Church? A New Way? Continued.......

If you were one of the brave one who actually commented on the previous blog, THANKS! Feedback is lovely.

So church……yea…….I grew up in church. Did you know that? Did you know that on day number 5 of my life I was in church. I can really understand Paul when he does his little bragging session about being a Pharisee of the Pharisees. Do you remember that? [if not you can find it in the Bible. I'll give you a hint, it's in the New Testament.] I could just as easily say I am a Christian of the Christians. [so let's try it]

I was born as a fifth generation follower of Christ. On my fifth day I was brought into church. At the appropriate time I was dedicated to be raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord. I only missed Sunday school for death, major sickness, or loosing a limb. When the church doors were open, I was there. I have never been drunk a day in my life. I have never smoked a cigarette. I have never done any type of illegal drug [including marijuana for those who are not sure if it is illegal]. I was formed and shaped at a solid fundamental Christian University. Called into the ministry I served in many different capacities to serve the Lord and advance the Kingdom.

Wow! There is my pedigree. Impressed? I'm not. Not really. I mean really my only point was to say that I grew up in church. I know how it works. I can fit in. I speak the language. I know how to impress, I know how to tick off. I can play the game if put on the field.

Don't get me wrong. I am so NOT anti-church. I am so WAY pro-church that it might shock you. I strongly believe that people should go to church. Consistently. Like ya know, all the time. So to get back to our discussion, was' up with church?

Everyone has such varying opinions on what church is, or should be that it has separated people, and people groups for generations. So if you think I'm gonna write a blog to further the gulf……wrong. But church is more than a style of music, a form, a preaching, a time of prayer, a time to give $. It's more than kids programs, youth programs, drug rehab, single adults ministry and or a vibrant senior citizens outreach. It can be all of those things, or some of those things. Church, more than any of that is believers, coming together. When we come together we [hopefully] experience community. A community of faith. A place that through our relationships, God is worshipped. Through laughing, sharing, loving, crying, and hoping, a fragrant scent of worship goes up, and God is pleased. So I guess my real point is that church can have many different looks. It can have many different flavors. And that is a good thing. God is unlimited. He is multi-faceted. He is everything, and is there before you can think it. He is God.

Church Evolves.

God is.

Church? A New Way?

“I’m completely in favor of the separation of Church and State.

My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so that both of them together is certain death.”

George Carlin (1937- )

To say that church "screws us up" really makes a lot of you cringe doesn't it? You think to yourselves, "How can God's institution on earth do anything but create peace and harmony on earth. Come to think of it you will burn in the deep pit of fire for even putting that quote on your blog!"

Okay, you need to calm down and take a deep breath.

#1 it's my blog.

#2 I can explain.

Jesus said "Upon this rock I will build my church." But what is church? Really, what is the definition of "church?" How is it that we have accepted a definition of 'church' based solely on what we see, as apposed to what He said. If Jesus, working with & through Peter, started the New Testament church then maybe we should take a very brief look at what this entity looked like. Because I think we might be surprised. We might realize that the church of America today has more of the appearance of an executive business instead of a Spirit led/filled/guided/directed entity that is alive and moving. So before I go into my thoughts, how about you? What's your thoughts? What's your take on it? Do you feel the church as a whole is slightly askew? Maybe focusing on minors while ignoring majors? Leave a comment or two, no lengthy diatribes please, but what are your thoughts on this evolving entity called, "the Church."

Thinking Can be Scary!

I just got off the phone with one of my good friends planting a church in the Atlanta area [Hal Hardy www.thelifechurch.tv] and he got me thinking. And thinking for me is a scary thing. You see to me, numbers are important. To say they are not important in church work is a lie and most of the time false humility. Ya know. Preachers say things like, "Ah bless God, it's not about the numbers son. It's about the Spirit of God!" Well yea. Duh. But if you don't have people, then well, the Spirit of God is whooshing around your empty sanctuary not doing a whole lot.

I look at it this way;

Numbers = Souls and Souls = Influence and influence = changed communities.

Okay let's look at it the super-spiritual way: The only time in the New Testament where we see the 'strong man' over a city being cast down is when Jesus sent out his boys [disciples] to do the works. Ya know the whole healing the sick, casting out demons, and leading folks to a knowledge of Christ. And Jesus said, "I saw Satan falling like lightening…." Remember? Just a thought, could it be that Satan's Kingdom gets really messed up when average, everyday people go out and serve?

Just a thought.

Maybe?

Could it be then, if we follow this crazy thinking, that the more people we have serving a community the more messed up Satan's Kingdom in that area will be?

Just a thought.

Maybe?

Of course we have to realize that the disciples did NOT sit on a rock and study the deeper teaching of Jesus. They did NOT pull up a rock after they were sent out and say, "Hey Peter, can we go over the deeper symbolic meanings of the sower parable again? I would really love to hear the multi-layered theological meanings of how the third portion fits into the eschatological times that are upon us." NO! Jesus said go and "SERVE" "WORK" Do the Works of the ministry. Could it be that to really alter the spiritual makeup of a community it would take an average group of people, going out, and doing the works of the ministry.

Just a thought.

Maybe?

Wow! Looks like the ball is in our court. So I guess the real question is, What are you gonna do today? Who is on your hit list to serve?

[Hey Hal, thanks for making me think.]

The Ups and Downs

Well, it's Sunday morning and I'm sitting here thinking about this past week. There are still 3 launch team members that do not have jobs. Another that needs a new job [company changing leadership and employees] and then yesterday Mike Thompson [Sound Man Extraordinaire] had a heart a major heart attack. Wow! Thankfully he went to the hospital in time and they were able to get things flowing again like they need to and he is recovering well at the moment. So please continue to pray for Mike and his wife Judy as they recover from this surprising turn of events. I know he will be back behind a sound board very very soon.

Team dynamics are so much fun aren't they? Working with people is the 'funnest' most challenging thing in life. If you are sensing sarcasm seeping through the type then you are wrong. I thoroughly enjoy working with people. It challenges me because there are many things I know I can do.

I can turn on a computer and edit video

design a webpage

do a poster design

email

write a letter

I can spend some quiet time and prepare a talk

I can sit down and counsel a friend

oh the list goes on & on. However. In all of that doing I think I miss the greater good many times. If all I do is 'do' then I miss what God is wanting to 'do' in others through me.

Do you ever think that maybe we get so focused on the, "God working 'in' us" part, that we forget the, "God working 'through' us" part? A read a verse from Romans 15 the other day in prayer that said, "Our strength is for serving, not for status." WOW! There is that through us thing again huh?

These awesome people that have moved here to start SouthPoint Church are not only awesome, but they are also the very tools with which God wants to work to change a county. Think about it, if they NEVER meet people. If they NEVER get out of their comfort zones, if they NEVER share the good news of Christ, then SouthPoint will be nothing but a name and a small gathering of people. But when the tools get out of the [tool] box, and into the right hand [of the master] then things can change rapidly.

Yup. I love working with people. It's what God is doing. And I would rather be doing what God is doing then just doing.

Biblical Thoughts For the Day

Throughout the years, most of us have heard the cliché used for the church “We are the Body of Christ. We are the hands, the feet, the eyes of God.” We have heard sermons and stories about how we are to accomplish our job, because “the hand can’t do what the leg needs to, or the eye can’t smell for the nose.”

But, have we ever thought about the fact that each of these parts of the body really ARE inter-dependent? What I mean is, without the lungs, how does the heart get its oxygen? Without the feet, how do the hands get to the place where they can lay on a healing touch?

Each of us need each other for strength, support, encouragement and nourishment. God has created us to need others, and for others to need us.

So, in that light, How involved are you in the lives of those around you? Do you let others in? How many times do you make yourself available to a friend in need? Do you really mean it when you ask someone “How are you doing?” Do we stop and let them really answer?

I know I just asked a lot of questions, but sometimes we need to stop and ask them. Sometimes we need to take the time to reflect and see where we can tweak our daily habits and let God use US.

Apply this to our little bitty body of SouthPoint, you say. Ok, it’s a fact of life that the more you work out, the happier you are, and the more you eat, the more you grow. So, naturally, the more that we, as SouthPoint Church, open ourselves to give AND receive strength, support, encouragement, and nourishment, the more we’ll grow. I guarantee it.

First Preview Service

Last night was our very first preview service. It was really good. I love hang'n out wiht people and having a good time. We had three stellar guys come and hook us up with some tunes. Marco played Acoustic; Carter played drums/rythm; and Matt paved the low on bass. It was awesome! And of course, Patti sung some tunes for us.

For those of you not here (AKA living in another part of the world) we met in our house and set it all up in the gathering area. Tunes-fellowship-coffee-speaking-prayer-friends: it was an awesome night. There were things of course that I would like to change, and will, but for our very first time together I was pleased.

Other than the typical update on our preview service, let me say that God has been hooking us up with some really awesome, like minded people here in this area. People that have a desire to reach out and touch others. I find it so refreshing and life-giving to meet with someone; and their heart is in tune with God. Whether or not they come to SouthPoint, it is just refreshing to know that there are other people in this county seeking the lost. Searching, looking for dark places to go and spread light. You know, if we would hang out more in dark places, our little lights of righteousness would shine that much brighter. Just a thought.

The Saga Continues

I know all of you are just chomping at the bit for me to continue our talks on the unchurched and the most effective ways to reach them. I mean after all that is why we all do what we do right?

We do have a choice in our Christ-following-walk. We can choose to hang out and grow spiritually. To instill ourselves full and over flowing with the presence and power of the Holy Ghost to cause others that are around us to become more jealous of the spirit of God that rests on us [this is a good choice]. Or we could choose to get right with God. Accept the spiritual gifts that He has set aside for us. Recognize our God-predestined-gifts and talents that are inherent in us and then work. Strive to be around people that are NOT like us. Make sure we live and operate in places that are dark. [Because I mean after all the littlest light always seems the brightest in the darkest of places.] And show others the love and joy and hope of Jesus Christ [this is the BEST (of course this is my opinion) choice].

Okay well, that was my little soap box let's look at the next couple of 'best' ways to reach the unchurched.

6. Discern patterns of relationships in your own church.

We might think that unchurched people have NO connection with the church. However, that is not the truth. Studies have shown that many unchurched people have a spouse that regularly goes to church. If on any given Sunday you handout cards and ask them to write down three people that they are praying for to receive Christ. Inevitably you will receive a plethora of spouses. So what does that mean? Even the saved Christians in your church know people that don't know Christ.

7. Check your facilities.

The formerly unchurched spoke cogently of the necessity of having neat, clean and updated facilities to reach people.

"I saw a lot of things through unchurched eyes before I became a Christian a few months ago," one participant responded. "What surprised me was how many churches let their facilities and their landscaping go to the dogs. It was as if they were advertising 'we don't care' by the way they looked. I sure didn't go back to those places."

Okay, so clean. Present something that is nice, clean and well…….something you wouldn't mind your mother-in-law seeing. :)

How to Hike Like a Princess

Labor day. I have about decided that holidays mean extra work as a parent. Have you noticed that kids like to do more on days off? It's like they have an innate sense of laziness in parents and have a passion to crush that demon. Okay it wasn’t that bad. Actually we had a great time! We went to the city park here in Olive Branch and picnicked, hiked and played. The hiking was interesting b/c the trail really was a bit challenging. I took Sierra [8] and Phoebe [4] with me. Sierra is like an ATV so I had no concerns that she would fair well. However, Phoebe is less than outdoorsy. In fact I call her my little princess. She is only four yet she insists on wearing pink and keeping her nails nice and long. It is amazing. So needless to say I was a bit concerned about taking her on this trek.

What lies inside a person is amazing. True leadership and veracity is rarely on the surface, but usually lays deeply dormant in a person, until they are faced with an unsavory situation. Something that requires them to dig deep.

Past the people pleasing Flamboyancy.

Past the sociological properness.

Even digging deeper, past the political correctness of this century.

Phoebe, was not overwhelmingly excited about going on the hike. I think she would have been just as happy to stay at the picnic sight with Noah her younger brother. But she chose. She willingly chose the hard, adventurous road. I mean after all anybody can sit on a blanket, but it takes an adventurer to get off the blanket and see what lays just beyond the trees. (Okay, so I am waxing a bit warm, however she is MY daughter, and there is a point to this). So our small group ventured past the tree line and began to climb. Sierra was off ahead of the pack, and Phoebe stayed close to me. As we approached the first hill that loomed in front of this tiny framed 4 year old, I leaned down and said, “You can do it honey, even Princess’ need to know how to climb.”

She never stopped walking she just said, “Yea, I know I can do it. I can SO do this.”

She climbed. All the way up the hill, as her pink Converse All-Stars slipped and skidded in the dirt, you could her Phoebe saying in a tiny quiet voice, “I can do this. I can make it. I know I can, I can do it.”

(Of course you know I was proud right?)

Hill after hill she climbed. Now and then she would look back to make sure I was right behind her, and then she would turn and keep climbing. Encouraging herself all along the way. Never once crying. Never once saying I quit. Not once did she say, “This hill is too big. I’m just a little girl.” Not once.

We got to the end of the trail and we had a choice. We could walk back to the picnic area via the parking lot, or back the way we came, via the trail. I said, “Okay Phoebe, let’s go back this way it’ll be easier.”

Her jeans were covered in dirt. Her pink high-tops had an even dusting of brown silt that made them look more tan than pink. Sweat was running down her face streaking the dirt that had caked there. And her long finger nails had dirt and grime packed beneath their manicured shape.

She didn’t look like a princess.

“Dad, why can’t we go back the way we came. It was fun, and I can do it.”

We took the trail back.

I realized through this little holiday hike that I can do it. Even when the hill in front of me is sometimes a mountain, I can do it. Maybe that’s what Jesus meant when he said that if you had enough faith you could cast a mountain into the sea.

One step at a time.

Each step encouraging YOURSELF.

Now, I wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair of pink high tops, and god forbid I get my nails done, but everybody needs to climb. Life is too long to sit on a blanket and eat fried chicken. At some point we have to get off the comfy blanket and climb. It is not the easiest thing to do, but we can do it. It is not the road most traveled, and it is not what everybody else is doing, but we gotta climb. It doesn’t take special gear, you don’t even need a B.A. in trail climbing. Our Heavenly Father is right behind us the whole time. Just in case we fall, he catches. Just in case our little high-tops slip, he slides his hand underneath them to give them sure footing. And, he never leads us to a trail that 1) He doesn’t want us to climb, and 2) He never leads us to a trail that we can’t climb.

So I don’t know about you, but I’m climbing. Even if I slip. Even if I get dirty. I am NOT sitting on the blanket. It’s time to climb, the view at the top is merely a moment in time that gratifies; but the knowledge that I got off the blanket and climbed is a life time of satisfaction with zero regrets.

Money

Money. Money? Money! No matter what the punctuation is following the word, it is still money. Money is more talked about in the Bible than salvation, heaven, or hell. Crazy huh? Maybe that's because God knew that money [even back in the day] was a dynamic thing. It turns people off, and it turns people on. It completes projects, and the lack of it can stop an army. Money makes people feel happy and secure, and the lack of it make people question the existence of God. Don't believe that last one? Well, maybe existence is a bit to strong. However, when we lack money [as followers of Christ] to fill basic needs we begin questioning. We question if we have heard form God, we question if we have some hidden sin. We look back over our tithing record to see if we missed any payments [as if paying tithe was a 'payment']. Sometimes we even question God's voice, and sometimes God's existence.

I have always heard people say, "God is never late, he's never early, he's just right on time." Well…..Many times if God was early with money solutions we would spend it before we ever needed it. We would think, WOW! Extra cash! How can I spend this? And then two days later our transmissions clunks on the ground and we wish we could take back that new 52" HDTV.

To be honest though I can remember one time where God was early. Really early. I received 600 bucks out of the blue one day. Totally extra cash. So I'm chomping at the bit to get to Best Buy to remove from my presence the filthy lucre that that Bible says is the root of all evil! [of course I know I miss quoted that but it makes the story funnier]. The best way to remove your unhealthy partnership with money is to go to a local electronics store and trade it for something.

Anyway, I can never get the time with work and family. One week later the washer and dryer both died! I quickly thanked God for the supply before the need. Go God!

My point you ask?

I'm not really sure. It's just that seeing as how money seems to be in short supply right now, I've been thinking a lot about it. And this I know for sure:

"Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ…"

2 Corinthians 2:14

"Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself in Him and He will give you the desires of your heart……"

Psalm 37

Even when money is short, God is not. What it really boils down to is the fact that many times our lack of money helps us draw a distinct line between those two massive words:

WANT & NEED.

Many things are wanted and desired, but very few things in life are actually needed.

Life is exciting! Can I say that?! I mean God is so awesome that it blows my ever-lov'n-mind! I thought we were moving to a place that was full of people. Ya know, I mean 11 new families to the county a day is pretty amazing. however, to top that; yesterday, they announced that here in our lovely county they approved a 12 billion dollar project. Wanna know what it is? Okay I'll tell..... MGM Studios is Constructing an amuzement park/housing development right here! It will be a 15 year project. That is amazing! I know that will upset many a people here in this small area, but imagine how many people will come here, and we get the opportunity to touch their lives. Imagine the workers, contractors, masons, landscapers, and general workers! Truly the harvest field is ripe, and on top of that its coming here! Yea God!

That Prayer Thing Works!

Okay, in the whole church plant proces I have talked to a gaggle of church plant pastors and they all talk about how hard it is to find a place to do church. So we got here and I told my launch team and prayer team that we were going for three places and our prayer was that all three would say "yes". Then we would be able to decide which is the best. So instead of taking the leftovers or the crumbs, I wanted an incredible buffet of choices. And today we got it!

The first place we visited was Desoto County Civic Center, which sits right on the interstate, but is slightly out of town. The Malco Cinema (movie theatre) is located in the middle of town with a Starbucks in its parking lot (I think God is smiling upon this place). The third place was Southaven High School which is in the process of constructing a new building, which includes a performing arts theatre. So now everyone has the skinny on our places and you can support us in prayer as we try to make wise decisions to make sure that SouthPoint is not just another blip on the map, but a life-giving, community-altering, influential presence in the greater Memphis area.

P.S. Noah went all day today with no potty accidents.

SouthPoint prayer..........and continued thoughts

Okay, today was our first prayer time together and it was good. I could think really hard and come up with some profound unmerited hyperbole, but I'm not really sure what hyperbole means so let's move on……

I talked with the lady on the phone this week about using the movie theater for church and she was all for it. She is willing to lease it to us to start SouthPoint. Yip-eee!!!! I am meeting with her this week to go over details but I'm still not saying yes yet. I asked God that the first three places we went would all say yes. That way we could then wisely choose the best place to have church. So far God is 2 for 2. The first place we went said yup, and now the second place said, "yup." So Wednesday we go for number three. Keep throwing up prayers for us b/c God is doing some awesome things and I know this is gonna rock!

New statistic: Did you know that 11 new families move to DeSoto County EVERY DAY!

Okay so let us continue our discussion on the unchurched. So, Characteristic #3 of churches that are reaching the unchurched.

3.) Give evangelism priority and passion.

A program won't cut it. Someone else's idea won't grow the church, but a true passion for evangelism will. Now I'm not talking about the old "stand on a corner and hand out tracks", evangelism. That was horrible! [If your church still does this, sorry, it's still horrible] Evangelism is, and should be all about relationships. Building relationships not just to convert someone [we call that manipulation], but building a relationship with someone because you have a passion for them. Because you care about them, because they have intrinsic human value. AND then once befriended, they will WANT to be like you b/c you are LIKE Jesus! Evangelism is not a program, evangelism is a way of life. It’s a lifestyle. It is not something you do on a missions trip, it's something you do every time you take a breathe. Ah yes. Show me a church where the attendees have a passion for evangelism like this, and I will show you a huge freaking church that is making an impact in their community.

4.) Teach the Bible

Duh

5.) Develop a small group ministry.

I would discuss this in profound detail and truly amaze you with my stunning vernacular, but I'm tired of writing, and to be honest, you stopped reading back when I said it was horrible to hand out tracks.

And their off……..

Dates to Remember

8-19-06 This Saturday is our first prayer time here at SouthPoint. It begins at 10:30AM, and will last for one hour. If you would like directions simply email me us at info@southpoint.tv.

9-3-06 [Saturday] First official SouthPoint launch meeting. This will be a great time for you to come and invite the world! It will be strictly casual with lots of food and great conversations. This will be a meet & greet time. No flow charts, no diagrams, and not too many rules. If you need directions email us at info@southpoint.tv.

9-9-06 [Sunday] Craig & Patti [I’m the first part] will be having a neighborhood party where we will be inviting our entire neighborhood over for a cookout. Make plans to attend this event and meet some people.

9-10-06 Sunday] This is the Sunday night that we will begin our Sunday night launch services. These will be ideal times for you to invite people to give them a taste of what SouthPoint will be like. During these times we will be having music, food, and speaking. It will begin at 6PM every Sunday night. Location is TBA depending on size of crowd.

Thus begins the basic schedule. Every Saturday at 10AM we will have prayer for an hour. Every Sunday night following 9-10-06 we will be having our launch services at 6PM. Mid-week bible study and meet & greet time will be announced shortly. If you need more info or directions to any of these gatherings email us at info@southpoint.tv.

Zacchaeus was a wee little man...

I was reading a book today and the writer referenced the story of Zacchaeus. He said that it was the “affection of Christ, not the brutality of a town that healed Zacchaeus”. I had never really thought about it, I guess, although with the good “preachers” I’ve been around in my day, one of them probably preached this and I just don’t remember.

Anyway, I realized that Zacchaeus lived in Jericho. Now Christians had been living in Jericho since, I don’t know….Joshua’s time. And there must have been one or two there, since the CROWD wanting to see Jesus was Zacchaeus’ problem to begin with…well, actually, his problem was being short, but I don’t want to offend the Lolly Pop Guild, so we won’t go there.

Anyway, anyway…so Zacchaeus lived in a town full of Christians. Yet, he had never heard the gospel nor felt the love of Christ in a way that compelled him to want to change his lifestyle. But when Jesus came to town and reached out to the outcast, he felt the love and invited Jesus to his home for dinner. Now, it takes some guts to invite someone to your house for dinner – or does it? Doesn’t it just take knowing someone who eats food and doesn’t have plans. That’s kinda what I’m getting at. Let’s get out there and show our new neighborhoods the love of Christ….the real love of Christ….not what they’ve been used to seeing passed of as “love”. Let’s use the “affection of Christ” to combat the “brutality of a town” to heal the Zacchaeus that might live two doors down.

SouthPoint is.......

Lately I've been sharing the vision of SouthPoint. What does that mean? Well, it simply means I have talked to a lot of people about a dream. More than a dream though, because dreamers dream of how it could be; visionaries envision themselves doing it. I can see it.

I can see a church where people gather with a purpose. More than gathering with a purpose on Sundays; waking up on Mondays with a purpose. Actually desiring to reach, touch, and impact the unchurched and the de-churched [these are the people who grew up in the church but have left and not been back]. Many churches across the board have become internally focused. Sermons, events, programs, and teachings are basically all focused on the believer. Not training the believer or equipping them, but merely satisfying them. Of course my goal is not to slam any ministry or church because there is enough of that garbage going on. My goal is to embrace the body of Christ and make SouthPoint a unique entity that is not in competition with other churches [God forbid!], but to be different. To reach the unchurched. Our tag line is true and real. It says, "A new way to do Church." It really is a new way. Its different. Its focus is the outside not the inside. Its programs are limited, because its focus is narrow. We will not meet everybody’s needs. That's just impossible. But we will offer a safe environment where people can come and connect with God. Where, in that connection, they can download goodness from the father. Removing the 'cringe' factor from church and making it enjoyable and user-friendly.

Okay so how do you reach the unchurched? Over the next few blog entries I am going to show you a few ways. So let's look at the first one or two (depends if I get bored typing or not).

1. Major on Majors
There is an old saying that we learned from Dino Rizzo. "We don't do tacos" Let me explain.
Burger King does burgers, not tacos.
McDonalds does burgers, not tacos.
Hardees does burgers, not tacos.
Get it?
"I think our church needs another program to minister to our toddlers. I think if we should combine our homeless outreach program with the toddlers. Coupling these two ministries will give the toddlers more adult interaction and will give the homeless people wonderfully child interaction with new found hope." ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!? First that would be insane, second we don’t do tacos! The only way we can stand up and say we don’t do tacos is if we know beyond a shadow of a doubt what we do do! To reach the unchurched we MUST major on the majors and that means having a clear concise vision that says what you do.

2. Be Biblical and Convictional

Churches that are reaching the unchurched are across the board Biblical, and have strong convictions. You might say the strong convictions go back to the whole, “we don’t do tacos.”

Okay I’m bored with typing. More to come……………..

Our First Baby is Born!

Olivia Ann Kness was born today. She was our very first baby born here at SouthPoint. We are so excited for Sonja and Cory and their new bundle of life. All is well. Mom & Dad are doing great. If you want to see more pictures of Olivia simply click the picture bar to the right.

What are you praying for?

I was reading the Bible today and Matthew 9:37 made me stop and think. I'm sure you know the verse [and yes I do read the Bible]. It's the verse that is quoted so often it starts to sound like Charlie Brown's teacher. Try to stay focused:

"The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

So what are we praying for?
I believe that very few churches are actually praying for laborers, or workers. Churches pray for revival, money, help, direction, vision, mission, opportunities, open doors, publicity, less publicity, more people, and better buildings. But when do we actually pray for more workers? I know in the years growing up in the church we didn't really pray for workers because every time they came they were never ready by our standards to actually work....they needed more prep time. Or we didn't ask for workers because if we really got them what would we do with them? I mean we already had all the teachers, singers, and preachers we needed. What's left?
So my thoughts wandered to the fact that the reason Jesus even said this was because he was moved with compassion. As believers and followers of Christ we should be moved with compassion for the lost. We should have a feeling in the pit of our stomach that says, "There are hurting people out there, and I can make a difference." See we are not planting SouthPoint Church to have a few thousand people go through some biblical exercises to make them smarter and to feel better. My goal is that we will have a few thousand poeple that want to make a difference not only in this city, but in our nation. Advancing the Kingdom of God past our little pew filled walls and out into the streets. What does that look like?
Good question.
What would it look like if more followers of Jesus got involved in AIDS relief? What would it look like if more followers of Christ took an active interest in polution? What would it look like if more followers of Christ would take a hard look at abandoned children? Or maybe genecide in Rwanda; or how about ecology? See the list is endles and followers of Christ are called and chosen to be activists not antagonists or reactionists.
Why should we pray for more laborers?
If you don't need them we'll take'm.
And b/c Jesus said so.
Pray for laborers.

Church Planting is Good

Well, Patti and I just got back from Atlanta where we were "Assessed" as Church Planters. Whoopie! We passed! Of course if we would have failed we would still be doing what we are doing, but all of that is a mute point since we passed with flying colors. The really kool thing about the couple of days in Atlanta was that we got to hang out with 6 other couples planting churches. It was awesome, and I realized a couple of things.

#1) Church Planting is not the safest profession to aspire to.

#2) There are harder things we could be doing, like becoming a nuclear physicist,

Seriously I did realize that here at SouthPoint we have an incredible team. I am so in awe at the quality of people that have joined the team. I cannot think of a single person that is not a "top-Shelf" servant. [Of course "top shelf" is an old bar term. If that offends you……..stop reading]

The team that is already here in Memphis is excited and chomping at the bit to get started. We are getting together this Sunday night to eat, hangout, and enjoy life.

Ted Haggard once said that you don't need to hire staff at your church, just gather your friends, have fun, and do ministry. I feel like that is what we are doing. Gathering friends with a common passion to win the lost and impact an area, and we are gonna have fun doing it. I am ready.

I finished painting the last room of the house this morning, unpacked most of the boxes and now I am hanging out my shingle that says, "Now Open." It is a good feeling.

All can pray. Pray that over the next few weeks we will meet some awesome people here in town, and that we find favor in finding a place to gather. Not only for church but for our meetings too b/c I know that my house will only work for a little while b/c we will soon be too big for my home. Yip-EEEE!!!!!!

Thoughts - Prayer - Boxes

Well. Today was our first Sunday here in Olive Branch. I decided to step out in faith and instead of going to visit another church that I would rent the civic center here and just trust God to fill the seats. I started praying at 6AM and by 10AM the seats were all still empty. I kept praying. Then people started coming in by the droves! Several thousand people stated coming in it was amazing! I started praising God and shouting for joy. Then a guy came and asked me to leave because it was the 5th annual gun and knife show and I didn't have a ticket.
Okay so I didn't really do that but it sounds like a good story. We did visit a church today and got to know the pastor which was great.
Also I just got off the phone with Shana. You guys who are reading this need to pray for them. They [plural due to the fact that Shana is actually a group of three girls:Shana, Liz, and Cyndy] need to rent their house. They are moving here in 23 days and a wake up and still no one to rent it. They have lots of traffic so pray that one o these lookers will stick. These chicks SO want to come and help plant this exciting new kind of church. So pray for them vigorously!
Did I mention we are still unpacking? We are so excited to get our stuff outta boxes! We only have about 15 more boxes to go and then some furniture stuff and wall hanging stuff. We are working really hard on the house so we can be finished with it so next week we can be 100% focused on SouthPoint. Pray for us this week we travel [more traveling can you believe it?] to Atlanta fo an ARC [Association of Related Churches] meeting. So pray for safe travels and a good meeting.

They're heeeerrrreeeeee!!!!! Do you remember that movie, Poltergeist? Freaky. If you do remember it you probably wish you could forget it. Of course that movie has absolutely NOTHING to do with this blog entry except for that one line.

Anyway, we are here. We arrived in Memphis Tuesday night and unloaded our trailer. I would say the trip was uneventful but that would not be true. Get this:

I was driving my truck pulling the trailer and Patti and the kids were behind me following. I was driving minding my own business driving across I-40 when we came upon an entrance ramp. In the right lane was a slow moving semi. A car got on the interstate and was obviously Inpatient because she cut over in front of me. I mean she totally cut me off to the point that I had to slam on my brakes so hard that they locked up. Ah nothing like the sound of big ole truck tires squealing at 70mph. Wait; did you forget that I was pulling a trailer? I did too, until I felt it begin to slide around the truck headed for the infamous jack-knife. Somehow [God] I let off brakes just enough, and just in time to correct the trailer and yet not hit this woman who was merely inches from the front of my truck. Yea God! Okay that is kool wanna hear something even more kool? Behind me, remember, was Patti and the kids in the van. Patti also had to lock up her brakes and swerve to keep from hitting me. So what is so kool about that you ask? Well 5 minutes prior to all of this excitement, Phoebe [my 4 year old] said out of the blue, "hey mom, did you know you're gonna hit dad's trailer?" Man! I sure am glad somebody in our family hears form God. Isn't that kool! Man, I love that child like faith. Those child like ears, and that child like love.

God make all of us more child like. Open our ears to hear not only the answers to our own wants desires and needs. But open our ears to hear your heart, your desires and the needs of the Kingdom. Help us to love the unlovable, touch the untouchable, and actually make a difference where we are.