Archive for category Everything Else

Here is the flyer for our current series “Inked – Marked to Make a Difference”.

Enjoy,

Tom

Well it’s up!  A lovely Thrive church billboard on I-10 going west.  When you drive by make sure you pray for Thrive and the people that God is calling us to reach. 

We want to make it easy for people to find and follow God!

Tom

Here are my thoughts as I was patiently waiting for my wife to fix me an awesome breakfast (she by the way is more awesome)!

• It was pretty amazing to meet so many new people during a summer service.
• I was blown away by Rodrigo and Heather telling there God story about getting involved at THRIVE church – they did a great job.
• Praying our new Invite card will reach people in our area – we are dropping them off at 10,000 homes in the next 10 days -the Blitz is ON!
• Praying hard for our amazing band…..excited about what God has for worship at THRIVE!
• Praying hard for the fall – a lot of positive change is in the air.
• We talked about “Getting out of the Bleachers and into the game” – the result our volunteer team grew by 50% -God is awesome
• We will miss the Carter family! They almost single handedly launched our children’s ministry – you guys ROCK!
• Yes we had a Thrive teens connect event last Friday – Broomball baby! Ice -goals, brooms and a ball….in Texas!
• Yes, we are doing a series called “Money Makeover” starting July 12 – Anyone want one, come to Church!
• Yes, we are launching growth groups this fall!
• Yes, we are doing series called “Getting Past your PAST” this fall that will be a catalyst for helping tons of people let go of junk the enemy tries to keep carrying around.
• Yes, our creative team is getting together 2x a month to think tank great services for everyone in Katy / Richmond
• Thankful Ashley, Rose and Joanna are committed to taking our kid’s ministry up, up and away.
• Thankful for my Friday guys group. GUYS being REAL and FIGHTING for each other, that’s good stuff!
• Thankful Jesus is allowing me to go a journey that is changing people’s lives -including my own.
• We are coming up on our three month anniversary -so thankful for the community God is building and EXCITED beyond belief at where it is TAKING US NEXT! -Jesus said a seed of faith can move mountains….THRIVE -let’s go move some mountains together!

Two weeks ago I was sitting in the left field bleachers at AT&T Park. I was watching the San Francisco Giants play the LA Dodgers. Now to be honest with you – I’m not much of a baseball fan, but sitting out in the bleachers with a bunch of crazy church planters was kind of fun.  During one of the more unwatchable innings (I couldn’t event tell you which one -that’s how into it I was) I noticed the thousands of people that were sitting in the crowd and the few players that were actually in the game.  Now I clearly realize there is a reason for this (I think it’s called skill, practice and natural ability) but I couldn’t stop thinking about the parallel between the game I was at and the church.

In many churches I have been to there are players and then there are 

people in the bleachers watching.   Let me ask you a question – which 

one is more FUN – more FULFILLING – more EXCITING – it’s getting the opportunity to be in the GAME.  I can’t wait this weekend to invite people to get out of the Bleachers and get into the GAME of serving. When you do, everything changes – your perspective – you make friends – you find purpose – you make a difference and most of all…..you model JESUS.  That’s good stuff…… Let’s get out of the Bleachers together…

See you this Sunday at THRIVE!  It’s going to be FUN!

Tom

This last weekend my family was in town. They don’t come down that often so when they do we like to “do it up”. We hit two authentic TEXAS barbecues and made sure to take a day and go to Splashtown Water Park.  It was there that I was reminded of the Power of WATER. That’s right; H2o is a big deal when its 104 degrees and you are outside (today is the hottest June 24^th ever – anyone want to come visit?). During the summer it seems like everywhere you go there is something telling you to get wet!  We all love to enjoy the pool – the lake – my daughter even enjoys the sprinkler in our back yard. There is something that just feels right about being soaked -especially in the SUMMER!

I was reading the story of Peter walking on water the other day. You know the time Jesus called him out and asked him to get out of the boat.  How do you think Peter felt about water then? Do you think it represented SUMMER FUN or his greatest FEAR?  I’m not sure if it was me that I would put my foot over the edge…..Jesus obviously was trying to prove a point to the other disciples. He wanted them to see the ordinary in an extraordinary way……that’s what Jesus does. What was he trying to say?

Here are some possibilities:

1.  Quit being SCARED and see things in the NATURAL

2.  TRUST ME MORE THAN YOU TRUST YOUR FEARS

3.  Some have faith -some watch other’s faith in action and learn from it

4.  There’s power in what you FOCUS ON – bad things happened when Peter’s focus s slipped away

5.  Jesus still loves it when we step out – and loves us enough to NEVER let us sink….

Next time you get near a pool – think about walking on water….

Tom

What a day – sitting here at youth camp in MI -getting ready for God to do amazing stuff tonight in service – till then here are my random thoughts..

* I have the best family in the world – my wife is beautiful, smart and the best mom ever – still blown away that she chose me 16 years ago- love being on the journey with her!

* This Sunday we are talking about Community – I think true community is the ability to live life with people and not feel like you have to pretend anymore -I thank God he loved me enough to help me “get it”.

* God is doing something awesome right now at THRIVE – people are hanging out – talking and actually becoming friends – We grow through relationships and that my friend is the way it should be.

* Our first partnership class is this Sunday – last report I heard over 30 people signed up. That blows me away!

* Our youth ministry also starts this Sunday night – after hanging out at this youth camp all week – I’m saying “bring it ON” God – swimming, barbeque and rock band – what more is there in life for a teen?

* I have to paint my garage floor – this job is hanging over my head each day – still need to call Larry and see if he’s all in!

* There are two things I really look forward to each week – our Guys group on Friday morning and Thursday night basketball – both bring out the Gladiator in me -Russell Crowe eat your heart out!

* Cole Hunter rocks my world – this little boy has crawled into my heart and will not get out. Can’t wait to have some Father/Son time when I get home! Maybe we will go fishing – oh wait he’s only 4 weeks old…

* Church Planting is a TON of details – I am thankful God has brought some people around THRIVE that actually enjoy them…Caleen, Coty, Nichole and Sara…you guys are a BIG DEAL -don’t forget it.

* Saw Terminator Salvation and have been reading Eph. 6 about the Armor of GOD – we can never forget, we are in a battle – the upside is – if we hold on WE WIN!

Love you guys – Go THRIVE – that’s the plan

Tom

What a crazy week – right after service on Sunday – I packed my bags and headed to LAWTON MI. I have the privilege of being the Speaker at a Jr. high Camp for Northwoods Community Church in Peoria, IL.  What is cool about this is – I grew up in Peoria (although I never went to Northwoods) and my 13 year old Nephew Nathan is here at camp as well (by the way – he is truly the funniest and wildest kid I have ever met – he is all ELMORE baby!).  It’s pretty humbling when I think about and realize all the financial sacrifices these parents have made so their kids can have some spiritual seed added into their life.  I know when my daughter is old enough I want her to experience every retreat, camp and conference! Life change happens when you are in community!

If you missed last Sunday – I think you missed the best service we have had yet…..oh yeah and Antwan Peek a NFL player formerly a Houston Texans Linebacker came to Thrive last Sunday – the dude was HUGE!  (Picture coming)

LAST SUNDAY at THRIVE
Amped: Turn Up YOUR PEACE – we need to remember……

• Conflict is un-avoidable.
• God uses conflict to grow and shape us.
• Unresolved conflict leads to crisis.
• All Crisis demands resolution. If not, bitterness will fester inside of us.
• James 4:1-2 describes where conflict comes from…our desires to get what “WE WANT”

4 Steps in dealing with conflict to apply to our daily lives…

1.   Acknowledge your own mistakes. (Romans 3:23)- It all starts here!

2.  Abandon your right to get even.  (Romans 12:19) – Even if it hurts a little!

3.   Apply God’s process in your relationships.  (Matthew 18:15) – Do conflict the RIGHT     WAY -all the other ways just cause more pain!

4.   Apply God’s grace to your relationships.  (1 John 4:8-11)- This is a big one for me…..I can only love and forgive because I have been loved and forgiven by CHRIST.

Tom

We are in our second week of our series “Amped: Turn Up your LIFE”. So many people are too afraid, busy or clueless to make the necessary changes to let go of what’s comfortable and stretch to another level.  I am thankful we have a church with people that are recognizing their FEAR and moving toward becoming FEARLESS.

Ok – back to the service – our THRIVE band was taking our message series title very literal – they were definitely “one louder” (my only spinal tap reference for this blog).  If you have not been out in a while – come hear what’s happening with our music. They are blowing people away. I had at least 4-5 comments about how good they sounded.  I would put our band up there with any band playing at any church across Houston on Sunday mornings.  Our walk up movie clip was exceptionally funny.  I won’t even mention the rock song I made the band play to lead me into the topic of self control.  I had to pray with them after the service! If you really want to know – ask someone that came out. Here are the “highlights” of the message. Yes it would be funnier and more meaningful with all my stories and incredible insights but – I will try and exert some “self control” and just let you read it your-self.  

Amped: Turn-Up your Self Control

• Turning up your life means controlling your desires and mouth.
• Think before you speak.  Will your words be truthful and helpful or teardown and hurt someone?
• Everyone experiences pain and it takes longer to heal the heart.
• Pain exists in our life because we never learned to apply self control.
• We need to lean Self Control in many areas: Anger, Lust, Spending, Over-eating, Pornography, Alcohol, and much more!

It is never too late to start implementing Self Control in your life.  God wants you to know HIS GRACE is sufficient for you!

The best is yet to come – Tom

I wanted to introduce you to Cole Thomas-Hunter Elmore (don’t ask why he has two middle names – he just DOES) He was born on May 12 at 6:30pm. He weighs 8lbs and is 20 inches in length.

His favorite things to do are sleeping, drinking milk and long walks on the beach. His ambitions include (but not limited to) small forward in the NBA, president of a fortune 500 company, introducing 1000′s people to Christ and reminding Mom and Dad of God’s amazing faithfulness.

He’s looking forward to meeting you soon at Thrive Church!  He will be in the diaper and cute clothes.

excited-thrive11-1