Posts Tagged Jesus
A letter to thrive church…
Posted by tomelmore in General, Leadership, Thrive on September 21, 2011
Hello TC
Here’s 4 things on my heart for YOU, US and our FUTURE
1. We had nearly 600 people show up last weekend and plus….people gave their life to Christ! I love what God is doing in families at TC. It’s mind-blowing – we still a new church and God is working through us!!!! I love it. We can’t forget that the church exists to help people FIND and FOLLOW Christ…and when it happens – it’s worth celebrating!
2. Last Weekend was one of the most FUN and EYEOPENING services yet! As we jumped into week two of our “Perfect Family” series we talked about the end game with our kids…..it’s not getting them to leave the house or go to college…it’s having a life-long FRIENDSHIP with them. In order to get one we have to engage in a healthy behaviors during the earlier 3 phases – NURSE, KING / QUEEN and COACH. You can’t jump phases and you have to ask God for help – especially if you came from rough home life yourself. God has great plans for your family – believe it.
3. This weekends message is titled…”Survival Guide to a Blended Home”. Coming from a blended home myself, I understand how over 50% of our population feels. Can God heal, change and help homes that are blended? Does God meet single parents with an additional grace for their situation…YES! Can’t wait to share what God has helped me live through and put in my heart for this huge topic!
4. People have coming up to me every week and introducing them self to me. One Question I have begun to ask every time is “have you signed up for a Growth Group”? Groups are more than a program or a calender filler – they are the life blood of what our church is about. Church doesn’t begin when you walk in the doors- rather when you walk out….that means we should be more about relationships than facilities and programs. That’s where Groups step in -they are the best place to grow your faith, make friendships and get encouraged and supported…all the things a church should do… I am beyond pumped for this seasons groups…..Zumba, study groups, basketball, cooking….I think we have it all….except you – click www.thrivechurch.cc for a group list / sign up. Groups start the week of Oct 3
That’s it – loving you, our church and our future….bring a friend to church this weekend….seriously!
Tom
Sunday Recap
Posted by tomelmore in Everything Else, General, Thrive, Wrapup on November 3, 2010
WOW – what a day at Thrive Church….So in awe about what God is doing! Here are a couple thoughts….
* Sunday we kicked off our new series “Faith, Hope and Luck”….I feel like we are headed into a “right now” series for our church. I am pumped for this Sunday.
* Just became Jesus can or we think he should does not mean that he will – not our job to put our expectations on God but to learn how to follow Him fully.
* We learned together that circumstantial faith is fragile and can be easily derailed by life’s pressures and pleasures.
* Jez Barbacy, Jessica Caldwell our band did a great job leading everyone into worship – Let me say it – our band ROCKS!
* Brought the winner of the Kidz costume contest on stage for the closing of the 11 am service. She was Dorthy from the Wizard of OZ..love it!
* Our Road Crew Team reported that they set up our entire facility in 53 minutes flat!
* Had dozens of people ask me “what happened to my head” – all I can say is that I am learning the price tag of laying on the beach without sunscreen – lesson learned (hopefully)
* Our ONE youth team had it’s first annual “Pumpkin Smash” night. Imagine….100′s of Pumpkins – baseball bats , food and teenagers – It was a Big messy WIN for everyone.
Three more things… Read the rest of this entry »
Seven things that made me smile (this week)
Posted by tomelmore in Everything Else, Family, Next Right Step, Philosophy, Thoughts from the Week, Thrive on October 16, 2010
I thought I would give you a recap of some of the beset moments of my week.
1. Last Sunday and our worship night at Thrive Church – Baptizing the 12 people that said “YES -I’m going public for Christ”….amazing stuff!
2. Slipping out mid day to see the movie ” Secretariat” with my wife…the movie was good – spending time with my wife was better!
3 Sitting in our Parenting 101 Growth group and learning that real parenting should happen between the conflicts – not during them.
4. Talking to my Mom on the phone about her coming down as soon as she gets her new “wheel chair friendly” van – so excited, love her so much.
5. Having the privilege of praying with Tina Martin as she continues to battle with cancer on the brain. You never know how much faith you have until you need it…she has TONS!
6. Seeing my in-laws arrive on Wednesday. It’s a gift to have family in our house (and help with the kids)
7. Thinking about our vacation that starts this Sunday after church, come this Sunday it could be the shortest message yet – Going to be on a boat in the ocean….ready to relax and refresh.
Smiling right now
Tom
Answering a Skeptic
I received the email below from someone via my blog regarding the Ultimate Giveaway series at Thrive Church and wanted to share it with you and my response.
“I received your flyer in the mail recently about “the ultimate giveaway.” Sorry, but this is all a bit weird. Are these really the best things? Is this really the ultimate giveaway? It’s my understanding that the ultimate giveaway happened more than two-thousand years ago when Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins. It’s sad that you have to get people to come to church by using superficial material things. I recently interned for a church in the missions ministry and i saw people coming in EVERY DAY who need financial assistance with electricity, rent, groceries and gas.
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
Why Leadership is Necessary
Posted by tomelmore in Leadership on June 11, 2010
If there is one thing I that I have learned over the years it’s leaders have the ability to MOVE THINGS forward…..At Thrive that means I can’t (and won’t ) do it all. Our leadership team is filled with people that are taking areas of our ministry and making them better. They are more effective and more people are jumping in to be a part of the vision as the result.
If a church wants to grow Leadership is necessary and needs to be intentional
Here’s what leaders “do best”….
1. Leaders are not afraid of going where no one else has gone – they see fear as their opportunity.
2. Leaders are problem solvers – all ministries have challenges, leaders help navigate a path through the obstacles and to God’s preferred future.
3. Leaders gather people around the dream! The most effective leaders I have encountered have the ability to bring people close to them and help them OWN the DREAM (not just cram it down their throats, but share it in a way that almost becomes contagious).
4. Leaders surround themselves with diversity! It takes people with all different, unique gifts to accomplish God sized dreams….it takes a complete body….each contributing what only they can do.
5. Leaders love to see progress! If lives aren’t being changed, people aren’t growing and being empowered, a leader will lose interest….can you imagine what it was like to be a disciple with Jesus – each day was an adventure and life change was happening….
I am looking forward to our monthly Leaders Gathering this Sunday afternoon; it’s so much fun to be connected to do life with great leaders…
Do whatever it takes not to miss this Sunday…we are a Purple Cow church that is committed to reaching the 70%.
See you Sunday
Tom
Man I love our Church!
I Love our church! Thought I would take a minute and recap some of my highlights from last Sunday….
- Hearing our band ROCK out the song “Futures” by Jimmy Eat World” -it’s two days later and I’m still humming it…
- Loved seeing Chris Goodwin (our new guitar player) lead us on Sunday! The guy is really talented – glad he’s a part of Thrive…
- Kicked off our new Series called “Purple People Leader! Pumped to be taking a few weeks to call out the amazing leader potential in our church…we have to realize the thing that makes us UNIQUE is the same thing that makes us POWERFUL in God’s hands…
- Introducing our new Thrive Intern to everyone- Sam Hardin has to have one of the biggest servant’s hearts on the planet- he’s going to do great things for the kingdom – no doubt!
- Seeing all the new families at Thrive 101 start to understand why our church is all about the 70% of people that don’t go to church…
- Sticking around for ONE youth and watching our Thrive students really worship GOD. They were passionate – raw and powerful….a movement has begun!
- Watching teenagers get on their knees and ask God to “heal the broken places” in their heart – it was amazing…
- Learning how to play the game “Ninja”! All I can say is it makes my generation’s game of “slap” look like sissy play…
- Sitting with our team when it was all over and realizing I am the luckiest guy on the planet to be pastoring this church!
Can’t wait for Next Sunday…see you there
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
With Leadership comes Pain…
Posted by tomelmore in Leadership on June 2, 2010
Three weeks ago I attended the All Access Conference in Baton Rouge, LA. The final speaker I heard before we made our way back to Katy was Craig Groeschel (the Sr. pastor of LifeChurch.tv in OK)
He talked about one of the things that ALL LEADERS have in common…..PAIN. I’m not a cry baby (ok, sometimes) but when Criag’s session ended I teared up and knew that God wanted to do great things through me, my family and the church and it would be directly connected to how much pain I could endure…..this message, simply put …rocked my world!
Here’s are the Cliff notes from it – Craig Groeschel, LifeChurch.tv
I believe some of the future leaders of the church are in this room.
I’ve been overwhelmed by the success of the church plants in ARC, the integrity of the leaders, and the mix of Spirit-empowered and strategic leadership.
We joined because I didn’t see anyone planting better churches than ARC.
Now I want to talk about something not really fun but true: A Leader’s Constant Companion.
It’s pain. Most of us don’t want to hurt. In pastoral leadership, you are going to get stung, and if you’re not careful you’ll start leading out of a defensive posture. But the Gospels say we should step into the pain our Savior experienced for us.
If you plant a church, a great church, a prevailing church–you will hurt.
The difference between where you are and where God wants you to be is the pain you’re unwilling to endure.
2 Corinthians 11: 23-28
As if all this physical pain wasn’t enough, he carries a daily burden for all the churches.
Our potential in life is often equal to the pain we’re willing to endure.
Ask God to increase your pain threshhold……
…..for unjustified rejection and criticism
The more you do, the more you’ll be criticized. The media will attack you, the non-Christians will, and the Christians will attack you the most. You have to learn to endure it with integrity. Jesus said if they persecuted him they will persecute us.
If you’re not being criticized, you’re not preaching the Gospel!
If you’re not hurting, you’re not leading.
You have to know who you are in Christ so when they shoot at you you can deflect it with the shield of faith.
The quickest way to forget about what God thinks about you is to focus on what people think about you. Take it, smile, and keep preaching Christ.
…….for making painful decisions
Church planters will make their most significant painful decisions in the first twelve months. It’s like God is asking if he can trust us with more.
We had one-third of our church in a small group that was led by someone with faulty theology. I confronted it and they left the church. You have to have the courage to press through the pain in these issues.
So think about what volunteer or staff person needs to be removed. Do you love the work of God enough to make the hard decision? Some of you will have to shut down a ministry or program.
It’s going to hurt. Do it.
…….for God’s pruning
John 15: God prunes so we’ll be even more fruitful. This is the wintertime before the spring, and allows you to do what God’s calling you to.
If you blame yourself for the decline, you’ll take the credit for the increase.
My mentor once said, “I have one promise for you. God is going to break you.”
When you look at other people and say “I want what they have,” remember–you don’t know the pain they have endured, the pain of their families. It’s the stuff no one wants that results in what everyone wants.
I don’t hurt much…..not like Paul. But I count it an honor to suffer a little for the one who suffered so much for me. So church planters, church leaders–step into the pain.
Tom
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=f5a3c373-ebd8-4be9-a842-5b0b1e7d7b30)
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
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=51a5d895-8871-4a59-8f1d-c648fda81443)
