Fast overview…

Fasting is a spiritual discipline designed to better connect us with God. As the Staff of Lifesong church, we’ll take the week leading up to our Easter series, Messy, to deepen our relationship with God and center ourselves around what God is going to do in our church and in our lives during this series. We are praying that people will come to faith in Christ during the Messy series as we invite our friends who are “far from God”. This will be a challenging process, but we look forward to seeing what God does in our church and experiencing Him with intensity during this series of messages.

Who:

The Staff of Lifesong church will be participating in the fast and we are asking our volunteers, partners and attenders to join us as we seek God during this season.

When:

Sunday, April 5, 6 am: Begin the fast

Sunday, April 12 (Easter), 6am: Break the fast

What:

The purpose of fasting is self-denial in order to direct our thoughts to God. Traditionally this has been the decision not to eat food for a certain length of time. However, it is not limited to that. You may abstain from television, internet, music, really anything that you can think of. The purpose of fasting is to create more intentionality and intensity in your prayer life to bring you closer in your relationship with Jesus.

We are using this fast to pray for God’s continued direction and blessing on Lifesong church. Additionally we are praying that lives would be changed during the four weeks of the Messy series.

Levels of Participation:

We are asking our leaders to join the staff for the full week of the fast but if circumstance won’t allow the full fast, we ask that you would set aside the weekend, from April 10^th (Good Friday) beginning at 6 am until April 12 (Easter) at 6 am to join us in prayer and fasting.

Resources:

A more comprehensive guide to fasting will be available here later this week and I will be providing a devotion and prayer guide on the blog each day of the fast.

Sunday night thoughts…

• Fun day at Lifesong!
• Lots of challenges in getting the worship theater set up today.  So proud of how our team adapted and overcame… You guys (and girl 🙂 ) ROCK!
• I think we have officially broken a VERY DIFFICULT growth barrier… VERY COOL!
• Lifesong Kids is BLOWING UP!  Lots of excitement and momentum right now.
• I enjoyed the message today.  After the last four weeks of YOUR questions, teaching on money is a relief 😉
• I haven’t seen the final numbers yet but this past month looks to be our HIGHEST monthly giving in our history (short as it is)!  A healthy church is a GIVING church… thank you!
• Because you guys are so faithful in your giving we were able to help out another new church start this past week by building a sound booth, buying a television and helping install and set up sound and media equipment.
• Announced that we are challenging everyone that can to fast the week leading up to Easter and the kick off of our Messy series.  Check the blog in the next couple of days for more info.
• Took the girls to see Aliens VS. Monsters 3D after services today… decent movie but the 3D technology is amazing.
• Visited a little country church tonight that brought back alot of good memories but I was reminded that I HATE pews… chairs with cup-holders rock.

ever have one of “those” days…

The end is priceless!

Sunday night thoughts…

• OK, I say this alot lately, but… AWESOME day at Lifesong!
• Great crowds today and you guys were making some noise… Very cool!
• Lifesong kids was CRAZY today… we had kids everywhere.  This makes me happy.
• The band rocked today… their cover of “How Far We’ve Come” was crazy good and fit with the message perfectly.
• I was told that I went a little old school during the message today, I think my Baptist roots are showing through 😉
• Yes, I said a cuss word and called come Christians freaks today… listen to the podcast to find out why.
• I am thankful to pastor a church that GETS the vision and is willing to give to support it.  Many churches (especially new church starts) are struggling to just get by, YOU are ADVANCING the Kingdom!
• Proud of the set up and production teams today… you had some set backs today but you pulled it out.
• You guys showed up in a big way with our IMPACT opportunity to provide books to the Spalding Detention Center.  We will be collecting these for the next couple of weeks, so if you didn’t get a chance to donate today there is still time.
• Lifesong… lets not take for granted what God is doing here and continue to chase after the VISION He has for the Song.

Great quote…

“In matters of style, swim with the current… In matters of principle, stand like a rock” Thomas Jefferson

You talked about what?

I get that statement alot.

Some might think that the topics that we deal with at Lifesong are too controversial… too touchy… too messy… too taboo to be dealt with in church.  This past Sunday we dealt with pornography, swinging, masturbation, lust, pre-marital sex and oral sex… in ONE message.

Why?  Why would a church talk openly about such topics?  Let me share with you some emails (anonymously of course) that I have received this week…

“I just wanted to let you know that I am so thankful that you are brave enough to conquer things that need to be taught in today’s world.  Sometimes you have me squirming so bad I want to crawl under the seat!  [I grew up in a very religious home and ] unfortunately the information that was much needed and that could have prevented me from being so rebellious and causing me many regrets was never presented like it [was] today.”

“I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate what you guys do, and the courage it takes to address some of these issues, like the ones addressed yesterday. I, like a LOT of guys and women I know, have been there and struggled with some of these issues, different ones at different times. But God in his infinite grace and mercy broke me down and pulled me out in what can only be described now as His perfect timing… God spoke to me yesterday…”

“Thank you for being willing to say what God directs you to say…”

Ministry is never clean… it is messy, its hard and (at times) uncomfortable.  Make no mistake… Lifesong will ALWAYS do whatever it takes to see people take their NEXT STEP in their relationship with Christ.  That is why we are here.

Sunday nights thoughts…

• Awesome day!
• Great crowd today… Talk about sex and EVERYBODY shows up 😉
• It rained like CRAZY today… there is a special place in Heaven for the volunteers of Lifesong!  You guys got it knocked out this morning… THANK YOU for all you do!
• The band did an incredible job…  we are blessed to have such talented people that love Jesus and use their talent for Him.
• Lifesong Kids was buzzing today… I think that area is about to go to a whole new level.
• Today’s message was the most awkward and tense that I have ever delivered.  I KNOW that we have people struggling with some of the issues we talked about today and I pray that God made some people uncomfortable enough to deal with the problem.
• We had our second highest offering today and this has been the best three weeks of giving in the history of the church… even in uncertain times God is providing for His church… VERY COOL!
• For the record… the girly umbrella was Jenny’s 🙂
• I had several parents thank me for the message today… even though it may lead to some difficult conversations.
• I know that its a month away… but our Easter service is going to be INCREDIBLE.
• Did I mention that it was raining like freakin’ crazy this morning?  I didn’t hear one person complain… That is leadership and commitment to the vision of Lifesong!  I cant say it enough… You guys ROCK!
• It was great to take a van full of some of our awesome volunteers to Newspring church for Unleash last Thursday.  We laughed together, cried together and learned that some of us like wear sweater vests 😉 .  It was cool to see God stretch peoples vision for what church can be.
• I can’t wait till next Sunday!  We are talking about YOUR most asked question… are we living in the end times?

Friday five…

1. I am seriously blown away at what God did at Unleash yesterday!  Still trying to wrap my mind around it…
2. I am so thankful and blessed to lead a church that has people who are willing to give up a day of work, get up before the freakin’ rooster and spend the ENTIRE day to go to a conference to make Lifesong better.  I really appreciate you guys!
3. This Sunday is going to be INCREDIBLY tense… I cant wait 😉
4. Invite your friends to Lifesong this Sunday… Yes we are talking about sex and yes the Gospel will be preached!  By the way, does anybody have a big beach umbrella?
5. I was reminded yesterday that Jesus builds His Church, not ME… and His plans and vision for it are infinitely BIGGER than mine.

I’m fired up, are you…

So many good lines… so little time.

Sunday night thoughts…

• Good day today… Race weekend so most folks just stay home but we had a decent crowd!
• The kids area was ROCKN’ today… where did all those kids come from?
• The last month the band has been incredible!  They have really stepped it up!
• Got to be honest,  today’s message was tough… divorce is NOT a fun topic.  I PRAY that you guys allowed God to speak through it.
• By the way… the lady that got up and left halfway through the message didn’t leave because she was upset… she had to go pick up her sister and said that she loved what she had heard and would be back!  It usually takes me at least two messages to run people off 😉
• She had just stopped by the theater to check on movie times and one of our awesome volunteer’s INVITED her to church… VERY COOL!
• Just finished up our LifeGroup… we really have too much fun!  You NEED to get plugged into one if you haven’t already.  Contact greg@lifesonglive.com and he will hook you up.
• Yes I said 275 lb’s of pissed off preacher today… listen to the message to find out why.
• I am pumped about UNLEASH this Thursday!  We are taking fifteen of our awesome volunteers for a little training and inspiration.  I am really praying that God speaks to us, makes us uncomfortable and stretches us in a BIG way!
• If you think about it, say a prayer for Jenny (aka Worship Diva)… she has a little procedure on Wednesday.
• I love you guys and I am proud to be your pastor!