Archive for category Next Right Step
This IS It
Posted by tomelmore in Next Right Step on June 24, 2010
I was watching the Michael Jackson “This Is It” movie the other day and was blown away at how incredible all the musicians and dancers were. I asked Jackie “How good would you have to be to play in Michael Jackson’s band?”
“You’d have to be the best,” she said.
I knew she was right. It would be any musician or dancer’s dream to be a part of Michael’s tour. If you ask any performer how hard they would be willing to work to reach that level…they would say “I’d do almost anything”. 
The reality is Michael’s band actually spent years and years putting massive amounts of work in to get that kind of opportunity. Think about how many tours, practices, and lessons they went through to get to the place where they were playing with “The King of Pop”
So many people want instant success without going through the “forming process”. I’ve learned it’s in the process that our character and heart are really defined.
Think about some of the great people in the Bible; Moses, David, Peter and even Jesus himself. They didn’t reach their status or influence overnight. God had to develop them and they had to be willing to go through the process. When we are faithful with what God puts in our hands, then and only then can He trust us with the next opportunity.
People that get once in a lifetime opportunities don’t get them by accident – they prepare. They embrace God’s process long before the opportunities ever arrive
Then they realize….”This is It”
Tom
Men/Cigars/Church Services
Posted by tomelmore in Next Right Step, Thrive on June 18, 2010
The other night I sat with some pretty incredible guys around a table smoking cigars and talking about God. It was fun, honest and laid back. When we walked away it felt more like a brotherhood than a “bible group”. The conversation was funny, raw, honest and powerful.
It reminded me that we started Thrive Church for men that “HATE CHURCH”
Here are the reminders…..
* Men feel weird when their wives try to lead them spiritually….when a wife tries to “push or nag” a man to church – men run!
* Men like short services – the longer they get the more they never want to return…most men feel like the message could be wrapped up in less than 5 minutes if the speaker just got to the point. (Note: I’m going for a 4 minute Father’s day message this Sunday….not really)
* Men get excited about having FUN! Laughter, off the wall antics and a little bit of goofiness are magnets for guys to attend church. (Note – the Comedy Central Network is almost exclusively viewed by men.)
* Men get excited about a quality service and respect excellence. We do everything in our power not to let our Sunday morning services feel like “Amateur Hour”
* Men like dialogues that go back and forth. Give them a chance to argue about it and it will “STICK”…I guarantee you there will be at least one brawl in our Growth Group as we process scripture together. Looking forward to it!
I get excited when I think about men taking their faith seriously and begin leading their families with strong hands
Can’t wait for Father’s day…
Tom
Huge Announcement!!!
Posted by tomelmore in Next Right Step, Thrive on June 4, 2010
If you missed it, here it is. We are moving locations this fall to Beckendorff Jr High on Fry Road in Seven Lakes. This decision was made through tons of prayer and pursuing Godly Wisdom. After almost two months of wrestling with the decision we have come to the place where we know it’s time to GO! Here is why we are making this move….
1. Parking Spaces = People CONNECTING TO CHRIST!
On Easter we packed the parking lot for two services! There wasn’t an extra spot to be found. We have realized that the more parking spaces we have, the more opportunity we have for people to bring their friends and family. Our new location -Beckendorff will have over 500 parking spots (currently we have just over 100) That means more people can come attend services and not worry about missing a spot!
2. Proximity to more People is IMPORTANT!
Fry road is one of the busiest roads in Cinco Ranch. We see that as a BIG opportunity to impact people. We can put up signage all weekend long. That means 1000′s of people will see our sign, location and service times. It’s also a very familiar location so when you invite your friends – it’s an easy connect for them.
3. Thrive Kidz needs MORE SPACE!
Our 1st -5th grade kids will now have their own GYM! Our vision from the beginning was that Thrive KidZ is the “best hour of your kids week”. Now we have the opportunity to provide a better, exciting learning environment. We are planning on filling it with large Blow Up Events, interactive games and great leaders that really care about your kids!
4. It creates OPPORTUNITIES TO LEAD!
We are actually excited about going portable again because it provides hundreds of volunteers a chance to go “all in” with Thrive’s vision to impact lives. As the new Mobile Team is forming – I can’t wait to see people “get in the game” to serve. Jesus challenged us to serve for two reasons: it changes us and it changes others. We lead through serving….that principle is what Thrive is built on and now we are giving more people a chance to experience it!
We are beyond excited about what God has in store for us this Fall. It’s going to be good!
FYI -We are starting a new series called “Activate your leadership” this Sunday…bring a friend!
The best is yet to come -Tom
Are you connected?
Posted by tomelmore in Next Right Step on May 28, 2010
How Connected are you?
I love our church.
I love the stories, the people and the life change that is happening. I just got through watching a homemade video from our worship / baptism night last Sunday. It reminded me that God uses us, our relational connections and our personalities to help others take the “Next RIGHT STEP” with Christ.
It was powerful!
What was just as powerful was sitting around a table after the night and laughing and celebrating with a few of the people that went through baptism…..Our life is a series of memories – opportunities- challenges and moments of laughter…..they happen best when we are connected…..
This past week we started signups for our summer Growth Group season. I love how many different types of groups there are. It’s important for us to remember that the groups doing some sort of Bible Study are not more spiritual than the ones going Bowling or smoking cigars!
The way to evaluate spirituality is to ask questions like, “How did I apply what I learned?” or “How am I caring for and loving the people in my group?” or “How is my heart changing to become more like Jesus?”
That happens when we are connected.
Tom
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Hypocrites R Us
Posted by tomelmore in Next Right Step, Series, Thrive on May 22, 2010
When I was a kid I loved Toys R Us. It was the one place you were never confused about. There was no “bait and switch”. It was all about TOYS!
I personally think the church should have up a sign in the front that says “Hypocrites R Us”. Then every time somebody walked in they would know exactly what to expect on the inside. Let’s face it – none of us are perfect. We can’t (no matter how hard we try) get our act totally together. We can work on it – develop it – read about it …but at the end of the day perfection is always going to be out of our reach. I blame Adam and Eve…but there I go judging again!!
So why not just put the sign out front of every church. That way everyone knows what they are getting – a bunch of people that are in need of grace. Then all the energy that we spend hiding our imperfections we could use chase after GOD.
I think at the end of the day people are not as afraid of Hypocrites as they used to be……Just the ones that are afraid to admit it…
I love that I am a part of church that admits it does not have it all together. Interested in learning how to become a Hypocrite? Come tomorrow to church. I will give you 3 easy steps
Oh yeah – still want to get baptized Sunday night at WORSHIP Night – click here
see you tomorrow
Tom
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Hey THRIVE …A Quick Note…
Posted by tomelmore in Next Right Step, Thrive on May 21, 2010
Hey THRIVE Church…Just wanted to shoot you a couple thoughts…
#1 – We are going into week 2 of our series on Sunday called “Cow Tipping”. We are 100% committed to tipping over some of the big sacred cows in the church. This week we are talking about Hypocrisy. I am amazed by how many people see Christians as Hypocrites and therefore write off Jesus. So this week’s message is “How to be a HYPOCRITE in three easy steps” …….it’s going to be wild! Warning…it COULD possibly break us all out of our comfort zones and cause us to live a life that is authentic and real!
#2 – ALSO…Sunday we’re going to be challenging people to take a step in a way that we’ve never done on a Sunday…I can’t wait!!!
#3 – We’ve got BAPTISM / WORSHIP Night coming up this Sunday. Pumped for all the people that have signed up to declare Jesus as Lord of their life. If you haven’t signed up for Baptism this Sunday night click here and let us know “you’re in”. It’s going to be powerful…seeing people confess Jesus Christ out loud NEVER gets old.
#4 – We are doing our first ever series on Leadership and Influence entitled, “The Purple People Leader” on June 6th…can’t wait for that one either!
#5 – Another “Big Deal” on June 6th is Thrive 101 that afternoon. I love helping people get the vision for our church. It’s so fun to see people get excited about going on mission with us….If you haven’t signed up yet – get on it.…I am POSITIVE that everyone who attends will ENJOY what happens!
I sense BIG THINGS around the corner for our church…I love you guys…I love this church…and I love the future He is calling us to!!!
Tom
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What happens in the Margins!
Posted by tomelmore in Next Right Step, Series, Thrive on May 6, 2010
It’s been a busy two weeks! Last week I went to the All Access conference in Baton Rouge at Healing Place Church, attended a service at Jimmy Swaggert’s Church (seriously -no kidding-look for a blog soon on it) , preached 2x at Thrive then got on a plane and went to Kenosha, WI to sit with some of the nation’s best church planters in a coaching network…
The ironic part is the message I gave last Sunday. It was on Margin….the place between what you HAVE and what you NEED.
The last two weeks have reminded me that I need to exist with more margin – when I have a schedule or lifestyle that is literally to busy to stop, reflect or love my kids….I need to throw on the brakes. I am already blocking off time this summer to take a vacation and make sure my internal batteries are FULL so we can continue to make it easy for people to follow and find God through our church. I have also realized that when my batteries are full I am the best dad, husband, leader and pastor.
How do you discover TRUE MARGIN?
- REALIZE THIS REALITY: If Satan, our spiritual enemy, cannot make us really, really bad he will try to make us really, really busy. Some of us become so busy at doing lesser things, that we miss out on the most important things, we are distracted from the very best.
- Put space in YOUR schedule.
- PRUNE YOUR ACTIVITIES PERIODICALLY. 1 Corinthians 6:12 Paul says, “Everything is permissible for me but not everything is beneficial.” What’s he saying? God’s given you a free will. You’re permitted to do anything. You can go out and overload your schedule ten times and God’s not going to stop you. You are permitted to totally make stupid decisions. But it doesn’t mean that it’s the beneficial thing to pack your life full of. Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.”
- DO LESS AND TRUST GOD MORE
Remember – the best things in LIFE HAPPEN IN THE MARGIN – go get it…
Tom
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How Do we BREAK free from the Mundane?
Posted by tomelmore in Next Right Step on April 16, 2010
Last Sunday at Thrive Church we talked about how we can live with true FREEDOM, the kind that starts on the inside and is not dependent on our work, home or any other environments. It’s easy to think our surroundings are the key to satisfaction. I love what the apostle Paul writes in II Corinthians about where real FREEDOM COMES FROM.
I challenge you to read though these and ask yourself the question, in light of this passage, “Am I really free”? If you’re not, read through the steps and put them into action – You were meant to live and your freedom is worth fighting for…
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (The Message)
“Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it!
All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.”
How do we BREAK FREE?
- Go FACE to FACE with God – Let it get Personal….
- Recognize the areas you NEED FREEDOM IN – Don’t take it personal….
- Take your NEXT RIGHT STEP toward GOD – Realize all Change that God brings – has to be personal….
Tom
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Why do we do THRIVE 101?
Posted by tomelmore in Next Right Step, Thrive on April 8, 2010
People have been asking me “what is THRIVE 101” and do I really need to sign up for this Sunday’s session.
Let me be clear…YES IT’S IMPORTANT and YES YOU SHOULD BE THERE!
To show you this is more than just “my opinion” Here’s why….
* If you’re going to be a part of a local church…it’s important to know if you actually agree with its’ values, beliefs, systems and strategy, right? If you’re not sure of the answer …it’s YES!
* At Thrive 101 you will meet people that are all asking the same questions…that gives you something in common and could be the beginning of a significant relationship within our church.
* You will find out why 17 months ago my wife and I “pushed in much of our life savings” as we pursued God’s call to start a LIFE-GIVING Church.
* It’s a chance to find out where we believe God is taking THRIVE and how each of us play an important role in it.
* Discover your next right step on how to move beyond being an “attendee” and into a “Partnership”. It’s a significant difference….come find out why….
* You’ll laugh, eat and have more fun that you would imagine.
If you haven’t signed up yet and want to…no worries! Click here- info@thrivechurch.cc and let us know how many are coming. Child care and desert bar is provided and the cost is free. The next Thrive 101 session will be in June. Try your best to make this one. The times are 2-4:30 this Sunday. Sign ups are filling fast….get on it.
See you there – Tom
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5 Reasons the Devil Hates Easter
Posted by tomelmore in General, Next Right Step, Thrive on April 3, 2010
1. People “Go To Church” that normally never do…..the result? People think about God’s love, the gift of forgiveness and rediscover how church can be relevant and helpful to their life.
2. It confuses small children that think Easter is all about colored eggs and a fluffy Bunny. Kids actually hear about Jesus….not as a cute story or fable – but as truth that can change their life!
3. Churches around the Country are Praying HARDER THAN EVER! Prayer moves the hands of the one that holds the world. God sees His church actually “GO FOR IT” and ask Him for BIG THINGS!
4. Families Spend Time Together! They spend time growing closer to God and eating together…..two things that actually HELP families get STRONGER.
5. People give their LIFE to Christ! People all across the country come face to face with the truth that GOD has something GREAT for their LIFE. They realize that it’s not about religion but about a RELATIONSHIP with the God of the Universe…and it’s more about LOVE than Judgment!
Remember – INVITE and PRAY…it’s going to be AWESOME
Tom
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