May 28, 2012

1.3 million.

Someone once said, “Freedom is free, but it was not cheap.”  How true is that?  Today we honor the men and women of the United States Military who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.  Nearly 1.3 million soldiers have become casualties of all military conflict (U.S. Army Military History Institute; iCasualties.org); fighting for freedom at home and across the world!

Today is Memorial Day.  In the middle of all the parades and picnics take time to honor any military personnel that you know!  If you see a soldier, thank them!!!  Without them we may not be as free as we want to be.

Have a happy and safe day today with family and friends!

May God continue to bless our great nation!

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May 23, 2012

Questions??

Anthony Robbins said, “Questions provide the key to unlocking our unlimited potential.“  I love that statement because I love asking questions.  But many people don’t ask questions.  They often blindly accept what is given to them, but questions are part of our life process.

What questions do you need to keep or start asking?
What questions do you need to stop asking?

So often we find ourselves asking the wrong questions in life.  Let me give you a few samples of wrong questions that we ask with adjustments:
Wrong Question – “Why did this happen to me?”
Better Question – “What does God want to teach me?”

Wrong Question – “What’s wrong with me?”
Better Question – “Where does God want me to grow?”

I go through life asking questions.  Some questions I have had to stop asking – I had to look at what the “better” questions were that are capable of building my potential.

What questions do you need to start/stop asking today?

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May 21, 2012

Buffalo, NY

It was 16 years ago that I left my hometown of Buffalo, NY.  I never went back.  Never had a reason to.  But last week I ventured back to ‘good ol Buff‘ for a ministers meeting.  A lot had changed but many things that I remember where still there.

I did not realize how emotional it would be driving onto Transit Road again.  I saw familiar sites.  Drove by the “Yellow Jaguar” – a club we used to roll into from time to time – TEDS Hot Dogs (Best dogs in the US), DUFFS (Best wings ever) & MIGHTY TACO (great on the way down, but look out later).

One of the coolest moments was walking onto my old high school – Cheektowaga Central.  Lots of memories and many great times.

Here’s what I have learned:  “Where you start doesn’t determine where you will end up.  It just reveals how far you have come.”  I have come a long ways since leaving Buffalo.  But I will never forget where I have come from – it has shaped me!

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May 11, 2012

41%

Yesterday was an eye opening day for me as I looked through our average attendances and database.  Facts are facts.  You cant ignore them.  You cant fake them.  You can only embrace them.

Here’s what I discover:

  1. Our database of people is 5 times greater than our average attendance.
  2. Our monthly attenders is only 35% of our overall database.
  3. 59% of our church attends 2+ times per month.
  4. 41% of our church attends only 1 time per month.

41%.  Wow.  Talking with a friend yesterday he helped me realize that what we are experiencing is coastal, city-church culture.  Sadly a huge chunk of our church is attending a service only 10-14 times per year!  How do people grow?

There has to be a place where Christ trumps culture!

So many people prioritize the wrong things above Jesus.  But if Jesus is all that matters then He must take priority in our everyday, ordinary lives!

Our goal for the next 7 months is to lower 41% to 25% and increase our church’s consistency and faithfulness to Hebrews 10:25.  There are over 30 commands in the NT that believers cannot do without being part of the church!  We need the church!

What are we doing to change that culture?

  1. Thinking long-term.
  2. Launching our Growth Track.
  3. Re-tooling our Small Groups.
  4. Creating more opportunities in outreach.

We will change culture!

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May 9, 2012

Lessons from Disney

I had the privilege of spending a week in Disney with my amazing family!  It was the first legit vacation we have taken in a long time.  Disney is fun and exhausting at the same time.  I need a vacation to recover from our vacation.  So much to do.

But as I looked around I began to see some Leadership principles in action, so I thought I would share a few:

  • Disney is all about vision.  There is no way around this.  Disney is built on the vision of Walt E Disney.  Everything he envisioned has come to life and more.
  • Disney is all about kids.  Nothing unifies generations like children.  Parents take their children to Disney.  Grandparents take their grandchildren.  Children love it.  But it also brings out the inner-child in all of us.
  • Disney is all about details.  They work hard to cover all the details.  Disney wants excellence in every area, every park, every resort.
  • Disney is all about customer service.  People need to know they are valued.  Disney tries to hit this.  99% of the time this was our experience, but there were a few people who did not have the “Disney Magic.”  But they work hard to make sure everyone has a great experience.
  • Disney is all about celebration.  Disney celebrates everything.  It doesn’t matter how bad the movie was or not they will find a way to party – from parades to 3-D encounters to shows – Disney celebrates everything.
  • Disney is all about product.  They want you to leave with their brand.  Why?  It helps promote it in your circle of influence.  Here’s the funny thing:  everything is overpriced, but everyone still has to have it.  Because “we go it at Disney.”
  • Disney is all about repeats.  They want you to come back.  So they welcome you “home” – they want you to have a “magical day” – and they give discounts for your next visit if you book NOW.

How many of these should transfer over to the church?  All of them and then some.  I am looking at each of these asking, “How can I implement the above principles?”

By the way … we took both of our children (ages 7 & 3) on the “Tower of Terror” – it was a GREAT week with my most amazing family!!!  I am blessed.

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April 30, 2012

Gregory of Nazianzus: Jesus is.

Gregory of Nazianzus was a 4th-century Archbishop of Constantinople. He was a classically trained orator and philosopher.

Gregory made a significant impact on the shape of Trinitarian theology and he is remembered as the “Trinitarian Theologian”. Much of his theological work continues to influence modern theologians.

Gregory wrote in AD 381: “He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life. Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water. Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest. Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King. Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons. Jesus wept, yet He wipes away our tears. Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world. Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd. Jesus died, yet by His death He destroyed the power of death.”

All that power has been placed in your life because Jesus has taken residence in you!

And that power leads to your potential and purpose!!!

Christ lives in us and he is all that matters (Col 3).

I did not realize that until I was 18 years old … but today I celebrate what Jesus has done in my life for the last 21 years.  Life with Jesus has been the most exciting part of my life … and I am so honored to be able to live that life with my family!!!

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April 29, 2012

Opportunity

So often we role through life faced with options – what to eat, where to go, what to do, who to hang with – and all of the options seem like they are good.  But options become opportunities when we allow God to direct those decisions.  Too often we base our adjustments on how we feel at that moment, but our values should determine the activity of our life.

Over the last 12 years of ministry I have been faced with many options, but since we started Point Church it is almost as if we have seen some God-sized opportunities come to life.  Starting a new church, buying a home, launching a second campus, purchasing a building for our main campus, meeting some amazing people and just the overall blessings of God.  The list if far too long to write.  But honestly the opportunities seem to be rolling out even quicker.

Why will God unveil opportunities?

  1. Consistency.  I believe when we are faithful to the plans and purposes of God He will unleash our potential.
  2. Integrity – there is no way around this non-negotiable.  We have to live in the center of holiness for the long-term blessings of God to be seen.
  3. Smarts – we have to know when to say YES and when to shout NO.  It’s that simple.
  4. Long-term thinking – Most opportunities dont happen overnight they are built in the oven of time.  See the whole life God has laid out for you.

No matter who you are you will have options in front of you, but I want more than options.  I want God-sized opportunities.

See them

Seize them.

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Filed under Leadership, Potential