Category: God

It’s the 4TH Sunday of Octubre en 2008 at Life Pointe Church, and if you showed up for one of our three services one hour late this morning then you may have ended Daylight Savings Time one week premature. We fall back by one hour next Sunday morning at 2 AM – the 1ST Sunday of November. Enjoy your extra hour of sleep next Sunday morning, and then be sure to get to Life Pointe Church on time nice and refreshed for any of our 3 services that begin at 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00.

This morning Pastor Travis led us deep into enemy territory. He reminded us that while war is hell we are indeed at war with the enemy. Going to war as Christians is an offensive action. It’s not a defensive posture. We’re not in this war to lose to the enemy. We’re here to win. People fail in their pursuit of Jesus Christ because they only partially invade enemy territory without a winning mindset. They don’t give it their all. They pursue both victory and defeat simultaneously. Deeply invading enemy territory means that you have no way out. It results in great solidarity, total unity, and a better possibility of victory.

One of my most treasured possessions is a really nice bible cover that Anne J. gave to me as a gift during the first couple of months of my journey with Life Pointe Church early on in 2007. Down at the bottom-right-hand corner of my bible cover there’s an inscription of a sword followed by ‘Eph. 6:17’. It’s a single verse of a multi-verse passage that’s entitled ‘The Whole Armor Of God’:

Ephesians 6:10-20 (NLT, 2ND Ed.)
10  A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
12  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
14  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
15  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
16  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
19  And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.
20  I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

AMEN.

If you wish to know how our Sunday morning service went down at our new Plantation Key campus of Life Pointe Church then you should just ask anyone with a last name of Hollifield – or this crazy long-haired dude. I wasn’t there. I was back in business at the Homestead / Flagship Cinemas campus. In fact I was there for a good 5½ hours this morning from start to finish.

Hospitality Setup was outstanding excellent very good good [fair]. We were missing several VIPs this morning (such as Manny and Tom ‘Can Do It’). My good friend Jonathan and I realized that we are not mechanically inclined, and we freely admit it. I even cut open my right index finger (with actual blood oozing out of it) to prove that I’m not a good ‘putter-togetherer’. Nurse Anne bandaged me up and put me back in the game.

“The Art Of War” (message series) continued into its 3RD of 5 weeks with Pastor Travis delivering the good message entitled ‘Eat & Sleep Well’. To effectively conquer and subdue the enemy we must possess a good work theology. Basically we must work when we need to work, and we must rest when we need to rest. The Lord tells us to follow His example. We need to ‘come apart’, or we will come apart. A failure to rest and recharge ultimately leads to utter disaster.

Genesis 2:1-3
1  So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed.
2  On the seventh day God had finished His work of creation, so He rested from all His work.
3  And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when He rested from all His work of creation.

Matthew 11:28-30
28  Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

For other fine perspectives of Life Pointe Church on this glorious 3RD Sunday in October check out these fine wrap-ups from LL Phil J and Billy The Kid Finch. Later tonight or even tomorrow T.J. and K.J. should have their reports posted.

Happy Birthday Blake !  I had fun celebrating your 1ST birthday celebration earlier today with your family . Keep smiling hard !