Here are some thoughts on my day here at baf | 5 points on Sunday 12-13-09:

• Started the day with eight people signed up to be baptized…ended the day with FOURTEEN signed up.  And this is because I wasn’t going to do baptisms this month.  Maybe I should plan to not do them more often.
• We had two guys show up asking for gas money during our 10am time…one of my directors pulled them aside and told them if they would stay for church he would go over and put gas in their truck.  They went out to their truck and we didn’t see them.  When it was time for our 11:30am time…they came inside and ended up sitting through the whole time.
• Crazy…I know some of y’all probably have way more..but we had 18 first time guests today.  All I can say is that if you don’t have any you ain’t planting seeds.
• The directions of the campus look simply awesome thanks to Robbie Curlee.  We still have a little more to go and will be done by next Sunday.
• Pumped about our first campus Christmas Production.  Our band and production team are gearing up to do something awesome for our campus…I’m praying to see over 400 people to come during the three times.  I’m planning on packing them in.
• For our production we are getting several moving head lights as well as flood lighting as and some other goodies just for the production.  It is gonna look awesome.
• The new series by Pastor Bil went off awesome.  It is called BIRTH and is about God birthing a dream in us to build His kingdom.  I put a sample of it in this video.
• God has some great things planned for our campus and I’m so excited to be part of what He is doing…each week lives are being impacted and changed through 5 Points.

HEY PASTORS:  If you are interested in the Exponential Pastor Mentoring Program with Bil Cornelius then you need to download the following application.

EXPO COACHING Application

Pastor Bil’s goal is to provide the insights that helped explode growth at Bay Area Fellowship to almost 7,000 in six campuses and many more to come.

If you are interested, the first scheduled day is December 8, all day. Bil will meet with no more than 15 to 20 leaders so JUMP ON THIS NOW!!!!

Here’s a sample of what you will learn:

1. How to raise money for the dream and go beyond “financial survival.”
2. How to create a buzz in your city about your church.
3. How to attract and keep a crowd.
4. How to break growth barriers quickly.
5. How to change your leadership to accommodate what is needed to sustain the growth.

Read more about the program [HERE]

HEY CHURCH LEADERS: Do you want to double or even triple your ministry impact in 12 to 18 months?

Then you need to check out the Exponential Pastor/Church Planter Mentoring Program with Bil Cornelius.

Pastor Bil’s goal is to provide the insights that helped Bay Area double from 200 to 400, then double again to 800, then double to 1600, then again to over 3,000 and even then, double to over 6,000!

If you are interested, the first scheduled day is December 8, all day. Bil will meet with no more than 15 to 20 leaders, and will help create a customized plan for growth. Here’s what you will learn:

1. How to raise money for the dream and go beyond “financial survival.”
2. How to create a buzz in your city about your church.
3. How to attract and keep a crowd.
4. How to break growth barriers quickly.
5. How to change your leadership to accommodate what is needed to sustain the growth.

Read more about the program [HERE]

Check out this short video from Bil:

I thought I would let you hear a message from Pastor Bil Cornelius where he came to speak to our baf | 5 points campus.    If you are a church leader and have a desire to grow your church this is a great message to listen to.

You can go download it by clicking {HERE FOR DOWNLOAD} or go listen to it at A Night With Pastor Bil…

This just released today on BilCornelius.com

It is getting very exciting at Bay Area!  We are planning a massive campus expansion, so I’m putting the word out.  We are looking at starting campuses in every small town around the Coastal Bend and want to know who (contact info), is interested in being a part of a core group in one of these towns.  To express interest in being a part, please email us at campus@bayareafellowship.org .  We are currently looking at locations on the west side of Corpus Christi, Rockport, Beeville, Aransas Pass/Ingleside, the Lake (Mathis), and Kerrville.  If you live in these areas and want to be a part, please contact us immediately!  We are convinced that these future locations need what we have to offer… so let’s reach more people for Christ! Pastor Bil

We had the awesome priviledge of having Pastor Sergio De La Mora the lead pastor for Cornerstone Church in San Diego, CA, speak at the Bay Area Fellowship all-staff meeting.

I myself took SEVEN pages of notes during the time.  It was so much to process and there were so many good things coming from him.  He actually taked to us for almost three hours and it didn’t even feel like it.

Here are just a few notes that hit me:

• Unconditional Love – You don’t have to be perfect, just willing to be perfected.
• Every person you interact with at church should be the only person in the room at that time…don’t overlook or overpass them.
• People are MORE important than the project.
• Three stages a church goes through and the pastors role in them – Family Stage = Father, Team Stage = Coach, Army Stage = General
• A Pastor needs to be the pastor the community needs them to be…we are gifts to the community.
• Pastor is God’s anointed and appointed person to release a breakthrough in the lives of people.  That is why they should be honored as God’s representative.
• The way we honor our pastor’s is how we release God’s breakthrough in our lives.
• We must celebrate PROGRESS not PERFECTION.
• God dwells in the MESS of ministry and is glorified in it.  Where there is mess there is God.
• Crisis leads to intimacy.
• Church is the place where: DREAMS are released, Christ is revealed, Families are blessed, Tithing is released.
• We increase the anointing of God or the presence of the Holy Spirit  in our lives through:  The WORD, PRAYER, and BROKENESS

You can also read Pastor Bil Cornelius’ thoughts on his blog post – Sharpening The Saw Today

This Sunday we are beginning a new series of messages by Pastor Bil Cornelius called the Power of a Plan.  Learn how with a plan you can take your life to a whole new level.

Join us at Bay Area 5 Points at 10 or 11:30 a.m.

Thought I’d throw in a look through my window at 5 Points for Sunday May 31st, 2009:

• Music went great in both…few little bumps with it at the 10 a.m. but they tightened it back up for the 11:30.
• I’ve been changing up how I do our info cards a little.  Prior to the message I will welcome first time guests and have everyone fill out info cards and then I’ve been telling them at that time about leaving prayer requests or requests to serve then.  After the message and I will then only talk about prayer to begin a relationship with Christ and what their next step is.  I’ll tell them then about being baptized at our next conneXion Sunday and about being in a hometeam.
• For me doing the cards is something we do with intention.  We have had it part of our Sunday morning system and have slowly tweaked it along the way to where we are now.
• We had FOUR people pray to begin a relationship with Christ…God continues to blow me away.
• Thought we might use the new iMAC we got yesterday.  I was hoping…but we had the wrong display cord ordered for us.
• There is a great welcoming spirit on our campus.  Our team has been doing a great job on lobby portion.
• We are fixing to go to a twice a month staff meeting with our team.  This is going to be crucial for us getting to the next level.  We have been doing a good job up to know…but need to kick it up a notch in a few areas.
• I’d really like to see more people on our campus serving.  We should always be adding new volunteers…not in bucketfull so often…but in spoonfuls each week.
• We honored our high school graduates in our 11:30 experience.  Our student director, Juno Garcia, did a great job leading and putting it together.
• The message yesterday was great one about honoring those even when you don’t feel they deserve honor.  God will honor you when you honor them.  We’ve lost that spirit of honor in America and the church needs to get it back.
• Pastor Bil has been doing an awesome job of speaking to the camera.  For our campus it makes it feel now like he is speaking to us and not that we are just watching him speak to an audiance.
• Yesterday was our highest attendance since April 5th…it never fails either that each week we have a lot of first time guests….the word is spreading.
• Pumped about having former “Prince of the Mafia” Michael Franzese speaking at Bay Area Fellowship next weekend.  We are doing the video “week on” for this one.  I told our campus that this is the perfect opportunity to invite someone to our campus.

How was your Sunday?

Thought I would give you a little insight into all we have planned at our campus for “Mother’s Day” at Bay Area Fellowship 5 Points:

• Special Mother’s Day Message – Pastor Bil has a great Mother’s Day message planned.
• Chocolate Fountain – In our lobby we will be having a Chocolate Fountain with Strawberries for Mom’s
• Media – Special Mother’s Day Countdown Video, Video Element Special for Mother’s, Kid/Mom Video running during special song.
• Mom’s Gift – We are giving a special gift wrapped box of two chocolates to every Mom.  We ordered them special from a company called Sweet Shop USA.
• Special Song – Our band is singing “Don’t Forget To Remember Me” by Carrie Underwood.
• Child Dedication – At the end of both our experiences we will be having a time of child dedication…what better gift than dedicating our raising our children to God.
• Kids Gift To Mom – Our children’s areas have some special crafts where they will be using pictures taken that morning.
• Experience Rundown - 2 songs, Mother Day video, thank Mom’s, special song to mom’s, Mother’s Day Message, Offering, Child Dedication

A total day designed just for Mom’s.

Here is a preview of what’s coming up this weekend:

Mother’s Day & Child Dedications

• This weekend we celebrate Mother’s Day? We have a very special message in store from Pastor Bil; so if you are a mom…you don’t want to miss it!!! If you not a Mom then it’s an awesome day to bring yours…the Mother of your children…or any special Mother you know. We want to encourage them and let them know how much they are loved and appreciated. Every Mom will be getting a super “sweet” gift. Make sure you are here!!!!
• Bay Area Fellowship dedicates children because we read in Luke 2:22-24 that, as a child, Jesus’ parents dedicated him. In Mark 10:16, we see Jesus bestowing blessings on the children. The dedication ceremony is a time to publicly make that commitment to pray for the child, love the child and then guide the child toward a personal relationship with Christ. We will have a time of child dedication at both the 10 & 11:30 experiences. Please Register Sunday @ Kidz Registration Desk.

Music

• Today is the Day—Lincoln Brewster
• What the World Will Never Take—Hillsong United
• Don’t Forget To Remember Me—Carrie Underwood

Leadership Thought

• Go

Here are a few coming events:

next steps

• conneXion sunday—May 24th is our next Sunday where…conneXion happens…have you recently prayed to begin a relationship with Christ??? Your next step is to be baptized…we will be having baptisms and communion at both the 10 & 11:30. If you want to be baptized contact Pastor Jason at pastorjcurl@gmail.com
• membership 101—June 14th @ 1 pm…get to know us and Bay Area Fellowship a little more in depth…lunch and childcare
• hometeams—are you currently NOT in a HOMETEAM…then your next step is…to get in one…see the guest relations desk for info or contact Richard Wendland at baf5pointshometeams@gmail.com

community builders

• leadership summit—Friday, May 15th will be a night of vision, encouragement, and team training…if you currently are not serving on any team…this is a great night to come out and see where we are headed…READ MORE
• jane’s bible study—Monday’s @ 6:30 pm For Info See Guest Relations Desk on Sunday

volunteer and outreach

• prayer ministry leader—We are still looking for someone to lead our Prayer Ministry…contact Pastor Jason at pastorjcurl@gmail.com

element students

• sundays—6-8 p.m. grades 6-12 hang out, music and message…this week we are continuing a great new series “Knowing God”

Today we had the awesome experience of having Mac Richard speak to all the staff at Bay Area Fellowship.  Mac is the founding pastor of Lake Hills Church in Austin, TX.

Here are the notes I took:

• Pastor Mac’s parents divorce at age 12 was the catalyst for him loving the body of Christ…and those that are hurting.
• If the money is good enough…is not a great enough reason to get up in the morning.
• The purpose of Church goes back to what Jesus’ heartbeat was for the body of Christ…and then what are we called to do.
• John 4:22-24
• If we only worship in truth we are missing something…..if we only worship in the spirit we are missing something…there must be a balance between spirit and truth.
• The same is true with work…what happens between Sunday’s is an expression of worship.
• Our job…is to be an expression of worship…everywhere we go.
• There is a tension to divide Sunday Service and what we do during the week.
• 1st part of worship – AUTHENTICIY
• Authenticity means being true to who God made you to be….
• That means we must WORK….God put us to work in the garden.
• 2nd part of  Worship – PASSION
• what are you really passionate about? If you are on staff it better be about someone coming to Christ…after that what area are you passionate about.
• 3rd part of Worship – COMMUNITY
• Everyday we get up and go work at church…is an opportunity to build community.
• commUNITY – We are UNITED….
• What we do everyday…eternity hangs in the balance…it impacts the opportunity others will hear and see Christ.
• We must remember…what we do impacts who Jesus died on the cross for.
• We must have each others BACK…it is a non-negotiable.
• we are united around the vision that has been give to Pastor Bil to lead and serve this church and the community around us.
• Division… di=two & vision … where there are two visions…there is division
• There is no room for any division in a room full of people who are serving and being paid to serve the very people who give to God’s work each week.
• Some people are “hanging” onto the vision for the paycheck.
• Authority is a God-given gift….
• God sets up authority as a protective covering. Under the covering…I receive the blessings of God. When I step out of that covering…I got some bad problems that I got to deal with on my own.
• I have to get under what God has put over me to be over what God has put under me.
• Anything I do to help my Pastors…helps me.
• 4th part of worship – SACRIFICE
• Real worship in spirit and truth COSTS….there is a price to it…SACRIFICE
• Sacrifice – The more you give…and as you give sacrificially…the more God works in you.
• When you find yourself getting in a rut….go give more….not just financially…but even by going out and serving….
• 5th part of real worship – JOY
• The joy of the Lord is my strength…we must love what we do every day.
• If you don’t enjoy doing what we do…then you can’t make it an expression of worship.
• 6th part of real worship – EXCELLENCE
• God created “every single thing” with excellence….excellence matters.
• If you are going to worship in spirit & truth…you must do it with excellence.
• Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
• Great…Great talk by Mac Richard to the #BAF staff
• Question #1 – How do you balance the boundary of ministry and marriage?
• Kids absorb Mom’s tone…we must be careful to not share the burdens of ministry but to share the joys of ministry.
• The greater the responsibility to what God has called you to…the greater the lonelyness.
• Question #2 – How do you intentionally build community on staff?
• PLAY…we engage people…we have fun…the more you can do to play with them the more you will build community.
• DILIGENT ON UNITY The POWER of the GUT – is there any disconnect or division.
• You should require love and kindness in confrontation.

Tuesday night we gathered the Alice Core Group together to share a meal at a local restaurant.  At the three previous gatherings we had 30 or so at the most, but this time we really challenged the group to invite their friends and neighbors. They did just that as 65 people showed up. Man that place was packed to the brim, and it was great. The staff at El Jalisciense was simply amazing. If you’re ever in Alice stop and have a meal there, you won’t regret it!

The energy in the room was off the charts as everyone laughed and fellowshipped over some bad to the bone Mexican Food. Really, is it possible have a bad meeting when Mexican Food is involved! The best part was that the room was full of new faces, and we were still missing some our regulars who couldn’t make it for different reasons.

After dinner I took a moment to speak to the group then asked Pastor Bil to share with them as well. Bil has been out there 3 times and it has made a huge difference because those folks know he truly cares about their church. We also had a chance to introduce Newell Atkinson to everyone. Most of the people already knew him, but what they didn’t know was, he is going to build us a building and lease it to us because there was nothing available in Alice that would work for us.

We will first move into a 1,800 sq ft facility Mr. Atkinson already has and make it work as best as possible until the permanent structure is ready. I was concerned where we were going to put all the kids during that time, so he decided he would have two temporary buildings he owns hauled to the back of the building so can use them for kids until we’re ready to move into our permanent structure. Man has God been moving in Mr Atkinson’s heart. He is in our prayers and we are praying for God to continue blessing this man and his business big time.

So thats where we are on Multi Site #4. Things are moving fast and God has made it beyond clear that He wants a BAF church in Alice, so me and the MS team will just keep pushing forward. Sometime in early June we will have our first official Sunday morning service at BAF Alice. Keep praying for us because this is going to be a big job, and it has been made perfectly clear to me and my team that, in a little Texas lingo, Satan ain’t happy about it.

John

We have a great Mother’s Day weekend service planned this Sunday. Come out to 5 Points as we will have a great message to Mom’s from Pastor Bil Cornelius as well as each Mom will be getting a special gift from us.

And to top it off, as a family you can dedicate your child if you’ve never done that.  Please let me know if you are interested in dedicating….nothing special to do…it’s just your way of saying to God you are going to raise your children to know Him.  We will take time during each service to pray over you and your child.

Don’t forget our two times 10 and 11:30 for your Mother’s Day convenience.

One of the things I’ve been reminded about as I have taken on the leadership role over the Multi Site Ministry, is the power of a “Team.” Nowhere in the Bible does God tell us to go it alone. Sure God sent a few people out into the desert alone, but He didn’t leave them there. I don’t know how, or if it’s even  possible, to grow a church without an amazing team.

Here is a preview of what’s coming up this weekend:

Power of a Praying Leader

There is power in our prayer…join us this weekend for a great message from Pastor Bil Cornelius.

Music

• Happy Day — Fee Band
• Take It All – Hillsong United
• Hosanna – Hillsong United
• My Savior Lives – New Life Worship

Here are a few coming events:

• Element Student Ministries – Element this Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. Join us grades 6-12 as we wrap up LOST – Surviving the Mystery of the Unknown
• Membership 101 – Sunday, March 8th @ 1:00 p.m. after the 11:30 experience.
• Connexion Sunday – Coming March 22nd….baptism/communion/connection
• Hometeam Leader Training – Let me know if you want to lead a Hometeam we are setting up a meeting to train 5 more leaders.
• Save The Humans – Be on the look-out in March for this new series at 5 Point.

Opportunities To Serve

• Be a team member – Click [HERE] and [HERE]

Leadership Thought

• Bring Change

Here are notes from Pastor Bil Cornelius at C3:

• 1:52 PM: jasoncurlee you can build a church without God but it won’t last – Bil Cornilius #C309
• 1:52 PM: jasoncurlee Haggai 2 #C309
• 1:54 PM: jasoncurlee RT @johncatkinson: U can build an amazing ministry that will wow ur friends w/out really knowing God, but it won’t last w/out prayer #c309
• 1:55 PM: jasoncurlee To hear from God you must get alone with God #C309
• 1:56 PM: jasoncurlee not everything God wants to tell or reveal you isn’t for a sermon…or blog… (or tweet) #C309
• 1:57 PM: jasoncurlee God really does just want to talk to us…..not just through us.
  #C309
• 1:58 PM: jasoncurlee http://twitpic.com/1ko05 – Pastor Bil Cornelius on stage at #C309
• 2:01 PM: jasoncurlee RT @nicburleson The lack of prayer in the leadership of the church is an epidemic. – Bil Corneilus #C309
• 2:02 PM: jasoncurlee Man-made systems begin to eat the man that made them. #C309
• 2:04 PM: jasoncurlee RT @johncatkinson: Bil Cornelius #c309 Nothing will grow your church like, Thus sayeth the Lord.
• 2:05 PM: jasoncurlee we need to stop talking about the way things are and more about how they should be #C309
• 2:06 PM: jasoncurlee We must practice the presence of God…learn to listen to God #C309
• 2:09 PM: jasoncurlee Haggai 2:2-4 #C309
• 2:10 PM: jasoncurlee Point 2 – Let God speak to you through the inspiration of other ministries…
• 2:12 PM: jasoncurlee Bil Cornelius just said we are going to do the 365 days of sex challenge…going to a whole nutha level at BAF #C309
• 2:13 PM: jasoncurlee We should not give excuses…when we have a God that poured out His life for the world… #C309
• 2:13 PM: jasoncurlee Give your excuse to the blood stained cross #C309
• 2:14 PM: jasoncurlee Point 3 – Go on the offensive – our prayer should cause our feet to match our mouth #C309
• 2:16 PM: jasoncurlee God has designed everything and everyone around us to win…if we stay on the task and stay focused to Him #C309
• 2:17 PM: jasoncurlee Three challenges in ministry – Time, People, Money…somewhere in there is your ministry problem #C309
• 2:19 PM: jasoncurlee If we don’t face our constraints it will cause us to not reach the next level. #C309
• 2:20 PM: jasoncurlee Our job is to make our communities the hardest place 2 go 2 hell…what would happen if every church took that challenge? #C309
• 2:20 PM: jasoncurlee The idol of America is crumbling so we can finally give homage to God. #C309
• 2:21 PM: jasoncurlee 5 Points….hardest place to go to hell in Corpus. #C309
• 2:22 PM: jasoncurlee God is more concerned that His house is full of His glory than He is that it is full of His people #C309
• 2:23 PM: jasoncurlee RT @JeffPelletier: The best use of money is to enhance your relationships w/ people and to free up your time. Bil Cornelius #C309
• 2:25 PM: jasoncurlee Assignment to Sr. Pastors – Go to local mall, sit, people watch, and pray…pray for those that walked by…pray “are they saved” #c309
• 2:26 PM: jasoncurlee We are so busy wanting people to show up that we aren’t showing up for the people before the Father. #C309

Experience Life Beyond Limits

• Everyone is frustrated in some area of his or her life. No one likes to be limited; whether it is limited income, limited time, or simply feeling like you could do more with your life. Join us this weekend at BAF 5 Points as Bil Cornelius teaches us how to remove the barriers holding us back so we can experience a life beyond limits. You don’t want to miss it.

Music

• Break Free — Hillsong United
• No One Like You — David Crowder
• MIghty To Save — HIllsong
• Salvation Is Here — Hillsong United

Coming Events

• Hometeam Leader Meeting – December 10th @ 6:30 pm…We are going to be launching 10 small groups in January and are inviting you to be a part of this vital area of our focus. This is a training meeting that is required for all interested in leading a Hometeam.
• Christmas ARK Project – Don’t forget that this Christmas we are going to be serving our community in an awesome way.  We are partnering with The ARK by giving these kids a Christmas they won’t forget.  Let’s shower them with love and show them that 5 Points is about GIVING and SERVING.  Read more [HERE] and make sure you pick up a bulletin at the campus Sunday that lists the various gifts to give.

5 Points Team

• Meet Christy Hansen our Worship Director – Click [HERE]

Leadership Thought

• The Most Important Leadership Quality by Pastor John Atkinson
  

Follow Us

• twitter.com/bayarea5points
• BilCornelius.com
• JasonCurlee.com
• BayAreaFellowship.com

Coming This Sunday

Vote YES
This election season everyone has a choice to make. As you consider your options, we believe you should vote “YES” to the work God is doing at Bay Area Fellowship. Join us this week as we continue our series with a great message called “SERVE” as we learn how to be fully on board for the life God has for us.

See what Pastor Bil wrote on his blog yesterday on his post “This Weekend“

From time to time, the staff here at CBG is blessed to sit down with some of the greatest minds in church leadership today.  In the past, we have had the opportunity to be one-on-one with Perry Noble from NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina and Dan Southerland from Church Transitions.  More recently, we had a chance to speak with Bil Cornelius from Bay Area Fellowship in Corpus Christi, TX.

Bil is a phenomenal guy with a heart for reaching people.  He may have been one of the most candid pastor’s we have even meet with.  He had so many great things to say that I thought I would write them down and post them here.  This will serve mainly as my notes from the meeting for future reference, but I hope they inspire you too.

• If you will slow down your pace and walk with Jesus, He will speed up your ministry.
• People (including non-Christians) are looking for spiritual leadership.
• Failures when you are young do more to prepare you for the future than a lot of other things.
• When it comes to life, unchurched people are more honest…they don’t play any “church” games.
• When planting a church, you must have the right pastor, the right people and the right community.  Relay on God for direction in each one of those areas.
• Your church won’t grow unless you are uncomfortable…unless you have to display FAITH in God in something…start getting uncomfortable
• What would take faith to do…that’s what you need to be doing.
• If you want to grow as a leader, you are going to have to listen to people who are younger than you…people you think know less than you.  It will be like eating watermelon…you eat the good stuff and spit out the seeds.
• When you ask for blessing, know that persecution is going to come with that blessing
• New levels (of church growth) = New devils (that apparently originated from the Bishop).
• Inspiration doesn’t come during perspiration…you have to have some down-time as a leader
• Miracle Middle = the uncomfortable gap between who you are now and who God has called you to be.  It is a difficult place to be, but will be the most rewarding as you make progress through it.
• Any small gap in trust with anyone will eventually turn into a gaping hole.
• Loyalty is the most important commodity on any church staff…in larger churches, splits happen when the staff is not unified.
• If you are anointed by God to do something, you can do it for less…example – Tiger Woods could beat Bil (not me) at golf with a stick because he has been “anointed” to play golf.  Do what God has anointed you to do!
• You can learn more through betrayals than church conferences.
• Empower the people of your church to be the “church growth experts.”  Equip them to win people to the Kingdom.

If you ever have the opportunity to meet with a church leader who is “doing it right,” you must take full-advantage of that opportunity.  If you are wondering why you haven’t had the opportunity, it may be because you haven’t asked…I have found that some of these guys are more willing to sit and talk than you may think.

So Bil Cornelius kicked off our new series, “Man Up” at Church by the Glades this weekend. I just finished reading his book, “Go Big” a few weeks ago. What a brilliant young Pastor. So the guy is 35 years old, started Bay Area Fellowship Church ten years ago with a hand full of people and now they run over 6,000. Killer huh!
Anyway, this weekend he starts off preaching this sermon about men being godly men. Basically it was about people living out the lives that God calls them to live out. That we should listen and act on God’s direction in our lives. In the middle of the message my ADD kicks in for a few seconds and across the room I see Ed Young Jr., another incredibly brilliant Pastor of our day. My Pastor, David Hughes and Ed, went fishing together this week and I guess Ed wanted to stop by the Church to say hi to me… or something like that. So back to the Bil and his sermon, then he kicks out this personal story about God speaking to him. There is everything from he giving his car away to a guy he had never met, to another guy dropping 2 million dollars into their building campaign. You need to check out the message here.
So It was one Crazy Cool Weekend. To top it off, Pastor David set up a Q & A time with Bil Cornelius this morning. The meeting was so encouraging. Bil and Bay Area Fellowship have already faced some of the growth issues that we have a head of us. I’m so grateful to Pastor David for his leadership. I have no doubt that God’s plans for Church by the Glades is bigger than I can even dream. I love being a part of this team and of God’s plan.

So the season finale… sick!  I can’t wait till it kicks off again.  I mean seriously, has there ever been another tv series this good.  Absolutely not!  Season 4 of Lost is dead… Long live Season 5!!!

So in my life i want to fully be used up by God. I know that’s a lofty goal, but I don’t want to be a waste of a life. My mom and friends wouldn’t say I’m a waste, but I know how much of my life has been wasted already, and I also know how many hours a day I waste. You can probably relate also, and I’m not trying to put myself or you down. I just want to fully be used by God.
I have a few pages left in the book, “Go Big” by Bill Easum and Bil Cornelius. It’s about leading your Church to explosive growth, (which is the subtitle). The first couple of chapters are very basic, and somewhat slow, but by chapter 3 you are trying to hold on to your seat. I’ve had to take a couple of breaks and just get up and walk around while conversing with God about the brilliance and wisdom of the book. I happen to be blessed enough to be on staff at Church that is experiencing such explosive growth. Go Big Church by the Glades.
Just wanted to encourage Pastors and Staff alike to check out this book. Can’t wait to read part 2 which is Go Big with small groups.
Love Christ-followers who desire the Big God of the universe to do Big things in and through them.

Pastor Bil Cornelius says he thinks that every person has at least one book in them.  I feel the same.  What would your book be about if you wrote one?  Would it be something dramatic you went through?  Something successful you have done with your free time?  Your experiences (good or bad) within your occupation?  I would like to hear what some of you have to say about this topic.  I may just publish a book someday, but I would like to hear what you have to say about it and what you would write yours on.  -J