bob thoughts

lifepoint at showplace 12

I haven't shared pictures in a while so here are some shots of LifePoint in action at Showplace 12.

christian tv - please stop

Some people should not be allowed on TV.

church for those who hate church

In the six communities that surround me here in the metro East (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Granite City, Collinsville, Troy, and Maryville) there are approximately 65,000 people that never attend church. Some of them don't go because they are simply too busy. Some don't go because they are afraid or hate church. There are some who would say they hate God but many of them are okay with God - just not okay with church.

It is the desire of LIfePoint to create a church that unchurched people love to attend. Why would we want to do that? Because God has called us to love the world not just "church people." Will we be able to reach all 65,000? No probably not but we will never stop trying.

I read a verse on Sunday that has rocked my world lately.

It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles (non-church people) who are turning to God.
Acts 15:19

WE SHOULD NOT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE IN THE METRO EAST TO TURN TO GOD!

The "Church," many times unitentionally, has made it difficult for non-church people to turn to God becasue of the the way we do church. We think about church from an insiders perspective and fail to see what it would be like for an outsider.

LifePoint I just wanted to say thank you for being a church that is willing to do whatever it takes to help people find their way back to God! Let's never forget that Jesus died for the world and not just the church people.

funny monday

Do Monday's make you feel like this?

complaining and whining

Do you ever complain or whine? Do you enjoy hearing others complain and whine? I was talking with a friend the other day who said that he thinks he is a whining magnet because whiners are always "sharing" with him.

I say this post about the 100 year grid that I thought was helpful.

The 100 Year Grid

from Pastor Steven Furtick by meredithbrock

(Special thanks to Pastor Craig Groeschel for the following perspective.)

When I’m tempted to complain, it’s very helpful to run my potential complaint through the grid of 100 years.

Size up the situation, consider the ramifications, and ask honestly:
Will this matter in a hundred years?

If the answer is no, let it go.
If it’s yes, do something about it.
Either way, complaining is not an option.

The majority of the things I complain about are related to my temporary comfort, not eternal realities.  There’s no need complaining about something that will have no impact in 3 weeks.  A lot of the things I complain about won’t even matter 3 minutes from now.

Will it matter in a hundred years?  Probably not.

So why waste a complaint?  You’ve got more enduring work to do.

willing to do whatever it takes

"Willing to do whatever it takes" is a pretty popular phrase and if you did a quick google search you would find over 4.5 million pages. This phrase is used in business, NASCAR, politics, drug and alcohol rehab, sports, and almost any other area you can imagine.

What about in the church? Are we willing to do whatever it takes to help people find their way back God? The churches natural tendencies are to move toward what the current people want or like and neglect what will reach the people outside of the church. That's why we must be willing to do whatever it takes because if we aren't intentional we think internally not externally.

We should stop asking the question - What's in it for me?

And start asking the question - Jesus how can I serve you?

"Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers: "What kind of example is this from your teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?" Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I'm after mercy, not religion. I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.'"

funny monday

Sorry for being an absent blogger last week. So here are a couple of funny pictures to start of your Monday.

Be careful where you sit.

Be careful where you park your car.

creativity equation

Mark Batterson just posted these creativity equations on his blog.

1) 1% Change = 99% Difference
2) 1 God Idea > 1000 good ideas
3) Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective
4) More Mistakes = More Innovation
5) 90% of Creativity = AM Hours

How can you use one of these to be raise your level of creativity today?

life is a journey

Anticipation can be a very powerful drug. So much of life is about the journey and not just the destination.

Think about it for a moment. The thrill and anticipation of Christmas morning and the opening of gifts is usually followed by a day or two of playing with what you got and then your done. And then it's not long before you start making your list for next Christmas.

In life don't forget to enjoy where you are at because you are always anticipating where you will be next.

best wife ever

Last week Martha joined me as we spoke about marriage at LIfePoint. She did a great job and one of the things we did was take questions from people. I made her answer all the hard questions.

I have been telling her for years that she should write a book about marriage and being a wife.

I just wanted to share this picture and let you know how proud I am of her. Most people have no idea how difficult it is to be a pastors wife and she makes it so easy.