What's The Big Deal?

Easter is an incredible time of the year. We see friends and family in church that we don't see for months. They come with their new outfits and hair dos and smiles in tact. Everything looks good on the outside, but I often ask myself how they must really be doing on the inside. You never get much time to dive into any major life issues. Everyone smiles and says Happy Easter and goes about their merry way.

In thinking about Easter, the Bible, Christianity it all points back to one thing.......A Relationship with God and with others. This morning God challenged us to think about three relationships and what we need to do. Let me recap quickly. I challenged us to think about one of these three and work on it for the next few weeks. 1) What relationship needs to be initiated? What about going out to eat, or inviting them over to your house. 2) What relationship needs to be nurtured? Date your wife, take your girlfriend on a fun date. Do things to make it grow. 3) What relationship needs to be restored? This is a difficult one. It requires us to forgive others even if we are the party that has been wronged....forgive! Don't live with that issue, don't take it to the grave with you. God desires for you to experience Life At It's Very Best.

We'll close out next week with HGH.....by the way, great job on tons of you freeing up parking for Easter Sunday. We had a great day and a great crowd. WOW! I heard a number of you talk about someone you had invited to church, great job. Keep investing and inviting.

Philip Thurman

Growing Pains

The last month we have been experiencing something new in our family. My youngest son has been in a great deal of pain on his right knee just below the knee cap. We often walk up to see him in tears because of the pain. We take him to the doctor and the only explaination they can give us is growing pains. He has grown a good bit. He must be growing faster than our older two because they never complained much about their growing pains. The doctors always say, "That's a great sign, he's growing."

Around LifeBridge we don't talk openly about numbers cause we know that the only people that get excited about that are the leaders who watch all that stuff. BUt do you know that every year we have had significant growth. You are investing and inviting and that is amazing. Over the last two weeks I have been able to walk around and see things that I do not normally get to see because of my teaching. This past weekend we had a big issue. I noticed that our front parking lot is full. So would some of you partners and regular attenders consider parking in the back to free up space in the front for our guest. Greeters, please help us direct some folks to the back.

This Sunday (Easter Sunday) we may also have a ton of guest. Please introduce yourself and show them why we are the friendliest church in town. Also, we may need you to give up your chair for someone new. Thanks in advance for doing that. See you Sunday. Let's keep experiencing Growing Pains.

Philip Thurman

Sunday Evening Reflections

WOW! What a day, what a weekend. The weather here in Central Mississippi has simply been fantastic. High of 74 and sunny! It just doesn't get any better than this. Along with that, we have some amazing volunteers. LifeBridge is only as good as its volunteers, and let me say the volunteers are incredible. Today set up team number one had three brand new guys present. They arrived early and ready to go. These three guys got to shadow three experienced guys. It was amazing to watch these new guys jump in and go after it. All of the guys connected and seemed to have a blast.

X-treme (grades 1-5) had there first meeting under the new leadership. Many know that John Mark and Sharon had their third precious baby. So I felt led to challenge some keys leaders to step up. Guess what? Three major leaders stepped up and said, we'll run X-treme, but you need to know we are going to recruit the fool out of adults. I said go for it. This morning at 9:00 a.m. the team met and there was 12 volunteers ready to go. Yes 12! We've never had that many ready and willing to serve. They launched the look today and it rocked. Today Glenn and Sherry, Amanda, Angela, and Mike and Diana brought it. You guys are my heroes. Thanks for impacting kids in a powerful way.

The preschool sign in table worked like clock work today as well. Man, I am pumped about all the incredible leaders God is bringing our way. I'm learning a ton by watching the seasoned veterans who know how to get it done and get it done with volunteers. Keep pushing and challenging us.

Remember Easter is three weeks away, so start thinking about who you want to invite to LifeBridge. Have a great week.

Philip Thurman

Stories That Excite Me

We all love to hear a great story. In fact, many evenings at staff meeting time, we share stories about you. Things that you are wrestling and working through. Sometimes it is habits that need breaking, other times it is the beginning stages of developing new habits. Either end, it is an awesome journey to be able to hear all God is doing.

Sharon has done an amazing job in our Xtreme ministry (Grades 1-5). She and John Mark are preparing for their third baby to come into the world. At the end of February she will take some time off, but God has raised up a number of incredible leaders. Glenn and Sherry are going to step up and lead out in this ministry team, with Amanda stepping way out of her comfort zone as well. Thanks guys, your faith and belief in this God really encourages me.

Last but not least, I heard about a guy who a year ago would have never been seen leading a life group. In fact, he says what all of us say. "I don't know the Bible well enough, what if someone ask me a hard question......etc etc" Well, he stepped out and is now having a ball leading people in his Small Group. God is pushing so many folks out of their comfort zones. My prayer from the beginning of this series was that God would do some gigantic things in people's lives. We'll continue to wait and see all that God will do. Keep up your great work and stepping out of your comfort zone.

Philip Thurman

unChristian

On an earlier blog I discussed what people outside the church from 16-29 years old thought of those in the church. They said a number of things, such as Christians are hypocrits, judgmental, too political and homophobic. What has happened to those who claim to be followers of Christ. Why do we not love and serve as Christ did? Well, check out this video from one fo the guys who did some real life research on this topic. I hope it makes you think like it did me.
Philip Thurman

We just finished a powerful series on "How To Be Rich." Our culture talks a ton about getting rich, but tells us nothing about how to be rich. How do we live once we are rich. We chiseled away many lies that marketers and retailers tell us about money and life. If you have not listened to the entire series, I cannot think of a better one you should burn and give away to friends.

I'm really excited about the next series "Shift Happens!" We'll be looking at three exapmles of men and women who made major shifts in their lives to obey God. God may call some of us during this series to make Shifts. Would you be willing to do something drastic if God asked you to? If God asked you to down size and give to the poor, would you do it? If God asked you to leave your massive salary to serve or start some new opportunity, would you do it? If God ask you to make some relationships right that are currently estranged, could you do it?

I hope these next four weeks, we will be willing to listen to God and then do what He ask us to do. See you Sunday

Philip Thurman

Been To The Land Lately?

We continue to see incredible growth at LifeBridge. Sometimes we take things for granted. Not everyone knows we have acquired land. We have 15 acres of God given land off Gluckstadt road about a mile and a half west of Bozeman and Gluckstadt, south of Providence Subdivision and east of Reunion equestrian center. Take a look at the new signs that went up today thanks to Greg Miller, Jay Criddle, Sean Dodds, Jay Gujrati, John Chappelear, Johnny Ervin, Jim Fries and Johnny Gilmore. Thanks guys for all you did to make this day happen. Please go to the property and see the prayer wall and take a prayer walk around the land.










There are some awesome days ahead. Better get to church early, the seats will fill up fast.


Philip Thurman