It just dawned on me tomorrow is the fourth. Amazing. I can not believe that we are in July. The last seven months seemed to just fly by. I think the incredible journey we are on is truly amazing. I am using this weekend to spend time with Darlene, grill some dogs, and watch some fireworks.
I am also going to do some praying and seeking God on Life Points next step. I just feel God is ready to blow the doors off this area. I also feel we need to think about our next sight. I know I want to go to 2 services by Christmas. I am praying desperately for a Children's Pastor. We need the right person that God has chosen. Our target demographic contains married with children to age 12. We think with over 2000 kids from the egg drop, probably 1500 don't go to church on a regular basis given all the research. I do know Kids Point has to be off the wall. We also need to get set up for Pee Wee Point. We have lost a couple of people because we did not have a 0-2 yr. old program.
I am also praying for office space, somewhere near Coconut Point. There are some great deals out there and it would not be unlikely to get a 3 year lease with 6 months free rent upfront. We need space. A place for the team to meet. Offices to work out of and maybe a place for teens and small groups to meet. We also need some storage space. We do lots of video stuff and we need a room dedicated for video just for Nick to work in.
Anyway, I know God is ready to take us to the next level. So this weekend, spending time with God and DJ (who is doing better) is my agenda. I can't wait until Sunday when we kick off Jonah. Invite someone and come this Sunday to church. We will be rocking!
I often stand in awe of God. Today was one of those days. It was the day we finished up One Prayer Series and the day we held the FIRST baptism for Life Point Church. Church wise we had a good crowd for the Sunday before the 4th of July. We had some first time guests as well as some people who have been gone for awhile return. We also had 3 people get saved!
After church we went to Bontia Beach for lunch and baptism. DJ and Kathy K. went early this morning to grab 2 picnic tables in prime real estate location. You have to get there early or everything would be snapped up. I just want to take a moment and give a HUGE shout out to Kathy K. She worked her butt of getting things ready for today. She not only cooked some of the best fried chicken but came out early to hold the table with Darlene. THANK YOU Kathy!
The baptism was awesome. One of Pastor Rick's daughters was the first person to be baptized at LPC. YEA!!! Rick was beaming in the water. Good thing I had my shades on. We baptized a lot of folks and each one has a story and each one is beginning their journey as Christ-Followers. WOW!
I can't believe all that has happened in 6 short months. We have seen ups and downs. Triumphs and challenges. We have laughed and we have cried but we have grown. People who were far from God are now walking with Him each and every day.
I got to tell you, I really love Life Point Church and ALL the people. We are growing every week. We got some more great stuff planned! We are going to reach this community.
But right now I am just wiped out! So we will start all of that tomorrow. Thanks to all who helped out today and a special shout out to our GREAT staff of Rick, Scott, and Nick and Diana! Man talking about a blind hog finding a bunch of acorns. Our staff rocks.
So as I reflect, I thank God, knowing that if He has done all of this in 6 months I know He has got alot more stuff to do and I am glad to be a small part of it.
This was just an incredible day! The weather was awesome. This morning, DJ and I went to Terri's for breakfast. This is one of my favorite places for breakfast. Their biscuits are just plain awesome. We prayed last night for God to let DJ wake up without pain. God answered that prayer.
After breakfast, DJ wanted to go to Barefoot Beach where we are having the baptism tomorrow. We had to scope out the picnic areas. After that we went to Beals Dept Store which is brand new and DJ went to check out sun dresses. Since the surgery, she has really dropped a couple of sizes down . She is real tall and slender anyway. After this she was tired so we headed back home and had a great afternoon just hanging out. Alicia came over and I went to Publix with my "honey-do" list to get stuff for tomorrow.
Tomorrow! Last Sunday of One Prayer. Our first baptism. I can't wait. When I think how far we have come in 7 months and how last year this time I was jut getting ready to move down here and all the people God has put in our path and over 200 people have gotten saved or rededicated their life... well I just am in awe of God.
Here is my thing... If Jesus has done all of that so far... I cant wait to see what He is going to do next. All I know is I want in on it. I am so thankful that DJ had a great day... not much pain and she made a great effort to get out and about. Boy I love my wife. I am so thankful for all the people we are baptizing tomorrow in the ocean. How cool is that! I am thankful God called DJ & I here to SW Florida and I get to be a small part of something that is going to be so big, my mind just can't get around it.
This is the fourth and final week of One Prayer. I can't tell you how our congregation has been impacted. First of all we have seen a oneness with people and a oneness with God. It was really apparent at Y-God! Second, we have seen some incredible prayers answered. The stories are awesome!
Sunday we will be hearing Perry Noble and the sermon is One Prayer: God Make Us Dangerous. It is going to rock! The following week we will be starting our summer book study in Jonah. 4 weeks and it will be the bomb. I am stoked. We got some great things getting ready to happen at Life Point and I can't wait to see what God is going to do next.
Baptism Sunday will be at Barefoot Beach right after church. Kathy K is cooking fried chicken. Yea!! We will be making a video of each one to give out. To get there go south from Coconut Point and turn right on Bonita Beach Road and head all the way down to beach. Barefoot Beach parking is right there and we will be eating lunch at the picnic tables and then the baptism! Be there.
Last night at Y-God we had a rocking good time. Great fun, great food, GREAT Bible Study. Thank you Nancy and Todd. I love it when a Bible study gets everyone aking questions and then seeing something in Scripture and all of a sundden you can look in their face and they go WOW I Get it. Its like a light bulb went off. Awesome!
I cant wait until our Baptism Sunday. It is going to be a very special event. We will video each person and put a short movie clip together to give out to each person. Its not too late to sign up.
God answered prayer yesterday for Life Point in a HUGE way. To him all the glory. Sunday we will finish up the One Prayer Serie with "God, Make Us Dangerous! Then we go into JONAH!! Invite someone and bring them along on Sunday.
July we will be having a few changes. Changes that will help us in a new and great way. Changes that will take us to the next level and it will be incredible. We are going to shake things up a little all for the Kingdom!. We need each of you to pull this off. So when I call and ask you to pray about something to help in, please know you are becoming part of the story God is writing about Life Point Church. Each of you have a gift and we are going to become more proactive in alot of areas. We will not settle for anything less than excellence for Gods Kingdom. From the parking lot to the lobby to the theater we are going to be making some changes. Set up and take down will be longer so we will need more help.
Anyway stay tuned because the winds of change are coming. In a good and progressive way. More on this later.
I cant wait to hear Steve Furtick tomorrow doing his "God, Make Us Audacious" sermon for One Prayer. I am amazed at how our people have really gotten into this series. Tomorrow will rock. Right after church, we will hold our first new members class in the birthday room at The Muvico Theater. Rick will teach the first part and I will teach the 2nd part. It will last about an hour and lunch will be served by the one and only Tom Fusco of Fusco & Co. Epicurean Delights. Invite someone and bring them tomorrow. Plan to stay for lunch even if you just want more information.
This was a very special service... our first communion
Crowd was down somewhat but giving up
Gary Lamb did our One Prayer Sermon and our people really connected
We really are keen about being Revolutionary and connect people to Jesus ... our people are starting to get it
We are 6 months old and it seems like Gods hand is really on us
DJ and I had a GREAT lunch with Nancy and Todd. Todd is one incredible cook. We were joined by Mr Roy and Mrs Irene. They are both 90 year old and been married 65 years! Thank you Todd and Nancy for a great time
DJ really pushed it today but I think she will work through the pain
I loved sitting in the pew while watching Gary preach
Rick and Jeff and Nancy did a great job with communion. Rick and Diana made our communion trays and they are beautiful.
We need a childrens pastor. Please be praying for God to lead the right person to us. We have over 2000 kids in our data base who do not go to church just waiting.... The fields are ripe for harvest but the workers are few
I am watching the US Open... Tiger is struggling with his knee...we will see
I love Life Point Church, its people, its volunteers... I can't believe just how good God is
One Prayer this Sunday features Gary Lamb from Revolution Church in Canton Georgia. This is the 2nd sermon in this series and I can promise you Gary will be bringing it: God: Make Us Revolutionary". I can't wait to see just what God will be up to. I know it will be great.
Sunday is also Fathers Day and our first communion. It would be a great day to invite your friends and head over to Coconut Point Mall at the Muvico Theater for Church at Life Point at 10:00 am.
