NO LONGER POSTING TO THIS SITE

Hi readers.

I am no longer posting to this page ... please read posts at www.pointwestbury.com.  It contains the latest and greatest of the happenings of our life and The Point.

Thanks.

Todd

Santa is NOT real!

Well, today my son, Malachi, stood at his public school pre-k program and told the others kids that "there is no such thing as Santa."  Mary called me to give me the news.  The teachers had to talk to ALL the parents and reassure the students.  My response was, "Great."  

Why should I ever feel embarrassed by TRUTH?  

I mean, we are unable to speak of a TRUE JESUS in a public school, but we can lie to children about an UNREAL SANTA.  Something does not make sense!!!  We can teach children that lying is okay if it makes someone happy or to believe something untrue ... where is the character in that?

I love that my son will stand up for what he believes to be TRUE and in fact, is true!  Not bad for a 4 year old!  I pray he will always stand in the face of peer pressure and remain strong!

SIDE NOTE:  I do feel bad that the kids in his class were upset, but I refuse to punish my son because he STATED TRUTH!

"The truth is like the lion.  It needs no defense but itself."

I love you, Malachi!!!

Sunday Stories (12.7.08)

Sunday was a great day @ The Point.  It seems like I say it all the time, but I really believe it.  I was able to sit back and "watch" the service happen today.  I am soooo privileged to be the lead pastor.  God has placed so many amazing people around me - gifted and capable!

Positives from Sunday:

1.  Largest attendance since 9.21.08

2.  4th largest offering of the quarter

3.  6 first time guests

4.  2 decisions to follow Christ

Plus our Worship Arts Team was the tightest musically since we started - consistency is the key!!!  Nick Osso did a fantastic job speaking - definitely has the call.

I love watching other people use their gifts to honor God.

Learnings from Houston

Houston came at a great time for me.  I needed the difference in scheduling and location in order to simply listen to God.  I love it.  

Here are some of the things I learned in no particular order:

1. New churches grow 23x's faster than existing churches.
2. New churches have 3-4x's more conversions than existing churches.
3. New sites create greater outreach.
4. As bad as you want your church to grow God wants it more.
5. Take risks on emerging leaders and artists.
6. Some of the best pastors are in your seats.
7. You must be willing to pay the costs (calling, prayer, team, discipleships, marketing, missional, systems, etc)
8. Jesus must be the center of EVERYTHING.  Church is about Jesus!!!

Getting away helps clear your head to really hear from God.  I have come back to Long Island with a renewed passion and vision to GO FOR IT!!!

20 Principles of Church Planting

I shared this workshop yesterday @ Multiplicity in Houston, TX.  I think the content was great but the presentation was sub-par.  

Here are the 19 Principles of Church Planting:

1. Spiritual Mathematics - God + Zero = Everything
2. Faith
3. Family
4. Fundraising - You must raise money to get past year 2.
5. Payback - Give 10%+ to missions
6. Prayer & Fasting
7. Life-Change
8. Personal Growth - Leaders are learners
9. Staffing - Hire by faith
10. Good Times - learn to have fun
11. The Turtle - we must take more drastic risks
12. Creative Elements - use every creative means possible
13. Repeat Customers - get people to come back
14. Originality
15. Online Portals - use the online resources
16. Flexibility
17. Planning Precision - plan ahead
18. Humility
19. Gum Under the Table - stick to your mission
20. Multiplication - reproduce your church

It was a lot of fun, but certainly not my best presentation.  I am so glad God called me to plant and not to be a workshop presenter.