Our dream to see a coffeehouse/multiple-use venue started over three years ago. We have put in thousands of hours of research, meetings, investment of countless dollars and a whole lot of prayer. All of this has led us to the biggest meeting we've had to date.I will be sharing the vision of our coffeehouse/multiple-use venue tomorrow with a businessman in our community. This is the first of several similar meetings that we have lined up. And I feel great. I feel peaceful. It's a feeling that comes from that fact that I know we have done all that we can do to prepare. And now we release it to...

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. There are so many good things happening right now. We're experiencing a type of momentum that I've never seen or felt before. And while that is surely a great feeling, it comes along with a huge caution. If I am not careful, I can lose my ability to operate in creativity. When the pace gets so fast, I can reach a point that I am no longer creating new things and spending time praying that God give vision and direction. I am simply regressing into survival mode. Attempting to keep up with the emails, meetings, being a great husband and father, etc. I...

We just got back from another Center City Church community dinner tonight. I absolutely love these gatherings. The concept is really simple. Think old school pot luck dinners. Everyone brings something to eat and it all gets placed on the table. It's the only time that I can have lasagna, fried chicken and mexican rice on the same plate! We do these dinners twice a month and I look forward to them every time.We had around 40 people come through tonight. And the thing that I love most is the opportunity to talk with so many people in such a relaxed environment. No schedule. Just hanging out....

In October, 2007, God placed a dream in the hearts of Dara and I. It was birthed out of a simple idea: we never wanted to build a traditional church building. We prayed that God would give us ideas to let our property be a place that could be for the community, used by the community seven days a week. It really was a simple beginning: let's build something our community would want to use. This dream became more clear as we began to dream of opening a first-class coffeehouse in the heart of our city. It turned out that city was Uptown Charlotte. This coffeehouse would have a multiple-use...

John 15:5 - (Jesus speaking) "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."This verse is so beautiful. And the surrounding verses give added clarity. This chapter of the Bible is one of the most beautiful depictions of our relationship with Jesus. Jesus refers to himself as the vine (the source). He refers to us as the branches (extensions of him). And the challenge is for us to "remain in him." How can this apply to our lives? This is really simple: spend time with him. Let me state it another...

I have enjoyed getting to know so many people in our community that are exploring their faith, considering Jesus and searching for truth with open hearts. I believe wholeheartedly that friendship is not based on your religious beliefs. Because you and I may not believe in the same things, it does not prohibit our ability to be friends. Friendship is based on respect for each other. You respect me. I respect you. Friendship. I am writing this today to those that may be seriously considering what they have seen lately. Or maybe it is what you have felt. That drawing toward a relationship with...

I love that term. Church planters. Such a graphic description of what it means to start a new church in a community. There is ground breaking involved. The roots are incredibly important. And if you take care of the early stages, healthy growth follows.I had the privilege of sharing lunch today with Kyle Holtzhower, Valeriy Guy and Kyle Yerkes. This is the leadership team that is moving to Charlotte to start a new church called The Body at Charlotte in 2011. It was so great to sit with these guys and realize that this is the group that will break new ground, send down roots, take care of the...

It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks, but here's the latest in what has been a really exciting ride.Several weeks ago, I met a man that is a commercial real estate agent. He wanted to hear the vision for the coffeehouse/multiple-use venue that God has placed in our hearts. After five minutes of conversation, he looked at me and said, "I'm in. I love the vision." Fast forward two weeks (this is just over a week ago) and I found myself meeting with this real estate agent and three other men that had come to hear the vision. We met at a property that is in the heart of our city. We had a great...

We can become so addicted to quick growth and wanting tomorrow's dreams and promises that we severely neglect today. I have been so challenged by God the past couple of weeks to simply take care of what is in my hands. The day in, day out, monotonous things of life.This is exactly what God calls us to do in Luke 19:26 when this parable teaches us a powerful principle: "...to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."It it's not very exciting to pull weeds in a garden. But it's that very thing...

I spoke with someone recently and was talking about the early days of our church. I told this person that we have been teaching out of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) for the past six months. The Gospels contain the teaching and revelation of Christ. And I have so enjoyed sharing the life, message and ministry of Jesus with our church family. This person looked at me and said, "Oh, that's good. The simple stuff." The only problem with this statement was that it was said in a condescending tone. As if our new church was only capable of handling the appetizer, not the main course. I...