I just love our church. I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but I do. I love it here.

Here area few thoughts from a great day!

• Kristin Rippy led worship today. Ah-mazing. She’s just a true worshipper – and an amazing leader.
• I’m LOVING this song we’re doing – Rooftops. Wow.
• In our Presence series, we’re having special music each week – something we rarely do. Last week, we had the Matthew Wengerd trio. They did a beautiful jazz rendition of Oh Holy Night.
• Today, my wife TORE. IT. UP. I love her. She’s got an amazing voice, but an even more beautiful heart.
• We continued our Presence series today with a strong message on Stress.
• Stress is common to all of us. If you don’t feel it now, you will soon. Christmas just compounds that level of stress.
• In the Christmas Season:
  • More alcohol is consumed
  • More families break up
  • More suicides are attempted
• The US Center for Disease Control says between the ages of 1 to 65, half of all deaths are stress related.
• American citizens consume over $800,000,000 of anti-anxiety drugs every year. 
• Stress is a HUGE DEAL. Especially in the Christmas season.
• I love Paul’s words in Philippians 4. He invites us to reveal to God our deepest insecurities, not just our temporary desires. 
• Paul says that when we do, when we learn to trust God at our deepest level, we begin to sense a peace that surpasses our understanding. 
• I believe that for many people at our church, they’ll finally experience the beauty of peace this Christmas. 

Yesterday was my 6 year anniversary. Tonight, I’m taking my love to a great concert in Tampa. Can’t wait. I love her and hope to spoil her tonight.

Today has been a GREAT day! Here are a few thoughts:

• First off, I’m SO thankful today. 5 years ago today, my wife completed her final chemotherapy treatment. Thank you, God!
• Saw several people cross the line of faith again today. It’s why we do what we do. I LOVE IT!
• Worship was AMAZING today! (I feel like I say that every week, but it seriously keeps getting better and better!) I love Jordan, Kristin, and the band. Amazing people. Better hearts!
• Got to introduce our new Children’s Pastors, Than and Megan Graffam today. Can’t wait for you to meet them. I know our kids are going to LOVE THEM!
• We began a new series today – “Presence.” Here’s the question we wrestled with: “What would Christmas be like if we simply experienced the presence of God?”
• Today’s message was about slowing down to sense God’s presence.
• I’ve had several people already email me about how today was for them. The truth is that today’s message was for me.
• How often are we ALWAYS in a hurry? How often do we miss the beauty of what God is doing here and now because we’re so consumed with what is coming tomorrow, or what we have left to do from yesterday?
• So many of us suffer from “Hurry Sickness”
• What would it look like for you to experience the real presence of God this Christmas season, rather than rushing to do, accomplish, achieve, succeed? 

I love you Access. That’s all.

I did something today that I haven’t done in a couple of years – actually just attend church!

Actually, I wanted to try to see church through the eyes of a guest. I wanted to know if what we do as a church works, if it makes sense, and if it actually was helpful. Got a few things I want to tweek, but I’m really proud of our team and amazing volunteers. They do such a great job.

I really enjoyed today – from the seats. Here are a few thoughts!

• Holidays kill our church. Seriously. We had more people 2 Sundays ago than we’ve had the past two Sundays combined.
• Worship was AMAZING today. As always.
• My boy, Jay, killed it today. 
• We concluded our series, “As It Is” with the parable from Matthew 13 on yeast. 
• Simply stated, when yeast is put inside dough, it can’t help but to expand.
• This is what happens when the Kingdom of God is alive inside of you. It HAS to expand.
• Then, we read from Matthew 13 in the Parable of the Sower. 
• Too often, we try to choose who to share Christ with. That’s not what the sower does – He just is constantly spreading the seeds, knowing that some will reap a harvest.
• That’s the point of our walk with Christ. When the Kingdom of God is alive inside of us, it MUST spread. The result must be people around us knowing that there is something different about us – BECAUSE THERE IS.
• So here’s the big question – Is there any visible evidence in your life that the Kingdom of God is alive inside of you?

I’m already stoked about next Sunday! We’re staring a new Christmas message series called “Presence.” It’s going to be AMAZING!

Today was such a meaningful, powerful day at Access. Here are a few thoughts!

• We’re in part 3 of our “As It Is” series on the Kingdom of God.
• Today, Brett Durbin from Trash Mountain Project spoke on what it looks like for the Kingdom of Heaven to invade the whole world.
• We showed the documentary from his Cambodian trip (see below). SO POWERFUL.
• Brett spoke from Matthew 25 on the Parable of the Talents.
• The question that rang so true for me was this – “What do you have to give?” 
• The question we all must wrestle with is this – “What has God given you to use or invest to see His Kingdom advance?”
• We’ll be taking a trip with Trash Mountain Project next year, and partnering with them on a HUGE opportunity. Can’t wait to share those details!
• As always, our band was amazing today. Jordan always does such an incredible job with them!

I can’t wait for next week! Only one service at 10:30. I hope you’ll make plans to be there!

If I don’t get to talk to you before Thursday, I hope you have an AMAZING Thanksgiving!

What a day. I’m SO tired right now – but SO worth it! Here are some thoughts from a great day!

• First off, after today’s service, we baptized a lady in freezing outdoor pool. LOVE IT! It was SO cold – but I get in a freezing pool any day to celebrate with someone who is being baptized!
• Today’s service was amazing. 
• At a time of the year when most churches are declining, we’ve got some serious momentum.
• The intensity of our worship is definitely cranking up. Our Night of Worship was a huge step forward for us. Today didn’t miss a beat! 
• We made a bittersweet announcement today. Our Youth Pastor, Michael Salas, and Children’s Pastor, Lauren Frazier, are getting married this weekend. That’s the sweet part. They’re moving away to start their life together in January. That’s the bitter part. They’ve been an AMAZING part of our team. We’re excited to see what is in store for them! Love those guys. Can’t wait to do their wedding this weekend!
• We continued our “As It Is” Series. I’m loving this series.
• Today’s message was from Matthew 13:44-46
  

  “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 

  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. 

  (Matthew 13:44-46 ESV) 

• One man seems to accidentally find the treasure, the other has spent his life searching for it. 
• When both find it, their response is the same: Leave everything behind and experience joy.
• Jesus calls us to a life of joy. To remember the simple joy of our salvation. 
• Has your relationship with God become mundane? Has Christianity become that thing that you just do?
• How would your life be different if you prayed prayers like David and asked God to restore the joy of your salvation?
• We ended with this song – which will be my anthem this week!!! LOVE IT!
   

I’m really excited about next week. Brett Durbin from Trash Mountain Project is speaking on what it looks like for the Kingdom of God to infiltrate the world!

I love you Access Church. The best is yet to come!

PS – The Cowboys won today. All is right in the world again! It’s been a rough season for me. Glad to have one good night of football!

There are certain moments in the life of any church or organization that are defining moments. Tonight was DEFINITELY one of those at Access.

Jordan and the team did an AMAZING job tonight. I mean, dang. 

I love to see our church continue to grow in the expression of their worship. I love to see our church connect with God in beautiful new ways!

I started tonight with this idea I heard from Louie Giglio – “Too often we come to worship focused on what we’re going to get, not what we’re coming to give. Bring a gift of praise. Heaven will open.” We did. Heaven opened.

I’ve heard SO many amazing stories from tonight. One lady asked if we could do this every week! One person told me that they just love how our band is up there worshipping – not just performing. But man are they good!

Thank you God for a Jordan, Kristin, and the team who are true worshippers, who lead our community into passionate, heartfelt worship each week. 

Tonight was just one of those nights where God blew us away. We’re blessed.

WOW. What a day. Amazing turnout. Amazing worship. Strong message. Amazing night still ahead for us! I’ll be on the front row tonight… Can’t wait!

Here are some thoughts from an incredible day… so far!

• First off, I am SO STINKING EXCITED about tonight’s night of worship. BE THERE! www.access.tv/worship. Come expecting God to do something HUGE in your life!
• Secondly, when you come tonight, please bring warm clothes and blankets to bless those in need. 
• On to recapping today’s service…
• I’m always SO excited when I see people cross the line of faith. Saw several more people again today! LOVE IT!!!
• Worship was UNBELIEVABLE today. I’m so encouraged to see our church really growing in their expression of worshipping God. Tonight will take it to a new level!
• Today’s message was so important. Jesus spent his entire ministry talking about the Kingdom of God. 
• A kingdom is any where the king’s will is done.
• I had a guy in our church tell me that in his 56 years of living, he’s never heard anyone explain the Kingdom of God. It’s not a mystical thing. It’s something we are to understand, embrace, and partner with God in!
• What is God’s desire? I believe it is to see the earth become more like heaven. Maybe that’s why Jesus said in the Lord’s prayer, “May Your kingdom, and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
• I love how the KJV translates it. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, IN earth as it is in Heaven.”
• Jesus compared the Kingdom to a mustard seed – not a fully developed mustard tree. It is something that will grow, if placed in the right environment.
• For God’s will to happen, and to see “Up there come down here,” it must happen in us first.
• Where in your life are you not completely surrendered to God? What would it look like for you to start taking steps in that direction? If you’ve never served, do something. If you’ve never tithed, start somewhere. 
• We ended by giving our church 5 ways to help bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth, here in Lakeland. In the coming weeks, we’ll talk about bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to the rest of the world!

I seriously can’t wait for tonight. It’s going to be AMAZING!

I love you Access Church. Serving you is one of my great joys in life!

Another outstanding day at Access! Here are some thoughts!

• The underscore to this whole message series has been freedom.
• You were created to be free.
• Today’s message was on finding freedom from our addiction of approval.
• I loved this concept: We’ve talked about ways to be free FROM certain issues (fear, insecurity, guilt, anger, etc), but this week, we talked about becoming free to be who God created you to be!
• I love Jesus’ examples in the Sermon on the Mount, from Matthew 6. He challenged us to do great things for God’s approval – not man’s.
• Who do you always seek approval from? Who do you always find yourself measuring up against?
• Jesus calls us to find freedom.
• I love the story of the Fijian people dancing in the mud. Brother Suli’s thought was right on the money – they weren’t crazy… these people are free!
• Worship was AMAZING day. LOVE IT. Love our band. Love their hearts. And DANG are they good.
• Our church keeps connecting with new people. I love it!
• The best part of today might’ve been Mike wearing this costume for announcements. Made me laugh SO hard!!!

I’m sorry I’ve neglected my blog. That changes this week. Check back tomorrow for some interesting insight I’ve been working on!

Also, I’m STOKED about our upcoming night of worship. Be there next Sunday at 6 PM! http://www.access.tv/worship