Last week, Paul Castelli, Brad Klausman, and I went off to the Exponential Church Planters Conference.  It was a very encouraging and motivating experience and as always, I love to walk away with some nuggets of inspiration.  Here are a few that I jotted down:

We have to move from passive/spectator Christianity to active disciple-making Christianity. – Ed Stetzer

I just want to be your kid again, God. Wash me of thinking I have become something. – Francis Chan

‘If we’re not hanging out with broken, ‘iffy’ people then how can we say we are becoming like jesus?” – Alan Hirsch

Working for Jesus should not replace knowing and loving Jesus. – Matt Chandler

“We must remember that God has already been at work way before us”. – Matt Chandler

“You cannot expect people to be what you are not. That makes you a frustrated hypocrite.” – Matt Chandler

There are too many people in our churches for it to not be messy. – Matt Chandler

“Christ first, then His mission. My calling & job is not to be better than Jesus.” – Matt Chandler

“Sometimes God gets in the way to show us the way” – Mark Batterson

God wants you to get where he wants you to go more than you want to get where he wants u to go. – Mark Batterson

It’s never about where you’re going it’s about who you are becoming – Mark Batterson

“If God can use a dumb donkey, he can use you.” ~- Mark Batterson referencing Num. 22:20

“If someone is hurting, then the church should be the first to offer help.” Dino Rizzo

“No matter what at the end of the day, keep loving the people” ~ Dino Rizzo

When you don’t know what to do in your ministry love the people and eventually you’ll find a groove. – Dino Rizzo

“Discipleship and Outreach should be married together.” – Dino Rizzo

Nordstrom has 1 page employee manual: “we hired you for your good judgment. We expect u to exercise it.” – Ken Blanchard

“Seagull managers fly in, make a lot of noise, dump on everybody and fly out!” -Ken Blanchard

“Leadership starts in the heart,are you there to serve or be served. Its not about you” – Ken Blanchard

If I don’t have peace, joy or righteousness I’m detached from The Vine – Ken Blanchard

“what types of leaders would we be if we heard the voice of the Lord and did not obey?” – Lisa Chan

The presence of the Spirit in our life is seen when we suffer, sacrifice and give up all for Him. Francis Chan

Often our mind is more consumed with our retirement plan and our stocks than the eternal – Francis Chan

Spent a couple of days on the road with some of my best friends and I got to reconnect with many others.  I got to hear some challenging speaking from Perry Noble, glean lots of information from NewSpring’s great staff and volunteers, and even discover a little bit about myself.  Here are the highlights:

• The Worship: It was exactly the way I like it… Loud!  There were some lyrics however that rocked me.

How He Loves – He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

Freedom is Here – So take the limits off
No matter what the cost
I’m running after Your call
And I will run this race
See You face to face
So let Your power overflow

• Perry Noble – Here’s some stuff he said: Many times God takes leaders to a cliff and tells them to jump. If we don’t jump another generation will.

• God will test you financially. If you are following God you will always have your back up against the wall financially.

• Everyone loves the idea of progress, but they have a problem with the sacrifice requirements.

• The church has to be comfortable with the lost (coming to our church) and acting like they’re lost.

• Missional is a buzz word that will not be around in 5 years, if you are the church, you should be Missional.

• No man is the most powerful person in your church….Jesus is the most powerful person in the church

• If you can fully explain what’s happening in your church, Jesus probably is not involved.

• The best thing a church can do is make sure their pastor is healthy.

• If God is using us, its because we were barren, and God changed our lives, we did nothing ourselves.

• The Bible calls those who do not work, lazy; It calls the one who will not rest, disobedient.

• Pastor, your marriage is the most important marriage in the church. It’s got to remain strong.

• Listen to your coaches, not your critics.

• Your leaders will have a solution, your robots will wait until they are told what to do. Pastor, make sure your leaders are resourced, and get out of their way.

• Keep short accounts – Don’t be bitter at people.

• The guys – I got to spend my time with Paul Castelli and Brad Klausman… Two of the most important men in my life and it was a blessing beyond reason!  These guys keep my head on straight and they remind me of who  I really am.  As hard as I believe ministry has made me, they keep reminding me that I am a sensitive guy who lives by his heart, and as long as that heart is captured by Jesus then I’m in good shape…

I had a blast at Unleash… can’t wait to see what’s coming next.

In case you missed this sweet Valentine’s Day story, I had to share. The world’s longest-married couple talked about love, marriage, and relationships on Twitter of all places!

Can you imagine? Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher are 104 and 102 respectively. They have been married for 85 years! When these two kids tied the knot, Calvin Coolidge was president, Lenin was buried in Moscow’s Red Square, a new house would cost you about $7,000, and a new car about $265.00.

The couple took questions via Twitter. I love their answers, both in their sincerity and in their simplicity. Their devotion toward one another is so real that it’s moving. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Q: What made you realize that you could spend the rest of your lives together? Were you scared at all?
A: With each day that passed, our relationship was more solid and secure. Divorce was NEVER an option—or even a thought.

Q: How did you know your spouse was the right one for you?
A: We grew up together and were best friends before we married. A friend is for life—our marriage has lasted a lifetime.

Q: Is there anything you would do differently after more than 80 years of marriage?
A: We wouldn’t change a thing. There’s no secret to our marriage, we just did what was needed for each other and our family.

Q: What is your advice to someone who is trying to keep the faith that Mr. Right is really out there?
A: Mine was just around the corner! He is never too far away, so keep the faith—when you meet him, you’ll know.

Q: What was the best piece of marriage advice you ever received?
A: Respect, support, and communicate with each other. Be faithful, honest, and true. Love each other with ALL of your heart.

Q: You got married very young—how did you both manage to grow as individuals yet not grow apart as a couple?
A: Everyone who plants a seed and harvests the crop celebrates together. We are individuals, but accomplish more together.

Q: What is your fondest memory of your 85-year marriage?
A: Our legacy: 5 children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

Q: What is the most important thing to remind yourselves?
A: Remember marriage is not a contest—never keep a score. God has put the two of you together on the same team to win.

The “secret” to a successful marriage is really no secret at all; be loving, honest, and true. You can accomplish more together. America’s 50% divorce rate suggests that we’ve forgotten that. The Fisher’s are a beautiful reminder.

(credit: http://curtharding.wordpress.com) Edited slightly.

Watch it and let us know what YOUR story is… email it to: mystory@crosspointlive.com

It’s Personal – A Former Atheist Speaks from dewde on Vimeo.

“For nothing is impossible with God.”

This verse is the response of the angel Gabriel when asked by Mary, the mother of Jesus, how she was going to have a child since she was a virgin.

“For nothing is impossible with God.”

God is SO MUCH HIGHER than our problems, pain and perceived impossibilities that NOTHING is impossible with Him.

Mary’s question got her an answer that forced her to focus…

1. “On time” is LATE for being early.
2. Sometimes it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
3. Things that are not hard to do should not be hard to do!

Any phrases or one liners you hold on to?