[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/23776593 w=398&h=224]God chose to use a Jewish orphan by the name of Esther to rise to power and save the entire nation of Israel from destruction. We learn from her life that it does not matter what happened in your past. God can use you today.

We just got back from what was probably my favorite community dinner we've ever had since starting Center City Church over a year ago. Such a great evening of friends gathering and new friends being made. I love this atmosphere because it's so laid back. The concept is pretty simple: everyone brings something to eat and then hangs out for hours on end. That's all. No set schedule. No agenda. Just hanging out, enjoying each other's company and eating random combinations of food. I love this church. I love those that are connected to our church community. And I love meeting new people that are...

Photographs by the brilliant Emily Chidester:

We have an amazing group of volunteers at Center City Church. I'm so blown away that over half of our church is actively volunteering in different areas of our church. Such a blessing. We had an opportunity on Friday night to show our volunteers thank you, not just tell them thank you like we do every week. We hosted a dinner in my back yard and had a blast enjoying each other's company and showing our gratitude to each and every person that helps Center City tick each week. We love our volunteers! If you are a part of our church community and want to get involved and jump into one of our...

Click the link below to view this week's message from Center City Church on Vision & Community. [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/23476307 w=398&h=224]Romans 12:1-8 teaches us that each one of us are uniquely gifted and mutually dependent on others. We can accomplish more together than we can on our own.

I had this overwhelming feeling over and over again while reading the creation account written in Genesis 1. My God can do anything. I had the same feeling again while reading through the miracles found in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). My God can do anything. And I had that same feeling yet again last night as I prayed for our church and the vision that God has put in our heart to reach our community with the message of Jesus. My God can do anything. God will go to any distance, ignoring the normal confines of human wisdom and provision to accomplish his purposes. As the all...

I had the chance to go to the PGA's Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte today with a good friend. While following Phil Mickelson for a few holes, he hit an errant tee shot that we literally had to run out of the way to avoid sure peril. He ended up just a few feet in front of us as he hit his recovery shot out of the rough. Easily a top five sporting moment in my life! Here's a pic I sneakily took with my cell phone. And another of his errant ball...

While catching up with a close friend today, we talked about the high value of community. The reality of having people in our world that know, love and care for each other through all of the ups and downs, successes and failures, victories and defeats, etc. He began to describe what his journey to the suburbs was like. After years of working hard, building his family and finding success in his job, he realized that his journey led him to a startling reality. "I live in a beautiful neighborhood, but there is no community here." This is yet another reminder that the pursuit of success and...

Something shifted in my heart today. It's kind of hard to explain. But all of a sudden, the last year made so much sense to me while Clark and Salina Beasley were leading our time of worship at church this morning. This past year has been marked by an amazing community forming at Center City Church. We have seen many people come to know Jesus as savior and many more impacted by the powerful effect of living in true community. And all of this has been given to a time of building foundation. I very much believe that God has brought our church into a new season. And it feels like it started...

I'm excited to teach tomorrow out of 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. This is the passage that God put on my heart right before we started Center City Church in April, 2010: When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness — timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy...