Chaos and Crisis

I'm beginning to realize that some of the most challenging times we go through are really the best opportunities for growth. It's these times that the creativity that God has equipped us with really steps up in our lives.

God's desire is not for us to give up, but to look at our situation and ask how we can use our creativity and innovation to rise above and become stronger and even break through into a whole new level of growth.

When your outlook is focused in this way, you can take chaos and crisis and actually use them to your benefit. This excites me, because it helps me realize that trying times, although painful and unpleasant, are an indication that success is only a few small and steady steps away.

We'll Miss You Harry!

Today is a sad day for sports fan everywhere and especially if you are a Philadelphia Phillies fan...which I am. Harry Kalas, the famous, loved and cherished voice of Phillies baseball died today. He passed out in the announcers booth yesterday at the Phillies game in DC (what a way to go), and was taken to a hospital where he later died. He was 73 years old.

I remember listening to Harry with my dad many times. His voice is one of legend. Here is a short clip of him announcing the Phillies 2008 world championship game.

A Great Day at the Connection Point

What an awesome day we had. This Sunday we celebrated our first Easter at the Connection Point, and let me just say thank you to all our Connectors on the great job you did of inviting your friends to hear the life-giving message of Jesus Christ.

Gabe and the band did an excellent job taking us into the presence of God through worship. I spoke on the cross being the icon of our faith and how his resurrection makes the cross our bridge to God...what was once separated, can now come together because of Christ Jesus.

After the service we had a Easter egg hunt for the kids...here are a few pics.

Savannah (a first time guest) won the coveted iPod shuffle...congratulations

Lauren Killeen won an Easter Bunny Basket...Congratulations!

Brianna Smith won an Easter Basket...Congratulations!

Golf, Golf and More Golf

Today, the golf gods were shinning on me. Not only is this week the best week in the PGA with the masters tomorrow (or today if you're reading this late), but I personally scored about 6 free rounds of golf.

Here's how it happened. I promised my son that would take him to play golf today. In my quest to find a public course with the cheapest prices (which is a post in itself), I came across a couple of local courses that were advertising a free round of golf on your birthday by signing up for the online community.

In signing up for them, I noticed how similar the forms looked. So, I put two and two together and started looking for other courses offering the same thing. The result...I now have free birthday rounds of golf in New Port Ritchey, Clearwater, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Tampa. To make things even better, my birthday is in 2o days. SWEET!

If you live in Tampa you can get the same thing. Check it out here and here.

True Worship

In Romans 12:1 it says, "In view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, this is your spiritual act of worship." The first phrase of that verse is the heart of where worship is born.

"In view of God's mercy," what you were unable to do for yourself that God did for you. "In view of God's mercy," Christ choosing you when no one else would. "In view of God's mercy," a God who came to earth, walked among us, and gave his life so that we wouldn't have to.

When we truly keep God's mercy in front of our lives, all of our acts become pure worship unto him. "In view of God's mercy."

Are you keeping his mercy at the forefront of your life?

This Weekend at The Connection Point

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. In the Christian faith it is the mark of Christ entering Jerusalem for the final week of his life before his crucifixion. Because of what happened on that day, it's perfect for talking about what worship is in our lives.

Worship is more than a group of songs that we sing on Sunday morning, it's more than clapping and raising your hands, it's really a lifestyle that you live.

So make it a point to be there, and see what the power of worship is all about.