Whispering Stream

Check out the POINTE

Not sure what will become of this blog, but in the meantime I'm blogging at http://thepointe.typepad.com  

Come check it out!

Happy Birthday CrossPointe Winter Park

It slipped my mind, but I was reminded today, that one year ago we had our first Sunday night worship gathering to build our launch team.  Very encouraged and thankful for all the people who have partnered with us in this crazy adventure of church planting.  So cool to see God bringing and connecting new people every week!  Feel very privileged to be part of what is happening and looking forward to what the next few months will bring.  

This milestone in the life of CPWP has also served to remind me of the message I got to share that first night...that we need an ongoing focus on the gospel.  I shared this quote from C.J. Mahaney that I hope we never lose sight of...

The greatest need in the American church today is the recovery of the church’s central message, the gospel.  Far too often in evangelical churches the gospel is simply assumed and, being so assumed, its voice is muffled, its entailments are ignored, and its power is drained.  More significantly, when the gospel is assumed it is in grave danger of being displaced.  The church is, therefore, in great need of a thoroughgoing return to gospel-centrality. 

I've lost control

Guess I'll have to indoctrinate Mackinley in the ways of Michigan, as Sydnie might be a lost cause. Please keep all "Michigan" and "lost cause" jokes to yourself.  Thank you.

Encountering Jesus

Not much activity on the blog as of late, mainly because there has been a lot of activity elsewhere.  The past few weeks have brought our oldest heading off to kindergarten, our first partnership (membership) class at CrossPointe Winter Park, and lots of preparation for our fall kickoff.  I am really looking forward to Sunday as we kick off a new series entitled ENCOUNTERING JESUS.  Along with the series we will be launching 7 Community Groups that will be journeying through a custom written curriculum that corresponds to the series.  So thankful for all the leaders God has brought to CPWP.  It was fun packing our house with about 30 of them last Monday for a cookout and our final community group leader training!  

Sydnie is off to kindegarten

Disney Pics

You can check out some pics from our recent trip to Disney by clicking here.

Where we are at

Been enjoying this place in Orlando that our kids had never been before.

Gospel Partnership Starts Sunday

Just picked up the books we will be passing out this Sunday for the start of our Gospel Partnership series.  Really looking forward to the next few weeks!  You can read more about it by clicking here.

 

A Message for Men--are you a shirker?

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to preach out of Psalm 128, which primarily addresses men and their calling.  It's our great conviction at CrossPointe that as the men go, so goes the church.  Felt like this was a good opportunity to speak to that in more detail.  I will admit this is a much easier topic to read about and imagine teaching on, than to actually get up and do it.  I think I felt more than ever that I wanted God to convict those that needed conviction but to encourage those that needed encouragement.  There can be a tendency for some to unnecessarily beat themselves up when these topics are addressed and the last thing I wanted to do was heap false guilt upon people.  Yet I am also convinced that all of us men need to frequently be reminded of our calling to work a job, pastor our family, and serve the church.  

The driving metaphor, which will explain the title and picture in this post, was the SHIRKER BULL.  The shirker bull concept was developed by a biologist named Geist who has a theory about those male deer and elk with the largest set of antlers.  Geist believes that they are often the ones who are "shirking" their biological duty to engage in the rut (two males butting heads to exert dominance and sire the next generation).  Rather than putting their energy into fulfilling their male duties, they instead expend their energy on growing large antlers.  So what at first appears to be a strong, impressive male, is in fact a weak, passive male who is disengaged from his true calling.

This is often the case with men...myself included.  We want to shirk our responsibilities to work a job, spiritually lead our families, and serve in the church.  We tend towards the shirker bull, trying to look impressive on the outside and growing our metaphorical antlers...which can be money, possessions, life of the party, or any number of stupid, immature hobbies we should have given up after we were through with puberty.  

However, the point is not that we should simply suck it up, white-knuckle it, and make the necessary changes.  You can try, but you will fail.  Maybe not at first, but eventually.  You and I can only make it as we look to Jesus, who showed us what true masculinity looks like.  But he didn't just give us an example, He has now made a way for us through the Gospel to be made more and more into His image instead of the image of our original father, Adam...the original shirker.

You can listen and/or download the sermon by clicking here.

Jesus Wants the Rose

I've seen this a bunch of times, and might have even posted before, but came upon it this morning and it's worth watching again.

Sanford Zoo Trip

This week we bid farewell

Our first major purchase as a married couple...the '95 Altima. We

drove her for 11 years. May she rest in peace. In related news, we

have filled in the missing link of suburban living...we had the two

kids and the dog, and now we have the mini-van. I mean we added the

van to the mix, not that we traded the kids and dog for it. Just

wanted to clarify.

Returned and reEngineering

Heather and I had an absolutely fantastic time at the Acts29 Retreat in Vail, CO this past week! An incredible blessing to be away and spend time with fellow church planters. Such an encouragement to hear how God is at work in various contexts through various methodologies, but all centered on the Gospel. So good. It also gave Heather and I space to think through how the past few months have been...to reflect on all the good that God is doing and to think proactively about what things need to continually be reengineered and adjusted. One of those things is my schedule. Nothing major, but things like trying to think ahead to Sydnie being gone at school all day starting in the fall. How do we maximize time spent as a family in the midst of a fairly busy schedule? These are conversations I enjoy having with Heather and am thankful for her insight and push-back (when needed). The past 6 months have been an absolute blast and an absolute blur. Definitely needed the get-away to think and process and simply enjoy what God has given us. The plane ride home was pretty productive as I got a chance to write out some of my thoughts and plans. We'll see if it translates from Moleskine to real life.

Vail Trip

Pastor Dad

I am looking forward to reading this free book courtesy of The Resurgence. I'm thinking you should check it out as well. Happy Father's Day!

Re:Lit | Pastor Dad | eBook by Mark Driscoll

What Has God Prepared in Advance for Me/Us?

In Ephesians 2:10 Paul writes, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. I was reminded of these words last Friday night, as Vision360 church planters gathered for a time of worship and prayer. One planter, who was bold enough to go first and express what is probably in the hearts of every church planter, asked for prayer regarding his heart ability to celebrate with other pastors on how their church is going. It can be tough not to be competitive. To say the right things from the mouth, but to not speak them genuinely from the heart. At least it is for me. I appreciated this man's honesty and articulation of something I too need prayer for. In particular, the verse above was brought up and the reminder that God has prepared good works in advance for not only me, but our entire church plant collectively. The point is not to dwell on the prepared for in advance good works of other churches, but to ask if I/we are being faithful to the works that God has for me/us? It's been helpful and freeing to think on this. Helps drive out the comparisons. Helps me keep a gospel identity, rather than a works identity.

What kind of manure are you?

A friend of mine once said that Christians are like manure: spread them out and they help everything grow better, but keep them in one big pile and they stink horribly. Which are you? The kind that reeks, around which people walk a wide swath? Or the kind that trusts God enough to let Him spread you out--whether that means going outside your normal group of Christian friends, increasing your material giving, or using your time to serve others?--Francis Chan, Crazy Love

Had a chance to read this book last week and shared this quote from the final chapter on Sunday. I definitely feel the tension of not allowing myself to "pile up" and be insulated within the confines of the "church." One might think it'd be easy to not be "confined" since we don't have a church facility, but that is not the case. It's like everything wars against mission and I am realizing the continual need for intentionality.

How Tim Keller Found Manhattan

How Tim Keller Found Manhattan | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

The Best of Van Gundy

The True Test...Making Much of Jesus

I shared the following quote in yesterday's teaching from 1 John 4:1-6. Makes me wonder how often we give credit to a worship team, or a preacher instead of giving glory to Jesus?

“But, of course, and this is the greatest test, the true Spirit always glorifies Christ; He is always in the center; He is always given the pre-eminence. And the true prophet is not the man who talks about experiences and visions and what he has done and seen, but about Christ. And when you have heard him you do not say, ‘What a wonderful man’; you say, ‘What a wonderful Savior!’ You do not say, ‘What a wonderful experience this man has had’; you say, ‘Who is the Man of whom he is speaking?’ The attraction is to Christ; he glorifies Christ.”
--Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Life in Christ

Just Rashard Lewis and I doing some banking

A Convicting Quote

It is easier to be enthusiastic about Humanity with a capital ‘H’ than it is to love individual men and women, especially those who are uninteresting, exasperating, depraved, or otherwise unattractive. Loving everybody in general may be an excuse for loving nobody in particular.
--C.S. Lewis

I shared this quote this past Sunday during the teaching on 1 John 3:11-24. This can unfortunately be very true for me. I think the challenge is for all of us to have actual people we can name that we are intentionally seeking to love...though I don't recommend telling them they are uninteresting, exasperating, depraved, or unattractive. Just a suggestion.

Happy Memorial Day

thanks to Nate Sweet Photography

Family movie night

What Hinders Community? :: Desiring God

What Hinders Community? :: Desiring God.

This was a very convicting post, particularly regarding the constant desire for acquisition that is so prevalent in our culture and in my heart.

Has Christian America Come to an End?

An article written by Mark Driscoll at Fox News.

Has Christian America Come to an End? - FOX Fan - FOXNews.com.

Tim Keller on Work

Been meaning to post this for awhile.  In this lecture, Keller addresses a Biblical view of work/calling, especially in light of the current economic situation.  It's definitely worth a listen. You can download it here.

David Brooks @ Wheaton

On my drive down to Boca I had the opportunity to listen to David Brooks speak at Wheaton (alma mater).  Brooks has written two books, which happen to be two of the more informative and enjoyable books I have read in recent years.  Bobos in Paradise and On Paradise Drive I highly recommend as they will expose much of what drives American culture.  Very insightful.  Very funny.  Very sarcastic.  All good things in my mind.  Anyway, you can listen to his lecture at Wheaton and his Q & A time by clicking here and then scroll down to February 18.  

See you tomorrow on the screen

Well I am out of town at a conference for church planters in Boca Raton, FL.  It's been good so far, but it's definitely tough to be away from Heather and the girls.  Thankfully iChat allows me to at least see the family and as Sydnie said as we signed off, "See you tomorrow on the screen."

Dad date

Easter recap

Easter Sunday was such an encouragement!  God was very good to us as He brought many new folks and a great spirit all morning.  It was so cool to see many of our regulars invite their friends, co-workers, family and neighbors.  I was very thankful that the decision was made to move into the larger gym at the YCMA.  Thanks to all who participated, served that morning, and were praying for our first Easter service!  I love that I get to be part of what God is doing in and through this new community.  

Tim Keller on MSNBC

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

First Easter Service

It's been a full week, and I'm not yet ready for Easter, but I'm really looking forward to it!  We had a trial run last week using the bigger gym at the YMCA, in hopes of creating more room for guests this week.  We are praying people invite their neighbors, friends and family who are disconnected from a church and/or searching out the truth claims of Christianity.  I'm also excited that Easter will be the launch of a new series for us entitled ASSURANCE.  We will be journeying through the book of 1 John, both on Sunday mornings and in community groups.  So if you're looking for a church, please know that you are always welcome at CrossPointe Winter Park.  

This Sunday we will be examining the ASSURANCE of the RESURRECTION.  

Pics from Boone, NC trip

Finally loaded up some pics from our recent family vacation.  You can check them out by clicking here.

Happy Birthday Sydnie!

Hard to believe, our little girl turned five today. To say she's

excited might be the understatement of the year. She is a gift from

God who brings us much joy.

If only all sermon prep could be like this

I'm not sure who's more excited

This can't be good...our morning grocery store run

Update...it was Mackinley who got sick but seems to be better now. We shall see. So far so good.

It's 10am and I'm not at Crosspointe

The consecutive streak of teaching and being at CrossPointe ends at 28 weeks. So thankful for the people God has brought that have stepped up to allow me a week away with the family. Very cool and sort of surreal.

As an interesting aside I sort of lied in the title...we are going to CrossPointe but in Boone this morning. No direct affiliation but it is a replant of a church by a friend and former co-worker from Orangewood. Really looking forward to it.

Peace.

Our backyard for the week

Boone bound

Dad dinner

A good, full day

Though it was a crazy week with being out of town unexpectedly, and then getting ready for this Sunday, things came together well.  Sunday was a bit busier than normal, but it was an exciting day.  Started off with what is now the "norm" of setting up for church, holding our celebration service, and then trying to tear everything down before the YMCA opens at noon.  Usually we have plenty of time, but yours truly talked a bit longer than usual and left us less time for tear down.  Part of the reason for that was my excitement over the passage of Luke 15...drawing heavily from Tim Keller's Prodigal God book, I tried to show how both the younger brother and the older brother are really lost in this parable.  I think this is and will continue to be a huge point of reference for our church.  The answer is not irreligion, but it's also not religion.  The gospel is a distinct third way.  I love that people are beginning to see this distinction and find great freedom in the gospel.  We showed the following video during the teaching, from one of the people in the CrossPointe community.  So encouraged by these type of stories.

 

After the service was our first Pizza with the Pastors meeting.  This was a time for new folks to gather for lunch at our house and hear a quick overview of what CrossPointe is about.  There was also an extended time for people to ask questions.  It's always challenging to have to go off script and field questions, as you never know what kind of background people are coming from.  We had some really good questions, and I'm particularly encouraged that there are some folks who really seem to be exploring Christianity for the first time.  It's an interesting place to be when God answers your prayers by bringing people who have never been in or around the church, and then feeling inadequate to answer many of their questions.  Shows me my continual need to trust in the power of the gospel, and not any "wise or persuasive words" on my part.  

The day concluded with our Sunday night community group over at Ethan and Amy's.  Really enjoying this time, and finding it's good for me to be in a group that I don't have to lead. We had some really challenging conversation, as the topic was on "trusting in money" and looking at the story of the rich, young, ruler.  

I was pretty worn out by the end of the day, but it was a good kind of tired.  Now it's time for some real tiredness...Heather flies out of town today and I'm on dad-duty until Thursday!  I'm sure Sundays will seem like nothing compared to this.

Flight photos

Heading out

We received word that Heather's grandma passed away last Thursday. We are flying up to Ohio to celebrate BB Betty's (as our girls call her) life and devotion to Jesus.

It's always a miracle when you can get out of the house with two small kids and actually get on your flight. I think I'm still sweating.

Nobody's Happy

Came across this video last week, and every time I watch it (which has been quite a few times now) it makes me laugh.  It makes me laugh on one level because it's just plain funny.  But it also makes me laugh in an uncomfortable, "I've just been exposed" level, because it's so true in my own life.  How easily I can be discontent.  How easily I can assume the world owes me something. Check it out below.

Preaching to the Younger Unchurched

Helpful article on some of the how and need to preach to the younger unchurched.  Good reminders for me.  I wonder what the articles on preaching 20 years from now will be advocating?  Will we still be focusing on the things in this article?  I would hope so in many regards.  Specifically, will we still promote authenticity, even if it falls out of vogue? Check out the article below.

SermonCentral.com: Ed Stetzer and Jason Hayes - Preaching to the Younger Unchurched
.

Limping

Had a good conversation this morning with a few guys, wrestling through the book Leading With a Limp.  It's been a very stretching book thus far.  Much of the book runs counter to most leadership books you pick up.  The book challenges us to recognize and lead out of our brokenness.  It's not a question if you are broken, so much as do you recognize it and lead from that "limping" posture.  The following quote, recounting the story of Jacob (renamed Israel) wrestling with God, sparked some good discussion...

He wrestles with God and comes away broken and renamed. His limp is a reminder that when God renames us, he also makes each one of us a new person through a redemption that requires brokenness.

The story of Jacob exalts not the struggle but the goodness of God as he blesses a conniving, undeserving man. No matter how far off the mark we  might be, we see in this account the promise that if we open ourselves to meet God, we will not come out of the encounter the same. We will walk a new path--with an unpredictable gait.

Softball Story Illustration

For those who might be interested, here is the video I referenced during Sunday's teaching.  Enjoy.

Congratulations Brian & Corrina!

So happy for our good friends and fellow leaders at CrossPointe, Brian and Corrina, in the birth of their son William Daniel.  Very cool.  You can check out more pics and follow them on their blog by clicking here.

Community

Community has been on the brain a lot lately...guess that happens when you have to teach on that topic. Additionally we had our community group leaders over last night for the start of our monthly leadership community.  This was a time to hear the wins, the challenges and to equip our leaders.  Though no group is perfect, and we certainly have challenges, it was so encouraging to hear the stories of how Gospel transformation is happening within the context of community.  I love that we are launching CrossPointe as more than a service...in fact, I'm not sure how we'd really be functioning as a church without these groups.  They've been a huge part of what we are doing.  I loved this quote that I came across last week in doing teaching prep...

Sometimes in church circles when people feel 

lonely, we will tell them not to expect too 

much from human relationships, that there is 

inside every human being a God-shaped void 

that no other person can fill.  That is true. 

But apparently, according to the writer of 

Genesis, God creates inside this man a kind of 

“human-shaped-void” that God himself will 

not fill. 

--John Ortberg 

Lastly, in an attempt to communicate how God is at work in and through these groups we showed the following video to intro the teaching this past Sunday.  Check it out.

Picking Strawberries...and other restful things

Good day off today with the family.  Started out by picking some strawberries.  Then headed to Mellow Mushroom for lunch.  Read a bit on the porch.  Saw some friends.  Enjoyed strawberry shortcake.  You can check out some pics from the strawberry picking by clicking here.

Dora meets the Dog

It must be Friday

Theology in Community

One of the coolest things thus far in this whole church planting thing has been the opportunity to do theology in community.  By that I don't mean some "emergent", no one has any basis to speak authoritatively, and all voices are equally valid.  What I do mean is the collaboration and discussion that goes into each week's sermons and subsequent community group material.  I love that it is not me in isolation trying to figure out the entire message.  Instead I get to discuss the given passage and/or topic with Brian and others from CrossPointe and gain valuable insights.  The sermon is shaped as I hear Brian preparing the community group material and vice-versa.  There is something healthy about this kind of cooperation.  It forces me to craft the message in a way that drives towards application of the Gospel.  It forces me to start engaging with the material at hand earlier in the week.  I feel like by the time the sermon is preached on Sunday morning it has been shaped by the community of people I am working with and is better because of it.  If you'd like to check out the community group material that Brian is writing you can check it out at http://www.crosspointewinterpark.com/media/community-studies/

Dad Date @ Dunkin Donuts

This is when it's nice to live in Florida

Getting out of the office for some studying.

Surreal

Sunday was very cool and very surreal.  Though we've certainly been functioning as a church, there was something cool about the official, Sunday morning launch.  This has been something we've been praying about, planning for and anticipating for a few years now.  To have this morning finally arrive was pretty amazing.  And yet I know that the point has never been to have a "smooth running" service...though I am thankful that it did run relatively smoothly.  I was just incredibly encouraged to see our launch team serving and inviting people.  I was so encouraged by the people who showed up, genuinely looking for a church community.  God was very good and gracious to us...not only last Sunday, but throughout this entire process.  Despite all the craziness of getting ready and feeling like I'd been hit by a truck, it was a really enjoyable morning!  

Thanks to all who have made this possible...people praying.  People giving financially.  People serving.  People inviting.  There is a genuine sense of partnership in this whole endeavor.  

Lastly, if you haven't seen it, the new website launched last week as well.  Very happy with how it turned out, knowing we still have a few tweaks to make.  Check it out at http://crosspointewinterpark.com

An encouraging start

I'm too tired to blog, but here's a pic from this mornings kickoff.  Very encouraged.  Will write more hopefully tomorrow.

CrossPointe Launches this Sunday

Lots still to do, but really looking forward to Sunday.  New website should be up and going in the next 24 hours as well.  

A good kick in the pants quote...at least it was for me

The church exists both through the gospel and for the gospel. At one level this is a motherhood-and-apple-pie declaration. Few Christians are going to object to being gospel-centered, just as no one is against mothers or apple pie. The problem is the gap between our rhetoric and the reality of our practice. The continual challenge for us is to apply this principle to church life and ministry without compromise.

A woman once told me about the difficulties she faced as a Brit fitting into American culture. One of her struggles was with people who said, “Let’s do lunch.” She expected them to phone and arrange a date. They never did. “Let’s do lunch” was just an idiomatic way of saying farewell. We all say, “Let’s do mission,” but does it carry any more intent than “Let’s do lunch”?

--Total Church, Tim Chester & Steve Timmis

Church on Wheels Story

here is the video.  
Fox35 Story | Church on Wheels from CrossPointe Winter Park on Vimeo.

Fox35 Story

UPDATE...You can now watch the story online by clicking here (thanks Ryan).

In case you are interested, Fox35 Orlando is airing a story today at 5:00 on the concept of mobile church, featuring CrossPointe Winter Park. I'll try and post a link if it shows up on the web as well.

A Florida Girl

It's a balmy 45 degrees in orlando. Good excuse to bust out the winter accessories.

Birthday dinner...a day late

A Great Morning

Yesterday morning we transitioned to Sunday morning worship services at CrossPointe Winter Park.  I'm still amazed the way it all came together!  Though our public launch is not until January 25, yesterday and this upcoming Sunday were scheduled as services to mobilize our launch team and to work out some of the logistical details.  The launch team was incredible!  People gave up their Saturday night to be trained on being a mobile church.  People came a couple hours early on Sunday morning to help prepare and set up.  It was an amazing thing to behold...just seeing people take ownership and them wanting it all to be done well.  People seemed to be genuinely excited, not only about yesterday, but about our public launch and the weeks to come.  I could compile a long list of all the details that God caused to come together, but for now, it's sufficient to say that God knows what He is doing.  I couldn't have asked for a better start.  

As an interesting aside, Fox 35 was there shooting footage for a story they are doing on the concept of being a mobile church.  Members of our launch team were interviewed, including yours truly.  I'll let you know when the story airs so you can check it out...maybe you'll be in it!  

If you think of it, please continue to be in prayer for our launch on January 25.  Peace.