What a ride

This Sunday will mark the two year point of THRIVE being in existence as a church. That’s caused me to do something thinking and look back on our journey so far…here are some things….

*   I see God writing stories that include -forgiveness, second chances, freedom and confidence. That 100% why I believe that God has something HUGE for us as we move forward. I’m seeing lives changed and rearranged by God’s grace….sadly I know that not every church can say that. I’m glad ours can!

* Our staff and volunteer team is  GROWING and having FUN. One of my prayers when we started was “God bring people to Thrive that are good at what I’m not” – thankfully I see that prayer being answered again and again. That’s what makes ministry rewarding – a bunch of people with unique gifting’s sharing them to accomplish something HUGE for God.  If you went with us to the “All Access Conference” in Baton Rouge, two weeks ago, you know what I’m talking about…we had so much fun I think at one point I about wet my pants. That’s not a common thing…

* We laugh at ourselves – a lot! – I’ve discovered that the best teams are the ones that can laugh at their mistakes and mess ups. I still have people come up on a regular basis and ask me when I’m going to fall off the stage during a message again….they ask so often….sometimes I think I should “throw one in” just for old times sake – j/j  They also love to remind me of our “almost move” to Beckendorf Jr Hi. I don’t mind at all. The point is the right laughter keeps all of us on the same level and keeps a healthy dose of humility  and WE HAVE IT! (was that humility to say we HAVE humility…hmmm)

* We are ON MISSION! We started the church to reach the 70% of families that didn’t care about church in the Katy-Richmond area. We launched Thrive not to be a social club for the religious – but to be a hospital for the hurting. Thankfully that’s happening.  I love it when people come up to say “this is my friend ____ they came with us today”.  I am so proud when I hear those words because it means they are caring about what God cares about – lost people.  I believe this Easter we are going to see more people coming to Christ and experiencing Thrive than ever before!

So as you can read I am PUMPED ABOUT OUR CHURCH. This Sunday we are going to celebrate the last two years of our journey. Our creative team has decided to do our “best of songs”, we have a recap video sharing some great memories and in addition we will be sharing Mark and Deena Bridges story of a marriage that was on the brink of being blown up…It’s powerful.

After service we have Blow up games and face painting for the kids and a three team “BBQ Cook OFF” competition. There will be enough brisket to feed a stadium….I am excited to look back together. See you Sunday!

Tom

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OK -It’s true when I was a kid I would often fall asleep when I attempted to pray. for years it kept me from having a meaningful connection to Christ.  Last Sunday we talked about How to Pray and mean it.

Over the last few months I have been trying to teach my  7 year old how to pray and “mean it”.  On a whim I decided to teach her the ACTS model of prayer. By the way, this is one of the only things that I learned in Bible college that I still use today…so that means I paid a lot for this learning.

If you struggle in prayer like I do, I reccomend trying this way and see what happens. My Hope is you connect to God in a whole new way…

ACTS Model of prayer

A = ADORE God

This is simply sharing with God why you think HE’s Amazing…for me it’s when I drive down the road and see a TX sunset or reading a passage in scripture and having a “a ha” moment.  Starting like this starts you with the right mindset – it reminds you your talking to a BIG GOD….one that’s loving and yet still powerful

C = Confession

Take a few moments and ask God to “search your heart”. King David prayed this in the OT and the bible described him as a “man after God’s heart”. When we leave our sinful junk untouched it builds a barrier between you and God.  God will move and remove it – but he has to be asked….confession does simply that.

T =  Thanks

We live in a world that tells us we are don’t have enough – we are lacking because…..Taking a few minutes and begin thanking God for the good things in your life. It will bring your heart back to center.  I often find myself thanking God for my family, health our church, our team….I’ve realized God moves in our lives when we are THANKFUL!  Most of all I am thankful for grace – still stops me in my tracks

S = Supply

I used to think that God would get upset If I ask Him for things…When I read scripture, nothing could be farther from the truth.  God wants us to look to him for our needs – that doesn’t mean that If pray for a Mercedes that one will pop up in front of my house tomorrow. He wants me to pray with His will first and count on Him as my source.  Starting Thrive Church has pushed me many times to count on God first. He has never disappointed! He won’t disappoint you…

PS – Easter is coming – I know it’s going to be our best yet. Jackie and I are talking about who we are going to invite.  Easter is one of the moments on our calender that people are open to checking out God. Let’s make it happen and invite our friends and neighbors…

Tom

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No one loves to Confess there junk!

Last Sunday at THRIVE we talked about the “old school” practice of confession. Whether you grew up Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian or any other church background…or no church background.  You  grew up forming an opinion about this.

I see so many people carrying around extra weight of shame and guilt in their life because they were trained to HIDE their sin. You can be real in any other group whether a bar or a sports team but….NOT AT CHURCH.

When I read the NT I get an incredible sense that God wants us to experience FREEDOM from shame and yes the long term pain that often accompanies us carrying around our failures.

Here’s 3 steps to REAL FREEDOM…and yes the “Old School” term is  called confession

1. AGREE with God about your sinful junk

- This can be tough because we grade other people on their actions and we grade our self by our intentions. We have to get honest and say to God “this is me”. It’s not until then that our sin BECOMES REAL – That’s when we see it as God sees it. Often we feel our sin is  distant and manageable. We treat our sin issues this way until it causes us enough pain for us to take notice.

2. Thank God for FORGIVENESS (Col 2:14)

- You don’t get forgiveness because you confess – you get it because of the cross. All our pain and failures Jesus took with Him to the cross. It was there that gave us the ultimate act of love.  It was in that act that FREEDOM was ours. It was nothing we could do on our own or earn.  Too any times we tend to want to “work’ for forgiveness.

3.  REPENT – walk away! Take action…when it comes your sin issues.

-  If you really want to be free , find someone you can share it with (James 5:16)

- meet with them on a regular basis and let them ask you the tough Q’s. This can sound difficult but the question you have to ask is…”how much do I want freedom from this”.  No matter how tough it is – remember that when we concealing we aren’t’ free…Jesus gave us His love to free us not chain us.

- Pray for each other…they need to be there to support and encourage you and you walk toward real freedom

So….who do you need to talk to today? Is it God or someone else? When you do your setting yourself up to experience the life described in John 10:10 – “life and life to it’s fullest”

Go old school today – confess, get it out, release it and start living….

Tom

Here’s another reason that leasing offices was a good call…

Our office is jammed today with people coming in to help out and make it easy for people to find and follow GOD. It’s amazing to see how much energy this place has. I even lost my normal parking spot…(wow -do I sound like an  entitled church member or what?)

If your interested in volunteering during the week – stay tuned we are announcing “OPEN OFFICE PARTIES” this week.  It’s 2-3 days during the week that you can just drop in and help out. There’s no time commitment – all you have to do is show up and do some ministry with us. It’s that easy….

This is getting fun!

Tom

I have really enjoyed the last few weeks.

I’ve started a habit of capturing moments on my I-phone to just to remember – and not blow past them.  As I looked through my phone….I thought I would sahre with you some of my BIG MOMENTS…

* In the last three weeks THRIVE has added 4 new team members into key positions. I am excited to welcome John and Shannon Glasser as they set out to launch our new 4th and 5th grade ministry, Sommer Cotton as our new Communications Coordinator and Erik Emmons into our production world.  These guys are high caliber and enthusiastic about our church. We are going places and it’s getting FUN

* We spontaneously baptised 32 people  2 Sundays ago – There were cheers and even some tears of joy. I was a wreck as I saw what God is doing in peoples lives….one of my highlights of THRIVE so far

* Last Sunday was 80′s day – I shared my 80′s re-live story as a few Thriver’s and I went to see the legendary Christian metal band STRYPER at the Scout Bar in clear lake…the verdict – they still rock – Standing in the room with 400 other 40 year old rockers I realized that Christ has a sense of humor – he used a bunch of spandex wearing bumble bee’s to help solidify my faith when I was a teenager – It was cool to see Micheal Sweet pray for Japan before everyone went home. Nice touch.

* My Growth Group this semester, Gun’s Grills and God has some of the greatest guys on the planet. Last Tuesday night really turned into a highlight. Not sure I’ve seen God open hearts like he did.  He is doing some powerful stuff.  And yes… we have eaten meat and shot Guns together. Could male bonding happen in a better way…don’t think so

* Bitter Sweet is Jackie and my sleeping experience as of late.…It seems like every night we wake up midstream as my 2 year old climbs in bed with us and my 7 year old ends up somehow on our bedroom floor. Jackie and I are waking up with Cole’s little feet pushing into our backs…I love the family being together…I also love my sleep….praying for a reconciliation.

* Lastly – We ended service last Sunday by confessing our junk to God. I invited everyone to “lighten their load” and agree with God about their sin.  It was a beautiful thing. I know people went home with a new sense of forgiveness and freedom. Again, amazed how God is at work.

I love our church

PS – THRIVE – here’s your challenge for the week. Start thinking about who’s coming with you to church this Easter.  I’m personally praying for everyone who’s telling me they are bringing friends.  This Easter is going to be epic! God is going to move in people’s hearts like we haven’t seen yet.

PSS We are announcing our new service schedule this Wed on our Facebook / Web page.

Make your moments coun…I’m trying.

Tom

The best things in life are  NOT  planned out.

I know what your thinking – another set  of excuses from a guy who couldn’t organize his way out of a card board box – ok that might be true….but hear me out.

Often in the New Testament Jesus approached people and engaged them in  random conversations.  These were the moments that LIFE CHANGE happened. When Jesus engaged people with questions it made people stop and pause. People broke away from their planned out life  long enough to look inside and ask themselves questions like ….”am who I really want to be? Is my life even pointed in the right direction?”  Then they often made a CHOICE – they turned their heart toward God. They allowed him to become Lord of their life /or to take leadership of their life.

It was not on their calender when they woke up that day – it was spontaneous and sometimes the best things ARE.

We plan a lot at THRIVE. We don’t like things to happen by accident simply because we think that reflects poorly on God. But this Sunday we are going “off script” a little bit – I wish I could spill the beans  but suffice to say….we are creating space for God to speak to our hearts and space for us to respond.

Now…before you think we are going to get all weird, let me share with you that no one will be swinging from chandlers and getting goofy (well no more than normal). What we are doing Sunday has been coated with a ton of prayer and will only be powerful if people respond to God’s Spirit. (Which I am trusting God will happen)

Don’t be afraid to be Spontaneous – with God sometimes the best things are!

Tom

PS – Last Sat a bunch of Guys from Guns, Grills and God went over to Baily’s gun range to squeeze a few rounds off – I am hooked. Want to get a gun now!

I am expecting Big things this Sunday at Thrive! Why? Because we are taking a risk – we are going to invite people to OBEY Christ in a way that has never been done in our church before.  And yes – it’s going to be  in the middle of our service and yes I believe it will LIFT UP CHRIST.

Trust me when I tell you we have never done anything like this before.  I have some fear about it – but it’s not going to stop us. If your wondering what I am talking about – all I can say is don’t miss service this weekend.  We are all putting our chips in the middle  that God is going to do something INCREDIBLE.

I beleive what we are doing will be talked about for years to come and mark people’s lives FOREVER.  This is not me being over dramatic – this is how I honestly feel!  Sunday could not come here soon enough – My EXPECTATIONS are HIGH!

let me leave you with a verse that I find myself often coming back to….Isiah 41:10 – Don’t be afraid for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will give you strength, I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

See you Sunday….

PS – here are some “Elmore family” highlights from our trip to the Rodeo this week. 4 words – Turkey on  a STICK!

RELATIONSHIP REHAB  /  What Women Wish Men Knew…

I Cor 7:3 (GN)  “A man should fulfill his duty as a husband and a woman should fulfill her duty as a wife, and each should satisfy the other’s needs.”

Last Sunday we talked about how God expects husbands to satisfy the needs of their wives.  God expects wives to satisfy the needs of their husbands.  The problem is the needs of men and women are very different.  Your wife’s needs are not the same as yours.  If you try to meet her needs thinking, “This is what I need” you’re going to miss it.

I Peter 3:7 “Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

As a husband, I am to do three things according to 1 Peter 3:7.

1.            UNDERSTAND  my wife! “Be considerate”

Being considerate means thoughtful of the needs and feelings of another.  You give it thought. Obviously you’ve got to understand your wife’s needs before you can consider her needs and meeting those needs.  You’ve got to know what they are.  If you don’t know go read “Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman and start figuring it out.

2.            LIVE  with my wife!

DEF:  Share my life . . . do things together . . . be companions -spend time with her.  That is a basic assumption.  If you’re going to be best friends you’ve got to develop some mutual interests and some things you do together. To live with means share my life and not just share a house and a bed.

3.            APPRECIATE and RESPECT  my wife!
DEF:  Honor my wife.  Value her . . . Appreciate her value! Study after study has shown a woman largely gets her self esteem from how her husband responds to her – how he speaks to her, how he treats her, how he feels about her.  I’m to honor my wife, value her, appreciate her value.

Every time you appreciate your wife you make her more valuable to you.  You can determine and mold how valuable your wife is to you all by the way you appreciate her.

Tom

PS – This Sunday is perfect to invite a friend to church with you. It could be a game changer for them…