Great Day

What a great day God gave us Sunday.

It’s awesome when God does His thing and touches people’s hearts. Any Sunday when four people decide to meet Christ in the waters of baptism is a great day. That never get’s old!

Thanks, God, for letting me be part of what you’re doing in people’s lives.

Cardboard Testimonies

A few weeks ago I used “Cardboard Testimonies” during a sermon at CPC. Many churches have done these moving testaments to God’s grace. Check out some of these YouTube vidoes if you don’t know what I’m talking about.

Many, many people responded during our first service by coming forward and writing their own testimonies. Interestingly, no one came forward in the second service. I’m not sure what that means, but it’s interesting.

But one response really stands out to me in a BIG way. It happened later that afternoon in my garage. My eight-year-old daughter, Kaleigh, and her friend Luka, apparently had a spiritual discussion about that morning’s sermon while they were playing. I guess they were listening more than I realized, because later that night as I was clearing out the garage to make room for our van, I found a cardboard testimony that she had written that afternoon. It tore me up!

Here are pictures of the front and back of her testimony (I’ve also included subtitles if you can’t read her handwriting or decipher her spelling).

I can’t tell you how much this thrills me; both as a dad and as a preacher. As a dad, I’m overwhelmed to know that my daughter gets it! She actually gets that God’s grace in her life leads her to obedience. She sees (in her limited, eight-year-old way) that Jesus makes things better!

As a preacher, it’s nice to know that someone is listening.

I Hurt

What a great way to spend an afternoon! About twenty or so of us played flag football at church today before our annual Thanksgiving Feast at CPC.

And (even if I say so myself) us old guys held our own against a bunch of young wippersnappers. Of course, I won’t be able to get out of bed tomorrow. . . But we had fun and had a few flashbacks to the glory days

Force or Field

I just ran across this video on Tim Steven’s blog, Leading Smart.

In the video, Mark Beeson describes two ways of viewing the church. The church is either a Force or a Field.

Watch the video and then let me know which you think CPC is, and why.

Red Cross

One of the opportunities we have for serving the world is to team up with the American Red Cross. The Red Cross serves in countless emergencies ranging from war, to hurricanes, to single-family fires. They train people in CPR, first aid, disaster assessment, and much more.

Wouldn’t it be great if most of CPC was trained in CPR? Can you imagine the positive impact in our community if a Christ Point member saves someone’s life because of training they received through this church?

What kind of impact would it have on a family that lost everything in a fire if we were able to help them? Through the Red Cross we could have immediate access to the family and know first-hand what needs they may have.

Now, it is true, that while you’re wearing the “red vest” you can’t “witness”. But isn’t just being there a form of “witness”? And what about when you take the vest off? You can talk indepth with people you built relationships with whle wearing the vest. And what about the other volunteers? How many conversations could you have with the people whom you’re working side-by-side? I imagine a conversation going something like this:

You: “So, how did you get started volunteering for the Red Cross?”

Volunteer: “You know, I’ve been successful in my career and I just felt like it was time I gave something back. . . . What about you? Why do you do this?”

You: “Me? I do this because of what Jesus has done for me.”

Wow! What an opportunity.

The Red Cross will get us into places and situations where we may not otherwise be able to minister.

Jesus once told a parable about a man he called a “dishonest rascal” (New Living Tranlsation) because the guy acted shrewdly to get his way. Jesus applied his teaching by saying, “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:8).

I view the Red Cross as a way to shrewdly use the things of this world to accomplish the things of the kingdom.

Costa Rica

This morning I had breakfast with DJ Lovelace and Troy Benham. For months Troy has been trying to get me to visit with DJ, who has a dream of starting a mission effort in Costa Rica. So, finally, today was the day.

It is an amazing “God-thing” that Troy “happens” to know DJ.

DJ grew up as a missionary in Africa but returned to the states when his parents retired. After getting a degree in education he decided to teach abroad. He applied at like 200 different international sites and told himself he would move to the first place that responded. Costa Rica was that place.

While teaching elementary school there, he fell in love with the people. . . but one person especially stole his heart. . . so he married her. He and his new Costa Rican bride returned to Corpus Christi so DJ could earn his Masters and Doctorate degrees; but they have always wanted to return to Costa Rica and do mission work.

But how?

That’s where Troy–a fleet mechanic and a fairly new Christian–comes in.

A couple of years ago, DJ met Troy. Together, with Glenn Kelley and others, they began meeting for a weekly Bible study and mission outreach. That’s where Troy learned of DJ’s passion to return to Costa Rica and build an orphanage, drill water wells, serve the local people, and start a seminary for indigenous (local) pastors. He sees an openness to Christ but recognizes that without strong indigenous leadership protestant Christianity will not flourish.

But how could his vision become a reality? As it turns out, Troy also “happens” to know a local attorney. Years ago this attorney had received some property in a business transaction. He had never done anything with this former coffee plantation other than just let it sit vacant. After all, what is a Corpus Christi attorney going to do with land in (you guessed it) Costa Rica?

Not knowing any of the details, but just wanting two of his friends who both loved the Lord to get to know each other, Troy introduced this attorney to DJ. The attorney almost instantly caught the vision and passion of DJ and has now offered to GIVE DJ all the land he needs to start his mission efforts.

DJ has already made a trip to Costa Rica and is now in the early stages of working through the Costa Rican legal channels to obtain the rights to the property (Good thing he knows an attorney!).

DJ is still 9 to 12 months away from moving permanently back to Costa Rica. He will need state-side help that includes financial support; but more importantly, DJ is looking for churches that share his vision and will personally actively help build a ministry to this Central American country. He is praying for people to travel with him, groups to come down and help build foundations, erect walls, dig wells, evangelize local people, prepare local pastors, and more.

DJ did not come to Christ Point asking for help. Troy Benham got us together.

Troy just “happened” to know an attorney with some land, a missionary with a dream, and a pastor who is looking for ways to help his congregation be more mission minded.

Go figure!

I Don’t Have to Wear a Mask

I’ve heard it before and I heard it again last Sunday.

One of CPC’s members is facing a move out of Corpus Christi but they don’t want to go. Do you know why they don’t want to leave?

Christ Point Church.

They have spent years looking for a church home that feels like home. This member says that Christ Point is the first church they have found where, “I don’t have to wear a mask. I can be myself and people still love me.”

What a great testimony to the love and grace at Christ Point.