Sunday Rewind

1.  Awesome church today!  Worship team, you put it on the top shelf.  I had so much fun watching people worship.  The universal sign of surrender was incredible.

2.  Pedal Car Outreach went great.  Thanks to all who worked so hard to serve our community.  This is what servant-evangelism is all about.

3.  I liked the new look of the coffee bar.  This will give us more room to grow at Cox Elementary.

4.  Daniel, you did an incredible job leading the outreach team set up.  You’re a good leader.

5.  Sunday we hit our goal for our missions project.  We have officially partnered to with the Johnsons in Uruguay for the land project.

6.  Next Sunday is Mother’s Day.  This is another big day for Elevate Church.  We will be honoring all the women with a free gift.

7.  I love leading Elevate Church.  I am glad we are a church that is stagnant with religious exercise.  We are passionate about reaching this community.  We are making a difference.

Saturday Wake Up

1.  I woke up this morning listening to the sounds of God’s awesome creation.  The first thing on my mind was the magnificence of God.

2.  Today I will have coffee early with a great friend.

3.  I am so proud of our grads from SAGU.  Daniel and Bethany – you guys so important to us.

4.  I was so excited to see the response to Missions Night last Wednesday.  We were overwhelmed at the crowd.  This Sunday I will give you a report from our missions challenge.

5.  Today my family will have lunch at John’s house.  He is grillin’ steaks.  It should be fun.

6.  Sunday is my favorite day of the week.  I live for Sundays so I can see what God is up to in the life of people at Elevate Church.  Can’t wait for tomorrow.

7.  Awesome commencement speaker at graduation.  Having a New Testament Attitude.  I believe the most valuable choice you make every day is your attitude.  I can’t understand people who want to live with negative attitudes.

Wednesday Mind Unwind

1.  I can’t wait to start my Connection Group tonight.  New people!  That’s incredible.

2.  As I look at Elevate, I can see that God is building a solid foundation of people who believe in the vision. 

3.  Had coffee with someone new to Elevate.  Great story of his life.  Thanks for being transparent.

4.  Lori is feeling much better.  We appreciate all the prayers for her and the baby.  Healthy is good.

5.  New stuff coming to Elevate.  We are preparing hard for our outreaches that begin in 2 weeks.  Our heart is to serve our community through our summer outreaches.

6.  I can tell that winter is finally over in Texas.  We jumped from cool to warm fast.  Love Texas weather.

7.  Forgiveness – Forgiving Others – the topic for Sunday.  I have a personal story to tell.

Weekend Reflect

1.  We had another great worship experience this weekend.  Way to go worship team for leading us into God’s presence at Elevate.

2.  I am so pumped about our Connection Groups starting this week.  If you aren’t involved, get plugged in.

3.  We had 7  new families come back from our Easter Sunday.  That’s awesome.  Thanks to you guys for being a part of Elevate.

4.  I am loving this teaching series on Forgiveness.  I can’t wait to teach on it again this Sunday.  God is already speaking to me about it.

5.  I am amazed at how our volunteers work so hard each week.  Especially those who come early to set up and stay late to tear down.  You are fabulous!

Easter @ Elevate

Okay…I am really excited about yesterday.  We had the best day ever in the short history of Elevate Church.  In the first year, we more than doubled in attendance from Easter to Easter.  Even more awesome was how God brought so many to faith in Christ.  That is so cool!   We also had 16 families visit Elevate Church for the very first time.  Thanks to so many who worked so hard (even in the rain) to make the day a huge success!  You people are incredible.

 

Proud Dad

Yesterday Lori and I put our 13 year old daughter on a bus to Mexico for her missions trip.  It was a mixed bag.  I think it was a hard for me to see my little girl grow up a little more.  Even harder to send her off where I can’t protect her.  But when she was a little girl, we dedicated her to God and asked God to use her for His glory.  I am watching that happen before my very eyes.  Somehow I knew this day would come when we would have to hold her a little more loose.  I am so proud of her heart for God and passion for missions.  She has courageous faith.  She raised every penny herself to go on this trip.  I am amazed, while many13 year old girls are thinking of boyfriends and make-up, she is thinking of an orphanage in Reyonsa, Mexico.  I am a proud dad.

Shock and Awe

Funny?  You think it could never happen.  But when it does, you are in shock and awe.  I have intentionally waited to blog about this because I was trying to process this one.  What happens when 1.5 years after the surgery that should keep your family from growing - doesn’t work?  Well, it’s true.  I’m 41 and my wife is 42 and we are expecting our third child (go ahead, you can laugh – it’s really funny if it’s not you).  Shock doesn’t even begin to describe it.  I know God’s will is perfect and His timing is perfect but I still haven’t wrapped my brain around this one.  It didn’t take me long to add it up.  I’ll be 60 when the baby graduates from High School.  Boy, do I feel old! 

“All things work together for the good…”  is more than just a verse.  We are living it.  Even though I don’t see it, I am walking by faith and not by sight.  Our faith is strong and our family resilient. 

Did you know that there is only a 0.1 % chance of failure in that surgery?

Saturday Evening Mind Unwind

1.  My Sooners are still doing awesome in basketball.

2.  I am excited about being at Elevate tomorrow.

3.  I have everything ready to speak on Sunday. 

4.  I now have a teenager in my home.  My Lauren is such an amazing daughter. Today is her 13th birthday.

5.  God sent someone to pray for me today. Thanks Stephen.

6.  I was glad to run with my friend, Chester this morning.  He’s back from China.

7.  God is stretching my faith this week.

8.  Please pray for the Dyer family.  Their grandson has been diagnosed with aggressive cancer.

9.  I love being in Wylie, Texas.  I would rather be called to palnt a church than anything I can think of.

10.  My Bible thought this week:  The bigger the problem, the bigger the miracle God works on my behalf.

21 of 40 Days

Now into the second half of our 40 Days of Purpose campaign and I see change.  Change has come to me in the way I think and react.  I have grown to understand in a fresh way that how I act and react depends on the way I think.  Thinking = acting.  If I can allow God to change my thinking, it all changes.  The great part is the Bible gives me the right change.  The Holy Spirit gives me power to change.   I can see change…I trust more, have peace more, have more confidence and less fear.  I also see God’s hand on my life more.  Even last week my wife lost her job and I have not been shaken even though it is almost entirely our income. I trust.

Saturday Morning

1.  I slept good last night.

2.  I am excited about Sunday and sharing this teaching:  ON PURPOSE

3.  My youngest girl was up at 6:20 am.  She is just like Lori.

4.  I am going to run 4 miles this morning.

5.  Today is the first day in a long time that I don’t have a meeting.  It feels good.

6.  God is speaking to my life about fasting next week.

7.  I want Arizona to win tomorrows game.  Go Cards!