Lent is a season of time leading up to Easter that helps us focus our attention on God. Accompanying this season of reflection and prayer is the practice of fasting. I highly recommend some sort of a fast multiple times per year. Fasting, quite simply, is removing something from your normal routine and replacing that time with prayer and reflection toward God. Many times, people mistakenly assume that fasting is simply going without food. Not true. You can fast anything that will draw your attention to God consistently. One of the most effective fasts that I have seen in recent memory was...

I'm having a serious flashback. I remember sitting at the very same table I am at right now at Central Coffee fifteen months ago. We had a blank slate in front of us and a paintbrush in hand. Center City Church was yet to open to the community and I was thinking about the future. I distinctly remember the thoughts racing in my head, "we only get one shot at our beginning of this church." That's when I came across this verse in Proverbs 4:25-27: Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.Don’t get sidetracked;...

View this week's message from Center City Church by clicking the link below: Joshua sees God perform miracles to ensure victory in battle. We learn an important lesson from this: our God can do anything. [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/20732816 w=398&h=299]

A video encouragement from Uptown Charlotte. Uncertainty brings insecurity. But time spent with the Lord brings peace, understanding & security. [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/20613637 w=398&h=299]

Today at Center City Church was a very straightforward day as we shined the light of truth on the topic of deception. You can view this week's sermon on Joshua 9 by clicking the video below: [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/20452715 w=398&h=299]

Dara and I had the privilege of spending the day today with one of our mentors. A man that has spoken clearly into our lives for the last 8 years. With clarity and timeliness, our friend has been there at the most pivotal times in our lives. We enjoyed a beautiful Charlotte day and hours of conversation. He met some of the closest people in our world that have surrounded us at Center City Church. We talked life and ministry. And I'm so much better for it. I am challenged to make sure that I am investing into others deeply and meaningfully. In the same way that our friend has spoken into our...

I've been thinking about getting rich lately. Not so much about "how to get rich." More about the idea of being rich and how simply meaningless it is unless something is done with the wealth that is built up on this side of heaven. I drove by the Carolina Theater this week. This is an historic theater in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. It's been sitting in disrepair for over 40 years. But in it's heyday it was one of the most glamorous and sought after venues in the southeast. But there it sits, forty years later, simply a shell of what it once was. It was known for it's intricate details,...

Joshua failed in his leadership and obedience to God in Joshua 7. But Joshua 8 tells a beautiful story of redemption & second chances. This is so applicable to each one of our lives. Click the link to view this week's message from Center City Church.[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/20216234 w=398&h=299]

This past weekend was so meaningful to me and our entire leadership team at Center City. We enjoyed a wonderful service yesterday as we worked through Joshua 8. This is an incredible story of redemption and second chances. You can view online or download via iTunes if you want to check it out. There was such a sense of God's love and power in the room. I am loving the atmosphere that is being laid by Clark and Salina Beasley. They are absolutely phenomenal at leading us in worship and pointing our attention to God. And I certainly enjoy watching them stare up into the ceiling while singing...

There are amazing works of God happening all across our city. I look at churches that I deeply respect like Renovatus Church (Pastor Jonathan Martin) and the Branch Church (Pastor Derek Turner). Both of these churches were started by amazing men of God that sacrificed so much to get where they are today. But it took years and years of consistency, tough decisions, prayers and commitment in the face of adversity. Their success as healthy and thriving churches in our community did not happen overnight. There was a steep price that was paid that most will never see or understand. It is so easy...