Download Free Music. Do Good. Spread the Word!

Download The Saturn Project’s new single, “So Alive” for free. The album will be released on March 13th at Thompson-Boling Arena at the University of Tennessee during Winterfest in front of about 20,000 students.  When the album is released, we’re giving away all proceeds to global mission.  Check it out:

www.thesaturnproject.com

And, please share the link. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, and if you’re still in the dinosaur age, fax someone about it.  This is an amazing project.  By spreading the word, you will help bring about social, spiritual, and economic change in Southeast Asia.  Read more about that here.

Day 21 & 22: New Testament Challenge

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

Mark 13-16

• Jesus predicts the Temple being thrown down and his own crucifixcion.
• He warns of the coming persecution.
• When I hear this, I wonder how we feel we are persecuted in America.  We’re soft.
• The Gospel must be preached to everyone.
• Heaven and earth will pass away.  God won’t.
• Jesus is coming again.
• The Passover was approaching.
• The plot to kill Jesus was on.
• Jesus was anointed with precious perfume.
• Judas prepares his betrayal.
• Jesus predicts his betrayal.  They say, “Not me.”
• Peter emphatically denies that he would ever deny Christ.
• Jesus goes to Gethsemane, taking Peter, James, and John with Him.
• Jesus asked them to keep watch and pray.
• Jesus asks the Father to take this responsibility from his shoulders.
• He wants the Father’s will more.
• The disciples can’t stay awake.
• Jesus is betrayed.
• Peter cuts off a soldiers ear.
• They deserted Jesus.
• Peter keeps eye contact on Jesus…when recognized, he denies Jesus three times.
• Jesus stands before the High Priest.
• Pilate offers to turn Jesus free.  The crowd asks for the criminal Barabbas instead.
• I’ve often wondered what happened to Barabbas after Jesus actually was substituted for Him…a picture of what has happened to me.
• Simon carries the cross of Jesus.
• Jesus comes to the Golgotha.
• He is crucified.
• They gambled over his clothes.
• “The King of the Jews”
• Robbers on either side.
• Insulted by all.
• “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?!?!”
• Jesus breathes His last breath.
• “Surely this man was the son of God.”
• The women who followed Him wept.
• Jesus is placed in a tomb.
• The stone was rolled away.
• An Angel is inside.
• “He has risen. He is not here.”
• You will see Him in Galilee
• He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, a woman who had been delivered of 7 demons.
• “Go into all the world and preach the Good News…”

1 Corinthians 11-16

• “Follow me as I follow Jesus.”
• There shouldn’t be divisions in the church.
• Think of others first.
• The Corinthian church was a good church.  But, it had issues…much like Life Pointe Church.
• Don’t receive Communion lightly.  Examine yourself in contrast with Jesus.
• Don’t be ignorant about spiritual gifts.
• Spirit led people speak the truth about Scripture.
• A diversity of gifts are given to followers of Jesus for the building up of the church.
• God gives gifts to the believers how He chooses.
• We are all members of one body and of equal connectedness to the Body.
• God makes us and places us with intentionality for the purpose of building the church.
• Love is the greatest gift.
• Love keeps no record of wrong.
• Love rejoices with the truth.
• Love never gives up. Love never fails.
• Desire the gifts.  But, speak intelligently.
• If you desire the gifts, desire the gifts that build up the church.
• Pray with the Spirit and pray with your mind.
• Paul speaks in tongues more than anyone.
• Spiritual Gifts are too be exercised with wisdom and concern for the lost.
• Bring your contributions to the church to strengthen church and in order within the church.
• God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
• Don’t forbid speaking in tongues.  But, it should be fitting and orderly.
• You are saved if you hold firmly to the Word.
• Christ died, was buried, was resurrected, and he appeared to over 500.
• If it is preached that Christ was raised from the dead, how can some say there is no resurrection?
• If Christ is not resurrected, this whole thing is worthless and we are liars.
• Death is the last enemy to be destroyed by Jesus.
• Everything has been placed under Jesus.
• We will be changed.  Mortal will put on immortality.
• Death has been swallowed up in victory.
• The sting of death is sin.  The power of sin is the law.
• We have the victory in Jesus.
• Always give yourselves fully to the worl of the Lord.
• Your labor is not in vain.
• On the first day, each one of you should set aside money in proportion with your income and give it to the ministry.
• This will help advance the Gospel in the world.
• Take care of Timothy.
• Be on your guard.
• Be courageous.
• Do everything in love.
• Submit to one another, especially to those who work diligently.
• The church is a worldwide organism, connected to one another….that’s a beautiful thing!
• The grace of the Lord be with you!

New Testament Challenge Spiritual Growth Profile: Richie Nieves

• Sunday morning: I’m accosted by Richie Nieves.  He grabs me by the arm and says, “Pastor, I’ve read the New Testament for 21 days straight.” Richie came to know Jesus last year after working hard to avoid him his entire life.
• Tuesday Night in Richie’s life group: Richie brings a legal pad to his life group.  He has four pages of words he has looked up.  When he comes across a place, word, or phrase he is unfamiliar with, he stops reading and looks it up.
• Tuesday night in my life group: Lisette, Richie’s daughter is talking about how she can’t believe how her dad is developing as a follower of Jesus, how he can’t wait to get to life group, how he wants to hang out with Christians, how he is so faithful in the Scriptures, and how he serves!  Awesome!
• One of my greatest frustrations in ministry is seeing people come to know Jesus, only to let other voices drown out the voice of Jesus.
• One of my greatest privileges is seeing transformation conversion experiences that dominate the soul of a strong man.  I think Richie has never been stronger or more of a man than he is right now, radically pursuing a revolutionary Jesus.
• The antidote? Let Jesus speak loud to you (read the Scriptures and surround yourself with people that listen to Him) and let Jesus speak through you (find a place to serve others).
• I’m loving what God is doing in Richie’s life and in the lives of people like him.

Day 20 of 63: New Testament Challenge

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

1 Corinthians 8-10

• Knowledge puffs up.  Love builds up.
• If you love God, you’re known by God.
• There is one God.
• Don’t let your freedom become a stumbling block to the weak.
• Take care of your weak brothers.
• Don’t muzzle the ox that treads out the grain.
• If more pastors had the aggressive posture towards Gospel advancement that Paul had, the Church in America would be explosive.
• Paul was a great teacher/friend to the Church.
• Be all things to all men so that by all means, some might be saved.
• Do everything for the sake of the Gospel.
• Run so that you can win.
• Train.
• Don’t run or fight for the heck of it.  Fight/run for the high calling of Jesus.
• Jesus is the rock!
• Let the people who went before you be your best examples.
• Every temptation you have is common to man.
• Jesus always gives you a way out from temptation.
• Everything is permissible.  Everything is not beneficial.
• The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.
• If an unbeliever invites you to eat, eat whatever he offers with thankfulness.
• Don’t cause anyone to stumble.

Mark 11-12

• Jesus sends two disciples ahead to bring a colt to him.  It was tied up and had never been ridden.
• Jesus rides the colt into town.
• The people throw down palm frawns and hail Him as Messiah.
• He enters Jerusalem and the Temple.
• Jesus curses the Fig Tree for not having fruit.
• Jesus takes on the religious crooks int he Temple.
• “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations…you have made it a den of thieves.”
• They later pass by the Fig Tree…withered up.
• Whatever you ask for in prayer…believe.
• Forgive people so God can forgive you.
• Back in Jerusalem: Jesus is questioned by more religious leaders.
• Jesus shares the parable of the tenants.
• The stone the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
• Corrupt religious leaders are afraid of the crowd.
• Jesus answers questioning about whether or not you should pay taxes to the government.
• Jesus teaches about giving and the sense of self importance that the Pharisees had.
• This is teaching that the American Church…or some church leaders in the American Church are going to have to answer to God over.
• I pray that we can learn to give everything and seek the advancement of Jesus, rather than our own advancement.

Sunday Round-up

• Chris, Phil, and Casey have the Sunday Wrap-ups out.  Casey weighs in with his first Sunday Wrap-up.  Good stuff consistently from these guys.  I’m going to go out on a limb and hook Phillip up with the Gold Medal Wrap-up in a close contest between he and Chris.
• Mike Betancourt knocked it out of the park this morning as we tackled the theme of perserverance in the New Testament.  Fantastic.
• Fred Garmon picked it up in the 10:30 in Homestead and the 6 PM in Plantation Key.
• He’s a stud.  He ran the Ft. Lauderdale Half Marathon this morning at 6 AM in 2 hours and 20 seconds.
• Then, he drove an hour south to Homestead, showered and spoke two times.
• He’s an old dude that rocks it hard.
• His testimony told in the third person was incredible.
• I asked people when they figured out it was him.  Most people didn’t catch it until the very end.  Awesome.
• Tonight at LPC-PK, Arielle and Adam crossed the “Faith in Jesus” line in front of everyone.  Powerful and good stuff.
• After service, we had a little open house in our new digs.  Mucho fun.
• We closed out the night with some of the guys sprinting up and down the street…hope the neighborhood first impression wasn’t too loud. 
• At 35 and a few pounds 30 lbs heavier than my college days, I still whooped the young Mike Betancourt.
• I don’t want to race him again.  I’ll stop while I’m ahead.

New Testament Challenged: Days 15-19

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

Mark 1-10

Romans 13-16

1 Corinthians 1-7

I haven’t been able to journal my readings (days 15-19).  It’s been too busy.  Things are settling though.  During this past week while I’ve not had the time to read, this is what I’ve done:

• Killed a scorpion and a snake or two with this guy, this guy, and this guy while doing some impromptu clean-up at the PK campus.  I put the smack down on the staff with some extra-curricular work called at the last second…keeping things fresh and working hard.  I’m proud of this team and their desire to put it on the line.
• Moved to the Keys.  By the way, one upside of being a portable church pastor is that if the set-up crew shows up to move you, they can pack your truck faster than you can move from Homestead to Plantation Key.  This was a ton of work.  But, the work was welcomed.  I’m excited about this going down.  Some of the crew from PK is coming over for coffee Sunday night after church to celebrate our new place.
• Got hit with a 200-300 lb desk.  I don’t know how my shoulder didn’t break off.  It was a WWF-style smack down.  It was worth it because we moved over a ton of debris from the Plantation Key campus.
• We locked down our release date for Anthems For a Broken World album.  The website should be up soon…can’t wait.

So, while the New Testament Challenge is on, so is life.  It doesn’t stop. The Life Challenge has been crazy this week.  But, it’s a crazy good.  I feel like I’m breaking some new ground.  Hearing the words of Jesus are powerful in the process.  The Gospel of Mark has been powerful…want the Words of Jesus to change me and my world.

Day 14 of 63: New Testament Challenge

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

MATTHEW 27-28

• The decision was made by the religious leaders to put Jesus to death.
• They handed him over to Pilate.
• Judas is remorseful and throws the money back into the Temple.
• He then went and hanged himself.
• The religious leaders used the money to buy a burial ground for foreigners.
• Jesus stands accused and graciously responds.
• The crowd asks for Barabas to be released rather than Jesus.
• Much of this same crowd had been worshiping Jesus only days earlier.
• Pilate’s wife begged him not to deal unjustly with Jesus.
• Pilate knew Jesus had committed no crime.
• He made a decision based on politically expediency.
• Jesus was beaten.
• A robe and thorns was put on Jesus.
• They led Him away to crucify Him.
• Jesus was led to Golgotha, the place of the skull.
• They cast lots to divide his clothes.
• “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews”
• He was crucified with robbers.
• They cursed Him.
• The Chief priests mocked Him.
• “Save yourself!”
• Darkness came over the land for three years.
• “My God! Why have you forsaken me?”
• They waited to see if Elijah would save Him.
• Jesus cried out and died.
• The curtain of the Temple was torn in half.
• The earth shook.
• People were resurrected.
• The guards were terrified and knew He must have been the Son of God.
• The women wept.
• Joseph of Arimathea asked for Jesus’ body.
• He wrapped the body and placed it in his own tomb.
• The next day, the Pharisees went to Pilate and talked about his resurrection claims.
• Pilate secured the tomb with a sealed stone and a posted guard to avoid controversy from a faked resurrection.
• After the Sabbath on the first day of the week at Dawn, Mary went to the tomb.
• An angel sat on an opened tomb stone.
• The guards were frightened and became like dead men.
• JESUS IS RISEN!
• “Go and tell!”
• The women ran afraid but with joy.
• Jesus met them.
• They worshiped Him.
• “Don’t be afraid”
• Tell my brothers to meet me in Galillee.
• The guards went and told what happened.  They were paid off by the pharisees to say Jesus’ body was stolen.
• When people saw Jesus, they worshiped.  Some doubted.
• “Go and make disciples!”
• “I am with you always, even to the end of the age!”

ROMANS 10-12

• My heart for Israel is that htey be saved.
• Zeal based on incorrect knowledge is not sufficient.
• Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
• Trust in Him and you won’t be put to shame.
• God blesses those who call on Him.
• Those who call on Him will be saved.
• How can they be saved if there is no preacher?
• Blessed are the feet of those who bring the Good News.
• Faith comes from hearing the message of Jesus.
• God loves a disobedient people.
• God did not reject His chosen people.
• There is a remnant chosen by grace.
• There is always a remnant.
• I’m a wild olive shoot grafted into a Holy root!
• I’m grafted into the family of God.  He chose me.
• But, I should be careful not to disregard or taken for granted the Grace of Jesus that has grafted me into His tree.
• God’s gifts and call are irrevocable.
• God owes no one anything.  God owns it all!
• Offer yourselves as living sacrifices.
• This is worship.
• Don’t conform to the world.
• Renew your mind.
• This is how you know the will of God.
• Don’t think too highly of yourself.
• Those of us who are in Christ make up one body.
• We belong to one another.
• Use your gifts.
• Love must be sincere.
• Hate evil. Cling to good.
• Be faithful in prayer.
• Share.
• Be hospitable.
• Bless those who curse.
• Weep with people.
• Hang out with the scumbags.
• As much as possible, live at peace with everyone.
• Vengeance is the Lords.
• Feed and care for your enemies.
• Overcome evil with good.

I Checked the Well and There Was No Water Left

I checked the well and there was no water left.  There was a collision in the making.  It turned out to be a beautiful mess.

Our house is trashed because our builder installed drywall that emits toxins. When we found out, we got out of our home.  We’ve been staying with friends and family, basically living out of our trunk for a week.  At the same time, we’re working out the details of alternate living arrangements.  We had a rental that has been delayed a few times.  So, our stays with gracious house guests continue to extend.  That will put the screws to you quick.  So, life was a literal grind this week as we were trying to figure out how things were going to go down.

So, Sunday morning came.  On the way to church, I asked my dad if he would be ready to speak for me if I couldn’t.  I was nauseous and had a cold sweat right up to the end of the first service.  The second service I felt a million times better.  But, I was emotionally and physically drained.  I gave everything I had there and asked that God would speak through me.  From there, I went to lunch with a pastor who was in from Portland, OR and then to our membership luncheon.

By the time Sunday night’s service on Plantation Key came, I was dealing with discouragement about my personal life, physical weakness, and fear.  On top of that I am craving for the Holy Spirit to move in our church.  As I have read through the Book of Acts this week and saw how Paul powerfully communicated his testimony and presented Jesus with intense power from God, I feel more than ever I want God to work through me like that.  I want to see our communities come to Jesus in a real and intense, transformational way.  I want to be a part of something that is radically scattered…a movement that advances the Gospel and changes lives…really changes lives.

As we approached Communion, I went to the altar and prayed for the church.  I asked that God would minister to me.  I asked Him to forgive me for loving my stuff. I didn’t realize that I loved my things so much until it started getting wrenched from my hands.  I’ve been wondering for the past few weeks if in the middle of this, God wasn’t positioning me to be free of some of my trappings so I could better focus on the main thing.  That sounds twisted.  I’m not certain about the theology of that statement.  But, I’m a listener right now.  I’m listening intently for His voice I so desperately want to hear.

I received Communion and went on into the service.  It was obvious that this was not a normal service.  I pray that nothing is normal again. I sensed that God was at work…but didn’t know how.  I wanted to call people into that moment.  Honestly, I tried.  He was there and people were responding.  But, that wasn’t the point of what God was doing last night.

When I stepped up to speak, I said that I didn’t believe that the message from the morning was exactly on the menu anymore.  I shared a little about what was going on in me, my heart for the Upper Keys, and my desire for God to be the lead and build the church.  At some point after that, Randy Wall raised his hand and said, “Pastor, at some point, may we pray for you?”

That was it.  I knew right then what God was doing in that place…even if it took a little twisting and turning to get to it.  The church had gathered to give an altar call for me. My answer, with every head up and every eye opened, was “absolutely…right now.”

The church laid hands on me and prayed.  People gave me words of encouragement.  The spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 were active.  I took off my mic.  We all prayed together.  We sang.  We hung out in God’s presence.  I could feel Him cleansing me.

I still had no tangible answers to the open-looped questions in my life.  But, I did have more firmly the grip of the Holy Spirit on my life.  As I sat on the floor of the stage, Randy came up to me and shared something from Jeremiah 29.  He said he felt like I lived this passage and that this word was to encourage me.  He quoted Jeremiah 29:7:

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

When I left last night, though I have felt like life has had me in a grinder, I felt the steadying, encouraging hand of God…and the Church.  Life Pointe is my church…not my employer.  It is my family.  Last night, it peeked into my soul and brought refreshing to me.  My church family was used by the Holy Spirit to give a cup of cold water to a pastor that has personal problems to deal with as he tries to manage the leadership of the church.  They loved me.  The allowed the Holy Spirit to use them.  They were vehicles used by God to give me a cup of cold water when I was incredibly thirsty, lonely, and broken.

I’ve always been broken.  I just sometimes pretend not to be.  I’m thankful to day that God takes broken jars and hearts and mends them through other jars of clay.  In the process of all of this, I anticipate that God is preparing us for something not on our agenda.  I’m saying “yes” to whatever it is.  And, as long as he’ll continue to use me, I’ll continue to do my best lean on Him and trust His heart for me…for us.  And, we’ll do that together.

Sunday Wrap-up

• Yesterday was an amazing day.  I think Chris Day has a little something up on his blog about it.
• I felt physically and emotionally drained coming into the morning.
• My thought about yesterday? “When you’re at your worst, God is at His best.”
• God really ministered to me.  I know that other people had significant moments with God.
• All three services were very different.
• I thought I might not be able to speak after the first service.  But, I felt like I got a second wind and was physically much better.
• The baby dedications in the 9 am service was special…the video was funny with our version of Bill Cosby’s “Kids say the darndest things.”
• We talked about the Challenge of Generosity.
• If you were in Plantation Key, you didn’t get to hear that message.  It will be available online sometime today.
• What happened there was amazing.
• The worship set just moved this awesome moment into our service.
• As we went into the message, God just interrupted what was going on.
• I’m not going to try to explain it.  I’ll just say that I didn’t want to leave.
• I wouldn’t trade yesterday in for another.  The interruptions God  brings are always welcome and life giving…very thankful this morning for who He is.

Day 13 of 63: New Testament Challenge

I am officially 20% of the way through the New Testament Challenge.  Great stuff.

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

MATTHEW 25-26

• Jesus tells the parable of the 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins waiting on the bridegroom.
• We must be ready for the groom to come for the Church.
• If we are not ready, Jesus will tell us, “I don’t know you.”
• Jesus tells the parable of the Talents.
• If we are not productive, faithful stewards over what God has given us, we will be cast out from God.
• Jesus isn’t OK with our excuses.  He wants our love.
• Jesus rewards servants who produce.
• He also has compassion on those who cannot.
• God will separate the sheep from the goats.
• Too many churches do  the separating.
• Want to talk to Jesus?  Talk to and bless a stranger, a prisoner, someone who is thirsty.
• Whatever you have done untio the least, you ave done unto Jesus.
• Some people spend all their lives trying to cozy up to important people.
• If you want to cozy up to Jesus, cozy up to the neglected and marginalized.
• After Jesus shared those things, He said He was going to be crucified.
• Caiaphus’ home was the site of a plot against Jesus.
• Jesus had fine perfumes poured onto Jesus head.
• His disciples questioned the wisdom of wasting such fine gifts on Jesus.
• Judas plots his betrayal.
• During passover, Jesus predicts that Judas is the one who will betray Him.
• Jesus breaks bread and initiates a practice recognizing a Covenant between Jesus and the world.
• Nightfalls and Jesus talks more about the broader betrayal.  Peter couldn’t believe it and denied it could happen through Him.
• Jesus goes with the Disciples to Gethsemane to pray.
• Jesus is experiencing deep sorrow.
• He prays that His Father would allow the crucifixion not be on Him.
• He was frustrated that the Disciples wouldn’t pray with Him.
• Jesus returns to prayer and tells the Father that He is willing to go through the Crucifixion.
• He again is frustrated that the Disciples wouldn’t pray with Him.
• Judas arrives with the arresting party.
• Peter fights backs.  Jesus heals the one who was wounded.
• Jesus was brought to Caiaphas.
• Peter followed from a distance.
• There is nothing they can find guilty about Jesus.  There were many false witnesses though.
• Jesus says He is the Christ or the Messiah.
• He is beaten.
• Peter remains in the courtyard.  He begins the transformation from powerful, committed hothead to a denier of Jesus.  “I don’t know the man.”
• How many times have I denied Christ with my words?  Actions?
• I’ve denied Jesus with my actions so many times.  I’m thankful for His grace.
• Peter wept when he had realized what he had done.

ROMANS 7-9

• Law has authority over a man only as long as he lives.
• ex: death and remarriage vs. divorce and remarriage.
• We are dead to the law so that we might belong to another.
• Now, by dying to sin, we have been released from the law.
• However, the law allows us to know what sin is.
• Apart from law, sin is dead.
• Paul struggled with sin….like we all do.
• The things he didn’t want to do, he did.  The things he did want to do, he struggled doing them.
• Sin in us causes this.
• In our inner being, we delight in God’s law.  But, our members struggle with sin as a body of death.
• There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
• What the law was powerless to do was done through the man, Jesus Christ as a sin offering, covering our sins and bringing redemption to us.
• If you live according to the sin nature, your posture shows it.
• The sinful mind is hostile to God and will not submit to Him.
• Be controlled by the Spirit and not by the sinful nature.
• If Christ is in you, God will give life to your spirit.
• We have an obligation to our spiritual man, not our sinful flesh.
• We have received a spirit of sonship.
• We have been adopted by God.
• We are heirs.
• We are co-heirs with Jesus.
• Our present sufferings are nothing compared to the Glory that is coming.
• The whole creation groans.
• We groan inwardly as we await our adoption as sons.
• Hope that is seen is no hope at all.
• Who hopes for what they already have.
• The Spirit groans in us.
• The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to His will.
• If God is for us, who can be against us!
• Jesus gave up His Son for us!
• Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us.
• We are more than conquerers through Him who loved us.
• Nothing can separate us from the love of God!!!
• The Children of the Promise are the offspring of Moses.
• I am a child of the Promise.
• God’s Kingdom is a Kingdom upside down!
• Is God unjust?  No. He will have mercy on whom He chooses.
• I don’t understand that…but, I understand that I am in no place to question the Almighty.
• God will call us His people, even if we are outside of the genetic lineage of Israel.
• Be careful NOT to pursue God through works…it can actually cause you to fall.  Pursue Him by faith.

Day 12 of 63: New Testament Challenge

I missed my first day yesterday.  With us being out of pocket a little, my routine is out of whack.  So, here I am doing day 12 on day 13.

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

MATTHEW 23-24

• Jesus speaks to the crowd and makes fun of the pharisees for teaching well but not living accordingly.
• Jesus warns us about giving into feelings of self-importance and desiring special treatment.
• Jesus teaches through the inconsistencies religion purveys.
• Jesus says to the Pharisees they should tithe but they shouldn’t neglect the most important things: justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
• Stop working on the outside of a man.  Work on your heart and what God does on the inside of a man will be worked out.
• Jesus leaves the Temple and His disciples talk to Him about the buildings.
• This is where Jesus talks about the Temple being destroyed.
• The Disciples ask about the end of the age.
• Jesus warns about being deceived and about being persecuted because of Jesus.
• Jesus speaks about the rise of false prophets.
• What to do?  Endure.  If you endure to the end you will be saved.
• Jesus speaks about the last days…very frightening words.
• Jesus is coming back on the clouds with great glory.
• Be ready.
• No one knows when besides the Father.
• Two men in the field…one taken and the other left.
• Keep watch.  You don’t know when the Lord will come.
• Keep watch and be ready.
• Jesus will come at an hour when you won’t expect it.  Always be ready.

ROMANS 4-6

• We cannot be justified by our works.
• We are justified by our faith in Jesus.
• Grace is available not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles.
• We are able to receive grace, not because of our good works under the law.
• We are able to receive grace because of grace of Jesus and faith in Him.
• Jesus was delivered to death for our sins and resurrected for our justification.
• We should rejoice in suffering because suffering brings out the qualities in us that God desires.
• God died for the ungodly…that’s unusual.  People will do for good men…not bad men.
• As God’s enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.
• And, we are now no longer His enemies!
• Adam was a picture of Jesus.
• Difference?  Adam = one man followed by many sins.  Jesus=righteousness for the many men who have committed many sins.
• So, should we sin because of grace?  No way!
• We were buried with Jesus through baptism and are resurrected into a new life.
• Our old self was crucified with Him.
• We should no longer be slaves to sin.
• If we die with Christ, we will also live with Him.
• Death did not master Jesus.
• Count yourself dead to sin but alive to Jesus.
• Don’t obey sins evil desires.
• Offer yourself to God as instruments of righteousness.
• Since we are under grace and not under law, can we go on sinning?  No…unless you are a slave to sin and obedient to sin.  You are a slave to Jesus and obedient to Him.
• You are slaves to righteousness.
• Sin results in death.
• The sin payday is death.
• God’s gift is eternal life.

Day 11 of 63: New Testament Challenge

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

MATTHEW 21-22

• Jesus tells them to go get the donkey and the colt.
• Jesus prepared to ride into the city on a donkey.
• Too many of His followers use Jesus as an excuse to ride into the city in the lap of luxury.
• He rode into the Temple area and whipped up on the religious con artists.
• The blind and the lame swarmed to Jesus.
• The people received Him triumphantly as the Messiah.
• He left the city and went to Bethany for the night.
• He was hungry and found a fig tree that wasn’t producing figs.
• Jesus cursed the tree because it didn’t produce fruit.
• Jesus says that if you believe, you will receive what you ask for in prayer.
• Jesus’ authority was questioned by religious leaders.  They trapped themselves in with fear and logic.
• Jesus tells the parable of Two Sons.
• Then, Jesus said the tax collectors and prostitutes were going to enter heaven before these religious leaders.
• Our religious trappings and language is not impressive to Christ.
• The stone that the builders rejected has become the Chief Cornerstone.
• Hypocritical Religious Leaders are basically gutless pukes who depend on status and popular opinion to sustain them.
• Jesus continued to speak in parables, sharing the Parable of the Great Feast.
• Jesus invites undeserving people to His banquet…a lot of them won’t come.
• When you come to the banquet, ready yourself.
• Even the Pharisees recognized that He wasn’t swayed by public opinion.
• They tried to trick Him with questions about tax evasion…Jesus called them on their tricks and told them the truth.
• The Sadducees question Him about heaven and marriage.  Jesus handles the questions with ease, power, and conviction.
• The crowds were drawn closer to Him.
• While the Pharisees specialized in detailed in minutia, Jesus specialized in love and redemption.
• From this day on, no one tried to trick Jesus with words.

ROMANS 1-3

• Paul writes this letter as a called Apostle to the Gentiles at Rome.
• He says it is reported throughout the world that the Christians at Rome are full of faith.
• He wants to impart a gift to them so they will be strong and mature.
• Don’t be ashamed of the Gospel.  Our words and status have no power.  It is the Gospel that gives us power to salvation.
• The reckless pursuers of Jesus in the World will change the world…not those who marginally pursue Him in a way that makes sense.
• Paul goes on to explain how sin has affected us to the core and how we are dominated by sin.
• Because of our internal sin issues, we are given over to totally depraved minds.  Mankind is totally dominated by sin.
• Paul turns to speak about judgment and our judgment of sinners from a position of our humanity.
• It will be bad for us if we are recipients of God’s grace and in turn judge people around us while engaging in the same behaviors.
• We will be judged in the same manner that we judge others.
• People who reject the truth of Jesus, will pay badly.
• God’s law is written on our hearts from creation.
• Paul teaches on how followers of Christ should interact with the law.
• Ultimately, he speaks to the condition of our heart and the way we pursue Jesus.
• Paul begins establishing the power of the law over us and our totally inability to keep it.
• This sets up beautifully the power and necessity of the Grace of Jesus.
• The law does not make us righteous.  The law makes us conscious of our sin.
• We are made righteous only by faith in Jesus Christ.
• So, on what basis are we able to brag about our good deeds or spiritual maturity?  There is no basis that justifies our bragging.
• The fact that we cannot keep the law is not license to disobey the law.
• We have to pursue the mindset and lifestyle that recognizes utter dependence onthe grace of Jesus.

Life Pointe Interns’ Reading List

We have three stellar interns at Life Pointe.  They live in “The Frat House,” which is actually a very nice townhouse near the movie theater in Homestead.  We are in the process of formalizing our internship program a good bit.  Our plans are to expand it to serve as a leadership development pipeline for Life Pointe.  Right now, it is setup to accommodate only single young men because of our housing situation for them.  But, our plan in the future is to expand the program and open it up a little bit further and for a broader demographic.

In addition to reading through the New Testament, pursuing a Scripture Memorization track, and serving in specific ministry areas, our interns have the following books to read through.  They review the books and share their reviews with me, their director, and one another.

The book list is:

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Good To Great by Jim Collins
Made to Stick by Dan and Chip Heath
Time Power by Brian Tracy
The Magic of Thinking BIG by David Schwartz
Cut to the Chase by Stuart Levine
Ready for Anything by David Allen
Purple Cow by Seth Godin
Tribes by Seth Godin

MINISTRY
Launch by Nelson Searcy
The Reason for God by Tim Keller
Fusion by Nelson Searcy
Activate by Nelson Searcy
Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll
Confessions of a Reformission Rev by Mark Driscoll
50 Reasons Why Jesus Came To Die by John Piper
Porn Again Christian by Mark Driscoll

Day 10 of 63: New Testament Challenge

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

MATTHEW 19-20

• Jesus left Galilee and went into Judea where he was tested by the Pharisees again regarding divorce.
• These cats loved to argue over technicalities…trying to trap Jesus.
• Little children came to Jesus.
• Jesus told the Disciples not to get in the way but to let the Children have access.
• Jesus explains to a rich young man asking how to inherit the Kingdom.  THE WAY?  Leave everything and follow Jesus.
• Who can be saved? Anyone can be saved…all things are possible.
• The first are last.  Many who are last will be first.
• Jesus teaches on the Kingdom of Heaven through the parable of the workers in the vineyard.
• Jesus doesn’t have a code of fairness.  He has a code of Grace.
• Jesus pulls the 12 Disciples aside to explain His coming betrayal.
• James and John’s mom asked for favors regarding their position in heaven on behalf of her sons…weird moment.
• We should not lord our authority over people.  We should serve one another.
• Jesus came to serve not to be served.
• When Jesus and the 12 left Jericho, Jesus healed 12 blind men.

ACTS 28

• They land on Malta after being shipwrecked.
• While building a fire, Paul is bitten by a poisonous snake…miraculously, he shook it off and there were no side affects.
• Publius the chief official received Paul and men into his home.
• There Publius father was healed along with many others.
• The townspeople helped supply these men with food, etc…
• They sailed on to Rome.
• There they met some Christian brothers.
• Paul was allowed to be on house arrest.
• There he assembled some leaders of the Jews.
• He explains his story again.  Paul nearly always communicates the Gospel through his story.  It is personal, compelling, and passionate.
• They arranged more meetings.  Paul declared the Kingdom of God and Jesus from Moses and the Prophets.
• He quoted Moses and said they listen but don’t hear.
• He says the Gentiles will listen.
• He stayed there for two years boldly and without interference.

Sights from Sunday

I didn’t get around to my usual Sunday Round-up from this past weekend.  Phil did.  Mark did.  I’ll just tell you that Sunday was a really special day.  The vibe at Plantation Key has really become special.  Sunday night, I could feel the presence of God in the auditorium as we worshipped.  It was significant…so much so, that I didn’t want to let it go.  I wanted to hang out in that moment.  But, we are filled to be broken and spilled out to others.  Anyway, check out some of the sights from Sunday…some that I really enjoyed:

Day 9 of 63: New Testament Challenge

Today marks exactly 1/7th of my journey through the New Testament.  With that, I have not even completed two complete books.  The Gospels and Acts make up a massive chunk of the New Testament.  Great stuff.  In talking with Kelly, she shared that she enjoys Matthew more than Acts.  I enjoy Acts a lot though.  I think it’s because I tend to focus on productivity.  And, since Acts is so focused on the productivity of the Church through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am drawn to that as a roadmap/launching pad from the Gospels….just a side note.

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

MATTHEW 17-18

• Peter, James, and John go up to a mountain with Jesus where he was “transfigured.”  Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke to Jesus.
• Peter tried to build three shelters in their honor.
• God spoke outloud and said, “This is the Son of God”
• The Disciples were terrified.  Jesus told them not to be afarid.
• Jesus asked that nothing be said until He is resurrected.  They must not have understood what He was talking about.
• He preps them a little for the coming crucifixion….though they still didn’t understand.
• Jesus does more miracles…casting out demons.
• The Disciples couldn’t understand why they couldn’t cast out the demon.  Jesus said it was because they lacked faith.
• Again, he warns of His betrayal, death, and resurrection.  Now, the Disciples are sad.
• Jesus paid “the temple tax.”
• Jesus teaches on giving and evangelism…sharing that increase is found in the mouth of the fish.
• You must be like a child to enter heaven…innocent of heart and trusting of Jesus.
• There will be a greater judgment on those who cause people to sin.
• Jesus shares that there is nothing more important in life than our spiritual health.
• Jesus points out that we must be outwardly focused on sheep that are not in the fold.
• Gently correct or deal with people who wrong you.
• Then, he lays out the Biblical path for dealing with conflict.
• There is power in agreement, especially when we pray.
• Peter asks about forgiveness…wondering how often he HAS to forgive.
• Jesus tells how many times we should be privileged to forgive.
• We should always function out of an attitude of abundance.
• Jesus tells a parable about people who expect great grace but offer little.

ACTS 25-27

• Festus went to Jerusalem where the Jewish leaders spoke against Paul.  A plot remained against Paul.
• Festus convened a court in Cesarea 8-10 days later.
• Paul gives his defense claiming that he has not wronged the law of the Jews, the Temple, or Caesar.
• Festus wants to take Paul to Jerusalem to stand trial.  Paul objects though he is willing to answer for his innocence.
• Then, he appeals to Caesar…and off he goes.
• King Agrippa arrives to visit with Caesar where they discuss Paul’s situation.
• Agrippa wanted to hear him.
• Paul entertained him with great pomp and circumstance.
• Festus says that he had found him not worthy of death but, because Paul had appealed to Rome, he furthered his case to Agrippa.
• Agrippa opens the floor to Paul.  Paul gives an apologetic of Jesus…sharing Him powerfully with the King.
• Seeing the Gospel presented with such force and under such circumstances challenges me to get over myself as I experience slight inconvenniences in life by comparison to men like Paul.
• Festus said Paul was insane and that his learning had made him mad!
• Paul said it was his hope that Festus, Agrippa and all present would become a follower of Jesus.
• Agrippa was almost convinced to follow Jesus by the “testimony” of Jesus by Paul.
• I wonder how many people have almost been convinced but because of other’s expectations or some other marginal reason chose not to be convinced of the Gospel of Jesus.
• Paul was handed over to a centurion and got on a ship to Asia.
• Julius allowed Paul kindly to go to his friends where he could be cared for.
• They were delayed by the weather, which battered the ship.
• They threw cargo and tackle overboard.  They were hopeless that they would be saved.
• Paul speaks out and says that the ship will be destroyed by the men wouldn’t according to the words of an angel that had spoken to him in the night.
• He tells them to be courageous and ground the ship on an island.
• There were 276 people on board.  Everyone made it safely to shore.

Day 8 of 63: New Testament Challenge

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

MATTHEW 15 & 16

• Pharisees and religious teachers question Jesus because His disciples weren’t washing their hands before they eat.  Jesus asked them why they did not honor their parents.
• Jesus offended the Pharisees because of their man-made rules.
• Peter keeps asking Jesus to explain parables to him.
• Jesus explains that outer actions do not defile a man.  He said that what goes on in the inside of a man is what defiles him.
• Jesus delivers a woman’s daughter who was demon possessed.  She was a gentile.  Jesus wasn’t locked into one people group.
• Again, Jesus feeds another group of 4,000 plus women and children with 7 loaves and a few small fish.  There were 7 baskets of uneaten food left over.
• Again, the Pharisees and Sadducees try to trap Jesus.  Why?  They were “Sad, you see?” ☺
• Jesus warns the Disciples about the “yeast” of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
• Jesus goes to Ceserea, Philippi and asks the Disciples who people think He is.  They respond.  But, Simon Peter says, “You are the Christ!”
• Jesus explains that He is going to have to go to Jerusalem to suffer, be killed, and to be resurrected.
• Peter rebukes Jesus.  Jesus calls Peter the devil and tells him to get behind Him.
• Jesus says the path to following him is a path of self-denial.

ACTS 22-24

• Paul quiets the crowd by giving his personal credentials as a religious Jew and a Roman citizen.
• From there, he shares with the crowd his conversion experience coming face-to-face with Jesus and his ministry.
• The crowd listened until he said he was coming to minister to the Gentiles.
• They went into an uproar and the commander had him flogged.
• Paul challenged the flogging with his Roman Citizenship.
• The Commander had him released and brought him before the Sanhedrin, the same council that had previously tried Jesus.
• For speaking to the Sanhedrin, Paul was smacked in the face.
• Paul tells the High Priest unknowingly that he is a white washed grave.
• A great argument takes place between the Sadducees and the Pharisees over a religious caveat that Paul raised.
• The Commander took Paul back into custody for his own protection.
• The Lord speaks to him and says that he is going to be taken to Rome.
• Some forty religious leaders plot to kill Paul.
• The plot was uncovered and reported to the Commander.
• The Commander protected Paul and had him sent to Governor Felix in Rome.
• He was kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
• 5 days later, the religious leaders went to Felix with legal charges against Paul.
• They said he was a “ring leader of a Nazarene Sect.”
• Paul defended himself that he was peaceful.  He said they were upset because he was a “follower of the Way.”
• Then, he launches into his story as a Jew and a follower of Jesus.
• Felix was well acquainted with “The Way.”
• Later Felix and his wife sent for Paul to discourse on “The Way.”
• Felix was looking for a bribe.
• Paul remained imprisoned with Felix for two years.

Day 7 of 63 New Testament Challenge

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

MATTHEW 13 & 14

• Jesus taught a multitude from a boat.
• He demonstrates significant truths through storytelling.
• Jesus demonstrates power through simplicity.
• He shares how people’s understanding of the Messiah must be brought along slowly and not all at once.
• He begins with the assumption that Gospel comprehension and soul transformation can be a process.
• He shares about wheat and weeds growing together…that we should be careful in dealing with weeds.  They should both grow together so that the wheat isn’t damaged.
• Jesus didn’t say anything to these crowds except through parables so that he could reveal great truths about the Kingdom.
• Sin will have no place in the Kingdom.  Jesus establishes a literal hell as a reality.
• The Kingdom of heaven is like a net.  God will separate the good collected from the bad.
• Jesus returned to His home town.  He taught in the synagogue.  They couldn’t believe such significant truth came from a carpenter’s son/hometown boy.  He was not received well as a result and did not do many great miracles there.
• Herod heard the reports and thought Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected.  Herod had imprisoned John the Baptist and beheaded him.
• Hearing of the news, Jesus tried to get away from teh crowds.  But, the crowds followed Him.
• The disciples felt inconvenienced by the crowds.  Jesus told the disciples to get over themselves and to feed the crowds.
• This is where the miracles of the fishes and loaves took place (5,000 men plus women and children).
• Jesus went to a mountainside to pray alone.
• From here, Jesus walked out on the water to the disciples in the boat Jesus had been in.  They freaked out and thought He was a ghost.
• Peter walks on the water and panicked….then he sank.
• If Peter had little faith, what did the others have?
• The Disciples called Him the Son of God in this moment.

ACTS 19-21

• While Appolos was at Corinth, Paul went to Ephesus by land.
• Paul asks if the Ephesians received the Holy Spirit when they believed?  No. They had been baptized by John.  He explains to them about the Baptism of Jesus and they received the Holy Spirit.
• God did amazing miracles through Paul.
• There were counterfeits who also cast out demons by invoking the name of Jesus.  That eventually caught up to them…all 7 of them when they got their tails whipped by a demon possessed man.
• After this the name of Jesus was lifted up very high and there were many conversions as a result.
• Paul sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia.
• There was a great disturbance because the idol makers were impacted financially.
• Great revival impacts the economics of a community.
• The community/followers of Artimus were furious and they seized some of Paul’s companions.
• Finally, the city clerk quieted things by reasoning with them and told them to bring the men before legal proceedings if they had an issue.  The assembly was dismissed.
• After the uproar, Paul left for Macedonia encouraging the people there.
• He stayed in Greece for three months.
• They sailed from Philippi to Troas.  During the trip, Paul talked very late in a long sermon in an upstairs 3rd story home.
• During the sermon a man fell asleep and fell out of the window where he died.  THAT’S a LONG SERMON.
• Fortunately for him, he was healed and raised from the dead.
• From here, Paul journeyed on a ship to Miletus on his way to Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost.  From Miletus, he called for the elders of the Church at Ephesus where he taught them and reminded they had been taught publicly and in homes.
• He begins to encourage them and tells them they will probably never see one another again.  It’s a sad tone.
• He gives them responsibility to watch over the health of the church.
• He warns them of false teachers that will rise up within the church.
• This is a powerful moment of impartation to leaders he trusts to care for the church.
• Paul tells them to work hard for the Gospel.
• They all knelt down and prayed and cried together.
• Paul sailed on and changed boats landing at Tyre.  They found the Disciples where the disciples urged him not to go to Jerusalem.
• He saled onto Caeserea where he stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist.
• There he was prophesied to Paul that he would be bound and handed over to the Gentiles at Jerusalem.
• Paul said he was ready to be bound and to die for the name of Jesus.
• Paul was hard headed.  It is unclear to me if Paul shortened his ministry by this decision or if He was being led by the Holy Spirit.
• He left and connected with James and many church leaders.  He dealt with Jewish customs as a controversy among the church.  He was asked to yield to Jewish customs to prove that he was not calling people away from their Jewish roots…which he did.
• Another mob was stirred up against Paul because they said he allowed Greeks into the Temple area.
• They tried to kill him.
• The commander of the Roman Troops intervened and Paul’s beating was stopped.
• The Romans took Paul into custody…the mob violence increased.
• Paul was mistaken by the commander as an Egyptian military revolutionary.
• He began to address the crowd.

More Things I’m Learning About Myself During The New Testament Challenge

• I’m learning that Spiritual Growth is a daily journey.  It doesn’t happen overnight.
• I’m learning that Jesus and the Apostles had guts…at least the Apostles had guts most of the time.
• I’m learning that the Apostles and Disciples were learners.
• I’m learning that being open about my spiritual journey is tough stuff.  But, after Day Four, I was more excited than ever to share openly what I was reading.
• I’m learning that journaling this is more for my benefit that for yours.
• I’m learning that we set the bar too low in our lives.  We live too comfortably.  We’re too rigid.
• I’m learning that I love Jesus and want to speak with the same boldness that He did.
• I’m learning that Paul knew when to go to battle and when to run away.  I’m learning from him.

Day 6 of 63: New Testament Challenge

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

MATTHEW 11 & 12

• Jesus went on into the towns of Gallilee.  John asked from prison if He was The One.
• Jesus began to speak about John to the crowd.  He said he was not soft, weak.  He was a prophet that paved the way for the Messiah.
• Jesus recognized that people called him a drunkard.  He said “wisdom is proven by her actions.”
• He expressed frustration with places where He had previously done ministry for their lack of responsiveness to the Good News and the miracles…comparing them as worse than the city of Sodom.
• You cannot know the Father unless you know the Son.
• Jesus gives us rest in our souls.
• The burden of Jesus is light.
• Jesus offended the Pharisees by picking grain and eating it on the Sabbath.
• Jesus desires mercy more than sacrifice.
• Jesus healed on the Sabbath and stuck it in their eye again.
• People are more valuable than religious traditions.
• Jesus healed the sick fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah.
• Jesus proclaims Justice.
• Jesus leads Justice to Victory.
• Jesus heals the blind, mute demon-possesed people.
• If you’re not with Jesus, you’re against Him.
• Every sin will be forgiven except sin against the Holy Spirit.
• A tree is recognized by its fruit…you are what you produce.
• We will have to give an account on the Day of Judgment for everything we have ever done.
• Jesus shares that He greater than Jonah in the three days of death and His call for repentance.
• Jesus teaches on demon possession.
• When God cleans out a man, it is so important to fill your life with God and His word or else a man will fall back into a more intense captivity by sin.
• Whoever does the will of Jesus is His brother.

ACTS 16-18

• Paul met Timothy in Lystra.  His mother was Jewish.  His Dad was greek.
• Paul and his followers were prohibited by the Holy Spirit from going to Asia.
• It was during this time that Paul received the Macedonian Call.
• They went to Philippi and met Lydia, a God-fearing business woman…who was persuaded to follow Jesus.
• The Church at Philippi was founded on her and a demon possessed slave girl who was delivered and saved.
• They were thrown into prison as a result.
• Paul and Silas prayed and sang in prison.  An earthquake threw open the prison.
• The third person who the Church at Philippi was founded on was a jailer that was involved in the earthquake.   His entire family was saved as well.
• Paul was thrown in jail publicly.  The Philippians tried to sneak them out the back door.  Paul thew the smack down on the errant public officials and made them release him publicly…through the same door he was jailed.
• They went to Thessalonica and went into the Synagogue where he preached the Gospel for three days.
• Again, a mob instigated by religious leaders went after Paul but didn’t catch him.
• From there, they went to Berea.
• The Bereans listened to Paul but checked his teachings against the Scriptures to verify what he was saying according to God’s Word.
• More angry crowds came.
• Paul is in Athens where he reasoned with the Epicureans and Stoics using the ideas of their philosophers and referencing their own gods.
• At the Areopogus, he said, “God doesn’t live in Temples…He doesn’t need anything…God is not far from us…God commands all men everywhere to repent.”
• A few men of the Areopogus became followers and believed.
• Paul went to Corinth where he worked with Aquila and Priscila as a tent maker and then he devoted himself full-time to the Gospel.
• Here he got frustrated with the Jewish religious leaders and he began to focus more on the Gentiles.
• Paul stayed here for 1 1/2 years and preached the Gospel boldly in the face of opposition.
• He left for Syria with Priscila and Aquila.  He took a vow and shaved his head.
• Again, he goes to the Synagogue and reasons with them about Jesus.
• He went to Antioch and travelled all over Galatia and Phrygia.
• Appolos goes to Ephesus…He was a good preacher.  He spoke accurately about Jesus but he only knew the Baptism of John.
• Aquila and Priscila met him and brought him into their circle.  He was a big help.

Day 5 of 63: New Testament Challenge

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

MATTHEW 9 & 10

• Jesus goes to his own town.
• He forgave the sins of a paralyzed man.
• The pharisees thought Jesus was blasphemous.
• Then, to stick it in their eye, Jesus healed the man.
• Jesus left there and hooked up with a tax collector named Matthew.
• Jesus starts partying with all the bad boys.
• One of the many things I have in common with Pharisees is that I don’t like to hang out with tax collectors typically.
• Jesus didn’t come for the righteous but for the sinners.
• New wine will burst old wineskins.
• Jesus had compassion for fathers that hurt for their children.  He is moved by compassion for fathers and daughters.
• A little bit of Jesus (the hem of His garment) is a lot better than a lot of anything else.
• Jesus had compassion for the blind.  He healed them too.
• People who have been seriously moved by Jesus, can’t NOT tell people about Jesus.
• People who have not encountered Jesus significantly will keep it to themselves.
• The pharisees thought Jesus was demon possessed.
• There is no disease Jesus can’t cure.
• The harvest is everywhere.  The workers aren’t.
• Pray that God gives you workers.
• Jesus gives us authority.
• Apostles’ names: Simon Peter, Andrew (Peter’s bro), James and John the sons of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the Tax Collector, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot (the traitor!).
• Their instructions? Don’t go to the Gentiles or Samaritans.  Go to the Jews.  Tell them the Kingdom is here.  Do miracles. Freely receive. Freely give. Travel light.
• Stay with a good fellow believer.  *** I’m guessing this is a huge discipleship/leadership development arrangement.  Being around people of passion and intensity for extended periods of time changes you.
• If people don’t welcome you, don’t wast your time.  Move on.
• Be innocent.  But, don’t be stupid.
• You’ll experience persecution.
• God will speak through you.
• men will hate you because of Jesus.
• The way to win…the way to be saved is to endure and to never quit.
• If you’re persecuted, don’t be afraid to leave and go somewhere else.
• Be like the master.
• Don’t be afraid.
• What you hear from God in secret, speak it in the day light.
• Speak it loudly.
• God knows everything about you…even the hairs of your head are numbered.
• If you are embarrassed of Jesus, He will be embarrassed of you in Heaven.
• If you are proud of Jesus, He will be proud of you in Heaven.
• If you love your family more than God, is not worthy of Jesus.
• If you don’t follow Jesus, you aren’t worthy of Him.
• Receive a prophet or a righteous man and you receive their reward.
• Give a cup of cold water to a little one and you are His disciple.

ACTS 13-15

• Barnabas and Saul were set apart for God’s work at Antioch.  They sailed for Cyprus.
• John helped them.
• They were opposed by a sorcerer.  Paul told him what’s up…called him a devil and said he was full of deceit and trickery.
• This cat was blinded temporarily.
• The pro-consul believed on Jesus.
• They sailed on to another town…teaching in the synagogue.
• Paul was invited to speak.  He threw down a Gospel message relating Jesus to Jewish history.
• Salvation was sent to these people.
• Jesus died…but He didn’t decay.
• Through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed.
• When Paul left, they were invited back to speak on the next Sabbath.
• Almost the whole city showed up this time.
• The religious leaders were ticked.
• Paul and Barnabas said this message is for everyone!
• The Gentiles were stoked.
• Many believed.  The Word of God spread throughout the region.
• They were run out of town.
• At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas.  They spoke effectively and a ton of Jews and Gentiles believed.
• They were opposed by some religious people who were ticked.
• The city was divided.
• There was a plot against them.  They fled to Lystra.
• In Lystra, there were significant healings.
• The people thought they were Zeus and Hermes, gods who had come to earth.
• The Apostles tore their clothes and yelled at the crowd that they were humans bringing the Good News of Jesus.
• People still wanted to sacrifice bulls to them.
• After the crowd loved them, the crowd was turned against them and Paul was stoned at the city gates.
• They went to Derbe, Lystra, and Antioch.  Many people were won.  Elders were appointed.
• Paul continued to sail into port cities bringing the Gospel.  They reported to the Church in Antioch how God had worked.  They stayed there for a long time.
• Some Christians were teaching extra-Gospel teachings at Antioch.  There was a fight here over whether or not the Church would be a Jewish Church or a church for all people.
• Peter said our hearts are purified by faith and not outwardly activity.
• WE ARE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF JESUS…NOT WORKS.
• James quoted the prophets that ALL the GENTILES AND JEWS will be saved.
• James rules that it should not be made difficult for Gentiles to follow Jesus.
• Barsabas and Silas take a letter with the ruling of James.
• “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” is one of my favorite teachings…mainly because I don’t always feel as close to the voice of the Spirit as I would like.  Hearing His voice confirmed among mature believers is consolation for me that God can speak to me even when I’m too hard headed to hear His voice on my own.
• Paul and Barnabas decided to go back and check on the believers they had previously preached to on their 1st missionary journey.
• There was a dispute over who should go with them.
• The dispute was so strong that Paul and Barnabas got busted up as a team.
• I wonder how that development shaped things.  I believe Gd still uses that kind of dysfunction.  But, what if they could have worked out their interpersonal struggles?

Day 4 of 63: New Testament Challenge

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

MATTHEW 7 & 8

• You are judged at the level you judge others.
• I love the word picture Jesus gives of saw dust and a plank in someone’s eye.
• ASK BIG.  Ask God to do BIG THINGS in your life.
• God wants to give good gifts to His children.
• Treat people like you want to be treated (this sums up the law and the prophets)
• Life is difficult to obtain.  Destruction is easy.
• Don’t listen to people talking about how good they are.  Look at what they produce.
• God wants us to produce good fruit…not just good words.
• If you want to go to heaven, you must do the will of the Father.
• God will not let everyone into heaven.
• The picture of the wise man who builds on a rock is powerful.
• It speaks to me of why some people start well and finish poorly…it’s all about the foundation.
• Jesus spoke with authority.
• Large crowds followed Jesus after this sermon.
• Jesus was not afraid to touch the lepers.
• Jesus was moved to by people who were moved for others according to the Centurion’s story in Caperneum.
• Jesus speaks about the reality of eternal punishment.
• Jesus was a leader.  People wanted to follow Him…some only in words though.
• Jesus speaks calm in the middle of our storms.
• He rebukes the tempests in our lives…even when we have to go through them.
• Jesus angered animal rights activists and caused bacon shortages so that the demon possessed could be free.
• Rather than being thankful for these now free men, the town was furious because Jesus ruined their pork.

ACTS 10-12

• I’ve heard it said that Jesus was a pacifist.  But, Cornelius (a militarist) had a vision from God.  God was pleased with him.
• In the vision, God calls from Cornelius to send for two men in Joppa.
• At the same time, Peter has a vision where God tells him he can eat “unclean” animals.
• The Holy Spirit lets Peter know that men are looking for him on behalf of Cornelius.
• God arranges some crazy stuff and bridges MASSIVE cultural gaps.
• Peter arrives in Caeserea at Cornelius’ house where many people are waiting.
• Cornelius was God fearing.
• God does not show favoritism.  He accepts people from every nation and background.
• Cornelius and the Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The Jews were amazed that they heard the Gentiles speaking in tongues and praising God.
• This moment changed the way the Gospel was communicated.
• Religious watchdogs criticized Peter interacting with Gentiles like this.
• The Gospel could have been confined to a small group of people.
• Instead, it was to spread to anyone and everyone, no mater where they are or what they’ve done.
• Peter was astonished because the Holy Spirit came on Cornelius like the Holy Spirit did in the Upper Room.
• God brought a great increase in Antioch among the Jews and Greeks.
• Barnabas and Saul met with the Church in Antioch for one year teaching.
• It was in Antioch where the word, “Christian” was first used.
• During this time, the church in Antioch sent relief money to their brothers and sisters in Judea who were experiencing a great famine.
• King Herod Agrippa began persecuting the Christians.
• He killed James, John’s brother.
• He imprisoned Peter.
• The church prayed for him
• God miraculously freed him from prison…a picture of the redemptive, liberating work of God in our lives.
• Peter thought he was seeing a vision as God freed him…surreal like it wasn’t really happening.
• Then, the angel left him.  God got him out of prison and left Peter to find his way to Mary’s house (John Mark’s mom) on his own.
• The believers were praying for him…couldn’t believe it when he showed up at the house.
• Herod called for the soldiers to be executed.
• Herod was celebrated as a god by the people of Tyre and Sidon.  He was stricken down and died.
• The Gospel continued to spread.

I Filed a Lawsuit Because of Tainted Chinese Drywall in My House

I was interviewed by Channel 7 News this morning.  They’re reporting on an issue with South Florida builders, specifically South Kendall Construction (the builder of my house), using tainted Chinese Drywall in the construction of homes built between 2005 and 2007.  I need to make a statement about what’s going on, especially since this stuff is beginning to come out.  I want you to hear it from me first.

ISSUE

I signed a contract to build my house in Keys Gate in 2005.  We moved into the house in 2006.  It’s a big investment. I expected my family would be safe and protected from the elements.  We love and take care of our family by watching what they eat and what they are exposed to.  My son, Blake was even born in our home because we trusted this house to be such an environment.

Our home has a lot of tangible and intangible value to us.  We anticipated living there for a long time…hope I still can.  I’m in limbo right now about how that is going to turn out though.  We’re actually looking for a rental home to move into while we’re dealing with this.  I don’t know how the finances of that are going to work out.  But, that comes second to the health and well being of my family.

Basically, my builder has not made it right or offered to make it so far. .  My builder says there are acceptable levels of sulfuric acid in the air in the homes they’ve tested.  That isn’t going to fly.  Lennar doesn’t seem to be delaying or sidestepping responsibility.  According to this USA Today article, they’re taking ownership for their responsibility and suing organizations that supplied them with the product.  They are going on record as standing with their homeowners in the process.  They are relocating and fixing homes for 80 families right now.

In the meantime, I’ve filed an insurance claim.  I’m waiting on their response.

EXPECTATION

I want my housing situation to be righted.  I want to be assured that my family is safe.  That’s a reasonable expectation for me to have from the people that promised me a house free of defect.  I paid good money for that expectation.

I’m not the only one either.  The Lt. Governor of Florida, Jeff Kottkamp is dealing with it as well. His family has been living with it for two years.  Like me, they NOW know what the problem is.  And, they’re moving out because it was making his family sick.  There is a growing chorus of credible voices that are ticked about what has been done.

THE PROBLEM

Unknown to us, when our house was built, it was built with Chinese Drywal, a drywall that is apparently tainted with chemicals that corrodes anything in the house that is copper, silver, and some other metals (plumbing, electrical, A/C coils, fixtures, computers, etc…).  We’ve replaced 4 sets of A/C coils, 2 copper elements in our microwave, lights, and electrical outlets, which fail to the point that I have a hard time keeping up with my light bulbs.  Additionally, the drywall emits a sulfur smell (bad eggs).   We have attempted to cover it up with the smell of burning candles.  Apparently, when the drywall comes into contact with water, it reacts and emits hydrogen sulfide, sulfuric acid, and who knows what else.

We’ve dealt with these issues since nearly day one of moving in.  We’ve looked for mold, dead pigeons in our ducts, had drywall replaced, windows sealed, etc…  It was really bewildering trying to figure out what was going on.  Additionally, there are health concerns, which we’ve experienced and which seem to be common among home owners in our situation.  They are troubling.  There are no long term studies that tell you what the implications are down the road.

It has been determined by multiple environmental services and builders, including Lennar and my builder that the only way to remedy the problem is to remove and replace the drywall and affected systems, which means everything on the inside of my house will have to be stripped out (think showers, cabinets, lighting, etc…).  We’ve just not had an offer to get that done. I’m not going to wait and willingly submit my family to that environment and hope that the people responsible do what’s right.  Hope isn’t a strategy.  So, I’m ready to help those responsible along.  If they do what’s right, then this will be over soon. If not, I’ll do what I have to do to take care of my family.  Say whatever you like about me.  But, if you mess with my family, we’re going to have problems.

Immediately with my builder, this affects residents of Palm Isle Estates, Augusta Greens, and Arbor Park in Keys Gate.  It also affects countless other residents throughout FL, AZ, LA, and other states.  This is a big, big issue.  If you want to know the scope of it, check Google news.

WHAT I’M DOING

• I secured legal counsel through the Mark Blumstein and Higer, Lichter, & Givner Law Firms.
• I contacted Mayor Lynda Bell on Saturday of last week to talk to her and let her know what I planned to do.  I value my community and the relationship I have with some great people in what I consider the best town on the earth.  We had a good talk about appropriate next steps.  I let her know this would be affecting a lot of her constituents.  Because I respect her and appreciate our friendship, I wanted to let her know what I was doing and what was coming.
• I consulted with some other pastors and people whose counsel I value since this situation will affect more than just my family.
• After much thought and counsel and without any reservation, we filed a class action law suit in Miami-Dade County Business Court on Tuesday against those responsible to recover losses that we unknowingly sustained from their negligence.

I wanted to share it with you in the event you have been dealing with this in your home here in Homestead, especially since SKCC built 819 homes in 2006 alone.  And, in the event you wanted to know why a pastor was engaged in a lawsuit, know that:

• I have worked to get this resolved for two and a half years.  I’ve decided to expedite the resolution, especially now that I know the potential health ramifications and how broad of an issue it is.
• I don’t play around with issues concerning my family.  My wife is the most gorgeous woman on the planet.  My kids are unbelievably precious to me. I’m protective of them.  I’m going to make sure they’re safe.  That’s my job as a dad and a husband.
• My home is my biggest investment.  It may now have become my biggest liability.
• There is no Scriptural prohibition against such action.  There is actually a mandate to watch against those who would steal form my home (Luke 24:43).  Further, as a pastor, I am told by Paul that if I cannot manage my home, I have no business managing the church (1 Timothy 3:5).

So, there you have it.  It’s out there.

Supporting articles:

South Florida Business Journal on the Lawsuit

VIDEO: WSVN – Channel 7 Article at Jason and Melissa’s House

New Inferno article

Miami Herald article

How am I reading the New Testament?

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

First, I am listening to the New Testament audio as I read.  It’s kind of neat because of the sound effects and various character voices.  I feel like I’m there.  I’m not taking notes or doing anything else.  I’m just reading and listening.

Then, I’m listening a second time.  As I’m listening, I’m blogging through my thoughts to share them with everyone.  They’re kind of long.  But, I’m going to leave my notes for later so that I can reference them in preparation for a message.  I’m also taking notes for my kids so they can read through my thoughts one day if they’d ever like to go back and find out what I was thinking as I was reading.  I want to pass on a legacy of faith in Jesus to them.  I think that one day when they’re older and are reflective…maybe even after I’m gone, this will be an anchor for them.

UNINTENDED BENEFIT OF BLOGGING MY READING?

Blogging through the Scriptures keeps me accountable to you.  I said I was going to do this in 63 days.  You will know if I’m making it or if I’m having troubles.  The takeaway for you?  How can you do some of these things without blogging?

• Invite someone to help you stay on task.
• Take your notes in a Moleskine journal (my favorite journal/notebook).  I’ve filled a ton of these.
• Write down special takeaways in the margins of your Bible.  The pages of your Bible are not sacred.  God’s Word in your heart is.
• Listen to the New Testament on your commute.  I emailed you a link to an online audio Bible.  I’ll be emailing out the downloadable mp3 files to you tomorrow that you can burn to CD or upload to your iPod.  Then, listen once and read once.  Listen to the Bible online can replace the talk radio you’re listening to on the way into the Grove, Hialeah, Brickell, Kendall, or the Beach.  If you have a one hour commute each way, you’d actually be able to listen to the entire New Testament in 11 days!  Subscribe to that email here.

What are some of the things you’re doing as you read through the New Testament?

Day 3 of 63: New Testament Challenge

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

MATTHEW 5-6

• The Sermon on the Mount is powerful.
• Jesus’ teaches The Beatitudes, being salt & light, the law, anger, adultery, divorce, making vows, revenge, loving your enemies, giving to the needy, prayer and fasting, how to pray, and money and possessions.
• The poetry of Jesus’ statements are powerful.
• He was completely counter-cultural.
• I see a different kind of leadership in Jesus than in many leaders I know.
• Some leaders put their finger in the wind to evaluate how to make a decision.
• Jesus teaches to change minds.
• Some leaders are consensus builders exclusively.
• Jesus is a mind changer.
• There are so many tough sayings in these passages.  Many people choose not to follow Jesus because of the words here in these pages.
• At the same time, this is “Inspirational Jesus.”  He’s a quote factory…who else do you know that has said so much in such a short span of time?!
• This is Jesus, the Good Teacher.  He loves us so much that He makes time to sit and teach us how and why.
• I’m thankful for this Jesus.

ACTS 7-9

• Stephen is being questioned by the High Priest after being accused  of “speaking against the Holy Temple and against the Law of Moses.”
• Stephen begins to tell the story of God’s deliverance and redemption through the life of Abraham, Moses.
• He told about how even though God’s people were delivered from bondage, they turned their hearts away from God to worship pagan gods.
• Stephen’s recounting of Israel’s deliverance and their turning away sounds so much like my heart.  It seems like at times when God blesses me, the more independent of Him I can be.  My heart is not to repeat cycles of drawing near to God and withdrawing from His presence….but to press in to Him.
• Stephen turns after giving this history lesson to the High Priest and makes an accusation about the hearts of the religious hypocrites who were trying him.
• When he shared the vision of Jesus, they killed him.  A young man named Saul looked on.
• Stephen died with the same heart of Jesus asking that their sin not be held against them.
• Persecution against the Church ran rampant and the Church was dispersed.
• The Gospel spread wildly as a result of this persecution.
• Miracles took place.
• A man named Simon the Sorcerer accepted Jesus and was baptized.
• Later, they prayed to receive the Holy Spirit’s baptism.
• Simon tried to buy the gift. Peter told him off.  Simon seems to have a repentant heart.
• Philip shares the Gospel message with an Ethiopian eunuch.  He’s converted and was baptized there on the spot.
• The eunuch was reading the Book of Isaiah…but not understanding it.
• I’m glad Philip shared Jesus with this man.  It is believed that this one man took the Gospel to Africa.
• Saul continues his persecution against the Christians and against Jesus.
• He has an intense experience with Jesus…so much so that he was blinded.
• Ananias had a vision about praying for Saul’s healing and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
• Saul begins preaching the Gospel boldly.
• The Jews and the Christians are incredibly confused.
• There were attempts on his life.  But, he escaped and tried to join the disciples.
• They didn’t want to receive him.  But, they couldn’t deny what God had done in him.
• The Church continued to grow.  The miraculous continued to happen, including Dorcas (a generous believer who helped the poor) being raised from the dead.

Day 2 of 63: New Testament Challenge

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

I read Matthew 3 & 4 and Acts 4-6 this morning.  I thought I’d wait to share my thoughts along with notes from our first NTC Life Group.  But, I’m at the end of the night and am ready to close it down.   So, I’m just going to journal some of my thoughts on my group.

THOUGHTS ON OUR NESTAMENT CHALLENGE LIFE GROUP

We jumped on into Matthew 5 & 6 tonight since everyone had already done their Day two readings.  We’ve got a great group.  It’s a mixture of people in our last group and new group members.  The vibe was great.  I learned some interesting stats about these guys.  Did you know that David Corrado’s middle name is “Van?”  Or that James Byron Huaman is named after James Byron Dean?  Roughly 25% of our group have no middle names.

Reading the Scriptures together was great.  It was really cool to read through a big chunk of the Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus delivered such a powerfully counter-cultural message.  The whole “You’ve heard it said…but, I say” poetry is powerful.  Jesus truly paints a new painting and offers a new path.

PRAYER NEEDS FROM MY GROUP

• Ela (we pray for Ela in every group…what an awesome friend)
• A house situation
• A group member is having migraines.
• A group member’s mom recently went into a nursing home at age 79.
• A group member’s dad is having kidney troubles.
• A group member’s brother has a house in foreclosure.
• A group member’s uncle has brain swelling.

I am looking forward to teh growth we’ll all experience together.  I can feel it happening…guys I’ve known for a while chomping at the bit to know more about Jesus.  How do I feel? Hopeful and excited.

My Favorite Thing about Sunday (Sunday Round-up)

• The Sunday Wrap-up of the Week goes to Chris Day for his recounting of my favorite part of the service during communion when we showed the names of the people we were praying would be saved by Jesus.
• The other great Sunday Wrap-ups that I’ve found were written by Phil, James, and Luci.
• MY FAVORITE PART: Last week, we gave people an opportunity to name people they were praying for to come to know Jesus.  Seeing the name on the theater screen was awesome.  Joining in together asking God to do the miraculous in their life was spectacular.
• See 18 people make decisions to follow Jesus was the BIG DEAL of the DAY.
  
• “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
• I’m also asking for BIG THINGS as I read through the New Testament.
• Here’s the reading schedule and my thoughts from our first 5 chapters.
• At the beginning of the year, I said this was the Year of the Apprentice at Life Pointe.  You’ve seen a lot of fresh faces on the forefront of what we do as a result.
• Yesterday, some of our new, frontline crew absolutely dominated.
• Matt “Z” and Kelly Downing both did amazing jobs.
• We don’t even get to see the breadth of what God is doing.  Beyond Sundays, there are some amazing growing leaders serving in significant ways.  This is a special moment in our timeline.
• New Testament Challenge is off to an amazing start!  I’m challenged.  I can feel God pushing into my life.  I welcome it.

New Testament Challenge: Day 1 of 63

For more information and resources on the New Testament Challenge, including the New Testament on mp3, click here.

This morning I read Matthew 1 & 2 and Acts 1-3.

• At the kickoff of this 63 day journey, I already sense a push back.  I am determined to let God work out some of the character flaws I wrestle with.
• Like I said yesterday, this isn’t just about reading through the New Testament.  This challenge is about transformation…about looking more like the revolutionary Jesus at the end of the 63 days.  I feel like a real scumbag as I compare myself with Jesus.  I’m expecting that God is going to do something significant in my life and I’m going to look more like Jesus today than I did yesterday.

MATTHEW 1 & 2

• There were 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus.
• Peppered in between were guys and gals like: King David and Rahab the Prostitute.
• Mary was an unwed pregnant teenager that got married to Joseph.
• Instead of marrying her, Joseph could have had her killed.
• “You are to name Him the name Jesus because He will save the world from its sins.”
• Jesus saves.
• Mary was special.  She must have been afraid.
• The fool says, “there is no God.”  But, wise men seek Him.
• Jesus was not born into privilege and opulence.
• He was born in a stable, in earthy conditions.  He did not separate Himself from me,  But, instead He was accessible and received people who were seeking Him.
• He was a man on the run.  Because Herod was trying to kill Him, his parents fled with Him to Egypt.
• Jesus was always on the fringes with people simultaneously seeking Him and trying to kill Him.

ACTS 1-3

• Men were looking for Jesus to equip us for an earthly Kingdom.
• Jesus said the Holy Spirit will equip you with power to reach people for a Kingdom that doesn’t make sense to men.
• Jesus ascends and will return in the same way he ascended.
• Peter said, “Judas was necessary.”
• One of the most graphic passages in the Bible is in Acts 1 where Judas commits suicide.
• The Holy Spirit came powerfully and a supernatural moment took place.
• This passage sparks a God/man interaction that I don’t understand but fully embrace.
• I choose not to accept only the Scriptures that make sense.  I choose to accept every piece of Scripture as life for my soul.
• I want to constantly seek the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to be a witness of Jesus.
• Peter’s Gospel message in Acts 2 was powerful.
• Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father!
• God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ.
• What should we do?  Repent and be baptized.
• The Acts 2 church was generous.
• The Acts 2 church was powerful.
• The Acts 2 church grew rapidly.
• Peter said “silver and gold have I none. And, God did miracles through the Church.”
• Today, it seems the church can say, “Silver and gold have I plenty.  Yet, the Church expects no miracles.”
• It is the name of Jesus and faith in Him that does the miraculous and changes lives.
• Jesus suffered so you could be forgiven.
• Jesus the Messiah was promised by the prophets…all of the prophets from Samuel on.

Read Through the New Testament with Me in the Next 63 Days

At Life Pointe, we just kicked off the New Testament Challenge, which is a challenge to read through the New Testament in the next 63 days.  We’re aligning our Sunday teaching and our life groups with the Challenge as well.  I think this is going to be an amazing period of growth in my life and in the life of our church.  Care to join me?

• It will take about 20 minutes per day.
• That’s less than 1% of your day.
• Can you think of a better use of this 1% than to read about Jesus of Nazareth?
• You’ll read approximately 130 verses per day.
• You’ll read 27 books by 9 authors who were inspired by the Holy Spirit as they wrote.

I’ll be sharing my experience daily.  Here’s the daily reading plan:

Day #1 –  Matthew 1-2, Acts 1-3

Day #2 –  Matthew 3-4, Acts 4-6

Day #3 –  Matthew 5-6, Acts 7-9

Day #4 – Matthew 7-8, Acts 10-12

Day #5 –  Matthew 9-10, Acts 13-15

Day #6 –  Matthew 11-12, Acts 16-18

Day #7 – Matthew 13-14, Acts 19-21

Day #8 – Matthew 15-16, Acts 22-24

Day #9 –  Matthew 17-18, Acts 25-27

Day #10 – Matthew 19-20, Acts 28

Day #11 – Matthew 21-22, Romans 1-3

Day #12 –  Matthew 23-24, Romans 4-6

Day #13 –  Matthew 25-26, Romans 7-9

Day #14 – Matthew 27-28, Romans 10-12

Day #15 –  Mark 1-2, Romans 13-15

Day #16 – Mark 3-4, Romans 16

Day #17 – Mark 5-6, 1 Corinthians 1-2

Day #18 – Mark 7-8, 1 Corinthians 3-4

Day #19 – Mark 9-10, 1 Corinthians 5-7

Day #20 – Mark 11-12, 1 Corinthians 8-10

Day #21 – Mark 13-14, 1 Corinthians 11-13

Day #22 – Mark 15-16, 1 Corinthians 14-16

Day #23 – Luke 1-2, 2 Corinthians 1-3

Day #24 – Luke 3, 2 Corinthians 4-6

Day #25 – Luke 4, 2 Corinthians 7-9

Day #26 – Luke 5, 2 Corinthians 10-11

Day #27 – Luke 6, 2 Corinthians 12-13

Day #28 – Luke 7, Galatians 1-3

Day #29 – Luke 8, Galatians 4-6

Day #30 – Luke 9, Ephesians 1-3

Day #31 – Luke 10, Ephesians 4-6

Day #32 – Luke 11, Philippians 1-2

Day #33 – Luke 12, Philippians 3-4

Day #34 – Luke 13, Colossians 1-2

Day #35 –  Luke 14, Colossians 3-4

Day #36 – Luke 15, 1 Thessalonians 1-3

Day #37 –  Luke 16, 1 Thessalonians 4-6

Day #38 –  Luke 17, 2 Thessalonians 1-3

Day #39 –  Luke 18, 1 Timothy 1-3

Day #40 – Luke 19, 1 Timothy 4-6

Day #41 – Luke 20, 2 Timothy 1-2

Day #42  – Luke 21, 2 Timothy 3-4

Day #43 – Luke 22, Titus 1-3

Day #44 – Luke 23, Philemon 1

Day #45 –  Luke 24, Hebrews 1-2

Day #46 – John 1-2, Hebrews 3-4

Day #47 – John 3-4, Hebrews 5-7

Day #48 – John 5-6, Hebrews 8-10

Day #49 – John 7-8, Hebrews 11-13

Day #50 – John 9-10, Hebrews 14-16

Day #51 – John 11-12, James 1-3

Day #52 – John 13-14, James 4-5

Day #53 – John 15-16, 1 Peter 1-2

Day #54 – John 17-18, 1 Peter 3-5

Day #55 – John 19-20, 2 Peter 1-3

Day #56 – 1 John 1-5

Day #57  – 2 John 1, 3 John 1, Jude 1

Day #58  – Revelation 1-4

Day #59  – Revelation 5-8

Day #60  – Revelation 9-12

Day #61  – Revelation 13-16

Day #62 – Revelation 16-19

Day #63 – Revelation 20-22