Top 10 Events in 2008 for Life Pointe Church

1. Finally sold our church building, which was the end of a 4-year church relaunching process.
2. Had the most ridiculous Moonlight Easter Egg Hunt…middle of the night at Harris Field with roughly 9,000 of our closest friends…no one was killed or permanently lost.
3. Had an Easter attendance of 720 people, almost triple the size of our church at that moment.
4. Got kicked out of Bayfront Park for being “religiously offensive” when we baptized people.
5. Received an invitation to baptize people at Bayfront again.
6. Given a debt-free church building and a house on Plantation Key and launched Life Pointe Church – Plantation Key 7 weeks later with 127 people and became one church in two locations with four services.
7. Had Chris Goins, Grant McClung, Tom Sterbens, and Bill Wilson as guest speakers…all spoke directly into our lives and challenged us to be more aggressive in our relationship with Jesus and one another.
8. In December, we will have raised well over $20,000 for global missions during a brutal economy.
9. Recorded an album that will raise $500,000 to significantly advance the Gospel in Cambodia.
10. Most importantly, the year-long event of worshiping a revolutionary Jesus with some of the greatest people on the planet!

Dead White Guys: New Message Series Starts This Sunday

“Give me ten men who hate nothing but sin and love nothing but God, and we’ll change the world.” These are the words of a DEAD WHITE GUY, a short dead white guy who was regularly roughed up by his wife that towered above him.  He had issues…but none so big that he could be stopped from radically transforming the face of the earth by communicating a passionate message of Jesus Christ.

Through a look at the lives of four dead white guys: John Wesley, D.L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, and Charles Finney, we’ll learn to change the world and our lives with the emphases they brought to the world in their corner of the Church…no matter what color we are or stage of physiological viability we are at.

Following is a schedule of the messages:

DEAD WHITE GUY #1 – John Wesley
DEAD WHITE GUY #2 – Charles Finney
DEAD WHITE GUY #3 – Charles Spurgeon
DEAD WHITE GUY #4 – Dwight L. Moody

I’m glad to be a part of the story

I couldn’t imagine that I’d ever so fall in love with a group of people like I have with my church family.  I’m thinking about what is taking place in the individual lives of people who call Life Pointe home, whether they’re in Homestead or Plantation Key.  I’m simply thankful to be a part of what’s going down.  There isn’t enough time to tell the stories.  But, they’re significant.  Some of the stories are just beginning.  Some are fully developed.

The last few years haven’t always been easy.  But, they’ve been good.  And, I’m thankful.

Life Pointe Church Flickr account (more pics)

Sunday Wrap-up

• Today was a really great day.
• Attendance from Thanksgiving on through when school comes back is typically down.
• True to form, our Homestead campus had lower crowds.
• Still we had a great service.
• I got to enjoy it with some of my family who was in from Atlanta.
• After service, I hooked up on a Churrasco, Congris, y Maduros at Casavana with a crew of familial units.
• Then, we went to Plantation Key.
• I was wondering how that would go while the Fins were playing the Jets for the AFC East Title, which we won.  Again,
• It’s only appropriate that Marinos career ended poorly against the Jets.
• With all likelihood, Favre’s career ended with a whimper against the Fins.
• While I like Favre, the poetic justice is sweet, especially since the Jets got shot down by Pennington, the QB they sacked for Favre.  Again,
• Meanwhile back at LPC – Plantation Key, we had one of the best Sunday nights to date.
• The crowd was up….very strong close to launch numbers and almost all from the Keys.
• Here’s the deal.  Prayer was awesome.  There was a real sense that God was doing something in that room.
• People hung around for a long time.  I didn’t leave until over an hour after service.
• I hung out in the lobby and talked to a new friend who is having some really personal conversations with God right now.
• He is about to pass from being Christ-curious to being a Christ-follower.  That’s what its all about.
• Here are some of the things he said, “During the music, it felt like there was a ‘joy’ or something in the room.”  And, “when you were talking in the message, it felt like you were talking directly to me.”  Then, “I couldn’t believe it ended so fast.  I wasn’t ready for that.”
• I am incredibly excited about Life Pointe Church – Plantation Key.  This Spring is going to be an exceptional time in the history of that campus.
• As with both campuses, we’re getting ready to go into Life Group registration and a new series that will align with the groups.
• The cool thing about that in Plantation Key is that our first Life Group leaders are emerging…going to be a really great family there.
• Rock on!…and good night!

Book Review: Tribes by Seth Godin

Check out my new favorite Seth Godin book, “Tribes.” Yep, you read that right…”favorite.”  “Tribes” definitely eclipsed “Purple Cow.”  Here are my takeaways/quotes in a bulleted format:

• A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, a leader, and an idea.
• A group only needs two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate.
• Heretics are the new leaders.  The ones who challenge the status quo, who get out in front of their tribes, who create movements….heretics/troublemakers/change agents aren’t merely thorns in our side- they are the keys to our success.
• p.14 entitled “It’s Good to Be King” describes a lot of good groups, which have lost their way and instead of being focused on mission are focused on engorging the King.  Those closest to the King enjoy the spoils and help perpetuate the status quo.
• Ideas that spread, win.
• What makes a tribe is that there are insiders and outsiders.
• Almost all the growth that’s available to you exists when you aren’t like most people and when you work hard to appeal to folks who aren’t most people.
• In an era of grassroots change, the top of the pyramid is too far away from where the action is to make much of a difference.
• If you’re not over the top, you’re not going to have any chance at all of making things happen.
• Use change as a chance to really wreak some havoc on the status quo.
• Top management now wants leaders.  It wants heretics who will create change before change happens to them.
• Industries don’t die by surprise.
• The good old days are yet to happen…The thing is, the guys who ran it in the old days won’t be around when it regroups, because they won’t be welcome.
• (The steps to create a micromovement on pages 103-105 are worth the book.  If you want to know what it says, buy the book.)
• Do what you believe in.  Paint a picture of the future.  Go there.  People will follow.
• Find the rabble rousers and the change lovers who are seeking new leadership and run with them.
• The organizations that need innovation the most are the ones that do the most to stop it from happening.
• The revolution will not be televised.
• Remarkable visions and genuine insights are always met with resistance.  The forces for mediocrity will align to stop you, forgiving no errors and never backing down until its over.
• Find leaders, amplify their work, give them a platform, help them find followers, and things will get better.
• Don’t worry about who gets credit.  Leaders don’t care who gets credit.
• Credit isn’t the point.  Change is.
• Once you choose to lead, you’ll be under huge pressure to reconsider your choice, to compromise, to dumb it down, or to give up.

PS. As I was writing this bulleted list, I got an invite to TribeChiefs on Twitter and ultimately TribeChiefs.com…probably from this singular Tweet.  Thanks for the invite to a tribe that I think I might want to be a part of.  So, cheers to the great tribes I’m a part of…and to the ones I’m leading.  It’s been a cool ride…looking forward to creating the future with you.

Merry Christmas

Kelly, Kourtney, McKenna, Blake, and I spent Christmas in Louisiana with Kelly’s parents.   We’ve had a good time doing a lot of nothing.

As I walked around some shops here in the area and saw all of the bustle, I am overwhelmed by the influence of a should-have-been-obscure-carpenter from a dumpy little town on the backside of no where turned revolutionary- Jesus of Nazareth.  We may not get it right in the motives/purpose arena when it comes to Christmas.  But, there is no denying that Jesus has so impacted humanity, there is no way to avoid Him…even when His day is hijacked by commercialism, in which I participate.

Anyway, I wish you the best this Christmas.  I pray that you know Jesus as more than just a child.  I pray you know Him as a generous Savior and Redeemer.  God’s best to you from us on Christmas.

Sunday Wrap-up: Bill Wilson Edition

• We’re two weeks into our Anthems for a Broken World series (and missions campaign).
• Big stuff today, including an announcement about Mike Betancourt taking over the leadership of the Plantation Key campus.  I’m proud of Mike and Kristin and that they’re on our team.  That’s exciting stuff.
• Bill Wilson of Metro Ministries in Brooklyn was with us for the Homestead services and will be in Plantation Key. 
• No one can ever say that I lack tact again at least in comparison to Bill.  He frequently told people to “shut up,” called teenagers “idiots,”  and complained about how cold it was in the theater…it was great.
• In the 1st service, he spoke out of 2 Corinthians 5:14 about being “constrained by the love of Jesus”…forced by the love of Jesus to do things that are not natural (like picking up a homeless 12 year old and caring for him, which is Bill’s story).
• In the second service, he spoke out of Judges 24 about the 700 chosen left me who were left handed because they were no longer right handed.  What was designed to make them quit, made them better.  That’s your choice.
• I’m looking forward to the third service and how it goes down.
• I think one of the things I liked most was seeing two families who are integral to the ministry at Life Pointe who came to know Jesus under Bill’s ministry in Brooklyn.
• I want to be that guy…the guy that never quits…the guy that continues to love…the guy that advances the Gospel and who is a tool in God’s hand.
• Going into week 2 of the Anthems for a Broken World series/project, I shared some great news.  After we complete raising our $20,000 to cover the album, another group is giving $50,000 to cover duplication/packaging of our first 50,000 CDs.  AWESOME NEWS.
• Upon hearing that, we picked up some good strong pledges.  I know we still have some more work to do.  But, we’re going to make it and this is going to be one of the coolest things we’ve ever been a part of.
• How does it go down?
• Great music -> Great Music on a CD -> 100 CDs in a box -> 1 sold box of CDs builds a house for a Cambodia Dump family they will own -> Every 100 houses built, one house will be given to a Cambodian pastor to lead that community.
• The project ministers to the poor, starts churches, mobilizes volunteers, builds a tribe around a Gospel cause, and distributes seriously good music.  It’s the kind of thing I want to be involved with for the rest of my life.
• Great day all the way around.

New Campus Guy @ LPC – Plantation Key

We’ve got a big announcement to make on Sunday re: campus leadership at Plantation Key.  I’m looking forward to making the introductions this Sunday.  We have a painting day scheduled for his house on Saturday, January 3rd @ 10 AM.  I’m really excited to have this guy on our team.  We have sorted through some very sharp people.  I think we’ve got something great happening in this move.  Great stuff.

Bill Wilson @ Life Pointe on Sunday

I just sent out an email letting our church know that Bill Wilson is going to be with us this weekend at both campuses.  Bill is an urban hero.  He has:

• been abandoned by his parents as a boy.
• been loved by Jesus.
• devoted his life to ministering to 42,000 children every weekly in New York and Manilla.
• been shot in the face, stabbed, beaten, thrown down stairs, and hit in the head with a brick.
• been appointed by the President to the National Commission on America’s Urban Families.
• willingly lived in the ghetto to advance the Gospel of Jesus in his daily life.

I’m really looking forward to sitting and being a part of Bill’s ministry.  I think it’s going to be a special day.

PS. If you aren’t subscribed to the Life Pointe Church email newsletter, you can do that here.

Blogging Less Twittering More

I don’t blog quite as much as I used to.  It may be a temporary thing.  But, I think one of the reasons I blog a little less is that I Twitter more.  Follow me here.

Sunday Wrap-up: Top 10

• Today was a great day at Life Pointe…one of the best in a long time.
• Reason #1: We’ve recently lost two much loved and key staffers (we actually know where they are) and our new staffers cranked it out.
• Reason #2: Jesse and Alex were in Atlanta recording today.  Those are two key guys.  Our volunteers cranked it out.
• Reason #3: We announced our holiday schedule.  That means that Homestead is going to two services (9 & 10:30) from 3 services until January 11th.  This gives our excellent volunteers a breather during December.
• Reason #4: Julio Berrones did a phenomenal job leading the band today.
• Reason #5: I can’t tell you this one.  But, I’m excited.  Maybe half a dozen people have a clue what I’m talking about.  The rest of you will just have to wait.
• Reason #6: LPC-PK felt like a real church for the first time tonight (at least to me).  We’ve had good services and gatherings at that campus.  But, it feels like there is a church family beginning to gel and come together.
• Reason #7: 100% of the hospitality team is now new to LPC and strictly from the Keys with the exception of the Director. 2/3 of our production team is from the Keys.  The crew is coming together.  This is a special thing that is taking place.  I couldn’t be happier ablut the way its going down.
• Reason #8: Someone texted in a question about how they cried out for forgiveness from God but do not feel worthy to be saved.  They asked “What do I do?”  I answered the question.  Together, we all prayed a prayer of repentance.  After dismissal, a really great guy came up to me and said, “Thanks for answering my question.”  I gave him a bear hug and we prayed and thanked God for forgiving him and redeeming his life.  That was the best moment of the day.
• Reason #9: I got an invite to be the chaplain for a really great group in the Keys…looking forward to it in a big way.
• Reason #10: While I was standing and talking to a group of people tonight after service, McKenna (my 3 year old) tugged on my shirt and said, “Excuse me.”  When I answered, she said “I love you, Dad.”  Game over.  I said, “let’s go home.”
• Without a doubt, this has been one of the best days at Life Pointe Church for me in quite some time…great stuff and a great God!

Saturday Night Thoughts

• I spent today at a Hospice of Southeast Florida auction and banquet at the invite of my friend, Bill Tabbert.
• I sat with Gene McCoskey and a new friend, Kerry Foote, the pastor at Burton Memorial United Methodist Church in Tavernier.
• I walked away with some loot and contributed to a good cause.
• Now, I’m relaxing…watching Florida v. Alabama.
• In a couple hours, I’ll pick up my notes and get ready for a great day tomorrow at Life Pointe.
• Tomorrow, Julio Berrones of 91.9 Call FM will be leading worship.  I’m looking forward to that.
• Jesse and Alex are in Atlanta in the studio recording.  Follow them here and here.
• I’m excited to see so many critical positions filled tomorrow with volunteers.  That’s a great thing…think we have some of the best volunteers in the world.

Follow “Anthems for a Broken World” in the Studio

Check it out.  This is the biggest project Life Pointe has ever taken on…awesome stuff.  I’m proud of our team.  Follow Jesse and Alex in the studio.

Keep checking back for the unveiling of the project website.

Catalyzing Leaders

According to Alan Nelson, there are 4 types of church leaders:

1. Relational Leaders
2. Teaching Leaders
3. Managerial Leaders
4. Catalyzing Leaders

Nelson concluded with the following advice:

…congregations that have gotten stuck nearly always have too few or in many cases, no catalyzing leaders left in places of influence… Perhaps it’s time for us to swallow our pride, repent for running off the catalysts, and seek their help. Begin by figuring out who around you may have the catalyzing leader gift and then offer to buy them a cup of coffee this week.

I would add that a catalyzing leader also need to be sensitive to the challenges associated with aggressive posture.  I am a catalyst.  I recognize my hard push at times alienates people.  There are certainly hazards.  You better beware because only a few people have the ability to recognize what a catalyzing leader is looking at down the road.  At first glance a catalyzing leader can look like a hard nosed jerk.

While there are certainly bone headed idiots out there in churches, don’t mistake a catalyst as such.  He/she has a value system that holds mission higher than anything else and is willing to subtract or minimize anything that competes with the mission.

Beyond that, the ones that need most to watch out and make room for catalyzing leaders are organizations who are no longer movements and whose catalysts have been replaced by managers.  Catalysts need managers to organize their chaos.  Managers need catalysts to create organizable chaos.

Read the article here.

LPC Kids Life Directors

These are the really great people that lead our children’s ministries every week at Life Pointe.  They are some of the most generous, creative, and hard working people around!  When I saw the picture, I just had to brag on them and the work God is doing through them.

Sunday Wrap-up

• This is staying short and fairly transparent.
• Ritz, Phil, Jesse, and Chris have wrap-ups from today.
• They mostly focus on this being Paul and Annie’s last day on staff with us at LPC.
• Obviously, I’m bummed about that.  But, what I’d like to say is they are really exceptional people.
• On the tech side, things were good.  Unfortunately, good is the enemy of the great.
• The good news is that we have a hard working and creative Tech crew that makes things happen each week…mucho proud of those guys and gals.
• On the music side…awesome stuff.  Mike Betancourt rocked the place on last minute’s notice for an ailing Jesse.
• Teaching?  Paul did Paul’s thing and he did it well sharing out of Jonah 3 on Obedience.  It was great stuff.
• Though, I do have to say that I gave him grief for dressing like Thurston Howell III.
• I’m convinced he hooked up a suit to look good in the video as a way to get booked speaking at churches that are more respectable than us. LOL.
• Paul and Annie are uniquely exceptional and loved.  They both leave big roles to fill.
• Becky Grimes is taking over for Annie in Kids Life.
• Kelly is taking over Paul’s role.
• They will both do very well.
• We are still trying to place our campus pastor in Plantation Key.
• I am ready to get our campus position in the Keys filled.
• As much as I want to get that role filled, I want more to get it filled with the right person…no compromise on that…even when I’m feeling the weight of not having a leader in that role.
• It will happen.  We’ve got the time to wait for the right person.
• Tonight, Jesse and Alex pack up to go to Atlanta to begin recording the Anthems Project.
• This is our biggest undertaking.
• Our goal? Produce some killer music and raise 1/2 million dollars for global mission.
• The next two weeks are going to be lean around the office.  But, to get where you’ve never been, you have to do what you’ve never done.
• It’s gonna be worth it!
• Peace.
• Oh yeah….on a personal note, in between services, Blake took a dive while trying to climb up onto the sink.  He looks like a boxer AGAIN…except this time we had to take him to Urgent Care.  They glued the cut.
• Think he learned?!  Nope.  He came straight home and started climbing on things again.
• Yesterday, he climbed on a chair to a table to the island in our kitchen…at 12 months old, that’s kind of scary.
• I think I have an exciting 17 or so more years to look forward to with this young buck in my house.