Life Pointe Church

Summin' Up Sunday

2007-07-22T16:12:00.000-05:00

I woke up late this morning. Well, honestly, I woke up on time, hit the snooze button, and rolled over and went back to sleep. I never moved again until an hour later. So, I didn’t have the time to get alone with God that I’m normally accustomed to.

That is why the scripture tell us things like “be ready,” "pray always,” and “study” so when you get a curve ball thrown to you, you will be ready with total fervency.

However, despite the fact that I didn’t have as much time for my religious Sunday morning activities, God went to church with me.

here's some highlights of Sunday:

We wrapped up the series “Sickness Within” on the topic Bitterness. I give the analogy of an old tree that was in my aunt’s back yard. The tree’s root system stopped up the drain field and was causing the septic tank to back up. On the other side of the tree, the tree was under the foundation of the house. Its massive root system was breaking up the foundation. The Apostle Paul warned us to live in peace with all and not to let a bitter root come up and defile many. Just like the root system stopped up the flow in the drain field, a root of bitterness stops the flow of God in a Christian’s life.
And on the other side, it’s breaking the foundation. The foundation of Christianity is “love the Lord God with all your heart, and Love you neighbor as yourself. Well, a root of bitterness will break up that foundation. You can’t love people the way you used to; you can’t forgive them anymore. You may want to get the root out!
Finally, what is the repercussion of the flow of God stopping in your life and the foundation breaking up? It’s simple; all the rotten, smelly stuff backs up into your house and causes it to smell awful!
Next week we start the series “Consumed.” I will concentrate on worship in this series. You don’t want to miss this. It’s going to be ALIVE!
The band done an awesome job again this morning. They didn’t get a chance to practice this week, but really rose up and made worship sound great.
The Marchese family is back from vacation. That accounts for half of our church!
After church, I had a chance to grab a bite to eat with some really awesome people. Brian and Stephanie have been a part of Life Pointe for several months, but I have not been able to sit down with them. They spoke highly of Life Pointe and we are certainly glad they’re with us.

Consumed

2007-07-22T16:07:00.000-05:00

Worship isn’t just singing. It’s a lifestyle. As we consider who God is and what He has done our only reasonable response is worship. Pastor Lewis teaches us how to be “Consumed” in the presence of God. We look forward to seeing you this weekend for the new message series, Consumed.

Summin' Up Sunday

2007-07-15T14:22:00.000-05:00

Well, I can tell that it’s summertime. Today, Life Pointe's people are all over the country enjoying life and their time off with their children. So, when I looked around the auditorium this morning, I could count four or five entire families that were out. Now, to larger churches, missing four of five families is not a big deal. But, to a small church like Life Pointe, we felt it to the core.

However, despite a skeletal congregation, God met with us this morning. Here are a couple things I observed:

We were actually finished with our set-up by 9:15. This was a goal that was set last month at our leadership meeting.
The serpent showed up a church, but didn’t make it inside. There actually was a small ground rattler hiding in the corner of the building, right off the sidewalk as you walk to the auditorium.
Joe Marchese was out on vacation this morning, so Jeremy stepped up and played the bass for the praise team. You rock, jeremey!
Mike went to be in church with his wife. Logan has taken over as drummer again. What an enhancement to the team. He’s the best! Not just because he’s my son either.
Aaron, Melanie, Logan, and Jeremy led worship like they have been playing together for years. Good job, guys and ladies.
We are making our descent into the final message of the series “Sickness Within.” This morning, we dealt with “Control.” I had a blast with this topic. Here’s a couple thoughts:

Wikepedia defines a control freak as: A person who has an obsessive need to control other people or situations.

As Christians, we must “lose control.”

Summin' Up Sunday

2007-07-14T07:55:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday, I woke up feeling like an elephant was sitting on my chest and I had been beaten with a two-by-four. Needless to say, I knew that it would be impossible for me to make it to church. So, I called on the some leaders at Life Pointe and put them on the spot.

About a month ago we went through a transition of our music ministry. Sheri went to PA for the summer and Joel moved to Colorado. That left us without two key vocals.

Aaron and Melanie Imel joined the Life Pointe team about three months ago. They’ve been Pastors, Church planters, and worship leaders in the past, so they knew exactly where I was. they helped out anywhere possible, including our worship band.

Without hesitation, Aaron and Melanie volunteered to step-up and lead worship. They’ve been doing an incredible job. Worship has been on the cutting edge.

Now, it’s Sunday morning, I’m sick, and I need someone to fill in for me. I called on Aaron and asked him if he could take care of the service for me. He didn’t even think twice about it. In fact, they came in and set up our worship set, practiced the songs, led worship, took up the offering, and spoke the word. Any Pastor would know that this is truly a blessing!

I believe this is the best example of being “reading in season and out of season.” This is the true mark of a great leader. One who will make it happen no matter what the circumstances are.
Great job Aaron and Melanie, we love ya'll!

When Faith Becomes Just Plain Crazy

2007-07-13T11:17:00.000-05:00

When Faith Becomes Just Plain Crazy

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Brian Welch's CNN Interview

2007-07-08T16:26:00.000-05:00

Korn's Guitarist Converts to Christianity

2007-07-05T21:10:00.001-05:00

An insecure kid who loved music and grew up to be an unhappy rock star and later a happy Christian, Brian “Head” Welch spent his teenage years in Bakersfield, playing guitar, watching horror movies, being mean to his girlfriend, and feeling bad about being mean to his girlfriend. He eventually followed some musician friends to L.A., bringing his family’s alcoholic dysfunction with him into his new life and his new relationship with a meth-addicted spitfire named Rebekah. He and Rebekah did drugs together, beat each other up, had a child they gave up for adoption, and another they kept but were in no shape to nurture. Amid all the drama, Welch formed a band, Korn, whose phenomenal success quickly became one for the rock record books.

Wherever he went, Welch was worshipped as a nu-metal god, but self-loathing and guilt over his personal life prevented him from enjoying his success. Searching for an escape from his “drug-soaked depression,” he opened his heart to “the unconditional love of God,” quit Korn and drugs, and rededicated himself to caring for his daughter and making music on his own terms, most immediately with It’s Time to See Religion Die, his upcoming solo album, whose title refers to Welch’s distrust of organized religion. He’s also written this memoir, Save Me from Myself, which he hopes will inspire others.

As Welch puts it, “I was a closet criminal and the guilt and shame was eating me alive, but I chose to share those things to prove to you that…Christ can and will clear anyone’s conscience from any evil act.” The likeable if not quite grammatical Welch clearly believes in his own rebirth, but he still seems more lost than he wants to admit, which makes his faith a harder sell than he wants it to be. Save Me from Myself will appeal to both Korn fans and born-again Christians, but it would have been a better general-interest book and/or evangelical tool if Welch had waited a few years before looking back.

A Church That Loves Starbucks

2007-07-05T16:25:00.001-05:00

Life Pointe Church's people love Starbucks. In fact, we are borderline obsessed. For a while, when we were having Saturday night services, we would do our best to be out of service and make it to Starbucks before they closed.
Eventually, we we so acquainted with the staff there, we had their number programmed in our phones and we would call and have them make our drinks while we were on our way.
My favorite drink is the Cinnamon Dolce Latte'. It's awesome! however, if I'm overheated, I love the Caramel light Frapaccino with a shot of esspresso.
I've seen where Starbucks stock is soaring. I can see how. They charge a whopping $4.28 for one of them latte's. So, we have decided that we'll refer to Starbucks as Fivebucks!

2006 DC Deaf Conference-- The Presence of the Lord is here

2007-07-02T20:24:00.000-05:00

The Safest Place in the World

2007-07-02T17:56:00.000-05:00

Avoid riding in automobiles—they’re responsible for 20 %
of all fatal accident
Don’t stay home—17% of all accident occur in the home
Avoid Walking on the streets—14% of all accidents occur
to pedestrians
Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water—16% of all accidents
involve these forms of transportation

Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in the hospitals.

You will be surprised to learn that only .001% of all deaths

occur in worship services and these are usually related

to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that

the safest place for you to be at any given point is at church.

And, Bible study is safe too. The percentage of deaths is even

less. So, for SAFETY’S sake, ATTEND CHURCH, AND READ

YOUR BIBLE, IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

Why Go To Church?

2007-07-02T14:24:00.000-05:00

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper

and complained that it made no sense to go to church

every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote,

"and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons.

But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them.

So, Ithink I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting

theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor"

column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for

weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife

has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me,

I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.

But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the

strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me

these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I

had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually

dead today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something!

Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives

the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual

nourishment!"

King James Verson: Original or Not?

2007-06-28T19:56:00.000-05:00

Nothing annoys me more than to hear someone say "the King James Bible is the 'original' translation of the Bible." I’ve been in churches across the state and have seen a clinging to the KJV. People are almost afraid they’ve lost God if they deviate from the translation. Therefore, they are willing to kick, fight and bite to get the message across that it’s KJV or hell.
It's an argument that can carry on forever, especially for those fundamentally correct, KJV thumping, traditionalists. I've been in those debates. For the most part, they're not pretty. I can see nostrils flaring when I mention some other good translations of the Bible. Why would people be so bent on believing this fallacy? Well, I believe that there’s only one good explanation—people are not educated on the origin and perpetuation of the Scriptures.

People have sat in Sunday Schools for hours and listened to hours upon weeks of sermons, but do not understand some simple truths about the KJV. They have heard their mom’s Pastor, aunt’s pastor, and yes, their own Pastor share that you should try to stick with the ‘original’ translation—the KJV.

It took me some time to embrace change in the way I seek God in the Scriptures. I was one of those people that said KJV was the ‘original’ translation. However, upon studying throughout my walk with Christ and teaching others, I’ve found that I was in error about translations.

I think the biggest wake up call for me was when Rob Taylor (M.I.P Pastor) had me write a paper on translations. Of course I’m not a scholar, but God got my attention. Believe me, when God speaks truths, you listen. When I was writing the paper, I noticed that the King James was written in 1611. Then, I noticed that John Wycliffe, an Oxford University theologian, actually translated the Scriptures to English in 1384. God begin to speak to me about my translation. He said, “you’ve had the KJV for less that 400 years and your ancestors did without it for over 1600 years.” How can I argue that it’s the original translation? I mean, if we really wanted to have the original, we might need to learn Aramaic or Greek.

So, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are much better translations out there for people to study God’s word. As long as the message is the same, the translations wording can totally be at the discretion of those reading. Some people who have been raised with the KJV have been taught to understand it, or someone has interpreted the 1700^th Century jargon. But, others who have not had any exposure to this type of writing, it becomes complicated and confusing to them.

Sickness WIthin

2007-06-04T19:58:00.000-05:00

Is it really what’s inside that counts? If so, what’s going on inside you? Worry? Doubt? Loneliness? Lust? Sometimes the internal struggles that no one else sees are the ones that blind us the most. In this series, Pastor Lewis will give you the inside story on how God offers hope and strength for overcoming these battles in this series, The Sickness Within.

King Herod's Tomb Found?

2007-05-08T10:18:00.000-05:00

Researchers from a University in Israel are claiming to have found the tomb of King Herod the great.
Althought there is no body in the tomb, they believe the sarcophagus with ornate displays is that of King Herod; however, researchers say they must have some sort of "name inscription" to confirm this.
Herod the great came into power under the Romans in about AD 40. The walls that can be seen around Jerusalem today were built under the leadership of King Herod, during the time of the rebuilding of the second temple. He also was involved in the massive construction projects in Caesaria, Jericho, the hilltop fortress of Massada and other locations.
Interestingly enough, he was also blamed in the Gospel of Mathew for ordering innocent male infants to be executed in Bethelehem, because he feared losing power to the "new king" which was prophesied to be born there.
One researcher has been on this site since 1970. He claims that there is a long road ahead of them to confirm the identity of King Herod. But, he states that he is on the right track.

A Praise for the Praise Band

2007-05-03T20:19:00.000-05:00

Our praise band rocks. God has allowed Life Pointe to be tapped into the most amazing musicians and vocals in Charlotte County.
I remember a few months ago, we were struggling with just pretty much a "one man band." now, that was great for that season we were in and the people involved done an excellent job, but we are moving up into a full scale worship band...and I'm stoked.
We recently brought on Joel Burritt to lead our worship with an acoustic guitar. I was overwhelmed with his ability to belt the praises of the most hight and play that guitar like it's nobody's business; but, I think his greater gift is the ability to organize a full worship band and lead an entire congregation into the presence of God. I believe our worship is epic in proportion!
Joel is an awesome leader, but it takes more to be great than just one person. It takes a team! Joel is surrounded with a great team of vocals and musicians.
Joe, Nancy, Sheri, Aaron, Melanie, and Mike you guys are one of a kind. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. you've been patient and faithful. and, it takes every one of you to make this a TEAM.

Funny Church Moments

2007-03-20T15:03:00.001-05:00

Free From Religion

2007-03-06T23:34:00.000-05:00

MVP in the Making

2007-02-14T14:53:00.000-05:00

Last night we scurried down to the baseball park to watch my son play his first game of the season. Not only was this Luke's first seasonal game, but it was also his first game ever playing. Was I nervous? Of course! but, I sat there calmly while my wife cheeredc every player on like they were her children(even the other team).
the first two times Luke went to bat, he struck out. now, that was discouraging to such a proud dad. but, when I saw many of the veteran players fall prey to the rifling arm of the Astros' pitcher, I felt like he was fitting right in where he needed to be.
By the end of the sixth inning, we (the Cubs) were up 10-0. The morale of the team was soaring. then, Luke came up to bat again. this time, he cracked one for a single. My wife was bouncing up and down shaking every inch of the bleachers . She give out a screeching yell, "that my baby." admittedly, I was pretty proud myself. finally, I calmed her down enough that I could focus on the game again.
So, by the end of the 7th inning(the last inning in jr. baseball), the Astros finally scored one point, which give us a 10-1 victory. I am looking forward to another game this week. I'll have my Cubs hat on and cheering my "baby boy" on. Who knows, one day he might be the MVP!

Doubters Anonymous

2007-01-24T20:30:00.000-05:00

There's no doubt about it. We all doubt at some point in our lives. Whether we doubt our faith, God's goodness, or just His willingness to work miracles in our lives, we could all subscribe to "Doubters Anonymous."Think it's doubtful that God can use you? In this series, Pastor Lewis will show you beyond the shadow of a doubt that He can!

Here's an insider's peak:

1/28--Bout with Doubt

2/ 04--Doubting God's Goodness

2/ 11--I doubt God Will Do It For Me

2/18--I Doubt God Can Use Me

Mike Hirst Concert

2007-01-14T00:15:00.000-05:00

Unwrapping Christmas

2006-12-04T20:58:00.000-05:00

Gifts, gifts, and more gifts! That’s what many are looking for this time of year. But, that’s not the kind of gifts God has in store for every believer. God’s gifts are PERFECT like His son which was sent into the world to be clothed with humanity. During this Christmas season, Pastor Lewis will challenge you to focus on the “best gifts” in this series titled "Unwrapping Christmas.”

Here's an unwrapped peak:

12/17--The Gift of a Purpose-Filled Life
12/24--The Gift of Jesus
12-31--The Gift of No-Limit Living
01/07--The Gift of a Spirit-Filled Life

Famous Last Words

2006-11-22T23:33:00.000-05:00

Our dying Savior blessed us with His famous last words. In this series “Famous Last Words” Pastor Lewis unpacks the depth and practical application of the final words Jesus uttered before giving His life.

Text Google to Get Your Info

2006-10-17T19:25:00.001-05:00

We are definitely in the technology age. Recently, I seen on the news that you can text Google SMS for information such as: Phone numbers, addresses, driving directions, definitions, local businesses, etc. This is a big deal for me! I can't tell you how much I’ve spent on 411 calls.
Now, I can send a text to 46645(googl—without an “e”) and receive the information I wanted in less than 10 seconds…that’s big. If you are skeptical, don’t worry I’ve tried it. It works!
The greatest thing about this feature is that standard texting rate applies. So, grab your phone and give it a shot.
For more information on how to use Google SMS, click here

Schoolhouse Rock

2006-10-10T13:45:00.000-05:00

Invisible Image and Something like Simon did the school house rock at the "Night of Jam" Saturday night. That’s right, we literally did rock the schoolhouse, as our venue is the Port Charlotte High School auditorium.
Although a local radio station dropped the ball on our advertisement (we won't discuss who), we had a great crowd show up for the two best bands around.
We launched the show with some awesome creativity. We played a 60 second countdown that led to a climactic intro of the band Invisible Image. I was awestricken!
During the switch over to SLS, we gave away our first of five Ipods. One of the youth workers from Pastor Oz Ramkissoon’s church won the Ipod. Congrats!
Then, SLS took the stage. They didn’t give any slack to their ability to perform and captivate a crowd. Every time I have used them, they have surpassed the previous show.
What could cap the night of better than the H2o Youth Ministries, led by Pastor Ken Mcbeath, leading us in some songs of praise. It was amazing to watch the talent of this young crowd.
All of this was great, but it was not possible without the great leaders of Life Pointe. Awesome job!

iGod: Little "i" and a big "GOD"

2006-10-06T09:58:00.000-05:00

Little "i" and a big "GOD"--thats how it should be! Instead, we go through life without the satisfaction of knowing God's greatest purpose for our lives.
This Life Pointe message series will help you download, shuffle, sync, and live a God interactive life.

Night of Jam

2006-09-24T18:57:00.000-05:00

Casey's First Born

2006-08-20T17:56:00.000-05:00

The moment we have all been waiting for has finally come. Chris and Ashley Casey are the proud new parents of a beautiful baby boy. Ethan Bradley Casey was born on August 16, weighing 6 lbs 3 oz .
I have the privilege to meet him for the first time tonight…I can’t wait.
Congrats Chris and Ashley we love you!

Cyber Athletes Cash In

2006-08-06T19:39:00.000-05:00

My dad and mom used to tell me that I was going to rot away in front of a video game. I loved to play Mike Tyson Punch-Out, Zelda, and John Madden's Football. I didn’t have a Nintendo of my own, but my best friend David Manning had one with all the accessories. That is where I would slip away occasionally. We` wasted hour after hour just sitting around a television gripping a controller tightly, eating potato chips and drinking gallons of Pepsi.
Although games have changed (thank God for change) radically over the last 20 years, it’s still proving to keep folks entertained. Video game consoles and software are expected to bring in a staggering 30 billion dollars this year. That’s more than twice the revenue brought in by the NFL, MLB, and the NBA. Wow! Who would have ever though that it could be lucrative for the game player? With such an outrageous amount of cash spent in the gaming industry and the rapid growth of gaming console gurus, there was a need for a new breed of athletes—cyber athletes. Cyber athletes play all year long via the internet with other gamers from around the world. Then, they gather together once a year to compete in World Cyber Games. They really have it together. They even have coaches.
A young man known as 'Fatality' recently won $150,000. Of course, at the beginning of his vision to be the greatest game player in the world, his mother didn't approve. So, he moved in with his dad and pursued his dream. Well, as you can tell, it paid off.
At the San Francisco World Cyber Games, the purse was over $400,000. Just think next time before you criticize those for 'wasting time' playing video games.

Getting to Know Your Pastor

2006-07-26T16:03:00.000-05:00

Today, Michelle Rumreich and I had the privilege of meeting Laura Chase from the Joy FM 88.1. She treated us to an amazing lunch at the Turtle Club in Punta Gorda. Thanks Luara!
The purpose of the meeting was to do a pastoral interview. Joy FM has created a program that airs a short interview with pastors from various churches. I was chosen to do the interview. My interview was a series of quick, relative questions that I had to fire from the hip to answer. The questions vary from what’s the fastest you’ve ever driven, to what’s your favorite cd? The answers to these questions gives listeners (30% of which are not churched) a chance to hear what it’s like to know a pastor as a “real person.” Whoever came up with this is a genius. “Getting to know you pastor” is probably the MOST creative idea I’ve seen in a long time.
Anyhow, the interview was fun and inspiring. Of course, Joy FM has the right person doing the interviews. Laura made Michelle and I feel like we were the most important church in Charlotte County. Not only that, but after lunch, she took a picture of us for her “prayer wall” and pledged to pray for our church. That’s what ministry is all about!
The interview will be airing soon, so watch this blog to find out when you can hear ‘Getting to Know Your Pastor.”

Baby Showers: a Place for Men to Play

2006-07-03T21:34:00.001-05:00

After an exhilarating Sunday morning celebration service, I headed down to Punta Gorda for Ashley Casey’s baby shower. This is the first shower that I have ever attended. It was interesting. And, the food was amazing!
The women started playing some games that were baby related. Of course the guys helped out with some of them. Iwas really amazed at how much Joey knew about baby stuff...more than some of the ladies.
But after the women played their games, the men were up. The object of the men’s games was to suck four ounces of water through a baby bottle. Now, some may think that’s easy. But, I assure you that it’s not as easy as it seems. The nipple hardly had a hole in the end. It was like sucking a banana through a straw.
Anyhow, Joey Marchese won the challenge. He won a die-cast car (which he already collects). I knew he was a SUCKER!

Sunday's Highlights

2006-07-03T21:27:00.000-05:00

Sunday was one of those mornings that seemed nothing could go right. My family woke up late (after an exhausting week of moving and laying wood laminate), struggled with some last minute preparations, and hit the door running. We needed to be at the school to set up for worship service by 8:30 AM.
Well, we didn’t get there until 9:15. But when we arrived, a great team of volunteers had already set-up the auditorium. That’s what it’s all about! Great leaders rising to the occasion and making things happen, when circumstances arise that are out of the norm. Great job guys and ladies!
Brian had an amazing line-up for the worship. Not only was it a great line-up, but the worship band resonated the auditorium with high quality, energetic worship. I enjoyed every song.
By the time the worship ended, I was chomping at the bit to get on stage. The people were ready to hear the Word. I have been doing a series on baggage. This series has offered a season of revelation and restoration. As I finished preaching, I felt like there was a strong connection made to the people with the Word.
However, the highlight of the service was not the worship or the preaching…it was the altar call. Everyone in the building was at the altar seeking to be free from various “baggage” issues. It was a touching moment. Tears were not lacking. Even the strong melted in the hands of the King. I tarried there for some time as I didn’t get a release to close the service. So, I just continued to pray.
All of a sudden, I looked up at the back of the auditorium, and there was a young man (whom I’ve never seen before) standing there crying. I immediately motioned him down and asked him if I could pray for him… he said, “sure.” So I prayed for him as I would anyone. He wept and cried, but it seemed he didn’t understand what was going on.
After the service, I caught the young man and asked him about his faith. He could not answer me verbally. The only thing he could do was cry and nod his head( with stammering lips). So I asked him several questions about his walk with God. Bottom line, he did not know any thing about God or Jesus. I asked him if he felt Jesus. He nodded that he did. So, I asked him if he wanted to accept Christ and he shook his head, yes! We prayed, he repented of his sins, and accepted Christ.
When he came around enough that I could communicate with him, I asked several questions. Was he there to pick someone up? Where did this he come from? How long had he been there? How could I help him? Etc. His response elated me. He said he’d been jogging at the school and wanted a drink of water, so he went up into the school. When he got in the school, he heard us praying in the auditorium. He then went into the auditorium to see what was going on. Everyone at the altar praying and he stated, "I was captivated." He watched for a couple minutes, and then He said, “I could not move…I felt something like I have never felt before.” And that’s the moment I looked up and motioned him to come down.
I was pumped! And to think, he didn’t even hear my sermon.

Me, Ed, and the Gang from Homestead

2006-06-18T14:04:00.000-05:00

Joey and I headed down to Miami Thursday for the C3 conference led by Ed Young—pastor of Fellowship Church. It was super enriching! We were challenged to surround ourselves with the right people (right they) and stay away from the negative people (wrong they I soaked it up like a brand new sponge being plunged into a bucket full of water for the first time. Then, being overfilled and running over, I felt like being rung out and soaking up some more.
Pictures are worth a thousand words. I don’t know exactly how I ended up sitting next to Ed Young. But I enjoyed the time spent with him there. Anyhow, maybe some of Ed’s brilliance rubbed off on me. Or, maybe the anointing will flow down to me in a double portion. Afterwards, we hung around to do some brainstorming with Pastor Travis and some of his key leaders. It was enriching to see the passion that was birthed by this conference. Everyone seemed to have some input as to how our churches can be remarkable instead of invisible. We all decided that we should get back to the basics and reconsider or values.

Baggage

2006-06-04T19:14:00.000-05:00

Many Christians struggle through life carrying unnecessary spiritual baggage. That’s not the life God has for us. According to scripture, we should lay aside all the heaviness that slows down our forward progress.
In this series, we will learn to identify some things that are holding us back and overcome them.
Series begins Sunday June 25 @ 10:00 AM.

Here's a sneak peak

6/25 baggage check
7/2 overcoming addictions
7/9 emotional baggage
7/16 released from depression

C3 Conference

2006-05-20T10:13:00.000-05:00

This is going to be one of the greatest church/leadership development seminars that the Life Pointe leadership can attend. Ed Young, from Fellowship Church, will be teaching the conference. Ed has developed Fellowship Church over the last 16 years to be a radically creative church with a staggering 20,000 people in weekly attendance.
Now, there’s some irony between Fellowship Church and Life Pointe. Fellowship Church started in an office complex, and then moved to an arts center at a high school. Life Pointe started in a doctor’s office and then, we moved to the high school auditorium. So, maybe we’re getting a glimpse into what the future holds for Life Pointe Church!
Would you like to develop your leadership skills to more effectively advance the kingdom of God at Life Pointe? Well, if so, jot down this date and contact Pastor Lewis to get registered.
I will be leaving on Wednesday evening June 14th and spending the night in Homestead. Registration will begin at 8:00 AM Thursday morning.

Espresso Yourself

2006-05-11T21:12:00.000-05:00

Espresso is a serious drink. Just a tiny cup of it packs a powerful caffeinated punch. In much the same way, our lives can make a powerful impact on those around us. This Life Pointe Church message series promises to caffeinate your life as you understand what it means to “Espresso Yourself” in ways that honor God and your relationships with others. But, don’t take our word for it, check it out for yourself in our NEW LOCATION at Port Charlotte High School. beginning on 5/14 @ 10 AM!

Topics:
5/14--Yank the Plank

5/21--Rude is the Mood

5/28--What Do You Say?

6/4--Is It In You?

Baptism & Barbeque

2006-05-11T20:28:00.000-05:00

There's not much better to do on a hot spring day than taking a swim in a pool, especially when that swim involves baptism.
Last week at Life Pointe, following Sunday morning service, we headed down to Michelle and Vern’s office complex to do baptism and barbeque.
I love barbeque! I love to cook it as much as eating it. If any of you have eaten any of my barbeque, you know that I take much pride in cooking it. The best in the world, of course!
However, as much as I like to cook and eat barbeque, it pales in comparison to baptizing new converts. That's our commission we recieved from Christ and it is the greatest feeling in the world. I enjoyed dunking each one of them (NINETEEN TO BE EXACT). I held some under longer than others to ensure their decision to follow Christ. Praise God!

Here’s some pics.

Faster Pastor Race

2006-04-06T19:47:00.000-05:00

Many pastor’s find themselves in a race to get their church attendance above Colleagues’ church attendance. I totally disagree! We should not be in competition for church attendance.
However, if given the opportunity, I love competition with games (especially ping pong) , sports, races, etc. believe me I look for those opportunities! Well, it’s that time of year again for the third annual "Faster Pastor" race. Of course I am ecstatic! It seems like yesterday that I was driving fearlessly around the track. There is nothing like it! The smell of rubber burning and tires squealing are the norm, as they are forced to take turns they are not designed for.
I am looking forward to getting strapped into a car that is customized by Life Pointe’s greatest people. The car is a reflection of Life Pointe's creativity and passion to be in the “race” (kingdom race of course). They will spend hours preparing the cars graphics and mechanics to ensure its visibility and victory. The race is fifty laps with no pit stops. Last year, I finished second after being spun out while passing a “lap” car. The year before, well, let’s just say I blew a tire and never finished.
Make plans to come out and support this great event. Tickets are $15. One half of this amount will be donated to Life Pointe. Race information: Charlotte County Speedway Saturday April 22 @ 9:00 PM
If you would like to get tickets to this race, e-mail us at info@thelifepointe.net.

2006-03-20T19:25:00.000-05:00

The key to finding the perfect prayer partner is simple...

Just find someone willing!

Paintball: The Competitor's Choice

2006-02-26T19:51:00.000-05:00

If there is any thing I love, it is competitive sports. The sheer excitement of beating my opponent keeps me involved in any event. I guess that is why I recently was drawn to the paintball sport.
Today, we gathered a group of Life Pointe members, camouflage gear, Co2, and several buckets of paintballs, and we were off to the woods.
There are many different games that can be played (e.g. capture the flag, elimination, etc.). , today we chose elimination.
We moved tactfully through the woods to catch and shoot our opponents before they could shoot us. It was much like the game we played as children call "hide and seek." Some would hide, others would advance.
The worst thing is thinking you are safe behind some palmetto bushes, and hearing a fully automatic gun followed by pain to your back.
Our team won one game out of four games. Not bad for amateurs!

That's Amore' at Life Pointe

2006-02-12T19:33:00.000-05:00

Dean Martin's classic song "That's Amore" set the atmosphere for a great time of love, laughs, and friendship at Life Pointe’s first Valentines Banquet Saturday night.
Although Life Pointe has only been around for a short time, it did not hinder the crowd of people that flooded the doors to enjoy this festive event. We invited them with open arms.
We enjoyed a diversity of Italian foods, ranging from Baked Ziti to Chicken Alfredo. Of course Italian food is not the same without garlic bread to accent it.
All the food was prepared by the greatest people in the world—Life Pointe’s members.
Great food and music was only part of what made this a great experience. The décor was amazing. Ladies spent nearly the entire day to make the experience epic. It was just that!
To end the evening on an even greater high, Paul and Kim Adams renewed their wedding vows to commemorate twenty-five years of marriage. Way to go Kim and Paul!!

Road Trip-Life Pointe on the move

2006-01-18T18:45:00.000-05:00

Life Pointe Church will be going to Homestead to join them in an exciting celebration service. We want you to join us!
Sunday Morning, January 29th, Pastor Lewis Will be sharing a challenging message with the Life Pointe Church in Homestead, which will surely touch your life as well.
We will leave immediately following Saturday night service(Jan. 28th) and will arive in Homestead at around 11:00 P.M.
If you would like to be involved in this exciting trip, please contact Pastor Lewis @ 941.268.1757 or pastor@thelifepointe.net

Carpooling is available!

Life Pointe Website

2005-12-21T15:11:00.000-05:00

Life Pointe's website is now operational. If you would like to visit the most creative website around, click here, or you can type in www.thelifepointe.net.

What's the Perfect Gift Worth?

2005-12-03T11:08:00.000-05:00

The day after Thanksgiving is known as the largest sales day of the year. People wait for the sales papers to come out to see if the “hot items” will be in them.
We were up early on Thanksgiving to get our newspaper, which was overstuffed with sales ads. We spent Thanksgiving evening strategically planning our day. We knew where we would be and what time we would be there to ensure that we would get the items we wanted.
However, about 9:00 PM. (Thanksgiving night) I got a call from a secret shopping agent, Joey Marchese (Circuit City manager), who told me that there was already about twenty people in line at Circuit City for the sale on Friday morning.
I wanted that laptop for 2oo.00 and the free desktop which was in the sales paper… badly. Nothing was going to stop me! Did I really “need” them? No! But my sons will need them soon and that was enough reason for me.
So, my friend (visiting for the holidays) and I frantically grabbed some covers and lawn chairs and headed to spend the night in CC parking lot. We watched people come and go. The line grew to nearly 200 by 2:00 A.M. by 4:00 we were feeling the dew falling on us and the crowd was huge.
CC managers came out about 4:00 am to give out vouchers. We were number seventeen of nineteen who would receive on of those laptops for 200.00.
Now, actually getting the items was another story. I was in and out of CC until 9:30 Friday night.They were having computer problems all day. Twenty-four hours spent at CC for this deal! was it worth it? absolutely!

It’s amazing what we will do to get a good deal!

Video: Rev.Billy Joe Daugherty Turns the Other Cheek

2005-11-29T20:05:00.000-05:00

Pastor Joe Daugherty was conducting an altar service, just as he had done many times, when Steven Rogers punched him in the face. Stevens displayed no hesitation, nor did he show any remorse for his actions. in Fact, it was reported that Stevens had done the exact thing to a pastor fifteen years ago.

I am truly amazed at the response of Pastor Daugherty. He did not retaliate in the least, but he did, however, put his blessings on Stevens and requested prayer for him. This is an excellent picture of the love that Christ showed us on the cross of Calvary.

My friend Travis Johnson found some video clips of the event.

Click here to check it out: http://www.pastortrav.blogspot.com/

Computer Prices: Good or Bad?

2005-11-15T20:34:00.000-05:00

One of my computers recently went down. I began looking to buy a new one, but realized that it didn’t fit in my budget at the present.
While surfing the net, I found this ad for a computer scheduled to hit the market in 1989.
How would you like to buy one at this price?
So, when you compain about the prices of computers, remember, we could be paying much more.
Thank God for advancing technology!

Get What You Paid For?

2005-11-09T20:25:00.000-05:00

After an eleven hour day of hard work, nothing would suit me better than an iced latte from Dunkin Donuts. They are incredible!
I ordered a “mocha iced latte” and proceeded to the window to pay. While sitting there waiting for my latte, I noticed the guy in the store filling a cup of coffee. He shook and tipped the canister hoping to make a full cup of “regular” coffee. However, there was only enough coffee to fill the cup one-third of the way. Showing his obvious frustration with the empty canister, he stuck the cup under the “decaf” nozzle and filled the cup. Then he took it to a customer at the counter, who I’m sure ordered the loaded stuff.
Now, if any of you are coffee drinkers, you know that is like ordering a steak and getting a plate of bean and rice. Many times, when I order coffee, it’s to get an extra jolt of energy. Although that was not my coffee…I felt cheated!
The man who received that cup of coffee, well, I just wonder if he’ll ever know the difference.
Next time you order coffee, just think if you’re getting what you paid for.

First Preview Service

2005-11-08T20:38:00.000-05:00

Great things are happening at Life Pointe!

We enjoyed our first preview service last Saturday night. Brian and Sheri led us into the presence of God with outstanding music ministry. The worship mingled with the Word created a hunger for more of what God has for us. Also, it created a sense of conviction that could not be ignored. Three people rededicated their life to Christ, and two made a committment to Christ…Praise God!
Life Pointe will be opening at the Regal Cinemas, soon. Pray and ask God how you can contribute to this endeavor.

Trauma: Life in the Real World

2005-10-30T21:56:00.000-05:00

Two of my favorite shows are “COPS” and “Trauma: Life in the E.R.” I love to watch live events as they unfold. And, while watching them unfold, it’s great to see the resolve with which these professionals work. They are able to take charge of life threatening situations and get them resolved. If it were left up to me, I would have been a detective or something of the sort.
As Christians, we face traumatic events throughout life—both physically and spiritually. Based on the show “Trauma: Life in the E.R”, I have developed a series that I have called “Trauma: Life in the Real World.” In this series I will attempt to give resolve for some of the curves life throws us.
Christ is still in the healing business!
You don’t want to miss this series. Make plans to be at Life Pointe, Saturday November 12 @ 7:00 PM.
Here’s a peak into the topics that will be discussed.

1. Develop stability
2. Diagnose the threat
3. Devise a plan

Survived Wilma!

2005-10-24T12:03:00.000-05:00

I know what you are thinking. Why would you stay knowing a hurricane was coming your way? Don’t you have any sense? I do! I sense that God’s presence is with me!
Well, in addition to God’s presence being with me, the bottom line is: we are TIRED of evacuating! After evacuating numerous times in the last year and being hit with the brunt of Hurricane Charley, we were suffering from (if there is such a thing) "evacuation fatigue”. So I just grabbed a couple good books (The Day of the Saints and The Power of Creative Leadership), sat on the leather sofa, and read until my hearts content.
Although we did not get a direct hit by Wilma, wind and water pummeled our house all night long and much of the morning.
While attempting to get some “shut-eye” early in the morning, I would occasionally be woken up to the sound of wind whistling through the house and rain pounding the metal shutters that covered our windows.
Wind in Charlotte County was measured at 70 MPH sustained, and gusts much higher. Around our neighborhood, limbs from trees littered the ground and entire trees were pushed over. However, we survived without any damage to our home, landscape, or family. Praise God!

Are You Ready For Hurricane Wilma?

2005-10-22T14:14:00.000-05:00

Are you ready for Hurricane Wilma? Have you made effort to secure your home?
Wilma has shown her fury on Cancun Mexico and forecasters have plotted her course to SW Florida.
Now, if you are like me, you have had ENOUGH of hurricanes for a life time. We (Punta Gorda/ Charlotte County) went through a major hit last year by Charley and the subsequent remnants of others storms. We know what it is like to deal with the aftermath!
Some have not even gotten their homes repaired from last year. Blue tarps draping the storm-battered homes indicate that some are having difficulty repairing what Charley destroyed.
Last year, there was not much time to get ready for a category four hurricane, as the forecasters believed Charley would go to Sarasota/Tampa area and would only be a mild hurricane. To their surprise, and ours, we took a direct hit with little or no warning. The end, of course, was catastrophic. Personally, the church, and our friends were greatly impacted by the storm.
This year, however, we are going to be ready. Government officials, after the recent tragedies in New Orleans, have elevated the level of concern that should be given to these deadly storms. People have frantically left the area days prematurely just to be sure they do not have to go through another storm.
Looking at the picture above of my home, you can get an idea of what many homes in Charlotte County look like today (sat). Storm shutters everywhere! I put up my storm shutter to protect the things I have just recently replaced. I want to be ready! When, and if the storm comes our way, I want to have taken every precaution to be sure I don�t suffer the loss like I did last year.
Hey, there's something spiritual we can learn from this. Life is full of storms and trust me you WILL have them. But, we don't have to fret if we have taken the appropriate measures to safeguard ourselves.
Jesus said, "in the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD." Friends, by giving our life totally to Christ, He assures us total victory of every storm that comes our way.
Recently, I was reading some material which stated, "the greatest blessings come out of the worst storms." How true! We look back on life and many of the great things we've accomplished and attained have come through storms of life. Even Hurricane Charley ended up being a blessing to my family. We were able to get brand new furniture for our house, which we would not have been able to do otherwise.
So, in the midst of storms (whether natural or spiritual), look for the blessings!

IRAQ: Did You Know?

2005-10-17T19:36:00.000-05:00

1. The garden of Eden was in Iraq.
2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq, was the cradle of civilization!
3. Noah built the ark in Iraq.
4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq.
5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq!
6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor, which is in Iraq.
7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.
8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - which is in Iraq.
9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel.
10. Amos cried out in Iraq!
11. Babylon, which is in Iraq, destroyed Jerusalem.
12. Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq!
13. The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (Jesus had been in Iraq also as the fourth person in the fiery furnace!)
14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq.
15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.
16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq.
17. The wise men were from Iraq.
18. Peter preached in Iraq.
19. The "Empire of Man" described in Revelation is called Babylon,which was a city in Iraq!

And you have probably seen this one. Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible. The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq, means country with deep roots.

Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible.

No other nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated it than Iraq.

And also.. This is something to think about! Since America is typically represented by an eagle. Saddam should have read up on his Muslim passages...

The following verse is from the Koran, (the Islamic Bible)

Koran (9:11) - For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and there was peace.

One Man's Trash is Another Man''s Treasure

2005-10-09T20:32:00.000-05:00

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” stated the spokesman on NBC Sunday night, as the camera man panned over mounds of rubble and trash left by Hurricane Katrina. I immediately thought to myself, what good thing could come out of that mess? Is there really a treasure in the midst of all that muck and disaster?
Chuckling, I remembered some things my dad said when I was young. Embarrassingly enough, as a child, my dad would take us up and down the road on trash night to look for “treasures.” He called it “treasure hunting” and that is how he eluded people knowing his secret. We would pick up things like televisions and dressers which was just trash to those discarding it, but it was perfect for my dad…it was his treasure!
Then the words, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” resonated in my mind. Ironically, my dad would use these words as he sought his treasures.
In this little adage, much can be learned. I, along with many others, was the epitome of a sinful life. Considered by many people in the world to be trash with no purpose for life, I found Christ as Lord and Savior. So Christ, like my natural dad, took me out of the world’s garbage and I became His treasure. He truly does use “the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.”

Life in LA

2005-10-02T21:24:00.000-05:00

Ah, life in Beverly Hills. Of course, only the rich and famous can actually shop at these places. We are standing in front of the Georgio Armani store on the famous Rodeo drive. Don't we fit here? Check out these ridiculous looking glasses! I love them! Pastors just want to have fun!
Vern and Michelle opened there home and treated us like royalty. They toured us around LA, hitting many of the highlights. We went downtown LA, Malibu Beach, sailed out into the Pacific Ocean near the island of Catilina, and even saw OJ Simpson's home. Also, we were even able to view the location where the crashed airplane scene was shot on the popular movie "War of the Worlds."
I guess the most amazing thing was going to the top of one of the hills at night and looking out 0ver the city. Lights could be seen for as far as the eye could behold. What a spectacular sight!

Life pointe @ the Movies

2005-08-24T20:44:00.000-05:00

How would you like to show up for church at one of the most visited and popular places in Charlotte County? Well, you can! We are excited about the church that we will be starting in the Regal Cinemas at the Mall.
Starting a church here will put a spin on the traditional services to which most people have been accustomed. And, although the setting is not traditional, the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead will be made welcome every single service.
Begin to pray and ask God how you can contribute to this church with your time, talents, and treasure and e-mail Pastor Lewis Wilkerson at pastorlhw@yahoo.com