It’s been really busy over the past couple of weeks and I am now starting to get into somewhat of a routine now that things are on a weekly basis. So, with that being said here is a review over the past couple of weeks!

>Over the past two Sunday’s 12 people have made a commitment to Christ!

>Super excited that we have finally launched and are already seeing life change!

>Worship team has done awesome the past two weeks I’m really proud of them.

>Set up keeps getting better and better. It is absolutely amazing that you can set up an entire church in an hour and a half with only a handful of people. 

>More people have been added to set up team each week.

>Already hearing awesome stories of people who have been out of church, coming back and loving the service.

>I work with the best staff in the world!!!!

>Showed up last Sunday and the parking lot was packed on the back end with two fire trucks and an ambulance next to the building, while guys were running toward the building with a hose and I thought dear God we have caught the place on fire!! Turns out the were just using it for a practice, but there were a lot of people that saw there was a church meeting there if they didn’t already know it.

>Since we started 4 services ago we have had 18 commitments to Christ!

>It was good to have some of the families back who were out last week for a number of different reasons.

>I am amazed how every person gone makes a huge difference at this stage.

>Newly committed Christ followers are excited about serving in any capacity needed, they understand that it’s the purpose that matters, not a position.

>We had a soft launch, which I believe will be a good thing for us. I will write more about this later.

>No matter how you slice it God is in control and He knows exactly what you need and when you need it.

>I love the new series on Stress and applying how we can deal with it according to the word of God.

>I can’t wait for the next series “The Power of One” you don’t want to miss this!

>Every week is getting easier as we get a handle on what we are doing.

The other day I had the privilege of taking Gracie Belle to dance class. She started dance a couple of months ago because her Aunt Jo Jo and Aunt Mae Mae wanted to get her that for Christmas. Man, is it a sight to see, it absolutely cracks me up to see 3 and 4 year old girls running around trying to be a ballerina and tap dancer. 

Well, when Gracie first started they had to order her tap shoes in because they didn’t have her size, and every week they’ve gone the order still hadn’t come in. Gracie would always ask if they would be in the next week and Mandy would say “I sure hope so!” On Monday when I took her the order was supposed to be in and Gracie was excited. We got there early and they took us to the back to try on the pair she had ordered but unfortunelty they didn’t fit, she then tried on a number of different pair but still no luck. The instructor told her she had another shipment at her house and would bring them next week for her to try on. As we walked out of the room Gracie was disappointed and said “Daddy, they still don’t have my shoes in yet.” I then told her how the order was in they were just the wrong size, and how they should have them here next week and then she’ll have them, she looked up at me and said “I sure hope so.” I laughed and went on with the practice.

Later on that night I was telling Mandy about and she fell out laughing and said that is what she has been telling Gracie every week. We then reflected on the number of words and phrases that Gracie uses just like her mother. She basically talks just like her mom because she spends so much time with her. As I sat and thought about this it amazed me how simple yet profound this was. Who do you spend the most time with? Do you talk like them? Is it a good thing or a bad thing that you spend that much time with them? What if we spent the majority of our time with God and in His word? Would it impact us, just a thought? Why don’t you take just a few moments of your time right now and examine what you  are saying.

Well you’ve heard me say how we exist so that people can become fully committed to Christ but what does that look like, how do we make that happen, well here is what we talked about on Sunday, and what it looks like at here at The Crossing to be fully committed to Christ.

Growth- First understanding that a commitment to Christ is something that is more than a prayer it’s a lifestyle. It means that you will seek to know God and His word while developing relationships with people who need a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Gifts-  Every person has been given gifts to help others and serve God. At The Crossing, we want to put our faith into action by volunteering our time to help others become fully committed to Christ. In this we challenge everyone who attends The Crossing to serve in a way that meshes with gifts both on Sunday and during the week in the community. When each of us fulfill our role, we become much more effective as a church in sharing God’s message of love and hope.

Giving- Jesus said: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” As a follower of Christ and someone who calls The Crossing Church their home, giving back to God at least 10% of our income is honoring God by following a biblical principle. Giving should be out of love, not pressure. Beyond the 10% tithe, giving generously and investing in others in need is a sign of where our heart is with trusting God and allows God to bring order to our financial situation.

Groups- Life can be both exciting and difficult, and we all need others to stand and walk with us in our journey. Plus, don’t others make life more fun? Living for God was never intended to be done alone; God built us for relationships. Groups are where authentic relationships occur and your needs can be met through accountability and care.

Once again sorry for the delay I’ll try and do better:

Preview #2

//Thank God for Previews, not only are they a time for others to get to know us but a time for us to get adjusted to having church in a portable setting.

//We were short a number families due to illness and family emergencies.

//We were still able to set up and tear down in a timely manner.

//We implemented the beginning of change in our volunteer area, i.e. specifically in the VHQ (Volunteer Head Quarters.)

//We were able to work out the sound bug from the children’s ministry last week.

//Had a few mishaps with worship and prayer. 

// Did I mention thank God for Previews.

//Set up special area in women’s restroom.

//The people who gave their life to Christ in the first preview were BACK, and they helped SERVE! 

//A great friend and mentor Irby McKnight and his son Jordan were there, it was great to see them.

//The staff and volunteers did an amazing job pulling together and making everything happen.

// I serve with some of the greatest team members out there.

//29 people signed up for the comeback event.

//Tommy rolled over a curb with one of the trailers and bent one of the rims and the tire deflated.

// Walmart fixed the rim for free and blew the tire back up. Tell me that’s not a miracle! Walmart and free!

//Blow ups continue to be a huge hit with the kids.

I can’t wait for November 2, and the official launch of the church, I know that God has great things in store as we continue to seek Him and help people become fully committed to christ.

Well once again there was an extended break from the blog, sorry it’s been really busy. Just quick note on the NC road trip, it was amazing we learned a lot of great principles that we’ve already began to apply. God has given us a huge vision to see people of the Little Elm area become fully committed to Christ and we want everything we do to be centered around this purpose. As I’ve stated before in no way was our purpose of going to try and mimic what they are doing because I think we all know you can’t mimic a move of God, but it was incredible to see what God is doing there in Charlotte and areas you are doing right and areas you can improve upon. 

It’s like this we’ve all hear it said if you want be a church or organization of 500 you have to act like it or if you want to be 5000 you have to act like a church or organization of 5000. I think that’s an easy concept in theory but if you don’t know what 500 or 5000 looks like you are only guessing and hoping your acting the right way. 

One of the things I loved about Elevation is that there vision from day one was “to see people for from God filled with life in Christ.” and with just the short time we where there we saw that and could see that everything they did was centered around this purpose. Sure there are programs and parts of the church that are needed in making it function at it’s best, but it is all centered around the vision.

God has great things in store for this city and I am pumped that He is allowing us to be a part of it. Look out Little Elm God is fixing to rock this city!

A couple of months ago we contacted Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina about coming up and visiting with them on a Sunday and see some of the amazing things that God has been doing there. Upon contacting them I was connected to Larry Brey their Connections Pastor who helps with teams that want to come in and learn. I had a  phone conference with him this morning and man am I pumped about this trip.

Since the launch of Elevation about two and half years ago they have grown to a weekly attendance of 5000 people. More importantly than that is the life change that is taking place as they reached out thousands of lives were committed to Christ, marriages restored, addictions broken. Don’t get me wrong, we are more concerned about the principles not the practices. We fully understand that trying copy a movement of God is insane, because only God gives the increase, but I do believe that you can learn principles that will help you grow and be all that God wants you to be. I look forward to the opportunity to learn life lessons that God has in store, and maybe even spend 17 hours in a car with three of the craziest, fun guys out there.(Tommy, Seth, and Larry, oops I mean Lanny) Ha! 

Today was an amazing day for The Crossing, and I am so pumped about everything God did. Here are few of the highlights of what when on:

//We had 85 people at our first preview!

// 6 people accepted Christ as their Savior!!!!!!

//Everyone pulled together and everything was set up and tore down ON TIME! (Great job team!)

//Couple of hiccups in logistics in the beginning but praise God we were able to work it out.

//Everyone who visited signed up for the Comeback event at 7pm on Tuesday @ Roma’s Pizza and Pasta!

//In the middle of worship we blew a breaker and lost half of the stages lighting, video (thank God we have two) but we also lost SOUND.

//Worship team did an awesome job, especially not freaking out when they lost power.

//Tommy cracked me up when he went out their for prayer and carried the mic and spoke into it with faith that it was coming on any moment. ( it was hilarious you should of saw it, but he did  a great job as well.) 

//Nursery and Kidz Crossing was INCREDIBLE!! (Awesome set up, topped off with our own inflatables.)

//Inflatables are very HEAVY!

//We actually took everything down in One Hour. Thats a record, oh wait that was our first time.

//No matter what happens good or bad if God is there and lives are changed that’s all that matters.

//Can’t wait until the next preview on October 19th!!!!!!!

So, we are just a few days away before we finally get started. It seems like it has taken forever for this time to come, yet it also seems as if it was yesterday. As I look back and see where we’ve come from it is absolutely amazing. When we first began Mandy and I thought that we would be started and going with in a few months, little did we know it would be a year before we actually took off. If you would of told me it would’ve been a year then I would have laughed, however I guess it was God laughing at us because He knew when it would actually take place. We have definetly experienced a lot of emotions from trials to incredible God moments and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. God is so awesome how He holds our lives in His hands and takes us through what we need when we need it. I can’t wait to see what else the journey will hold.

Attention All Church Planters! Nelson Searcy is going to be teaching a live seminar on his book Launch September 30, 2008 at Avalon Church, 1467 HWY 20 West Mcdonough, GA 30253 (Greater Atlanta Area).  If you haven’t read the book I highly encourage you to do so, it has incredible information that is vital to being successful in Church Planting. So what could be better than reading the book and applying the principle? Well, That would be a live conference that he is teaching along with Bob Franquiz. This is the only Launch Conference he is teaching this fall and you don’t want to miss it. If you are anywhere near the conference I highly encourage you to attend. I have attended one of his assimilation conferences as well as been to his church and I promise you this guys the real deal. This is a powerful conference that has helped hundreds of new churches Launch Large, and we have personally experienced these principles work for us as well! If you need help financially just call the office below and they will try and help with maybe a partial scholarship.

Here’s a link to check it out if your interested:

https://nelsonsearcy.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=4&i=p235

Right now, the per person investment is only $89 (early bird rate).  Group rates
are also available; just call Cristina in the journey office at 212.730.8300 x212.

Controversy, this seems to be a word that so many of us have learned to hate and rightfully so since in our world today we tend  to be more concerned with how we are viewed instead of who we are and what is right. Yet, is controversy always bad? Not necessarily. James said in chapter 1 to be happy when you face controversy and trials because it will only make you stronger.

You never know where controversy will come from and many times it comes from the least likely and unexpected places but, you always know who the source is. It’s not the person stirring the pot it’s the one who started the pot. (the devil) So, if that’s the case and it is, (1 Peter 5:8) think of it like this, if you’re a Christ Follower, EXPECT CONTROVESY, at leas you should hope so. If you look at it in that light controversy is not always a bad thing.

I love the story in Nehemiahwhere he is rebuilding the wall and Sandballot comes and trys to distract him so he can kill him and stop the wall from being built, but Nehemiah recognizes the ploy and simply says “I’m doing a great work and I can not come down.” If we would just see how controversy has a major way of shifting our focus from what is important to ridiculous distractions we would save our selves a lot of worrying and valuable wasted time.

So, the next time you hear some saying something about you or challenging you in anyway, put a smile on your face, recognize the enemy (no not them), relax and know you must be doing something right.

P.S. Steven Furtick had a great post on this last week.