Welcome to my site!I am the executive Pastor and Student Ministry Pastor of LifeBridge Church in the Middle River/White Marsh area of Baltimore County. My blog is going to be used to share with you some of the thoughts, and dreams that God has for me at this stage of my life. My prayer is that through something I may write, you would be encouraged and challenged to become a little closer to Jesus. This blog is my own opinion and doesn't necessarily reflect the official position of LifeBridge Church. To check out our church please visit www.thelifebridgechurch.com
As the Summertime is here, most churches go through a slow down process with all the people that go on vacation. But God has put it on my heart to not settle for the status quo this summer.
Insted He is saying just the opposite. I believe that if God's people are doing what He has called them to do, then no Church should have a drop off over the summer.
See, we are called to make disciples, which I believe means that even though we may not be in Church due to a vacation, we should still be inviting the unchurched.
Statistics show that 80% of people go to a church because they were personally invited. And 90% of those people will stay, even if you leave or are not there.
So I don't know about you, but I am going to be working my butt off this summer in inviting as many unchurched people as possible.
God has put it on my heart that even though I may take a little break from church on Sunday, there are still thousands and thousands of people that still need to hear the GREAT news of Jesus!!!
So how about you, will you join me this summer in helping as many unchurched people as possible hear the life changing message of Jesus?
Alright, I am back to blogging. I have spent the last couple of weeks getting ready for our Summer Camping trip. And I haven't spent that much time thinking about a blog.
I was able to spend last week with a bunch of students on our camping trip. Let me tell you, this had to be the most incredible trip yet!!!
I asked the students what the highlight of their trip was. They told me everything from the canoeing to hiking to the mud pit, the challange. All kinds of things that they took back from this trip.
But as I thought, what did I take back. Is a group of AMAZING students! Before this trip I talked to alot of students and parents who believed that they could not or would not be willing or able to participate in the events that we had planned for our trip.
I heard it all week. "I can't do that". And everytime I would hear that statement, I kept challanging and motivating them to remember, that "you can do ALL things through Jesus".
Let me say this. EVERY STUDENT DID EVERY EVENT WE HAD! GO GOD!!!!!
I think that the reason that students are so quick to give up is that fact that we have alot of adults always telling them, "you can't do that".
Let me tell you, there is nothing that makes me more angry than and adult telling a student or a child, they are not good enough!
I closed our trip out yesterday, by telling the students to never again let anyone tell them that they are not smart enough or physical enough or emotionally ready to do anything. I won't stand for that!
These students are amazing people and the smiles on their faces for some, I have never seen.
So what did I take from this trip?
I took back a group if students, that if people would will get behind them insted of pushing them away, they could change a community!
So let's stop telling them, "you can't do that" and start telling them they can do anything with Jesus!
It was a privilage and an honor to spend a week with some awesome students. I can't wait to do it again!
What another unforgetable service! Today was yet another example of how great God is. The new music blew me away. I can never say it enough. God has put together an incredible worship team at Lifebridge.
Today continued our One Prayer series with the message brought by, in my opinion, one of the great communicators of the Bible. Ed Young. Let me tell you, he brought the house down with a message entitled, "Make Us...Wake Up!"
He was right on target, by saying that there are far to many people that are sleeping in church. I pray that as you read this blog, you are reminded of something that was said today that will make a huge difference in your walk with Jesus. I know it will for me!
Today also being fathers day, was another opportunity for us as a church to honor them today. I think the two men selected really enjoyed their comfortable chairs as well as the fine pastries.
I had the opportunity today to perform a wedding at the Top of The Bay Club at the Aberdeen Proving grounds. And again God showed up in a huge way. What a true blessing it is to be apart of the start of a young couples marriage. "Go God"
I pray that as you listened to today's message, you were encouraged, upset, and challanged to not be the same Christ follower that you were when you came in. Remember God calls us to our uncomfortable zone! He doesn't want us to become comfortable in our service to Him.
So what do you say Church, it is time to "Wake Up"! and to do Great things for God!!!
I bet all of you 24 fans thought you were going to read something about the hit TV show, right!
Wrong! Just a reminder that tonight at 6:00PM we kick off our 24 hour prayer service here at lifeBridge. It is going to be an awesome time where hundreds of you have signed up to take part in this event.
We are in the second week of the One Prayer series. Along with hundres of thousands of people from all across the globe. So tonight we are praying for 24 hours straight. And I believe that God is going to show up in a huge way.
My prayer is that you have made it a highlight of your weekend to carve out some time to be a part of this historic event. It was once said, "that nothing of eternal importance happens apart from prayer".
I know that for alot of us our prayer lives, well, "suck"! So maybe we can use this event to jump start us to where God wants us to be in our dependance of Him.
This weekend is going to be, well, "Off the Chain" as this weekends speaker would say. Ed Young is going to be with us bringing a message entitled. "Make Us... Wake Up". To many of us are a sleep in Church and it is time that we Wake Up to what it is God is saying to us.
So make sure you are here this weekend. Oh, by the way, this weekend is Father's Day. We have some special things in store as well as some really awesome new music. So invite a dad, and I will see you on Sunday.
By the way, for those of you that actually read this blog. Drop me a comment and let me know how your prayer life is going.
When you hear the term, "Being more like Jesus" what comes to your mind?
I often think about things like this. I don't know why. I just do. I ask myself all the time. Self, are you being more like Jesus? And you know what. Alot of times I find that I really don't want to know the answer.
Now I know, as well as you that Jesus was alot of things. "He was perfect"! But, the one thing that keeps coming to my mind every time I ask my self that question is this...
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
And I realize that all I have to do at times to be more like Jesus is to serve. And you and I both know that our responsibility as a Christ follower is to be more like Jesus everyday. Which makes me ask the question, how are you being like Jesus? Do you serve? or do you wait to be served?
That is a tough question. But I am known for asking the tough ones. If Jesus himself came to serve, then how in the world as a Christ follower can we not do the same?
It blows my mind to know that there are people that go to their local church every week and do nothing! Then they wonder why their lives are in a mess.
I am so thankful that I have a Student Ministry Staff that love to serve. I had a conversation this past sunday with a mother who came to me with tears in her eyes. To say thank you for all that we have done for her son. I thought, ok, your welcome.
Then she said something that blew me away. She said that he has been going through a rough time in his life right now and she wanted to thank us for just accepting him into the student ministry. WOW! I was floored with humility.
See, that is what Jesus did with each and every Christ Follower. He accepted us. Just as we were. With no strings attached. And again that passage rang in my ears. To this young person, we were being like Jesus by simply serving in the Student ministry.
What a great privilage God has given us to be able to serve Him for what He has done for us. So what about you. How can you become more like Jesus today?
Most people live their entire lives looking for happiness. They look for it in many different ways. Money, fame, power... the old bumper sticker, "He who dies with the most toys, wins".
I see it every day. We as people are always looking for the latest and greatest fade! But as I get older in my life, I have come to realize that if you want true happiness, then you have got to discover your purpose! What you were made to do.
What is it, that God wants you to find happiness in? Now some may say, "I just don't know what it is God wants me to do".
So my first question is, "are you even asking?" If we are not talking (through prayer) and listening (through His word) then your right. You don't know what He wants you to do. But maybe your the one who for whatever reason has just, hit the wall in finding your purpose.
Let me challange you. I believe that we need not to look any farther that the story of the Good Samaritan.
Luke 10 tells us: He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
I believe that as the Good Samaritan can give us all a lesson on "our purpose". As a Christ Follower, we were saved to serve! It has been said, "we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give".
So I say, that if you want to find your true purpose. Start by just doing something. You may be suprised at what it just might be that God is wanting you to do. And more often then not, it will be something that you never imagined yourself doing.
I read a quote today from the actor Danny Thomas, "all of us are born for a reason, but all of us don't discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others".
Amazing! That's about all I can say of today's service. It was a awesome experience to be a part of an incredible event as we joined with hundreds of churches all across the Country with One Prayer.
I truly believe that if we people will just take the time to seek the face of Jesus, that he will bless us beyond anything that we could possibly imagine.
The music today was "off the hook"! The song "God of this City" was just an awesome worship experience. I personally think that song should become the LifeBridge Church theme song.
I also had the opportunity to challange the students with a message entitled, "Challanged To Change". As we in the student ministry are going to be working behind the scenes this Summer to bring about some of the biggest changes that we have ever made in the ministry.
We ended our day with our Monthly Leadership Gathering. I am so thankful to work alongside a group of leaders who truly get the vision of reaching the Next Generation. LifeBridge would not be what it is today, if not for all of them.
My prayer is that as we, as a church over the next several weeks will allow God to totally grab hold of our hearts and radically change us forever. I can only speak for me, but as of this moment, God is rocking my world with some really awesome things.
Let me know what you thought of today, and what it is God is saying to you!
What a question. I think that if you are alive, then we all get hungry. We rely on food and water to nourish our bodies so that we can grow to be healthy and strong men and women.
But I think what I am asking is, if you are a Christ follower. "Are you hungry"?
Are you hungry for the things of God? Do you seek to even find out what it is He is hungry for?
Last night we had our pre kickoff to what I believe could be the most powerful, life changing event that we have ever experienced at LifeBridge. If, people are hungry for it!
Last night we had the start of the One Prayer event with a prayer service that had several other area churches here to participate. And that we as a church will be doing for the month of June.
Now I have to be honest. (people have never known me not to be.) Our First Wednesday service was AWESOME! But the turnout of people, was anything but awesome.
Which led me to start thinking. Are people really hungry? I don't know, maybe you are happy with where you are at in your spiritual journey. (which I seriously doubt). Or maybe you are content with just maintaining the "status quo"(which by the way, is short for "the mess your in".)
But Jesus said, in Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled".
Do people really get that? If you hunger and thirst for the things of God then HE will fill you! And you will be blessed.
So how do we hunger and thirst for God? Answer: The Bible, and PRAYER!
Now I don't know what it was that kept people away. But I again ask the question. "What are you hungry for"? Only you can answer!
What another incredible day at LifeBridge. I don't know what it is, but when ever we have a baptism, I get "pumped up". We had 12 people baptized today. We are on our way to seeing 100 by the end of the year. Go Jesus!!!
Today was a great ending to a series that I believe, can change some peoples lives if they will take what the scripture's say, then, as the Nike slogan say's, "Just do it"!
I don't know about you, but I believe that there are to many, what I call, Cafeteria Christians out there. you know, they are the ones that walk down the Bible food line picking and choosing what part of the Bible best fits to their life. Instead of making their life fit to what the Bible tells us to do.
So I pray that during this series people were challanged to step up their spiritual walk with God and allow Him to make the changes needed to make us into the men and women He has called us to be.
I also had the opportunity today to teach our membership class to a great group of people that were there to hear where we believe God is taking us as a Church. "I Love My Job". I did by the way, let them know that if they did not plan on stepping up and serving as a member somewhere. then LifeBridge, is probably not the church for them.
I also want to give a "shout out" to our worship team. What an incredible set today. I love how we can take the songs of yesterday, and give them an edge to play in today's generation. Not to mention, "THEY ROCKED THE HOUSE"!!!
Again, I cannot express what an honor and a privilage it is to be able to serve in a church that wants to make an impact to the next generation in our community by seeing thousands of unchurched people reached for Jesus.
Today's service was AWESOME! Let me know what you think!!!
Today is just another awesome day! I had a great Thursday night "Bridge" event and the students get me pumped up! I think there is going to be double the number of students going on the camping trip this year as opposed to last year. I as well as the students can't wait.
I am having lunch today with a man who is becoming a really good friend. Barry Tolten. He is the Young Life director for the Baltimore area and he has a great High School program that meets at the Middle River Boys and Girls club on Wednesday evenings. "I love people who have a heart for the Next Generation"!!!
This weekend is going to be awesome! We have some cool things planned for the service. So make sure your here on time..(you wouldn't be late for a movie)
Some people who have some really cool blogs this week that you might want to check out.
They are some awesome men of God. So check them out... As you can tell I am just rambling, probably because it is Friday and I am ADHD! So comment and let me know what you think.
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I as well as the students can't wait.