Town Hall For Hope

Connect with families across the nation for a truly radical message: HOPE.
Tired of hearing the fear, doom and gloom that’s filling the airwaves? Join Dave Ramsey for a nationwide town hall meeting and discover what’s happening with the economy, how we got here, and where we’re going. Plus, Dave will answer your questions live throughout the event!

You can join us for this free event April 23 at 7:00 p.m. at NewLife as we stand together to reignite the fire of hope!

When is the event?
April 23, 2009
7:00pm at NewLife Fellowship(click here for directions.)

What is Town Hall for Hope?
Town Hall for Hope is your opportunity to sit down with people in your community for a nationwide town hall meeting led by Dave Ramsey. Thousands of venues across the country will host the event, broadcasting Dave's live presentation. In the opening half hour, Dave will offer straight talk about the economy, recession, foreclosures and more. He'll carefully explain where we've come from, where we are now, and what we should be doing with our money during this time. Then, Dave will spend an hour answering your questions live!

You can ask your questions by phone, email, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and more! Go to the Town Hall For Hope website and check out the Get Involved page to see all the ways in which you can join in the conversation! And remember, this is a free event!

Help us get the word out!

What's Next?

Yesterday I returned from Spring Break...and with my return I am committed to getting year 2 of my blog back to (somewhat) regularly scheduled programming.

This past week as I took out some down time I prayed about the future of NewLife. I found myself thinking a lot about finding a way for us to move forward together. I've been praying about it. I've written thoughts in my journal. I've begged God to show us the way. I want to know the way.

I long for the faith and courage to step through any door God opens for our future. I can see it. I want it. God invites us to another step together and I'm ready.
How about you?

I was reminded of an old movie quote from The Matrix, when Morpheus said, "Neo, sooner or later you're going to realize just as I did that there's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path."

I wonder if I need to find the door, or if I know where it is already. Maybe the time for searching is past. Maybe the time for action is here.
Could that be?

Could we be standing on the threshold, hand-in-hand with God, ready to take our next steps together?
I believe so.

We're stepping together into God's purposes. Let's stay close. Let's watch out for one another, love each other and help each other along the way. Whatever is on the other side of the door, God is with us.

Terica and I are ready. We're with you.

The door is opening. Let's go.

Then I looked, and, oh!—a door open into Heaven. The trumpet-voice, the first voice in my vision, called out, "Ascend and enter. I'll show you what happens next." I was caught up at once in deep worship ... - Revelation 4:1-2

One Year Ago Today

My blog is officially One Year Old...Happy Birthday blog. (You wanna sing it with me?)

Here's what got it started a year ago today...

Entering the Blog Zone!
My first official post on my blog.
What do you think of that?!?
I have been wanting to do this for a while now. Who wouldn’t want to blog? It’s a chance to express deep thoughts and earth shattering insights.

Or probably more like senseless ramblings with an occasional decent point. But it should be fun.I do have a few concerns here. Like, what if only my mom reads this thing? She won’t. She’ll never understand how this works. And what if I’m not a good blogger? I just started checking out some blogs in the last couple weeks. So it’s new to me. Sorry. I’m a dork.

Thanks to Nate for helping me to set it up...I'd still be talking about it if it weren't for him. So here we go. I’m going to update this several times a week and see where it leads. I plan to write about the stuff I guess everybody else writes about: my walk with God, my kid, our church, my wife, food, funny people, and whatever else gets my attention during the day.

Check in often. Comment me.

I look forward to opening up and writing about God, me, my family and my church for eveyone to see.

(Update: I know I said I was taking a blogging break...but this was already scheduled to post!)

Blogging Break

It's spring break...

Therefore I'm taking a blogging break.

Next week I’ll resume regular blogging.

In the mean time if you want to hear from me...join us Sunday as we begin a brand new series..."Famous Last Words."

Desire

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. - Matthew 6:33

When we seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness, first and foremost, God energizes our desire for what is good and right.

I'm glad I've given my life to Christ. The more I desire life in Him, the more I love what He loves and want what He wants. My love for Christ helps me stay on mission. He keeps my life on track.

He'll do the same for you.

What are you seeking?

I Can't Even Imagine

I was truly saddened to hear the news out of Illionois yesterday. I have been praying for all who've been affected by this tragic event.

Two things came to my mind as I heard about this.

One: This church has been handed a megaphone. What will they say and how will they respond now that the whole world is looking at them? I think they chose a very powerful response on their website.
Here's what it says:
A Message About Our Loss
On Sunday, March 8, 2009, a little after our 8:15 service began, a man entered First Baptist Church and fired several gunshots at our Senior Pastor, Dr. Fred Winters. Pastor Winters was taken to the hospital but died of his wounds.
Please pray for Dr. Winter’s family, our two brave members who were injured when they stopped the assailant, for the assailant himself and his family, and for our church members as they deal with this tragic loss.
In this day, where uncertainty seems to abound creating an environment in which people are vulnerable in doing things they might not do otherwise, one thing is certain, we, as human beings need a foundation upon which we can live our lives. We at First Baptist Maryville, along with other Christian believers, share this conviction: that foundation is God’s Word. In the pages of the Book we call the Bible, we find the pathway for peace, hope, and a quality of living life despite what circumstances we find ourselves in.
To those who believe in the power of prayer, we covet your prayers right now.

Two: We have to be urgent in proclaiming the Gospel - every day is a gift with no guarantees.

Please help me pray for Pastor Fred Winter's family and the entire Firt Baptist Maryville community.

Save The Daylight

You too can help save the daylight this weekend.

I loved this video that the media design team came up with at Lifechurch.tv.
Check it out:



Don't forget to "save the daylight" Saturday night...don't want you to walk into church an hour late on Sunday!

The Way I Want To Lead

I mentioned Mark Meyer's blog yesterday. He posted this last week.

After reading this list over and over I decided I am going to use this to evaluate myself as a leader.

1. I want to be a servant leader, remove hurdles and obstacles so my team can soar.
2. I want to push the envelope, be willing to step out on the plank, make mistakes but go after educated, BHAG’s (big, hairy, audacious, goals).
3. Filter out the noise, the naysayers, the critics and be a leader of laggards.
4. Be real about my weaknesses, mistakes, with humility.
5. Solution oriented, if individuals make mistakes, just correct it and move on- take care of the client, offer an apology to a team member, encourage, fall forward.
6. My team will know I am for them.
7. I want to be candid, matter-of-fact, but with the goal to help people take steps and speak to the elephants in the room.
8. Be in the trench with the team, roll my sleeves up, be willing to do what I’m asking my team to do and more.
9. Understand and create the vision, then cast it- over and over and over to individuals, teams, and organizations... Make what we do significant, life-changing, industry changing, world changing.
10. Model focus and hardwork-energy to simply keep getting things done.

What do you use to evaluate yourself as a leader?

Some Links To Check Out Today & Misc. Stuff

Here are some links to some blogs that are influencing me. I thought you might find them helpful too? Check them out:


- Mark Meyer has had some great blog content lately on leadership. I highly recommend you check out his two latest posts...HERE & HERE.
- Criaig Groeschel had a great post about small groups today. I totally connected with what he was saying and can't wait to see what he has to say the rest of the week on this topic.
- Tony Morgan's post on the way we do church is really making me think about some of the things we do at NewLife. Not sure where I'll land on this but it's definately thought provoking!
- Loved Pete Wilson's post on hugging as the new handshake. Ummm...I think I'm guilty of this. Not sure if it's good or bad...but. We'll I'll leave it at that.


A few other things...

- Absolutely had a blast last night at Keller Pointe. Seeing people get baptized NEVER get's old!
- Hope series was powerful. Louie Giglio spoke (via video) and it was, hands down, one of the most impactful series we've EVER done.
- Saw more people step toward Christ yesterday...that TOO NEVER get's old!
- I feel like this spring is going to be one of the most amazing seasons of ministry we’ve ever seen here at NewLife…GREAT THINGS are in store.
- I love our church! I seriously love our church! AND...I love THE CHURCH.
- Truthfully, I am in awe that God is allowing me to be a part of this!