Me, Ed, and the Gang from Homestead

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Just find someone willing!

Paintball: The Competitor's Choice

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

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

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

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?

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

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?

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?

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

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

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!

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?

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?

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.