God has given me a very clear vision for 5 Point.  The only problem is that I haven't done a good enough job of sharing that vision with our people on a regular basis.  Weekly I hear people talk about my passion as I teach God's Word.  People comment on how much they enjoy our worship services and how they enjoy being a part of 5 Point.  But, people haven't shared how they've bought into the vision unless part of a leadership team. That is completely, 100% MY fault. 

I will begin, starting this week, incorporating God's vision for 5 Point into our Sunday mornings.  For those who are new or have just begun coming and love what were doing but not sure what were about, here you go.

I grew up hating church.  I mean HATING church.  It wasn't because of Jesus but the people in the church.  They all seemed the same as the world.  Church seemed so boring.  Nothing made a lot for sense to me.  From hard wooden seats, music that was hideous, messages with big words taught by one of the biggest nerds I'd ever seen, (seemed like all preachers looked the same).  And then there was Sunday School.  An older woman telling me to sit still and listen to her read to me.  IT WAS AWFUL!  I still thank God for my Mom making me go though!

As God began birthing 5 Point I wanted a church that was different in the way we worshiped.  It needed to be relevant to the unchurched.  The messages had to be relevant.  In other words, people could see the benefit and power of God's Word in their life.  Worship could actually be fun for adults and children.  Children & adults should leave with three thoughts:
1.  Jesus is real and can change my life
2. I had a blast
3. I want to invite my fiend's
Worship will not be boring in heaven, why should it be here on earth.  This leads to music.  The majority of times music is personal preference.  I want our music to glorify God through it's words, to be upbeat and loud.  Why?  That is our culture.  Everything is fast paced, loud and high energy.  Oh, by the way, heaven won't be quiet.  King David thought up high energy music, not us!

You've heard the old adage, "you've got to aim at something to hit something."  My target is men.  I want men to come into 5 Point and feel welcomed.  So many churches make men feel as if they are standing in the panties and bra section of Belk.  You just get the feeling of, "I don't belong here." I want 5 Point to make everyone feel welcome.  I believe we do a great job of making everyone feel welcome regardless of race, sex, financial or religious back ground etc. 

What about the women?  You don't want them to feel welcome or come?  Of course.  If we took all the women out of our church 5 Point wouldn't survive.  What I mean by this is that I target men.  I allow Dean to be Dean.  I am a man's pastor.  I'm full of testosterone and full speed ahead.  I love to hunt & fish.  Sports talk is one of my favorite topics besides Jesus.  The outdoors scream for me to be there.  I love being on the lake on the Herman boat.  My hobbies are all manly stuff.  Thats just me. 

I believe Satan's number one target is the Christian family and primarily the husband.  My thoughts on this, why not go after the men because if Dad wants to come, the family will follow.  Many women have come and thanked me for being so man oriented because it got their husband back into church.  So, men are my target with women not being secondary but equal. 

Any church that claims they are a church for everyone isn't being completely truthful.  I understand their thought process, but no one church can satisfy everyone no more so than one restaurant can serve everyone.

Enough for today.  More tomorrow.  Tim and I are getting ready to go and shoot a music video.  Just being me again.