The past few days or week or so have been utterly chaotic to say the least. But I am enjoying the pressure, the hard work and the satisfaction of something new. I love those that have committed themselves to God and a peculiarplace. They showed up big time this weekend to help us clean the house in Dallas, GA and support us in our move. I REALLY LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Today is a major move day for us. We get all of the heavy stuff out of the apartment and off to the house. I still have to ask God from time to time, “are you sure?”.

So what major moves have you had to make recently that caused you to over extend, be anxious beyond repair, and even ask God, “are you sure?”

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There are times when you actually see God in everyday people and in churches. I truly believe this needs to be and should be the norm and not the OMG!! moment it tends to be or has become. As citizens of the Kingdom of God OUR (not just the pastor) lives should leave bread crumbs for those “seeking”, searching for their way home and back to God.

Did you leave any bread crumbs today?

Or were you too embarrassed by your actions or conversation that you picked up all the crumbs before anyone could follow you?

If that last question hurt, well it was supposed to!

I want to share a video with you that I found today, here is an example of what bread crumbs look like and how we should leave them along our journey. Big up to the Elevators for being Kingdom Minded!!!

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“The true measures of a church are not “how many” but “how loving”, not “how relevant” but “how real.”

-Robert Lewis

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WOW!!!! I give God ALL the credit for opening His Word and for allowing me to partake in Him!!!! On the phone today with a really good friend there was something God spoke to me during the conversation that I immediately had to some home and blog about. So here goes…

As a church planter I sometimes deflated by those who dont show up or keep their commitments to helping out as they said they would. I take it to heart when I look at those faithful in this journey wonder where “the help” is and where will it come from. I, and I am sure I am not the only who has felt this way, continue to motivate, cast vision, pray and even reach out to other church planters and pastors for encouragement during this journey. But today I heard something different from God. Now, granted I will always seek out “help” and encouragement from other church planters and pastors. God did command us to seek out wise counsel. But again today my focus has shifted.

During my conversation with my friend and brother Cedric God shared an amazing oversight with me. Many of us know about the Acts Church, how it was formed, when it was formed, and how after a brief sermon from Peter the church grew by the thousands. IN ONE DAY? NO, IN A MATTER OF HOURS!!!!! After the sermon there were some three thousand added to the church, followers of Christ who dedicated their lives and possessions (a whole ‘nother topic) to The Bride, the church. But what about the original 120 or so…?

How come they dont get the attention they deserve? How come we skip pass them an overlook them? Without them would there have been a 3000? Without them who would have been the example, who would have been the light, or salt to bring flavor to this already incredible recipe for church growth, life change, and success?

I seek repentance now, for overlooking those who have been here from the beginning. I beg their forgiveness for not seeing them and looking past them to more, more and morE. A good friend reminded me recently that WE MUST BE good stewards of the little in order to attain much. But this blog is not solely about that.

Here are the questions I want to raise… What was it about that original 120 or so that were able to reproduce in such an awesome way? What was it about them that God was able to manifest in self in such a way? Why on earth has this type of life change not happen more regularly in and through the church?

There were no fliers, no you tube, no internet, fancy websites, or social networking sites. There was no mailer or teaser or even communication cards. (Please do not take this statement the wrong way, I believe these things are vital today because of how we communicate!) There were merely 120 or so people in a room, The Upper Room, PRAYING. But they were not just praying, the Amplified version here states that they were in FULL AGREEMENT, devoting themselves to prayer.

WOW!!! That’s it? That is the difference between us and them? When was the last time we were consistently in”full agreement” devoted to steadfast prayer? I mean other than praying for the money for the new building or for the mission trip or after 9/11. Can we still do something like this?

So you want change in your life? You a church planter wanting to grow? You want your daughter to come home and leave that loser? You want the drugs out of your hood/community? You want something different to take place in your life? You want a husband, a wife, children? You want to be able to afford life in these crazy economically challenging days?

COME IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH SOMEONE ANYONE AND DEVOTE YOURSELVES TO STEADFAST PRAYER!!!

I look at these 120 or so and think about my people. I am fully persuaded that whether it is 2, 2o or a 120 that if WE ARE IN FULL AGREEMENT, ON ONE ACCORD, ON THE VERY SAME PAGE SAME PARAGRAPH AND SAME SENTENCE THAT WE TOO CAN ACHIEVE THE LIKES OF THIS THE CHURCH OF ACTS.

How else can we truly advance the Kingdom? It is God who gives increase, but WE MUST DO OUR PART!!!

SHALL WE PRAY?

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No this post is not going to refer to R. Kelly or his trial….

yet i want to share an idea with you. We often look outside and if you live here in GA or any other area recently hit by straightline winds or tornadoes then you like all of us believe in the wind. But why?

You can see it? You cannot smell it, unless of course you live near a waste dump or refinery or a bbq restaurant, but it is invisible to the naked eye, yet we KNOW and are fully persuaded that it exists.

BECAUSE WE CAN SEE IT BLOWING THE TOPS OF TALL TREES, WE CAN FEEL IT ON OUR FACE OR THE BACK OF OUR NECKS, BECAUSE WE CAN FLY KITES IN IT OR EVEN SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WATCH THE LEAVES FALL FROM A TREE AND DESCEND TO THE GROUND LANDING IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY YARDS FEET AND MAYBE MILES FROM WHERE IT FIRST FELL. WE BELIEVE!

Would we believe in the wind if none of these things existed. If there was no physical evidence or no sensory evidence that wind whether light or ferocious existed, would we BELIEVE?

Jesus? He lives! He is the Beginning and the End. The Author of our Faith. Our Healer. Redeemer. Lord of Lord and King of Kings. The Way. The Truth. The Light. Life, and Life more abundantly. He IS!

But pastor lloyd, I cannot see him. I cannot pick up my iphone and call him. I cannot go to His house and visit Him. So how do I know He is real. Or that He lives and was not some historical philosopher figure head who died as all men do and thats that?

The same trees who tops blow in the same wind you cannot see, He created them both. The kids who miraculously begins to walk after suffering most of his childhood feeble, broken, and his legs in braces, Jesus did that. The man who was a drunk, an abuser and a low life who woke up one morning and left all those things behind him and has created a new life, Jesus is responsible for that. Life change happens everyday around us. There is peace is a mothers heart as her kids leave to go to school every morning because she KNOWS that her kids are safe, Jesus is responsible for that.

We have the Word of God filled with evidence, physical and sensory, that attest to His existence then. We have CHANGED LIVES , men who never wanted to step foot in a church, but now you cannot keep them out, families reconciled healed and growing together, husbands and wives who love each other more today then ever before and kids who have left drugs and drinking behind them leaving to go do missionary work; that my friend is your evidence that He lives TODAY!

The funny thing is that the saying… “seeing is believing” does not apply here at all.

I challenge you to change your perspective! Change your outlook. The next time you see tall trees dancing in a summer breeze or kids flying kites know that the wind would exist whether you could see these things or not!

JUST AS JESUS LIVES AND IS ON THE THRONE, whether you can see him or not!!!!

Change, renew your mind and understand that…

“BELIEVING IS SEEING!!!!”

CAN YOU FLY?

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WHEW!!!!

I cannot believe it has already been five weeks and I’m still as committed today as I was when I started.

Let me explain, five weeks ago, i made a commitment to myself, to my wife and to God to take six months and get in the best physical shape of my life. I began a workout I found on leehaney.com, 8-time Mr. Olympia and changed the way I thought about food, the foods I eat and how often I ate.

And today makes it five weeks. I feel good!!!! I lost a couple of inches, i am stronger than I have been in a very long time, and i am losing weight.

The most important and amazing thing to me is that my wife looked at me yesterday and told me she was proud of me. Proud because i have stuck with it. Proud because it such a short time, this has become by lifestyle.

Now I of course being the pastor i am i have to relate this to the Kingdom.

How often have we committed to the works of God, to studying more, to praying more only to fall short. But let’s say we want to save some money for an outfit, or a new game, or a new set of golf clubs it is amazing how we can sacrifice and scrimp  (is that even a word) to reach that goal.

What i am saying is really simple if it is something you really WANT, NOTHING seems to be able to stand in our way, NOTHING.

Jesus isn’t asking for a sacrifice, He is asking for a lifestyle change. A complete mental, physical, spiritual and emotional makeover. All those things that compromise ones lifestyle… changed, patterned after His Word.

So what about your lifestyle would you change? I suggest starting in an area that is easiest and develop confidence in that area and then move on from there.

The Kingdom is more than a place, a church or an experience it is a lifestyle. Are you ready?

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in a political season where rhetoric has become more than an obvious and obnoxious distraction to those hurting, unable to afford health insurance, gas, keeping their homes and just staying afloat, we need action!

Reading Perry Noble’s blog today I was moved, moved to be more, want more, give more, give even more after that and be the church God called us to be and said we are.

In his Sunday Night Reflection, he tells of a house they gave away to a single mother, and a handicap accessible van to another single mother who cares for her adult son with disability. He makes a statement that we MUST ALL CONSIDER AS WE LIKE PAUL PRESS TOWARDS THE MARK OF THE HIGH CALLING…

“Generous giving enables a church to do far more in a community that it ever dreamed it could.”

Are you generous? With your time? With your money? with your love? With anything God has given you as a gift, a word, a song, a hope, a vision…?

I challenge everyone today, to one thing… TO DO MORE THAN YOU HAVE BEEN DOING. TO GIVE MORE THAN YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN. TO BE MORE THAN YOU HAVE BEEN!

Actions speak louder than words… it is time for God’s church to become the only audible voice the earth hears!!!!!!!!

Will you?

Tony Morgan, I love your Church too. And I pray. that apeculiarplace can raise the standard that New Spring and others have raised to an even higher level.

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life
love
her
him
grace
mercy
strength
joy
peace
provision
light
hope
courage
faith
possessor of heaven & earth
lord
wonderful
awesome
patience
the blessing
the word
author of my faith
the start and my triumphant finish
victory
high priest
daddy
all my hearts desire
truth
intimacy
strong and mighty
the name above all names
a lion
a lamb
sacrifice
teacher
guide
my deliverer
so amazing
strong tower
pure
holy
righteous
available
in fallen leaves
in the wind
the breath i breathe
the answer
the question
conquerer
creativity
freedom
adventure
miracle

AND I AM YOUR NUMBER ONE FAN!!!!!

can you add anything to this list? who is He to and for you? Come on go ahead I dare you to add something to this list!!!

who do you need Him to be?

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Mother’s Day!!!

I want to send a very special and blessed mother’s day shout out to all the mothers in the world. Today should have been a day of recognition, reflection and tribute to a woman or women in your life who have contributed to who you are today! I cant help but think of those whose mothers have passed and were left with only memories of that special someone. Then there are those who are at odds or not speaking to their mother, wife, grandmother, etc. To you, i say that our lives are so short, it would be a tragedy and shame for you to let offense or a grudge separate you, next year may roll around and you may only have regret to hold on to or be angry with… Let it go and mend the relationship!

• Today was both a day of celebration and correction.
• I confessed and apologized for having succumb to functional depression (will talk about it this week)
• I took back what God has called me to.
• I am reconsidering our launch date after a very fruitful conversation with J.R. Lee of Freedom Church.
• I am more focused now than ever.
• I love God, my wife, my family and this church more than ever!!!
• We discussed ideas for growing the attendance for our launch team meetings. The most important thing that came out of this discussion is our commitment level to God, A Peculiar Place, Downtown Atlanta and one another must be stronger.
• I continue to pray that we grow the heart of God for His children who yet know Him.
• I love I love I love I love the group I get to share the vision God has given me. I love the fact that they love me. More importantly I love how much they love God and even when correction is handed out and challenges made they love God enough to know that it will only grow them and the reward is inevitable. Thank you, thank you, thank you for allowing me to lead you!!!

I look forward to the rest of the week, so much to do, create and witness as God is still on the Throne and loves us as much as He loved His son, that my friend is worth living for!!!

Have a wonderful and awesome week!!!

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Why Here?

Why Now?

WHY ME????????????????????????????????????????????

Have you ever been asked to do something larger than yourself? Larger than your current financial, physical, emotional, mental and intellectual stature. Have you been a gigantic ball of potential all of your life with no fruition of such potential seemingly insight? Do you know what it is to be haunted by dreams of life that seem out of your reach, by right in front of your face?

If not then maybe, just maybe you are not dreaming at all? Maybe you have decided at some low point in your life to believe that what you have right now, today is all you ever wanted and needed out of life. I could be wrong but there is the slim chance that tomorrow will look like today which looked like yesterday and the yesterday before that.

Before I go any further, please don’t get upset with me because the one thing that you and I alike thought about doing or becoming when we were kids has been placed in a box put up in a closet and forgotten about simply because someone said it would not work, or your life is perfect why would you mess it up, or maybe they said nothing at all and their silence was deafening and lastly they could have simply laughed in your face…. SO YOU QUIT, I QUIT.

OK, so now that you have totally insulted me, now what you ask?

I want you to know that there is NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING more satisfying in this Life or any other life than your passion(s) coming to LIFE. There is a secret, you must promise to share with anyone and everyone… YOU, YES YOU, ARE IN CONTROL OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE THIS, A PASSIONATE LIFE. Whether or not you pursue your passion, or whether or not you even pursue passion itself. THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

Nothing new right? SO, what are you waiting on?

It was brought to my attention, by a very very good friend of mine whom i love like my mother gave birth to him, that those who have simply realized, heard or know their purpose in life are fortunate beyond repair. I have found both my purpose and my passion in Jesus, in my wife, in my family, and in planting the church God has chosen me to plant in the heart of downtown Atlanta.

And let me tell you, my pursuit of passion has taken me some places i would have never dreamed i would go, some places I want to forget I have been and has seen me make mistakes that I would not wish on my worst enemy. I have lost friends and gained family. I have quit restarted and quit in the same day on several occasions. I have lost everything and found myself. I have danced in the rain with the love of my life, and almost blew it with the love of my life.

Yet, i would not change this ride, this pursuit, my purpose for nothing in the world.

HE CHOSE ME!

WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR?

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