Super Bowl Sunday

This Sunday is the kick off of the 90 day tithe challenge. I know that you were thinking football, but can you tell who won the Super Bowl two years ago? We soon we forget.

But what we are kicking off this Sunday will be remembered for all of eternity. You see when you return to God what is rightfully His in the first place, you are investing in something that will last forever. God also makes a promise to us to take care of all of our needs.

I made a promise too. I said that for the next 90 days, everything that is above our budget would go outside the walls of NewPointe. We would use it to bless our community and spread God’s kindness around. And that when people asked us why we did this or that, we would respond “Love Made Me Do It !” You see it is my dream that we would be known for being the most generous group of people around.

So for all of you who are taking the challenge, I applaud you. You are going to experience God in ways you never have before. You might just become proud receivers of everything money can’t buy.

I want you to know that I am praying for you, because I know that our enemy doesn’t not like us becoming more like God. So be ready to for an incredible adventure.

Here are some promises to read throughout this next 90 days.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Matthew 6:25-34

What are you Reading?

When I run into people that are intentional about advancing God’s Kingdom and being the person who God created them to be, I ask them what books they are reading.

When you read what other people are reading , many times it gives you insight to their heart, their thinking, and brings you to a point where you can start to see why they do what they do. God has blessed NewPointe incredibility this past year. We have seen literally hundreds of lives changed.

Why?

What has influenced us to be the way we are? What is influencing the way that I lead? Here are a few books I am working through:

• The Blessed Life -- Robert Morris
• Emotional Healthy Spiritually -- Peter Scazzero
• The shaping of things to come -- Michael Frost & Alan Hirsch
• The God you can Know -- Dan Dehann
• Unstoppable Force -- Erwin McManus
• The Paradox of Power -- Pat Williams
• A Divine Confrontation -- Graham Cooke
• Visioneering -- Andy Stanley
• Fresh Encounter -- Henry Blackaby

The Cell Phone Book

I told you about the book that I asked my daughter Sarah to read. It is called The Present by Spencer Johnson.

It is a great book, but not just for a teenager. It is for anyone who wants to be pro-active in life instead of just re-active.

Here is a summary :

Three ways to use your present moments today

1. Be In The Present

When you want to happier and more successful

• Focus on What is Right Now
• Respond To What Is Important now

2. Learn From The Past

When you want to make the present better than the past

• Love at What Happened in the Past
• Learn Something Valuable From it
• Do Things Differently In The Present

3. Plan For The Future

When you want to make the future better than the present

• See what a wonderful future would look like
• Make Plans to help it happen
• Put your Plan into Action in the present

Fasting & Prayer

On Feb. 6^th, we kick off our 40 days of fasting and praying. This leads up to the greatest day of celebration in the Church. Easter. You see if there is no resurrection then we are all to be most pitied.

I want to encourage you to fully participate in this spiritual discipline. Someone has said, that you have not done all you until you have fasted and prayed.

What we encourage is that you fast from something for the 40 days; it might be TV, Sports, Newspaper, Chocolate, buying things for yourself …. sweets, etc…. or maybe even something much more substantial.

In doing this you are taking control with the help of God’s Spirit of your flesh. This creates space for the Spirit of God to move and work in your life.

I would encourage you to make a list of prayer requests that you are asking God to do miracles in you.

Prayer and fasting – simply making room for God to move.

Resolutions & Accountability

Hey we are four weeks into the New Year. How are you coming along with your new year’s resolutions? You might be one of many that are thankful I can’t see your response. For most it doesn’t take much longer than three weeks for most if not all of our new year’s resolutions to fall by the wayside.

I was talking to a good friend of mine the other day. He mentioned to me that 2007 was one of his best years professionally. He said though that God has really challenged him in his personal life. He told me that he called up an acquaintance on the phone, and told him he wanted to meet with him. When he met with him he said - I want to meet with you once a month, and I want you to ask me these six questions.

He mention that his friend said, let me give you a couple of question to ask me. My friend said no I want this to strictly be you holding me accountable for what I believe God is asking of me.

You know that challenged me. Because if we are ever going to get past talking about the same old stuff that we want different in our lives, we must go beyond being transparent to being vulnerable.

You say what does that mean? It means not just sharing with some one what you hope to do. But rather, you give them permission to hold you accountable to what you have shared.

Remember God speaks to us in private, and this still needs to be shared in public with a friend or two or we will find ourselves never following through on what God has spoken.

Resolution without accountability ends up empty.

Retreats

I recently had the privilege of being a part of two different retreats. One was with the NewPointe Staff , the other was with NewPointe Board. We had great times of worship and prayer.

I just want to say that both retreats were a powerful time. God spoke, and God moved. Some one has said that you can go no further than your leadership can take you.

NewPointers, be encouraged! Be excited! You are in good hands. I truly believe that the team here at NewPointe has a desire to follow God with all their hearts.

The Reel NewPointe

This Sunday - we are kicking off a new series called The Reel Newpointe It is a series about our values.

This is huge, because our values are why we do what we do. Wait till you get here - you'll be excited and challenged.

Many times people fall in love with a certain thing that we do at Newpointe, yet don’t fully understand the “Why” behind it. This leads to frustration when it is time to change. Some people wonder, why did they change that? If you understand Newpointe's values this will help you as you track with us in leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.


Don't miss one of these Sundays - they are important!

Tithe Challenge

I can’t tell you how excited I was to see how many chose to get more information about the 90 Day Tithe Challenge. More than 300 responded.

If you chose to embrace this challenge you will never be the same in your walk with Jesus Christ. You see for many people the Christian life is boring, non eventful . It is basically that way because we choose not to believe the promises that God has given us. By the way there are over 7,000 promises in his word.

If you choose to accept this mission, you will experience an unbelievable adventure that will not leave you the same.

Breaking Rules - my new closing signature

American Church in Decline?

Why are churches in America declining? Great question.

Erwin McManus, pastor of Mosaic church, contends that the reason why churches are declining in America is because they are self-centered.

Here is what He has to say….“My primary assessment would be because American Christians tend to be incredibly self-indulgent so they see the church as a place there for them to meet their needs and to express faith in a way that is meaningful for them,” “There is almost no genuine compassion or urgency about serving and reaching people who don’t know Christ,”

Speaking about church decline in general, McManus concluded: “I think the bottom line really is our own spiritual narcissism. There are methods and you can talk about style, structure and music, but in the end it really comes down to your heart and what you care about,” he said.
He often explains that while the Bible does not change, the methods to effectively communicate the Word of God can.

People ask me all the time, when do you think Newpointe will stop growing ? Here is the answer. - When we become self-centered. It all depends on what we truly care about.

This discussion finds meaning for our personal relationship with Christ. The greatest way to grow your relationship with Jesus Christ is to change what you really care about.

What do you really care about today? Does it need to Change?

Here is Jesus heart and what he cared about. Matthew 9:35-38

American Idol Auditions

America Idol Auditions

The other night America Idol started it new season. It was the usual. You are sitting there asking yourself - why do people humiliate themselves ? That is a good question not only for those auditioning for American Idol but for all of ourselves….

When I get real, I can admit that I even hurt for some of them. Then to see how they responsd when they don’t make it, it let’s you know that there must be a lot of pain in their lives. Pain surfaces when we don’t get accepted – in all of life, not just American Idol.

So what are we to do ?

Romans 12: 3 says "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. "

Sometimes we are not even capable of that because of blind spots….

Proverbs 27: 6 has an answer for us in this case…… “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

As we jump into this new season of America Idol. No doubt it will be filled with many questions. More so than – who do you think will get eliminated tonight? I’m talking about serious questions.

One I had last night was: Where are their friends?

I trust that you have friends who help you to have a biblically healthy view of who you are in Christ, as well as how He has gifted you and not gifted you. Hearing this is sometimes painful, but remember the pain is always less if it is a private conversation with some one who loves you, than a group of people you don’t know that well.

So who has loved you enough lately, to wound you, with truth and grace? And who do you love enough to wound them, with truth and grace?

Investing in 08

What are you going to invest in, in 2008?

I was checking out the web, and came across an article that listed 50 hot stocks to invest in for 2008. They listed what they consider 50 companies that are poised for great returns. I looked and didn’t see the greatest investment opportunity available. It is the safest and at the same time yields the greatest reward …..

The Kingdom Of God

Listen to this promise:

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21