People We’re Praying for to be Saved by Jesus

On Sunday, some of our people at Life Pointe requested prayer for the following people to come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and God.  I thought I’d cast a wide net, invite you to pray with us, and include some names of people close to your heart that God would redeem them!!  Pray for:

• Nick
• Alisha
• Wilfredo
• Maria
• Juan
• Lita
• Karen
• Elba
• Yuni
• Ashley
• Ayleen
• Adam
• Stephen
• Joel
• Mikey
• Angeles
• Kimberly
• Kristy
• Mary
• Anthony
• John
• Greg
• Donna
• Sally
• Jenifer
• Jaylon
• Luz
• Mike
• Amanda
• Jaime
• Mario
• Peter
• Rodney
• Adrian
• Maria
• Nat
• Karen
• Freda
• Angela
• Jean
• Benjamin
• Susan
• Steve
• Jaminette
• Serena
• Rowland
• Iliana
• Arturo
• Melissa
• Belinda
• Jeanie
• Steven
• Rhonda
• Ashley
• Brittany
• Kathryn
• Joyce
• Wilfredo
• Moe
• Eric
• Jamie
• Troy
• Eddie
• Eddie
• Chris
• Billy
• Jesus
• Elysia
• Kevin
• Bryan
• Dan
• Henry
• Daniel
• Tanaya
• Cesar
• Jeanette
• Davin
• Alex
• Nadine
• Jose
• Steven
• Mike
• Frederick
• Jackie
• Keith
• Tenika
• Harry
• Greg
• Juan
• Maurice
• Archie
• Tim
• Ruby
• Ken
• Ted
• John
• Laurie
• Jeff
• Danny
• Cody
• Shavon
• Joe
• Liz
• Luz
• Ivan
• Jamie
• David
• Missy
• Viviana
• ike
• Pilar
• Raquel
• Herhel
• Benjamin
• Amanda
• Yvette
• Letta
• Davin
• Kelly
• Johnathan
• Destiny
• Mark
• Kevin
• Brent
• Marcus
• Johnny
• Glenda
• Mauricio
• Valeria
• Paula
• Vladimir
• Isabella
• Carolina
• Maximiliano
• Renata
• Ricardo
• Antonio
• Telma
• Thais
• Hugo
• Corinne
  
• Janjao
• Ellie
• Rebecca
• Eleanor
• Alex

The Main Thing

It’s human nature to promote projects, things, and ideas that are close to your heart.  They may be good.  But, that doesn’t mean they are worthy of being promoted by the church.  We promote one thing: Jesus.  It’s all about Jesus.

At Life Pointe, we won’t:

• Sign petitions for to change something about government.
• Celebrate Simon Bolivar Day.
• Picket against a local Strip Club.
• Distribute Christian Coalition Flyers.
• Tell you how to vote.
• Tell you to drive a Prius.
• Tell you to boycott Disney.
• Sell Green Prosperity Handkerchiefs.

We will keep the focus on Jesus.  I want you to buy into Jesus…to drink that kool-aid. Then, let Him change your life…from the inside out and not the outside in.

If in avoiding the thousands of pet projects, forwards, chain letters, and personal appeals that come to me, I somehow become socially oblivious, I can deal with that.  I’d rather do that than to forget about Jesus as I’m trying to change the particular behaviors of people who don’t know Him.  The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

A Word to Leaders about Work Ethic

• If you’re the leader, you should work hard.  In doing so, you’ll inspire your people to work passionately.
• If you feel exempted from hard work because you’re the leader, you’ll inspire feelings of bitterness. (A word to lazy pastors: Some of you feel a sense of entitlement.  Get off your backside and get to work.)
• In your hard work, guard against doing hard work that other people can do.  Give away your hard work and replace it with new, higher level work.
• If you are working IN your church/business, you will be unable to or at least be hindered from being able to work ON your church/business.
• Work yourself and your team hard and give breaks.  Know when to press hard and when to let up.  Strategically give rest.
• Uphold your most passionate leaders.  If they are on time and hard working, make them an example.
• Give your people who lack work ethic an opportunity to change.  But, if they don’t cut them loose quickly.  They’re toxic and demotivating to your team.
• Work ethic is deeply ingrained.  It’s hard to teach…not impossible.  But, it is very difficult as it requires a reworking of a person’s core values.
• If you want to have a team who produces, you have to be a producer.  You reproduce who you are, not what you want your people to be.
• “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.” - Jesus in John 9:4

Sunday “Round-up”

I’ve decided not to do any more Sunday Wrap-ups (for now).  Instead, I’m doing a “Sunday Round-up.”

A lot of people at Life Pointe Church do them.  They are done well and from a broad perspective.  I’m going to starting pointing to the best ones.  Speaking of which, you have to check out some of Chris Day’s Takeaways from yesterday like:

• We must not build Kingdoms for ourselves.
• The only Kingdom that’s relevant is God’s Kingdom.
• That’s the Kingdom that we must always grow.

Still, Kelly gets the Best Sunday Wrap-up Award for the profusive use of pictures in her “Sunday Chick-kabob.”

If you arrived here after receiving this card…

If you arrived at my blog after receiving this card, I have four things to say:

1. I hope you had a blast at the parade today.  I did.

2. I hope you choose to be our guest this Sunday at the theater.  It’d be our privilege to hang with you.

3. If you are quite sure about visiting a church by yourself, invite a friend.

4. If you were visiting Homestead from the Keys, check out our campus at mile marker 90.5 on Plantation Key this Sunday night.

Affluence as Reason for Stagnating American Church Growth

Reference “5 Priorities That Cause Amazing Growth Overseas”

The word “church growth” was largely coined by Win Arn.  He was trying to distance himself from the word “Evangelism” because it had been so watered down.  While that argument may now be reversed,  I’d say the phraseology isn’t important.  Whoever would like to argue over it can.  There are plenty of blogs in the blogosphere to go for that.  This isn’t one.

Now, when you are looking at church growth, it is easy to see that the church is not growing in America at a pace to keep up with population growth.  In fact, I’ve read that only 6% of the churches in America are growing at a rate equal to or greater than the population of their community.

Meanwhile the Church overseas is largely exploding, especially in Africa and South America.  I believe one of the main reasons for this disparity may be that in America we have a greater reliance on our affluence than on our Savior.

AFFLUENCE

When Jesus comes to a community, the community improves.  You can call it prosperity or “redemption and lift.” We have experienced it personally.  Many of us have been lifted out of horrible situations by the redeeming grace of God.  We know it first hand.  However, in some instances our blessing may be our curse.  It would seem to me that the more blessed we are, the less dependent on God we become.  We see this in the repentance, blessing judgment cycle with the children of Israel.  Likewise, as our nation is blessed, the less reliant we are as a nation…the less likely we are to acknowledge the Creator in our daily lives…the more we fall away from Him.

I believe that until we subordinate our affluence as a priority to the mission of Jesus, we will not experience significant church growth in America.

Dr. Raymond Culpepper, Presiding Bishop of the Church of God referenced an article, “5 Priorities That Cause Amazing Growth Overseas” by John Bueno, Executive Director of AG Missions.

In that article, John Bueno listed these 5 reasons why overseas missions is outstripping American missions:

1. They emphasize and practice the priesthood of all believers.
2. They prioritize ministerial training.
3. They focus on growth rather than maintenance.
4. They depend on and expect the miraculous.
5. They focus their resources on ministry rather than buildings.

Perhaps, in every one of these 5 reasons listed by Bueno, the root cause is in some way connected to a lack of affluence, which necessitates a greater reliance on God and a more significantly felt sense of Gospel urgency.

What are your thoughts?

Thoughts on Life Groups

Our Life Group registration campaign is coming to a close in roughly a week.  I think Life Groups are one of the best things we do at Life Pointe.  In some bulleted thoughts, here are some of the things I think about our groups:

• Being a part of a group is a real privilege.
• Life Groups are one of the most significant leadership pipelines at Life Pointe.  Some of our best leaders emerged through participation in a group.
• Being a part of a group gives you a sense of connection.
• Small groups create an environment where you can grow spiritually.
• They introduce you to new friendships.
• They stretch you and introduce you to new perspectives.
• When you are going through personal trauma, you know that you can call on people to pray for you.
• You are able to see the personal space of a stranger who is going to bless you with the gift of hospitality.

I’ve also noticed that since developing a strong life group network at Life Pointe, I have less work to do IN the church and am freed up to do more work ON the church.   With a strong life group system in place, I am able to focus on equipping high-output leaders to do the work of ministry (see Ephesians 4:11-12).

This helps me to be able to maintain a personal and spiritual growth trajectory.  One thing I pray is that I never become the bottle neck for our church.  I would hate to see the church stagnate because I stagnate as a leader.  Our Life Group system facilitates strong growth on all levels and distributes the responsibility for the development of disciples to a host of strong leaders…and it keeps me fresh.

As we near the closing of our registration campaign and the beginning of our Spring Life Group semester, I’m very excited for all of the people that have registered.  This is without a doubt our strongest Spring enrollment.  I feel like this will be a pivotal moment in our church as roughly 76% of our Sunday attendance has registered for a New Testament Challenge Group.

By the beginning of May, many of us will be able to say we read completely through the New Testament.  I believe it will be a marker in our spiritual lives we will never forget.

What are your thoughts on small groups?

How has a small group helped you grow?

Inauguration on Facebook/CNN

I’m watching the Presidential Inauguration on live streaming via Facebook/CNN. It’s actually a very cool piece of technology. You can feel the viral aspect of Facebook rapidly spreading the news across the internet. Very Cool.

If you’re a Facebook user, you can check it out here.

Sunday Wrap-up

• Kelly, Mark, and Chris have good wrap-ups.  Check them out, especially Chris’ blog.  It’s his second anniversary at Life Pointe.
• Mike Betancourt spoke today.  Mike is the Campus guy at Life Pointe Church – Plantation Key.
• He did a great job talking about Charles Spurgeon.  I’m proud of a strong, developing leader.  Mike, you were a blessing ot me today.
• I agree with Mark that the best Spurgeon quote of the day was, “Too may think lightly of sin, and therefore think lightly of the Savior.”   Challenging.
• After the Plantation Key service, things got a little rowdy.  I had to whoop up on one of the new guys.  The pastor had to rough up somebody that wouldn’t respond to the altar call.  So, I bashed his head into the pews to show him “what’s up.” (not naming names…though his initials are Johnte).
• We had a great time…determined that we need to create an outlet for the testosterone-filled Life Pointe crew members.
• So, we’re planning a Paintball day.  Let me know if you’re in.
• The cool thing is that tonight, a couple guys made decisions for Christ…big news…mucho proud.
• That makes 5 guys on Plantation Key in the last two Sundays.  That’s what its about.

The Epic, Historic Inauguration of Barack Obama

I’ve been watching some of the coverage today from the Whistle Stop Train Tour carrying Barack Obama and Joe Biden to the Presidential Inauguration.  How can you miss the sense of historicity?  It is quite amazing.

America is a good country.  But, we do have two bad marks- some terribly horrible marks in our past and present that are much more than embarrassing.  They are wrong.  I see these two issues as:

• The treatment of blacks from our nation’s inception until 40 years ago.
• The wholesale slaughter of millions of unborn children.

One is being righted in the next couple days.  Barack Obama will be the fruit of the Civil Rights movement.  It will be seen by history that this moment in time is the moment where a lot of wrongs were righted.  I celebrate this moment with the gusto!

Now, I pray that in my lifetime, I will be able to say the same thing about our other human rights violation.  I pray that every human will be afforded his/her God ordained right to be born.  I pray that one day the guarantee articulated below, a guarantee found in the Declaration of Independence is a reality for everyone.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Glimpse: LPC Youth Pastor & Interns Director

Alex gave a glimpse of some of the new stuff going down at Life Pointe.  Check it out.

Alex Santoyo is moving from youth ministry to overseeing our interns, Izzy and Zech. Alex has been our youth pastor and logistics guy for the past year.  There is no one on our team who has a more generous heart and who is willing to “get it done.”  That isn’t something you teach.  But, it is contagious.  He’s an incredible guy who is going to set up some great things with some good up and coming young men.

We’re still looking for another intern.  We’re not in a hurry though.  We are looking for a guy who has a huge heart for Jesus, will work like crazy, and is supremely teachable, and who sees themselves (wherever they go) making an impact on this world for the cause of Jesus.  It also has to be a guy because we want him to live in the intern house.  We want him to be able to learn our systems, become more intense in his walk with Christ, and be ready to try almost anything to advance the Gospel.

With Alex taking over that role, it leaves a vacancy in youth ministry.  That leadership post will be filled by Mark Similey.  Mark is on our Church Strategic Team.  He is someone that works closely with me.  You’ve seen him hosting services some on Sundays.  He has also served in the past as a youth pastor in Tennessee.  He has some teenagers of his own.  And, he along with Mike Betancourt (who oversees student ministries in Plantation Key) are putting together some great things for the upcoming months…great stuff.

You’ll find out a little more about Mark soon.  I’ll share a bit on Sunday.  And, then we have a “Parents of Teens Reception” at his home on Thursday where you can meet him, Mary, and his family. You have to RSVP on Sunday’s Connection Card though.  They are a really great crew…know they’re going to be great in this role.

Why don’t you wish Alex and Mark the best as they dig down in some big work.

In the Studio Listening to THE Anthems for a Broken World Album

I’m in the studio with some pretty incredible guys, listening to some phenomenal music.   Jesse says “What’s up?!”

I’ll write more later.  But, I just wanted to give you a glimpse of the last recording processes on an album that is going to do some amazing things.  I’m heading into a strategic meeting with Jesse Santoyo, Alex Santoyo, Brent Maloney, Fred Garmon, Bill George, Mitch Maloney, and Tom Sterbens to figure out how we take this great music to the world.

One Prayer

This coming June, we will be participating with churches all over the world in a message series called, “One Prayer.” Read a bit about it here.  It’s exciting stuff…can’t wait.

You Can’t Change the World and…

You can’t change the world without your world being changed.

That’s what I’m learning.  My grandpa used to say that you couldn’t have omelletes if you weren’t willing to crack eggs. It’s a messy business.  But, the results are delicious.  Not everyone is willing to take on the hard job of change.  Leadership certainly isn’t easy.  If it was, everyone would be doing it.  But, if you are on the front lines of a movement, you better be willing to flex and morph according to circumstance.

WHAT DO YOU MORPH?

You never flext core values.  They must guide you.  Never compromise the cause.  Be willing to compromise everything else.  Flex over the negotiables.  Bend, weave, negotiate, and be fluid over the things that are vehicular…the things that get you there.

Some organizations become so beholden to the accessories that the cause is diminished and even lost.  Organizations calicify and become lionized.  The “way things are done” becomes King and what we are doing it for becomes the casualty.

So, if you are out to change the world, you have to know that your world is going to change…and change often.  As life comes at you faster and faster, you have to be more ready than ever to flex with it.  At the end of the day, changing the world means you have to be willing to change.  If you’re not willing, go home.  Do something less challenging.

I’ve Got News

I’ve got news.  But, if you want it, you’ll have to check my Twitter account.  If you’re a smarty, you’ll subscribe.

The Danger of Developing an Apprentice

In the same vein as my previous post on The Year of the Apprentice, I have a couple more thoughts on a person who is developing an apprentice.

The scary thing about developing an apprentice is “developing an apprentice.”  If you pull it off, there will actually be someone walking around who begins to take on some of your practices and characteristics.  When you are developing an apprentice, you have to realize that you will pass on who you are.

• If you are weak, timid, and afraid, you will pass on frailty, anxiety, and frightfulness.
• If you are prayerful, hope-filled, and aggressive, these are the things you will pass on.

So, as someone developing a disciple/apprentice, you better have your heart in the hands of Jesus, being sure that you are growing to look more like Him.  You certainly reproduce who you are, not who you want someone else to be.  “Do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t work at home with your kids.  It doesn’t work in life with others either.

Can you think of any other dangers associated with making disciples or developing an apprentice?

2009 Is the Year of the Apprentice

At Life Pointe, we’ve made a decision that we value leadership development more than we value programming excellence.  2009 is the Year of the Apprentice for us.  That is a principle that is coming home hard across all leadership lines for us this year.  What good does it do for us to have perfectly executed programming if we are not making disciples, raising up leaders, and filling our leadership funnel?  Though we do value excellence, the answer is still “Not much value at all.”

So, I am spending time coaching apprentices.  I’d say I have 3 apprentices that are in development right now.  We spend time together weekly sharing our hearts, talking through systems, reading, and working through best practices.  I’m doing everything I can to multiply myself in them.  They will have opportunities to grow, be challenged with tasks/responsibilities outside of their comfort zone, and advance the Gospel at Life Pointe with increasing amounts of trust. I expect the same for all of our leaders.

We have always had a strong volunteer organization.  But, it is not good enough to simply be able to recruit and deploy volunteers.  We have high-capacity leaders, highly committed servants, and irrationally committed people among us.  They deserve to be challenged to multiply themselves in others and to be developed themselves.

In 2009, I’m asking myself the following:

1. Who can replace me?  If there is no one, why not?
2. Who can replace the leaders I’m leading?  If they have no replacement, why not?
3. What can we do to create a leader developing and deploying DNA?
4. How can we double the number of leaders and volunteers we have this year?
5. How do we empower everyone to recruit, develop, and deploy?
6. How do we pass more decision-making authority down to people most affected by the decisions?

From this, I’d ask two questions:

1. Are there any leadership development/deployment questions you would add to the list?
2. What do you think would happen if we doubled the number of qualified leaders and volunteers?

A Dolphins Loss? Or, a Hurricanes Win?

It’s hard to tell with former Miami Hurricane studs like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Willis McGahee pounding the ball on the other side.  So, it’s a sad day in Dolphinland.  But, a good day for Hurricanes.