Have you ever had things in your life that you have wondered what their purpose is? Maybe you have even wondered that about yourself. Well, the latter is easier to answer cause we can look at past experiences, passions, heart etc. to determine possibly some of those things. If we have a relationship with Jesus Christ we also know what our purpose is, but enough about that type of stuff.
Have you ever wondered what the purpose of jelly fish are? I mean really, what good do they serve? They are slow and almost stupid acting. They wrap on to you and sting the tar out of you. What good do they serve? NOTHING that I can see. Then think about wasp, what do they do besides build nest in places that are so random and sting people. Huge rats, what do they do except hang out in nasty places. What about gnats, weird spelling, but what do they do? I'm sure someone has answers for these, but I see no purpose for them especially since I am on vacation and all of these things seem to be where I am.
Throughout history religious leaders have thanked God that they were NOT born a gentile, not born a woman and on and on. Today, why don't you thank God that you are NOT one of the above things, but the Bible says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. It also says that you were made in the image of God. WOW! Those are cool words, words that God has used to encourage me this week while I am on vacation.
Philip Thurman
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Why?
This past month I have had this question asked of me many times. Why, is not a bad question to ask when you are part of a church like LifeBridge. We do things differently and we really have reasons for our madness. As a communicator I need a break. Sure I could speak 50 weeks out of the year and be exhausted with all the other things I have to do. One of things we value though is the ability to be able train younger teachers, but also to expose our family to other great styles and communicators. It also gives me a chance to get away and worship under some other men that I really respect and be challenged, but also to just be a face in the crowd. This past Sunday I had the privilege of being at northpoint.org Church. It was awesome to get to hear Loiue Giglio as well.
Another reason for taking time off was to be able to go to Panama City with our youth. Man, it is so important to get to hang out with the next generation. They are so fired up about their relationship with God. Honestly, in that group may be the next Pastor of LifeBridge, maybe the next President, Governor of the State of Mississippi. It is always an encouragement to get to hang out with them. It also allows me to get to spend some time with the kids and get to know them as well. Wow, we have some amazing young people. Some who have gone through great hardships, and some currently going through some hardships, yet through it all they are holding their heads up and following Christ.
It also allows me to focus some energies on leadership development. I feel strongly about being a strong leader and developing a team that desires to lead as well. We have a great team and I don't want to slow them down or get in their way. So it is a time for me to recharge and re-focus for the fall. I also usually get away with my family on vacation. So this is the last blog for a week. Talk to you when we get back.
Philip Thurman
Another reason for taking time off was to be able to go to Panama City with our youth. Man, it is so important to get to hang out with the next generation. They are so fired up about their relationship with God. Honestly, in that group may be the next Pastor of LifeBridge, maybe the next President, Governor of the State of Mississippi. It is always an encouragement to get to hang out with them. It also allows me to get to spend some time with the kids and get to know them as well. Wow, we have some amazing young people. Some who have gone through great hardships, and some currently going through some hardships, yet through it all they are holding their heads up and following Christ.
It also allows me to focus some energies on leadership development. I feel strongly about being a strong leader and developing a team that desires to lead as well. We have a great team and I don't want to slow them down or get in their way. So it is a time for me to recharge and re-focus for the fall. I also usually get away with my family on vacation. So this is the last blog for a week. Talk to you when we get back.
Philip Thurman
Thursday's Ten
Thought I would take time to tell you ten things that are happening in my life this Thursday.
1) Working with the P1:8 teams about future projects for our church. This group is incredible. Let me introduce the team: Rhonda Powell is giving leadership to the Madison team, Canton - Jennifer Taylor, Homestead - Michelle Smith, Haiti - Christina Brossette. The overall leader is Jim Fries. WOW!
2) Hanging with our youth after Big Stuf camp. We had at least three kids say they wanted to accept Christ forgiveness. There wer also a ton of other kids who re-dedicated their lives to Christ. Go God!
3) Getting ready for our baptism Sunday. Man, this is going to be an awesome day. Put down August 3rd on your schedule to be present to hear our youth as they lead us in worship.
4) Preparing the teaching series starting August 10th called "Twisted." Man, it is going to be awesome. Take time to think about who you could invite to come to this great series. Truths that God has given us that have been twisted by the evil one.
5) Looking forward to a great fall. My oldest son is NOT playing select soccer. We will still have Saturday games, but they will all be home. Yes, we get time back together as a family.
6) My wife was talking with our pediatrician yesterday and learned something cool. Research has shown that families that eat together for supper have more children that turn out to be National Merit Scholars....WOW! We try and eat at least five or six nights together.
7) Watching a church grow. Man, this is amazing. This summer is going to be the largest season ever in the life of LifeBridge. Did you hear me, we're in the middle of summer! Wow, thanks for being such a great investor and inviter. Keep it up
8) Our building and finance team are cranking up talks with ministry leaders and teams. In the next few months we will start bringing you all some incredible information.
9) Love leading this awesome team. Get to know our staff team Greg Miller, John Chappelear, Davis Jones, Scott Little and Johnny Ervin. I also lead our Advisory Team made up of Greg Miller, Mike Traylor, Brad Webb, T.J. Williams and Wayne Williams. Finally we have Amanda Dodds, Glenn and Sherri Trammell, Melanie Osborn and Lori Thurman are giving leadership to our children's teams. Davis Jones leads our youth team.....WOW! Incredible leaders.
10) Getting ready for a much needed time of vacation. Headed to Perdido Key's, FL starting Saturday. Sorry, but I won't have email and I won't answer my cell phone. Love you all and see you in a week.
Philip Thurman
1) Working with the P1:8 teams about future projects for our church. This group is incredible. Let me introduce the team: Rhonda Powell is giving leadership to the Madison team, Canton - Jennifer Taylor, Homestead - Michelle Smith, Haiti - Christina Brossette. The overall leader is Jim Fries. WOW!
2) Hanging with our youth after Big Stuf camp. We had at least three kids say they wanted to accept Christ forgiveness. There wer also a ton of other kids who re-dedicated their lives to Christ. Go God!
3) Getting ready for our baptism Sunday. Man, this is going to be an awesome day. Put down August 3rd on your schedule to be present to hear our youth as they lead us in worship.
4) Preparing the teaching series starting August 10th called "Twisted." Man, it is going to be awesome. Take time to think about who you could invite to come to this great series. Truths that God has given us that have been twisted by the evil one.
5) Looking forward to a great fall. My oldest son is NOT playing select soccer. We will still have Saturday games, but they will all be home. Yes, we get time back together as a family.
6) My wife was talking with our pediatrician yesterday and learned something cool. Research has shown that families that eat together for supper have more children that turn out to be National Merit Scholars....WOW! We try and eat at least five or six nights together.
7) Watching a church grow. Man, this is amazing. This summer is going to be the largest season ever in the life of LifeBridge. Did you hear me, we're in the middle of summer! Wow, thanks for being such a great investor and inviter. Keep it up
8) Our building and finance team are cranking up talks with ministry leaders and teams. In the next few months we will start bringing you all some incredible information.
9) Love leading this awesome team. Get to know our staff team Greg Miller, John Chappelear, Davis Jones, Scott Little and Johnny Ervin. I also lead our Advisory Team made up of Greg Miller, Mike Traylor, Brad Webb, T.J. Williams and Wayne Williams. Finally we have Amanda Dodds, Glenn and Sherri Trammell, Melanie Osborn and Lori Thurman are giving leadership to our children's teams. Davis Jones leads our youth team.....WOW! Incredible leaders.
10) Getting ready for a much needed time of vacation. Headed to Perdido Key's, FL starting Saturday. Sorry, but I won't have email and I won't answer my cell phone. Love you all and see you in a week.
Philip Thurman
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Ever have one of "those" kinds of days....week?
I've often wondered about what people have meant by one of "those" days, and I have also wondered who the mysterious "they" are as well. Know what I am talking about? They said the and fill in the blank.
Well this has been one of "those" weeks. When I say that, I hope your mind doesn't go to the negative, cause it hasn't been that at all. It has been a week that I have seen God clearly working in people's lives. Many of you attended baby Grayson's funeral yesterday and heard Joey share his thoughts. WOW! It was a God moment that will always be remembered on the hard drive of my mind. Gretchen's letter was so sweet. It was awesome to see the impact and testimony of this family in the loss of a special child.
We also found out this week that a dear friend from Hattiesburg gave up the fight of cancer and went to be with God. Jason Weathers was an incredible man. He lived his life well. Pray for Stephanie and their three kids. As you pray, pray also for his in laws, the Shows. May they Know God comfort and peace.
Tuesday we leave for youth Camp to Panama City. Please pray for the kids and chaperone's. It will be a powerful week. I hope God allows you to experience one of "those" kind of weeks.
Philip thurman
Well this has been one of "those" weeks. When I say that, I hope your mind doesn't go to the negative, cause it hasn't been that at all. It has been a week that I have seen God clearly working in people's lives. Many of you attended baby Grayson's funeral yesterday and heard Joey share his thoughts. WOW! It was a God moment that will always be remembered on the hard drive of my mind. Gretchen's letter was so sweet. It was awesome to see the impact and testimony of this family in the loss of a special child.
We also found out this week that a dear friend from Hattiesburg gave up the fight of cancer and went to be with God. Jason Weathers was an incredible man. He lived his life well. Pray for Stephanie and their three kids. As you pray, pray also for his in laws, the Shows. May they Know God comfort and peace.
Tuesday we leave for youth Camp to Panama City. Please pray for the kids and chaperone's. It will be a powerful week. I hope God allows you to experience one of "those" kind of weeks.
Philip thurman
Sunday, July 6, 2008
El Potrillo!
We often get questions about why we do things the way we do. Many times people don't believe it when we say that we will try anything short of sin to reach someone with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We do things in the service that you may not ever have seen done before. We may sing a song that you would not expect to sing in church. We may do a drama that makes fun of traditional things. Whatever the case, our ultimate desire is to try and communicate God's truth.
We may have the room set up in a unique fashion to grab your attention; we may change things up periodically so that it does not become predictable. A great example of this that you may have noticed is we are NOT doing name tags in the summer. We want it to feel loose and relaxed. In the fall we may start them again or may not. You will also notice that we have not been putting the handout cards in the chairs. People have gotten so used to them that they don't even pick them up anymore to take and hand out.
Another unique thing we're starting relates to food. Several weeks ago Greg and I were eating at El Potrillo Mexican Restaurant (in Madison, near Wal-Mart). The owner, Jon, came by our table and struck up a conversation. Somewhere as we talked he brought up the idea of El Potrillo giving back to LifeBridge a percentage of the food total from LifeBridge people who eat there. He wondered about some way to let them know who was from LifeBridge, and we suggested our handout cards and he agreed that would be a great way to know who was from LifeBridge.
So here's what you can do. Every time you go to eat at El Potrillo in Madison, take a handout card (similar to the one pictured here--either Comfort, Community, or Connect) and give it to the cashier as you check out. The cashier will write the total on the card and drop it in a box there by the register. At the end of the month they will give us a percentage of the total on all those cards. They will write a check to LifeBridge.
WOW! That's a sweet deal. So go out and support LifeBridge by eating some great Mexican food at El Potrillo.
Philip Thurman
We may have the room set up in a unique fashion to grab your attention; we may change things up periodically so that it does not become predictable. A great example of this that you may have noticed is we are NOT doing name tags in the summer. We want it to feel loose and relaxed. In the fall we may start them again or may not. You will also notice that we have not been putting the handout cards in the chairs. People have gotten so used to them that they don't even pick them up anymore to take and hand out.
Another unique thing we're starting relates to food. Several weeks ago Greg and I were eating at El Potrillo Mexican Restaurant (in Madison, near Wal-Mart). The owner, Jon, came by our table and struck up a conversation. Somewhere as we talked he brought up the idea of El Potrillo giving back to LifeBridge a percentage of the food total from LifeBridge people who eat there. He wondered about some way to let them know who was from LifeBridge, and we suggested our handout cards and he agreed that would be a great way to know who was from LifeBridge.
So here's what you can do. Every time you go to eat at El Potrillo in Madison, take a handout card (similar to the one pictured here--either Comfort, Community, or Connect) and give it to the cashier as you check out. The cashier will write the total on the card and drop it in a box there by the register. At the end of the month they will give us a percentage of the total on all those cards. They will write a check to LifeBridge. WOW! That's a sweet deal. So go out and support LifeBridge by eating some great Mexican food at El Potrillo.
Philip Thurman
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