bob thoughts

church in australia

If you were at church last week you had a chance to meet Will & Nerida Henderson. They are moving back to Brisbane, Australia in July to start a brand new church. LifePoint is going to send monthly financial support to Will & Nerida as they launch this new church.

I believe in Will & Nerida and I have seen their passion to help Aussie's find their way back to God. They are going to do great things in Australia and we get to be a part of help start a new church halfway across the world.

Check out Will in this video:

They also have a family from Georgia that will be joining them. Here are two blogs that you can use to keep up with them.

Will Henderson

The Brisbane Project

Please pray for them and maybe even send them an encouraging note.

perspective

This weeks video is shot by two teenagers. I love seeing different peoples perspective of LifePoint and this week is no exception. If you would be interested in shooting the perspective video just let me know.

Here is Justin James and DJ Robbins perspective.

consider it pure joy

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, (James 1:2)

If I understand joy then that says that I should be happy when life sucks. Is that really possible and if it is what's the point?

"because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (James 1:3)

I've never been very good at taking tests and now I have to take a test on faith.

"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:4)

Perseverance is not always fun but apparently that's what I need and the outcome is maturity.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

Sometimes I ask and it doesn't seem like He gives generously.

"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6)

Oh, that must be the problem - I believe but I doubt at the same time. Do you know what I mean?

"That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord (James 1:7)

Seems kinda harsh but I guess that's what I get for doubting. I believe but I still doubt sometimes.

"he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (James 1:8)

I must have faith and conviction in my beliefs. I must have faith that God will take me from where I'm at to where I need to be. I have to be solid - have a solid foundation, like a rock and not like a wave in the ocean. Not be "double minded" so don't be wishy-washy.

In the end I guess my faith grows when I see where God has taken me from but sometimes in the moment it's easy to lose perspective.

funny monday

Funny Monday on Tuesday.

Have you ever taken a family photo and I the time you thought that it was a good idea only to realize later that you were not thinking clearly.

If this family had to do it all over they might re-think this picture.

Michael Vick released from prison

Yesterday Michael Vick was released from prison. The suspended quarterback served 19 months in prison on the dog-fighting conviction that capped one of the most astonishing falls in sports history -- one that stole his wealth and popularity.

I have been amazed at how much hatred still exist towards this man. Do I think the man was wrong for the whole dog-fighting thing - yes. But he has more than payed for his crime and hopefully learned from his mistakes.

There are several players in the NFL who have, in my opinion, done worse things than dog-fighting. Let the man see if he can still play football.

I'm glad that Jesus is the God of second chances. Even when I didn't deserve it He gave me (and continues to give) a second chance. We should be careful that we don't see people for only what they have done and we miss all that God wants to do through them in future.

perspective

This weeks perspective video is shot by Andrew Altman. If you pay close attention to the video you will notice that there is one particular girl that keeps showing up in the video. That girl is Andrew's fiance Kelly. Andrew and Kelly are some of the best people in the world and I love hanging out with them.

Enjoy Andrew's perspective.

prayer

I mentioned two books on Sunday that have really helped me in my understanding of prayer and the practice of prayer. I wanted to let you know about these resources because they might help you as well.

There first one is God is Here by Steve Case and you can get it at Amazon by clicking here. It is modern day version of the writings of Brother Lawrence, a monk who lived in the 17th century.

The second book is Celtic Daily Prayer and here is the link for it on Amazon.

Here is the prayer I read for when you don't know what to pray.

Circle me, Lord.
Keep comfort near and discouragement afar.
Keep peace within and turmoil out.

Circle me, Lord.
Keep protection near and danger afar.

Circle me, Lord.
Keep hope within, keep despair without.

Circle me, Lord.
Keep light near and darkness afar.

Circle me, Lord.
Keep peace within and anxiety without.

The eternal Father, Son and Holy Spirit shield me on every side.
Amen

lifepoint at showplace 12

Here are a few more pictures for LifePoint having church at Showplace 12. I am amazed every week with all that our volunteers do to make portable church possible. We have some of the smartest, hard-working people I've every seen.

prayer

I've been doing some study on prayer this week and I wanted to share a few things here.

• Fifteen times in the New Testament Jesus says, "He that has ears to hear, let him hear."
• Seven of those times He added, "what the Spirit is saying" because He was already in Heaven which tells us that big part of prayer is listening.
• We most often think of prayer as a list.
• We trend to only prayer when we can't "handle it" on our own.
• We get too busy to prayer.

The computer makes us fantastically more able to calculate and analyze.

It does not help us to meditate.

We have instruments to enable us to see everything from the nebulae to the neutron - everything except ourselves.

We have immeasurably extended our gift of sight but not of insight.

For that, we have the same equipment as the eighth-century prophets.

Potentially the same, but actually poorer, for while we have been so busy extending one aspect of knowing of telling self, we have allowed other aspects to atrophy.

We have built ourselves up into power transmitting stations, but as receiving sets we are feeble.

John V. Taylor

perspective

This weeks perspective video was shot by Nick Bohmer. Nick is one of the many great people that show up every week at 7 AM to start setting everything up so we can have church at the movie theater. Because he was there three hours before church started he was able to shoot a ton of video but I condensed it down to four and a half minutes.

You will love Nick's perspective.

I love LifePoint!