“But he (Jesus) would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (Luke 5:16)  It’s clear, throughout the Gospels, that Jesus prayed and prayed often.  He prayed alone, with others, and for others.  He prayed for long periods of time, briefly, intentionally, passionately, and honestly.  Simply put, Jesus prayed.  It’s because of His example we believe in the importance and the power of prayer.  We live to imitate and become more like Him, and there’s no way we can do that while neglecting the discipline of prayer.  But it’s not easy is it?

For me personally, prayer is one of, if not, the most difficult disciplines as a follower of Christ. There are days and weeks when my prayers are constant, honest, and fruitful, and yet there are also days and weeks when my prayers are sporadic, routine, and fruitless.  That’s why I feel completely equipped to be leading this 2012 Strategic Focus for our church.  (Can you actually hear my insecure gulp?)  I didn’t accept the challenge of leading this focus, nor was I asked to lead it, because I’m a professional prayer.  Rest assured I have no Prayer MVP’s on my mantle.  This is a struggle for me, and yet it’s a treasure, a growing discipline, a desperate need, and a precious gift we have from our Father.  In 2012, I get to share and engage in this with you, and I know I’ll be blessed to do so.

Beginning Sunday, March 4th - April 8th (Easter) we will engage, as an entire church, in 35 Days of Prayer.  My hope is that we will begin living out what it means to be a church dependent on prayer because we will be individuals becoming more like Christ as we pray together.  Be looking for more information as we approach March 4th.  And while you’re at it ... let’s be praying.

“The best way to protect your marriage is to enjoy it.”   Ted Lowe­

Join us for our first BIG NIGHT OUT on Saturday, February 11^th from 7:30-9:00  p.m.

Somewhere along the way, we have been convinced that having a great marriage is serious business…and it is.  But you don’t have to be serious all the time to have a great marriage! We believe marriage should be serious fun. And having serious fun is what this event is all about! At this Big Night Out, couples will have a great night with loads of laughs, some good ole love songs by Mosteller, and a relevant message.

Marriage is a God-given gift that needs to be celebrated, supported, and strengthened by the church…not ignored.  With the divorce rate at 50%, and not much better among Christian couples, we can’t afford to ignore it any longer.  Rather than reactively addressing marriage issues at the onset of a crisis, our leadership feels led by the Holy Spirit to proactively and intentionally invest in marriages before they reach the point of crisis. This BIG NIGHT OUT is the genesis of a marriage initiative here at Center Pointe under our Equipping strategy. We’ve partnered with an organization called Married People (more on this in the spring) to help guide us as we launch a comprehensive marriage initiative.

Rick and Libby Cottrell will be leading this new initiative. As a couple married 25 years, who attribute their longevity to the presence of God in their marriage, they are excited to be a part of something that builds marriages up and preserves the unions that God has chosen as a foundation for families.

I’m sure you’ll agree that the ticket price of $15 affords every married couple the opportunity of a budget-friendly night out, and when you add childcare in for $5, that’s hard to beat! Tickets will be sold in the foyer area on January 29^th and February 5^th. And this is important, so pay attention: Tickets are only on sale through February 7^th. There will be no tickets available at the door, so this time, you’re going to need to plan ahead!

I’ll be there. I hope to see you there too!

Shawn

Happy New Year Center Pointe!  I hope 2012 is off to an incredible start for you.  This morning, I received a gift from one of our partners...Vitamin D3.  Also known as sunshine pills!  I'm fully prepared to tackle these next two months!

Next week, you'll be receiving a full e-letter, but I wanted to share a few things with you first.

1). What will you do in 2012 to take your next step towards God?  And secondly, what will you do in 2012 to help advance the Kingdom?  Those are two very important questions that I want you to consider.  Your spiritual journey and God's Kingdom are far too important to be accidental.  We don't grow accidentally.  We grow intentionally.  The New Year is a great time to reassess where you are and where you're going.  And because I won't ask you to do something I'm not willing to do myself, here are my answers...

My next step toward God this year is to find someone who will pour into me.  For several years now, this has been a missing component in my life.  I need someone in my life that has served in ministry longer and is further down the spiritual road.  This is the year to get that done.  And regarding my contribution to the Kingdom, I'm currently mentoring a gentleman, but I need to expand that to two or three guys and seek ways to be more intentional.  While I teach the masses on Sundays, I'm deeply convicted that I need a small group of guys that I pour into regularly.  So there it is, I need a Paul and I need a few more Timothy's.  I invite you to ask me how that's going. 

2).  This coming Sunday, January 8, is a day you can't miss.  For the last year we have been hard at work seeking God's direction for Center Pointe.  This Sunday, I'm excited to communicate the fruit of that labor.  I will be sharing with you four key areas where we believe God is leading us to focus our efforts strategically and intentionally for the next few years.  If you're out of town on Sunday, make sure to catch it online. 

I’m looking forward to an exciting year of ministry together!

Shawn