangin’ concert and Sunday 10 AM=rockin’ worship set)

Revolution Series – Time

Revolution Series – week 2 Time

Perfect Circle Champion

I guess everyone has something they can claim they are good at.

Back in Action

Two and a half weeks ago, we left Miami for the holidays.  I’m glad we did it.  We arrived back last night rested and ready to hit the ground running.  To anyone that sent emails over the past three weeks, I’ll get with you as soon as I can.  So, cheers…looking forward to a great ‘07!

My Best of 2006

My girls Kelly, Kourtney, and McKenna at the end of 2006.  These three always keep me on my toes.  They are my very best of 2006.

Top 10 2006 Posts

I am a few days late with these kind of reflective posts on 2006.  I just haven’t been hacking away at my computer during my down time.  Here are my top 10 posts of 2006 (according to me):

10.  On Continuationism – My brief thoughts on what the Holy Spirit is up to these days.

9.  Lamenting the Loss of Masculinity – I succeeded in stirring up a debate on the Lee University MYSpace message board over these insensitive thoughts.

8.  A Missional Denomination Is an Impossibility – Sounds fatalistic.  But, it is actually a great post with some good links to action being taken by a group in Tulsa.

7.  A Call to the New Hudson Taylors – This is not one of my most commented posts.  But, it is one of my favorites.

6.  Blogging the COG General Assembly – This is actually a series of posts on my perspective of denominational process.  Exciting, no!?

5.  In Pursuit of a Missional Denomination – More denominational ruminations something I have been trying to do less of.

4.  Disappointed in Seattle and On Working Toward a Civil Conflict – These posts led to the second highest amount of traffic ever on my blog. 

3.  Geneology of My One Book Meme – This is illlustrative of how big the net is and how small it has made the world.  Pretty cool.

2.  Reflections on My Malleable Years – This one is for me.  Just a little personal history.

1.  Ticked at My Wife- Men, I Need Your Help! – The Johnson marriage is strong even after this very public and fully interactive spat over a most sensitive issue.  By the way, thanks to the guys who have my back.