Great day

It started yesterday at 6:30 a.m. I met David D’Angelo who is giving leadership to our campus launches in Louisville and Millersburg.  We left the Dover campus and started heading for Louisville.

We got to the Louisville campus around 7:20 a.m. It was amazing! People were already there unloading and setting up for our pre-run service.

When I walked into the building, you could sense the excitement and feel the energy. It was great!  Kevin West, Campus Pastor, was in his wheel house of directing and encouraging.

You could see where adjustments and changes had been made from what was learned at the first run through last week.

The band was firing on all cylinders. Danny Bunnelle is doing a great job of developing the band. Dave Beachy is leading the way in the sound, tech and multi media.

Dave, Doug Hensel and I walked through the building looking for areas that might cause some problems for people flow.

Dave and I left at 9:20 a.m. to head out for Millersburg and got there just as the band opened up with their first song. 

There was the First Impressions team there greeting and giving us directions. 

The rooms for the children’s ministry were ready and fully equipped to minister to the children.

Bill Anderson, the Campus Pastor, did a great job of welcoming the people and laying out the vision and purpose of the Millersburg campus.

There were three screens in the auditorium. The large center one was a full view shot of John Bunn teaching, and the two side screens were close up shots. (By the way, John did a great job!)

Excitement was in the air.  People are jacked for the opportunity to invite their family and friends to an environment that has the potential to change the trajectory of their life.

All of this happened while the Dover campus went off without a hitch.

Congratulations, team, on a great day !

Read Slowly

In the last few months we have read about men who have been unfaithful to their wives--men who were future hopefuls for the highest office in the land; pastors leading growing churches; coaches who are calling young men to be disciplined and focused.

It is humbling and scary. 

Is there any hope? 

Yes!

Read slowly:

How can those who are young keep their way pure?
       By living according to your word.

¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
       do not let me stray from your commands.

¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
       that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119:9-11

²⁰ My son, keep your father's commands,
       and don't forget your mother's teaching.
²¹ Keep their words in mind forever
       as though you had them tied around your neck.
²² They will guide you when you walk.
       They will guard you when you sleep.
       They will speak to you when you are awake.
²³ These commands are like a lamp; this teaching is like a light.
    And the correction that comes from them    will help you have life.
²⁴ They will keep you from sinful women
       and from the pleasing words of another man's unfaithful wife.
²⁵ Don't desire her because she is beautiful.
       Don't let her capture you by the way she looks at you.
²⁶ A prostitute will treat you like a loaf of bread, 
      and a woman who takes part in adultery may cost you your life.
²⁷ You cannot carry hot coals against your chest without burning your clothes,
²⁸ and you cannot walk on hot coals without burning your feet.
²⁹ The same is true if you have sexual relations with another man's wife.  Anyone who does so will be punished.
³⁰ People don't hate a thief when he steals because he is hungry.
³¹ But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole,
       and it may cost him everything he owns.
³² A man who takes part in adultery has no sense; he will destroy himself.
³³ He will be beaten up and disgraced, and his shame will never go away.
³⁴ Jealousy makes a husband very angry, and he will have no pity when he gets revenge.
³⁵ He will accept no payment for the wrong;  he will take no amount of money.

Proverbs 6:20-35

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Pure Hell

Rick Pitino who is the basketball coach of the Louisville Cardinals said today a sex scandal involving a woman accused of trying to extort him has been "pure hell" for his family, and that the airing of her claims made him angry enough to speak out against his lawyer's advice.

According to a report in The Courier-Journal, Pitino and Karen Sypher had sex at a table in an upscale Louisville restaurant in August of 2003 (while one of Pitino's assistants was apparently lying on the restaurant floor nearby). Two weeks later, Sypher told Pitino she was pregnant and planned to have an abortion but didn't have any health insurance. According to Pitino's lawyer, the Louisville coach then gave Sypher $3,000 in order to pay for her insurance. (Jeff Gordon)

Pitino father of five, who's also a devout Roman Catholic, said the scandal has taken a heavy toll on his wife and family."It has been pure hell for her and my family.

I am a Rick Pitino fan, going all the way back to his days at Boston College which also lead him to the New York Knicks and University of Kentucky Wildcats, back to the NBA Boston Celtics and now at Louisville.

I also realize "...but for the grace of God, there go I."

But here are some scriptures that give us sharp warning...

"Each of you is tempted when you are dragged away by your own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (Pure hell) James 1:14-15

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. People reap what they sow.Those who sow to please their sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction..." (Pure hell) Galatians 6:7-8

Excitement is Building

This was a great weekend. I felt like a kid at Christmas.

We kicked off our practice runs for our new campuses in Millersburg and Louisville. It was a great time for all.

Saturday was loading day. We have two trailers for each campus.

One for the sound and tech. The other for the children's ministry, 1st Impressions ministry, etc.

Sunday morning started early for the campus teams. They were unloading and setting up by 6:30 a.m. The practice run throughs were at 10:30 a.m.

The incredible thing was at our Dover Campus things went on without a hitch.

You say, 'How does that happen?" Only one answer-- an incredible group of people who are committed to leading ministries and reaching people for Christ. I have repeatedly thanked God for the hearts of this great group of people, now spread out over 3 campuses.

Stay tuned for updates.

The launch date for the new campuses is Sept. 13th. Services will be at 10:30 a.m.

Proud & Grateful

This past Sunday was "GO '09" (Community Impact Day) @ NewPointe. It was another unbelievable experience!

Over 1,600 NewPointers went out into their communities to serve and give back. The projects included weeding and landscaping at schools, parks, and community buildings; delivering cookies to fire men and police men; visiting in nursing homes; delivering food to local food pantries; and many other things. We purposely canceled church to go out and BE the church.

I am getting emails and cards from people I don't know telling me to let the NewPointe people how thankful they are for the church.

I am also getting emails from parents sharing stories how it has impacted their families, especially their children . I believe this serves as a great reminder for those of us who have decided to follow Christ-- that church is not so much about receiving as it is giving.

Our whole family experienced the joy of serving and making a difference in the community that you live in.

Here are some pictures . I am blessed to serve with people who have such big and generous hearts.