Yesterday I attended the Pre-Labs at Catalyst Conference Atlanta. As I’m waking up to attend day one of the conference, let me share some quotes from yesterday that struck me: “Unless we seek God in radically different ways, the only thing we’re going to do in the next 50 years is manage the decline of Christianity in the Western world.” Jon Tyson on the topic of raising up a culture of leaders “How can a church transform a community if... Read more
My staff and I are heading to Catalyst Conference (Atlanta) today. It’s an incredible conference that has provided inspiration to our church for years. Here’s a quick video for Catalyst. Pray for us! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qDSccF04qk Read more
You’d never think that a “good church kid” from a staunch Southern Baptist background would willingly hang out with a bunch of addicts, but I do and I love it! More than that, it’s one of the favorite ministry things I get to do each month. Mt Vernon church works together with Recovery House (a local in-residence treatment facility) to help ladies battle drug and alcohol (and more and more prescription drug) addictions that are ruining their lives. Every Sunday... Read more
Several years ago Andy Stanley preached a sermon series that has always stuck with me for its simplicity and practicality. Titled “Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith,” Stanley taught from his years of experience as a pastor, noting that when people told their story of faith and how God had grown their faith over the years, the things they shared all fell into one of five categories. Looking back over my own journey and talking with hundreds of... Read more
Watch below to stay caught up with our Fanatics sermon series. Here’s the latest installment: https://vimeo.com/106962730 Read more
It’s Friday again (whoop whoop)! Before you put your brain in cruise control for the weekend, check out these links. Never stop learning! Never stop growing! 3 Things Every Married Person Should Know – Great words for every married couple! How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football – In the midst of the NFL’s latest crisis, Politico did a great throwback piece on how an American president stepped in to save football in its infancy. Five Reasons McDonald’s is Falling Apart –... Read more
Recently I watched a great leadership talk by Larry Osbourne, pastor of North Coast Church in southern California, on the topic of “Why Some Teams Win and Most Don’t.” In that talk he shared insights from a 30-year study on success and derailments in the business world. Basically, they studied those who had been “fast-tracked,” those who showed incredible aptitude and potential for leadership. They followed these leaders for 30-years and studied what factors led to their ultimate success (for some)... Read more
How do you deal when life’s not fair? When decisions outside of your control are negatively influencing your life? That was the question asked of me recently by a friend. Since it’s an issue that many people face, I wanted to share my thoughts (and conversation) with you. If you’re in a similar situation, hopefully it will help you as well. Her question: People always ask the question why do bad things happen to good people. What I’m struggling with is... Read more
Several years ago Lifechurch.tv released a free Bible app that has revolutionized how people interact with Scripture. It’s the most downloaded Bible app out there, and there are some incredible features that can strengthen your own walk with Jesus. Here are some of my favorites: 1. You can listen to Scripture. On several of the translations available, including the NIV (which is my translation of choice), there’s a megaphone icon at the bottom. If you’re on your daily commute... Read more
This short clip from a recent sermon shares how God redeemed the label of ‘infertility’ in our life. https://vimeo.com/106283092 Read more
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