Fired Up

A Pastors' Cage Fight

2012-01-27T12:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the The Elephant Room, a live simulcast event pitting nationally prominent Christian leaders to debate topics with each other. It was open to questions via Twitter, and allowed 2 pastors to debate an issue, but each topic was then opened for input from the others in attendance.

While I thought last year's Elephant Room was more challenging, heated, and interactive, this one certainly left me with me take-aways. I posted several direct quotes via Twitter and Facebook.

Learn more about the speakers and topics here: James MacDonald, Mark Driscoll, Crawford Loritts, Jack Graham, TD Jakes, Steven Furtick, Wayne Cordeiro.

Topics/ Issues: Diversity, Denominations, Differences (in major theology), Depression (un-health of pastors and how to avoid burnout), Distinctives (essentials of the Gospel).

Significantly, at least at the event, TD Jakes came out and addressed his position, with great humility and willingness, on his theology of the Godhead. What was discussed was a deep theological distinction regarding modalism or Sabellianism. (For more info on Sabellianism, visit Justin Holcomb's Know Your Heretics series at The Resurgence.) and Trinitarianism. Honestly, while I study and know my theology, I was not familiar with TD Jakes position on these issues, so I wasn't prepared for this discussion and was even surprised by it.

I enjoyed the grace and truth with which topics were handled and debated. In fact, I wish there had been more heat, debate, and direct candor on differences (or that they had brought in speakers who didn't agree so much). The elephant did not seem very big in the Elephant Room. In fact, here's a pic of the actual elephant in the room at our event. See, not very big!

If you would like to read well-written live-blogged version of the event, check it out at Trevin Wax's blog.

I may post some of my personal thoughts and notes from the event next week, if there is enough interest. Let me know!

Why join a LIFE GROUP?

2012-01-19T13:14:00.000-08:00

Check out my blog on "why to join a life group" here. For a brief time, I will be posting on this blog as well.
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Join us Sunday, January 22 as we kick of Open House Week for Life Groups!

On Sunday, browse through the lobby and visit each Life Group’s table to sample some of their homemade goodies and meet a few members of their group. During the Open House Week (February 12-20), make it a point to visit one or two groups that interest you. Each group will be having an “Open House,” so it will be easy to stop in, check things out, and feel right at home. No pressure to commit or sign-up- just have fun and make new friends!
Check out the list for the Winter 2012 Life Groups, and we hope to see you this week!

But WHY should you check out and JOIN a life group? Let me say, come out Sunday and you'll find out WHY? It's what I'm preaching about too. But let me add a few thoughts.

We were created for and NEED community. God uniquely created us (in His image) to need and want to belong and be part of community. That's why we feel disconnected and messed up if we are not in connection with people and building meaningful friendships.

Sundays Life Gatherings aren't for COMMUNITY. We gather on Sundays to worship and grow. That's why it's essential to get plugged into a group during the week. Sundays are designed to gather as many believers together to worship and gather as many unbelievers together to introduce them to the GOSPEL.
We need to BELONG and to be KNOWN and that CANNOT happen on Sundays. When you come out on Sundays to our gatherings, we know you feel a little lost in the crowds, and it's HARD to meet people and make friends. Truth is, even if Lifehouse were only 40 people, you wouldn't know everyone. It's just that you would at least see someone you do know. Plus, no matter where a person attends, Sundays really aren't meant for community. So, we need to belong and the best way to belong is to get connected to a life group.
Life groups are a "FAMILY of FRIENDS!"Joining a life group of 6-25 people allows you to meet and get to know other Jesus-followers. In groups, you'll build authentic community and meaningful friendships, and you'll know that you belong. We want to be a family, well... a church should be a family of friends!
Life groups help you GROW! The best place to develop in your personal, spiritual journey is in a group with other believers. They can pray with you, and you for them. Together you can study the Bible, encourage each other, and ask questions. Once of the key goals of a life groups is DISCIPLESHIP (or becoming more life Christ!)
Life groups are easy an easy place to invite friends. Who's intimidated to go over someone's house? How DOESN'T like to be invited to someone's house? It's easy to invite friends who don't know Jesus over to another friends house to meet people like them and to talk about God. Another key goal of life groups is to invite un-churched friends.

We look forward to seeing YOU get plugged into a life group.

12 Lessons in Church Planting (from ChurchPlanters.com) 2 of 2

2012-01-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

Now Posting at www.barenakedfaith.blogspot.com. To continue reading my posts and blog, bookmark and save that link.

More on Lessons from Lovejoy and ChurchPlanters.com. For the first 6 lessons, see yesterday's post.
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12 Lessons Learned in 12 years (Part 2 of 2) by Shawn Lovejoy

7. Change the way people think about church

In the first year of our church, we made a decision: In everything we do, we’re going to seek to change the way people think about church. This is so much bigger than the type of music we do, or our dress, even though they are parts of the equation! It affects everything we do. Examples? Folks don’t have to be “Christians” to go on a mission trip. They might become one by going! They don’t have to be a “Christian” to volunteer at our church, much less, be a member! Our small groups are always not only open to new people, but are going after people who don’t go to church and inviting them to be a part of their group! Every group is responsible to “get off the couch” and serve and care missionally for people groups in our community. Just small simple example of how we’re changing the way people think about church both inside and outside our church in our community.

8. Go after unchurched people

We’re not worried about swapping sheep or reaching professional Christians. If they want to join our mission to reach the lost, great. If not, great. We are here to help as many people as possible find a relationship with God through Jesus. That’s our laser beam focus. Take us or leave us! We’re here to reach people who don’t like Jesus or Christians.

9. Be careful what you ask for

Did you know unchurched people don’t walk in and start tithing? And it probably won’t be a three-month process, either; probably more like three years! Unchurched people smoke and curse in the parking lot, and maybe even in the sound booth! All of these things really happen in our church. Being a hospital for sinners is messy!

10. The right team in the right seats makes all the difference

We’ve always had a great Ministry Team at our church. I am thankful for every one of them, however, the right team members with the right gifts and skills, in the right seats, in the right seasons of the church, allows a church to continue to breath and grow and reach people for Jesus Christ. The wrong team members on the wrong seats for too long will put a lid on the church’s effectiveness.

11. I must measure success God’s Way

Success is being who God called me to be and being obedient to what God has called me to do. I am so tempted to measure success by this week’s attendance. However, I’m never as good as people think I am when we’re exploding numerically; and I’m not as bad as I think I am when we’re not. My role is to be obedient to the call and stay sane, centered, and happily married in the process. That is success!

12. God is faithful.

God never gives up: on me; or on my ministry! He hasn’t given up on you, either! Don’t give up on yourself. We only fail when we give up. God never gives up. He is faithful!

12 Lessons Learned in 12 years (Part 1 of 2) from ChurchPlanters.com

2012-01-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

I feel love and joy in recommending 12 Lessons Learned in 12 years (Part 1 of 2) by Shawn Lovejoy from ChurchPlanters.com.

Twelve years ago, we launched weekly worship services at Mountain Lake Church. Wow. What a ride! God has used me despite my stupidity; and I have learned so much along the way. Here’s the first part of my top twelve lessons I’ve learned in the last twelve years.

1. Having a vision is easy. Sticking to the vision takes extraordinary discipline and effort.

Every pastor and church has a vision. Every one of them I’ve ever seen is Biblical. However, even most church planters get sidetracked form their vision within the first few years. We have stuck to our guns. We’ve been “mean about the vision.” It’s made all of the difference!

2. Conviction and Courage are more important than strategy.

My passion and sense of conviction, along with the courage to stay the course are more important than any brilliant strategy I could come up with that no one has ever done before.

3. No plan’s perfect; so work our Plan!

Our ministry plan is not perfect. However, we’ve worked the plan every year the last twelve years and every year we’ve gotten better at what God has called us to do. We don’t have “vision flavor of the month” or “small group method of the year.” We’ve worked our plan. We’ve been consistent in our ministry approach. It’s made all the difference.

4. People come. People Go. Go with the Go-ers.

Don’t focus who’s leaving; focus on who stays. The ones that stay will see the mission through and experience the fruit of mission accomplished! When one leaves, God will bring five to replace them…if we stay focused!

5. God does things the way He wants.

It has almost NEVER happened exactly the way we drew it up. However, that’s the precise thing that has kept us dependent on Him! Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Prophetic verse in my life these last twelve years! So many times, what I deemed as a failure was God’s sharpening and sovereignty at work in my life and church!

6. In God’s Story, ordinary matters.

God loves to use ordinary people. I am one. The very reasons or excuses I might use to disqualify myself from being used greatly by Him make me the perfect candidate for extraordinary ministry! What are your excuses as to why God can’t use you? Those are the very reasons God wants to use you; because you’ll know it’s not about you!

In 2005, we launched Churchplanters.com to “give pastors permission”. Join us this year at #Velocity12 on Feb 27-28. Once again, we’ll give each other permission to be what God has called us to be and do what God has called us to do! Register NOW!

Thoughts (that apply TODAY) by MLK Jr

2012-01-16T13:30:00.000-08:00

Please read my regular blog posts at www.barenakedfaith.blogspot.com and my most recent one here.

However, for your convenience, I am posting my blogs for a short amount of time to both sites. I would appreciate if you would subscribe to and bookmark my new blog. Thank you! -Pastor Patrick
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I've tweeted several of Martin Luther King Jr (in honor of our national holiday TODAY) quotes, but here are a few of his best speeches and sermons. You can research and read more here.

His most famous and quoted speech, "I have a Dream" from August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C. (read here) or watch here.

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free... In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check... It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note... America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy... The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

...we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

...I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

...With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

...And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

An imaginary letter from the Apostle Paul, that he wrote for a message in 1956. This imaginary letter MLK Jr wrote on behalf of Paul seems very appropriate today in 2012!

"For many years I have longed to be able to come to see you. I have heard so much of you and of what you are doing. I have heard of the fascinating and astounding advances that you have made in the scientific realm. I have heard of your dashing subways and flashing airplanes. Through your scientific genius you have been able to dwarf distance and place time in chains. You have been able to carve highways through the stratosphere. So in your world you have made it possible to eat breakfast in New York City and dinner in Paris, France. I have also heard of your skyscraping buildings with their prodigious towers steeping heavenward. I have heard of your great medical advances, which have resulted in the curing of many dread plagues and diseases, and thereby prolonged your lives and made for greater security and physical well-being. All of that is marvelous. You can do so many things in your day that I could not do in the Greco-Roman world of my day. In your age you can travel distances in one day that took me three months to travel. That is wonderful. You have made tremendous strides in the area of scientific and technological development.

"But America, as I look at you from afar, I wonder whether your moral and spiritual progress has been commensurate with your scientific progress. It seems to me that your moral progress lags behind your scientific progress. Your poet Thoreau used to talk about "improved means to an unimproved end." How often this is true. You have allowed the material means by which you live to outdistance the spiritual ends for which you live. You have allowed your mentality to outrun your morality. You have allowed your civilization to outdistance your culture. Through your scientific genius you have made of the world a neighborhood, but through your moral and spiritual genius you have failed to make of it a brotherhood. So America, I would urge you to keep your moral advances abreast with your scientific advances.

"I am impelled to write you concerning the responsibilities laid upon you to live as Christians in the midst of an unChristian world. That is what I had to do. That is what every Christian has to do. But I understand that there are many Christians in America who give their ultimate allegiance to man-made systems and customs. They are afraid to be different. Their great concern is to be accepted socially. They live by some such principle as this: "everybody is doing it, so it must be alright." For so many of you Morality is merely group consensus. In your modern sociological lingo, the mores are accepted as the right ways. You have unconsciously come to believe that right is discovered by taking a sort of Gallup poll of the majority opinion. How many are giving their ultimate allegiance to this way.

"But American Christians, I must say to you as I said to the Roman Christians years ago, "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Or, as I said to the Phillipian Christians, "Ye are a colony of heaven." This means that although you live in the colony of time, your ultimate allegiance is to the empire of eternity. You have a dual citizenry. You live both in time and eternity; both in heaven and earth. Therefore, your ultimate allegiance is not to the government, not to the state, not to nation, not to any man-made institution. The Christian owes his ultimate allegiance to God, and if any earthly institution conflicts with God's will it is your Christian duty to take a stand against it. You must never allow the transitory evanescent demands of man-made institutions to take precedence over the eternal demands of the Almighty God."

RESOLUTION-FREE LIVING. A call to being RELENTLESS in 2012

2012-01-06T10:11:00.000-08:00

Here's my latest blogpost on how to live resolution-free in 2012. This is a challenging call to a radical commitment!

I'm now posting on my new blog or you can go directly to this post.

However, for those that follow this blog, I will post some of my most recent blogposts here for your convenience. PLEASE read my new blog. Same stuff, just renamed!

Thanks,
-Patrick
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Blog on RESOLUTION-FREE LIVING in 2012

At the end of each year, we go through a New Year’s ritual. We evaluate the previous year, and set resolutions to change our habits and lifestyles.

Resolutions start with good intentions:
We set goals. We make commitments.
We tell our friends. We start…

Then, as quickly as the new year begins, our resolve wanes. Busyness kicks in and old habits find new life.

What was once comfortable becomes comfortable again.

And what happens to our resolutions? We want and even intend to do what we couldn’t do in the past. Yet, new resolutions require new disciplines. We get tired. We experience setbacks, delays, and unanticipated obstacles.

We get busy. Daily life distracts us. Deadlines and demands zap our energy and quiet our enthusiasm.

Therefore, I’m calling for no more resolutions. 2012 will be RESOLUTION-FREE.

Let’s NOT make any more commitments with good intentions but no execution.

Let’s NOT recycle the same guilt, failures, and regrets into yet another year of broken promises, disappointments, and inadequacies.

At Lifehouse, our goal is to provide resources that will empower you to live RELENTLESSLY for God. We want to assist you in developing a vibrant relationship with Jesus by establishing a daily prayer time and reading through the Bible. We want to challenge you to give your talents, time, and treasures to the Cause of Christ, and to join this authentic community of Jesus followers called the Church.

What do you need in order to be RELENTLESS in 2012?

Join us THIS Sunday for a powerful call to a radical commitment to live relentlessly in 2012.

What do you want to be different about your life this time next year?

Are you willing to commit? Will you give God your all this year?

Living Your Best Life

2011-06-20T13:45:00.001-07:00

latest blogpost from Part 3 of St Patrick series:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/06/st-patrick-part-3-living-best-life.html

Father's Day Tribute

2011-06-19T04:49:00.000-07:00

great video and song, as well as my personal Father's Day tribute:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/06/fathers-day-tribute.html

Exciting Volunteer Opportunity THIS Saturday

2011-06-16T13:03:00.001-07:00

Check out this great opportunity to serve Convoy of Hope:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/06/exciting-volunteer-opportunity-this.html

Latest on St. Patrick

2011-06-15T14:16:00.001-07:00

YOU get a chance to VOTE on St Patrick episode conclusion. Also, more resources:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/06/heres-latest-on-st-patrick.html

Testosterone Sunday

2011-06-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Check out a VERY exciting event happening THIS Sunday:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/06/testosterone-sunday.html

Please Pray

2011-06-09T10:17:00.001-07:00

Latest blogpost appealing to all praying Christians to pray for us:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/06/please-pray.html

Check it out- resources for part 1 of Law & Order: St Patrick Unit

2011-06-08T13:05:00.001-07:00

Latest blogpost with links and videos for the kick-off of our latest sermon series at www.lifehousechurcheast.org.

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/06/check-it-out-resources-for-part-1-of.html

Newest ST PATRICK Series- Law & Order

2011-06-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

Check out latest blogpost introducing the Newest ST PATRICK series: Law & Order:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/06/newest-st-patrick-series-law-order.html

Great Moments in Life

2011-06-02T10:18:00.001-07:00

Latest blogpost about some great moments in my life- all from this past weekend:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/06/great-moments-in-life.html

Should the US President Golf on Memorial Day? A lesson in leadership

2011-06-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

Read latest blogpost regarding a key leadership principle illustrated and broken by the President on Memorial Day 2011:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/06/should-us-president-golf-on-memorial.html

How Not to Invite Your Friends

2011-05-27T05:37:00.001-07:00

Check out the latest blogpost by Patrick and video by Lifehouse:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-not-to-invite-your-friends.html

Is May 21, 2011 Judgment Day?

2011-05-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

Patrick responds to all the coverage about May 21st (TOMORROW) being Judgment Day. Read the biblical and Christian response here: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/is-may-21-2011-judgment-day.html

Are We Keeping Jesus out of Our Business and Work?

2011-05-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

Latest blogpost about integrating our faith and our business and work ethic:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/are-we-keeping-jesus-out-of-our.html

Stop Trying to Save Face

2011-05-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

Latest blogpost on how NOT to save face:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/stop-trying-to-save-face.html

Why Should I Get Baptized?

2011-05-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

Discover the "why" behind Christian baptism and an opportunity for you to take this meaningful step:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/why-should-i-get-baptized.html

Kick-off of Newest Sermon Series - DOORS

2011-05-10T17:12:00.000-07:00

Newest Sermon Series just kicked off at Lifehouse Church:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/kick-off-of-newest-sermon-series-doors.html

check out the trailer and overview of the study guide in the blogpost.

Great thoughts from Chick-fila Leaders Conference

2011-05-09T04:52:00.000-07:00

Latest blogpost of notes from Chick-fila Leadercast:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/great-thoughts-from-chick-fila-leaders.html

If you have a mother, READ THIS!

2011-05-07T11:25:00.001-07:00

Newest blog of announcements and critical info:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/if-you-have-mother-read-this.html

How to Make Decisions

2011-05-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

New Blogpost of notes from Leadercast speaker Seth Godin

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-to-make-decisions.html

What do we do in this turbulent economy?

2011-05-05T12:08:00.000-07:00

New blog post from presentation with Steve Forbes and CEO of Northwestern Mutual on the econo-ME, and adapted for spiritual/ leadership consumption:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-do-we-do-in-this-turbulent-economy.html

2011-05-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

New post of notes from Exponential Conference: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/being-jesus-in-our-community-notes-from.html

These notes are from Michael Frost on Living Incarnationally (being Jesus in our community).

Should Jesus-followers celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden?

2011-05-03T05:51:00.000-07:00

Read my response to this question with thorough biblical outline: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/should-jesus-followers-celebrate-death.html

What is the church?

2011-05-02T04:42:00.001-07:00

New post here: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-is-church.html

Using Social Media to Share Our Faith

2011-04-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

Latest blog encouraging you to take a bold step through social networking as a spiritual and personal exercise for Good Friday and Easter Sunday

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/04/using-social-media-to-share-our-faith.html

Where do you turn when you're not getting your way?

2011-04-20T09:39:00.001-07:00

Latest blogpost at http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/04/where-do-you-turn-when-youre-not.html

Discover the key to trusting God.

Purpose of Doubt

2011-04-18T11:55:00.001-07:00

Latest Blog at http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/04/purpose-of-doubt.html

Discover the purpose and meaning of doubt and spiritually dry seasons in your life.

Travel the World- Make a Difference

2011-04-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

Latest Blog post on traveling the world to make a difference. Get involved. Become a missionary.

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/04/travel-world-make-difference.html

Growing stronger as a Jesus-follower

2011-04-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

Latest blogpost on personal growth in journey with God, including our discipleship map:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/04/grow-stronger-as-jesus-follower.html

The purpose of lonely

2011-04-12T17:39:00.001-07:00

Latest Blogpost from sermon series called "Scars".

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/04/purpose-of-lonely.html

Share YOUR Story

2011-04-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

Check out new post at http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/04/share-your-story.html

Share your Scar-Stories.com

Please RSVP- Unquenchable Life Seminar TOMORROW

2011-04-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

Check out this great Seminar coming TOMORROW to Lifehouse.

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/04/please-rsvp-unquenchable-life-seminar.html

Please register and RSVP. a FREE lunch will be served.

Weird Approach to Time Management

2011-04-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Check out great repost from Lifechurch.tv

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/04/weird-approach-to-time-management_07.html

Please subscribe to barenakedfaith.blogpost.com and read my blog on life and leadership.

Most Important Leadership Lesson

2011-04-06T17:23:00.000-07:00

Read the most important personal leadership lesson I've ever learned: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/04/most-important-leadership-lesson.html

This post includes the repost of one of the more important moments in my church planting experience. Not most important, but definitely critical.

Invite your FRIENDS & NEW Sermon Series

2011-03-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

Latest blogpost here: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/invite-your-friends-new-sermon-series.html

New videos for Friend Day & New Sermon Series!

Response to LOVE WINS by Rob Bell

2011-03-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

Latest post on my blog here: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/response-to-love-wins-by-rob-bell_29.html

This is one of the few times I repost a blog from another blogger, but it's well worth it if you're interested in reading a meaningful and thoughtful review of Rob Bell's Love Wins.

Don't Miss Out

2011-03-28T15:18:00.001-07:00

New Blog Post: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/dont-miss-out.html

with an update on an event at Lifehouse that you and your friends DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON!

Critical Announcements

2011-03-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

We have TWO BIG announcements at Lifehouse. Check out my latest blog to read more: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/critical-announcements.html

also, check us out at www.lifehousechurcheast.org and follow me at www.twitter.com/patrickgrach.

How the Enemy Attacks- Plot 6

2011-03-24T08:08:00.000-07:00

New blogpost - plot 6 on how the enemy attacks to destroy God's purposes in our life:

http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-enemy-attacks-plot-6.html

Here are previous plots with links to those blogposts:

1. The enemies first attack - friendship and flattery.

2. His second line of attack is just the opposite - insults and ridicule.

3. If these fail, he'll come at you with threats and discouragement (which both lead to weariness).

4. The next set of attacks are internal. They are Selfishness and Strife.

5. When we are faithful and become strong, the enemy comes at us with Seduction and Slander

Consider following my blog by subscribing and also follow me at www.twitter.com/patrickgrach.

Fired up,

-Pastor Patrick

www.lifehousechurcheast.org

How the Enemy Attacks- Plot 5

2011-03-23T09:48:00.000-07:00

New blogpost - plot 5 on how the enemy attacks to destroy God's purposes in our life: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-enemy-attacks-plot-5.html.

Here are previous plots with links to those blogposts:

1. The enemies first attack - friendship and flattery.

2. His second line of attack is just the opposite - insults and ridicule.

3. If these fail, he'll come at you with threats and discouragement (which both lead to weariness).
4. The next set of attacks are internal. They are Selfishness and Strife.

Consider following my blog by subscribing and also follow me at www.twitter.com/patrickgrach.

Fired up,

-Pastor Patrick

www.lifehousechurcheast.org

How the Enemy Attacks- Plot 4

2011-03-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

Check out latest blogpost in series on protecting God's destiny from the enemy's attacks in our lives: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-enemy-attacks-plot-4.html

Here's a brief overview of the previous plots with links to those blogposts:

1. The enemies first attack - friendship and flattery.

2. His second line of attack is just the opposite - insults and ridicule.

3. If these fail, he'll come at you with threats and discouragement (which both lead to weariness).

How the Enemy Attacks- Plot 3

2011-03-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

New post on how the enemy attacks those who are living for God here: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-enemy-attacks-plot-3.html

Links to plot 2- http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-enemy-attacks-plot-2.html

AND

plot 1- http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-enemy-attacks-plot-1.html

also, encourage you to subscribe to my new blog. I'll continue posting links here but it will be easier for you to bookmark or subscribe to www.barenakedfaith.blogspot.com.

thanks,
-Pastor Patrick
www.twitter.com/patrickgrach

How the Enemy Attacks- Plot 2

2011-03-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

New Post here: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-enemy-attacks-plot-2.html

Discover key principles of how the enemy attacks God's purposes in our life and the appropriate antidote.

FUNNY video to illustrate the point as well.

Spring Forward- TOMORROW

2011-03-12T15:05:00.000-08:00

New post with announcement about Daily Light Savings Time: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/dont-forget-spring-forward.html

Pray for Japan- links to coverage

2011-03-11T11:48:00.000-08:00

New Post with links to news coverage of tsunami hitting Japan: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/pray-for-people-of-japan-links-to-news.html.

Let's join together and PRAY!

Discover how the enemy attacks God's Destiny in your life- plot 1

2011-03-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

New Post here: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-enemy-attacks-plot-1.html

Discover the enemy's plots to destroy God's purposes for your life and how we strategizes to keep you from living with godly focus.

What's Keeping Us from Living Our Dreams

2011-03-10T05:56:00.000-08:00

Link to newest post at my new blog: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/whats-keeping-us-from-living-our-dreams.html

Be challenged to live the dreams of God for your life.

What's Keeping Us from Living Our Dreams

2011-03-09T17:02:00.000-08:00

New Post at my new blog: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/whats-keeping-us-from-living-our-dreams.html.

I believe one of the most critical principles any of us will ever learn about living our dreams OR NOT!!

Please come over to my NEW blog. I'd love to have you join the conversation!

Resetting Your Default Mode

2011-03-08T17:19:00.001-08:00

New blog post at http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/03/resetting-your-default-mode.html.

Please subscribe to my new blog.

NEW Post on How to Get Promoted by God

2011-03-04T09:46:00.000-08:00

Newest Post at Bare-Naked Faith Blog. I'm no longer blogging here, but transferred my blog and all posts.

Here's my latest post titled Who God Promotes? Lessons from 2 Samuel.

New Post at Bare-Naked Faith Blog

2011-03-03T08:47:00.000-08:00

check out my latest post on leadership lessons at my new blog barenakedfaith.blogspot.com.

Read NEW posts at BareNakedFaith Blog

2011-02-28T07:11:00.000-08:00

Most recent posts: barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/02/re-discovering-masculinity-in-love.html.

Read NEW posts at BareNakedFaith Blog

2011-02-28T07:10:00.000-08:00

Most recent posts: http://barenakedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/02/re-discovering-masculinity-in-love.html.

WHY follow Bare Naked Faith Blog

2011-02-25T06:36:00.000-08:00

I recently changed the name and place of my blog to: www.barenakedfaith.blogspot.com.

Also, follow me on TWITTER here.

This matches my understanding of the biblical approach to faith, church, leadership, and ministry more than the title "churchcanbefun" constitutes.

On my new blog, I'll continue to post of topics of church planting, discipleship, leadership, ministry, innovative and creative church ideas, preaching, family, outreach, effective communication, and much more.

Please follow me at my new blog and continue to check in for my regular posts.

Read ALL my NEW Posts at New BLOG

2011-02-24T17:28:00.001-08:00

I am now blogging at www.barenakedfaith.blogspot.com.

Please add this to your blog roll and subscribe.

NO LONGER POSTING HERE, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO NEW BLOG

2011-01-18T11:15:00.000-08:00

Patrick Grach is no longer posting blogs to www.churchcanbefun.blogspot.com.

Please subscribe to his new blog at www.barenakedfaith.blogspot.com.

THANK YOU for reading!

BLOG MOVED

2011-01-06T13:41:00.001-08:00

Patrick is NOW blogging at www.barenakedfaith.blogspot.com.

Lesson #11 from 2010

2011-01-05T10:47:00.000-08:00

Less is More. The concept isn't original to me, but I learned this lesson the hard way in 2010.

First my confession: I can be a little bit workaholic and a lot passionate. So, I tend to work really hard in the ministry and want to get and keep my hands in everything. However, I learned early in church planting that I have to spend most my time training and developing leaders then giving them meaningful opportunities to lead. Once they're proven, I don't micro-manage, but trust them to lead and continue to build God's Kingdom.

However, I create more work for myself and our team by dreaming bigger dreams and running after even greater purposes of God. Then, I have to keep giving away major chunks of my job description, so that we can continue to reach more people and impact God's Kingdom. So far so good. But, there are lots of areas that I don't want to give away or not sure if I can trust the leader, so I keep doing it, even when I don't want to.

In 2010, I had a few areas that I thought I was good at, even gifted, only to learn that I'm not that good, and even worse, I was putting my hands into areas where others were better equipped. This zapped my energy, passion, and even caused me to start doubting myself. Since I was drained, I had less energy and focus to lead in the areas where I'm very passionate and feel most gifted. Result- weary, discouraged leader who had to learn to give away more opportunities and responsibility. Less is more!

Want biblical evidence for this lesson: read Romans 12.

The teaching part of this I heard and read from Andy Stanley in his book, Next Generation Leader and his leadership podcast here. I'd recommend all leaders listen and read them.

Here are the keys to what I've heard and now, learned the hard way.

The more I try to do, the less I get done. The more areas I try to work at, the less impact I have in any area. And the more I do, the less others can do.

The less I do the more I accomplish. The less I do, the more opportunity others have and the more they get done.

Hardest part of this lesson for me: to be honest enough and self-aware enough to realize that I am not as good at as many things as I thought I was. And there are others that are much better at most things than me.

My (and your) options:

to feel insecure and inadequate, and try to improve in those areas, and keep spreading our selves so thin, and hope that no one notices OR

admit my weaknesses in humility and acknowledge my strengths, then focus the bulk of my energy in the areas of my greatest strengths.

Leaders offer the most good to the Church when they leverage their greatest gifts, and maximize their full potential in the specific areas that God has uniquely anointed and gifted them. However, leaders hurt the Church when they focus on strengthening their weaknesses, then use those marginally improved weaknesses in the Church.

We must do what ONLY we can do.

This doesn't mean that we'll have shorter work weeks, just more focused hours while we're working.

This isn't an excuses to NOT strength areas of weak character. We must grow in Christ-like character. I'm writing about areas of limitations in skill, competence, and calling. In character, we must constantly be growing, in the others- less is more.

Thanks, Lifehouse, for your patience as I grow and learn these hard lessons the hard way.

Ask yourself: what are your strengths? What can only you do? how can you do that to the fullest for God's Kingdom? What do you need to stop doing? Make a "don't do" list.

Lesson #12 from 2010

2011-01-04T06:35:00.000-08:00

I'll take some time each day to blog lessons I learned (many the hard way) from 2010. Starting with #12:

Transparency trumps failure. When, not if, we mess up, admit it candidly, take responsibility, then move on.

Biblical mandate for this principle: Isaiah 11:2-3, "

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD..." (NKJV)

I've never made any pretense of being perfect or fearless. However, when I mess up or fail, it can still be very disillusioning to those I lead. That fear of leaving people demotivated and disillusioned can keep many pastors and leaders back from being honest about their shortcomings, failures, and poor decisions. But I learned in 2010, regardless of how sizable the failure or painful the unmet expectation, just admit it.

During a particularly difficult season at Lifehouse, I had a choice, as I was preparing for our annual business meeting, where I was going to present that things did not work out like I had vision-casted that they would. Be the leader I was taught to be and act like I had it all figured out and just cast new/ different vision, hoping people won't figure out that we've dramatically changed course OR candidly share my mistakes, what I've learned, what I am certain God is speaking to us, and transparently invite people to follow in spite of my humanness.

To my surprise, Jesus-followers are more gracious with transparent, honest leaders than we give them credit. People are looking for vulnerability among leaders more than stoic, I-have-it-all-together-and-figured-out charades.

Thanks Lifehouse for giving me a deeper faith in God and the Church.

In what area do you need to choose transparency over saving face?

How and why we fast

2011-01-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2011 and the start to the 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer!

I get lots of questions about why and how to fast during this time, so I figured I'd address a few of them here. Please download and read the flyer/ schedule that we've provided for the church here.

Why we fast?

It's a biblical mandate and a basic discipline of Jesus-followers. Throughout the Bible many key figures fasted (Moses, David, Esther, Daniel, Nehemiah), and namely Jesus fasted for 40 days before He began His formal ministry. The apostles and Jesus-followers of the early Church followed Jesus' example and fasted regularly (see Acts 13:2-3).

We fast to leverage our natural appetites as an alarm to keep focused attention on God during a season of prayer. In essence, every time I get hungry, it's a reminder to pray and meditate on God's Word and continue to seek His face.

Why 21 days or any other length of time?

Our 21 day fast is taken from the example of Daniel when he was fasting for breakthrough from God (Daniel 10:2-3).

There is nothing sacred about 21 days or 7 or 40, but there are biblical examples of each.

The point isn't to see how long a person can go without food, but to seek God and cry out to Him in desperation for our own needs, but more importantly, for the needs of the Church, our community, and our nation, even the earth.

At Lifehouse, we do a 21 day fast from the model of Daniel- claiming breakthrough from God for the spiritual needs of our community and asking God's blessing over the Church of this region.

Honestly, I personally started fasting to kick-off each year when I was in Bible college. First, I fasted 3 days, then a week the next year. After 10 years of fasting personally, I decided to lead our church in this discipline to start each New Year.

How do we fast? What kind of fast do we do?

There are several different ways to fast: Daniel's fast (meats and sweets), media fast (give up TV, recreational internet, movies, etc), all food, liquids only, water only, and sunrise to sunset liquid only (standard Jewish method).

There is no right way if your heart is right. The point is to use your appetite(s) as a reminder to focus your attention on God.

This is a great opportunity to build new habits and kick old ones, so consider fasting TV, video games, or some food that you no isn't good for you.

If you haven't fasted before, I'd recommend not going 21 days with liquids only, especially if you have a physically demanding job.

Consider fasting your favorite meal of the day, or fast meats and sweets. I ask our leadership team to do a media fast during this time (it keeps us focused on God and not filling our minds with unnecessary trash).

There is nothing "holy" or super-spiritual about a more extreme fast. I personally do a liquid only fast for these 21 days, but part of my reason is that I'm so thick, that it probably takes this much time for me to recalibrate, get refocused on God, and clear away all the junk that's built up over the past few months.

IMPORTANT: this is NOT an effective weight loss plan. Do not fast to loose weight, trust me, you'll gain most the weight you loose back quickly, unless your are establishing good habits during the fast.

My recommendations:

Fast one meal per day and set consistent prayer times each day and start reading through the Bible.

If you are able, consider a liquid only fast for a few days during the week.

Come to corporate prayer times at 6-7am and 7-8pm. Praying with other passionate Jesus-followers will both challenge and encourage your prayer life and focus.

Let's see what God does as we humble ourselves and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. Let's pray that God heals our land and transforms our communities!

Bible resources- FREE

2010-12-29T07:10:00.000-08:00

The most critical step in growing in our relationship with Christ is studying and obeying the Bible. So, here are some FREE tools to help you:

download and listen to the Bible (load onto mp3 player or burn onto CD) here. Also available- Old Testament & KJV,
download audio NIV Bible in professional format for $23 here,
read and study the Bible with these sites full of Bible translations, commentaries (authors research on each chapter and verse of the Bible), daily devotions, as well as many other helps. In order of usefulness: 1. biblegateway.com; 2. biblestudytools.com; 3. searchgodsword.org. Many of these tools would cost $1000s if you had to buy them in hardcopy.
for smart phones, iPhones, iPads, etc: Bible resources at youversion.com.

If you'd like to download and have Bible research tools on your computer, here are a few I highly recommend and use myself:

for everybody who wants to start seriously studying the Bible- powerbible.com for PC only ($19),
for people serious about studying the Bible and building a library- logos.com for PC and Mac, as well as iPhone- packages range from those who want personal study (Home package- $120) to leaders and life group leaders (Bible Study Leader package- $212) to lay pastors and teachers (Leaders library- $260) to pastors and scholars (Scholar's library- from $504).

These resources are well worth the investment and dramatically speed up your ability to study the Bible. Honestly, what once took me 10 hours to do in college in the library, I can do on my laptop in 10 seconds. There is no excuse for not seriously studying the Bible. Plus, the Logos software is upgradeable and expandable, so you can start at a base level, and upgrade and buy books as desired. Hey LOGOS, you should give me a commission for this plug :)

We have a surprise for everyone at Lifehouse in January 2011 that will help you grow in your spiritual life through 2011. Come ready to grow and deepen your faith (not free software, but great nonetheless!).

Roller Coaster Living

2010-12-09T09:49:00.000-08:00

Confession: Laura likes roller coasters more than I do. I enjoy them, but would rather do something else crazy, and honestly, I try to act like I'm enjoying the ride a whole lot more than I actually am.

Confession: I've lived the roller coaster life and don't enjoy that either. And unfortunately, so have you. And we don't enjoy watching other people live this way- roller coaster attitude, roller coaster marriages, and a roller coaster spiritual life.

You don't enjoy it either, even when you're life is swirling around on the track. Here's what roller coaster living sounds like:

in love with their spouse one day, and ready to kill each other the next.
happy about their weekend, then miserable on Monday afternoon.
use words to bless, and then using such colorful language that you'd make a sailor blush, and mothers are plugging their kids' ears.
speak of godly things in one conversation, and then tell a dirty joke.

This is partly the human condition. We battle between feeding our spirit and our flesh. We battle, as Christians, with being instantaneously made "perfect" in Christ's righteousness at the moment of salvation, and yet we are being "perfected" through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

That part I completely understand. But I find the roller coaster life exhausting and unacceptable! Maturity, especially in the Christian life, means that we are becoming more consistent and stable. My directive, GROW UP! If you're loving your spouse one moment, and mistreating them the next- STOP IT! If you're words bless and curse, ask God to transform your vocabulary. If you're spiritual life looks more like this guy attached to the roller coaster track than a mountain path, SEEK GOD!

The apostle James challenges us in James 3:4-18 to be wise with "wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."

Hope this serves as a word of encouragement rather than correction. I feel the same tension and roller coaster ride. I'm just prayerfully submitting myself in humility before God to be transformed and unstrap from the tracks of my sin-nature.

COMING SOON: Red Carpet Sunday!

2010-11-19T12:29:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, December 5, we’re rolling out the RED CARPET for all friends and family members of Lifehouse Church East! Every guest of honor can enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, continental breakfast, family portraits, and admission to Legend, a special Christmas series.

Tickets for the event are FREE, but seating is limited in each service, so start making your guest list today!

The box office will be open November 21 & 28 before and after the 9:00 & 10:30 AM service. You may also call 301-824-4656 or email info@lifehousechurcheast.org for WILL CALL information.

Every guest can also submit their contact information on their ticket stub to be entered in the VIP Gift Package drawing ($225 value!). There will be one winner drawn for the 9:00 AM service, and one drawn for the 10:30 AM service. Guests must be present to receive their prize. Ticket stubs can be submitted at the box office on Sundays.

these videos are proof that EVERYONE is necessary at Lifehouse

2010-11-16T10:20:00.000-08:00

In case you don't know where you belong or what talent you have to offer, I want to assure every person at Lifehouse is valuable and necessary.

As PROOF, we've discovered that one ministry partner's unique gift is making jibjab videos of the office staff. Who knew that this was a necessary role in the church, but hey, we want everyone to maximize their giftedness to impact God's Kingdom at Lifehouse.

I had to censor most, but here are a few jibjab videos of our team that may give you a laugh. OH, and be very afraid if you see someone at Lifehouse trying to get a close of picture of your face. You may find yourself in one of these.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Featuring: Lauren Layman, Melody Belotte, Corey Broadwater, Patrick, Brian Linn.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Featuring: Pastors Ron, Patrick and Laura, Corey Broadwater, and Dave Johnson

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Featuring: Pastor Joe and Lois, John and Jamie Aldridge, Lauren Broadwater.

Take-aways from our Leadership Advance weekend

2010-11-13T12:59:00.000-08:00

Just got home from our Leadership Advance planning weekend with the pastoral/ staff team of Lifehouse. Here are some take-aways:

First, this wasn't a retreat, but an advance, because we're not retreating to escape but to plan to move forward. Not semantics, Cause!
We are full of "holy discontentment". We're not satisfied with our level of experience with God or our impact for the Kingdom of God. We want more of God and more of God's purposes.
We're a band of mis-fits. Most of us on the team honestly think that we don't belong anywhere else, feel inadequate for the responsibility we've been entrusted, and really believe that God does extraordinary things through very ordinary us.
Failure isn't failure if God's in it and we learn and grow through it.
We only want to dream what scares us and demands God to show up!
We've only just begun!! We're on the very front end of what God wants to accomplish through Lifehouse and our team. There are more lives to be changed, hearts transformed, and souls saved.

I've returned feeling excited and overwhelmed at the same time. I feel the tension between believing by faith in the impossible of God and the reality of what it actually takes to implement those BIG dreams!

Huge "thank you" to our amazing leadership team!

Who we are under pressure

2010-11-12T06:28:00.000-08:00

When we're under pressure, what comes out of us? Our best? Our worst?

The truth is that our truest self is revealed. What we truly are is squeezed to the surface. Under calm and comfortable circumstances, we can hide our intentions and weak character. But in the thick of battle, our character is exposed.

Do you like what pressure reveals about who you are?

Trials, hardship, and pressure are not sent by God, but are used by God to expose weakness and sin, so that we can grow in our faith and Christ-like character by repenting of sin and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our heart.

We may not like it, but trials and hardship are our greatest teacher. Here's how Charles Spurgeon wrote about this topic in his commentary on 1 Peter 1:7 "The trying of our faith..."

"Faith untried may be true faith, but it is sure to be little faith... Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her: tempests are her trainers, and lightnings are her illuminators... no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity."

How is the Holy Spirit trying to develop your character today?

In what areas has pressure revealed sin or weak character of which you need to repent?

Celebrate! Our faith is growing stronger and our character more Christ-like!

a very inadequate THANK YOU to our Veterans

2010-11-11T10:19:00.000-08:00

Loud shouts of thunderous appreciation and gratitude to ALL our American Veterans!!

Thank you for giving your blood...

sweat...

tears...

sacrifice...

and service...

financial well-being...

determination...

unwillingness to quit...

for missing your child's birth...

first word...

their first step...

and countless other firsts...

birthdays, anniversaries...

for putting on hold your dreams...

your families interests...

your needs...

your advancement...

for staying the course through the throes of battle...

fear...

pain...

death...

lack of support...

injury...

anxiety and stress about your cares at home...

for being vigilant...

to the Cause of Freedom

to defending the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic...

even when you wanted to run...

or hide...

or call home but couldn't...

Your sacrifice gave us...

comfort...

freedoms of speech, assembly, and so many more...

the right to bare arms, to protest, to vote...

the chance to see our kid's birth, first step, and a million other firsts,

the ability to live our hopes and experience the American Dream.

the opportunity to worship God in the greatest nation on earth.

THANK YOU to my heroes! May God bless you and may God bless America!

I can't express how much I personally appreciate your duty, honor, and sacrifice!

my lay-away purchase

2010-11-10T11:39:00.000-08:00

in prep for the message this Sunday, I came across this video:

The trunk monkey chaperone version is my next lay-away purchase. I don't care how much! I'll pick it up in about 7 years, when my oldest daughter is able to get her driving permit. :)

Boys, are you afraid? Not nearly enough! You know I'll be hunting you!

The WHY behind "Don't Go to Church" Sunday

2010-11-09T16:52:00.000-08:00

In case you're curious...

Here's NOT why we said, "don't go to church" on Sunday, October 31st:

to save money- we didn't do this to be cheap or try to save on expenses. We believe reaching people for Christ and leading people in life transforming experiences on Sunday mornings are worth the investment,
to get out of the theater- we like meeting in rented facilities that gives us the flexibility of keeping our focus on reaching the unchurched and serving our city by showing and sharing God's love. Meeting in the theater allows us to do that.

Here's the BIG whys behind why we lead Lifehouse to "don't go to church":

To say "YES" to God. First and foremost, this was a God-led idea. We didn't come up with this in a planning meeting. I had been sharing some ideas with our team that I felt God had placed on my heart, but I kept wrestling with them, and finally shared that it wasn't the right timing. However, i also expressed that there was something BIG that God wanted us to do to conclude the Bare-Naked Faith series, but I didn't know what it was. The next morning, in our staff prayer meeting, Lois Quesenberry shared an idea and my spirit leapt. I said, "That's it! That's the thing God wants to do." That's the genesis of the life group Sunday. It happened on a Tuesday, we announced on Sunday. When God calls us to respond, I've made a commitment to always just say "YES!"
To teach Lifehouse and our community that we DON'T GO to church, we ARE the Church. Church isn't a location, a building, or a Sunday morning experience. The Church is people gathered through their common faith in Jesus Christ for the purpose of worship, spiritual growth, building community, and sharing the Gospel with unbelievers,
To model our commitment to taking bold faith-risk steps. We, at Lifehouse, will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to teach and lead people to being devoted Jesus-followers,
To break us out of our routine of Sunday morning "church". Sometimes we need to be shaken out of routine. Even good routines can lose their effectiveness if we forget why we're doing them. So, Lifehouse's leadership takes bold, God-led steps to mix things up, surprise you with creativity, and catch you off guard with how powerful the Christian life is everyday,
To empower our life groups and leaders that they can effectively lead a life- transforming worship experience in their home,
To tease our community and Lifehouse with fresh ideas. I don't know if we'll lead a "Don't Go to Church" Sunday again, but I do know that we'll continue encouraging people to meet in homes for life groups. Who knows? We may even develop an idea of launching video church campuses in homes all around this region... Who knows?

Thanks for understanding the "why" behind the "what".

are you ready?

2010-11-08T07:22:00.000-08:00

The other day I decided to swim again as part of my work out routine. I was excited, because I love swimming and missed being in the water. Since I'd been training for the marathon, I put all my focus into running instead.

Enthusiastically, I got to the gym and through on my shorts only to discover that I had no goggles with me. In fast, my goggles broke over the summer. But, undeterred I jump in the pool and swam in the highly- chlorinated water for a mile. Then, I spent the rest of the day rubbing my eyes and explaining to everyone I met with that I wasn't, as it may appear, hungover.

Fortunately, I'm a fast learner. Today, I remembered my new pair of goggles when I left for the pool!

Like I shared yesterday in my sermon, we must ready ourselves for battle before we get into the thick of it. Put on the armor before you need it, not after the bullets are zipping by your head.

Life is a battle, the enemy of our souls is out to destroy us.

Are you ready for the battle today? Or are you jumping in the deep end without goggles? Are you racing into the week ready for battle?

My challenge to all of us: SOLDIER UP!

"Be the Church" Sunday

2010-10-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

We don't want anyone at Lifehouse to show up at the theater on Sunday, October 31st and be caught off guard, so we're spreading the word now- DON'T GO to Church!! That's right, we're inviting you to BE the Church!

On October 31st, instead of collectively meeting at the theater, we're meeting in 25 groups across the entire region. We're asking YOU and everyone connecting with Lifehouse to find a group and Be the Church by going to a life group that Sunday morning.

It's FRIEND DAY too, so invite your neighbors, friends, family out to the life group you'll be joining, and let's pack out 25 homes across this region! We'll have invite cards available on this Sunday, October 24th.

Most groups will meet at 10:30 in homes and various locations, a few will meet at 9 and 9:30am. Some will have childcare, most will have a live worship leaders, all will take communion, and YES! I will be preaching a message that morning!

We'll be kicking off a new sermon series that morning called "BIG: if you feed it, it will grow".

Don't GO to Church...

2010-10-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

That's right, as a conclusion to our Bare-Naked Faith series, we're asking ever everyone at Lifehouse and all your friends to NOT go to church on October 31st, 2010.

Why would Lifehouse be making such a crazy request?

We don't want you to GO to church but BE the church. So, we're doing something very DIFFERENT on 10/31. Please mark your calendars, start telling your friends, and invite your neighbors to join us for "Don't GO to church Sunday"! You are NOT going to want to miss this Sunday morning experience, and you may never be the same.

We're asking everyone to get involved! It's going to be a FRIEND DAY, so we want you to start inviting your friends out soon.

We'll tell you more about what's happening in our next post... (can't wait, it's crazy, and just downright biblical!!)

Unexpected Encouragement

2010-09-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

Last night, we sat and did our family devotion (thanks Pastor Lori and Jamie for the study guide from Sunday). The key verse to memorize was 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (NIV). Good thought! So, we went to the passage to read and discuss: Psalm 112. As I'm reading it to my girls, I had a moment where I realized it was more for me than for them. About halfway through I paused and said, "I really needed this tonight."

Here's it is. Love how God looks out for those who love, fear, and trust Him.

Praise the LORD! How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands. 2 Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. 3 They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will last forever. 4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. 5 Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. 6 Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. 7 They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. 8 They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. 9 They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor. 10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated. They will grind their teeth in anger; they will slink away, their hopes thwarted. (New Living Translation)

Invite your friends, enemies, neighbors, family THIS Sunday!

2010-09-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

Friend Day is a great opportunity to invite your friends to Lifehouse. We go all out for our guests and do everything we can to make them feel at home. We, as a leadership team, will make sure we give this our best effort. That’s our part.

TAG, YOU’RE IT!!

Your part is to INVITE! So, make it a point to get busy- emailing, calling, asking friends, neighbors, whomever to join us at Lifehouse THIS Sunday, September 12th at either 9 or 10:30am.

We’re also kicking off life groups (all 25 of them) this Sunday and introducing you to the Bare-Naked Faith study guide. It’s going to be incredible.

See you and your guests on Sunday!!

THE TOP TEN THINGS I LEARNED FROM LIFEHOUSE CHURCH EAST

2010-08-27T10:19:00.000-07:00

Written and originally posted by Melody Belotte Here's some inside jokes for your Lifehouse regulars....

"THE TOP TEN THINGS I LEARNED FROM LIFEHOUSE CHURCH EAST"

1.) How to fold a circular table cloth

2.) Cheese-ITs & Pepperoni are a perfectly acceptable breakfast food.

3.) When someone tells you to "go love on someone," don't worry-- it's not a sexual reference.

4.) If you see a man walking around kids ministry dressed in drag, he was probably actually going for more of the "old testament character" look.

5.) Those cups full of pens on the "endcaps of the aisles" are actually booby traps for new guests to knock over during a quiet part of the sermon.

6.) When we talk about St. Patrick- we're not referring to an actual historical figure, but our Pastor's Evil Alter-Ego.

7.) Lifesaver mints are like Lay's Potato Chips. I bet you can't just eat one.

8.) "FRIEND DAY" is actually code for "HOT BREAKFAST IN CAFE DAY." (God bless gravy.)

9.) Patrick Grach is "FIRED UP." When we figure out what "FIRED DOWN" is, we'll let you know.

10.) Church is a family of friends. It doesn't have to be uptight, boring, or detatched from reality. It can actually be an exciting experience...mostly because I'm pretty sure God drinks caffeine too...

Great to be back and kicking off week of fasting and prayer

2010-08-23T11:43:00.000-07:00

It's great to be back from vacation and sabbatical. We thoroughly enjoyed our time away and feel refreshed. It was also so valuable to have a week of sabbatical to pray, get training (I went to a leadership coaching training seminar for 2 days), and write 9 chapters for a book I'm working on.

Today, we kicked off a week of fasting and prayer. Join us from 6-7am at Leitersburg Cinema for prayer. Why fasting and prayer? Honestly, I've never seen anything substantive or lasting happen for God's Kingdom outside of prayer and fasting. They key is intimate connection with Christ, humility of our own agenda and attitudes, and complete surrender. When we use our appetites as a tool to remind us to pray and seek God, wow!

Focus today is on personal repentance and allowing God to clean out sin and clean up our attitudes. We must allow God to do a great work in us before He will do a great work through us!

What are we building in leadership and Church?

2010-07-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

Thought this was a great blog post by Steve Furtick of Elevation Church:

The house you have to live in

Posted: 22 Jul 2010 03:01 AM PDT

I once asked a group of fifteen pastors if they would attend the churches they were leading if they were not on staff. In other words, if they were just random people in the community working in different fields and they didn’t have to be there, would they actually want to be a part of their church? Would the programs impress them? Would the culture entice them? Would the vision inspire them?

Only two raised their hands.

Only two wanted to be a part of the church and the culture they themselves were trying to build.

It reminds me of an old illustration about a contractor who had been building houses for a friend. Eventually the friend gave the contractor one last house to build. He provided him with all the dimensions and told him to use the best material. But since it was his last house, the contractor decided to cut some corners thinking he could cover it up and save money. After the house was built, to his surprise his friend tossed him the keys to the house and told him it was his reward for his hard work.

We’re all building something.

Everyone is building their reputation. Their legacy. Their character. Parents are building marriages and families. Business leaders are building corporations. Pastors are building churches.

Whatever you’re building, make sure that it’s something you would actually want to live in yourself. Because you’re going to have to.

The reputation you’re building is the reputation you have to live with. The family you’re building is the family you have to come home to every day. The organization you’re building, whether it’s a business or a church, is the organization you’re going to have to lead.

So build something you would live in, even if you didn’t have to.

St Patrick season 2 videos and sermons available

2010-06-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

Get them while they're available. St Patrick season 2 videos and sermons are now available at youtube and at our website, but they're only available to a limited number of people for viewing and download. So, if you want to see or hear, go NOW!

Ok, that's not true. Anybody can watch, listen, and download. And we hope you do! Pass them around, email the links to your friends, family, and neighbors who you're inviting to Lifehouse, or to those who would benefit from this sermon series. OR to those who need a good laugh at MY expense.

Here's the links for part 6:

Sermon audio here.

Hope you're laughing and being deeply challenged to truly become a Jesus-follower.

BTW, how many of you are interested in an out-takes/ bloopers video for this series?

Tested through Fire

2010-06-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

Regardless of what's happening around us, God is using every situation, challenge, stress point, and trial to grow us into Christ- likeness.

I know that I've personally been on the anvil of His craftsmanship, and can see how the many challenges, hardships, and trials are being used by God to "crush" me so that I will become less so He can become more in my life.

Was challenged and encouraged by a verse a friend sent me today, (1 Peter 1:6-8, NLT):

"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

When I'm Wrong...

2010-06-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

It happens often enough and most of the time, I realize it too- I make mistakes, mess up, or am flat out wrong. Much of the time, many don't even realize that I am, other times those around me are waiting for me to realize it or wonder if I know. But there is always this critical moment when I realize I was wrong. What do I do now?

The other day I sent an email out citing the example of Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac, but instead of saying Abraham, I called him Moses. Sounds benign, right? But what if, in the middle of my sermon I'm recounting an historical narrative, and make a blatant error in recounting the story. For example, this past Sunday, I was retelling the story of how the Philistines "returned" the Ark of the Covenant by placing it on a new cart, yoked two oxen that had never plowed AND we're still nursing from their mother (where I got this from I have no idea). But that simple statement was wrong. Actually, here's what 1 Samuel 6 says about the oxen,
Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up (1 Sa 6:7).

So, they weren't young calves, but nursing mothers who wouldn't want to leave their calves behind and would be maternally wanting to stay with or return to their babies. Interestingly, I had not intended on telling the full background of that narrative, but once I started preaching, I felt the need to give more context. But since I had not recently read it, that detail was off.

I could overlook that error, hope that no one even noticed OR address it and correct it. So, as publicly as I can, I want to let everyone know that I'm wrong. I'm willing to study and make sure that I'm biblically accurate.

Wish I could say that my only failings have been in simple error or forgotten details. There are other times when I've really done wrong or hurt someone. Then what?

The bigger lesson: When I'm wrong, I'll take full responsibility for it, acknowledge it and let those involved know it, not blame or pass the buck, then correct my mistake, wrong, or sin with clear action. Repent if necessary. Make restitution when needed or warranted. Then, I'll move on and learn from my mistakes and failures. I don't keep looking back at my sins and failures, but accept forgiveness from God, others, and myself, and live looking forward.

Failures are expensive lessons to develop character, growth, and maturity in my life.

What failures or wrongs do you need to acknowledge and make right?

Watch St Patrick Gone Wild videos here

2010-06-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

Kicked off St Patrick season 2 a few weeks ago. Very excited and having a ton of fun while also speaking on some very challenging topics. The theme of this series is "The Anatomy of a Jesus-follower". However, I hope that you enjoy the journey and watching the videos as much as enjoyed filming and acting in them.

For Part 1 watch this intro video:

And for part 2:

And now, to actually listen to the sermons follow this link to our website:http://www.lifehousechurcheast.org/nonflash/main.aspx?page=sermons.

What is Meekness?

2010-05-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

Jesus called himself gentle and meek. Does meekness mean weakness? Was Jesus weak?

Best word picture for "meekness" is velvet covered steal. A gentle strength. A soft but unwavering firmness.

We are called to be meek, and can be meek, because we trust God alone to be our defense, our advocate, and we believe that He does look out for us. When we are fully surrendered to Him, we can have meek confidence that He will protect us, vindicate us, provide for us.

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. Isaiah 58:8-9

Love the picture that God is my rear guard. He's looking out for me.

Charles Stanley stated, "God takes full responsibility for those who are fully devoted to Him."

We don't have to fight or defend ourselves.

I'm learning to walk in meekness, and leave my concerns, worries, fears, stresses with God. Guess I'm better off with God looking out for His Kingdom and His servants than for me to try to do that job. He's a little bigger, stronger, wiser, and more powerful.

pastors in prayer

2010-05-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

Started today off by meeting with a group of pastors for our weekly prayer gathering. These are pastors from a variety of denominational and theological backgrounds but who share a few things in common:

we believe in the Bible wholly and fundamentally,
we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior,
we believe that the Church has been commissioned with the Gospel and is the only hope of the world,
we believe that we, as churches and leaders, are more powerful and effective together than we are apart,
we believe in the power of prayer,
we believe that we agree on more than we disagree,
we believe that unless we unite and serve together the Church will fail and continue to slide towards irrelevance and stale religion,
we believe that our prayers and unity of faith will matter for eternity so that the population of heaven will be different because we got out of bed and prayed.

What are we praying?

renewal of our city- true transformation to sweep through this region that will lead to physical needs being met, less crime, more caring, communities serving one another, and a significant drop in corruption,
The Church- that The Church would be unified, powerful, and effective in both showing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus with a city desperately in need,
salvation of those who are far from God- that the many who don't know or follow Jesus would be reached and discipled into true Jesus-followers, not so we can have more converts or fill churches, but that their lives would be rescue from the grip of sin and their souls freed from the bondage of hell, and that each person in our city would discover the eternal life of Jesus Christ,
holiness- that we, as pastors, would live God-honoring lives, and in turn, those who profess Jesus as their Lord, would begin to live more like Jesus- in word and deed.

Ok, we're praying tons more but those are just a few things that are weighing on my heart as we pray.

Thought I'd take a moment and share.

Does what upsets me upset God?

2010-05-11T04:49:00.000-07:00

I was jogging recently and thinking and stressing about a few issues that were upsetting me. So, I did what any God-fearing, super-spiritual pastor would do- I complained about them to God. I let Him know what was upsetting me and why and then asked Him to fix them. Sounds good and right?

While I was praying, er... complaining, a thought (maybe the Holy Spirit) struck me,

"Does what upsets me upset God?" Doh! That hurt. Do the things that stress me out, preoccupy my thoughts, attention, and energy also upset God? Is God sad over the things that make me sad?

Then, an even more disruptive thought raced through my mind like a run-away train about to dramatically change my day,

"Do the things that upset God also upset me? Or do I even think about the things that upset God?"

Maybe you're thinking, "God, upset?" Yes, certainly there are plenty of examples biblically of things that upset, anger, preoccupy the attention of God. Want just a few? People going to hell. Care for the orphans and the widows. The health and beauty (holiness) of the Church (Bride of Christ). Yea, those things are important and should be on my mind and when they are not given proper attention or care, they should upset me.

So, what I'm praying now, "God, break my heart with the things that break yours. Upset me with the things that upset you. And remove from my awareness or conscious thinking worries and stress of this life that matter little in the scope of eternity."

Are the things that upset you also upsetting God? Do they matter for eternity?

Are the things that break God's heart also breaking your heart?

Friend Day & New Sermon Series

2010-04-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 18th is Friend Day so invite your neighbors, friends, classmates, co-workers, family. Just make sure they are NOT plugged into a church already and then do WHATEVER it takes to get them to Lifehouse- bribe, kidnap (just make sure they're over 18), tranquilize, offer a dinner out on your dim... Just get your friends to church on Sunday. There are plenty of sets available in 9am service, but get there early for sets to the 10:30am service.

Also, kicking off a new sermon series called "Mixed Signals". It's about how to get clear direction from God in the midst of the noise around us. Watch the trailer here.

In case you were wondering where I was this past Sunday, I was grateful for a Sunday to visit one of our network churches down in Winchester (Lifehouse Church Shenandoah). Had a great time hanging out with Pastor Joel & Crystal Flower, who are doing a great job church planting. I feel privileged to serve alongside of them in Lifehouse Church Network.

Morning After Easter

2010-04-05T05:54:00.000-07:00

Reflecting on Easter and Lifehouse services. Thanks to all volunteers and leaders who gave their best, served their guts out, and made Lifehouse a welcome center for people coming to experience God. Way to go! We really have an amazing team of servants and leaders.

We launched 2 services back in mid-January because we were at capacity in one service, and our second service yesterday felt like our only service did back in December. Hope everyone enjoyed a packed house! Always exciting to see so many engaged in worshiping and following Jesus. First service was a blast as well. Great to see the 9am crowd inviting their friends!

One thought that struck me yesterday, "The Resurrection changes everything!" If there was no resurrection, than we have no hope, no life, no meaning. If Jesus didn't rise, than Christianity is no different than any other religion, except that we should be most pitied (Apostle Paul said that no me), since we have a false hope then. BUT if Jesus died rise, and he DID, than the Resurrection changes everything. Through Jesus, we have life, forgiveness, hope, healing, purpose, power, and an eternal destination and the mortgage has already been paid in full.

Scars: a story of despair

2010-03-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

Sermon audio and video testimony online NOW!

Here's a link to download or listen to the most recent sermon.

Here's the video for the video trailer that introduced the sermon. Tough, messy scar story, but if you listen to the sermon you'll discover how God can bring people THROUGH seasons of despair, depression, and anguish.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! (gotta watch the video)

2010-03-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Big HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

Just a little jig to say, "You're awesome!"

Daylight Savings and Baptism THIS SUNDAY

2010-03-10T17:29:00.000-08:00

Daylight Savings Time begins THIS Sunday, March 14th, so move your clocks FORWARD one hour THIS Saturday Night and pass on this video to other forgetful friends...

Baptism in Water is a significant step in the journey of a Jesus-follower, and if you or someone you know has not been baptized in water, take advantage of this special Baptism Ceremony held at Leitersburg Cinemas!

For more information- check out our event page here.

Is TRUE LOVE only in fairy tales?

2010-03-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

ALL sermons for "is TRUE LOVE only in fairy tales?" series are up here. See the previous post for the trailer for the series. I'm strongly encouraging you to download the mp3 files and SHARE them. Get your kids to listen to them, pass them on to your friends, classmates, or secretly load them onto someone's iPod.

We took a lot of time on this series, and I addressed some tough, but very relevant issues, as we walked through the Song of Songs. These messages are straight from the Bible with no fluff, just honest, timeless truth that will profoundly impact the lives of those who will live them.

Really preached my heart and guts out on this series. Hope you enjoy and are impacted for eternity!

We'll also have the whole set on CD available on this Sunday, March 14th.

INVITE your FRIENDS to Lifehouse to Church on Valentine's Day

2010-02-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

A reminder that tomorrow is Valentine's Day and FRIEND DAY! Invite your FRIENDS! We would strongly encourage you to invite them to either 9am or 10:30, but really want to encourage stronger attendance in the 9am service.

Here's our video to promote this FRIEND DAY and the Kick-off of "Is true love only in fairy tales?"

If you're wondering, graphics and video were taken from a series down by Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. Always nice when we don't have to spend 80 hours creating designs and videos from scratch.

Everyone wants a miracle BUT...

2010-02-10T11:39:00.000-08:00

few want to be in a miracle- requiring situation. We like miraculous healing, provision, protection, wisdom, and strength. But how many of us are willing to allow God to place us in situations of that require such miraculous breakthrough.

We read the Bible with the end of the story in mind, but for those who lived it, they were desperate and in need of God's power. Put yourself in these situations, could you have handled them as these biblical heroes did?

Moses and Israelites were cornered between the Red Sea and the charging Egyptian army BEFORE the Sea was parted (Exodus 14),
Israelites were wandering in the desert, Elijah was enduring a famine, a widow was about to eat her last meal, and 5000 men were hungry BEFORE God supplied an abundance of food (Exodus 16; 1 Kings 17; Matthew 14)
Daniel broke the law against prayer, was thrown into a den of lions BEFORE he saw God's protection (Daniel 6),
Gideon has challenged by God to narrow his vastly outnumbered army down to 300 men against the Midianites that were as vast as locust over the valley BEFORE God used them to deliver Israel from their siege (Judges 6),
Elisha and Gehazi were surrounded by a vast army of Arameans BEFORE God sent chariots of fire to destroy the opposing army (2 Kings 7),
Early Jesus-followers endured persecution, beatings, martyrdome, running for their lives BEFORE the gospel spread throughout all the regions surrounding Jerusalem and Asia Minor (Acts 8:1-8).

Curious as to why you might be in a difficult situation, enduring hardship, suffering?

For Israel in Judges 7:1-4, God "stacked the deck" against them so that they wouldn't take credit for the victory but so that God would get ALL the glory. Are we giving glory to God in our situations and with our victories?
In 2 Kings 7:15-17, Elisha prayed that Gehazi's eyes would be opened to see spiritually that "those who were with us are more than those who are with them". Maybe God wants you to see with spiritual eyes rather than with eyes of doubt and fear?
In Acts 8:1-8, the persecution and suffering was necessary to scatter the believers and spread the God News of the Gospel to the "ends of the Earth". How can we grow through hard times?

In each situation, obedience is required before the miracle comes. And always, God wants the Glory for His miraculous power.

Thanks to all for a great time at Lifehouse on Sunday

2010-02-08T10:46:00.000-08:00

Great to see so many brave Lifehousers and guests out at Lifehouse for our 10:30 service. It was a wild weekend with anywhere from 18-30+ inches of snow around the region. Wow!

Grateful for all who pitched in to make our service possible- Bill Anderson for plowing and getting the parking lot ready (did you even go to sleep on Saturday night?), Simanes for having coffee & cafe ready when everyone arrived (we all were in desperate need of a cup o' Joe), to the guys that were willing to walk people safely from the parking lot into the theater, and all the volunteers and staff that improvised, served, and worshiped together. What a way to SHARE LIFE TOGETHER.

Here's a picture I took when I went out to check out the roads early Sunday morning. Couldn't help but pull over and enjoy the moment!

SHINE Sermons are available at www.lifehousechurcheast.org.

10:30am service ONLY on Sunday, February 7th

2010-02-06T17:46:00.000-08:00

Lifehouse Church East will have 10:30am services ONLY on Sunday, February 7th.

For those of you who are volunteering, serving, and leading tomorrow, you may want to arrive between 9-9:30, depending on how much time you need to prep.

Please be careful and safe.

After being snowbound since Friday, I'm sure most of you are ready to get out anyway, and I've got a sermon I'm ready to preach. I spent the bulk of the day digging out as I'm sure you did. Here's a pic of my girls enjoying our giant mound of snow outside our door.

Enjoy your evening and we look forward to seeing you at 10:30AM.

DON'T FORGET, NEXT SUNDAY is FRIEND DAY!! So, invite your friends!!

SHINE sermon series

2010-02-02T13:56:00.000-08:00

Just a heads up that recent sermons are up on our website here.

Here's the trailer for SHINE as a teaser. Check them out and listen, be challenged, glorify God.

The Invitation series from Christmas is also up.

LISTEN. DOWNLOAD. LINK. TWEET. Whatever you do, SHARE.