The Payout…

Recently (well a week-ish) ago I had the chance to talk to Pastor about the payout for volunteers. Looking at what was it that got our teams to do the amazing things that they do, looking at what they do is nothing short of phenomenal, but why?

Why would people give up their Sunday (Morning for some, whole day for a few others) why would they make time during their week doing things for free that would astonish most people. Why do a few put 20+ hours a week into this?

Submitted for your approval (Yes with the accent): a few reasons why our Volunteer army does what it does. This list isn’t all-inclusive in fact its quite short, and I’m sure that there are a lot of things that people would say that aren’t on this list… but I’m the one blogging here and this is what I managed to come up with.

Reason number one: Bigger than yourself, AKA wanting to belong to something. People join many organization, or volunteer for community services because they like to be a part of something that it bigger than just them.

Reason number two: Emotional beneficiary, AKA That warm fuzzy feeling. A lot of people get a warm and fuzzy feeling for doing things for others.

Reason number three (and this is the real one I told pastor that I thought the pay out was for our volunteers): Life change, AKA grabbing the net. Or I could say buying into the vision.

Lifepoint is about one thing, reaching people far from Christ so that they can experience God’s plan for their life.

That’s what I think most of our volunteers get as their payout, we get the humbling honor to see peoples lives change. The day we talked about this I realized that we’ve seen more people take a radical step of faith and forever change their eternal destination than we started this church with, THIS YEAR ALONE, and we’ve got 4 months to go before the year is over, I don’t think there is anything out there that compares to a payout like this, and I daresay that there isn’t a single core volunteer who would disagree with me.

We Interrupt this regulary scheduled blog to bring you…

As probably the most active (and unquestionably the most verbose) Blogger in the Lifepoint Staff, (Both Volunteer and paid staff) I also try to keep current on what other churches and ministries are up to. As such I follow many other blogs, only some of which I have in my blog list.

The results of the above are occasionally I link to another blog for information or insight, or something of that nature. Today, though I just wanted to share something that I thought was really flipping (and by use of the term “flipping” I am merely attempting to state that this goes way beyond the term awesome) awesome.

As perhaps not everyone at Lifepoint knows (But will if they read this post) we are part of a network of churches (Ground Level Network) The church spearheading this is Elevation Pastored by Pastor Furtick. They are hugely impacting their community and have invested a lot into Lifepoint Church.

So back to the reason for this post, I was reading Wade Joy’s Blog (Elevation’s Worhsip Pastor) and found THIS POST, and then went to Pastor Furticks Blog and Read THIS POST and I got excited. and I mean excited, why? Read and see for yourself!

We Interrupt this regulary scheduled blog to bring you…

As probably the most active (and unquestionably the most verbose) Blogger in the Lifepoint Staff, (Both Volunteer and paid staff) I also try to keep current on what other churches and ministries are up to. As such I follow many other blogs, only some of which I have in my blog list.

The results of the above are occasionally I link to another blog for information or insight, or something of that nature. Today, though I just wanted to share something that I thought was really flipping (and by use of the term “flipping” I am merely attempting to state that this goes way beyond the term awesome) awesome.

As perhaps not everyone at Lifepoint knows (But will if they read this post) we are part of a network of churches (Ground Level Network) The church spearheading this is Elevation Pastored by Pastor Furtick. They are hugely impacting their community and have invested a lot into Lifepoint Church.

So back to the reason for this post, I was reading Wade Joy’s Blog (Elevation’s Worhsip Pastor) and found THIS POST, and then went to Pastor Furticks Blog and Read THIS POST and I got excited. and I mean excited, why? Read and see for yourself!

What a Day!

I’m not sure if words can describe the amazing day I’ve had today.

To start off we baptized 61 people this morning. And we only had 17 scheduled. How? Well I could explain but I’m going to guess that Pastor Daniel’s blog will have much more information about it in a day or so. I’ll link over to there once we get to that point.

Two of those people were members of my team! And another one is from our downtown leadership team! I was helping out backstage so I got to see all of them! For me it was really emotional, I wanted to cry in joy!

Earlier this year I posted about a talk that Pastor gave us about having the vessels for oil.

Well this morning was a God thing, we had 51 sets of clothing prepared for, and when we had 24 people respond first service we were scrambling to get stuff dry and reset for second service.

We used all 51 sets of prepared clothing and not a single person had to “double up” and used a previously used set! How awesome is our God. I’m throughly convinced that if we had 52 sets of clothing there would have been 62 baptisms, he had us prepare the vessels and provided the oil until we ran out!

And our downtown campus praise team led worship this morning and did an awesome job!

So this morning was amazing, then following the service I climbed into a van and we drove 10(ish) hours to Atlanta which is now where I’m posting from.

Had crawfish and gator tail for dinner!

I know that Josh is doing a blogumentary from Drive and I’ll be posting regular updates myself. Actually as all of us who blog (Pastor, Pick, Josh and Myself) are all down here and all have our labtops I’ll wager all of us will be updating.

What a Day!

I’m not sure if words can describe the amazing day I’ve had today.

To start off we baptized 61 people this morning. And we only had 17 scheduled. How? Well I could explain but I’m going to guess that Pastor Daniel’s blog will have much more information about it in a day or so. I’ll link over to there once we get to that point.

Two of those people were members of my team! And another one is from our downtown leadership team! I was helping out backstage so I got to see all of them! For me it was really emotional, I wanted to cry in joy!

Earlier this year I posted about a talk that Pastor gave us about having the vessels for oil.

Well this morning was a God thing, we had 51 sets of clothing prepared for, and when we had 24 people respond first service we were scrambling to get stuff dry and reset for second service.

We used all 51 sets of prepared clothing and not a single person had to “double up” and used a previously used set! How awesome is our God. I’m throughly convinced that if we had 52 sets of clothing there would have been 62 baptisms, he had us prepare the vessels and provided the oil until we ran out!

And our downtown campus praise team led worship this morning and did an awesome job!

So this morning was amazing, then following the service I climbed into a van and we drove 10(ish) hours to Atlanta which is now where I’m posting from.

Had crawfish and gator tail for dinner!

I know that Josh is doing a blogumentary from Drive and I’ll be posting regular updates myself. Actually as all of us who blog (Pastor, Pick, Josh and Myself) are all down here and all have our labtops I’ll wager all of us will be updating.

Yes and Amen…

I just got off the phone with Jeremy.

They are en-route to home.

Everyone.

In better health, if a bit tired.

God answered our prayers Yes and Amen.

Yes and Amen…

I just got off the phone with Jeremy.

They are en-route to home.

Everyone.

In better health, if a bit tired.

God answered our prayers Yes and Amen.

Prayer Power…

Somewhere around 11:15 last night I received a call from one of our church staff. Now let me start off by saying I’m an optimistic realist, (IE I always focus on the positive, but I’m not ignorant to the fact that there is a negative), Now almost everyone stored on my cellphone has their own ringtone, (a rash and fiscally irresponsible decision but it’s too late now, and it has been useful) so as soon as I heard it I knew something was amiss, I know this person would have waited until the morning for good news so I dove for the phone. He was on the way to MCV in Richmond their baby was having seizures and he asked me to pray and get the word out.

This first thing I did was a very quick prayer, the second was to call my parents, then I got notice that they were being re-routed to Fairfax.

At that point I was mass texting my entire team to ask them to pray.

I got an amazing response back (proving that I’m not the only night-owl on my team) and we got down to business. (And intercession is major business in my opinion)*

Around 11:30 one of the staff came back with this message, “This is spiritual Warfare, use your sword!” I felt rather sheepish for not even considering that, but I grabbed my Bible and flipped to the Psalms. I read, I prayed I meditated, I worshiped, I sang, and I know that there were at least seven other people doing the same (well maybe not the singing). Finally around 12:45, and I have no other way to describe this, but I just felt a peace fall around me and I got up off the floor, closed my bible, and grabbed my ipod to listen to some worship music. Seven minutes later a text arrives letting me know that the seizures have stopped and the little one is resting calmly.

God we thank you for your mercy and grace. I thank you for being my comfort through this, and my strength. We ask for your continued involvement in the protections of this family and this child. Father I cry out for your mercy and ask that you continue to protect our staff at Lifepoint. Thank you for the cross, thank you for the stripes you endured, by which we are healed. In Jesus name.

I ask that anyone who reads this would pray for our staff and their families, for their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual protection. For the work that has begun here, that we would have the courage, the strength and the compassion to do what God has called us to do. That we would live lives obedient to his purpose.

Thank you and God bless.
~Matthew Furukawa
04/29/08

*Sidenote: post to follow.

Prayer Power…

Somewhere around 11:15 last night I received a call from one of our church staff. Now let me start off by saying I’m an optimistic realist, (IE I always focus on the positive, but I’m not ignorant to the fact that there is a negative), Now almost everyone stored on my cellphone has their own ringtone, (a rash and fiscally irresponsible decision but it’s too late now, and it has been useful) so as soon as I heard it I knew something was amiss, I know this person would have waited until the morning for good news so I dove for the phone. He was on the way to MCV in Richmond their baby was having seizures and he asked me to pray and get the word out.

This first thing I did was a very quick prayer, the second was to call my parents, then I got notice that they were being re-routed to Fairfax.

At that point I was mass texting my entire team to ask them to pray.

I got an amazing response back (proving that I’m not the only night-owl on my team) and we got down to business. (And intercession is major business in my opinion)*

Around 11:30 one of the staff came back with this message, “This is spiritual Warfare, use your sword!” I felt rather sheepish for not even considering that, but I grabbed my Bible and flipped to the Psalms. I read, I prayed I meditated, I worshiped, I sang, and I know that there were at least seven other people doing the same (well maybe not the singing). Finally around 12:45, and I have no other way to describe this, but I just felt a peace fall around me and I got up off the floor, closed my bible, and grabbed my ipod to listen to some worship music. Seven minutes later a text arrives letting me know that the seizures have stopped and the little one is resting calmly.

God we thank you for your mercy and grace. I thank you for being my comfort through this, and my strength. We ask for your continued involvement in the protections of this family and this child. Father I cry out for your mercy and ask that you continue to protect our staff at Lifepoint. Thank you for the cross, thank you for the stripes you endured, by which we are healed. In Jesus name.

I ask that anyone who reads this would pray for our staff and their families, for their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual protection. For the work that has begun here, that we would have the courage, the strength and the compassion to do what God has called us to do. That we would live lives obedient to his purpose.

Thank you and God bless.
~Matthew Furukawa
04/29/08

*Sidenote: post to follow.

A blessing, truly

I added everything up, drums, gear bags, gear in bags, extra percussion that was in with the gear in the gear bags, the grand total was 735.86 (Before tax or shipping).

I set it aside, reminding myself that the Lord gives AND takes away. And also reminding myself that all things that happen happen for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Because seriously that’s 735 bucks that I don’t have right now)

I just got off the phone, the sheriff’s department found my gear, all of it (including the bags) in an undeveloped area of the neighborhood, (well at least all of the gear I remember being in their) now what good is going to come out of it? I’m not sure yet, (I mean other then getting everything back). Hopefully I had something in my bag about Lifepoint and they’ll show up and experience the life change that we see so much of.

I do suppose I have to edit the witty comment I made about the odds of me not getting my stuff back earlier….