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For the 23rd summer, I am at camp. Church camp has been a significant experience in my life for decades. It was the catalyst for me in becoming a Christ-follower. It has spurred my growth in Christ over the years. I have been able to experience some of most stretching leadership and servant opportunities at camp as well. I love it!

This week is our 5th year of Camp Whatever at LifePoint. When we created Camp Whatever five years ago, the driving vision was to have an environment where kids could separate from the world (their daily routine, habits, distractions, pains, etc.) for a week and separate themselves unto to God. A week where they can hear the gospel; hear from the Lord in worship services, quiet times, break-outs & etc.; and experience the Body of Christ being the Body of Christ.

Reflecting on the incredible growth (year 1 – 170 students, year 5 – 425 students) of Camp Whatever and the huge impact it has had in the lives of students, families, and LifePoint, I am reminded that the success of camp rises and falls on the incredible job our camp counselors do each year. They have a challenging task but eternally significant. They are the one’s on the frontlines building relationships, leading God conversations, counseling, and simply being the Body of Christ…His hands and feet helping students to be loved, cared for, held accountable, and encouraged. Yes, we have incredible worship, a great speaker, the sets look great, rec is fantastic, late nights are fun, the staff is leading superbly…but the success of camp rises and falls on the focus and ministry of the camp counselors. We are blessed to have so many adults who are pouring themselves out as an offering this week. And, many of them having taken vacation time to be here!

Simply, Camp is the best week of the year!

Writing my previous post about camp, I am reminded of an incredible life principle and leadership truth I discovered several years ago. It goes like this (give me a beat):

We overestimate what we can do in one year, and we underestimate what we can do in 5 years.

Often in leadership situations, we walk into a new—venture, ministry, project, church, relationship—and we get amped up about all that we can achieve. The danger we fall into is that we try to create too much change too early and become focused on the short term instead of the long haul.

I am blessed to have been at one church for close to six years now. With that amount of time, I am experiencing and seeing the change that can happen when you build a strong foundation, incorporate correct principles and systems, invest in people, and be obediant to the vision and calling God has given. It is easy to be a flash in the pan, create a lot of buzz, and get people’s attention. But, it is hard to be patient, perservere, stick through the tough times, stay focused, and leverage your influence for long term impact. Yet, it is worth it!

I had a great Father’s Day. I am blessed to have a great father and father-in-law. I still have one living grandfather who is a hero of mine. I had a wonderful chat with him yesterday.

I am even more blessed to be a dad of three awesome children who made me feel super special yesterday — thanks PC, Em, and Bman (and Kelly, too).

Then this weekend I had the yearly privilege and passion of watching the U.S. Open. It is always exciting and even today with a glance over to the action, this stuff is great. As I write, Phil Mickelson is surging and is the person most people are rooting for. Phil is an exciting player, great to fans, an awesome family guy, and is about to endure a hard fight with his wife as she begins treatments for breast cancer.

Interesting because 1o years ago Phil was fighting for another U.S. Open championship while his wife Amy was about to give birth to their first child. The golfer who won the 1999 U.S. Open is another hero of mine Payne Stewart. I was a fan of Payne as a child because I shared his last name. Then as I followed him I loved his spirit, style, sportsmanship, and golf game. He was a champion. Then he became a Christ-follower and used his fame and fortune to impact the lives of many through his charity work and faith. His W.W.J.D. bracelet became one of his many trademarks. I still remember his amazing putt to win the ‘99 Open at Pinehurst and his fist pump in the air. Tragically, Payne died in an airplane accident 4 months after his amazing victory. About a year later, I read his biography written by his wife Tracy. I remember the tears as I read the book of how he loved life, golf, his family, and his Lord that changed His life. Still amazed how this tragedy occurred at the pinnacle of his life. Yet, the Lord has and continues to use the life of Payne Stewart to build His Kingdom. In my son’s room, we have a picture hanging of Payne hugging the U.S. Open trophy with his bracelet.

Payne has left an inspiring legacy that is being celebrated this week with the 10 year anniversary of his win, the heartfelt Father’s Day story, and the great man he was. Enjoy this video if you missed it this weekend:

Want to become the man she desires? I recently came across a new book that can me and fellow fellas with that.

Hero is a great resource for any male striving to be the relational man God’s calling him to be as well as one anyone who wants to be an encourage to the men in their lives. Fred Stoeker, co-author of the Every Man’s Battle series, elaborates on the struggles men face in the world today, and what exactly they can do about. While explaining what God says about these issues, Fred, along with co-author Jason Stoeker and contributions from Mike Yorkey, get real with readers. Hero offers hard-hitting truth about what makes an ultimate hero to women—men who stand by their convictions and make their world a better place.

For my fellas out there, I have one copy to give away for free. If you want to have a chance to win the giveaway copy of Hero, comment on this post and share who your biggest hero in life is. All comments left by the end of the day on Monday, Memorial Day 2009 will be eligible for the drawing.

You can also purchase a copy from Amazon!

Several of us fella’ers at LifePoint heard Andy Stanley quote Craig Groeschel last year at the Drive Conference. Over the last year, we continue to wrestle with this incredible thought and leadership principle. I was excited to see Sully had found the video from human3rror. Watch, be inspired, and share what you are doing (or need to stop doing) so you can reach people no one is reaching.

“You are His Priest in the community and around the world.”

Pat made this statement this morning in week 3 of YES! My initial thought was Pat is telling us to ‘go catholic.’ Then I remembered a message I heard several years back along that same lines that challenged Christ-followers to see them selves as priests to the world around them. Priests do two thing:

1. Connect people to God
2. Connect God to people

Pretty easy, huh?! Around LifePoint we call that Investing & Influencing. It is our task and privilege as believers. Keep putting your “YES! on the table” and do some connecting.

Where have you been most successful connecting God and people?

Listen to Jars of Clay’s new album for free. It was released today. Want more, check out lala.com:

I was catching up on Twitter and FaceBook yesterday after incredible Easter services at LifePoint. It was quite energizing reading the words for LifePoint’ers of all ages. Yesterday was incredible at LifePoint, 4500ish in attendance (still waiting to hear final numbers), people embraced Christ, etc. Enjoy reading these as I did:

• I thank God for Life Point Church Smyrna; Pastor, staff, and volunteers on this resurrection Sunday as the depth of today’s message was on the true meaning of Easter. Jesus died for our sins and was raised again to reconnect us with our Creator (non-sugar coated message)..God has done an amazing thing for us and will continue in our every day lives if we’ll let Him. www.lifepointchurch.org/yes
• Whoever thought an empty tomb could fill so many hearts
• Praising God for His grace and mercy. Please pray for our area. Many we know have a great deal of damage from the tornadoes that went through our area on Friday. Places we drive everyday look like a war zone. Pray for us as we minister to those around us!
• Great time of Worship today, Ron! You did a marvelous job on “I Will Rise”… always a joy to be a part.
• All I can say is WOW #lifept
• Home from some kickin’ LifePoint services this morning
• Had a really swell “Easter Eve Sundown Service” last night & two great service this am @ Lifepoint!
• Happy Easter from India
• In awe of what today means. Jesus is risen! great morning at Lifepoint.
• The most interesting thing of the day so far on Easter @lifept. Lady brought baby squirrels to church in a fanny pack…ok
• I will rise, because He is risen! Happy Easter!
• Wonderful service at Life Point and headed to Easter lunch with friends.
• Easter at @lifept has been incredible, so thankful for a God who provides #lifept
• Church was PACKED!!! PRAISE GOD THOUGH!!!
• Worship @lifept was off the hook this morning! when God shows up, there’s no stopping it! also, we are bustin’ at the seams…God is good!
• “Either Jesus paid the price for your sin or you will.” -@pathood
• Serving at Lifepoint Church this Easter morning!
• The easter bunny is FAKE! happy easter
• Rejoicing this morning, Easter isn’t about bunnies and eggs, but about our risen Savior. How amazing the gift we have in Jesus.
• Had a fantastic Easter. My church (and the “octopus” within it) ROCKS! “We will overcome through the blood of the Lamb and the words of our testimony…”
• Great message at Lifepoint Church-He Lives!!!
• Had an amazing day of incredible worship from LifePoint Church. Pat really presented the WORD today and did a great job presenting the Gospel.
• Woooo worship was AMAZING.

I have been working on some details with our LifePoint team for our new series that starts this Sunday called YES! Pat will be challenging people to put their “yes on the table”. It is hard for me to contain the excitement of what God has in store for people of Middle TN, LifePoint’ers, and even me over the next three weeks.

As I was doing some writing for our website and series today, here are some things I realized:

Each day, Jesus said ‘YES!’ to His Father and His mission
Each day, Jesus said ‘YES!’ to serve the needs of the people around Him
Each day, Jesus said ‘YES!’ to the opportunities to help and teach his friends
In the Garden, He said ‘YES!’ the Father’s plan
On good Friday, Jesus said ‘YES!’ to the Cross and being our sacrifice
On the Cross, Jesus said ‘YES!’ to the thief beside Him that he would be in Heaven
On the most important Sunday in human history, Jesus said NO! to death and ‘YES!’ to life….and to us

My Question for you: What is the biggest ‘YES!’ you have said to Jesus recently? For me, it was going to Guinea, Africa.

1. We have incredible leaders: my team leader for this trip, Scott, has a demanding professional job, a wife, 3 boys; yet, he and his wife planned the logistics of our trip, got us prepped, & are on the forefront of creating a movement in another country.
2. We have incredible Global partners: Perry & Donna, our host family, were phenomenal. Their wisdom, work, and energy were amazing. The influence of our partners, Darryl and Glenda, in the city where we stayed was impressive. It is obvious the relational impact that are making for Christ. Bottomline, missionaries have an awesome calling and they work their tails off.
3. God had given LifePoint an effective and inspiring vision and strategy to glorify God in the nations.
4. The people of LifePoint don’t just talk missions, we do it.
5. LifePoint’ers are hardworkers and willingly to roll up their sleeves and serve.
6. Our strategy of invest and invite (winning the right to be heard, relational evangelism) works in other cultures, too. Obviously, it is effective because we are building upon how God has wired us (all people).
7. We have a great staff team! Thankful that they can allow me to be gone for 10 days to experience this trip. It has been a blast celebrating God’s continued work with them.

So, if you don’t have a passport yet, get one. You need to have your perspective and heart for the Lord shaped by going to Africa, Belgium, China, Brazil, India… If you want to hear more about LifePoint’s Global strategy, come to the Sending Church Conference.