BPC "tale of the tape" cont.

This evening during our weekly launch team meeting we had a great time of concentrated prayer. We divided into 5 groups praying for the following: against the attacks of the enemy, for the salvation of family, friends & the people of Tarentum, for the Boro officials, police, fire & EMT, for continued unity & protection for the launch team and for the 1st preview service on Oct. 21st. It's my desire BPC continue to be bathed in prayer!

Speaking of prayer, a little over 2 years ago I seriously began praying about church planting. For me it all started in August of 2000 when P. Jeff asked me to consider "planting." My response to the Lord & to Jeff, "No. Not me." During the next 5 years the "planting" question reoccurred, my response was the same each time it came up, "No." To be honest I didn't have a good reason for saying no, I felt I just didn't want to do it. More importantly during those 5 years the Lord was doing alot of things in me, bringing me to a place of complete surrender...in many ways that only He can.

Back to 2005, Jeff asked me again about "planting", my response..."Francie & I will take it to the Lord in prayer." After a time of fasting & prayer I responded... Yes, we'll follow God's promptings and "plant." Jeff's response...Go for it! Start a small group & we'll see where the Lord takes it.

We had our first meeting on Tuesday February 7th 2006 with 6 people attending. But more about that next time...

"And pray in the Spirit, on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints."
Ephesians 6:18

P.S...
We're looking for people to be part of our prayer team. You may or may not not feel lead to join the launch team but would commit to praying for the church. If you'd like to be a part, please respond by commenting to this posting or email at contactbridgepoint@yahoo.com

Wonderful Relationships

Francie & I just spent the last 2 days with her cousins in Canada. On the way to Toronto we stopped on the Canadian side to see the Horseshoe Falls up close and across the way we could see the American Falls, what an incredible sight! (even though it was overcast and drizzling) All that water just rushing over the side, talk about Gods POWER! I found myself starring in wonderment thinking...the God that made this cares about me...and He cares about you. If He can create the Falls there's nothing He can't do, there's nothing too hard for Him. When we're under His protection, guidance & instruction, He cares for us, loves us & is committed to us.

Francie's cousins, Christina & Anna and their families, are great people. As kids they would come every summer to visit their grandparents as well as share life with my wife's family who lived next door. These relationships have stood the test of time and continue today because of commitment & love.

Jesus had this type of commitment & love with His disciples, they shared life. As the disciples walked from town to town with Jesus they were under His protection, guidance & instruction. They committed their lives to Him & to each other. It's said of the disciples that these were the men who turned the world upside down ...because of their commitment & love for Jesus...because of their wonderful relationship with the Lord. Question...what kind of relationships are we building? Will they stand the test of time, do they reflect love & commitment toward the Lord & each other, are they wonderful?

The OOMPH of Life

In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asked Jesus "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"Jesus answered,"I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." In other words...there's no limit to the amount of times we're to forgive regardless of how we feel. It can be a difficult skill to master. Many people take with them learned patterns of behavior from childhood into adulthood. Unforgiveness towards those who've caused us personal pain can be one of them. Getting caught up in the "he said, she said" mentality leads to anger, bitterness, frustration as well as other thoughts & feelings.

There's alot of self helps today. B&N, Borders & Waldons shelves are full of them...read this, apply that, focus your positive energies... although these can help, they lack the oomph needed to demonstrated it. Jesus not only taught about the oomph in forgiveness, He demonstrated it!

John 19:30 Jesus said," It is finished." With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. Forgiveness for the entire world happened... oomph!! What an example, forgiveness for you and me but also towards those who were directly in front of Him causing personal pain & death!

Life can be hard at time so we need all of the biblical oomph we can get. The next time you find yourself in your fav little reading nook, browse over to the word for an extra dose of oomph! You never know when it'll come in handy.

BridgePoint Church "tale of the tape"

During the 70's I spent many a Saturday afternoon watching ABC's Wide World of Sports. As a young man, my Dad was really into weightlifting and throughout his life he loved to watch boxing. I remember seeing all of the biggest fights during that time.

One feature of boxing is the "tale of the tape".

This idiom is used when comparing things, especially in sports; it comes from boxing where the fighters would be measured with a tape measure before a fight. Height, weight and arm reach among other things is noted. It's a statistical history, important information we should know about each fighter before they enter the ring

This is the introductory entry to BridgePoint church's "tale of the tape".
During some future postings, I'll be writing about how & when things started, from our first small group meeting to the outreaches we've done right up to now as we prepare for our monthly preview services and Palm Sunday 2008 launch date. Although we've only been meeting weekly for about a year and a half, for me it's been a 7 year journey.

"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

"he gets things done."

About 4 years ago I briefly met Nick Poole out near Robinson Towne Ctr. My daughter Alexandra would catch a ride to & from Pgh to CBC in Springfield, MO. with Nick & his sister. A few times he saved Francie & I many long hours of driving. When P. Jeff announced Nick would be joining the APC staff to work APC's network of churches and I told Alexandra she said, "Dad, he gets things done." After meeting with the "Nickster" every week for going on 3 mths and spending time with him, I couldn't agree more. Nick's a great guy & really does get things done & then some! He's a very hard worker, has great ideas and insight, is creative and follows through on everything he does. Best of all, he loves God and wants serve him with all he's got. Nick and each person in our group has been a great blessing as we begin to launch Bridgepoint Church!

Reminder...there's power in praying!

This evening I was reminded again that prayer is powerful...just think, it's audience with the creator of the universe, the One who brings the sun up in the morning and down in the evening. That thought just blows my mind! He's concerned about every aspect of our lives...relationships, job situations, financial obligations and loss of loved ones, just to name a few. So..."Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6&7 Dare I say the Bible is kinda like Gods blog, prayers directed to that "blog" carry way more power than the computers that connect to the Internet. God cares, He's posted and He's listening!

You never know what God is going to do...

For some time now, Francie & I have been leading praise and worship. We just finished writing the P&W list for this Sunday's APC traditions svc. It all started back in '91 when Pat Summers said to me "Hey, I hear your wife plays the piano & you sing. We're starting a youth ministry band. Do you think..." And we've been leading ever since @ APC, SFWC & on other various occasions. My wife is a fabulous piano player having studied for over 40 years & graduated from Duquesne University's school of music. I sing melody & Francie sings harmony (very well i might add). I'm so blessed to have her as my wife & ministry partner. Music is a big part of our lives especially Praise & Worship. There's nothing like leading people into the throne room where their hearts & lives are changed forever!

A man of vision behind the Coal Miner's Daughter

This afternoon Francie & I got home around the same time. She said "guess whose coming to Pgh, Loretta Lynn". Back in the 80's we were into country music, we saw her & all the biggest country stars at that time. Loretta will be at the Pepsi Road House on December 7th. Also, we just finished watching "Coal Miner's Daughter" the movie about her life. It's a great rags to riches story, 2 people who came from Butcher Holler, near the coal mining town of Van Lear, far in the back woods of Kentucky. The movie is not only about her career in country music but it's also about the driving force behind that career, the brains managing her fast rise to stardom...Her husband Dolittle ("his friends called him Mooney cause he used to make moonshine"). Doo was a loving husband and father, a man with incredible perseverance ("that Dolittle don't know what quit means."), and common sense (Loretta to Doo-"If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here."). A man who dreamed of "having more than a chest full of coal dust & being an old man by the time I'm 40." When Loretta was starting out Doo learned the country music business by figuring it out as he went along, listening to people talk and asking a lot of questions. He was a man of vision who wasn't afraid to take chances, a strong leader, someone who transformed her from a 13 year old girl into the first Lady of Country music. The movie is about a husband & wife committed to each other and committed to a shared dream. I highly recommend it.

Ready 2 Roll !!

Well, our first blog entry and we are very excited! We know this is just the beginning of a new season in our lives and in what the Lord has for His Kingdom purposes-sweeet. This new work of BridgePoint Church is going to be awesome and we are so ready to roll with it-can't wait to see what God is gonna do! Checkout out the pic showing just how ready we are...