Color Conundrum

A few weeks ago a man asked if he could attend SouthPoint, the church I’m the pastor of. He didn’t ask me, he asked one of our members. He asked if it would be a place where he would be allowed to attend and worship. Now that might not seem the least bit odd to you, but it made me mad. It angered me on many levels.
Why would you have to ask if you were allowed to go to church? We live in the United States, the greatest country on the globe. Freedom rings! Each man is free to live within his constitutional rights. Right? Go to whatever church he chooses. Shop at whatever store he so desires. What could possible make a grown man in the Untied States ask the ridiculous question, “Can I go to your church?”
Did I mention I’m white? Did I mention that the man in my story is black? On top of that He’s married to a woman who is not the same color. She’s white. Can you believe it? I’m sure you’re thinking to yourself, ‘big deal. Racism is dead,’ but what resides deeper in your heart? For most people, on the surface, we tout ‘all men are created equal’, but under the thin veneer of humanity we find the residual affects of decades of mistrust, and fear that still lurk in the recesses of our hearts and souls.
This man and his wife visited a ‘white’ church (does that title make you cringe? It should). They were told after the service that there was another church in town where they would feel more comfortable because this church was not for them. They visited the other church. It was a ‘black’ church (does that title make you cringe? It should). After service they were told by one of the elders that this was not the right church for them, and perhaps they should try somewhere else.
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 10, tells us that race is no longer a dividing factor. In the Gospels Jesus modeled it. He preached to, and healed the Jews and the Samaritans. So call me crazy but if the Son of God does not divide based on color then why should we? We don’t struggle with race. That is, we don’t struggle with race until it comes to our house. Until we are confronted with it face to face. Many times, once we are confronted with it, we slip into our true default mode; racism. It doesn’t matter your color, racism is still a problem. Desoto County, for years has been bi-culture. Now with a greater influx of Latinos, are we going to draw more lines, or begin to wash away the partitions that have separated the great people of this area for centuries?
I’m hoping, praying, and believing that we will all take a cue from our master and savior and begin viewing the different cultures for their sameness instead of their differences. Realizing that no matter the hue of the epidermis, Desoto County is chocked full of incredibly gifted and talented people. The color of skin does not affect or have a weigh on the attitude of one’s heart.
I grew up in church singing a little kids song. The lyrics were: “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.” As a child, I never realized how profoundly world changing those little words really were.
As we begin to address the issues in our own hearts, we will in turn make our county a brighter, happier place. A place that our children can call home with their heads held high. Where the color of ones skin becomes convoluted in light of their gifts, talents, and character. I know that’s what I want for my children, and I know that’s what you want for yours.

Really Good Email

Here's an email I got from one of our members at SouthPoint today. I asked if I could post it and she said, "sure". I thought you would like it.

Today I am going to give my neighbor a dollar. It is not much but it is a huge step for me. Somewhere between college and moving to Mississippi I lost myself. I allowed fears and anxiety to control my life. Then I saw a sign, a very beautiful sign that read "SouthPoint".
Through God and the people of this great church I began to rediscover who I am in Christ and all the fears that plagued me are going away. So today I am going to give my neighbor (an actual real live person that I have to talk to) a dollar. We are having a neighborhood yard sale and the dollar is my contribution to the newspaper advertisement, and participating in the yard sale is my way of helping my neighborhood, and changing the lives of people is SouthPoint's contribution to this community.

Thank You,
Shauntele (Vina)

Easter Fun!

What an incredible day Easter was! It was incredible to see so many people flowing into our theatre.....It was neat to see people looking for a seat.......yea I like it! The whole day was full of energy, from the foyer (nice display of Peeps), the kids rooms (it was for sure party time), to the experience of #9. We even got to hear a blue grass song. Come on, how often, does that happen? It was awesome! The whole day was full of life!

One gentelmen, as he was leaving, said, "I feel so much better now than when I came, thank you for this!" Yea baby! We do life. We try not to suck it out of you. Another family came from Arkansas and said they loved it so much that they are willing to make the drive every week, and they would see us next week! Yea! Then there was the man who came that was 100% unchurched. Totally. For real. No I'm not kidding. After church he was so moved and touched he had to spend some time with one of our team members to bring it all in to focus.

By the way, if you were unaware, let me fill you in, GOD ROCKS! Church is fun, and I love it. Thank you to the volunteer team that made it all possible. Imagine, you set up tables, toys, and sound, and you get the soul saving jewel in your crown. It's not always easy work, but remember, we are storing up treasures in heaven. That is not an ancient concept, it is a Biblical Principle. Keep investing......it works.

Easter - Coming Soon To a Theatre Near you

Easter is the big show. The main event! Now some churches do huge spectacular plays or cantatas, and that is great. At SouthPoint we are doing a mammoth play. We will have live camels, donkeys and monkeys. Angels will fly in on Hollywood style rigging and a six foot tall bunny will deliver the easter message....wait.....I'm not sure that the Malco will allow us to have live donkeys, or monkeys. Okay, I guess we'll just stick to that same old life altering message that has impacted generations of people. Altered our world, and has outlasted Hitler, Musalini, and Stalin.
Every Sunday is a big event. It's one hour to change peoples lives. To introduce them to the creator of their very lives. To somehow, in our limited humanity, connect flesh to the supernatural. To connect this dichotomy in an eternal union that will change the very shape of our community. Wow! Now that's a tall order. Yet that is exactly what we do every Sunday. This Sunday is no exception. We are gonna have a rock'n time.

So shove a hundred Peeps in your mouth. Get a great sugar buzz, and then bring your peeps to SouthPoint this Sunday!

Lessons From Nacho

Recently a couple of my good friends John & Crystal borrowed my Nacho Libre' movie. Since I own it I guess you can tell that I really like it. I mean there are just some great one-liners that make me laugh.
We need to laugh more.
So they returned my movie with a bonus. They actually took time to write out a Top 10 list for Nacho Libre'. man I love these people. Here it goes:

10. Nacho is a "meaty" man.
9. Ramses has nothing on Apollo Creed. (this is a very true statement)
8. Corn-eating, chip-stealing, orphan hating, screams like a girl, scrawny guys make pretty good friends.
7. We are ALL scared of "stretchy pants."
6. Not for the lactose intolerant - too cheesy (Okay I liked it)
5. Refreshment ideas - toast & eagle egg juice. (mmmm. Yum!)
4. men's white boots go with anything.
3. We learned why we aren't Catholic and play with matches - candles are not our friends.
2. Bus ministry ideas for SouthPoint.
1. Is Vanilla Thunder really your wrestling name? (Actually it is.)

We live in the most beautiful county in the world! Okay, maybe that is a slight overstatement. But you have to admit, Desoto County is gorgeous! Trees in bloom, lovely sunshine, and refreshing rain. We have new people moving here daily to add to the glorious potpourri of culture that helps shape us into a gleaming example of the great American melting pot. Basically, I love this place. Can you tell?
So what could possibly make this chunk of American pie even more tasty? What could possibly add even more value to this great place we call home? We can find a great hint in an ancient document written by Matthew, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ. In the 21st chapter we get a literary glimpse of Jesus’ grand entrance into Jerusalem. He rides into town on an unbroken donkey. The people cheer and shout and lay palm branches down on the ground to show honor to the person they hoped would be their new king. Jerusalem has never been the same.
Palm Sunday is one of those days that reminds us that when Jesus comes in, things change. Nothing is left the same. Tables of rebellion are overturned, improper ideologies are withered, and the destitute are given another shot. And it all starts with an unbroken colt.
Do you ever feel like an unbroken colt? So many times we are unbroken. Disruptive. Unruly. Yet, when we allow Christ to sit in the saddle of our soul, we can be transformed into a catalyst for change in our community. We can make Desoto County a better place merely by allowing Christ to use us to bring change.
Imagine going to work knowing that you were bringing in the very presence of Christ; that you were solely responsible for the spiritual climate of your office. I know it sounds crazy. I also know that you’re reading this thinking, “No way. Not me. I’m not good enough. I have too many things to get in order first.” I wonder if the donkey was perfect. I wonder if the donkey smelled fresh and clean, or if it had ticks and fleas. What makes it so great is that the donkey was just that - a donkey. Nothing glamorous - nothing perfect.
If you had it all together, you wouldn’t need a Savior in the saddle, now would you? The very fact that you don’t have it all together, yet you can still usher in spiritual change, merely gives God that much more praise. It gives our Creator that much more glory, and that makes our county that much more beautiful. We are normal people, allowing Jesus Christ to use us as vehicles for His presence.

Simply My Favorite

I do believe that this Sunday was one of my favorites. Not because of anybody or anything.....simply one of my favorites. For starters the band blew my mind. They absolutely knocked it outta the park! Kicking it off with the U2 song was just too cool. I was a bit late getting into the theatre due to that pastoral talk I do.....and as I was headed in three different people stopped me and said, "Did you know we are doing a U2 song?" I just kinda grinned and said, "yea." They responded with a, "That is so cool! I love this place!"

Ah yes it's the little things that make us love something isn't it? I loved that three people gave Jesus permission to invade their hearts Sunday. (For those of you who speak only Christianeeze, that would be called, saved).

There were a myriad of little things that just made it a great Sunday. But probably near teh top of the list is for sure that i had fun! I came home and thought to myself, "Wow. Today was just flat out fun!" Maybe it was because we talked about lust and I got to say the 'other' 4 letter word all day. It was fun. Of course with all this talk about fun, I am just reminded that church-God-Jesus-The Holy Spirit-community-salvation-life transformation-connecting with God; is suppose to be FUN!
One of our wonderful ladies that comes to SouthPoint told me that she invited her nephew to come last Sunday. He replied with a a resounding, "NO! I know that it will be lame. It will be too long. It will be boring, and I will hate it!" Our wonderful lady said, "Well, honey you don't know that. I think you'll like it." Her nephew said, "I know I'll hate it. In fact I'll bet you 20 bucks I'll hate it." Our lovely lady said, "Honey that's a sucker bet, but you're on."
After this week our SouthPoint Aunt is 20 bucks richer. :) Her nephew had no qualms about telling his aunt that it was the coolest thing ever and he couldn't wait to come back next week. Ah yes, our children's teams rule the world!

So, Kudos to the band - Kudos to the foyer team - Kudos to the kid's team. I really like SouthPoint......I think I'm gonna make it my home church.

Going It Alone?

Do you ever feel like you are trudging through this valley and you're trying to get to the end? Trying to climb higher, trying to make it work, and no matter how hard you try, you feel like you are all alone? You know what I mean. i mean you feel like God is a million miles away not doing a single thing to help you along. If we're honest.....really honest......I think we could all say that we have been there before.

I think those times are part of all of our growing processes. We walk....God watches.

At least we think he's just watching.

He's not.

He's working on our behalf.

I was reading the other day in Numbers , adn I came across the story of Balaam. Now the whole Balaam story is thrown right in the middle of the children of Israel's Exodus from Egypt and their 40 year march through the wilderness. They're marching and then we get this story of Balaam who gets hired to curse the children of Israel. Now I'll save you the time of the whole flannel graph story and just recommend that you go read it for yourself. But my point is that the whole time the children of Israel were marching through the wilderness, perhaps thinking God was no where around, He was actually just over the mountain protecting them from curses and attacks.

The children of Israel were clueless as to what was going on. They were just marching in their misery, but God was on task.

I wonder how many times we are marching through life struggling. Asking for God's help. Struggling day in and day out. Even getting mad at God for "doing nothing" on our behalf. Thinking we are all alone on this journey. Maybe even thinking or feeling that God has forgotten where you are.

The encouraging thing is to know that even though we sometimes feel alone in the valley, God is just over the rise fighting for us. Turning those curses of the enemy into blessings from the throne room. I don't know about you, but for me, it's awesome to be reminded that God is not just around, He's practically working and maneuvering things in life to make sure that I'm blessed. My job is to merely stay on course. Don't waver. Don't stray. Stay the course.

Are You Happy?

Are you happy? Think about it. Are you? Have you thought to yourself, “God wants me to be happy.” If so then you would be instinctively wrong. The Bible doesn’t talk about us being happy. It does talk about us being joyful, and that joy is what gives us strength, but not happy. Happiness is a fleeting moment in time where things seem to align for a nanosecond before everything hits the fan again. You know, that moment where your child finally obeys the first time you tell them, or your boss smiles at you instead of yells at you. Those feel good moments that we seem to live for, yet rarely achieve.

The funny thing about happiness is that it is so fleeting and yet we attempt to control the circumstances in our lives to make ourselves happy. By the very nature of trying to control the situation, we become less happy than we were before. Control is an ugly monster that when it is fully unleashed, it makes us miserable, and everyone around us wary of us! We can’t manipulate or manufacture happiness. It’s too fleeting; a wisp of smoke, an afternoon breeze, a scent of a rose. As Americans we have become inundated with the idea of goal setting and goal achieving. So much so that we have adopted it almost as a theology instead of a practical application of good work sense. Goal achievement will make you happy. But it is fleeting.

Control is a messed up thing, because we allow it to eat up our own lives, then we turn it on others. We want to begin controlling how their life should be. You see it all the time. You see someone else judging someone for the way they act or respond to a situation, when in all truth we are clueless about what they have gone through. A perfect example is the other day I was talking to my buddy, and he was telling me about John who was a mutual acquaintance of ours. My buddy was telling me about how John was doing all sorts of things that were inappropriate. He went on and on. I finally stopped my buddy and said, “Hey, do you realize that John has had five step dads? All of them abusive. Some verbal, some physical, some sexual? Do you know that John has walked an incredibly long road just to be standing? Do you realize that John doesn’t need someone telling him how to live, he needs someone to show him how to live.”

Our jobs as followers of Christ are not to tell other people how to live. Or to control what they do, but have a relationship with them. Love them, and show them how to live. I know it’s not the easiest way. It’s much easier to stay on our high horses and bark orders than it is to climb down and get dirty. I guess that’s why Jesus spent very little time in the temple and all of his time with the people. Showing not just telling.

Get Outta the Box- Strecth Your Oikos

My wife and I use to live in a fifteen foot by thirty-foot house with our two year old in the Rain Forest in Honduras. To say it was cramped quarters would be the understatement of the century! The three of us in that tiny space was bad enough, but having to share it with the cockroaches, lizards, and other various rodents, was a bit much. The good thing about it though was that it forced us outside. Even though the temperatures in the summer reached well over a hundred degrees, we daily ventured out to work and play. I mean after all, who wants to stay in a sweatbox with lizards?

Every morning it was great to step outside and just stretch. It was an exhilarating experience to go from the confined space of that tiny house, to an open, panoramic landscape that seemed to stretch out into eternity. It was unfathomable.

To truly experience life; to genuinely live life to the fullest, we have to get out of our tiny mindsets and stretch ourselves. Reading a book helps, but engaging in a new situation or social sect is priceless. Isn’t it interesting that that is exactly what made the Gospel message spread? You can read in Acts. All the Christians were hanging out in Jerusalem. God had to allow persecution to come their way so they would scatter across the country and into other lands. That very persecution was the driving force behind the message of Christ reaching far away places so quickly. They just needed to get out of their boxes, and stretch their oikos.

Oikos is an Ancient Greek term, for family or sphere of influence. Those people that we feel so close to and comfortable with. We all have relationships that fit us like an old recliner. They’re awesome. We jones for them while we are at work, and we think about them when we’re separated. And that’s awesome. However, we’re not really stretching our arms. We’re not stepping out into the heat of the sun and encountering new people and situations. If we really desire to live an adventurous life, then eventually you have to disengage yourself from the familiar recliner and actually entertain the thought of sitting down in a different type of chair. No I don’t mean you have to leave those that you are the closest to, or the most comfortable with. However, I am saying that there comes a time when we need to spread our love and gifts with others besides just those that already know us.

When was the last time you shared the love of Christ with someone at the grocery store? How about pulling over to help a stranded person on the side of the road? When did you think to clothe a homeless person? Have you in the last week paid someone else’s debt? I know those all sound a bit far fetched, but really, isn’t that a valid part of this ‘following Christ’ walk? I think it’s time for everybody in Desoto County to take a hike! Or actually take a walk. Let’s get out of our comfort zones and walk through our communities. Stretching our arms in the wide open spaces and begin expanding our oikos. Who knows, we might just make this a better place to live.

A Rebel With a Cause

I'm in Florida for a think tank/planning meeting with a couple of organizations. I just sat and listened to a man who was in Northern Iraq with 17 other people. They were there as missionaries to share the Gospel message with the people there. They were all arrested. Fifteen of them were hung. Three released. This man was not just sharing a story with us. he was sharing a passion to reach the lost with a deep conviction and passion that I cannot even begin to explain. I listened, and realized that I only thought I was a Christ adventurer. This man not only takes his faith to the limit, he is changing lives every second of his existence.

I'm challenged.

Staying On Track

Isn't it awesome to know that God really is beside us? So many times we forget that simple but profound truth. We get so wrapped up in the issues of life: money, work, kids, money. (Yes I know I said money twice). All of these issues seem to not just be in our face, but right up in our grill. So close, that we forget to see the good things. It's like we can't see around the mortgage payment to see the blessing of having a home. So, we become so focused on making that mortgage payment that we become disgruntled at the idea of paying it so we can enjoy our home. Crazy huh?

Money is just one example, there are several, but I won't bore you with a generic list. Instead I want to remind you of what Paul the author of First Corinthians said. He wrote, "God Himself is right along side to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that." Yea baby! It is incredibly invigorating to know that God knows all of my junk, all of my problems, all of my anger, all of my, sins, all of my lying and cheating....and yet still He never gives up on me! He keeps me on track.

Sometimes when we have embarked on a 'spiritual adventure,' we forget that adventures are often full of perils. Things that are temporarily dangerous or disheartening. Right now you might be like the majority of the population and be concerned about certain areas of your life, but remember, it's an adventure. If there were no hardships, if there were no hurdles, if there were no difficult things to overcome, then you wouldn't have anything to tell your grandchildren. Life would be boring, and mediocre at best. Adventure, albeit not always easy, does indeed make life fun in the long run. That is, if we remember that God is beside us, and we will not fail. It's reassuring to know that the creator of the universe is actually beside me making sure that I stay on track. That I will indeed, not just make my mortgage payment, but that I will enjoy an adventurous life.

Now you can be hard nose if you want and say, "God is more interested in me toeing the line than He is in me enjoying life!" Well yea, we need to work on being obedient, but if you look in the Bible you realize that God knew well in advance that we were going to mess up. That's why there is grace. He knew we couldn't toe the line or cut the mustard (pick your colloquialism), that's why He is merciful. God is so interested in us enjoying life that he did everything for us so that we could. We just need to accept the sacrificial gift of Christ and step into the adventurous blessed life. It's not always easy, it's not always joyful, but it is always an adventure.

More Peeps!

Ain't God grand?! This Sunday was our second newcomers and we had 65 people show up! holy cow how cool! I love it when our volunteer base grows! It's wonderful to see God blessing SouthPoint! If you'd like to see pics of our fun at McAllister's, click on the pic banner to the right and check em' out.

New Wine Skins?

In one of Jesus’ many arguments with the Pharisees, Jesus throws out this kinda strange remark about not putting new wine in old wine skins, or not sewing a new patch on an old garment. When you look at the context of the passage you think, “Wow, Jesus was like schitzo! That makes no sense.” But then you [I] realize that he makes perfectly good sense. He has argued with the Pharisees so many times that he is slightly exasperated. It’s like he says, “Ya know these guys are never gonna get it. They are too stuck in their old mindsets.” They [Pharisees] wanted the Messiah. They wanted new fangled things. New spiritual insights, but they wanted them to fit into their mental and theological boxes.

Don’t you find it interesting that we read the passage in Isaiah where God said, “I’m doing a new thing….” And we jump on the soap box and talk about embracing the freshness of the Good News, and all the new things that God is doing……..as long as it fits into our current structure of beliefs. Don’t believe me? Really? Think about it…….Go on, think for just a second. How often do you purposefully hang out with and spend time with people of other belief structures than you? I’m not talking Muslim and Buddhists. Let’s start with easy ones……..If you’re Baptist, how often do you purposefully hang out with Methodists? If you’re Pentecostal how often do you hang out with Catholics?

Let me shock you a bit…….If all we ever do is hang out with people of our own makeup [spiritual belief structures] then how do we grow? How do we learn? How do we become bigger, better, and stronger? Of course if you go into all of these relationships in order to force change in their thinking then you will never learn anything, nor grow. But when we go into it not to change the other, but to actually engage in a meaningful dialogue then two things happen: We become more aware of what we believe, and our spiritual ‘tank’ is enlarged through compassion and understanding for the other.

Let’s be honest, as long as you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal savior, then we should be able to call each other brother. That’s easy to say, hard to walk out. In Proverbs we are told that iron sharpens iron. Last time I checked that is not a feel good situation. But if I want to sharpen my leadership skills, if I want to grow, if I want to be able to receive the new things of God then it might just get uncomfortable for me. I might have to endure some things that are just not easy. I think it’s time for “mature” Christians to grow up and enlarge their borders. Allow themselves to be sharpened and challenged. Be around others that are…….well……..different. Who knows, we might just learn something. Our boxes of theological oddities might begin to dissolve. We might just be able to receive some new wine, in some new wine skins.

Ministry Musings

Our first Newcomers was a huge success! We had just shy of 100 people show up at McAllister's. Wow! I was yelling over everybody and I'm not sure if the people in the back heard a word I said, but it was a phenomenal turn out, and time together. It was so nice to actually get to talk to people and say more than, :"Welcome to SouthPoint."

The team has been working their fingers to the bone and the results have shown. [no I was not planning o that rhyming.] Some of our team members have still not even been in the main service once. They have sacrificially given and given. They have worked to make it a memorable experience for others. AND it's working! We have had just under 30 people get saved since we've started. Now is that crazy cool or what? I saw the above picture on Flickr and it arrested my attention. The fact that I didn't take the picture amazed me. Also that i didn't even know the picture was being taken, and I'm not in the picture. No I'm not some ego-maniac, I'm merely saying that it is so awesome that all this stuff goes on without a hitch b/c we have the greatest team in the world. Trailers get unloaded, people get saved, lives are transformed, a community is given hope, and God gets the credit! YEA GOD!

So now we step into our influential roles in the community. We're here, now what? Now we influence. We change the culture of our community, not by pointing out flaws......any moron can do that.....but by living Life. I mean living life in a Life-giving way. See it's like this, obedience to God is great, but for leaders that's not enough. Leaders need to obey, and influence others in a godly way. Leadership is not a plaque on the wall, or a name plate on your desk. Leadership is not a backstage pass, or company car. leadership is not the corner office, or even the infamous title that goes with it. Leadership is influence. Influencing others is what Jesus did. It's what Moses did. Wait let's do a random list of influencers: Abraham, Isaac, Jonah, Nahum, Nehemia, Rudolph Guiliani, Adoni Bezek, Saul, David, Solomon, Nathan, Deborah, Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Samson, Gideon, and the list goes on and on. All of the above are leaders. And all of the above are influencers.

So what now?
Influence.
It's not dragging people. It's not debating people.
Influence.
Just live the life of Christ. Share truth. Share love.
Influence.
Trust God. Trust the Holy Spirit that's in you.
Influence.

Desoto Appeal Article

A newspaper team came to service Sunday, and I woke up with my ugly face on the front page of the paper. Wow! Memphians must be scared today! :)

Check out the article here: http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/local
/article/0,2845,MCA_25340_5345441,00.html

Bread, TP, and Jesus

What does sliced bread, toilet paper, and Christianity all have in common? At first glance you laugh, and then you’re slightly offended that those three things are even compared. We climb up on our high horse and say, “How dare you compare Christianity to toilet paper!” We go off on a tirade and tell everyone we know how horrible that comparison is. Of course if you do that, you would only be helping me make my point that much stronger.

Sliced bread, toilet paper, and Christianity are all practical things, things that are used on a regular bases. (I know Christianity is lived not used, so take a deep breath and follow my analogy for a moment.) We use items everyday and they become a natural part of our lives. Yet some how Christianity, Jesus Christ, is something so special we only experience it on Sunday morning. Like fine China, or mom’s good silver. Is that really how Jesus is supposed to be taken? Did he really do all that he did to only be experienced once a week, maybe twice? Last time I checked the bible it talked about Jesus being a life change not just an addition. We are not supposed to make the Christ and addendum in our lives, but an integral part of everything we live and do.

Living for Christ is truly a life change decision that not only changes our schedules on Sunday morning, but should inevitably impact every area of our existence.

The latest Article

Check out the link here for the latest article about SouthPoint that was in this Saturdays paper.

http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2007/01/29/news/news05.txt

Have You Thought About it?

Working with people is the most invigorating thing I have ever done. It is so cool to watch people step into different roles and stretch their abilities and talents to serve the Kingdom of God. It is truly one of the things in life that puts a smile on my face. Of course the counter to that is seeing people at the wall. That wall of, "If I go forward I will have to change. I will have to face difficult things, and I will have to change some of my thinking. Or, if I am not willing to change, then I must stay where I am: Socially, Emotionally, Economically, and Spiritually."

We are all given a choice. A choice to move on or stay the same. See I have this firm belief that leaders are not born, but are raised up. God makes leaders, it's just up to each individual to overcome certain "walls" in their lives and grow into that leadership role. Yes, for some it may be harder than for others, but never impossible. Each person is loaded with potential. Loaded with gifts, talents, and skills that God wants to use in the Kingdom of God, we just have to make the choice.

"That's Easy! Of course I wanna move forward and upward." Did I mention that to do that we many times have to let go of old mindsets? Let go of old thinking? The problem with old mindsets is that we don't realize that they are old mindsets, they're just our thoughts. That's why the bible says we need a vision. It says in Proverbs that without a vision the people perish. We have to get a vision for the things on the OTHERSIDE of the wall. It doesn't come by guessing, it comes by tapping into God and allowing him to open our minds and hearts enough to dream......Dream into a vision......Vision into a climbing expedition to get over that wall.

You can do it.
Lay down the extra heavy thoughts.
Open up your mind.
Get a dream.
Get a vision.
Let's climb.
I believe that God has some awesome things on the other side of the wall for all of us.

Day in the Life.

Well, our first official service seems like a distant memory. I can barely remember.....NOT! This week has been filled with awesome phone calls and meetings with awesome people. Everyone I talk to seem so excited about this new style of church. The adjective I've heard the most is. "Fresh." Now I know we get in trouble if we just start believing our own press, but it is reassuring to know that people do think our services are fresh. I mean after all that is one thing we strove to accomplish, a fresh [new] way to do church.

I read in a book the other day [I'm a book junkie] that even the deepest rooted traditions in the church started out as a revolutionary idea. That made me think. Thinking is good. That means if we are not careful the very things we find being cutting edge-revolutionary today, holds the potential to be a deep rooted sacred cow in 20 years. Yuck! Could you imagine our kids telling their kids, "No we do it that way b/c that's how it has always been done! You have to put the words on the screen, we cannot read them out of a book!" Funny huh?

I think one of the challenges is continuing to keep services fresh and in tune with what God is doing today. Not yesterday, and not even tomorrow. We can also be in danger of trying to be the 'future' church. well, the problem with that is that we would be so future that we wouldn't be relevant to today. Yea, I think God is really in to relating today.

It Worked!

Tons of planning.....hours of prayer......lots of people joining with us and supporting us.....and it worked! Today we launched SouthPoint! It was an incredible experience. Our team preformed flawlessly. Things were set up without a hitch, they were broken down and loaded up in time, and on top of all that, we still had time to pull off one incredible service. I can't just tell you how awesome it was, you would almost have to experience it. Everyone that came was so friendly and nice it was great! Ya know it's awesome that SouthPoint has so many people in our corner. My phone started ringing at 6AM this morning with people calling to tell me they were praying for us and thinking of us. Three churches interrupted their services to pray for us! Tree of Life in Naples, FL., Mosaic, in Charlotte, NC., and The Life Church in Atlanta, GA. How awesome is it that other churches are supporting us, and then on top of that we have the support of ARC! [if you don't know ARC then go to our website and find out.]

I'm looking forward to this coming Sunday to just see what God is gonna do. He definitely rocked the house today!

Our Band:
Patti - Lead vocals
Marco - Lead guitar/vocals
Sara - Vocals
Tyson - Bass guitar
Matt - Drums
Camaron - Keyboard
Allister - Electric guitar

Attendance: 173
Re-committed their lives to Christ: 6

HERE WE GO!

We've been building a team to launch a church.....now:
3
2
1
HERE WE GO!

The stuff is in place. The relationships have been formed, and the equipment has been purchased. We've put out signs, bought ads, talked until we are talked out. Now, all that work will reap dividends! I am so excited to be serving with all of you. You are the greatest team on planet earth and I know that God has Great and awesome things in store for SouthPoint! This Sunday is gonna rock our worlds, and it's going to rock the enemies world as well, but in a totally different way!

Whatever you do, make sure that this Sunday you have fun! Enjoy every moment. Enjoy every smile, frown, giggle, and chuckle. Our first Sunday only happens once. Many times we are so excited to look forward to the next new thing that we often miss the moment. The moment that we worked for. The moment. Just the moment. So this Sunday, enjoy. Enjoy the new friends you will meet. Enjoy the people. Enjoy the smells, the sights, and the touches. It will only happen once. It can't be repeated, or duplicated. It is a one time event that will change our lives forever.

I look forward to living it with each and everyone of you!

Phenomenal Give Back!

Phenomenal is the right word for our gas give away! It was simply spectacular. The workers at the gas station were wonderful and friendly and the people from the community were blown away. They couldn't believe that a church would simply give gas away! No strings, no catches, no surveys to fill out, no sinners prayer being said. Simply a church giving back to the community. The smiles on peoples faces, and the excitement in their voices was so much fun. I mean seriously, let's be honest, it was only ten bucks a car. In the scheme of life that is but a small drop in the bucket. But I think it was just the fact that we were giving something free. No strings. No catches.

One guy that pulled up asked, What's the catch?" I replied, "No catch, just free gas." He said, "Oh come on nothings free!" I said, "Well, normally that's true, but today, gas is free." He smiled really big and said, "Wow, now that's' cool."

Isn't it just flat out fun to make people smile? To share the love of Christ with them in a practical way is just easy and fun! Wow! I know everyone that volunteered to stand out in the rain and hold signs, and to pump gas will honestly say it was worth it. Daniel [team member] said that it was the best time he had in a long time. Dawn [team member] said that she had a blast! Trevor, Wendy, and Ida were the bombs standing out on the road with a sign in one hand and an umbrella in the other.....YOU GO TEAM!

In case you were un aware, SouthPoint has the GREATEST TEAM EVER! You guys ROCK my face off!

Team Members Present:

Cory
Lee
Craig
Daniel
Mike
Jenna
Ida
Trevor
Robin
Wendy
Dawn

GO TEAM!

I Got Gas

With our first practice service behind us [barely], we look forward to this coming weekend. It's not just another practice service on Sunday, oh no it is that plus more!

We have partnered with Schnuks gas station and are giving away free gas! Are we crazy or what? Yea I know, we are. But absurdity aside, this Saturday is gonna be off the charts fun! How many churches do you know of that just allow people to pull up and get $10 free gas? no surveys, no questionnaires, no 10 steps to salvation, not even a prayer! Just a simple, "Hey Thanks for being a part of our community!"

So this Saturday in Southaven on Goodman road, we will be giving away GAS! It all begins at 10PM unless you are a member of the SouthPoint team and then you need to be there at 9AM so we can get organized.

First Practice Service

Simply astounding! When you bring a team of 40 people together to unload a trailer they have never seen, unpack equipment they have never seen, and to set up in a theatre that few had seen.....you expect certain moments of utter diaster however, we had none! Everything went excellent! I have decided that SouthPoint has a team of the most gifted leaders ever. Now if you're on the team and you say, "I'm not a leader just a worker." WRONG! Everybody on the SouthPoint team is an increbily creative leader. I am humbled by the fact that everyone is following this idea.....this growing passion. A passion to make a difference. A concept of being part of a community that strives to be activly involved in their surroundings. Not running from darkness, but facing it as a soldier.

Let me simply throw out a million kudos to the SouthPoint team! I am stoked to serve side by side with you guys.

Click on the Flickr side bar to view more pictures of our first Sunday in the Malco.

It fit!

Yesterday we pulled out all the stuff we bought for the church. It was a ton! The whole time I kept thinking, "it ain't gonna fit! It ain't gonna fit!" Some ladies organized all the bins. Labeled everything, and got it all divided up into the children's bins. [Hey did I mention we have a thump'n sound system?] Anyway, we worked all day and finally got everything organized and crammed into our 32' trailer.
When we bought the trailer i thought, "Wow that's huge!" Then we accumulated all of our gear and I thought, "Wow, I hope this trailer is big enough." But it all fit and all is good. Today we get to hook up the sound system and plug our rock'n band into it for the first time. YEA BABY!
We also got our mailer in. Question.......have you ever seen 43,000 pieces of mail? I haven't. It filled the back of my pickup, and was stacked up to the top of the cab. That my friend is ALOT of mail!
Also today we start our fast. [did i mention there is alot going on right now?]
We are fasting for the next 14 days. We need God. Like it says in Proverbs 21, do everything you can, prepare for every bad thing, and then you still have to step back and trust God to bring the victory. With out The presence of God everything is just......well.....its just stuff. It takes God to change lives, and that is what we're after; Changed lives.
So whether you are a part of the Southpoint team or not, join us in prayer for this exciting launch of a brand new church in Desoto county! It's now only days away!
January 21! Wow, that's close.

Fasting tips and helps

Since we are beginning our fast this Saturday I thought it would be good to post some tips and helps on fasting. These are copied directly from billbright.com/ and are very good. You can also go to his websight and gleen other useful information there if your would like. But I thought this would give us all something to chew on for a while.....yes pun intended.

How you begin and conduct your fast will largely determine your success. By following these seven basic steps to fasting, you will make your time with the Lord more meaningful and spiritually rewarding.

STEP 1: Set Your Objective

Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual renewal, for guidance, for healing, for the resolution of problems, for special grace to handle a difficult situation? Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify His leading and objectives for your prayer fast. This will enable you to pray more specifically and strategically.

Through fasting and prayer we humble ourselves before God so the Holy Spirit will stir our souls, awaken our churches, and heal our land according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Make this a priority in your fasting.

STEP 2: Make Your Commitment

Pray about the kind of fast you should undertake. Jesus implied that all of His followers should fast (Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14,15) For Him it was a matter of when believers would fast, not if they would do it. Before you fast, decide the following up front:

How long you will fast - one meal, one day, a week, several weeks, forty days (Beginners should start slowly, building up to longer fasts.)
The type of fast God wants you to undertake (such as water only, or water and juices; what kinds of juices you will drink and how often)
What physical or social activities you will restrict
How much time each day you will devote to prayer and God's Word
Making these commitments ahead of time will help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and life's pressures tempt you to abandon it.

STEP 3: Prepare Yourself Spiritually

The very foundation of fasting and prayer is repentance. Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayers. Here are several things you can do to prepare your heart:

Ask God to help you make a comprehensive list of your sins.
Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit calls to your remembrance and accept God's forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3,4).
Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you.
Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit according to His command in Ephesians 5:18 and His promise in 1 John 5:14,15.
Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master; refuse to obey your worldly nature (Romans 12:1,2).
Meditate on the attributes of God, His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others (Psalm 48:9,10; 103:1-8, 11-13).
Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart (Hebrews 11:6).
Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit (Galatians 5:16,17).

STEP 4: Prepare Yourself Physically

Fasting requires reasonable precautions. Consult your physician first, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic ailment. Some persons should never fast without professional supervision.

Physical preparation makes the drastic change in your eating routine a little easier so that you can turn your full attention to the Lord in prayer.

Do not rush into your fast.
Prepare your body. Eat smaller meals before starting a fast. Avoid high-fat and sugary foods.
Eat raw fruit and vegetables for two days before starting a fast.
Your time of fasting and prayer has come. You are abstaining from all solid foods and have begun to seek the Lord. Here are some helpful suggestions to consider:



Avoid drugs, even natural herbal drugs and homeopathic remedies. Medication should be withdrawn only with your physician's supervision.
Limit your activity.
Exercise only moderately. Walk one to three miles each day if convenient and comfortable.
Rest as much as your schedule will permit.
Prepare yourself for temporary mental discomforts, such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety.
Expect some physical discomforts, especially on the second day. You may have fleeting hunger pains, dizziness, or the "blahs." Withdrawal from caffeine and sugar may cause headaches. Physical annoyances may also include weakness, tiredness, or sleeplessness.
The first two or three days are usually the hardest. As you continue to fast, you will likely experience a sense of well-being both physically and spiritually. However, should you feel hunger pains, increase your liquid intake.

STEP 5: Put Yourself on a Schedule

For maximum spiritual benefit, set aside ample time to be alone with the Lord. Listen for His leading. The more time you spend with Him, the more meaningful your fast will be.

Morning

Begin your day in praise and worship.
Read and meditate on God's Word, preferably on your knees.
Invite the Holy Spirit to work in you to will and to do His good pleasure according to Philippians 2:13.
Invite God to use you. Ask Him to show you how to influence your world, your family, your church, your community, your country, and beyond.
Pray for His vision for your life and empowerment to do His will.
Noon

Return to prayer and God's Word.
Take a short prayer walk.
Spend time in intercessory prayer for your community's and nation's leaders, for the world's unreached millions, for your family or special needs.
Evening

Get alone for an unhurried time of "seeking His face."
If others are fasting with you, meet together for prayer.
Avoid television or any other distraction that may dampen your spiritual focus.
When possible, begin and end each day on your knees with your spouse for a brief time of praise and thanksgiving to God. Longer periods of time with our Lord in prayer and study of His Word are often better spent alone.

Next Phase

It’s Christmas morning and I’m still pondering the impact of our last Preview service. It was Saturday night and we had a great Christmas gathering. It was also our last preview meeting in our home. Wow! This coming Sunday is New Years Eve and we are doing “Party With a Purpose.” Then the 7th is our first practice service in the movie theatre. Yea that’s the schedule but its neat to see us move into the next phase of this church plant. We had a lot of people gone for the holiday weekend and still had a room full of people. I remember when it was just me and a couple of people only a few months ago. Now…..When we ALL gather, we no longer fit. Nice.

Each phase of planting is so different and I’m really enjoying each step. Each step is planned, yet full of surprises. It never goes exactly like we plan, but it always ends up with God’s hand in it. I like the last verse of Proverbs chapter 21. In the Message it says,

“Do all you can, prepare for the worst, and trust God to bring the victory.”

Yea now that’s what I’m talking about! So here we are. A church plant that is moving from one venue to the next. A church plant that is moving from “building a team, to launch a church.” To “Working the Team Make a Church.”

Yup next phase. It’s time to kick it into 4 low and climb the mountain that’s before us. I hope everyone has a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Oh by the way……Launch team…….We start our fast on January 6th. Eat well this Christmas.

Be inspired

I can't believe it has been so long since I've blogged. I enjoy it so much it's wierd that it's been so long. You can probably tell though that I've been slightly busy. Okay, Xtremely busy. But in the busyness I've been having a blast.

The other day I was listening to a podcast and I heard about this guy named Kevin Caroll. He was inspiring. And then he told about a book he wrote called, "Rules of the Red Rubber Ball." I bought it.



It is not like any other book I've read. You can sit and read the whole thing in about 20 minutes, but it will take you months to digest it. It is one of the most inspiring books I've ever read. The podcast is even more inspiring. Check it out at Catalyst on itunes.

So if you get a chance to read a little book in the next few weeks, give the red rubber ball a go!

Our Mailer

Check out our cool mailer that will be going to print soon. Leave a comment. Tell me what you think!

Committed

The summer of 1999 I found myself in the Central American Rain Forest climbing an indistinguishable mountain in 100+ temperatures. It s was tough. But I had with me some of my closest friends, and a trusty Honduran guide. It was an adventure that I will never forget. Although we were all panting, sweating, scratching, and mosquito slapping, we were having a blast. The friendship and the adventure ahead motivated us through the tough parts.

This week in Bible study we have been covering Matthew chapter 5. As I read it I was captured by one simple statement. Now before I tell you, let me preface it by saying that I read it in the Message translation. So if you are from certain parts of the U.S. of A and belong to a certain undisclosed denomination, you will immediately discount me as a Bible believer. If this is the case then you really have not read my previous posts now have you? So anyway, I read in the Message translation in Matthew 5:2

“the committed climbed with him.”

WOW! That statement is as strong as 10 acres of garlic! Think about it. Jesus was climbing the mountain to a secluded place. We know he was gonna give the great diatribe that we now call the beatitudes. But if you wanted to hear the deep nuggets of truth you had to be committed. He didn’t speak in parables on the mountain [one of the few times that he did not], but he spoke plainly. But you had to be committed to hear it.

As I am climbing this mountain of church panting I find that it is not always easy. Wait…….it is NEVER easy! In fact this is the hardest I have worked, in my entire life. I have invested every ounce of every thing I have in this puppy. And When I look around I smile. I smile b/c God has entrusted me with a team of INCREDIBLE people that are committed, and the committed climb with me. NO I’m not saying I’m Jesus Christ! There is no red Kool-Aid, and there is no compound, just a growing group of top-notch people that have committed themselves to making a difference.

Anybody can follow.

Any moron can follow somebody else, that’s easy. Give me a break! I mean my 2 year old can follow me down the street, but he can’t climb…..not yet.

Climbing takes skill.
Climbing takes dedication.
Climbing takes patience.
Climbing takes desire.
Climbing takes commitment.

Don’t tell me who you are following. Tell me if you’re climbing.

Same Story Different Year

It seems like every year when the holidays role around, things get exponentially more busy. Is it just me or does it seem like work stays the same, yet life seems busier? How many holiday parties do we really need? Wait I’m sorry was I supposed to say Christmas parties, or can I say holiday parties? Maybe that’s part of the added stress too, we have to now have the proper word usage for things that happen in December.

I know, Christians freak out when anybody says “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” But what do you say when it’s not Christmas and you really are in the holiday season? I mean if it is in between Thanksgiving and Christmas and a store clerk says, “Happy Holidays” do we go pick up our picket sign and beat them over the head with it in a truly Christian manner? Or is it possible, slightly plausible that there truly is a HOLLIDAY time and then there is a CHRISTSMAS day? I know and believe that Christmas is Christ’s B-Day and it should be celebrated like that, but rarely do we begin celebrating our children’s B-Days a month out now do we? So I guess the point [yes I do have a point] to all of this is could it be plausible that we could reduce our Christmas/holiday/winter solstice season, if we would just put down our defensive attitudes and enjoy? Enjoy life – enjoy the falling leaves – enjoy the smell of peppermint, pine cones, and egg nog – savor the moment. Don’t make everything a fight. Don’t make everything your soap box. Just enjoy.

Mary could have easily picked up a picket sign and picketed every Inn in Bethlehem and talked about the legal housing act of 10 BC. But she didn’t. I think she humbly sat in that stable holding her new baby and simply enjoying the sweet moment in time where everything was okay.

Look around today, What can you enjoy? Don’t count the number of “Holiday” signs in direct comparison to “Christmas” signs, just enjoy the moment. The moment when everything is okay.

Thankful

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and it was great. We spent the day with Patti's family in Huntsville, AL and we really had a great time. While we ate, my niece handed out pieces of paper that said, "I'm thankful for..." and then we were all told that we were suppose to write down what we were thankful for. It was cool. We all read them out loud, and when it came around to Patti she said, "I'm thankful for the adventure." That made my wheels turn. Life was created to be an adventure. Full of surprises, full of action, and full of heart thumping fun. Of course, the mundane can never be mistaken for adventure. Check out this scripture:

1 Corinthians 1:7-9 (The Message)
7-9Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.

Many people are on an adventure, but rarely stop in the middle of the adventure and give thanks. We are too preoccupied by the need, or the hunger, or the danger, or the adversity. But really aren't those things the very essence of an adventure? Without danger, adventure could not exist. Without adversity could there really be an effectual fervent prayer?

So, I have to stop this year and look at the adventure I'm in and say thank GOD! Thank you for the problems. Thank you for lack, thank you for situations that are yet to be resolved, and thank you for making life an adventure! If we stop in the middle and say thank you, then we might just enjoy the journey a little more.

WELCOME Natalie Grace Brechin!!

Let us all welcome Natalie Grace Brechin! She was born on Monday, November 20, 2006. She weighed in at 8lbs, 3 oz; and is 21 inches long.
Mom (Becki) and Natalie are doing great! Please pray for an easy transition home. Brian is going to be able to spend some time home from work helping them all adjust! Sam, Isaac, and Abby are very proud of their new little sister!

Transition Fun

Change is kind of something I thrive on. I love it. I get the feeling sometimes if we don't have change then we are stagnant and BLAH! So I'm sure you realize that right now I'm kinda liking the life thing. I mean it is daily something new. New circumstances, new people, new adventures. It is challenging and yet, at the same time, totally invigorating. The other day i was lamenting to God in one of my bi-polar Davidic states [yea I think David was the first bi-polar person. Read the Psalms, they are full of ups and downs.] {BTW, don't email me and get serious about the bi-polar comment and King David. It was a joke. If you don't get it then you are probably reading the wrong Blog}, that I needed this, and I needed that. Whah whah whah. The great thing is that a week later I'm witnessing God answering the prayers! It just blows my mind how God can take a desperate situation and turn it around to be glorious! Why would anybody want to go through life without God?

I've heard sermons preached on why good things happen to bad people and why bad things happen to good people, and those are great messages that we need to know and have under our belt, but i tell you what.....God has just been totally awesome to me, my family, and SouthPoint!

Right now at SouthPoint we are in the midst of a transition time. We have been meeting on Sunday nights gathering a team and growing a team. Now we are entering the phase of plugging these people into some specific spots on the team. Tonight different people are talking giving the lay of the land and what each area will look like. I'm really excited about people getting truly plugged in to an area and gaining ownership in those areas.

I was impressed yesterday about how vital this team is to the advancing of the Kingdom. I'm sure each person has no idea how important they are. Individually we are mere people. But together we are a force to be reckoned. Each working in their area, to accomplish an overall goal, that is bigger than any of us. I might be the head coach, but without a team, I'm just a guy standing there with a clipboard.

Stuff.....Just Stuff

That's exactly what I have to do.....Stuff. I say stuff b/c at this point it is not all people work, ya know, ministry. It's stuff. Stuff that has to be done. Stuff that needs to be done, but nonetheless, stuff. Everyday, as I am so aptly reminded by different members of my team, how close we are to launching SouthPoint, the weight of things to be done seems to grow a wee-bit heavier. It's not that I hate it or even am disgruntled about it, it's just stuff. Calling this person about an ad, making this thing to go in this room. Preparing a talk, or preparing a blah blah blah! Stuff.

And then I read things like, "My burden is light." I wonder if that is for normal life but not church planting? Maybe parts of scripture only work for parts of life and they are not all inclusive. Ya know like maybe, : "Thou shalt not lie." Only applies to times when you are not being pulled over by the police and asked, "Do you know how fast you were going?"

That might actually make life a little easier. We would only have to do things when it was more comforable or easy.

Of course, that would mean God could be conditional too. Ya know like, "Hey God, can you hook a brother up with a little money to buy groceries for my kids? Your word says, 'I've never seen your seed out begging for bread.' I'm your seed and I might need to beg."
"Sorry, not in the mood. Go beg." God.

Yea after all that might not work out so well.

So I guess in the midst of stuff. Alot of stuff. I have to step into the 'easy' thing. i guess I'm learning more and more to trust Him and lean on Him in the middle of the stuff. I GUESS it's not really trust until it is crazy and I have to make the choice to either try it myself, or step back and trust God.

Yea, trusting God might really be a good thing, Huh?

Missionary Style

When I was packing up my life to move to Honduras, I had a myriad of thoughts and ideas. I had been on about 15 short term missions trips before. I was no neophyte when it came to being oversees, but this was the first time I was going to be living there. For months on end. I had a project. I had a village, and I had a budget. not to mention, I had a family [my family] going with me. I really wasn't scared as much as I was stoked. I was so excited I could hardly stand it. Looking back now, it amazes me how my entire mindset was to share the gospel with people. My actual job was to over see the building of a medical clinic up in the mountainous rain forest, but my passion was talking to people about Christ, setting them free from the bondage of rules and regulations and ushering them into a free relationship with Jesus. Everybody I met was my target, including those on the construction site.

What I have realized is that it is not an occupation, as much as it is a mindset. It's a 'missional' mindset. As church planters here in the grand US of A we need to be "missionally" minded. Everyday we realize that we have a higher mission than just paying our bills. Think about it.....seriously......the average american Christian goes to church on Sunday morning and then Monday through Saurday they live their lives - never sharing with others, never helping the needy, never getting involved in other peoples problems, basically not living with a mission. On the mission field I was not only sharing the gospel with them, but I was trying to figure out ways to better their everyday lives. So here in our grand nation, would it be so terrible to see others and think to ourselves creative ways to improve their lives?

I don't want SouthPoint to be just another church. Lord knows we have enough of those. What we are in desperate need of is groups of people that are "missionally" minded - people that when they leave church, they are just beginning. It's not like they have to work it up or go through some five step evangelistic outreach class, but they just simply care about people. When you care, you share.

Am I the only one that hates door to door witnessing? I mean come on! It drives me crazy when people come to my door, and if i went to theirs I would be annoyng them. But instead of going door to door, what if we went to our respected places of business with a mission. A mission to share God's love in a practical way. You know? WOW! If that were the case we really could alter Desoto County.

What an interesting and sad weekend

I have had a great weekend. First we went to watch Chris [launch team member] play soccer in the bittter cold. Then we had an awesome Game stop with fun, friends, and food. Then Sunday night.....WOW! Very cool. It was great to have Carter back on drums, and the band just basically rocked! Even though we are doing the acoustic unplugged thing right now, it was still amazing.

Of course underlying all of that great stuff were the announcments all weekend about Ted Haggard in Colorado. What a blow to the Christian-evangelical-community. I'm not really into slamming anyone even when they have done wrong....after all it is by grace that we all live. There is obvioulsy a huge need for repentence, healing, and grace.

But don't you find it amazing how valuable our lives are? I think many times we get so caught up in the daily minutia that we forget how many people are watching us live. Now if you're like me you are not the leader of a 14,000 member mega-church yet, but people are still watching. And on top of the watching, people are stll impacted by our lives. We affect people. That's what it means to live in a community. What I do does affect you, and what you do does affect me. How I raise my children inevitably affects you. We are all in this thing together and we do matter. How I handle sin and temptation does not only affect me and my life, but it affects you and yours. That is one reason why, in James, it says that teachers will be held to a higher level of accountability on judgment day. Plain and simple our lives do matter.

So even though I'm deeply saddened by Ted Haggard and the admitals of this weekend, it spurs me on to live with more character. More integrity.

Be honest in the little things, so the enemy doesn't have a chance to turn them into big things.

Tramp'n For the Kingdom

Planting a church is like jumping on a trampoline. There are a lot of ups, and a lot of downs, but if you stick with it,it's a lot of fun.

Ladies Night Update

This entry was written by Shana. Why is that important? B/c it is an overview of last night's ladies night and I would hate for anyone to get the impression that I went to the ladies outting......that would just be wrong.

Oh Yes, It’s Ladies Night. . .

Laughter. Side-splitting laughter. That’s what I had to endure for 3 hours last night. My sides are still hurting, and my eyes are still watering. Who knew that putting 10 women together, who come from all different backgrounds, walks-of-life, and areas of Memphis would laugh their heads off?

I would have to say that our first official “SouthPoint Ladies Night Out” was a success!
Through hours of food, stories, waiter harassment (the good kind, of course!), and laughter, I think that I know some SouthPoint ladies a little better.

Keisha loves animals, Brandy can feed her husband ANYTHING, Cyndy keeps point totals, Patti isn’t very competitive, Sonja has me all figured out, Sara = perfect, Lizisms are the BEST, Becki has the coolest DVD player, and Lisa is a GREAT listener!

If you think there are stories behind each of those, you’re right! You shoulda been there to hear them all. . .

I really feel very blessed to have each of those ladies in my life – and am looking forward to the next “Ladies Night Out”, with many more names to add to the list above!

Peace Out Y’all (see I CAN use it, right?!) –
Shana Leonovich

Pure Shock

Yesterday was one of those days. A day of shocking discoveries......Okay it might not shock anyone else but, well.....I've been counting down the days until we launch.
Days.
Not weeks.
Sunday morning I was sitting there going over some things and the realization hit me that we were only eight weeks from moving to the movie theatre. EIGHT! EIGHT MORE SUNDAYS! HOLY FREAK'N COW! That is not a lot of time. So yes, shock and horror set in. There are so many things to do to launch a church; it is absolutley mind boggling. I know it would be impossible by myself, and I thank God that I have a stellar team around me that is going for it! Praise God. So I have basically come to the realization that you can only do what you can do.
I know; profound.
But really we have all of these thoughts and goals, and when it all comes down to it, we can only do what we can do. Nothing more. I think this is where God said that whole thing about do all you can do to stand, then stand. Once the hububaloo of launch is past, we have to be able to look back and say, "Yup, we did ALL we could do." And then the rest is in God's lap. So, 8 weeks. The clock ticks, and we work.

Shock #2

Sunday night at the end of our preview service Cyndylou came up and surprised me and Patti with a pastor appreciation gift. It was awesome. They gave us a gift and a card signed by everyone. How cool. It was great b/c i was totally surprised. So nice. And then Cyndy almost cried, and I thought about it but refrained.
Thanks Team for all you guys do. You make me smile.

Word of Mouth

We know this good guy named Scott [not really his name but we will call him that to protect the innocent]. Scott manages a coffee house that I go into VERY often. No it is not Starbucks but a really good one nonetheless. Anyway, the other day Scott was in downtown Memphis taking care of some things and he stopped by Starbucks there to get some Java. He struck up a conversation with the one of the workers there and she said, “so what do you do?”
Scott replied, “I manage a coffee shop, but not a Starbucks.”
“Really where at?”
It’s called the Grove and it’s down in Southaven.”
“Really! WOW! Hey have you heard about that new church called SouthPoint that is going to be meeting in the movie theatre? I heard it was really cool?”
Scott stood there dumbfounded. Of course he had heard about it because we are in there all the time, but how did this girl in the heart of Memphis hear about it?

To me it is so cool how word of mouth travels. The best advertising is STILL word of mouth and friends telling friends. See if we really like something we tell out friends b/c we want them to get in on this really cool thing. For example-the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. They take almost anything off of your walls. It is a really good product. The only reason I bought it is b/c Amanda told me. She found out about it b/c a girl at her office told her, who was told by her mother. Amazing!

Now if we would all get really excited about God. About Jesus. About what he is doing in our lives. And then……Get really excited about SouthPoint and the mandate that God has placed on us to be here in this place….imagine. Just imagine.

They say it takes about 5 times of someone hearing something [marketing wise] for them to finally investigate it and get it. There are only 1.2 million people in Memphis. We should have all of them told by next weekend. ☺

Weekend at Mosaic

Well, I’m on the plane headed back to the great Memphis area. I have been in Charlotte speaking at Mosaic with Naeem. We had a great time. I really enjoyed hanging out with everybody and catching up on old [okay not that old] relationships. It was a blast! We did two services in the morning at the movie theatre. Each one was full and the second one was packed. Then that night we went down town to the Visualite, which is a night club type venue that Mosaic has just started. Well, they didn’t start the nightclub, but they did start doing church there on Sunday nights. It was packed! People were standing all around with no seats left in the room. The old wood bar was stocked full of cokes, sprites and fresh water on tap. It was a great venue. Nick [one of the team leaders there] told me that when they arrive they have to open all the doors and turn on the fans to blow out the smoke because when they get there, there is still a fog of stale smoke from the night before. What a great place to do church! It was packed full of young people, all of which did not know Christ! Yip-ee! One of the girls that was on the team said that she sat next to two Buddhists gentlemen and they were intently listening the entire time and were touched. They were also planning on returning. Yea! Big win!

So now I’m stoked to return to where God has planted us. I’m looking forward once again to reaching out and touching those people that need Christ. Those that have never met him, and those that need to be touched again. What an awesome responsibility we have, and have been given by God. I was reminded how different we are last night. Naeem took me to a Gideon banquet. It was a room of about 300 people. All of which were well over the 50 mark. All of which had on coats and ties. All of them that is except for me and Naeem. We were a bit noticeable.

But we sat at a table with wonderful people who love God and are each serving Him in their own way. One lady that sat at our table was truly amazed that we were ministering and reaching out to the unsaved. She said [I kid you not] that she had never experienced a church that was that focused on saving the lost. She had only experienced church growth via sheep swapping. She asked a million questions about Mosaic & SouthPoint and then said, “wow. I would love experience something like that. It sounds fun and exciting, and I’ve never seen that in church.” WOW! Hey, let me say it again: I am so looking forward to doing church in a new way that is fun – engaging – life giving – and down right real. How about you?

Well, I just heard the ding-ding. Time to put my little computer away and help this pilot land.

Miracles Still Happen

Two weeks ago at bible study Becki [who is 8 months preganant] requested prayer that her baby turn, because at this point it is breech. The doctor has been preparing her for a C-section. Well, we prayed. While we were praying she felt the baby move over to Becki's side and do some wiggling. Well, today she went to the doctor and the baby has done a complete flip! It is in perfect birthing position and all is well! Praise God!

Second note worthy thing [not near as miraculous], our new website that will help in getting the word out is finally ready. Check it out at www.idigmychurch.com

Thanks Cyndy for all your hard work on the site. You are dy-no-mite!

Tornadoes and Joe-to-Gos

So, I have to be completely honest. I kind of didn’t want to go to pass out free coffee at the community college here in Southaven last night. No, we’re doing honesty, right? I REALLY didn’t want to go.

Last night was the closest we have come to tornadic activity here. Seriously, the winds were ridiculously strong – and the rain was that annoying mist that isn’t enough to really get you wet, but enough to curl straight hair. Cyndy throughout the night kept telling me that we would be in Kansas soon. . .

I digress,

Brian was all gung-ho about this outreach to the college students – since it is midterm week, and they would all be studying and stressing. So, Cyndy and I piled into her car, picked up 7 joe-to-gos, cups, and condiments and headed over to the student center.

After getting settled (and one run to the store for creamer!) we split into two teams. Brian, his son Isaac (one of the coolest 5 yrs old we know) and Keisha went upstairs, Cyndy and I stayed downstairs.

I have to say that I never would have imagined that I would have a good time standing and passing out free coffee. Harassing people isn’t my favorite thing to do, but harassing them to get a cup of FREE, TOTALLY FREE coffee is a blast! We would ask people if they wanted coffee, they’d say “No” and we’d say, “But it’s FREE!” They’d pause, smile, and come over. Isaac was by far, the best at handing out our SouthPoint coasters and magnets, and the Grove Coffee $1 off coupons! Who can really refuse a cute-as-a-button 5 year old?

We handed out about 50-60 cups of coffee, all said and done. We met some really cool people, and blessed a bunch of others. The remaining coffee was taken to the Baptist Hospital ICU Waiting Room, and hopefully blessed some people there.

So, long story short, I am really happy that I went! I am jonesing for the next event we’ll do – and would HIGHLY recommend to all of you that you participate. If you are not in Southaven, please get involved in the outreaches at your local church.

PEACE OUT-

Shana

Change

There are three things in life that I said I would never do….no wait four. Yea, there are four things in life that I said I would never do. #1 get a tattoo #2 Plant a church #3 switch from Windows to Mac #4 live in Mississippi.

Well, I'm 36 years old and I have now accomplished 3 of the four things that I said I would never do. Yesterday I went and got a tattoo of a huge eagle that covers my entire back. Each wing comes down and touches my elbows at just the right angle…..okay not really. No tattoos. But I am switching to Mac. And I am planting a church……and yes, I live 1.3 miles over the Tennessee border in to Mississippi and I'm loving it! Is there a point to all of this? Does it matter? Let's change the subject.

Don't you hate it when someone is in the middle of a story and they just seem to randomly change the subject? That drives me bonkers! So no I'm not changing the subject but I did have a thought about change. Change is constant.

Ed Young [pastor in Grape Vine Texas] says church evolves and God is constant. Kool quote. Craig [church planter, with no tattoos, soon to be a Mac user, living in Mississippi] says, combine the two and you have got an explosive combination. Church should be full of change. Continually moving. The problem is people hate change. The stat is like 83% of people hate change, and the other 17% do it just to tick off the other 83%. But seriously change is such a vital part of life, the eco system, and church world. As soon as you stop changing you have become a prideful person. I know that is a strong statement but think about the concept of someone who is NOT wiling to change. …….God is constantly doing new things. He is the creator of the "New and improved." Look at the children of Israel and their dessert experience. They were constantly moving. Continual change causes us to trust in God not in our own well formed habits and experiences. Change keeps us fresh and real. So when we refuse change we are basically telling God that we have got this whole thing figured about and we can take care of it on our own. Pride.

I'm planting a church in Mississippi, and I'm gonna do it with a Mac.

Still no tattoos.

Incredible Weekend!!!

TO use the 'incredible' word might be a far cry for some of you, but for us here in the top of the Mississippi it is an understatement! Here at Southpoint we had a super-win of a weekend. First off, a few us went to Huntsville for a launch party to raise some funds for the launch of our church. It was great! How great you ask? Well, we raised a chuck-o-change! How much you ask? 'Noneya bussiness!'
While we were in Huntsville the rest of the team set up a HUGE tent at Octoberfest in Olive Branch and gave away free Starbucks, Hot Cyder, and did free pumpkin painting for the kids. And of course balloons. It was awesome. We got so many compliments and hundreds [literally] of people told the team how awesome it was for the 'church' to do something like this. No gimmicks, no hooks, just love and life, and of course TOTALLY FREE!!! For more pictures of this stellar event check out the pictures to the right. Oh yea and they put us in the paper for being so all together kool at the festival.

But wait, that's NOT ALL! We were also the FRONT PAGE of the local section of the DeSoto Appeal [the main newspaper here]. They came and did a great article on us and what we are doing. You can check out the full article and picks at this link:

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/desoto/article/0,1426,MCA_451_5052557,00.html

And of course we had a Kick'n Preview service Sunday night. The band from Visible School continues to rock the house in fresh ways. 104 days till launch! Yip-ee!!

Just To Hang Out

Yesterday I was standing in my bathroom brushing my teeth and Phoebe came to the door. Now allow me to preface this by saying that ALL morning Phoebe had been in the "I want-I need" mode. So when she came to the door I was sure it was another "I need" moment. Anyway, she knocked on the door and said, "Dad?"

"What Phoebe?" [this would be me speaking. You can tell by the extra bold manly type]

"Can I come in?"

Exhale. Slightly annoyed.

"Why Phoebe? Why do you need to come in here?"

"I just wanna hang out with you."

Heart melt.

New smile on face.

I feel loved.

That little exchange got me thinking. I wonder how many times God wonders why in the world we want in His throne room AGAIN. I know he is awesome and absolutely perfect. I know God loves us like nothing we can even imagine. But I still have to wonder if now and then God would like to hear us say, "Hey Dad-can I come into your throne room and just hang out? I don't want anything. I don't even need anything right now. I just wanna hang out with you."

I wonder if we would make a habit of that daily……maybe weekly…..How would that totally transform our relationship with God. Not coming with a prayer, a scripture, or our favorite song, but simply sitting in silence and being in his presence. I wonder. In case you're wondering too, let me let you in on a little secret…….it's stellar!

HEY! Subject change!

This Saturday is Octoberfest and a Launch party in Alabama. So listen. You guys…..everybody…..needs to be praying for this weekend. We need to touch our community this weekend. Love on kids and speak peace and love to the parents. The launch party….we need money. I would love to make it some hidden bait and switch, but it's just not in me. There just isn't enough time to play games. We know we are here on a mission and we need money to achieve our goals of saving souls for the kingdom. So COME ON GANG! Let's hit a home run this weekend!

Removing the Wedgie

Team dynamics are so vital to health and wholeness of a church plant, I cannot even begin to explain. Who was that professional football player that was fighting with his own team mates in the locker room and stuff? I think he played for the Eagles? Anyway, the point is, you can't have a successful team if there is fighting on the team. And you can't have a powerful team if there is griping on the team. What does a successful team look like? Well, it looks like a group of people, with locked arms all moving simultaneously towards the EXACT same goal. A goal that they are ALL passionate about. A goal that is not frivolous, but in their minds is a matter of life and death. Each and every team member using their special God given time, talents, and resources to achieve the goal.

So what's the danger? Where is the peril? Well, you've worked with people enough to realize that any time you have more than one person in a room you have conflict. Whenever two or more are gathered in my name a crisis is there in the midst. Here at SouthPoint we have a dynamic team that has locked arms and are slowly walking towards January 21st. One of the main perils that I see happening right now is the enemies desire to wedge us. And we know how we all hate wedgies.

One of the great dynamics with a team is that each protects the one next to them. Safety in numbers. But right now, I feel like the enemy is trying to take each one, and separate them from the pack. Thereby driving a wedge inbetween the individual and the safety of the pack. Making that person thereby-wedged. A wedge-ya know-that thing that starts off very small and insignificant, but then, with time, it grows into a much wider, larger thing. At the start, it is almost un-noticeable, but with a little time and negligence it grows into a separating force that really causes a detriment to the team, and ultimately messes with the individual in a nasty way.

NO! I am NOT saying that I see this happening. What I am saying is I see the potential for this to happen since we do have a great team with positive dynamics. So what am I trying to communicate? Well, let me sum up:

If you are a part of a team then do everything you can to stay a vibrant part of that team. If a small point of contention arises. Fix it. Wipe it out. If you let it fester, it will cause more harm than good. Don't get wedged. Because after all, you're the one that would get hurt the most. So let's all stop allowing the enemy to wedge out good people from our church teams. Lock arms. Fix your eye on the prize and let's go