Mud Pit Belly Flop

My return from the annual event of the year has sparked much deep reflection and contemplation recently. The Redneck Olympics proved to be a complete success yet once again. As always, “Elbow” and “Freight Train” were leading the way by carrying the torch and lighting the ceremonial BBQ grill to begin the festivities. (I tell you, I tear up every time I see it.) Toilet seat horseshoes is surely not the crowning event, but it does have a way of bringing out the best to get the competition started. No doubt, a new day with new heroes emerges as Melvin, 4-time reigning pig’s feet bobbin champion, was soundly defeated for the second year in a row. (Time takes its toll on us all and moves on, does it not?) And just when one might think “yain’t gittin no gooder’n dis”, the apex of the summer arrives with the Mud Pit belly flop. That’s right folks, pure human lard colliding with that specially engineered red clay filled waterin’ hole. Wow…how does so much competition remain hidden in East Dublin? Next year I must insist that my wife go with me.

We celebrate some crazy things in life, don’t we? And we fail to celebrate some really important things as well. Celebration comes in many different forms, as I believe I have adequately proven from an extreme perspective. Often it’s simply that which we get most excited about or spend most of our energy and time participating in. Celebration is important because it most fully reflects that which is important to us, which we love or are passionate about. I love big and little celebrations; anniversaries, birthdays, friendship, good hits in pony league baseball, great drawings at the kitchen table, church family…the list could go on and on.

The Elders at LifePoint have recently been discussing the importance of celebration in our community because we recognize that it reflects our values and priorities. This October, LifePoint will celebrate its 3rd anniversary. What an incredible journey the last 3+ years have been…filled with incredible stories to celebrate of God’s grace, goodness, power and mission. The greatest way for LifePoint to celebrate all that God has done is the ‘re-investment’ of his blessing upon us into people’s lives and the life of our community of Christ-followers, returning his glory to Him. With a greater magnitude than compounding interest, “re-invested celebration” builds upon the faithfulness of God and launches into the promise of God to create a momentum and traction for a church to increase its capacity for impact with the Gospel in its culture.

As we prepare for the Fall season we are making significant shifts in leadership and ministry structure. As well, we are preparing to see significant steps in vision and mission accomplishment; from church planting to serving in Jesus’ name to future site development. I challenge you to prepare and join LifePoint. Take that ‘next step’ of participation with us. Get connected in a Community Group. Volunteer to serve on a Servant Team or in a Servant Project. Plan to engage people through a missional Impact. Celebrate all that God is growing in your life by ‘re-investing’ in the LifePoint community that is working to make a life-changing impact in the culture and world!

Disclaimer: The events described above in the first paragraph seem to be actual. However, in my defense I only saw them online…not in person. I know…you are relieved that your worst nightmares about your Pastor are not true. Rest well, they are not…for the most part.

–Pastor Lane