The past two weeks we've been dealing with vision.  We have answered the following questions:
1. Who are we trying to reach?
2. How will we reach them.

I have been blown away by the comments and e-mails I have received.  People are more excited than ever to reach this city.
I have learned through these past two weeks, SHARE VISION REGULARLY!

Let me share some ways to kill a vision quickly:
1. Listen to anyone other than God.
Everyone has an opinion.  What many don't understand is that God's opinion rules.
2. Pray really small prayers. 
Seriously, some of the prayers people pray amaze me.  I want to see God sized things happen so I pray God sized prayers.
3. Think small, not God sized.
Goes along with number 2.
4. Listen to the critics.
Last week I got hammered by numerous people.  E-mails, anonymous mail, blog.  And the sad part is I allowed it to get to me.  No more. God has responded this week already with some really encouraging words.  Thanks to all.
5. Wait until everything you do makes perfect sense instead of listening to God.
I doubt building an ark made a lot of sense to Noah seeing how it had never rained.  God knows what He is doing. Listen to him.
6. Believe that everyone will be 100% on board with you. 
Jesus couldn't even perform this task why should we think we can.  There will always be critics.  REGARDLESS!
7. Compare yourself to another ministry.
Were not New Spring or Foothills.  No reason to compare ourselves to them.  We are 5 Point and were doing exactly what God wants from 5 Point.  We need to concentrate on our community and not worry what others are doing.
8. Celebrate what we've accomplished more than what we're going to accomplish.
God has done some great things here, but we've got so much more to do.
9. Listen to others and not to God.  Didn't know if I had mentioned this or not.
10. Remain humble.  I've tried thinking way too highly of myself before and all it does is bring you to your knees.

Couple of other thoughts:
* Looking forward to heading to Virginia for Thanksgiving.  Always good to get away.  Playing golf with my son Andrew Wednesday and Thursday in Kentucky.  Hopefully it wont be to cold.
* Deb has me putting up Christmas decorations tonight.  OH JOY!
* The staff helped me come up with some really good ideas for our X-mas series.  Going to be a lot of fun.
* Probably going to begin both services ten minutes earlier.  More singing.  This will help draw people in from lobby area.
* Tomorrow I'll be talking about being thankful.  Start thinking about the top then things your most thankful for.