Cardboard Testimonies

Amazing video of people's testimonies. What would your cardboard testimony say? Feel free to share in the comments.

This is Our God

A few weeks ago, I posted about our trip to NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC, which is pastored by Perry Noble. One of the most incredible sights I had ever seen was the opportunity to attend the Wednesday night worship service in which over 500 middle school students worshiped God. I was in awe as I watched these middle school honored God in their worship. One of the songs that they worshiped was the Hillsong United "This is our God." This song has never affected me as much as it did until I experienced it at NewSpring. Since then, the powerful words of this song has been stuck in my head and in my heart.

Freely You gave it all for us
Surrendered Your life upon that cross
Great is the love
Poured out for all
This is our God

Lifted on high from death to life
Forever our God is glorified
Servant and King
Rescued the world
This is our God

What will Happen to Your Pets when the Rapture Happens?

When Christ returns, have you wondered about your pets? Obviously, they're not going with you. Who will take care of them? Well, fear no more! Eternal Earth-Bound Pets is a service that will take care of them for you. Keep in mind that if the rapture happens and you don't go, you can't get your money back. So, make sure you're going before you spend the $110.

Click here to see their website.

Interview with Craig Groeschel

Funny stuff as Tripp Crosby and Tyler Stanton interviews Craig Groeschel. Hope you enjoy!

Top Tweets of April

These are some of the top tweets from those that I follow in April.

@perrynoble: When we focus on what is wrong with other churches and leaders it is usually so we won't have to deal with what is wrong with our own lives!

@ChurchSolutions: Don't blame yourself for the declines or you may be tempted to take credit for the increases. -Craig Groeschel

@johncmaxwell: Clarity of vision creates clarity of priorities.

@willmancini: Notes from Francis Chan at Exponential 2009 - http://bit.ly/xXaPM - A beautiful message about the Holy Spirit.

@ExponentialConf: You will not be allowed to do it on your own. Because then you'd receive the glory. -Derek Duncan

@jonathanfalwell: God will never do anything great through someone who is partially committed.

@ExponentialConf: Some of you got into ministry because you wanted to see the world made different. Don't you ever give up on that dream. -Derek Duncan

@ExponentialConf: The only numbers we should care about are the numbers of people we have NOT yet reached. - Craig Groeschel

@MaxLucado: San Antonio Spurs star Bruce Bowen helped with our river baptisms. That's keith Kennington with us. http://twitpic.com/3mxzg

@perrynoble: Refusing to address a problem and "praying" it will go away is not leadership!

@ChurchSolutions: Pastor Sits on Toilet for 24 Hours to Fight Cancer: http://tinyurl.com/ctllbn

@timastevens: Everything drifts toward losing the "why" for what we do. If we don't continually talk about Jesus, people will drift.

@ChurchSolutions: Why don't your guests come back? 15 reasons: http://tinyurl.com/cezod4

@perrynoble: People who loved religion and were addicted to their personal preferences were actually the ones who resisted (and killed) Jesus!

@perrynoble: People who say "that can't be done" are usually just looking for an excuse to remain lazy!!!

@MaxLucado: Overheard today in our church hallway. Mom asks three year old what he learned in class. Answer: "Jesus got out of a hole." (So did we.)

@jonathanfalwell: Found a quote in one of my old Bibles from a sermon Jerry Vines preached in 1989, "a defeat that makes you humble is far better than a victory that causes pride."

@willmancini: For vision to be viral it must be compelling enough to make people want to say it again.

@willmancini: For vision to be viral it must be clear enough for a unchurched, junior high kid to understand it.

Happy Birthday, Nate!

Nate turns TWO today! He is growing like a weed and loves to say "no" to everything! This will be a big year of change for him with the moving and a new church plant.

This morning, we ate at Waffle House (he loves the waffles - too bad that they don't have WH in Detroit) and got a haircut. In a few minutes, we are going to party at the beach! We love you, Nate!

Jim and Casper Go to Church

Recently, I've read a great book, Jim and Casper Go to Church. Jim Henderson is a believer who spends time developing a friendship with Matt Casper, an atheist. Together, they toured churches across America, some very well-known and some that I have never heard of. Each chapter is focused on a specific church where Jim asks his atheist friend to give an honest "outsider" opinion of that church. You'll be surprised at some of his insights (very practical observational points coming from an atheist).

It also shares some interesting perspectives about how believers should act around non-believers. I've known many believers who want to debate and argue their beliefs "to the point of death!" I love how this book teaches how we should "defend the space" and learn to listen to non-believers. Oftentimes, non-believers find believers to be downright rude because we tend to try to "shove" our beliefs down their throats.

Anyway, I found this video and it reminded me a little bit of this book and how believers and non-believers can co-exists and respect each other. In case you don't know, Penn is an adamant atheist. Watch how a believer gained his respect.



May we all have the "Christlike" attitude of this "unnamed" believer to be bold and at that the same time - to be respectful!

My Life Experience - Part 2

Previously, I shared that I really cannot hear people really well. I was born with 80% loss of hearing. People sometimes feel bad for me, but the good news is that I can wear hearing aids and to me, it is the greatest invention ever. It's not perfect and it doesn't solve all of my hearing problems, but I'm not complaining!

However, my hearing loss also gave me another problem - my speech. Sure, my voice sounds good to me, but when I hear myself on a tape or DVD, my stomach cringes. When little children ask me "why I speak funny", I usually tell them that I'm British! This is something that I have always struggled with - my frustration to speak clearly and normal like everyone else.

Shortly after I became a Christ-follower, I felt the nudging of God in my life to the preaching ministry. When I was in middle school, I was told that it was a bad idea to go into ministry because of my speech and hearing. Deep inside me, I knew the calling of God in my life, but I just denied it. I was afraid that people would make fun of me because of my speech. However, God never gave up on me.

One day, I was having my quiet time with God and was reading Exodus 4 about Moses at the burning bush. Moses told God that he too spoke in a "funny" voice and that nobody would listen to him. God told Moses that He can still use him in spite of his weakness. After reading that story, I was challenged by God, and I surrendered to His will for my life. God can use a "funny" speaking person to spread His good news!

God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (NLT)

Everyday, God has helped me and has given me the strength to not be concerned about my speech impediment. I have learned that my "deficiency has become his efficiency." I have seen God use my handicap to reach people. I don't know how He does it, but I just trust God to speak through me and to help me not to worry about my speech.

Anyway, I hope this post was a blessing to you.

My Life Experience - Part 1

I was born in Royal Oak, Michigan on December 6, 1974. I was also born with hearing loss in both ears. When I was 2 1/2 years old, they diagnosed 80% loss of hearing in the high frequency range. This is why I cannot hear the ladies, especially when they nag! So ladies, if you like to speak to me, you must speak to me in a low "manly" voice. (For those who don't really know me, I'm just kidding - my hearing is NOT that bad.)

Since then, I've been wearing hearing aids which really help my hearing, but it doesn't quite solve all my problems. For example:

• Hard to hear in group conversation (hard to read a lot of lips all at once)
• Phone conversations are somewhat difficult (especially when they are talking too fast)
• People praying (can't read lips with eyes close - but I sometimes peak to look)
• Television (need closed caption)
• Songs (need closed caption)
• Radio (again, need closed caption)
• And did I mention nagging women (of course, I'm not talking about my wife. Karen never nags).
  

My hearing loss also gave me another problem - my speech. Soon, I will share with you in another post about how God has used my weakness to turn into His strength for His glory.

Paul Erwin - a testimony of Outflow

This past Tuesday afternoon, Paul Erwin went home to be with Jesus at the age 39.  His wife is a faithful worker on our staff, assisting our youth pastor, Craig Hindsman, and myself.  

I was talking to Paul on Tuesday morning to discuss an outreach plan for March 15, "Feeding the Hungry" Sunday, in which Paul was in charge of cooking the meal to feed 1500 plus people.  This week, he was in the middle of preparing meals for 250 people on Thursday (yesterday) that cost $5 plate, in which the profits were going toward missions and where Paul was not making a dime! Paul was outwardly focused on MISSIONS!

One hour after our conversation, He was shopping at Sam's Club (for missions) when he met Jesus, face-to-face.  He will be missed around the Marcus Pointe family.  His wife Jennifer and their 3 children are in our prayers.

The funeral arrangements are as follow:

Sunday, February 15

2:30-3:30 Viewing

3:30 Memorial Service

Wednesday, February 18

9:30 Interment at Barrancas Cemetery

Our church is in a middle of a series call Outflow: an Outward-Focused in a Self-focused World.  Thank you, Paul, for living an "outflow" life where you affected many lives around you for Christ.

To blog or not to blog... that is the question!

Recently, I have joined the Facebook mayhem and the Twitter rage. After much deliberation, I have decided to become official and join the blog universe!

To be honest with you, I was hesitant to start a blogsite. One of my pet peeves are so-called bloggers who never blog but once every full moon. With that being said, I am committed to blog at least once a week, but if you're lucky, I just might blog more frequently. 

My goal is to share my journey with you, as my family and I make the move from Pensacola, Florida to the Detroit metro area this year to start a church from scratch.  I'll be posting current news of what is happening in our lives and the life of the new church.  I will also mention items for you to pray about.

So, wish me luck and I hope that you'll enjoy the stuff that I will blog about.