I'm really blown away. We have just received our third check written to Center City Church from a church in Eastern North Carolina. Here's the crazy part: I don't know the pastor. This church has given us around $3,000 over the past couple of months to support our efforts. Amazing. Silent, substantial support.I'm constantly blown away by the way God provides. He is ultimately faithful, even in the times that we don't or can't understand. Take heart today, God is omniscient and omnipotent. As omniscient God, it means that nothing exceeds his realm of knowledge. He knows everything. Even our...

I had no idea what I was getting myself into. As a child, my nickname growing up was Duke. It's an easy one that caught on with all my friends. My last name is Docusen (pronounced Duke-uh-sen). I have always been a huge sports fan, so imagine my excitement as a child when I saw Duke University on TV for the first time. It was an immediate connection. After all, my NAME was on the front of their jersey. Almost 20 years later, I met, fell in love with and married the biggest Duke fan I had ever known. Let's just put it this way: she had (has) scrap books of the Duke players. Going back 20+...

One of the most beautiful parts of our intentional refraining from advertising has been slow, steady and consistent growth. Almost every person that has walked through our doors has been to Center City because of a personal invitation from a friend. Each week since we have started we have met new people that are checking out what is happening for the first time. We have also kept our creativity and production of services to a minimum. Not because we don't believe in using our God-given creativity, but because we are diligently working to build a solid foundation. Our focus is squarely on the...

Dara and I took our daughter, Mary (5), to an event called "Beginner's Day" at her elementary school she's registered at for the upcoming kindergarten year. It is a day designed to introduce the rising kindergarteners to their new school, let them meet the teachers and see the classrooms. We already have our oldest, Max (6), at the same school. So this is round two of letting go. It was so great - and so strange - to see our little girl mingling with the other kids today. She was so comfortable. So excited. It did our hearts good to see her so happy. We are so proud of our little girl. She's...

The Center City Church Audio Podcast is officially up and running on iTunes. We also have an accompanying video podcast if that better suits your fancy. Each podcast will post by Tuesday night of that week's sermon. Click the following links to download a sermon or subscribe to the feed. Center City Church - Audio PodcastCenter City Church - Video Podcast(Many thanks to Jerred Peacock and our media team for recording and producing both of these for us each week!)

Center City Church just celebrated our one month anniversary! We had a nice chuckle yesterday during service when I told them that I felt like one of those teenage dating couples that celebrates random anniversaries like the one month mark. We never get the beginning back, so we might as well fully enjoy the journey! In all seriousness, this is a dream come true and I can't wait to see all that month number two has to offer. I'm so privileged to be able to pastor a group of people that are so hungry and willing to learn. We dove right in to a very honest teaching on forgiveness yesterday. We...

Friends and family at Center City: Sunday at Center City Church will be a very honest day. I will be teaching on forgiveness as found in Matthew 18:21-35. It's a two sided story of forgiveness. First, the forgiveness that Christ has shown to us. And secondly, in light of this forgiveness we have experienced, how we should extend this forgiveness to others. This may be a very difficult day for some. I am quite aware of this. At times, our hurts can become so painful that the only thing we can control is the unforgiveness, anger and bitterness that we feel toward the one that wronged us. I am...

Our home was filled tonight with 20+ friends from our community. Coming and going throughout the entire evening. It was absolutely beautiful. We are so blessed to have so many amazing people in our world. We were also blessed to be able to enjoy Dara's home cooking tonight. She made my Grandma Docusen's famous red beans and rice dish (New Orleans style). Absolutely delicious. Friends. Food. Perfect.

I live in Charlotte. I love the city of Charlotte. Everything about it. The Charlotte Bobcats are hosting a playoff game tonight. Dara and I are going. The playoff game is against the Orlando Magic. I grew up in Orlando. Went to the first Magic game 21 years ago. Lifelong fan. I love Charlotte, but...GO MAGIC!

We tried something new yesterday during our service. We incorporated three distinct elements into our time of worship. The first area was our joining together in corporate worship. Raising our voices to our Savior. Declaring his greatness. The second area was communion. We had all who wanted to participate come down the center aisle and they were served the communion elements by our pastors. The body of Christ broken for them (represented by bread). The blood of Christ shed for them (represented by dipping the bread in grape juice). Powerful moment of remembering the sacrifice Christ made...