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Weekend Review and Life [Life]

Here are the highlights from this past weekend:

1. Had a great day at Foundations this past Sunday. This fall is going to be awesome and I can't wait to see all that happens.

2. Had a great time seeing some friends on Saturday! Always fun to catch up.

3. Went on a date with my wife on Friday. I love that we are able to get away and just focus on ourselves. I love my wife and am very blessed to have so an incredible woman as my wife.

4. We got a TV up in the lobby for people who have to leave service for some reason. Love that they can still be a part of service.

5. I am ready for Sept. 12th, remember Found People, Find People!

6. I have decided my favorite sound in the whole world is hearing my girls laugh, I mean the hard deep belly laugh. So pure and full of joy, I love it!

7. Looking forward to our new series coming up Dirty Little Secrets. It really is going to be a phenomenal series. September 12 is going to be an incredible day at Foundations Church.

So for all of you that may have been wondering about our friend Marianne, who is a mom of 3 little precious girls and a wife to my friend Guy, she passed away last night. She was an incredible woman, loving wife, and amazing mom, and hilarious friend. Sometimes there are things that occur in life, things that happen that many times simply don't add up, they don't make sense. So what do you do? Do you walk away, do you get mad, bitter, hateful, and stay this way the rest of your life? I have seen Marianne's husband Guy live out what to do, show me what a true man of God does. He has stepped up and responded like Job. Job said "though you slay me still I will trust you." You may not understand, it may not add up, you maybe stuck asking why, and that is fine, but keep trusting. I can't imagine all that this family is going through, but I am watching them choosing not to go through it alone! This serves as a reminder to me and to you, things may not add up, things may not make sense at times, but don't go through it alone. Choose to keep holding on to Christ, because He won't let go of you. I love you Guy and Marianne, and Guy you are in my prayers and in the prayers of many people that call Foundations Church their home.

I hope all you have a great week! Great things are happening and even better things are coming our way. Woo Hoo!, now go drop kick this week in the face!

Wisdom Continued [Life]

This past week I spoke on wisdom and then need we all have for it. Many people are knowledgeable, but few are wise. And this is why, because wisdom is the application of knowledge. Really I could have spent a few weeks talking on this topic and speaking about wisdom, because there seems to be such a huge need for it. But one of the things I said is that people that are wise will have a life that shows off their wisdom. In essence people who are wise don't just talk a lot and say a lot, and sound good, but their life is a reflection of their wisdom and their life is proof that they are wise. Their life is bearing fruit of their wisdom. Check out what James 3: 13- 18 says...

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

If you are going to allow others to speak into your life, if you are going to get advice from others, make sure they have a life that reflects verse 17, not a life that desires verse 17. Don't get me wrong it is great to desire it, but you have to be very selective on who you let influence your life period. And here's why, because there are a lot of people that have envy and selfish ambition like verse 14 says, and they are more concerned about themselves and have their best in their interest, even when they are giving you advice about you. Some people become concerned of how are you going to make them look, instead of how you are going to look and be. Wisdom always bears fruit and foolishness always carries carnage. Wisdom is free and is out there and Christ gives freely to those who ask, just be careful of who you do ask!

Weekend Review [Church]

It was a very relaxed weekend at The Graves house this past week. Here are the highlights from the weekend:

1. Awesome time of worship at Foundations on Sunday. We are so blessed to have such a gifted and talented team that has a heart for worship. Shannon you are doing a great job man!

2. Our new 2 & 3 year old class is going great. Thank you to all our volunteers who are serving in our Children's Department, you guys make it happen every week.

3. Had a blast preaching on The Wisdom Toe. It was a lot of fun, speaking on the need for wisdom, what it looks like, why you need it, and how you acquire it. If you missed it check it out on the podcast. Our series is The Essential James and it is the 3rd sermon in the series.

4. The One Project is getting ready to be here on Sept. 12. It was awesome to read how Dustin and Ashley Jones have been used to reach so many people, just because they invited 3 people. Those 3 have turned into being more than 30! That is freaking awesome man, and that is what The One Project is all about, get ready to bring it Foundations.

5. Watched the Cowboys Saturday night and they looked awful! I hope they play a lot better during the season than they did this past weekend.

6. Had a great friend come by the house on Saturday and hang out. Nicole Pierce is one of my oldest friends and she is an incredible person, it was great to catch up with her.

7. My wife made chocolate chip cookies on Saturday! If you have had Casey's cookies I don't need to say no more but..."Oh Momma!"

8. I love seeing lives changed, transformed, and encouraged at Foundations Church. It is going to be an incredible Fall.

9. Got to watch The Empire Strikes Back with my girls! Yeah that's right a guy's movie. For some reason they are loving them some Star Wars, and I am great with it. Oh the Blessed Life!

I hope you have a great week and hope to see you at Foundations Church on Sunday. Going to be continuing our series on The Essential James, and you won't want to miss it. Bring someone with you and have a great week!

The simple church [Church]

2 Timothy 4:2 - "So proclaim the Message with intensity, keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple."

This verse has challenged me as a pastor. This is the charge Paul gives Timothy, one of the last things he tells Timothy about pastoring. And it is my goal to live this verse out as the pastor of Foundations Church. So today I want to tell you why we will keep things simple at Foundations Church:

1. People love God, but hate church. We think people can love both and are striving to be a church people love.

2. God called us to be about people. Not about money (though you have to have it to run a church), not about politics. His mission has to be our mission, and that is to find lost people and let them know Jesus has a plan and purpose for them, and He is still in crazy love with them.

3. Church can be fun and life changing at the same time. I am tired of church being boring, if I wouldn't want to go to our church, why would others. So this is a goal, challenge, and the reason we do church the way we do.

4. We don't want to make Jesus complicated. He isn't complicated, the church has just made Christ that way.

5. We don't want to water down what Christ said. The whole bible is God-breathed and inspired. We are about the bible and not about a denominational belief.

6. We will make it as easy as we can to be a first time visitor to Foundations Church. We won't be a church where regular attenders get special treatment and visitors feel exactly like a visitor. That is called favoritism, and we aren't about playing favorites we are about loving people.

7. A deep church is a church that is serving and applying the word, not just seeing how much you can know and not use!

8. We will not be a church that is just for other Christians. We will be a church where people can find Jesus and change their lives for the first time or rediscover Him. But we will be a church where Christians can grow, serve, and flourish in their walk.

9. We will be a safe place where you can bring your friends, co-workers, neighbors, and family. Their will be no banner waving, people trying to knock one another over by slapping their fore-head so hard their is a hand print, no snake handling. Jesus just real and simple, and we will love people, and let him do the changing. It's Christ job to change people, and it is our job to simply love them.

I love our church, love where we are going. If you go to Foundations Church, get ready for this fall because it is going to be awesome! Sept. 12th is The 1 Project, get ready to bring your friends, family, everyone you know for a month and let's get them plugged in. Everyone bring one and you can always bring more. It's going to be incredible and I can't wait to see what is going to happen. Hope you have a great rest of your week, see you Sunday!

Weekend Review [Church]

Oh man what a fun but crazy busy weekend, here are the highlights:

1. Man Trip was awesome! Oh man it was so much fun. About 25 guys went to Beaver Lake this weekend and we went wakeboarding, jet skiing, tubing, surfing, and just having a great time hanging out.

2. Great Sunday at Foundations Church! We saw 13 people make Jesus Lord over their lives this Sunday, that's is just awesome!

3. Started our new 2 and 3 year old class this week. Thank you to all our volunteers that serve week in and week out. Thank you to Shanna, Carie, and Marci for starting us off and doing a great job with our 2's and 3's.

4. I loved getting to talk to some of the new guys that have been coming to our church recently. We have some incredible people coming to Foundations Church and I love being your pastor.

5. The Essential James went into week 2 and we are still in chapter 1! Just because you say you are doesn't mean you are. It was an intense message, but tension is good.

6. Had the privilege to go speak at the church I grew up in this past Sunday Night. My pastor growing up Jim McNabb asked if I would come speak at the Bridge in Mustang, OK. What a great church and pastor, they are doing awesome things and I was very privileged to speak there.

7. I loved preaching in shorts yesterday! It was very nice, and so glad you got to see my legs.

8. I got in bed at 11:45 last night and man I was tired, still feeling it a little today. A fun and busy weekend but I feel it now.

9. Thanks Michael Kepford for your help every week setting up and tearing down. You are a stud and we appreciate all the time and energy you invest in helping ensure our kids have an incredible experience.

10. This fall is going to be crazy amazing! The 1 project starts Sept. 12th, start getting ready now and be prepared for God to blow the roof off of Foundations Church. I love what we are doing and where we are going.

I hope all of you have an incredible week. Really go invite someone to come with you this Sunday, it's going to be awesome. See you Sunday!

The One Project [Church]

So if you have been coming to Foundations Church the last few weeks, you have heard of The 1Project. This starts on Sept. 12th and I am praying and believing that it is going to totally and completely change our church and we are going to see God blow the doors off of our church. I am praying over this everyday, fasting and believing it's going to be an incredible movement in our church, and that many peoples lives are going to be changed. Here are just some of the reasons I am excited about it:

1. I am already hearing stories from people who are already inviting, already investing in people for the 1 project.
2. God is going to absolutely change people's entire lives.
3. Because our church is about people!
4. Foundations is not about reaching other Christians, we are about reaching people who are lost. Foundations is for sinners!
5. I can't wait to see God use our people to reach others.
6. The movement and momentum we are going to see happen in not just our church, but in the kingdom of God.
7. Because to pull this thing off and to successful, it is going to take everyone.
8. It's going to be awesome to see families made whole again, marriages healed, and destinies realized.
9. Can't wait for people who have given up on God to realize that God hasn't given up on them.
10. Life Change- because this is what it is all about!
11. We get to put words and action to our walk! We get to stop talking about being the church and we get to simply be it.

I can't tell you how excited I am about The 1 project. I wake up in the middle of the night and start praying about this, when I wake up I'm thinking and praying about it, working, in the shower, whatever I am doing I'm thinking about it and praying over it and our people. Foundations Church I am calling you out, let's see God do something awesome in and through us. Everyone get involved, everyone take ownership, and let's see what happens!

Weekend Review [Church]

I had an all day staff day yesterday, and didn't have time to post soooooo here is the scoop on the weekend and all the happenings in Foundations Church and my family:

1. Saturday I had the girls (Charli and Chloe) all by myself and it was a blast! We went swimming, to a movie, made cookies, played a ton, and then played some more.

2. I am so crazy blessed to get to have a great family, and two beautiful and healthy girls. I love being a dad!

3. Sunday was an awesome day at Foundations Church. We saw 5 people give their hearts to the Lord, that is just awesome to see week after week.

4. I can't wait to see what happens through The 1 Project! Get ready church and get ready to invite, invite, and invite!

5. Shane Weber did an awesome job of filling in for Sammy Floyd our children's director while he was on vacation. Thanks Shane and all the Base Camp workers for doing such an awesome job.

6. I am believing that healing is going to happen in many people that raised their hands this past Sunday! God is BIGGER!

7. Flat tires are going to happen. In fact Matt Eigenheer had a flat tire on his way home from church!

8. Friday Night we watch Beauty and The Beast the old school Disney Movie in our bed. Casey, Charli, Chloe, and me we had an awesome movie night and our girls loved it.

A crazy busy week this week, but it is going to be oh so fun. Man Trip is happening this week at Beaver Lake starting friday morning at 6 AM! Wakeboarding, Tubing, Skiing, Surfing, and Golfing I can't wait for it. Make sure you are there this Sunday at Foundations Church you aren't going to want to miss it, and bring someone with you and have a great week!

Flat tires and hot days [Life]

So yesterday my wife Casey calls me and tells me that there is a problem with the Tahoe. So I go home because Chloe has a follow up doctor's appointment for her surgery. I come into the garage and quickly determine the problem, the problem is that there is a flat tire on the back left! So I start getting ready to change to tire with the help of Adam Crisp. As we were start the process of changing this tire, several thoughts hit me:

1. There is never a good time to have a flat tire.
2. It's really hot outside.
3. Changing tires gets you really dirty.
4. It's really, really hot outside.
5. I hate changing flat tires.
6. It's really, really, really hot outside.

And then this thought came to me, flat tires are going to happen why do we get upset when they do? Everything in life unfortunately doesn't always go as planned, and when it doesn't we get mad, we think life is unfair, and get all discouraged. Can I say this is part of life, and life doesn't always go as planned in many areas. As I realized this, I also realized a few things:

1. I had a friend their to help me change the flat
2. It was hot out but at least it was in the morning
3. At least it was in the shade of my garage and not on the highway in the sun
4. At least it was something that could be fixed

And here is the deal when I started focusing on the good, my attitude improved, my spirit improved, my talk improved, and I was fine with everything. You have to change your focus many times to improve your attitude and outlook. Today you maybe dealing with your own flat tire, you maybe dealing with something that didn't go as planned. But if you can change your focus and you can see the good still around you, chances our your attitude, spirit, and talk will improve as well. And the truth is you probably have the same things to be thankful for that I did. You have friends to help, it could always be worse, and usually no matter what you are dealing with it can be fixed. A broken heart may take time but it can be fixed, finances may be stressed but they can be fixed, almost everything can be fixed! I truly hope you have a great week, and make sure you invite someone to come with you this Sunday. We are kicking off our new series The Essential James.

Weekend Review [Church]

What a fun and awesome weekend we had this week at Foundations Church and at home, here are the highlights:

1. If you missed this past weeks sermon it is a must listen to. Go watch it in the archive video or download the podcast! You can't miss this sermon.

2. Can't wait for our church to have it's OH MY MOMENT!

3. Believe, Belong, Become!

4. Had a great time Friday Night, ordered pizza for the family from Primetime Pizza in Jenks. Their supreme is unbeatable! And then took the girls out so they could ride their bikes around the neighborhood to the splash park. They loved running through the splash park with all their clothes on instead of a bathing suit.

5. Saturday we just hung around the house and had a very relaxing day, I like those days.

6. I love that our church gets as excited about the vision God has for our church. It is going to be an awesome fall at Foundations Church.

7. The 1 Project is going to take everyone! Can't wait to see what happens and how many lives are changed through this. Had a ton of people talk to me about this yesterday and telling me how excited they are! We can do this- Caleb!

8. I'm so glad to be leading a church that is not just content with having a vision but is all about chasing down the vision and seeing it fulfilled!

9. We aren't going to be just another dot! That map was crazy.

10. Casey made cookies for the first time in like a month, and OH Momma were they good!

Going to be a great week this week, we start our new series The Essential James and it's going to be awesome! Can't wait to see you there and hope you have a great Monday and great week!

I can't wait! [Church]

Ok so there are those days, those seasons, and those moments that all of us have that we can hardly wait for something to come, for something to happen. For me, that starts this Sunday at Foundations! I can't wait for this Sunday to come. I am going to be talking about stuff that is getting ready to happen at Foundations Church......things we are going to be doing and I'm telling you it is going to be awesome. After this sermon on Sunday, Foundations Church is starting on a path, a journey, that is going to literally change the whole church. The beauty of it all, the crazy cool thing, is that the people of the church are going to be the ones bringing all the change. I'm telling you make sure you are at church Sunday. Don't go to the lake this weekend, don't go out of town, but be here for this one. If you're gone, then watch live on the web. Oh baby, I am so excited. I need to stop or I am going to say too much.

Also one thing we need your help with. We are starting a new series in September called "Dirty Little Secret" we have set up a tab on our home page where you can submit whatever secret you have. Here is the deal it is all anonymous, share what you are struggling with, what your addiction is, what you are doing, what feelings are deep down. We are going to be taking some of the secrets some of you submit and talking about what God has to say about them. It is going to be a killer of a series but we need your help, so start submitting and tell your friends about it too. I am excited guys, I can't wait for Sunday, can't wait to see you, and can't wait to see what God does. Have a great rest of the week.

Weekend Review [Church]

Had a great weekend with my family and at Foundations Church, here are the highlights:

1. Finished our series Punctuation this Sunday. It was a great series, if you missed a week make sure you go online and watch or download the podcast.

2. I had a date with my wife on Friday night, and we had a great time. I love my wife and married way out of my league, she is way better looking than me and just an incredible woman. Love you babe.

3. We had two baby dedications on Sunday! I love dedicating children to the Lord, what an important and awesome step these two set of parents took on Sunday. Congrads Sam and Lindsey and Adam and Nadia.

4. We had a great attendance on Sunday. God is doing some great things at Foundations Church.

5. It's very cool to hear that a lot of our church is still reading The Blessed Life! Very excited for many of our Foundations Church folks who are tithing for the first time ever. The incredible thing is people are already seeing the blessings of God on their life! Awesome

6. Charil and I went swimming on Saturday and had a blast. We laughed and laughed until my stomach hurt. And then Chloe and I had an awesome time playing on Sunday, and once again we laughed until it hurt. I love my kids and am really working on enjoying every moment and the journey.

7. If your teenager is not going to Hybrid on Wed. nights you need to get them there! They need to be around other teens who love God and trying to live passionately for Him.

8. Let go and keep moving, so God can keep using! I loved this point. I also really liked the truth of, if Joseph wouldn't have gone through all he did, he wouldn't have gotten to where he did!

9. I am going to be speaking about vision this week. What all is coming this fall for Foundations, and where we are going as a church. It is going to be awesome and we are going to see some amazing things happen.

I hope you have a great week this week. Bring someone with you this week, start inviting now, it is going to be an awesome week!

Drink it in! [Life]

This past week, I had the privelage to go to Destin, Florida and help run our 9th year of Camp Destin. Now I understand I am in Destin; however, it is a lot of work. Many people ask me why do you still do it, why are you still involved in youth camp? First off, I love it and truly want to help the next generation anyway I can as a pastor and as a church. The second is I know I won't be involved with it forever and am working to hand it off little by little. But while it is a lot of work there is one aspect I love about camp. No, it isn't the beach, although that is pretty rocking despite BP's efforts! Here is the part I love about camp, I get to go to service for 4 nights and worship and just take God in. I don't have to worry about preaching the message, don't have to worry about making sure all the departments are running like they should, not stressing about trying to meet all the new people. At camp I get to get in a corner in the back of the building and get my worship on; and for these 4 days I get to just take it all in, drink all of God in I can.

This is something that everyone of us have been invited to do a long time ago. That you are blessed if you are hungry and thirsty for righteousness for you shall be filled! The only reason many of us aren't full, is that we aren't drinking it in. Jesus gave the invitation to a woman at the well in John 4:10- 14, (verse 13,14..."everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.") Let me challenge and encourage you turn you phone off, close your computer, get off facebook for a moment, and take time to drink it in! Stop saying you are too busy and turn some worship music on ( I highly recommend Hillsong Live album Faith+Hope+Love), read your bible, pray, listen, and drink it in and stop being thirsty! (Exclamation mark)

Weekend Review [Church]

It's been a while since I have been able to post. So I will be posting more regularly now, and will try and catch you up on events since I have been away.

1. We had a great Sunday service this week. I love our church, I love being the pastor of our church, and am loving where we are headed.

2. Our worship team did a great job. I love the song No Reason To Hide, and the line that says there's a city that waits for us. I am ready to be the church this city needs and to be the church and not just talk about church!

3. We have one more week of our series Punctuation. This week we are talking about the comma, going to be awesome.

4. It was great seeing my family after being away for a week. I missed them a ton.

5. We have some great and exciting changes happening in our children's department. Getting ready to do a class that joins our 2 and 3's together. A great change for our church and children.

6. Parents if your teenager isn't involved in our youth program, get them there. Our youth department is doing some great things and your teenager needs to be involved in them.

7. My littlest girl, Chloe, had her tonsils and adenoids taken out today! Very sad for her, but she is doing great. She is already home and eating popsicles, drinking, and watching Star Wars! Yes, Star Wars was her choice. I am blessed!

8. Remember to be at our church at 10:30 and be a part of service from the beginning. Our worship team is doing an amazing job at leading us in worship and you need it for your spiritual growth. Remember we aren't going to be dessert eaters. Church and worship isn't optional.

I hope all of you have a great week. I am praying you are used this week to help change someone's life. Invite them to church, bring them with you Sunday, and let's see God continue to change lives. We saw 8 people raise their hands for salvation this week, and that's what it is all about. Have a great week!

Punctuation [Church]

Usually on the first blog after a Sunday I will give a review of the weekend. All that has happened at the church, in my life, my families' life, etc. However today I want to simply revisit our new series we started on Sunday, Punctuation. This past week we talked about living your life without the nots and living it with an exclamation mark! And there were few points I just want to revisit:

1. If you won't risk failure, you'll never experience success. I don't know if you remember the movie Back to the Future, but the church (the people) have gotten The George McFly syndrome. We don't know if we can handle failing. We don't know if we can risk disappointment, and many of us just won't have the guts to man up to our fears. There are so many great things out there for many of us, but we won't see them happen because we aren't willing to step out into the unknown and get past our fears. Understand, you may not have the whole plan figured out, you may not know all the steps to get to the end destination, but all of the God size dreams and plans, first require obedience, even if you are scared. David had to volunteer to go against Goliath. Moses had to be willing to go to Egypt. You have to be willing and obedient if you are going to see the Goliath's in your life come down. Stop playing prevent defense with your life, and stop playing not to lose and start playing to win.

2. Stop waiting for it to make sense to others. Man oh man, God's plan for David to take down Goliath didn't make sense to anyone but David. It didn't seem possible or make sense to Saul or his brothers, and it didn't even make sense to Goliath. But it made sense to David because he was the one that was willing to attempt the impossible. Don't wait for the calling, the plan, and the life God has called you to, to make sense to everyone else around you! Otherwise you will be waiting the rest of your life, and all you will do is try to get the approval of others, instead of getting the approval of Christ! It's not going to make sense, you don't need others approval, just go do what God has called you to do! You are always going to have people telling you that you can't. Ignore them. The critic doesn't count, and be too busy for stupid people! (check out the podcast from sunday) Stupid people spew limitations into your life, and limit God's potential on your life. Be too busy to listen, and do the David and ignore them! I gotta stop, but go live your life with an exclamation point and stop waiting for everything to make sense to others!

I hope all of you have a great week, don't miss this Sunday, it's going to be incredible! Bring someone with you to church this week, invite, invite, invite!

Chasing the dream [Life]

I read a great quote from Pastor Perry Noble. It is a follows "Lot's of leaders want to dream big, few people want to pay the price and do whatever it takes to make that dream become realty." This is such a true statement. Everyone I meet has a dream, everyone wants their life to be __________ (fill in the blank), the want to be doing __________ with their life. And here is true reality is that all of us have the same chance to achieve our dreams. But what separates some from the others? Two things, hard work and discipline. The reality is there are a lot of lazy people out there, and there are a lot of lazy pastors too! It's true. I am in no way saying that I have achieved my dreams, that our church is where I always have dreamed, if that were the case I have some small dreams. But I am on the path, on track, and am chasing it down. But saying all this, dreams don't just come true because you want them to, it takes yes the favor of God, but also you getting off your rear and doing your part.

There are some people that are driven to work in stages. They get motivated for a moment, for a week, a month, and then they lose the discipline to work hard. Man it takes you working your rear off, every month, every week, and every day. The bible tells us to "work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than people" Ephesians 6:7. IF you want to get somewhere in your company show up every day, and every day show up to work. I want the dreams I have in my heart, soul, and mind to come about, but I realize it takes me being disciplined and working hard. I work hard like it depends on me, but pray harder because it depends on God. I am chasing down the dream.

I hope all of you have a great week, be there this Sunday our new series is going to be amazing. Punctuation start this Sunday, bring someone with you.

Weekend Review [Church]

We had an awesome weekend both at the church and with friends, here are the highlights:

1. Had a great, great Sunday at Foundations. Had many people raise their hands for salvation, an incredible time of worship, and just a great time being in church.

2. If you missed Sunday Night our One Night Worship, it was awesome. What an intimate time of taking communion as a church and just spending time worshiping.

3. Went to lake Skiatook with some good friends on Saturday. It was crazy crowded but it was a really fun time.

4. Hit the gym 5 times this past week. Trying to stay on it and hit it hard!

5. I love being the pastor of Foundations Church. I love our people and love seeing the lives that are being changed every week.

6. Looking forward to the series we are starting this coming Sunday. Punctuation is going to be an awesome series, so don’t miss it.

7. I was tired Sunday Night, it was a great day, but I was worn out.

8. I absolutely loved the new song the worship team did Sunday…We The Redeemed. Awesome!

9. Friday night went to birthday party at Bounce U! I was walking around with my socks on and ran right into a bench and my middle toe is black and blue, oh momma did it hurt.

Hope all of you have a great week, don’t survive the week thrive in it and make a difference in somebody’s life! I will see you Sunday.

Lessons from Haiti [Life]

Our mission trip to Haiti was an amazing and intense trip for all of us that went. If you have never gone on a missions trip you have got to go. It does and will do so much for your spiritual walk with God, and it is just an incredible experience. There are a lot of lessons I learned while spending some time there:

1. I am very blessed. So many times we forget just how much God has blessed us. We look at all we don't have instead of all we do. This week stop focusing on all you don't have and be thank-full for what you do have. Your perspective determines your thankfullness. (yes I know that thankfullness is spelled wrong)

2. Everyone can do something. You don't have to be talented, have abilities, have a great amount of education to do something that will impact and help others. It's not a matter of ability is a matter of want to, and most the time we aren't doing something because truthfully we don't want to! You can do something that will help reach, minister, and love on others.

3. Christ is all I need. Oh man hearing a congregation of 50 Haitians sing "All I need is you Lord, is you Lord. All I need is you." This was one of the most impacting moments of the trip for me. They all lived in a tent city, most of them hadn't eaten anything that day, and yet they came together lifted their voices, and more than that, their hearts towards heaven in worship. Really take the house, cars, food, and everything else away and all you really Need is Christ.

4. You can't buy happiness. The shocking thing to me was how happy all the kids and people were in Haiti. We went to several orphanages, and played with the kids and they were so happy. They had no one, many of them rescued from horrible and unimaginable situations, and yet they were so happy and thankful. What I learned stuff and things won't bring you happiness, but one thing is guaranteed to give you joy and happiness and that is doing what God has called you to do.

5. Some things are just unfair. I don't have any explanation for what I saw in Haiti, stories that were told to me, children I held that have nobody to hold them, situations with no hope. It is unfair. I sound a little confused, but this is the reality of holding children and loving on children who had nothing before I and our team came and will have nothing after we leave. Yet there are a lot of things, situations that we go through, and circumstances in life that are simply unfair. But just because something is unfair to us, just because we don't understand something, just because our situation has changed I understand God's character has not changed. Chronicles 16:34 is still true "Give thanks to the Lord, for (because) He is good, and His love endures forever."

Man Haiti has messed me up, in a very good way. I have been wrecked, in that I won't be the same, can't be the same. This is my second time to go, and it is just life-changing for me. I hope you have a great week! Bring someone with you to church, invite someone to come with you, because it is all about people's lives being changed.

Weekend Review [Church]

It has been crazy busy here lately, so here is the weekend review and there will be more post soon...

1. Awesome Sunday! Simply a great day at Foundations Church, if you weren't there go watch the video or download the podcast you will be glad you did.

2. Had a great time reading the Guy's Rules. Once again download the podcast!

3. I had a great Father's Day. Casey made a homemade coconut pie and it was Uh-mazing...oh momma was it good! I watched the movie UP with my girls and then went swimming with them. It was a lot of fun.

4. There are a ton of babies being born at our church right now! Excited for all these new parents, very cool!

5. Our worship team did an incredible job on Sunday! I loved the last song "All I need is you Lord" great song and incredible time of worship. Very thankful for our worship team

6. You are either Thank-full or Thank-less; thank-full is constant, thank-less is temporary.

7. God's character doesn't change just because your situation does!

8. I hate black jelly beans, disgusting!

9. Thanks to all our volunteers in our Children's Ministry. You guys are amazing and we couldn't do it without you all. All of them do an incredible job loving on our kids, investing in our kids, and simply doing a great job with them.

I hope you have a great week. I love seeing all the new people coming to Foundations, it's awesome to see us grow in the middle of the summer. Keep going, keep inviting your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors, because God is changing lives. Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

Weekend Review [Church]

So much to say about this past weekend, here it is in a snapshot:

1. Got in from Haiti on Saturday Night at 8:45. I was so glad to be home but had an amazing trip, I will blog more about Haiti later this week.

2. Sunday we had an awesome service, had people raise their hand once again for life change. I love seeing people decide that they are going to surrender to Jesus Christ.

3. Played with my girls all day Sunday. I know this sounds pretty boring and unimportant but I missed them so much, and was glad to be able to play with them.

4. I was dead tired after service. Usually I am a little tired but I was completely spent after spending a week on a missions trip, going to bed late on Saturday night, and preaching on Sunday. I was tired.

5. We had our water baptism service, The Plunge this past Sunday and it was awesome! I love hearing and seeing people go public for Jesus, way to go!

6. I am just excited about where our church is going. Had a new family come up and just share some comments with me, that simply encouraged me and reenergized me. God is doing and is going to do awesome, incredible, and shocking things in and through Foundations Church!

7. Went swimming with my girls on Sunday it was fun. I was glad to be in a pool and not sweating!

8. What is up with the Big 12? Looks like my Sooners are going to go own the PAC 10!

9. Everyone can do something! Remember it and stop doing nothing and do something.

I have an extremely busy week this week, but it is going to be good. I hope all of you have a great week and can't wait to see you all Sunday. I will post about Haiti next, it was an incredible experience, can't wait to share with you.

Awakened [Life]

So this morning I was awakened at 2:15. Now if you have been reading this blog for very long you know that this is nothing new. About once a week I wake up early in the morning and I can't fall back asleep, so I make the decision to get out of bed. I figure it is better to get out of bed and do something, rather than just lay there aggravated and disappointed with the fact that I can't fall back asleep! I could just stay in bed, could toss and turn and make Casey miserable, could get mad at my situation and circumstance; or I could get up and do something productive.

When these mornings happen, and yes it helps me to call them mornings and not evenings, I tell Casey I have been awakened for a reason. Whether it is to pray and read, work on my sermon, work on events, or church things, I have been awakened so I might as well do something productive rather than sit there and whine about losing sleep. And this is what hit me this morning, there are some of us things have happened in our life and we like to lay in our bed and just whine and feel sorry for ourself and bad and think that nobody else has problems like we do. We are in need of an awakening. There are some of us we get in a funk, and we need to be awakened and stirred. Some of us we are in a place that things have happened and we feel sorry for ourselves, bad for ourselves, upset that this happened, upset that we went through failure, upset we were disappointed, and we want to stay in our "bed" and make everyone else miserable around us. But what we need is to stop feeling bad for ourself, and be awakened to the fact that God hasn't left you or forsaken you and that Jeremiah 29:11 is more true today than ever. So I hope that you get out of bed, stop being aggravated with where you are in life, disappointed with life and let yourself be awakened and realize God has you where you are for a reason, and has awakened you for a reason.

Weekend Review [Church]

1. Had a great time hanging with my family this weekend. We went swimming this weekend at the pool, grilled burgers and hotdogs, ate cookies, and just had a great time.

2. Got to play golf on Saturday with some great friends. It was great to get out and play, it has been a while!

3. Jonathan Samuels, our youth director, preached on Sunday at Foundations Church and did a great job! Our world needs you to be a hero, go be one!

4. Had some great friends up for the weekend, The Venables, great hanging out with them! We had a lot of fun.

5. Met a new couple who came to our church all the way from Okmulgee! We have quite a few people who are driving from Claremore, Okmulgee, and Muskogee, to be a part of Foundations Church. Very blessed to be a part of what God is doing in this church.

6. Volunteer of the Week: Harlan Fisher. Harlan is there every week greeting, bringing donuts, kissing little babies, and just making people feel welcome. Thank you Harlan for making Foundations Church, such a friendly and warm place.

7. I am ready to speak this week. I enjoy having a break from speaking, but I am ready to go! We are starting our new series Either/Or, you won't want to miss any of this series!

8. Jonathan brought a great challenge to us this week. Go out and make a difference in someone's life, and bring them with you on Sunday!

9. Our video for Sunday is hilarious! Don't be late this week.

I truly hope all of you have a great week this week. Praying for all of you, and praying that you have awkward moments and that you step up and become a 10!

The Blessed Life [Church]

This past week at Foundations Church we handed out a book called "The Blessed Life". Everyone that came got a copy. If you weren't able to be there but still want your, copy we still have some for you this week. I have to admit, when I first got a copy of this book from some dear friends I was a little skeptical about reading it; but this book has absolutely changed my life. I hope all of you that got a copy read it, and re-read it. I am reading through it for the third time! The crazy thing is, God is still showing me things that are so applicable to my life.

I said this on Sunday and I really mean it. I believe God has called Christians to be the most generous people on the earth, not the stingiest. But the truth is that most Christians that go to church all across the nation are not generous at all! It is said that only 1.7% of all Christians tithe and give offering! That is crazy to me. What this says is that we trust God with our salvation, but not our money. Let me encourage all of you by saying that being generous is something you learn and something that God teaches you. Let me share one of my favorite quotes out of the book we are reading as a church. It is on page 84...

"God is looking for people He can entrust with much. He also knows that a person who is unjust with a little will be unjust with more as well. Christians who will cheat with a little won't suddenly become faithful if they are given a lot."

I want to be a person that God can entrust with much! I think all of us want to be this type of person; but if you are going to become this person, you better become faithful with what you have. Remember, God doesn't ask you for what you don't have. But He does expect you to be faithful with what you do have. I am so, so excited that Foundations Church is on it's way to being filled with generous people and becoming a generous church. It is one of our core beliefs and something we are going to be as a church.

Please read this book, it will absolutely change your life and your finances.
Proverbs 11:25- "The generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will be refreshed himself."

Hope you have a great week, and we will see you Sunday!

Weekend Review [Church]

Had a great weekend at the church and with my family, here are the highlights:

1. Finished our series on All About the Benjamins, had a great time talking about money!

2. We gave a copy of The Blessed Life to everyone at Foundations Church! I can't wait for our church to read this book. If you got a copy read it, it will challenge and change you! If you weren't there we still have copies so make sure you get yours this week.

3. I had an amazing Saturday at my house with my family. We didn't do anything but just hang out. Our girls did go play in the sprinklers and enjoyed the sunshine!

4. Had a great time Friday Night going out with my wife! We went out for her birthday, went shopping, and then met some friends for dinner. We had a great night out.

5. Went swimming Sunday at the Nussbaums' house. Had a blast, it was waaaayyy cold, but it was a ton of fun for our girls.

6. I took the girls to the zoo on Friday, just dad and the girls. We had a picnic, rode the carousel, and even the train! It went by so fast and we had a great time. I love taking my girls to the zoo, and just getting to be their dad.

7. I love and appreciate all our volunteers that help out every week at Foundations Church! We couldn't do it without all of you.

8. I am excited that Foundations Church is focused and intentional about being a generous church!

9. We have an awesome summer planned at Foundations Church! You won't want to miss one week. We are starting a series called Either/Or in 2 weeks, and I can't wait.

Hope all of you have a great week, and bring someone with you this week. I know it's Memorial Day Weekend, but bring someone with you this week.

Storms [Life]

So in case you don't live in Oklahoma, there has been a ton of storms lately. In fact as I type there is one blaring outside right now. I have to tell you I like a good storm every now and then. I like it when it rains every once in a while, it makes me want to watch movies, drink coffee at a coffee house, or go outside and watch the lightning with Casey and the girls. But there comes a time when you get tired of it raining and storming all the time. I am there right now, enough with the rain.

Yet I started thinking there are many of us that it seems our life is just like the weather in Oklahoma right now. It seems to always rain, always storm, and it never seems to let up. You are tired of all the trials, aggravation, disappointment, stress, and heart break. There are some of you that read this, that we haven't talked in years, months, maybe ever. I don't know your circumstance, nor do I know all the carnage that the storm has left behind. So I won't begin to say I know what everyone is going through; in fact, I won't even talk about the things I don't know. But here is what I do know, is that you serve a Savior Jesus Christ who can make your storm stop and vanish. He did it in the middle of the Sea of Galilee and He can do it in the middle of your life. Wherever your storm is occurring, whatever is happening all you have to do is stop looking at the storm and focus on the one who can stop your storm. Nothing is too big for Him, nothing can stop Him, and your storm can be done, with only one word from Him. So seek Christ today, stop trying to fix it yourself, and let the One who can make the whole storm cease take control.

Weekend Review [Church]

It was a super busy weekend, but a great one! Here are the highlights:

1. We had a great Friend's Day. Thank you to all of you that invited and brought your friends to Foundations Church. We had a great service and a great response Sunday. Let's keep going and keep inviting.

2. We started our new series All About the Benjamin's this Sunday. I have really learned to love talking about money and personal finances. One of the reasons I like it so much is because it is so applicable to everyone. We had a lot of fun this Sunday and this next week is going to change your whole financial life, really don't miss it.

3. Sunday afternoon Casey and I played with the girls all day. I have a new favorite game called Pirate... it is awesome! And I am not going to tell you because you aren't a Pirate!

4. Charli (my 5 year old) had her ballet recital this past Saturday night. She did awesome, and I loved, loved, loved watching her get up and perform. I will try to put a picture up of her sometime this week.

5. I am ready for college football to come back soon!

6. I went to Jonathan Samuels graduation party! So proud of our youth director the job he his doing, and finishing up wiht college. Way to go Johnny!

7. We had a ton of new people this week! I can't wait to follow up with them. I love that we have a church that is all about bringing and inviting people to experience Christ.

This week I am praying and fasting for our service. This message this week is so huge for me, you, and our church. It is literally going to change people's lives, so pray with me. It's going to be an awesome week.
Go be a 10 and have some awkward moments!

Why Friend's Day? [Church]

This week we are having Friend's Day at Foundations Church! This is going to be an awesome week and I can't wait to see all our people get involved and bring and invite their friends. We will be providing lunch after service, have inflatables for the kids, and just an awesome time to hang out with your friends. I really think this can be a huge day and we can see a lot of people experience life change if all of us will do our part and invite and bring our friends. Even those of you that watch the live streaming video, invite some of your friends to come over and watch with you or watch from their house.

However, someone asked me why are we doing a Friend's Day? And here is my response; this is our chance to become an Andrew! Go right now and read John 1: 35-42. Okay, so maybe you didn't know it but Andrew met Jesus before his brother and friend Simon Peter did. Peter was the disciple that Jesus said the church would be built upon, Peter was an all star of a disciple. But, Andrew is the one responsible for Peter meeting Jesus. Verse 42 says, "And he (Andrew) brought him (Peter) to Jesus." Oh man that is it! This is the whole point of Friend's Day, to position you to be an Andrew in someone's life, and to bring someone to Jesus. You never know all that Christ is going to do in your friend's life, and who they are going to become in Christ. This is why we are here, this is our mission as a church, and should be as Christians, to bring others to Christ! So go be an Andrew this week! Go be a 10! Go reach someone and bring them to Jesus this week! I can't wait, it's going to be an awesome week.

Weekend Review [Church]

What a great but busy weekend her are some of the highlights:

1. Casey, my wife, did an amazing job speaking on Sunday! She did a great job just being herself and it was a fun to get to hear from her. Love my wife and am very thankful for her.

2. My youngest daughter Chloe, turned 3 this Sunday! We had her party on Saturday, and she had a great time and got way too many presents. I am glad she has so many great friends.

3. Chloe also had her ballet recital on Saturday afternoon! Very, very cute and she did fantastic at ballet. In fact she was the best in the place by a long shot! (that was in no way bias or favoritism speaking!)

4. Did I say Casey did a great job speaking, because she did awesome!

5. Casey's parents were with us for the weekend. Glad they came up and stayed with us, and that the girl's got to play with them alot.

6. We had a great turnout on Sunday for Mother's Day! So glad to see everyone and glad the weather was nice!

7. Carrie Carter is the volunteer of week! Carrie serves in our children's department and has been serving like crazy back there. Thank you Carrie for your heart and energy, and for teaching our 18 preschoolers yesterday for the first time too!

8. We took Casey out to PF Changs for dinner on Sunday Night. We had a great time eating and just being a family together.

9. It was weird for me to be at church but not preach. I am ready to go thisnext week, it's going to be good!

I have a full week scheduled this week, but it is doing things that I love. Don't forget about Friend's Day this Sunday. Invite, invite, invite, somebody's life could be changed because you invited them and brought them to church. Hope you have a great week, I am!

Mother's Day [Church]

Just wanted to give you some things that I am crazy over the top excited about, that are getting ready to happen at Foundations Church:

1. Mother's Day- it is going to be an awesome day! My wife Casey will be speaking, we will be giving some of her favorite things away, and it is just going to be an incredible day. Don't miss this, drag your momma to Foundations Church, my wife is going to do good...just saying!

2. Friend's Day- this is happening May 16th! We will have food after service, inflatables, all we need is for you to be a friend and bring a friend. Really make sure you bring one of your many friends to this event. Start now and invite, invite, invite!

3. All about the Benjamin's - We are starting this series on the 16th as well. It's going to be an awesome series. I know God is wanting to bless people and their finances, come learn how to make your Benjamin's serve your life, instead of you serving them! I am praying and fasting about this series already and know it is going to be a huge help to a lot of people. It is already helping me as I prepare for it.

4. Church Offices- We are getting a church office at City Plex Towers! Woo Hoo! I can't wait for our staff and team to have an office to work out of. Say goodbye to Starbucks, Panera, and McAllisters being our offices all week, because we have a new home!

5. Foundations Church- I love what is happening in the lives and hearts of our people. It is incredible to see and watch, God is starting a movement and I love that we are involved and a part of it.

6. Haiti Mission Trip- Very excited for all of those going on our trip to Haiti. This is going to be a great and amazing trip. I can't wait to hear all the stories and testimonies of all that God is going to do in them and through them.

7. Camp Destin- I love, love, love camp. Now it doesn't hurt that camp is in Destin, Florida either! But I love seeing what God does in the hearts of young people at camp. Parents make sure you get your kids to Camp Destin this summer.

Life in general! I am so thankful for what God is doing in my life, I really am. I am so blessed to have an amazing wife and kids, blessed to love what I do and be a part of a great congregation, and blessed that I love the team that is around me. I can't wait to see all that is going to happen in the month of May at Foundations Church, be praying and believing with me this month that God grows us, uses us, and stretches us! Have a great rest of the week.

Weekend Review [Church]

A day late getting this out, but I will include some of Monday's highlights as well:

1. Our worship team did a great job with Shannon being out. Thank you guys for leading us in worship, awesome job!

2. We ended our series Dr. Love, and I have already heard some great stories of how this is already helping a lot of the marriages at Foundations Church. I love that marriages are being built to last.

3. Casey and I went on a date this past Friday Night and went to a new place called Bonefish Grill. Their bang bang shrimp is uhmazing!

4. I love how friendly our church is! People constantly tell me how welcome they feel from the moment they get out of their car.

5. Had a church planter come to our service this past week to check out what we are doing. I pray that his church explodes and does great things.

6. Had a game night with Shannon and Cassandra Harris on Saturday Night! Played a game called Murder, both the guys and girls won 2 games a piece. But the first one was just practice, so girls looks like me and Shannon did beat you...once again!

7. Very excited about my wife Casey speaking this week on Mother's Day! Make sure you bring your mom and friends to service this weekend. We will have quite a few giveaways and it's going to be a great service.

8. This past week was really busy for me, but it was a great week. Even more excited about this week.

9. Last night we had over 25 guys at our basketball community group! Awesome turn out and even better time playing, or in my case trying to play, basketball.

I really am excited, pumped, psyched, and just humbled by what God is doing in our church. May 16th is Friend's Day, and I am praying and fasting that we have an amazing day at Foundations Church! Praying we have one of our biggest days, but also that we see a ton of lost people come back home. God is doing great things at Foundations Church , and using this church to reach people. So make sure you don't miss this Sunday and bring someone with you! Have a great week.

Opposition or Opportunity [Life]

All of us are going to face times where we have difficult situations. There are going to be difficult times in our marriages, with our kids, our finances, relationships, work, school, let downs in general. And these can be times where we feel like everything is coming against us, that God has abandoned us, and we end up sitting at home or work asking why. All we can see is opposition, because we are consumed with the problem.

I was reading the classic story of David and Goliath, and as I was reading something hit me. Goliath was out in front of all of Israel's army for days talking junk about God, and all of these trained soldiers on Israel side just stood there fearful, shaking in their boots, and all they could see was opposition. Then a teenager named David comes along sees Goliath, listens to him, and then instead of seeing opposition, he sees an opportunity. David sees Goliath the opposition but sees even more an opportunity for God to do a miracle. David sees an opportunity for God to move and do the impossible and take down a giant! And it says that David got his stones and sling shot and took off running at Goliath! Instead of putting his tail between his legs like everyone else and thinking why has God got him into this position, David takes off running at the problem knowing this is an opportunity for God.

Are you running from your problems or running at them? Here is what I know is that if we don't have any problems there will never be any miracles! If there was never a blind man, a deaf man, demon possessed child, and woman with an issue of blood, and storm on a sea there never would have been an opportunity for Jesus to do any miracles. I have found that God has done the greatest and most incredible things in my life when I was facing my biggest times of opposition. So today run at your problem, run at the giant, even if you feel like all you have is some rocks and a sling shot, that is all God needs! Give God the opportunity to do something huge in, through, and for you. I've said it before if God calls you to it, He will bring you through it!

Don't miss this Sunday! I say it every week, but I am just stinking pumped and excited about this week, so be there and bring your peeps with you. Have a week full of awkward moments and be a 10!

Weekend Review [Church]

(Guest Blogger: Shannon Dalrymple, Executive Director)

We had another great weekend at Foundations. God is moving in such awesome ways. 5 people made decisions to follow Christ which makes our total, since January, of over 130 people. That's exciting news and what it's all about here at FC. Pastor Justin continued our series, Dr. Love, with an awesome sermon "Mad Tongue Disease". If you weren't able to make it to service, check out the podcast or online video. What an awesomely gross yet relevant illustration (you'll have to check it out).

Thanks to everyone who serve every week as volunteers. From our set-up and tear-down team, children's workers, band, av team, etc; we couldn't do it without you. If you would like to help out in any of these areas, please contact info@fctulsa.tv. We would love to get you involved in some capacity and truly make this church your church.

Join us next week as we finish our "Dr. Love" series, and remember to invite your friends to join you. It's gonna be awesome!

Hold you down [Life]

If there is something that amazes me right now it is technology and social media. I am amazed that from texting, blogging, facebook, twitter, and all the other things that you can get a hold of and see how someone is doing. I just got done looking at facebook and read what a few of my friends put on their page and to summarize it is goes something like this..."I hope I can make it through this day" or "Hurry up Friday, just trying to survive!" What? Oh man I don't want to live my existence out like this, and I know we weren't created to do so either.

Call me crazy but I don't think Christ suffered the cross, a bloody, gruesome, and brutal death for us to live in misery. Maybe we would live our lives out like this, maybe we should have this kind of attitude if this is where the story ended. But the crazy cool thing is this Death in all it's finality and power couldn't touch Jesus! I have come to love this phrase, "Death couldn't hold you down!" Jesus was bigger, tougher, mighter, and just badder than death! Death couldn't touch him! Crazy to think about and I hope it sinks in today. And the truth is the bible says that all of us are Overcomers in Christ! I ask you what is trying to hold you down today? Maybe finances, a strained relationship, divorce, addiction, a kid out of control, stress about your job, school. Whatever it is, if you are a follower of Christ, it can't hold you down! You are bigger, and were created for more than simply to survive. You were created and put here to thrive! So don't survive the day, don't try to make it through, decide you aren't going to let anything hold you down, and go be victorious today! I am here to make a difference and it is the difference I choose to be today.

Can't wait till Sunday, it's going to be phenomenal, don't miss it and bring or drag someone with you!

Weekend Review [Church]

We had an awesome weekend at Foundations Church. Here are the highlights:

1. We had 12 people ask Jesus Christ to be their Savior, that is what it is all about!

2. Shannon and the worship team did an amazing job yesterday. There was such a great presence of worship, and I am very thankful for our worship team.

3. We started week 2 of Dr. Love called The Waiting Room:
a.) Go beyond the otter
b.) No Standards = No Boundaries
I know this helped a bunch of our singles and our couples that are dating.

4. Had a great attendance despite the rain. But I do hate when it rains on Sundays!

5. Had a great time with my girls on Friday. I took Charli and Chloe to the zoo by myself and then frozen yogurt! We had a great time and Casey had a great time having some down time.

6. Casey and I got away on Friday night for a date. I love my wife, and am so lucky to have her. I love getting to go out with her and just stay connected as a couple.

7. My mom stayed with us on Saturday Night and came to church on Sunday. Always great to have my mom, and for my girls to get to see their Nanna.

8. Went to dinner with some of our college students Sunday Night. I love seeing the energy they have and getting their perspective of the church.

It is going to be an awesome week. We have Men's Basketball tonight in Broken Arrow, the ladies group The Mix tomorrow night at PF Changs, Youth on Wed. night, and just an awesome Sunday planned. If you have married friends or engaged friends get them to church on Sunday. The sermon is called Mad Tongue Disease, you won't want to miss it I promise you! Have a great week and start inviting now.

Men stepping up [Church]

I just have to say a big "That a boy!" to our men at Foundations Church. Last Sunday I presented the need to have some of our men, especially our dads, to help us serve in Foundation's Kids Ministry. I told our men that our boys and girls need a great example of what it is to be a man of God. We need men to show our kids and not just tell them what a man of God looks like, talks like, and acts like. We as a society right now have a big need for men who passionately love Jesus to be the example to our kids attending on Sundays.

This week we have had a great response from some of our men stepping up and fulfilling a vital and crucial life in not just our kid's lives but in the our church. I want to give a huge shout out and props to the men of Foundation's Church, thank you for stepping up to the plate and serving in our kid's ministry. I am excited that our kids will get to see how men of God act, talk, and walk. Thank you men for not allowing someone else to influence and be the example to our kids, but for deciding to be the example to our kids. If you haven't volunteered but would like to, jump in, volunteer, and make a difference. We need help in our nursery, 2 year olds, preschool peak, and elementary age groups. If you want to help email Sammy Floyd our Children's Director, here is his email sammy@fctulsa.tv

Make sure you are at Foundations this week. We are continuing our series Dr. Love, the sermon is called The Waiting Room, all about dating. It is going to be a lot of fun, but also will be very helpful for all you who are dating and looking to date. Come learn how to do it God's way and not just your way. If you have teenager or college student this is one sermon I would make sure they hear! Hope you have a great week, and bring someone with you this week, go be a 10!

Weekend Review [Church]

We had a great weekend this past week. Here are some of the highlights:

1. Had an amazing service this week at Foundations! I love that we see life change happen every week, this is what it is all about.

2. We started our new series Dr. Love...getting your love life off life support. Talked about Singleites, we had a blast yesterday and laughed a ton. I love that church can be fun and life changing at the same time.

3. Our setup went crazy fast this week. Thank you to all our volunteers that help us setup and tear down each week.

4. Men make sure you contact Sammy our children's director and help out volunteering in our Children's Ministry. We need your help fellas.

5. Spent a ton of time outside with the family this week. My wife got the flower beds all ready and they look great. I washed the cars and you know what that means. (See number 6)

6. The tahoe nazi is back baby!

7. My littlest daughter Chloe was sick all weekend! Not fun at all and I felt horrible for her, but she is doing better today!

8. Remember: 1. If you aren't happy with yourself, you won't be happy because of somebody else.
2. Learn to be perfectly lonely, and not fearfully alone.

We had a great weekend. Looking forward to this week and can't wait to see all that God does. Make sure you go out and intervene in somebody's life and go be a 10! Have a great week.

A realization and a promise [Life]

Well this past Sunday was an incredible and amazing Sunday for us at Foundations Church. It seems to me that I always learn something from each Sunday. But today I wanted to blog about a realization I have come to and a promise that I will make:

The realization: Last year we spent over 20,000 dollars on advertising! Now for many big churches that is not much, and for a lot of companies that is nothing. However, for a new church with (at that time) 3 staff members not on full time that was a ton of money for us. We did a ton of direct mail outs, we did billboards, magazine ads, and more mail outs. Yet we have done none of that this year and we are having our best attendance we have had yet, we are having more visitors than ever! Here is the fact, the realization I have come to...money used for advertising, slick advertisements, and tons of mail outs, can't come close to passion. When people get passionate about something, or about church and Christ to be specific, there is nothing like it. We could spend 100's of thousands in advertising but if our people aren't passionate about reaching people, not much is going to happen. So stay passionate Foundations Church, it's all about reaching people. Luke 10:19- "For the Son of Man came to find lost people, and save them." Continue to be a 10 and stay passionate.

The Promise- We (the staff) will do our best each and every week. I promise to preach and study to the best of my ability. I promise that if you get a lost person there, I will give them the opportunity to be found by Christ. And it isn't going to be any lame or weak junk either, I promise we will bring (as Eric Burns would say) our A game every week. You bring them and we will bring it! I am praying for an amazing service this week, and that people can sense and feel the presence of God. Make sure you invite someone with you and call the people that came with you this past week and make sure they come back with you.

Weekend Review [Church]

Easter Weekend is always a great weekend, there is so much to celebrate so here are some of the highlights from Foundations Church:

- Had 353 people, this is our biggest yet! Awesome to see so many new people, some return from a while back, and of course our regulars.

- 15 total salvations yesterday. Way awesome and this is what we are all about.

- Thank you to all or our nursery workers. We had a lot of babies and our nursery workers did an incredible job, thank you.

- We had a ton of eggs for the kids to hunt after service! It was awesome to see all our TU Basketball players setting them out and hiding the eggs. Fun to watch so many kids have a great time.

- Our A/V team did a great job with the lights, video, sound. Awesome job guys.

- Our video's yesterday were amazing! Loved the way they tied in to the sermon.

- Mitch Hull did a great job on the guitar and solo during the video. Very impacting and meaningful.

- I love our staff. God has given us an incredible team, and we are so blessed to have them with us.

- Had the whole staff over to our house for lunch after service. I ate way too much! I ate so much I was full this morning when I woke up!

- I can't wait for our relationship series to start Dr. Love. It is going to be funny, helpful, practical, and will help your relationships. Make sure you don't miss a week and bring someone with you it's going to be awesome.

Thank you Foundations Church for intervening in people's lives this past week. I love that we are making a difference in people's lives as a church, continue to be a 10! And remember everything is washable. Have an awesome week.

Going Big [Church]

Easter Sunday is one of the biggest Sundays for churches around the country. Many people who never would go to church will roll out of bed, and make sure they go to church for Easter Sunday. But this week I want to challenge you to Go Big with us at Foundations Church. What does that mean? And what does it look like? There are 2 areas that we want to go big at Foundations Church this weekend:

1. Being a 10! I can't challenge you, dare you even, to invite people to Foundations this Sunday. When you boil it all down, we are about reaching and loving people. We talked the last 2 weeks about intervening in people's lives. Don't stop at praying for people to come to the Lord, (Matthew 9 very end of the chapter) go out and bring people in and go reach them (Matthew 10: 1 - read the Message translation it's awesome!) God didn't call us to stop at 9..... go out and be a 10 and intervene in someone's life. Stop praying for the light and be the light! Remember God isn't going to send people to you, but He will send you to people. GO BIG!

2. Our Giving- So many times we operate with God in how much are we required to give, instead of seeing how much can we give. Easter Weekend is the week we celebrate what God has done for us, and I can't think of any better way to worship God than through our giving. Offering is a time of worship. So this week I want us to Go Big in our giving. Don't just tithe, but bring in your offering and Go Big in your giving. For some of you, that maybe $50, $100, $500, $1,000, or tens of thousands! But I know God is worthy of our worship in the giving of our finances. There is something about worshiping God with our finances because our finances mean something to all us. So come in this week and let's give God our best, and Go Big in our giving.

All I am saying is that our Easter Sunday service is going to be uhmazing, so don't you miss it, and let's Go Big in these 2 areas! Going to be an awesome day!

Weekend Review [Church]

It was great being back at Foundations Church this Sunday. I missed being there, but man we had a great service on Sunday. Here are some of the highlights from the weekend:

1. Had an awesome service on Sunday. We concluded our series Intervention, remember be a 10 not a 9.

2. It was great to hear about all the life change that has happened in just the last 3 months! God is doing some awesome things in Foundations Church.

3. Loved taking communion this weekend as a church family.

4. Did a wedding for Jeremy and Shannon Joiner on Saturday Night. So happy for this couple and glad they took the big step of marriage.

5. We had 2 birthday party's on Saturday to go to! It was a very busy Saturday, but fun.

6. Had a great time at our community group on Sunday Night at the Kunkel's. I love the friends that God has blessed us with.

7. Our nursery is looking a ton better! Thank you Sandy and Ashley for all your hard work on the nursery, from the new sheets that look awesome to coordinating all the workers. You both are doing an awesome job!

8. Next week don't forget to Go Big in Your Giving. Let's worship God with our finances, join me and go Big!

9. I can't tell you how great our Easter Service is going to be! Don't you dare miss it, and invite, invite, invite. It is going to be crazy amazing, I'm just saying.

Going to be a great week! Already making some great head way on my sermon. I know I keep saying it but man Sunday is going to be an incredible experience. Have a great week and be a 10!

Things I am excited about [Church]

There is so much happening and getting ready to happen at Foundations that I just have to share some of the things I am excited about:

1. Easter! Oh man, we have some great things planned for Easter Sunday. All I can say is invite, invite, invite. You are going to love it and so are your friends. I can't wait for this day, it's going to be awesome.
2. This week's service. We are switching up some things and I can't wait. It is one of those Sunday's I think is going to transform who we are as a church. Can't wait, be there.

3. Love that we were able to put Sammy Floyd on full time. He and his wife, Alissa, moved here from Oregon and they are doing a phenomenal job with your children's ministry. God is doing great things through them and I can't wait to see all that happens in our children's ministry.

4. Our live streaming video. Got to watch it last week and it was really awesome to be able to be a part of Foundations Church even though I was away. Love that this is enabling us to reach more people. We have around 20 people watching right now, and this is just the beginning.

5. Life Change- it happens every week at our church. Love what God is doing, and we are building a church that is about God reaching lost people. His mission is our mission.

6. Not just having a vision, but aggressively chasing it down and trying to accomplish it.

7. Becoming a 10 and not staying a 9, you will hear about this more on Sunday! Can't wait.

8. Our people. I love seeing them on facebook, twitter, and just hearing our people talk. They say it's their favorite part of the week. I am glad Foundations is a place people want to go to and don't feel required to go to. Love the excitement that our people have for Foundations.

9. No more snow!

10. Dr. Love series starting the week after Easter. It's going to be a very fun and impacting series no matter what stage you are in life. Single, married, or dating, it's going to be uh....mazing!

I love, love, love what I do. Really invite people to come with you to Foundations especially over the next few months. People are looking for a place to belong. Let's do it, we are going to be bringing it every week as a staff. Can't wait to see everyone this Sunday. Have an awesome rest of the week.

Weekend Review [Life]

This past weekend my family and I were gone this past week, to get away, relax, and catch our breath. So as a result I was not at Foundations Church on Sunday. However, I will still give you the run down of my weekend, here it is:

1. Casey and I left the children overnight with their Bob Bob and Nanna, and went out to eat and got a hotel in Dallas. It was awesome and really nice to eat without having to worry about making sure the kids didn't make messes or get bored. Great night.

2. I played golf with my father in law! I haven't played in a while but had a blast and the weather was perfect. It was a rough front 9 but the back nine I was 3 over! Yeah buddy.

3. Casey and I went to Houston's Restaurant to eat and it was awesome, love that place.

4. Took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese to play games. ADVICE: Never, ever take your kids to Chuck E. Cheese when it is spring break. The amount of people and BO is way overwhelming!

5. Watched Foundations Church service on the Live Streaming Video. It was cool but way weird seeing it but not being there.

6. Thankful that we have such an awesome staff! Our team is the best, and I mean it.

7. Got the chance to get some great ideas for this spring, and really get creative on some of my sermons coming up.

8. Even though I needed to get away, I missed coming and being at Foundations Church.

9. Casey and I did some shopping while we were gone. I had an awesome time with my wife and I am lucky that she married me. She is the best wife I could have asked for, and I am still crazy in love with her.

Hope everyone has a great week. I can't wait for Sunday, really I am ready for it. Make sure you bring someone with you this week, it is going to be awesome!

Weekend Review [Church]

1. We lost an hour! A whole hour! But we had donuts and coffee there to make up for it.

2. We were down a little as far as attendance goes, but better than I thought with having spring break and the time change happening on the same week.

3. Had 16 people make a commitment to Christ this week! It was crazy awesome.

4. Got to dedicate Cory and Jennifer Spurlock's son Andrew this week. It was awesome and they are going to be great parents.

5. Shannon and the worship team were on fire this Sunday. Great job worship team.

6. I love seeing all the life change that is happening in our church!

7. We had a house full of people this week, but it was very fun.

I hope all of you are having a great start to your week, if you are traveling be safe and enjoy your time away. Looking forward to this week, hope you have a great one.

Things are happening [Life]

There are a ton of great things happening lately that I am learning from. When people say they are learning from "things" most think that those things are bad things. My things are not bad things at all. In fact, most of them are great things, and I am gaining great insights into life. So here are some of the things I am learning and also some things for this weekend:

Passion is contagious! Passion rubs of on people. It excites and energizes people.

True passion is consistent! This is so true. People who are up and down about things aren't passionate. They are just infatuated about things.

Nobody will ever be as vested to or invested in your dream, or your WHAT, as you are!

Nothing that is great comes easy. You better be ready to fight if you want something great, or to accomplish great things.

Service this week is going to be awesome! The title of my sermon is, Golden Calves and Roller Blades, and don't miss it. Also, this is the last week of The Big Mo.

Don't forget to set your clock an hour earlier Saturday Night. It is time to Spring Forward.

We will have donuts for everyone on Sunday for all you who don't have time to go get breakfast. We want you to set your clocks up and make it to service. Still come to church, and we will supply the donuts this week.

Bring somebody with you this week. Really bring someone with you. You know someone who needs God, and needs Foundations Church.

Hope you have a great weekend. My week has been crazy, but a good week. Can't wait to see you Sunday, and I can't wait to speak!

Weekend Review [Church]

Oh wow this was a very unexpectedly busy weekend for me and my family. It was kind of crazy, a great weekend, but just fast and furious. Here are some of the highlights:

1. Friday Casey and I took the girls to the zoo. It was an awesome day out and we had a blast.

2. Had dinner with the Whaley's Friday night. Great couple who live just down the road from us and love that they are coming to Foundations!

3. Saturday had Gavin Dalrymple (Shannon and Sandy our Executive Director's child) 3rd birthday. Great party and a ton of fun. Those brownies were straight up dangerous.

4. My mom and dad were in town this weekend, happy birthday to my mom yesterday!

5. Sunday was awesome. Talked about M&M joy, if you missed it watch it online or download the podcast!

6. Never knew so many people liked Peanut M&M's.

7. Got to baptize Leslie, Ridge, and Saylor Hampton last night at their house. Their children wanted to get baptized and wanted to do it asap. So Bill and Leslie heated up their pool and we baptized this mom and two kids. It was totally awesome! Love this family and love that they are coming and becoming a part of Foundations Church.

8. Had our live streaming video up and it worked really well. Just need to get our audio for worship sounding better now.

Have a busy but great week planned. Can't wait to see all that God does in people's lives this week. Hope you have a great week and go be a part of changing somebody's life this week.

I heart our staff [Church]

Man oh man, are we as a church so stinking blessed to have the team that makes up our staff?! I am spending a lot of time with each one of our staff members this week, and just getting a pulse of our team....things that we need to work on, things they are doing just great, and learning ways that I can help them to become better. Through all of these meetings, I realizing more and more that we have a stinking amazing team.

We have 3 guys that are part-time but work like they are full-time. They don't make excuses. They don't do ministry half way. They straight up get it done, and get it done with greatness. I love these guys! Shannon, Sammy, Jonathan, and Fish, you all are amazing and you are making our church into a great church that is ready to accomplish great things. I have heard a quote that says, "You are only as good as the team you have around you." If this is the case, man I am in great shape. Thank you guys for all the sacrifice, the long hours, the energy, excellence, and passion you have for reaching people, for finding lost people and showing them Jesus, and building a church that is changing the community. I love what I do. Remember, be there this Sunday. Its going to be awesome, and bring someone with you. Invite, invite, invite. Have a great rest of the week.

Weekend Review [Church]

Man this weekend was so much fun and was incredible too. I love spending time with my family and being a part of a church that is seeing lives changed!

1. Had a campout with my daughters in our house. We had a tent, watched Aladdin, and went for ice cream, does it get any better than that. Also they slept in the tent as well, tons of fun.

2. Incredible service this Sunday at Foundations Church. If you weren't there you missed it. 9 people gave their hearts to the Lord, and just an amazing day.

3. Sorry, sorry, sorry to all our people trying to watch our live feed. We had some technical difficulties, it won't happen again, but so sorry. Stuff likes this makes me go insane! But we'll be back baby!

4. Went to the circus with my family. Very fun, but my daughters are scared to death of clowns! Haha funny stuff.

5. Carie Carter is our volunteer of the week. Carie is always, always so nice and helpful in our children's department. She thought our 2 year olds needed more toys, so she went out and bought some herself! You are the best Carie!

6. We had 50 people recommit or make a first time decision for Christ in the month of February! What!

7. Be a Sandwich Making Who!

8. We had our community group this Sunday Night also. Ton's of fun, if you aren't involved in a community group get in one!

9. I really love the series we are in The Big Mo, it has been an awesome series.

10. Exciting days and times are ahead for Foundations Church, make sure you bring someone with you this Sunday! Get out there and invite someone to come with you, and have an amazing week.

Dad Time [Life]

If there is one thing I enjoy to the fullest it is not just being a husband and pastor, but being a Dad. Most of you know I have two girls one is 5 and the other is 2. I realize right now how crucial it is for me to not just be in my girl's lives, but be an active and positive presence in their life. This weekend we are going to have an amazing weekend, here is the plan:

Friday:
1. Go the gym
2. Have lunch
3. Go to the Aquarium
4. Make dinner together
5. Go get Frozen Yogurt
6. Watch some sort of Princess Movie I am sure
7. Set up our tent for our camp out in the living room
8. Camp out

Saturday:
1. Go eat breakfast at my favorite breakfast place.
2. Go to the circus

We are having a great time, Casey is having some time off from being a mom today. I love being a dad and realize it is one of the most crucial roles that I fulfill. For all you parents out there, put all you can into parenting it is hard and draining at times, but it pays off big time.

I can't wait for Sunday's Service, my title is Sandwich Making Who's. It is going to be awesome, and I can't wait to speak. Also make sure you text, facebook, or call someone to come with you to Foundations, let's pack it out. We are starting our live streaming video this week as well, I love that we are reaching people. Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday.

Under achieving [Life]

If there is one thing that drives me crazy one thing that makes me made, hacks me off, whatever you want to call it is this...Under Achieving. It drives me crazy. As 2009 ended the team at Foundations Church and myself made a list of expectations for 2010. We didn't make goals because goals are something you set and if you come up short you are okay with because it was just a goal. However, an expectation is something you are totally counting on happening. So we have some pretty major expectations for 2010.

Yet today as I had my prayer time I really felt God talk to me about what are you doing to see that these expectations come about? Oh man! I love having expectations and dreams, but if we don't take steps towards them if we don't plan for them, they are going to turn into disappointments. Many of you have set New Year Resolutions, we are now at the end of February and a lot of you have lost your drive for them. Whether it was to improve your finances, go to church more, kick a habit, improve your marriage, be a better parent, etc., I want to encourage you to not let this be another year of Under Achieving. Take steps to fulfill those goals those expectations, you got have faith, but you also have to plan for the big things to happen.

I hope you have a great rest of the week and you make it count, you make a difference. Make sure you text, call, facebook, or actually face to face invite someone to Foundations this week. Let's blow this thing up and see God change lives! 10 people raised their hands this past week, let's see God do bigger and greater this week. I am expecting it!

Weekend Review [Church]

1. Sunday's service was awesome! Great day seeing lives changed for eternity. Had 10 people raise their hand for salvation- that never gets old. It was a day of just being excited to get to worship Jesus...amazing day.

2. I hate snow and rain on Sundays. I hate it!

3. We are so blessed to have such a great worship team! Shannon and the band are doing a phenomenal job leading us in worship.

4. We did our trial run with live video this Sunday and it went well. We have some improvements we are making and are launching it this week. Get on our website at 10:25 am on Sunday and be a part of Foundations Church.

5. Don't stay home in your pj's if you live in Tulsa, get up and come to church!

6. Had a great time meeting some new guests this Sunday. I love that our church keeps bringing people to experience Foundations Church.

7. Took my girls out in the rain on Sunday afternoon to splash in puddles, we had a great time but it was cold.

8. Glad to be back in the gym after last week. I ate bad, bad, bad, got to go work off all those calories and cheese fries! Yeah, I said cheese fries. I told you I was bad, but they were good.

9. Going to our Guys Night tonight at Dave and Busters at 7pm. It should be an awesome time.

This is going to be a great week. I have a lot going on, but I am excited about this week. Make sure you retext your friend you invited yesterday to service to come back again. We are going to have an amazing experience. I hope you have a great week.

Weekend Review [Church]

Weekend Review [Life]

I don't know how much I will get to blog this week. It is going to be a really fast and busy week, so I will try to post again this week, keyword being try.

1. Had a great Sunday again this weekend. I love our people and love that we are constantly having new people walk through the doors each week. Another great Sunday!

2. Went swimming with my kids on Saturday. Had a great time with my family. My youngest daughter has started to swim (with floaties) on her own. Laughed a lot and even better our girls had a great time.

3. Casey and I had a great time going out with our Community Group on Sunday Night. If you aren't in one you are missing out! Get involved and plugged in and attend a community group this week, they are stinking awesome.

4. Love the Olympics but the opening ceremonies stunk! Oh and I can't stand watching figure skating, in fact I refuse to do so. No figure skating in the Graves House.

5. Casey and I celebrated Valentines Day last night. We went to PF Changs, I love that place, and then went shopping. I love my wife, she is my best friend, my best supporter, my best critic, the love of my life, and this church couldn't make it with out her. Thanks babe I love you.

6. Tried some new pizza on friday night called Prime Time Pizza in Jenks. There supreme hand tossed is awesome, and will change your life. Not as good as Cheezies though Dustin!

7. I am ready for Spring. I am tired of the snow, no more snow, no more snow.

I hope all of you have a great week. We are in week 2 of The Big Mo, don't miss it. This is going to be an awesome series, so be there and invite and bring someone with you too. Have a great one!

This Weekend [Life]

1. I am very excited about my sermon for this week! We start our new series called The Big Mo, a study about Moses. It's going to be a great series. We are talking about how to get the Big Mo going in your love life, don't miss it!

2. Heading to speak in Enid tonight, but will be back home tonight too. Looking forward to it.

3. Had a blast on my 2 Valentines dates with my two daughters. They are so completely different and I love it.

4. May go swimming with my kids this weekend. Yeah that's right swimming!

5. We have our community group this Sunday Night! Looking forward to it, Casey and I are celebrating Valentine's Day on Monday Night. Can't wait.

6. Had a great response from all the first time guests we had this week at Foundations. Praying for them and hope to see most of them back this week.

7. I really really love what I do. I love our church, our staff, and the week in and week out duties. Love being a part of a church that is seeing lives constantly changed.

8. Looking forward to sleeping in sometime this weekend! Oh it's going to happen.

Hope all of you have a great weekend, and invite someone to come with you this week. It is going to be great!

One Hit Wonder [Church]

Do you remember the song, "Groove is in the Heart?" A lot of you will remember the song, but do you remember the band? The band's name is Deee-Lite! Yeah, don't act like you knew that, because you didn't. Here is the deal, it is really sad to me to see some band's song become so popular and then never hear of them and never remember their name. This has happened to hundreds of bands!

As a church I don't want to be a one hit wonder. I don't want us to have one big Sunday and never see anything great happen after that. We are called to reach people every week in every way we can. And I challenge us, Foundations Church, to go back and call the people that came last week and invite them back this week. Keep inviting, keep bringing! I have a new couple coming this week that hasnn't been to church yet. Why? Because Foundations is going to be about more than just having one big week. It's about keeping the passion up, and creating a "hit"(if you want to say) every week. We are doing our best to provide a memorable and incredible experience this week. So get out there and invite, and let's keep making an impact in this community. I love Foundations Church, and love what all of us are seeing happen. Have a great week.

Weekend Review [Church]

What a busy and awesome weekend we had, here are some of the highlights:

1. Sunday we had our biggest attendance ever, and had 28 people raise their hands for salvation! It was awesome to see and experience!

2. I have to say I was not pulling for the Saints, but they did look really good last night. I love football and hate when the season is over.

3. Had Cory Spurlock and his son Andrew come and stay with us Saturday Night. Had a great time hanging out together, very glad to see my friend be a dad. He is great at it too!

4. We had a great service yesterday, just a ton of excitement. You could really feel God's presence in that place.

5. Our children had the most they have ever had. Sammy had 24 kids and all of them raised their hand for salvation! Thankful for Sammy and Alyssa.

6. We have a great team and staff. Thankful for each of them and their families, we are a very blessed church!

7. So proud of Foundations Church for inviting so many people yesterday! You are awesome church way to go.

8. I have a busy but good week scheduled.

9. We start our new series The Big Mo, a study about Moses, this Sunday! It's going to be really good, so don't miss it.

I want to really encourage, urge, and challenge you to follow up with the guests that came with you this week and get them back to Foundations this week! Let's not just have one big day, let's grow and keep touching and effecting lives. Have a great week.

A different weekend [Church]

Up early this Saturday! Woke up around 5 this morning, and my thoughts are immediately going to service on Sunday. What a great opportunity we have to really impact and reach people this Sunday! I hope that this isn't just another weekend for me, you, or Foundations Church. But that this is a different weekend for all of us. That we see a chance to invest in someone's eternity. We see a chance to invite someone to church where they can find community and Belong. We see a chance to bring someone with us to Foundations, and see them get involved in ministry, serve in ministry, and grow as a person and Christian, and they are Becoming a passionate follower of Christ. Please join me in prayer for service tomorrow, and bring someone with you!

A few side notes:
1. Cory Spurlock is coming in town to stay with us and I am always excited to have a chance to hang out with him.
2. Casey is making my favorite meal tonight, brisket, mashed potatoes, and salad. (have to have something healthy and this is the part of the meal I ignore anyways) Then going to chase it down with some homemade chocolate chip cookies, woo hoo!
3. I am totally pulling for the Colts.
4. Just realized I have no Pro Football clothes so I am wearing my true number 1 team tomorrow, THE University of Oklahoma! Have a great weekend, see you tomorrow.

Be Still [Life]

All of us have times in life and areas in life that we are anxious about. In fact a couple of weeks ago I preached on being anxious. Since talking about this topic, I realize just how many people are stressed, restless, and anxious about so much. The other morning I woke up again with too many things on my mind to sleep. So I got up read my bible and prayed for about 3 solid hours. In the midst of it I just felt God speak to me...
"Learn to be still, and know I am God"

How many times are you still long enough, to know that God is still God, Lord, and Author of your Life? I am running around all the time, but more than that my mind is running and thinking and questioning and what ifing (I know not a word) so much that it is never still. Until I become still, until I stop I will not know that God is still God and in control. Why? Because only when I am still does God have the chance to speak to me, only when I am still am I ready to listen, and only when I am still do I have time to reflect on all God has already done. If you are struggling with stress, with anxiety, or restlessness. Be still because then you can know He is still God!

I am believing that this Sunday is going to be the biggest Sunday in the history of our church. So invite your friends, co-workers, and family, and let's reach and impact people. Everybody bring someone with you!

Weekend Review [Church]

Man I am stinking tired of snow! Ready for spring and summer to get here and get here fast:

1. Went and had a snowball fight with Casey and the girls! 3 against one and the giant still won!

2. Had a great service on Sunday, we were down in attendance but still had people give their hearts to the Lord and even had a few visitors! Great Sunday and glad we still had service.

3. Volunteers of the week- Daryl and John Watkins...thank you guys for shoveling off the sidewalks so everyone could walk safely into church. They went up Saturday, along with Greg Fisher (Fish), and shoveled the snow. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

4. Went to Copeland's Saturday Night with the Weber's. Shane and Heidi are great people and they are funny too. We had a great time hanging out together.

5. Still went to the gym and store on Saturday. Had to get out and move around, too much energy inside of me, or coffee, which ever you want to choose.

6. Remember God has called Foundations church to be a Mission not a Museum! Let's stay focused on reaching people, no excuses.

7. I had some hilarious comments about my sermon after service! You know who all you are.

8. This week's service is going to be awesome! Can't wait for our Big Super Bowl Giveaway Day. Invite someone to Foundations Church this week. Better yet, just bring someone with you.

9. Went sledding with the Kunkel family this weekend as well. Our girls had never been sledding before and had a blast. We have so many great families and people coming to our church.

10. Just in case you didn't know this weekend's service really is going to be phenomenal! Can't wait to see what God does. Have a great week.

Sunday's Status [Church]

So I am sure you are asking yourself, are they going to cancel service or still going to have it? Well as of right now we are going to try to still have service! I hate canceling service, but to decide that on Friday is a little to early for me. So for right now we are still planning on having church. However, we aren't going to be crazy and ridiculous about it. So if we can have service and think people will get out and come we will do service. We will let you know tomorrow, check the website out and watch the news. If we cancel we will let you know otherwise we will plan on having church. Enjoy the snow!

Consistency [Life]

As we have been doing this New thru 30 challenge, one thing I am learning is that there is such power in consistency! Every day I and a lot of you have been reading the bible, and reading a lot of it, and the thing that has been the hardest has been to stay consistent. To consistently read the bible everyday for 30 days! And even though it is the hardest part is the the most effective part. Many times I think our Christian walk has so many problems because we aren't consistent. We are consistently reading the bible, we aren't consistently praying, we are consistently going to church, and the result is their is there is a lot of uncertainty and inconsistency in our spiritual life.

Yet being consistent isn't just true of our walk with Christ. It is true in our relationships too! If I am happy one day and just a hot tempered jerk the next who would want to be married to that? Not me! Yet this is how many of us are and we don't know why our marriage and our relationships are in trouble. Learn to be a consistent person, in your spiritual walk, in your relationships, at your job, in the areas of your finances!
By the way we are planning on having church on Sunday, so plan on being there. It will be worth driving in the snow for!

Weekend Review [Church]

We had such a busy weekend, but it was great! Here are the highlights:

1. Casey's parents Bob and Debbie came into town on Friday. Had a lot of fun, and Bob and I killed I mean killed the girls in card games. It was sad...

2. Had a great Sunday service, great attendance, just a great day over all. A lot of life change happening every week.

3. Talked about being anxious this week. God is really working on me in this area, if you weren't there make sure you download the podcast.

4. Sammy and Alissa Floyd are doing a great job back with our children in Base Camp! All the children back their raised their hand for salvation! Not that is awesome!

5. Had a great time with our community group on Sunday Night. If you aren't in one, get in one and connect with others.

6. Can't believe the Vikings lost. I was totally a bandwagon Vikings fan after they beat the Cowboys. Man I can't believe they lost! Ahhhhhh

7. Kyle, Tyler, and Cassie are our volunteers of the week! You all are doing a phenomenal job with the video. Greater things are still to come, I can't wait.

8. WE have an amazing staff at Foundations Church. Shannon, Fish, Sammy, and Johnny you guys are awesome I love you guys, love your hearts, and appreciate your sacrifice! You are being used in a huge way to change lives.

This week's service is going to be great! I can't wait, I am telling you it is going to be different and awesome, don't miss it. I'm serious the next two weeks are going to be phenomenal so be there and bring someone with you. Going to be awesome. Have a great week!

Time [Life]

I knew this before but as we are doing the New thru 30, I am reminded how important time is. There are many of us that are going through life stressed out because their doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to get everything done. If I am not careful this can happen to me very easily and my life and schedule can become way too busy. So here are some things I do that help me with my time:

1. Learn to say no to things. You have to say no to people and events.
2. Don't waste time. (Examples: facebook, myspace, video games, TV these aren't things you must do and if you don't watch it, they will take up to 3 hours of your day without you even knowing it.)
3. Prioritize your schedule. Do your must first, your needs seconds, and your wants last.
4. Prioritize people. People can take a ton of time up, make sure you are spending time with people you need to. If you don't watch it one person can try to monopolize your time! Make sure you put your spouse and kids at the top of this list.
5. Have a to do list. Many times our schedules are hectic, because there is no order to them, organize your weeks and days.

Hope this helps. I am not blogging very much because of the New thru 30 challenge, it is awesome but challenging at the same time. This Sunday I am speaking about Learning to Cast... I promise you will want to be there and it is a sermon that is very applicable to every person and every age. Don't you miss it and bring someone with you. Text them, facebook them, call them, but get them to Foundations on Sunday. It is going to be uhmazing! Have a great rest of the week!

Weekend Review [Life]

1. Went to OKC to see my parents and spend some time with some great friends! We had a blast and our girls loved seeing their Nanna and Papaw!

2. Got to eat at one of my favorite restaurants in OKC called Saturn Grill. It is awesome, you should go try if you have never been.

3. Had a really great service on Sunday. I love our team and I love what God is doing in our services too!

4. Having our projector down irritated the mess out of me and Shannon. Oh man I hate when we have technical problems; however it will be fixed and won't happen again anytime soon! (I hope)

5. The Cowboys lost! The Vikings kicked their face in. So now I am a total Vikings Bandwagon Fan, go Peterson and Farve.

6. Thank you to all our children's workers. Everyone of you are the volunteers of the week. All of you are doing an amazing job with our children week in and week out. Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put in, and for loving on our kids.

7. Felt really sick after service this week. Nothing too bad, just glad it is over with!

8. We have a lot of needs in our congregation, glad we serve a God who is way bigger than our situations.

9. This new thru 30 reading is tough. I gotta stop blogging and get to reading.

I hope all of you have a great week this week. I am preaching on being anxious this week. This is going to be a very transparent and personal sermon for me. I hope you are inviting people to come with you this week, it is going to be a great service. Love you all, love being the pastor of Foundations Church, and can't wait for Sunday! Bring somebody with you.

Things I haven't tried [Life]

Many times we miss out on things and experiences simply because we are afraid to try. Like getting a new hair style, many of us won't do a new hair style because we don't know what it will look like on us, so we keep the old one but wish for something different. And there are many of us that 2010 will come and go and we will be the same person with the same financial problems, relationship problems, marriage problems, job problems, health problems, and spiritual problems because we are most of the time not afraid but unwilling to try new things. Let me encourage you to try something new this year. Some of us need to quit old habits and start new ones. Others of us just need to get outside of our comfort zones and push ourselves further. Here are some new things I am going to try that I haven't yet:

1. Try sushi (looks gross, but everyone raves about it)
2. Get out of town without the kids just me and Casey (this is no small feat)
3. Try to read the whole bible through In 6 months. (you try reading through Leviticus, Numbers, and Duet.)
4. Bring one person a month to church with me. I want to lead the way in this area for our church and not just preach it. I am working on this now.
5. Go deep sea fishing
6. Go on a mission's trip and see the little girl we adopted from Haiti. (we support her financially every month)
7. Try to find a piece of cheesecake I can tolerate. (This is going to be the hardest one)
8. Spend more time with my friends.
9. Have a guy's road trip. (This is a must)
10. Help our church grow to 500 this year!

Can't wait to see all these things happen, except maybe for the Cheesecake! Have a great rest of the week. And really invite someone to come to church with you this week, go change somebody's life!

Weekend Review [Church]

Had a great weekend this past week! Very busy and very tiring but very fun. So here's the run down:

1. Had a great friend Nicole Pierce come in town and stay with us on Friday Night. She brought some puppy chow made with butterscotch, peanut butter, and chocolate chips! Oh man it is sooooo good it was worth the 2 extra pounds I put on!

2. Woke up for no reason at all at 2:30 in the morning on Saturday!

3. Birthday Party at the Crisp House! A lot of people and a lot of toys.

4. Had an amazing service on Sunday. God is doing some great huge things at Foundations Church! Love what is happening and seeing people's lives changed.

5. God can't bless what he doesn't posses.

6. The worship team did an incredible job on Sunday! Great job Shannon and the worship team, loved your hearts for worship.

7. Had a great time at our community group on Sunday Night! We all gave away junk we got for Christmas, it was halarious.

8. Cowboys won a playoff game! Watch out now.

9. Went to lunch with the Hull family, had a blast and ate way too much food.

I hope you have a great week this week. Just started our New thru 30 today, it is going to be awesome! Invite someone to come with you this week.

Anticipation [Life]

We just came out of Christmas and all of you I hope had an incredible Christmas. As I watched my kids go to bed Christmas Eve, there was so much anticipation and excitement on their part about Santa, that they could hardly sleep. They knew something great was going to happen the next day, they knew something incredible was going to occur the next morning when they woke up. And sure enough something truly incredible and remarkable happened they got a pony! Okay so there was no pony but there were a ton of presents for them and it was a day they will always remember.

For me every Sunday that comes, I feel like a kid who is trying to sleep on Christmas Eve. I can't wait for it to come, because I know something truly incredible is going to happen, something unforgettable! Yet what would happen if all of us felt this way, and had this kind of expectation and anticipation? Can you imagine the excitement that would be in the air, the buzz that would be stirring, the experience that people would have? Oh I can and I do, I want to encourage you to expect, anticipate, and get excited because Sunday is only 4 days away! Wooo Hooo I can't wait! I am already inviting, already expecting, already having a hard time sleeping! Why? Because I know somebody's life is going to be changed, somebody's eternity is going to be totally altered. So get on your phone, facebook, walk to somebody's office, or to your neighbors house and invite them to come. I am so excited about 2010 that it is really hard for me to sit still, and no it's not the coffee! Have a great rest of the week.

Weekend Review [Church]

So much happened this past weekend, but it was an amazing weekend though so here are some thoughts:

1. Remember we are an In n Out Burger Church, not a Golden Corral!

2. So excited that we are doing the New thru 30 as a church. If you haven't signed up do it. Get ready to grow and become who God intended you to be.

3. We had 2 staff out this week. Fish was sick and Jonathan was in a car wreck. Glad they are both okay, but man I missed them both big time!

4. Glad to see OU win in their bowl game, they looked really good. I won't say anything about OSU, my momma told me if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. So...

5. Had a great attendance this week at service. Can't wait to see all that 2010 holds for Foundations Church.

6. Tim Schneidau was the big time volunteer of the week. Thank you Tim for all that you did this Sunday, you did a ton of things and didn't mind doing them, so thank you very very much. I love the heart that Tim and his wife Ashley have for Foundations Church and for reaching people.

7. Very excited about starting our internet campuses up and doing the live streaming video. Can't wait to see who is going to be impacted through us using the internet.

I truly hope all of you have a great week. Make sure you invite someone to come with you this week to church. We are starting a new series called Overflow. Ahhhhh I can't wait to see what happens this year, how God uses Foundations Church, and to see all the lives changed. Let's go out and make a difference now! Have a great week.

New Year Resolutions [Church]

There are quite a few New Year Resolutions that I have for myself and the church and I thought I would share some of them:

1. To see more than 200 people give their life to the Lord in 2010!
2. To enjoy the journey more and not focus so much on the destination.
3. To go on more dates and getaways with my beautiful bride. I am stupid for not spending as much time as I can with such an amazing and beautiful wife.
4. To read the Bible more than I did this year.
5. To reach more people and our church double in attendance.
6. To get out and relax more with my friends and family.
7. To eat healthier (I haven't been eating as well as I should be)
8. To run in 3 15K races. Half marathons were too rough on my body.
9. To play more with my little girls.
10. To be as close to God as I can be, to be simply a Man of God. Don't care if people know my name, if I get am ever a famous pastor or speaker, I just want to be a Man of God and see a move of God happen in Tulsa.

Seriously invite your friends to church this Sunday! People are looking for a church to belong to, and are very likely to come at the beginning of the year. So invite, invite, invite, and let's see God change lives. I can't wait for Sunday and hope you have a great New Year.

Not about me [Church]

I just got home from all our Christmas travels. We had a great time, enjoyed our family and friends, but I am very happy to be back home.

So I don't know if you have seen the I am second videos on youtube or not, but I love watching them. They talk all about how their life is not about them, and how they are second. It reminds me of our church and I have to say that I am very glad that we are building a church that isn't about the pastor. Our church can and did run without me being there this past Sunday. Mostly because of two reasons: 1) I don't want to make church all about me 2) I have a great staff and capable team serving with me.

Being gone this past weekend reminded me that this church can never be about me or about anyone else, but has to be all about pursing what Christ wants us (the church) to do. I truly believe this and I am not about building my kingdom up and making myself look important, but I am always trying to be about building up God's Kingdom. Foundations Church can never become about me, you, or reaching a specific person, it simply has to be about reaching people.

I can't wait till this Sunday, I got to rest and had my Shabbath. Yes I meant to spell it that way. Shabbath in the Hebrew means to cause to cease, to stop. So I took my Shabbath, but I am ready to go this week. I hope you have a great New Years, and make sure you invite someone to come with you on Sunday. One of people's top New Years Resolutions is to start going to church. So make sure you invite someone to come with you this week. Let's start making a difference at the beginning of this year in people's lives. Have a great week, and I will see you Sunday.

The day before Christmas [Life]

Let me say we had a great service this past weekend! This has been one of the best months for Foundations Church since we have started. From attendance to life change happening, it has been awesome! Our children did a fantastic job performing this past Sunday. I am so thankful for all of our children's workers and all they do week in and week out with our kids. We are seeing some incredible growth in our children's area and are volunteers are simply doing a fantastic job. I enjoyed taking communion with our church family too. Something very special about taking communion and singing Christmas songs. It was just a great all around weekend experience and I love where our church is headed.

So I am in McKinney, Texas spending Christmas with Casey's family. I love that I really enjoy my in-laws, I am very lucky to have great and loving in-laws. Our girls love being at Nanna and Bob Bob's house, it is going to be a very fun and enjoyable Christmas. I will take a break from blogging the rest of this week, but make sure you don't forget Jesus! With all the events and family, don't forget, or as my daughter says you will be crazy crazy! Love you all and wish you the Merriest Christmas!

Fixed it [Church]

For some reason my blog entry for being Generous part 2 didn't work. Got it fixed so check it out below. Before you leave though. Really all you reading this invite someone to come to church with you this week. We are the light of the world and what better time to shine than this. People are looking for a place to belong, I can think of no better place than Foundations. It is true, there are going to be a ton of people that will come to church with you (especially this Sunday) if you just invite them. So get out of your comfort zone and invite someone and shine!

Have a great week and service is going to be great this week, don't you dare miss it!

Weekend Review [Life]

1. We are having great services at Foundations Church right now! Had our 2nd largest service, and seeing God touch hearts every week. I love seeing what God is doing through Foundations Church.

2. I don't know what went wrong with my last blog entry. I will try and post it again this week.

3. Congrads to everyone who won a 1 hour massage at Face and Body Salon! I hope you guys can take time to rest and cease!

4. Don't forget to take a Shabath! The spelling is right, if you weren't there for the sermon make sure you download the podcast.

5. Thank you Chris Cummings. Chris has been running and setting up the sound the last 2 weeks and doing an outstanding job. Thanks for all your time, hard work, and you heart to serve Chris.

6. Eugene Fields Elementary is having their Christmas Party this week. There is a classroom our church adopted that these kids are going to have Christmas Presents now. Thank you Foundations Church for being generous.

7. Our Christmas Shindig was great. Thanks to Steve and Cindy for opening up your house to the church. We had a great turnout and I love getting to sit down and getting to know people more. Glad all of you came out.

8. I am trying to maintain my weight right now, but man it is hard this time of year! Getting back on the treadmill and trying to stay healthy. Good luck to all of you!

9. Our children's area is exploding! We are seeing some phenomenal growth happen in our children's area! Thank you to all of you that are serving and helping out in this area and for investing in our kids.

I hope you all have a great week! I know this is a busy time, and that we are all trying to get everything done before the end of the year. But take time to enjoy the season too. Make sure you invite someone to come with you next week to Foundations Church. Make a difference this week!

Being Generous Part 2 [Church]

This past week at Foundations Church I talked about Proverbs 11:25 – The generous man shall prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Many people said this to me after service “I don’t know if I can pay my bills if I I tithe.” Many people want to be generous which isn’t tithing (that is what is asked and required) but they want to give above their tithe. But here is the deal for tithing and being generous… it is simply scary when you first start.

First of all let me say it is scary to take this step. Please know I understand if you are scared and unsure, because it doesn’t make sense. On paper the principal of tithing doesn’t make sense, a generous man prospers doesn’t make sense on paper. But you have to realize one big thing this is a Spiritual Principal and not an Earthly Principal. Sounds too spiritual, this is a God thing not a man thing. And my advice to you that have said these remarks and have these worries, let me give you a scripture that has helped me…

Proverbs 3: 5-6 (NIV)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

When you break it down you simply have to trust in God’s way and here is the key with ALL your heart. Do that and the bible says He will make your paths straight. You may not understand, but God doesn’t ask you understand His ways just that you trust them. I am praying for all of you thinking about taking this step. Let me finish by saying this, I have seen God bless me so much when I started seeing how much I could give instead of how much I had to give. You simply cannot out give God. If you sow much you reap much, if you sow sparingly you reap sparingly. I pray that you jump into this principal simply because it works. Hope all of you are having a great week, invite someone to come with you this week, it is going to be uhmazing!

Weekend Review [Church]

1. What a great service this week! We had the most we have ever had in attendance, the biggest offering we have ever had given, and many lives changed. So thankful to God for what He has done!

2. Had 7 people raise their hand for salvation. Lives being changed forever never gets old. Glad we have a church that is focused on loving and seeing people's lives changed.

3. It was fun giving out Fortune Cookies this week. Remember fish, chips, and fortune cookies! The more you give the more you have!

4. Can't believe Texas beat Nebraska. I have never rooted for Nebraska before, and plan to never do it again!

5. Sammy and Alyssa had the most kids in Base Camp they have ever had! When they first came, there were weeks we didn't have any! They and their team are doing an outstanding job, way to go.

6. Volunteer of the Week: Harlan Fisher- Harlan brings our coffee and donuts every week. He also greets everyone and hands them their bulletin, and stuffs the bulletins every week. Thank you Harlan for your time, energy, and your heart.

7. It is crazy crazy cold out! I wish it was summer right after New Years Eve.

8. Have a busy week this week. OKC day trip tomorrow to visit with some people about some exciting things happening in our church. Hope to share more about this in the future.

9. All the kids from Eugene Fields Elementary got adopted for Christmas this week. Way to go Foundations Church! So glad we are raising up a church that is determined to be generous.

10. A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. - Proverbs 11:25

I hope all you have a great week this week. God is doing great things and I am so excited about the lives that are being changed. Don't forget about the massages that are being given away this week as we talk about learning to rest this coming Sunday. Start inviting your friends to come now!

The Path [Life]

I am reading a great book right now called the Principal of the Path by Andy Stanley. In it he talks about something he calls the Principal of the Path and it is this:
Direction- not intention- determines our destination.

Wow! Let that sink in. Here is the deal this principal is true for every area of our lives. Financially, spiritually, relationally, etc... what ever direction we are going in leads us to where we are. We may want to be financially free, but if we keep putting things on credit cards, if we keep saying well its just too good of a deal not to invest in, if we keep putting ourselves in debt that is where we find ourselves. Because direction not intention determines our destination.
You may want to have a great family life, how much time are you spending at home. You may want to have a great marriage, but if you keep putting the kids, money, work, friends, in front of your spouse, you aren't going to have a great marriage. Why? Because intentions don't really matter, direction does though.

Tiger Woods this week is in a huge mess. He never I'm sure "intended" to be here but He took a path a direction that lead him to his present destination. So look at what path you are on in all the different areas. If you don't like the direction you are heading in, stop and change direction not just intentions.

Hope you have a great rest of the week! Invite people to come to church with you this week. People are more likely to come with you to church during the Christmas Holidays than any other time. So go ahead ask your coworker, your neighbor, your friend, service is going to be awesome!

Weekend Review [Church]

1. Had a great service Sunday. It was one of the best we have had, 6 people gave their heart to the Lord, people got baptized in water, people were encouraged to be thankful this Christmas. Just a great day.

2. 5th Sunday- Every month there is a 5th Sunday, we take time as a church to come together and do worship and communion from 6 to 7. We had a great night, I love getting together as a church and doing this, it is a very intimate time, and everyone that comes love it.

3. Bedlam- I had the chance to go to the OU/osu game. Thanks to Dustin and Ashley Jones for the tickets! It was awesome to watch the Sooners kick OSU's rear. (Sorry to all you OSU fans) Loved getting to go with my dad, bother-in-law, and friends. It was a great day.

4. I ate way entirely too much this week. Too much turkey, way too much dressing and mashed potatoes, and I think I was at one time drinking gravy! And of course there was homemade pie, whoo hoo. All this food was great, now its back to eating healthy.

5. Had a great time with my family this past week. I don't get to see my sister, her kids, and my brother in law very much. They live in Houston and are in ministry, so they are kind of busy on the weekends! But they are simply awesome and I love them a way too much.

6. Did I mention OU won?

7. We as the setup team and worship team, took time from 9:15 to 9:30 to pray in the auditorium. It was a really great time, we need God more than ever, if we are going to see more accomplished for His kingdom. If you can come join us this week.

8. I love our church. Love the people, love the staff, love the culture we are creating. God is doing some awesome things and I love it.

9. Due to some technical problems the sermon did not get recorded! Not happy about this, but the video will be on the podcast site, if you didn't get to see it check it out it will really minister to you.

I hope all of you have a great week. I am going to get back into blogging on a regular basis. Bring someone with you this Sunday, it going to be great. Hope you all have a fantastic week.

Weekend Review [Church]

1. What a great Sunday Service we had! 6 people gave their lives to the Lord, I love that every week we see people raise their hands for salvation. I love that this is the heart of our church.

2. Just got my voice back on Saturday. I had lost it all week and was getting anxious about preaching on Sunday.

3. Had a great time with our community group on Sunday. We got together, played games (the guys dominated as the always do!) and laughed a ton. I love the group that God has and is putting together.

4. OU got beat again this week! Say what you want the fact is we have too many injuries and too many people to replace. (Like almost a whole offensive line, and wide receivers) Just please God let us beat OSU!

5. Everyone said they got hungry during my sermon because I was talking a lot about food. I can't wait for Thanksgiving.

6. Thank you for all of you that signed up to serve at Foundations. Our church can't make it without our volunteers, so thank you for signing up. I am excited to see what God does in the life of these that are getting ready to get into the game.

7. I am so ready for some Thanksgiving food! It is me vs. food, and it is so on!

I hope all of you that are traveling have a very safe trip. To all of you enjoy Thanksgiving, enjoy not just the food, but the family, the time you have with one another. Challenge all of you not to ask God for anything this week, but just thank Him for everything. Sunday we kick off a new series called All I Want For Christmas...it is going to be awesome. Our Sunday Service is going to be great and we have an incredible video we will be showing. Don't miss this week, and bring someone with you. Love you all and have a wonderful week.

No voice part 2 [Life]

Still struggling with my voice coming back! Ahhh, very frustrating for me still. However, I am still learning quite a few things. And so I want to talk about communicating a little bit more:

During this week I have had to listen more than talk, had to the key word there. I would probably say most of us talk more than we listen. You and me really need to make sure that we listen a lot more than we are. There could be many mistakes that are avoided if you listen at your job, listen at home, listen at school. There are many arguments that could have and should have been avoided, but someone probably wasn't listening and so it led to disruption, it led to a let down, it led to frustration, that led to the argument. Make sure you are taking time to listen. Make sure you are giving your employer, employees, kids, friends, spouse time to talk and you just shut your mouth and listen. I have learned a lot this week, because I like to talk. But I have gained some great insight and knowledge this week, because I am reducing my speaking (yes because I have to I am not that spiritual) and increasing my listening. Challenge you the rest of this week, ask more, listen more, and talk less. Have a great Thursday!

No voice [Life]

Sorry I missed my Monday blog. I went to staff meeting but towards the end of the day lost my voice. Like my voice is gone, see ya, there is nothing there. I have never realized how frustrating it can be not to be able to communicate the way you want to. I am so very thankful this week for the ability and technology of texting, it has helped a ton. But it is still frustrating. I think about this and realize many of us get frustrated with our kids, we get frustrated with our spouses, but before you go off on them and lose it on them, check your communication. Are you communicating what your needs are, what you expect, and what you want. Going to spend some more time on this this week.
The holidays are upon us, and it can be full of stress and full of arguing because we fail to communicate. If you are married make sure you communicate with your spouse, what they want, you want, and what you both need. If you are a parent tell your kids your expectations, if you are a child tell your parents what you want and need. Many of us are communicating like we have no voice. This is an easy problem to fix, talk...communicate with one another. Hope you have a great week, and I am serious bring someone with you to church this Sunday, it is going to be a great! I say this every week I know, but start inviting now. See you Sunday.

The Weekend [Life]

I love this time of year, absolutely love it. There is football on the TV, the leaves have turned, the weather is awesome, holidays are coming. November and December maybe the best 2 months out of the year to me, I really love this time of year. Got a lot of great things happening this weekend:

1. Hanging with the girls all day Friday. I am being dad and giving Casey a break. She's an amazing wife and mom, she needs, deserves, and is ready for a break. More than that I like being with my girls and just being dad.

2. Watching the Polar Express tonight with the girls. I am telling you love this time of year. I really enjoy movie night too.

3. Casey is making pumpkin (not punkin) muffins tomorrow. They are slap your momma good, especially with some coffee! Whazzzup.

4. Playing golf tomorrow.

5. Going swimming with the family tomorrow afternoon. (no not outside, I am not down with the polar bear club)

6. Church on Sunday, have a few friends coming to church and I am looking forward to it. I love the PG series we are in can't wait for Sunday to be here, it is going to be awesome.

I hope your week has gone great for you. Please make sure you bring someone with you this Sunday. God is doing some awesome things and we want to make sure you are involved and are involving those around you. Have a great weekend and we will see you Sunday!

Sunday Morning Quaterback [Life]

I am amazed how fair weather fans are especially when it comes to Oklahoma and especially when it comes to football. I find people all the time whether listening to sports radio, watching TV, or talking to people, that they think they are an expert coach. In fact I listen to people all the time who from listening to them complaining you would think they were an NFL Pro Bowler who has played football and experienced the game first hand. Yet most of the critics, most of the fickle fans, have never played the game, or if they did play they weren’t very successful at it. And what happens is that we create habits, and create largely who we are as a person in the fact that we find it very easy to criticize the people playing the game while we are sitting on our couch. I find this very true in the Christian world too, somebody is out there making a difference, someone is out there trying to reach people. And often you will hear people criticize them for being over zealous, too passionate, or too worldly. All the while the people who are criticizing aren’t making a difference, aren’t bringing people to church, they are just being a Sunday Morning Quarterback. Who find it far easier to criticize than get in the game. My desire is to be a church that is not full of critics and skeptics, but one that is full of people in the game trying to make a difference. I love that Foundations Church is this way and it’s my desire to stay this way. Hope you have a great rest of the week, and I will see you Sunday, don’t come alone!

Weekend Review [Church]

Weekend Review

1. We had a great service this week! Our PG series is going great, hearing a lot of changes happening in parents. I really like speaking on parenting in fact I love it a little too much. Need to shorten my sermon a little for next week.

2. My wife and kids were gone for the weekend, didn’t get home till Saturday Night. I missed them and am so glad I am married and have kids.

3. Played golf on Friday Night and went to the Jenks/ Sandsprings football game. Hadn’t been to a highschool football game in a long time. Had a great time on Friday.

- 4. We are doing another Plunge on the last Sunday of this month. We already have 4 people ready to get baptized, if you want to go public with your relationship with Christ, make sure you sign up.

- 5. We have some great changes getting ready to happen with our youth. Very excited about our youth ministry. Jonathan Samuels is doing a great job as our youth director.

- 6. OU lost Saturday, this is all I have to say.

- 7. I did not eat really bad this weekend, but I am going to try to buckle down till Thanksgiving! We will see what happens.

- 8. I love the excitement of our people on Sundays. It is so great to be a part of a church where the people are glad to be there and lives are being changed.

- 9. Make sure you invite your friends to church this Sunday. It is going to be great so invite them now and make sure you are there. Hope you have a great week.

Weekend Review [Church]

1. Sunday was a great service, we started our new series PG…Parental Guidance Required. It is going to be a great series for our church.

2. The worship team did a great job yesterday. So thankful to have such great musicians that have a heart for worship. Great job leading Shannon.

3. It was one busy weekend for us. We had a birthday party Friday Night, and a party on Saturday for the kids at some friends house. Great weekend but man was it busy.

4. Loved seeing OU win again this week. The offense looked great!

5. Had a great time meeting some new families this Sunday. I love how friendly and outgoing our church family is.

6. We went to Turkey Mountain with some Friends Sunday afternoon. Our kids hiked about 2 miles! Was very proud of them and it was just beautiful outside.

7. Thank you to Kayla Ward. I love Kayla’s heart she jumped in and learned how to run the computer, because our computer guy forgot to show up. Thank you so much Kayla

8. Volunteers are key. Our volunteers are key to the growth of Foundations, if we have nobody to serve we can’t have children’s ministry, ushers, greeters, tear down and set up teams. So thank you to all of you that serve week in and week out.

I hope you have a great week. Please join me in praying that Foundations is a part of a movement of God. Great things are coming let’s get ready to go.

Friends Day [Church]

Okay so if you haven't heard it is Friend's Day at Foundations Church this Sunday, Nov. 1st. So the question is who are you bringing with you? We are kicking of a new series called PG, you and your friends are all gaining an extra hour of sleep, and you get to come to a church that is alive and all about seeing lives changed for the glory of God. So why wouldn't you want to invite, bring, drag (okay maybe slightly drag!), them to church. I hope you to see you this week, it's going to be great and I truly am excited about all that God is doing and getting ready to do. The best really is yet to come! See you Sunday and enjoy your weekend.

Why not us? [Church]

Shannon and I had the opportunity to go to a conference held in Charlotte, North Carolina. In fact I just got back today. The church is Elevation Church and the pastor is Steven Furtick. It was an amazing time or encouragement and helping us enlarge our vision for Tulsa. This church is 3 years old and is running over 4,000 people every week. Wow! God is doing such a great movement in Charlotte through this church. And the thought hit me “Why not us?”

Why not us? I am praying and expecting God to use Foundations Church to bring forth a movement of God in Tulsa. I believe like never before, I am having audacious faith now, tomorrow, the next day, next week, month, and years. I believe God is going to unleash Foundations Church to do a work of God. So be ready for this week. We are going to be pushing ourselves (the staff), our people (you the church), and see a movement of God happen in Tulsa metro area. I can’t wait to see what happens through Foundations. I am believing for crazy big things, from people, salvations, baptisms, giving (yes money), volunteers, and community groups. Why not us? Why can’t we be used to see a movement of God happen, why can’t we be used to see impossible things happen. I’m believing for audacious things to come about, and to look at things and simply be in awe. Be ready we start this week!

Weekend Review [Church]

1. Had a great service this Sunday! Thank you Johnny, Shannon, and Fish for sharing about the heart beat of this church. I love what Foundations Church is all about and I love that we are staying focused on it as well.

2. Sammy had 8 kids raise their hand for salvation in Base Camp Kids! That is awesome man. I love the direction Sammy has our children's ministry going.

3. Had a great time on Saturday. Casey and I went on a date from 10 to 5! Yeah it was awesome. Thank you Sarah and Kayla for watching the girls. We went shopping, eating, Starbucks, and hiked up Turkey Mountain. It was great getting away with my gorgeous wife, I am a crazy blessed to have her.

4. Way to go Sooners. They looked great this week.

5. I have been up since 3 AM today. I love getting up early and being productive, sleep is for sissies!

6. We have had some great attendance the last few weeks, let's keep inviting people to come and experience life change.

7. We had 56 people raise their hand to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior this past month. God is amazing and seeing lives change every week, never gets old.

8. Getting ready to start a new series this Sunday called PG. Parental Guidance Required, it's going to be Uhmazing! We are going to have a ton of fun with this so make sure you invite people to come with you. This is going to be a great series for you if you are a parent, pre parent, grandparent, or child, don't miss it.

9. Went to the Pumpkin Patch this Sunday Night with our Community Group. It was a ton of fun and am so thankful that God has blessed me with such great friends.

10. I love my two little girls Charli and Chloe. God has blessed me way more than I deserve. This is a really fun age 5 and 2, and a fun time of the year with them.

11. Excited about Friend's Day this coming week at Foundations Church.

Really start inviting people to come with you and experience Foundations Church for themselves. It is going to be a busy but great week. Hope your week is great!

Coming Up [Church]

I can't wait for this Sunday. I know I am always excited about Sunday, but I better be excited about Sundays or we are all in trouble. I really am excited about this Sunday because it is going to be different than any Sunday we have had yet. No I will not be dancing, doing magic tricks, or attempting to juggle, although I can do one mean moon walk. Just excited about what I know is going to happen. I will tell you this, there is a video that you have to see, one of my favorite videos I have seen. Nothing fancy to it, nothing spectacular about the quality of it, but the content is just incredible. I hope to see you there, hope you bring someone with you to Foundations, and be excited because it is going to be good.
Hope you have a great rest of the week and can't wait to see you all Sunday!

Keeping it real [Church]

There is one thing that I hear constantly that amazes me about our church and our leadership team. People always comment not just about how friendly everyone is, but how genuine and real people are. I hear quite a bit, from so many different people that they appreciate how real the leadership team of our church is. Now I say this because I have experienced what these people are talking about. Many times a church is very friendly and nice when people come for the first time, but then it happens. The new people start learning all the drama, start finding who is in what cliques, what people don't like one another in the same church, and they start learning all the gossip. The new people think the pastor is great and then they see how the pastor acts outside of church, how he treats his family, that he doesn't really like people, and all the while the people are asking where is the realness?
I love that Foundations Church isn't about being a church that is great on first impression only. It is so refreshing to lead and be in a church that the more you come the more you love the church and the people in the church. My prayer is that the closer people get to me the more the like and respect me. That I always come across as just being me, the person God created me to be. Let's keep being a church that is full of imperfect people, trying to keep reaching an imperfect world. In other words let keep it real.

Weekend Review [Church]

1. Friday was my daughter Charli's birthday party! We had a great party and celebrated her turning 5. I can't believe it has been 5 years. We had a ton of fun, thank you to all her friends and parents that came.

2. Sunday was a great service all the way around for Foundations Church

3. The last 4 weeks we have seen over 50 people give their hearts to the Lord. God is doing something very amazing and special at our church.

4. Our children's director Sammy told me they have had 8 children raise their hand for salvation this week! Love that our children are making this choice now. Thank you Sammy for all you are doing with our kids.

5. Saturday was a bad bad day. Another year of OU losing to Texas, but I am still a fan, and love my Sooners.

6. We had 8 people take the plunge this Sunday at our water baptism. This is the most we have baptized at once, and I love the excitement that is present during our Plunge, it is simply awesome.

7. We had a great attendance on Fall Break! Keep inviting your friends folks, keep inviting!

8. Volunteer of the Week: Krista Hopkins! Krista is one of the nicest and sweetest people you will meet. She drives at least 30 minutes to come to Foundations, and shows up with a smile and happy to be there. Thanks for your heart and for helping out in our children's ministry Krista.

God really is doing some great and amazing things in our church right now. Keep inviting your friends, family, and coworkers. I hope you have a great week this week, and I am praying for all of you that are sick right now. Make your week count for Christ and go make a difference in someone's life. Have a great week!

A Big Day [Life]

Today we are having a birthday party for my oldest daughter Charli. She turns 5 on Monday but decided to celebrate today, because who wants to have a birthday party on Monday? I have been so blessed to have two healthy and wonderful kids, and can I say time has flown by. I still remember taking her home from the hospital and being freaked out because there was nobody there to tell us what to do. I remember the middle of the night feedings and her falling asleep in the middle of those feedings. I remember her first time to crawl, her first time to walk, her first time to say dadda, her first laugh and cackle (which is still one of my 2 favorite sounds the other is Chloe's laugh), remember her asking Jesus in her heart, remember her first bike ride, her first time to swim on her own, pushing her around the house in a laundry basket and pretending it was a race car, I remember her first Christmas, and first birthday. There are so many things I remember I could keep going, I have been there for so many things in my daughter's life and here is the thing I don't regret being there for any of it. I have never regretted being present in my daughter's life, and being there for the everyday occurrences and the special one's too. And here is the take away I have from today, make sure you enjoy the life God has given you. If you are a parent make sure you enjoy each age your child is in and don't get caught looking ahead. I really haven't missed much for Charli or Chloe and I don't regret that one bit. Don't be too busy that you aren't there, don't work so much that you miss the everyday memories or even the special things, because you are working too much, being too busy will be the thing you do regret. Enjoy the journey, because the destination will be here way too soon. I love you Charli and happy birthday.

Follow Through [Life]

Whether you are playing golf or baseball, follow through is crucial to have a lot of power and even a correct swing. I love playing golf (not too great at baseball) and one thing I look at if something is going wrong with my golf game is what is happening in my follow through. Am I opening up, and I looking up, what is my follow through look like, because this is going to greatly effect my golf game.

As true as this is for my golf game it is so much more true for us as a church. Like I said Monday, if you weren't able to be at church download the podcast. But if Sunday was just a sermon and we don't have any follow through, our church is becoming disfunctional. Foundations church doesn't need only great worship, great sermons, great atmosphere, great children's and youth ministries, and friendly people, we have to have follow through. My prayer this week is that we follow through with Sunday's sermon and that our actions match our words, and that we will simply become passionate about filling the purpose of why we started Foundations Church. I am truly excited about all that has happened so far and can't wait to see all that God has in store for us in the future. I loved ending service this past week, because there was such an excitement in the building and people were ready to go. I am praying big time that our church isn't just another church, but is one that is effective in helping people experience life change. I truly hope you are having a great week, and can't wait to see you on Sunday, start inviting others to come with you now. Let's pack the auditorium out! Have a great one, and the best is still to come!

Weekend Review [Church]

1. Friday Night Campout- our Community Group went and camped out at the Kunkel's house this Friday night. They have a great setup for what we did thank you so much for letting us camp at your guys house. I had so much fun camping for Charli's first time! Defenetly made some meomories.

2. OU beat Baylor, but I have a bad feeling about the OU/ Texas game. I have hope though!

3. Cookies and Salvastano's - Casey made cookies on Saturday! She makes the best cookies hands down, and then we had some Salvastano's pizza! I am excited just thinking about it right now, it was so good.

4. Saw 9 people give their life to Christ this weekend! God is just doing something so special and amazing at Foundations right now.

5. We had one of the best services we have had as a church. If you weren't there make sure you download the podcast, because this is what we are all about. The Great Comission not the The Great Omission.

6. Had one of the most relaxing afternoons and evenings I have had in a long time on Sunday. Loved just hanging out with my family and watch football. It was nice.

7. Really want our church to be one that our actions match our words, and that we love people enough, and have so much passion we will let our lives become uncomfortable. Download the podcast.

8. Have 6 people signed up to take the plunge this Sunday! If you want to go public with your relationship with Christ and get baptized show up on Sunday with a bathing suit, dark shirt, and towel. Be there by 10!
9. I am realizing more and more obedience is better than sacrifice. Want to make sure I don't just hear what God is saying, but that I am doing what HE is saying too.

10. I love our staff! I really do, I love every person who has come along us to build a church that is about Christ and people. We are so blessed for such a young church to have such an incredible staff! I love these men and their families. Thank you guys for moving and serving. Thank you too church for honoring our staff and appreciating them yesterday as a church. Glad we have a church that loves their staff.

I hope you have a great week this week. More than that I hope we put into practice what was preached on Sunday! IF you weren't there download the podcast! We are going to reach the greater Tulsa community no doubt about it.

The Great Commission [Church]

I read about The Great Commission today and something hit me right between the eyes. WE are suppose to fulfill it. Now I know this doesn't sound ground breaking, but stick with me here. I know for me and for many other people we think the church will fulfill The Great Commission. That people will hear about Christ because they see a billboard about Foundations Church or get a mail out,see us wearing our Foundations T-Shirt or receive a hand out card and they will come to church and know who Christ is from this. And if we aren't careful we can depend solely on these means to help fulfill the Great Commission. (now understand advertising is great and we need to do anything we can to reach people for Christ, so we will keep doing billboards, mail outs, and any kind of creative advertising we can.)

However, we as individuals are called to fulfill it. We have to realize the greatest response to going to church and to knowing Christ, is because we took time to invite someone to go to church with us. It is about each one of us taking responsibility to fulfill The Great Commission. We can't depend on a t-shirt or billboard to do it for us, we have to take ownership of it. Your friends, neighbor, co-worker, family member, is a ton more likely to come with you to church because you asked, not because they get a piece of mail about Foundations. I am challenging myself and whoever is reading, we as individuals need to do our part in fulfilling The Great Commission. It will probably inconvenience you a little, make you a little or a lot uncomfortable to invite someone to church with you, but this is what we are called to do. I never read in the bible that Christ came so that we could be comfortable, no Christ left us with the charge of The Great Commission which will make you uncomfortable if you are going to help fulfill it. So the only question left to ask is this... who are you bringing this week, who are you asking to come with you? We are going to have a great service this week, don't miss it make sure you get here. I hope you have a great rest of the week, and we are going to pack out the auditorium this week, help us do it.

Our Staff [Church]

I don't think anyone knows just how important the staff is at Foundations Church. We have an awesome staff at our church. I love that all of them, every single one of them has a "whatever it takes" kind of attitude. If it takes setting up and tearing down every week to have church, they will do it. If it takes moving to Tulsa, working an outside job part time so that they can help build a church and be on staff, they will do it. If it is getting up early or staying up late to make sure a task get done, they will do it. Every week they show up and simply do whatever it takes to help make this church grow, reach people, and be effective.

Thank you Shannon, Fish, Sammy, and Jonathan for taking this leap of faith and chasing down this vision with me. There is no way we could do all we are without you all and your spouses. God is really doing something very special, and He is using you to do it. To Sandy and Alyssa, thank you for moving with your husbands, and all the time and effort you put in too. This week we are going to be honoring our staff in service. We, as a church, are going to take up a 2nd offering for all our pastoral staff, for Pastor Appreciation month. The second offering will go entirely to our staff. None of it will go to Casey and I, just to Shannon, Fish, Sammy, and Jonathan. Let's show them how much we appreciate all they do. I hope you have a great rest of the week, and can't wait for Sunday. Bring someone with you this week, invite someone to come, you won't want to miss this Sunday.

Weekend Review [Life]

A little late on the blog this week, it has been busy lately. So here is what has been happening this past weekend:

1. Ladies Trip- A group of our ladies went to Beaver Lake this past weekend. They took the opprotunity to get away and relax, talk, and getting to know one another. From what I heard they had a great time, so glad they did this, and took time to create community.

2. Mr. Mom- I was daddy without a break for 35 hours straight, and I had a blast doing it. We went to the aquarium, had movie night, ate pizza, went to the park, played in the house, cleaned, changed diapers, it was exhausting. Gotta to give it up to all the mom's out there, you all are amazing and have one of the most demanding jobs ever.

3. 13- we had 13 people raise their hand for salvation this past week. The last few weeks God has been doing some amazing things in the lives of people coming. We have seen 8, 9, and now 13 people raise their hands over the last 3 weeks. Keep inviting your friends, coworkers, neighbors, family, everyone to experience Foundations. It's about seeing lives changed.

4. The Sooners lost! It took me about 2 hours to unwind from the loss and finally be able to go to sleep. Right now I have a love/hate relationship with football.

5. Disney on Ice- Casey and I took our girls to Disney on Ice this past Sunday Night. It was priceless to see their faces while the program was going. Simply priceless, we had a great time.

6. Volunteer of the Week- Darryl Watkins. Darryl does such an amazing job outside greeting every week. Thank you so much Darryl for the time and energy you put forth.

7. This week we will be talking about how to have a great career. Don't get it backwards anymore, come and hear this message, it will help you out.

8. The Plunge- we have 5 people signed up so far for the Plunge on Oct. 18th. If you want to get baptized make sure you sign up this week. Go public with your relationship with Christ!

I hope you have a great week, God really is doing some amazing things in the lives of our people. Make sure you are getting involved and apart of what God is doing at Foundations Church.

Weekend Review [Life]

1. Friday, we had a family day. We woke up ate breakfast, then we went to the zoo, the weather was incredible. Dropped Charli off at Pre K and then took Chloe home for a nap. That night we went to Ted's to eat Mexican food then to the park to play and then it was bath time, finishing with bed time. It was one full day, but it was a great day as a family.

2. Birthday Parties- On Saturday morning we had the chance to go to some of our close friend's birthday party for their son. I didn't get to stay long but my kids had a blast and it was a great party. These people really aren't just great people but great parents. The dad dressed up like Spiderman for his son, jumping on things, shooting silly string everywhere! Now that is a great dad.

3. Golf- That is correct I got the chance to play golf this Saturday. There was a mission's golf tournament in Edmond that my dad, myself, Steve N., and Darryl W. all got to play in. It was a lot of fun, I haven't gottten the chance to play in a while and it was for a great cause. Loved getting to hang out with my dad and Steve and Darryl too.

4. Volunteers of the Week- Lee and Charlotte Ott. This couple started our new believers class called The Slab. It is a 5 week class, we had 6 people attend and they simply did a great job. I heard all kinds of great things from the 6 that attended. Thank you Lee and Charlotte for taking our church to another level. This is a class that is very much needed.

5. Sunday was a great, great day. We have a ton of momentum going right now, there are some exciting things happening and getting ready to happen. We had 9 people raise their hand for salvation, and just a great service.

6. It starts in the parking lot. I want to say a huge thank you to all of our greeters. All of you do such a great job at truly welcoming people. The biggest reason people say they come back to our church is because they say it is so friendly. They are greeted outside, at the door, and then again before they get in the auditorium. You all are doing a great job, thank you for all you do.

7. Community Group- We had our community group and it was a lot of fun. We had the chance to go out on a date night with a lot of other parents, and talk and get to know one another. I really look forward to these times and enjoy getting to hang out with my friends. Hope you are involved in a community group.

It was a busy weekend, but a great one. I really hope you have a great week. Make sure you invite someone to come with you to church next week. Have a great one.

Prayer [Life]

Prayer- if there is one thing I am learning more and more is how crucial prayer is. Every week on Wed. mornings the staff of Foundations Church meet together at one of our houses, we come together and pray. What do we pray for? We pray for one another's needs, we pray for the church, for life change, for dreams to become a reality, finances, health, and the different needs that are put on the communication cards. I am realizing more and more how crucial prayer is for my life.

One of my favorite quotes is from Mark Batterson "Work like it depends on you, and pray like it depends on God." I love this, and if there is one thing I am learning more and more, is that I can't do anything apart from God. Foundations Church wouldn't be here for a week much less a year if not for the help of God. I am praying big prayers for my life, my family, Foundations Church, the staff and people of Foundations. But the crazy part of my prayers is I truly believe with everything in me they are going to become a reality. I want to encourage and urge you to pray. Man start praying, and don't pray hollow prayers, but pray big prayers and believe (this is called faith) that they are going to happen. I don't know what you are facing, I don't know what mountain is in your way, I don't know the amount of stress you are dealing with, but I do know prayer works. Let me give you some things to join me in prayer about for Foundations Church: life change, growth, finances, that people connect. This is just the beginning for this church and I can't wait to see all that God does, it is going to be awesome.

I tell you the truth, my Father will give you anything you ask for in my name.
John 16:23

If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer.
Matthew 21:22

Let's believe and ask together and see what happens. I can't wait! Have a great rest of the week, I mean it!

Weekend Review [Church]

1. We began our new series KROW- sometimes you get it backwards and it was a great start to our series. I really think this is going to be a very effective series to help people where they are in life.

2. Volunteer of the Week- Our staff. All our staff this past weekend worked so hard! Many of our staff is volunteer right now, and they work harder than any full time staff I know. These guys and their families are just doing a phenomenal job every week. Thank you guys for all your help.

3. Canvasing- We continued our 2nd week of doing doorhangers to 7 different neighborhoods. I am so thankful to everyone for showing up and helping us get the word out about Foundations Church. Great things are happening.

4. We had one of our biggest services yet. A ton of new faces and we are so glad they came. Keep inviting your friends to come with you.

5. We had 8 different people raise their hands for salvation this Sunday! I love seeing life change happen every week, it is so exciting to be a part of.

6. Celebration Bash- We had a great time on Sunday Night at our Bash. We celebrated our 1 year anniversary as a church with inflatables, food, drinks, movies, and of course smores! Hope everyone had a great time and that you and your kids survived the stickers!

7. Football- Was a crazy week of football. Loved seeing OU look so good, and you have to give it up to Landry Jones, mustache and all! It was just as great to see USC lose too! Sorry if you are a USC fan.

8. I was absoultly dead tired Sunday Night after all the events were over. Thanks to everyone for bringing food, drinks, and helping out.

I love and am so excited about where our church is heading. Let's keep going, greater things are still ahead and have yet to come. I hope you have a great week!

A Big Moment [Life]

Monday night at my house was a huge evening for us. Every night I try to be home to always play with the girls, but even if I have to work late I try to get home in time to put Charli and Chloe to bed. Well every night Casey and I read a story to Chloe and sing to her, and then pray for her and she prays for her friends before we put her to bed. For Charli, we read a little girls devotional book that her Aunt Mimi bought her that she loves, and then I make up a story (Charli calls it a tickle story, because I tickle her face while I make up a story) and then we pray for her and other people she wants to pray for too. It is a very special time to me, and is one of the highlights of my day.

All that to tell you on Monday night Casey was reading through the devotional book to Charli, and at the end Casey felt like she was suppose to ask Charli if she wanted Jesus to live in her heart. Charli said yes! She said yes and it is the biggest decision she will ever ever make in her life. Oh there will be some important decisions ahead in her life...college, who she marries, what kind of person she is going to be, but there is never going to be a bigger more important decision that she will make. I am so excited for her, and it reminds me that we have as parents have to be the biggest influence in our kids lives. I know this time I have with my girls with them being little is going to pass by so quick, so I want to make every moment count. I am thankful that Casey had this chance every parent dreams of, and I am so excited and proud of my little 4 year old Charli for making this huge decision. She said yes. (All this is being typed as I cry at a Starbucks and I think everyone thinks there is something seriously wrong with me!)

Early Mornings [Life]

So I have been awake since 3 this morning. I just can't sleep I am way too excited about this weekend. Most of you know it is Foundations Church 1 year anniversary. I am so thankful as I look back on all that has happened, God has been so amazing to this church. We have a great staff, an awesome congregation and things are going great. I woke up this morning looked over my sermon, fine tuned it, and spent a lot of time in prayer. This Sunday is going to be one of the most memorable days at Foundations, so make sure you invite everyone you can, and make sure you are there! Can't wait to see all that God is going to do, I love early mornings. Have a great weekend and Go Sooners! (I am a true fan)

Being You [Life]

The whole staff came together at my house yesterday to participate in a free online conference called the 9's. It was a really great time for our staff to hear from other leaders around the country and challenge us to do what we are doing better. However the biggest thing I took away from all of it was this...God has created me to be me. Sounds simple, and it is very simple to say, but sometimes it is very hard to live out.

Somewhere in life, the different jobs, the different leadership you are under, the different expectations, the different experiences, all of these can make you start being someone you aren't. You start being someone everyone else wants you to be and told you that you need to be. Yet the whole time God is going, don't you remember you were made fearfully and wonderfully? As I read the bible I never see Moses trying to be Abraham, or David trying to be Moses, or Elijah trying to be David. No these men learned from ones that had gone before them, but they were definitely themselves. I think the truth is all these men never would have accomplished all the did, if the whole time they were trying to be like someone else. We as a result have to be comfortable in our own skin, and just be us. For me that may mean some people think I am obnoxious, too hyper, too emotional, too nice, too outgoing, too loud, whatever. But I am realizing more and more God can do a whole lot more through me, if I will just be me. I think the God things that are going to happen in my life and yours, are going to happen when we stop trying to be like others and impress others and we just start being ourselves. I hope that helps some of you today, if it doesn't it helps me just to type it.

This weekend is going to be awesome. It is our 1 year anniversary, so make sure you don't miss and invite everyone you can. Also don't forget about our bash this Sunday Night! This is going to be a great weekend don't you miss it! Have a great rest of the week.

Wife, staff, and 1 [Church]

Casey and I were gone this past weekend, celebrating our 11th year anniversary. Can I say the past 11 years have flown by, I feel like we have just graduated college not too long ago. I am so lucky to have the perfect mate for me, and Casey is just a phenomenal person all the way around. She is more amazing as the years pass, and I am so glad she said yes to me 11 years ago. I love the way she loves and treats me, love how great of a mom she is, she is always supportive, does all kinds of behind the scenes work and doesn't want any credit, her quirks. I love her and me and the girls are lucky that she is ours.

We never would have been able to get away and relax and refresh, if it wasn't for our amazing staff. Thank you to all of our staff and their families. All of the staff do such a great job of loving what they do, and doing it with passion and excellence. I love our staff and our church would stink without them. They are such a huge and big part of this church. Thank you to all of you for chasing after the vision!

This is such a great and busy week. We (Foundations Church) is turning 1 this Sunday! We have officially going to turn 1 this week. Make sure you are there, invite your friends, co-workers, family, and neighbors. This is going to be an awesome week at Foundations, in fact this whole fall is going to be incredible, so don't you dare miss and make sure you bring people with you. Don't forget about our Sunday Night Bash at the warehouse starting at 6 and going to 9. Have a great week and can't wait to turn 1 with all of you!

The Billboards Are Up [Church]

Foundations Church is now on Billboards! We have rented 12 billboards all around Tulsa, from Downtown to Brookside, Midtown, Bixby, and South Tulsa. We are really really wanting to saturate Tulsa, and let all of the metro area know that Foundations Church is here. We have several different goals that we hope these billboards accomplish for us, so please be agreeing in prayer with us about these things:

1. It draws people to a relationship with Chirst
2. It let's people know that Foundations Church exist
3. It gets people who are looking for a church into the doors of Foundations.
4. It gets people who aren't looking for a church into the doors of Foundations.
5. It helps us get the word or a buzz out about our church.

Really great things are happening in our church, keep praying for God's hand to remain on us. I hope you have a great rest of the week.

Weekend Review [Church]

1. Art Comparison- We finished our series Canvas this weekend. Had to be one of my favorite series of all time! Yes I know we haven't been out even a year, but it was just a really great series. Yesterday we talked about the harm of comparing and wishing. Be you, because you are the best you there is!

2. 5th Sunday- Last night we did worship and communion as a family at Foundations Church. We had all the kids that were 3 and up in service with us. We think it is really important for our kids to not just see us worship, but worship with us. Loved worship and taking communion as a church family too. It was a great night and really a fun night.

3. Volunteer of the Week- The worship band. You guys did just an awesome job this past weekend. Thanks for all you guys do every week. You guys get there early and stay late, and we appreciate you all so very very much. Love you guys, thanks for you time, energy, work, and heart. We really couldn't do it without each of you.

4. New Favorite Meal- Casey got me hooked on the house salad with chicken from Red Rock Canyon Grill. If you haven't had it "Oh momma, it's goooooood!" Get an order of corn bread and a small house salad with chicken extra dressing if it is to go. If I had to pick a last meal right now before I died, this is the one. Crazy thing is, it is actually healthy for you to, and not too expensive, like 8 dollars! What now?

5. The T-shirts- Our new Foundations T-Shirts were here this Sunday. I love our new shirts, love what they say, and like the look. Casey and I had our waiter on Sunday Night ask about our church because of the shirts, said he is planning on coming soon to check it out. Good things are happening.

6. Too Cold- Charli and I went swimming on Saturday and it was just too stinking cold. After about one hour of trying to get my breath back and both of us turning blue, we decided to get out of the pool. The weather is really nice, but not for swimming it is just too cold for that right now.

7. Have a busy week ahead of us. We have so much getting ready to happen as a church right now. Our 1 year anniversary is coming up on Sept. 13th, make sure you are there and invite everyone you can. We our canvasing neighborhood's and starting our Everyone Campaign on Sept.12th make sure you sign up on our home page. Got new series getting ready to happen, billboards going up, mail outs going out. Just a ton of things happening and I love it! Hope you have a great week, work hard, and we will see you Sunday!

The T-Shirts are here [Church]

Our first Foundations T-Shirts are here and will be for sale this Sunday. They look great and will be a whopping 10 dollars. Make sure you get yours, this is just one of the many ways we are trying to get Foundations name out in the community. Plus they are just really sweet looking shirts! If you want there is a picture on my facebook page of the shirts so go check them out.

This weekend I plan on staying at home with my family and just relaxing with them. If you were at church last Sunday you understand the hugeness of this announcement. I believe I am going to wash my car too, so we will see how all this goes. I can't say this enough, I am so excited about Foundation's Church! There are so many things happening and getting ready to happen, that it is crazy. We are on our last week of Canvas this Sunday make sure you are there, it is going to be great. Hope all of you have a great weekend and can't wait to see you on Sunday.

Ice Cold Starbucks [Life]

Today I am studying in a Starbucks in Utica. Man, I promise this is one of the coldest places I have ever been. I asked if they could change the temperature and they said no. Here is the crazy thing... everyone in the place is freezing, and the reason it didn't get changed is because the people working would get hot. They had Starbucks temperature on lock down! They wanted to make sure it benefited themselves and not the ones coming in.

I thought about this and thought about the church. How many times we can make the Sunday experience comfortable for the people always there, but not comfortable for the ones visiting for the first time. We can make checking in your children easy if you have been before but tedious if you haven't been before. We can have an insider's track in the church, but if you are new, the church can just be down right unbearable. It has to be our job, and remain our job, to keep Foundations a place that is welcoming and comfortable for people who are returning and visiting for the first time. Going to a new place can be awkward enough, and my goal is that it isn't awkward at all. My goal is that coming to Foundations Church is actually refreshing and rewarding, whether it is your first time or your 20th. Let's make sure we are constantly thinking, not about ourselves, but about those outside our doors, and those that have yet to come in.

This week we are ending our series Canvas. Make sure you are there and you bring someone with you. I say this every week, but you are the best invite anybody will receive to Foundations Church. People are more likely to come with you, than from a direct mailer, a billboard, or commercial. So go ahead and take the plunge and invite someone with you to Foundations. I really hope you have a great rest of the week.

Weekend Review [Church]

I love, love, love Foundations Church. So many exciting things are happening and going on and getting ready to come. It is going to be an exciting fall for us. Here is the weekend in review:

Canvas- We had a lot of fun this week talking about mess-ups. They are going to happen, and remember, you can't mess up too much or too big. It was a lot of fun being very transparent today, and don't think about putting smashed up Oreo's in my car!

Worship Team- Our worship team sounded so great today! Shannon, you are doing a phenomenal job leading us in worship, and Randy Detring did a great job on the sound. Our worship band is dyanmic! Thank you all for your heart and energy you bring every Sunday.

Volunteer of the Week- Sara Dyer. Sara was in our nursery volunteering this week. While she was feeding a baby and burping it, she got completely covered in baby spit up! Oh man! I saw her come out of the nursery, went in the bathroom and washed off, and went back and continued helping out. Thank you so much, Sara, for getting puked on and still going back to serve more. Sara, you are the type of person that makes Foundations Church such a great place. Thank you so much.

The Everyone Campaign Video- Thanks to Kyle for all your help with the video. You did a great job! We will have the video on the website for you to download and watch. More and more videos are going to be coming your way Foundations!

Life Change- We had 6 people raise their hand for life change this morning. This is why we are here, and every week we have people raise their hands. I love that this is happening and that people are experiencing God week after week as the Lord and Savior. We are starting "The Slab" in September. That is a new believer's/next step class for people that experience life change at Foundations. Be in prayer for this new experience coming our way. We are very excited! Let's keep bringing people in and let God do the work.

Baby Dedication- It was my honor to dedicate Kaden this past week. Amber and Josh you guys are going to be great parents. Thanks for coming and honoring God by dedicating yourselves and Kaden to God today. We will be praying for you, and will help any way we can.

Community Group- We are heading to our community group tonight. I love hanging out with other people who are facing the same struggles and challenges in parenting. It is so much fun getting together with all these other couples.

We are going to have a big time Fall as a church. So much is happening and going on that I can't wait to see all that God is going to do. This week we should have our Foundations T-Shirts in and I am looking forward to preaching in a t-shirt. Make sure you are here this coming Sunday, we are concluding our series Canvas and you won't want to miss it. Hope you have a great week.

You love me always [Life]

Yesterday I took Charli to Pre K, yes I guess I am getting that old. On our way there I told her, "Charli, I want you to know that I love you very, very much." She said " Dad I know. Why do you always tell me that? "Well, Charli, because I want you to know that I will love you always." Charli again says, "Dad I know you love me always, cause you always tell me." This is one of my favorite conversations I have had with her. I love that she knows I love her. She then went on to tell me that she was never going to get married, never have babies, and never move out of the house. Wow!

One challenge I want to leave for all of us out there this weekend, is make sure the one's you love, especially the one's you love the most, know they are loved. Loving one another is the biggest thing that the Bible tells us to do. So do it to the absolute best degree that you can. I want everyone around me to know that I really love them. Don't take it for granted, don't let the moment pass you by, just let others know you love them.

By the way, this Sunday's service is going to be great. We are continuing our series called Canvas, and this week we are talking about mess-ups. This is a great one to invite your friends to, and if you are perfectionist, this sermon is so for you. Hope you have a great weekend. Remember you are the best invitation anyone is going to receive to Foundations. See you Sunday!

Just too excited [Life]

So there are some times I think I just get too excited that I can't sleep. I have been up since about 2 this morning and so I thought, "Hey might as well blog right now", so here it goes. Here are some of the things that are keeping me up because honestly I am just too excited:

1. Life Change- Literally every week someone is accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior at Foundations Church. It doesn't get any better or more exciting to me than this.

2. The Everyone Campaign- I can't wait to see what happens when all of Foundations Church is moving and going in the same direction for the same purpose. Make sure you sign up, you can do it on our website, it is going to be Awesome!

3. Football Season- Come on OU and the Dallas Cowboys! I love football and love fantasy football too, they are both about to begin...woo hoo!

4. Billboards, Direct Mail Out, and Door Hangers- Starting late August all the way through September, we are going to be doing all we can to get Foundations Church seen in our community. Can't wait to see who starts coming and who's lives are changed, all because of God's grace and mercy. We have never done this much advertising, be praying.

5. Foundations T Shirts- I am very excited that in the next few weeks our T-Shirts will be here for Foundations! They are going to be wicked awesome (sweet use of 80's term for all of you out there).

6. Our 1 year anniversary- Foundations Church turns 1 on Sept. 13th. It is going to be an incredible service so make sure you are here, and invite, invite, invite.

Okay I need to stop there are so many more things I am excited about that are coming up like The Slab (our new believers class), the children's ministry, youth ministry, community groups, I could keep going. It is going to be an awesome and exciting fall so be praying with us that God will continue to change lives and advance His kingdom. Have a great rest of the week!

Weekend Review [Church]

1. Canvas- This past Sunday we talked about the big picture. Often times we can get caught up with where we are currently or we get confused and it is hard for us to see the big picture Christ has in mind for our lives. This has really been an amazing series so far, so make sure you don't miss next week.

2. Volunteer of the Week- Ashley Jones. Ashley is doing an amazing job helping us coordinate our nursery. We realize there is no way we could do it without her, and people like her. So Ashley thank you so much for all your help.

3. The Lake and Friends- Saturday we went to Lake Skiatook with Cory and Jennifer Spurlock and The Dalrymple's and we had a blast. I have never laughed so hard on the back of a tube with two other guys in my life. The only down side was when you crashed you swallowed soooo much water. It was a great time and I am glad my friends came up and brought their boat.

4. Church Planters- I had dinner with some future church planters Sunday Night. It is so great and refreshing to be around people who are experiencing many of the same emotions and thoughts I have and still have at times. We had a great time. Thank you Steve and Cindy for setting this all up.

5. Baby Dedication- I got to dedicate Shane and Heidi Weber's son little Joel this past Sunday. It never gets old getting to do baby dedications, and they are such great parents already. They took such an awesome step this past Sunday, so excited for them. Joel did great too, he just slept all the way through, so far no babies have cried!

6. The Everyone Campaign- Make sure you get involved in our Everyone Campaign. We need everyone at Foundations Church to help us reach everyone. So Sept. 12th and 19th we are asking for everyone to get involved and help us reach people for Christ.

I hope all of you have a great week, and that it is a productive week too. Getting ready to do staff meeting...I love the team God has given us! Have an awesome week.

Things I am excited about... [Life]

Sorry I missed my Wednesday blog this week. It has been, as I said on Monday, a busy week. There have been so many different meetings this week, but it has been a productive week. We have great things happening in the next month at Foundations, let me give you a few...

a.) 5th Sunday- Every time there are 5 Sundays in a month we are going to come together as a church on that Sunday Night and spend time worshiping and sharing in communion. The first one is going to be the last Sunday of August. We are going to have child care for those 2 years old and younger. The reason for this is to worship as a family. I think it is really important for our kids to see us as parents worship. They learn by watching. So make plans on August 30th, from 6 to 7 pm, we are going to simply spend time worshipping and taking communion as a church.

b.) The Everyone Campaign. On Sept. 12 and 19th we are wanting everyone that comes to Foundations to help us with getting the word out about our church. We need everyone to help reach everyone. We are planning to go to neighborhoods with door hangers and just get the word out. We are also launching 12 different billboards around Tulsa, along with a direct mail out. But here is the deal.... you are the best invitation anyone will ever receive. So get geared up to help us get the word out about Foundations Church, and get ready to invite everyone you know. We are showing a great video about this at church this Sunday... it is hilarious!

c.) Hybrid Youth Ministry- We have some cool things getting ready to happen in our youth ministry. I can't elaborate too much, but great things are on the way.

d.) Foundations Kids- We have some exciting activities, some cool changes, and just some great things happening in our kids area. We are constantly needing more help in our children's ministry. This is a great problem to have and we are anticipating a fun fall season.

e.) I love the excitement that all of our people have every Sunday. I love that Foundations is a church you want to come to instead of feel obligated to attend. God is doing some really big things and this truly is just the beginning of what is going to happen, lives that are going to be changed, and families that are going to be reached. Let's keep staying passionate about God and people.

Things are fantastic and I hope you have had a great week. I can't tell you how excited I am about Foundations Church. But we can't achieve all God has for this church unless we all get involved. I hope you are planning to be there on Sunday, and can't wait to see you there. Our series "Canvas" is continuing and it is going to be a great, great series. See you there and bring someone with you. Have a great weekend!

Things I am excited about [Life]

Well sorry I missed my Wed. blog this week. It has been as I said on Monday been a busy week. There have been so many different meetings, but it has been a productive week. We have so many great things happening in the next month at Foundations, let me give you a few...

a.) 5th Sunday- Every time there are 5 Sundays in a month we are going to come together as a church on that Sunday Night and spend time worshiping and doing communion. The first one is going to be the last Sunday of August. We are going to have child care for those 2 years old and younger. The reason for this is we want to worship as a family. I think it is really important for our kids to see us as parents worship, they learn by watching. So make plans on August 30th from 6 to 7 pm we are going to simply spend time worshiping and doing communion as a church.

b.) The Everyone Campaign. On Sept. 12 and 19th we are wanting everyone that comes to Foundations to help us with getting the word out about our church. We need everyone to help reach everyone. We are planning to go to neighborhoods and do door hangers and just get the word out. We are also doing 12 different billboards around Tulsa, and doing a direct mail out. But here is the deal you are the best invitation anyone will ever receive. So get geared up to help us get the word out about Foundations Church and get ready to invite everyone you know to church. There is going to be a great video about this happening this week at church, it is hilarious.

c.) Hybrid Youth Ministry- We have some cool things getting ready to happen in our youth ministry. I can elaborate too much, but great things are one the way.

d.) Foundations Kids- We have some great activities, some cool changes, and just some great things happening in our kids area. We are constantly needing more help in our children's ministry. This is a great problem to have.

e.) I love the excitement that all of our people have every Sunday. I love that Foundations is a church you want to come to instead of feel obligated to come to. God is doing some really big things and this truly is just the begging of what is going to happen, lives that are going to be changed, and families that are going to be reached. Let's keep staying passionate about God and people

Things are going great and I hope you have had a great week. I can't tell you how excited I am about Foundations Church. But we can't achieve all God has for this church, unless all of us get involved. I hope you are planning on being there on Sunday, and can't wait to see you there. Our series Canvas is continuing and it is going to be a great great series. See you there and bring someone with you. Have a great weekend

Weekend Review [Church]

Canvas- We just started our new series Canvas this past weekend. I think this is going to be a great series and I am very excited about the next 3 weeks. Yesterday we talked about that God has a What for your canvas (life). You weren't created to walk around as a blank Canvas, but God has designed you to be a mind blowing work of art. Make sure you download the podcast if you weren't there.

Volunteer of the Week- Cameron Morris. Cameron is helping us out on our worship team, and is doing a great job helping lead us in worship. But he also is helping us big time with our Canvas series. Thanks for bringing the canvases and for painting for us during the sermon. We couldn't do it without you man.

Volunteer Sign Up- We had sign up sheets available for you to sign up and get involved in a ministry at Foundations Church. If you didn't get the chance to sign up email us at www.info@fctulsa.tv and let us know where you want to serve. We don't just want Foundations Church to be the church you attend, we want it to be your church, and that dynamic happens when you start serving. So sign up.

Community Group- My community group went bowling with all the young kids. We had a lot of fun and Adam and Nadia are doing a great job leading our community group. The only bad thing that happened is I was helping Chloe (my 2 year old) bowl and she started to fall. So I go to catch her and in the process drop the bowling ball on my finger! Oh man I had a flood of carnal words come to mind and all I could do is just bite my lip. Why do bowling balls have to be so hard man! Woo still recovering but after whining right now I realize I am going to be okay.

This Week- Have a busy week this week. There are so many exciting things getting ready to happen at Foundations Church, that I can hardly wait. Please make sure you are coming on Sundays and you are getting involved. Hope all of you have a great week, and invite someone to come with you this week.

Weekend Review [Church]

Canvas [Church]

Hope all of you are going to take advantage of the weekend this week. Suppose to be a lot of sunshine, so get some place wet and cold is my recommendation. I have a couple things on my mind today:

1. Foundations is heading in a great direction! I have been meeting with fellow church planters, and other churches who planted 7 years before us. All of them have said we are going in a great direction, and we should be blown back by all that God is doing in our church. Of course there are areas we can improve, and trust me, myself and the staff are trying. But I am so thankful to be a part of a church that is not just seeing hands lifted for life change, but actually seeing lives being changed too. We are heading in a great direction and I can't wait for this fall! I think the important thing to remember is that God is doing this and not man, so please keep praying.

2. Canvas- Our new series is starting this Sunday. I can't tell you enough, that I think this series and the next one coming up are going to be some of the best we have ever done. Make sure you come and don't miss, because you will want to be at each service. Please pray for this series that lives are touched and changed, and invite, invite, invite. You are the best invitation any person will receive to church.

Back to getting ready for the weekend, and chipping in around the house. Hope you have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!

He's got the whole world [Life]

"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels- everything go started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment." Colossians 1: 16 & 17 (The Message)

About 2 weeks ago there was a lot of parts of my life that felt like they were completely and totally out of control. I had those moments that I wondered if God was there, and if He realized what was happening. Because I sure didn't understand what was going on and happening at all. But the truth is this He has our whole world still in His hands, and even if you think God has forgotten about you or where you are...He hasn't.

This is one of my favorite passages of scripture and I love the part that Paul says "and he holds it all together up to this moment." Maybe your world if falling apart, maybe it feels like everything is crumbling around you, but even in the midst of certain aspects of your life crumbling, He still holds it all together. He still has your whole world in His hands, and God hasn't forgotten about you.

My mom is moving home today! That's right home, she is not going to the Specialized Nursing Center, she is not on a feeding tube, and she is not going to have to have surgery. The doctors told us that she would be in a Nursing Facility for 3 months, she would be on a feeding tube, and she would need some sort of surgery, this was reality. Even in the midst of this we prayed, you prayed, and my mom prayed. The doctor's are amazed, there is no other way to describe what has happened except God. Even in the midst of my mom's world absolutely caving in around her, she knew HE still held her world in His hands. So take comfort and take heart, even though you maybe confused, scared, mad, and hurt, He holds it ALL together right up to this moment!

Have a great week, and make sure you bring someone with you Sunday. Really our new Canvas series is going to be amazing, so do whatever you have to, to get someone to Foundations with you this Sunday!

Weekend Review [Church]

Rewind is done- We finished out our rewind series this weekend. Getting to speak on the orange slices was great because it was one of the first sermons I preached at Foundations Church. So most of our church didn't ever hear it. I love getting to speak about the vision of our church and where we are going. Good things are happening and even better things are getting ready to happen.

Volunteer of the Day- Tiny (Charles Boyd). Last week "Tiny" was not at the church he was in Oregon seeing his family, and we missed him. Every week Tiny helps us tear down all the children's ministry toys, tables, chairs, curtains, etc...Thank you so much, Tiny, for your awesome attitude, he loves coming to church and we love having him.

Bob Bob and Nana- Casey's parents came up from McKinney this weekend just to see the kids. Our kids love it so much when they have the chance to come up, and it is almost like Casey and I don't exist when they are here. All they want is Bob Bob and Nana, which is fine by me! Glad they got to come up.

Chilling on Sunday Evening- I had the chance to go to lunch with a couple from our church and had a great time just talking at McAllister's with them. While I was there, I saw quite a few couples that didn't know we had started a church and are going to come check it out! Sunday evening, Jonathan Samuels, our intern, came over and hung out at our house. He is one of my kids from when I was a youth pastor, and I couldn't be more proud of who he is. It was a great evening of just hanging out, playing with the kids, and Casey made brownies with some ice cold milk. Whoooo Baby!

Canvas- We have one of the coolest and most creative series starting this Sunday. Make sure you invite your friends to this series because it is going to be great. You can send an ecard from our homepage. Hope all of you have a great week, and if you haven't been in awhile, we have missed seeing you. Have a great week.

What's Up [Life]

Here is what is up with my weekend:

1. Tonight going on a double date with another couple. Always excited to go out with Casey, and we are excited about going out with the other couple too. Hello Charlestons!
2. Casey's parents Bob and Debbie, or as our kids call them Bob Bob and Nanna, are coming in town. They arrived about 3 o'clock this afternoon.
3. Swimming- We will be going swimming as much as possible this weekend. Come on sunshine! We have gone once already trying to squeeze in 3 times this weekend.
4. Family Breakfast- Tomorrow going to lay off the gym and we are going to do a big family breakfast. This is news to everyone else, but it's going to happen. Will probably cook, may go to a restaurant. I love breakfast, my favorite place to go is The Wild Fork in Utica. It is simply amazing.
5. We are ending our series Rewind this week. Don't miss it, please please don't miss it, the title is called The Orange Slices and it's just straight up good!
6. Hanging with my family. I love just spending time with my family and love that they truly are a priority and I don't just say they are.

I hope you all have a great weekend and really bring someone with you to Foundations. See you soon.

The update [Life]

Let me say thank you to all of you that have been praying for my friends Cory and Jennifer, my mom, and myself. The one thing I do know is that prayer helps and truly does make a difference so thank you. All of the support that you have shown me and my family has been amazing so thank you so much.

Let me give you a little update about the church. We are having an amazing summer! We really are, we are actually growing and things are going really really great. We have seen new families come through the doors almost every week, and they are loving it. Now for all of you that call Foundations Church home, help us plug them in, and get to know them. I am so excited about the fall coming up. Families will be in town on a consistent basis, we have some great new series coming up, and we have a huge advertising push that is going to involve everyone. It is going to be an awesome fall!

When I went and saw my mom this Sunday and Monday, we were talking. My mom for those of you who don't know, has kidney failure, been through 2 strokes, broken her hip, her hip still hasn't healed, and now has some serious problems with her intestines and is going to have to stay in a specialized nursing center for 2 to 3 months. We were talking and we had one of the best talks I have had with her yet. We started talking about Paul in Philippians 4:12 where Paul says "I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstance." My mom is determined even in her state to be content and still realize God is good, despite the circumstances. Having a good attitude when things are going good is hard enough, but when your life is full of questions and you are in a valley of life it's even harder. But let me challenge you this week no matter if you are having a good week or bad one, be content whatever your circumstance might be, and thank Him because God is good. Hope all of you have a great week. Invite someone with you to church, it is going to be great!

Weekend Review [Church]

Hey everyone,

This is Shannon blogging for Justin this week. We had a great weekend again. 8 people commited to follow Christ either for the first time or made a fresh commitment. Just awesome! We continue to have good crowds, especially for the summer months with so many out of town. We also had a baby dedication which is one of our highlights @ FC. Just a great service!

Volunteer of the week: We want to thank John Watkins this week. He's one of our guitarist in the band. He helps every week with worship but also with set up and tear down. Always there and so dependable.

Community Groups: We had several Community Groups meet last night. Our group, Young Families, met at the Kunkel's. Had so much fun. If you're not currently involved in CGs, find one to be a part of. You can check them out online @ www.fctulsa.tv under our Ministries tab. It's so good to be a part of community; I find that my best friends are those folks in our CG. Need to get involved.

Prayer Request: We would ask you to continue to remember the Spurlock family in your prayers. Cory and Jennifer are such special people in our church family. Also, please help us pray for the Graves family. Justin's mother is having a lot of health problems and needs God's healing and help. Their are many other needs I'm sure. If you would like to send us your prayer request, please do so to info@fctulsa.tv.

We love you all, and are so glad to be a part of your lives. This church is just simply awesome. We pray that you have a great week, and we look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Shannon Dalrymple
Executive Director

Oh it is going to be good [Church]

It has been a long week this week. But I can't wait till Sunday. You know there are a lot of times when people go through hard times or times they don't understand things that they pull away from God, but these are the times I find God to be so close and intimate. If life is great man I rejoice with you, if times are difficult and tough know I hurt with you. But know this just because our situations change doesn't mean God does. The one constant is this, God's character never changes.

Be there this Sunday, bring somebody with you too, because it is going to be oh so good. We have some great things planned, and I am praying for all of you too. Love you all and have a great weekend. See you Sunday.

What do you do when you don't know? [Life]

This week I am skipping my weekly post about our weekend review. We had a great service and our people were awesome yet again, serving in such a way that it always points to Christ. But today I find myself in one of the hardest places I have been. My best friend since high school, Cory Spurlock, called me early on Monday morning to tell me that he and his wife Jennifer had just had a miscarriage.

Instantly I went numb, didn't know what to say, what to do, what to feel. This child is something that Cory and Jennifer have been praying for, for years. It is also something Casey and I have joined them in prayer for, for years as well. I didn't know what to say, I didn't know what to do, all I knew was I was getting to Oklahoma City as fast as I could. I showed up and met Cory in the hallway and we hugged and wept together. It is by far one of the worst feelings I have ever felt. I felt so helpless, and useless and all I could do is hug him and cry with him and say I am sorry over and over again. What do you do when you don't know what to do? What do you say when you don't know what to say?

I may not know all the answers, but I think you have to learn to just be there for people. This is what Christ did when it came to Lazarus dying and his close friends Mary and Martha were there. He just showed up and wept, before he did anything else. So many times we can confuse doing for people being better than being there for people. I think this is because it makes us feel better to do than to be. I think sometimes the most Christ-like thing you can do is simply learn to be there for people to weep and feel with them.

I have cried way too much today. My heart and soul is truly broken and crushed for my best friend and his wife. I love these people, and I hurt and weep with them openly. Please pray for my friends that strength, peace, love, and comfort find them. They are an amazing couple and Casey and I love them so much.

Highly Contagious [Church]

Have you noticed excitement is highly contagious? When I was in mid-high or high school, everybody stopped and watched and cheered every time there was a fight. Something exciting was happening (even in a twisted way). Amusement parks all over the country have long lines to wait for the biggest and latest roller coaster. Why? Because there is excitement about it and everybody wants to be a part.

I think about all this and realize we have something so much more exciting. Each week there are decisions being made at Foundations Church that are literally changing people's lives. People every week are making life changing decisions, and are deciding to follow Christ again or for the very first time. Eternities are literally being changed and I really don't think it gets more exciting than that. People think that church planting is so grueling and hard, and yes, it has it moments, but more than anything it is the most exciting thing I have ever been a part of. This is why every week I can't wait for service. It isn't a job or a task for me, it is an opportunity to see what God is going to do yet again. I invite all of you to get excited about Christ; not just about Foundations Church, because we may do something (not on purpose, of course) that let's you down or disappoints you. But when you get excited, truly excited....almost giddy about God, it is highly contagious and it is going to spread to others. I invite you to invite someone with you to Foundations Church this week. It is going to be great, and lives will be changed once again. Hope you have a great weekend and if you aren't going to be there, we will miss you.

Get ready to work [Life]

Work is a weird word to me. For many of us it is a place instead of a habit. We go to work and we leave work, this is what I mean by it being a place. However, if we work once we are at work is a whole other deal. I am fascinated by many Christians thinking that we just pray and then it should happen. We pray for a good marriage, we pray for happy children, we pray for our finances, our career, our future, and while we should pray over these things, it is not all up to just prayer.

If you want a great marriage you have to work at and on your marriage. You want great kids, you better be ready to work at your family, and ready to love, praise, discipline, mentor, and correct, a family takes work. If you want a great career, you better get to work early and be willing to stay late somedays and work when you are at work, great careers don't happen, they are built (work). Our finances being under control means you have to work to control your budget, you have to work to save, you constantly have to work. All this to say there are many of us that want a certain type of life, and to get that great life you have to work at it. I hope all of us develop a habit of not just praying (please make sure you are praying though, you need God's favor) but also you are developing a habit of working.

I hope all of you are having a great week. There have been a lot of you out of pocket the last few weeks and I hope you are having a relaxing summer and enjoying your vacations. But know you are missed when you aren't there. I promise I will post soon about Camp Destin and try to get some pictures up too. Make sure you invite someone to come with you this week, it's going to be great on Sunday.

Weekend Review [Church]

Well it was good to be back! Man anytime Casey and I are gone, we truly miss being at Foundations Church. I never thought I would love doing ministry this much, but I do. We had a very successful youth camp in Destin, Florida this past week. I will post about that later this week. But now for the weekend review:

Rewind- We started our rewind series with "How to Have an Affair." I love this message and I really think there were many marriages that were saved from an affair. I have to say that I love Fish! Thanks for letting me use you in my message, even if it was spur of the moment.

We are growing- Over the past few weeks we have really seen some great growth happening at Foundations Church! It is exciting that we are in the middle of summer, but we are seeing some of the best attendance yet. I love it..... let's keep inviting, inviting, inviting. I love seeing people bring their friends and their friends end up loving it. This is such an awesome church to be a part of!

Volunteers of the Day- Jody and Sara Whaley greeted for the first time yesterday. This couple just got married about a month ago, and I love that they are already jumping in and serving at Foundation Church. You guys did a wonderful job at making a great first impression.

Old friends- I had a few of my old friends drop in and check out the church yesterday. I love seeing people when you least expect it. The great thing is they are looking for a church home, and I think they found it this Sunday!

Community Group- Casey and I were very tired last night, but we still went to our community group. It was a blast! I have so much fun interacting with other couples, talking about parenting and our struggles with it. If you aren't involved in a community group, get plugged in, for your own good.

I love our church. It is so exciting to see what is happening in and through our church. Every Sunday I love to see what is going to happen: how many people are going to decide to make Jesus Christ their Savior, how many people are going to serve in ministry for the first time, how many people are going to make a new connection and get plugged in, what are our children learning for the very first time about Christ? It is truly awesome and hasn't lost it's amazement to me. Thank you to all you that attend Foundations Church, we are being a church that is truly just about people. I love it, keep it up. Invite someone to come with you this week. It will be great, and I promise you won't want to miss it! Have a great week.

It was just that good [Church]

This past Sunday's service was so good that I can't stop talking about it. In fact it is great because everyone I talk to from our church is still talking about what an incredible service it was too. I have to share this with all of you that read this blog. We had a gentleman come for just the 2nd time this week. Last week was his first time to come to church in 25 years! This week he came back to Foundations Church and raised his hand to receive Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. After service he talked to me about how much he didn't like coming to church so he stopped coming 25 years ago. But some of his friends told him that he had to check out Foundations Church so he did. He said everyone is just so nice, and I can't believe I am saying this but I actually can't wait for church every week.

This is what it is all about. This is why we started a church back in September. Because we know there are many people like this man, who stopped pursuing a relationship with Christ for one reason or another and they need to be reintroduced to the Savior of the World. The reason he loves our church isn't because of the amazing worship, or the incredible preaching, he said it is the people. So let me say to all you who attend Foundations Church, thank you for being Jesus with skin on this past Sunday. We are the extension of Christ, so let's be the church we should be, not the church we are use to seeing. I love all you and I am so pumped about what God is doing through all of us together. We truly are going to change Tulsa together. Have a great week.

Weekend Review [Church]

Amazing! Our service this past week was simply amazing. There was such an intimate presence of God in our service. I loved how everyone in the church worshipped and entered in this Sunday, too. I say it all the time, but I am thrilled at the direction Foundations Church is headed. Here are some of the highlights:

Worship Team: Our worship team did a great job in leading us in the new song "Arms Wide Open" by Hillsong United. It is a great song, and I pray it stays the cry of our church. Great job Shannon and the worship team. Thank you for your heart, not just to play music, but to lead us in worship.

Baby Dedication- It was such an honor to dedicate little Karlyn Crisp. I love the heart that Adam and Nadia have for their kids. If you don't know them, get to know them. You will be glad you did. If you want to dedicate your child, email us and let us know.

Testimony- We had a second time visitor come this week again. I got the chance to talk to him for a little bit after service. His name is Glenn, and he hasn't been to church in 25 years. He is loving Foundations Church and plans to keep coming. The really cool thing isn't that he is just coming, but yesterday he asked Jesus Christ to be his Savior! Man God is doing awesome and incredible things.

Volunteer of the Day- Mitch Williams and Dylan Troutman. Mitch and Dylan jumped right in and helped us tear down yesterday. They made tear down go so fast and easy. We love our college students and are so thankful that they are coming. Thank you guys for your help and your servant's heart.

Interruptions- We asked God to interrupt our assumptions of church yesterday. We will always be about people. I don't ever want to be a country club type church, but we will stay a municipal church. I don't ever want to be content with just us. Let's keep inviting God to interrupt us. If you missed this week download the podcast.... you will be glad you did.

I hope all of you have a great week. We had one of the biggest weeks yet at Foundations Church. Keep inviting your friends and coworkers, it is working and you are making a difference. Have a great week, and if you are traveling for July 4th, be safe and have fun.

Be There [Church]

This Sunday is going to be awesome! This isn't going to be a long post, but really make sure you are here this Sunday. It won't be the same on the podcast. Our worship team is doing a new song this weekend, it is by Hillsong United on their album Across The Earth and the song is Arms Open Wide! Go to Itunes download it, learn it, it is an incredible song. Our worship team will be doing a lot of songs of this CD so you might as well buy the whole thing. It is phenomenal.

Can I just say, I love the direction our church is going! I love the people that make up Foundations Church. The things that are happening and direction we are going is all due to God and His goodness and faithfulness. Make sure you are there this week, invite someone to come with you. This will be a great time to bring someone who has been burned by church, or think church is just a dead and religious place. I am praying big time for this Sunday, and can't wait for it to get here.

Also make sure you go and vote on our series coming up Rewind. I love you all, and hope you have a truly great week.

Weekend Review [Church]

Father's Day- I hope all of you had a great Father's day weekend. Hopefully all you dad's and to be dad's had a relaxing weekend. I ate a whole coconut cream pie, my wife made it and it is oh sooooo good, in two days! Yeah that is right I actually believe I ate the whole pie in a 24 hour period. The great thing is this I went and weighed at the gym. I lost 2 pounds! The takeaway for me is that I need to eat a whole lot more pie, it aids in weight loss for me!

Either/ Or- We finished our series, and I have to say this was a very fun and impactful series to preach. Yesterday I preached on Tiger or Daly, focusing on living a life of self control. You either have self control or no control. If you have a teenager going to college make sure they download the podcast.

Mic problems- I don't know what the problem with my microphone is, but I promise we will have it fixed by this week. If the quality of the podcast is poor, I apologize. This is something that drives me crazy so trust me it will be fixed.

Volunteer of the Week- Ashley Jones. Ashley is our new nursery coordinator and we are so thankful that she is stepping up in a big time way. Ashley is a take charge person, and we are so very blessed to have her and her husband Dustin not just coming but volunteering. They brought all the things we needed for our nursery needs, all by themselves. You guys are amazing, thank you for your heart and attitude Ashley.
Interruptions- The next two weeks are going to be really good for our church. If you are new it is going to be great for you to hear what direction our church is headed and what we are all about. If you aren't new it is going to be good to be reminded. I really just pray that God interrupts the way we have done church in the past. Don't miss this week and start inviting others to come with you.

The sickness is gone [Life]

Well this morning I was awakened at 6:15 by a big smile. Behind this big smile was my daughter Charli and she had no fever and was ready to play. My girls have been sick this week, both getting the same thing but as Ace Ventura would say "I have exercised the demon, and this house is clean." The sickness is gone, and since we have had to do a small quarantine with the girls in the house this week, they are ready to go. So we are going to go the mall for Casey, since she has been trapped inside with them. She will shop and the girls will go play at the play area. Then we will come home, eat lunch, go swim at the pool, come back let Chloe nap, and then go to the splash park. We will do everything under the sun that they have been wanting to do all week.

We have no big plans for this weekend, just chilling with my family. Of course I do plan on watching the US Open. There is no way it is going to beat last year's with Tiger winning with a messed up knee, but it will still be grandiose. My wife is also going to make me a homemade coconut pie for Father's Day! Oh watch out, it is my mom's recipe and it is just down right phenomenal. Also I have decided that I am going to start putting up pictures on my blog, because let's face it, it jut makes the blog that much more fun. Some things you need to know:

1. We are ending our Either/Or series, make sure you invite your dad, bring your kids and invite your friends this week. It is going to be a great service so make sure you come and bring someone with you.

2. The Man Trip video has been on the website for a while. You can download it from the podcast page, so go get you some man trip.

3. We are taking up a special offering for our teenagers to go to youth camp this week. I am glad we can invest in our youth and truly impact the next generation.

4. I hope you have a great weekend, celebrate with your husband and dad. Have a great, great rest of the week.

Less drive, more heart [Life]

So I admit it I have no problems being a person that is driven. I hang out with people who are driven, talk to people who are driven, and as a result it makes me more driven. Being a person who is driven is a good thing, but there is a problem. Usually those of us who are driven aren't real patient. I find myself these days need a lot more patience. As a dad who has a 4 year old and a 2 year old, patience is not an option. I will either develop patience or I will eat one of my kids.

But here is the real problem I truly have a dream that I think is totally going to become a reality for Foundations Church, for my life, my kids, and my marriage. This is not a bad thing, but I get so focused that once again I lose patience. I can get consumed with the destination that I focus on nothing else. I am reading a great book by Mark Batterson titled The Wild Goose Chase, and he say this on page 137 ( he also has a drive problem)
"I've come to realize that getting where God wants me to go isn't nearly as important as becoming who God wants me to be in the process. And God seems to be far less concerned with where I'm going than with who I'm becoming. You can't do the will of God if you don't have the heart of God."

That hurts even though this is the 5th time I've read that today. I need to be concerned with who I am becoming more than where I am going. I hope that is personal for you today, it is for me. I am going to focus more on the process, than just the destination. Take that in today and may that challenge you. I need a little less drive and lot more heart.

Weekend Review [Church]

Either/ Or- This past week we talked about you either trust or doubt. I think the highlight for me was wearing the life jacket, floaties, pool noodle, and right in the middle of preaching pictures being taken. I love our church, I love that everyone is so laid back and that we can have fun in church but at the same time life change happens every week. This has been a great series for me and I know has effected many others too.

Outreach - We had a group from Foundations this past week help run a fund raiser for a community center in North Tulsa. Their purpose was to raise funds to keep the center open to help keep kids off the street. They did a phenomenal job, and I am so proud of all of you that went to volunteer and spend time making a difference. Way to go!

Volunteer of the Day- Joe Millspaugh. Joe showed up early and helped us get everything set up for the children's department. Joe showed up and was a maniac this week on set up. Thank you Joe for coming early and helping set up go so quick! I know our kid's and parent's appreciate it, and so do I.

Man Trip Video- We will have the man trip video on the website soon. We had such a great time, and it was fun to watch all of the guys bite it and fall hard. My face plant while wake boarding was especially painful! Just in case you didn't get a chance to see it, take time to watch it. We are talking of doing a Man Day in August and once again going out to the lake for a day, we will keep you informed.

Traveling- Last night I went and spoke at a church in Mustang. They took up an offering for Foundations Church, because they want to sow into our ministry. Thank you Pastor McNabb for the opportunity and privilege to speak to your church. I had a great time and it is a great church.

I have a busy week this week, but a good week too. Make sure you invite someone to come with you to church this week. It is going to be Father's Day this Sunday, so invite your dad to come with you. We have a great Sunday planned, so don't miss it. Have a great week.

A slob forever [Family]

On Friday evening Casey, Charli, and myself will be going to a wedding for one of the couples in our church. Chloe is not going because Chloe wouldn't stay still for 5 minutes in a movie theater, much less a wedding. Anyways, Charli was asking me if she could dress up like a princess, and I said oh yeah. She smiles really big and then ask me "Are you going to dress handsome?" I respond "Yes, do you like it when I dress handsome." She crinkles her nose and says in a really high pitch voice "Nooooo, cause it makes you look like a icky boy." I laughed really hard and she laughed too.

Now I don't know what to think of her comments. I hope I don't look like a girl when I wear shorts and a t-shirt. But I love, love, love the fact that she thinks boys are icky and gross. Stay that way till about 18 Charli and I will be one happy dad. Hope you have a great weekend, and really make sure you are there Sunday it is going to be great.

Interrupt me [Church]

Since Sunday I have been praying for God to interrupt me. There are so many times I think I have God figured out, I have quite honestly tried to tame God and done quite well at keeping Him in a box. I have a prayer time with the staff and God is allowed to roam, but then it is back in the box. I have a time each day I read and pray God is allowed out, but then he has to get back in his cage. I need His influence and voice to speak to me when I prepare the sermon for Sunday, but then back in the box for Him. I have unintentionally down sized God, made Him fit in my mold, made The Creator of the Universe fit in my time slot, fit in my schedule, without interruption. My prayer is interrupt me, interrupt us. On Sundays interrupt us God, and do truly what you want to do, interrupt our schedule, and time frame, barge in on us and interrupt us. I am praying God runs wild on you, I am praying God runs wild on me. And that just when we have everything lined up, He interrupts you. While you are driving to work, that He interrupts you. While you are sleeping (now I am really messing with you), He interrupts you. I hope this rings true for you.

I can't wait to Sunday. Please make sure you invite and bring someone with you this week. Our service is going to be great, so don't you miss it. And have a great interrupted week.

Weekend Review [Church]

What a weekend it was! Man this was such a fun and tiring weekend, here are the highlights:

Man Trip 09- The men from Foundations Church went to Beaver Lake on Friday and Saturday. It was a beautiful lake, beautiful house we stayed in, and we had a great time. Thanks again to Cory, Kevin, Stan, and Steve for bringing out the boats and jet skis. There was so much to do that you really never did get bored. It was great seeing all the guys getting to know one another and make relationships. This will be a must do event for us every year!

Either/Or- We continued our series this Sunday on you are either going to pace yourself, or exhaust yourself. We are very busy and fast paced society, and we need to make sure we allow ourselves time to catch our breath. If you weren't there download the podcast.

Volunteer of the Day- Jonathan Samuels. Johnny is going to be interning with us this summer, and we plan on using the dog out of him. He is a senior at Southwestern University and plans on going into ministry. Thanks for all your help Johnny and we are excited to have you part of the team this summer.

Community Group Leaders- Shannon lead our community group leaders meeting Sunday afternoon. If you are interested in starting up or leading a community group, make sure you contact Shannon. Thank you Shannon for all you are doing.

Cory and Jennifer- My family had my best friend in town this week. Cory was in town for the Man Trip and his wife Jennifer came with him. It was so great to get to hang out with them this weekend. Jennifer is pregnant with their first child and I couldn't be more happy for them. It has been a long wait for them, and I am happy that their prayers have been answered. Thanks for coming up guys.

This is going to be a great week. I am very excited to speak on Either/ Or this week, I know it is going to help a lot of people. We had one of our engaged couples get married this past weekend Daniel and Rachel and have another engaged couple Jody and Sara getting married this weekend. It is so exciting to see the growth that is happening. Invite someone with you this week, and have a great week. See you Sunday!

Man Trip is coming [Life]

This Friday, I embark on an adventure with about 20 other men to Beaver Lake. Some might call it a retreat, other a get a way. Not here it is Man Trip, and it is going to be an absolute blast of a time and an adventure.

The blast part- We have 2 really kicking boats coming that could pull a 500 pound man out of the water like he is a 7th grade cheerleader! We also have 5 jet-skis, what!!!!! We are going to be like a lake gang. I am also thinking about pulling an Arthur Fonzerelli (The Fonz for all you Happy Day fans), in the fact I am going to ski in a leather jacket, go on jump, and jump over a cage full of sharks! Okay maybe not, but it could happen, it could Casey! Don't kill my buzz.

The adventure part- 20 men sleeping in one lake house. I know of 2 that snore louder than Darth Vader with a megaphone. This is going to be so much fun.

Please make sure and bring someone with you this Sunday. The series Either/Or has been a great series so make sure you invite and bring someone with you. Have an awesome week, and I will see you Sunday.

Weekend Review [Church]

I truly hope you were able to be there this past weekend. We had a great Sunday at Foundations Church, and all that left were so complimentary of the whole service. Shannon and the band did such a great job leading us in worship this week. I love that we have people not worried about performing, but they are focused on worshiping. Having said that, you all still sounded great. It was a great service, if you weren't here, make sure you download the podcast and the video that goes with it.

Video- The Pearson family did such an amazing job sharing their story. Thank you Jack, Jamie, Jacqueline, and Aubree, you guys did such a great job sharing your life's journey. What words and focus you left us with. The two things I will forever remember is... Jack "That is a lot of love", that is still kicking me around, what a great attitude. Jamie "God hasn't changed, are you going to change?" No matter how your situation has changed God still loves and is still faithful. Thank you guys so much for sharing.

Volunteer of the Week- Kaley Koser. Oh yeah Kaley it is you this week. Kaley has been out of town for a few weeks and her first time back, we needed help in a big way in our two year old class. Kaley went back and helped us out in a huge way. Thank You so much Kaley, it is people like you with your attitude that helps make Foundations a great church.

Man Trip- We leave for Foundations first ever Man Trip this Friday and Saturday. We are going to Beaver Lake, to wakeboard, water ski, jet ski, tube, and surf, yes I said surf. You will see! All I know is I am really looking forward to hanging out with all the fellas. We are going to have a great time.

Mt. Reiner- To Joe and Adam, good luck on your climb. I am excited and yet jealous of you both. I will be praying for you and go have a blast man. I want to hear all about it when you guys get back, go conquer that mountain man.

Hope you all have a great week, remember you are either jumping others or draining them. Go jump em.

All but the kitchen sink [Family]

This week our kitchen sink got stopped up. It was nasty too, the water wouldn't go down and it was just sitting there. If you know me I am not a handy man at all, I know that I am not a handy man too. So I wait and have Shannon our executive director help me out, because he is a pretty good handy man. So Sammy, Shannon, and myself are at my house getting ready to work on the kitchen sink.

Shannon tells me we need a bucket to catch all the water, and there was a lot, so I went and got the bucket. He undoes one of the pipes and Blam-O all the water comes gushing out, remember this water is nasty and there is a lot! Well the bucket fills up at the speed of light, and all of the sudden I hear Shannon go "Ah Oh, hurry run get a bucket it's going to go everywhere. I turn to run and go get towels because there is no way I am making to the garage and back in time with a bucket to catch the rest of the water. Sammy just starts running around and Shannon just gets out of the way! It was halarious, messy and nasty yes, but it was funny too.

But we did get the kitchen sink unclogged, got the kitchen floor cleaned too. I have no reason for telling this story it was just a funny moment. I guess I could get all spiritual and tell you to be ready for accidents to happen in your life, but that is depressing to me and is quite a stretch too. I do love our staff though, they are doing a great job.

Please invite someone to come with you this week. The service is going to be great, and I can promise you will leave feeling better than you felt when you came in. Have a great weekend.

Oh it's going to be good! [Church]

Alright so I admit that most of the time I think our services are going to be good. Okay so all the time I think our services are going to be good. But please make sure you don't miss this week! There is a video of a family in our church that is going to make you feel so encouraged, you will cry, you will laugh, but it is that good. I can't wait for this Sunday, if you have family and friends that haven't come before to Foundations or haven't been in a while, make sure you get them there. It is going to be that good!

I have had an extremely busy week this week. But strangely enough, even though it has been busy, it has been a fun week. I laughed so hard yesterday with our staff, that I was crying, spitting and holding my stomach, I was laughing so hard it hurt, but I loved it. I truly hope you are having a great week and if not I hope it turns around for you.

Have to give a shout out to my wife this week. I have been so busy, and haven't got to see my girls very much this week. I hate not being home, I hate even more not seeing my two little girls very much, and hate even more not seeing my wife very much. But she has been with the kids non stop and has been great. Thank you Casey for being a great wife first, and a phenomenal mom to our girls, you constantly amaze me. On a side note if you are never home, stop it! You aren't just cheating your spouse and kids, you are cheating yourself. Weeks like this are very rare for me, make it a goal to make them rare for you as well. Have a great one.

Weekend Review [Life]

Hope all of you are enjoying your Memorial Day Weekend. Here are a few things that have been going on with life and just get you caught up:

1. To Dallas: Casey and I and the girls went to see here parents this past weekend. We haven't been to her parent's house since Christmas, so it was great to see them. Charli and Chloe both love going there, because they get to do whatever we want. And Casey and I love going there because we always are able to get away at least one night for a date. Thanks Bob and Debbie.

2. Either/ Or: We continued our series this weekend on either/ or. This is going to be such a great series and I am having a blast preparing for it. This week we talked about you are either going to forgive or settle. Had a good turnout for it being Memorial Day Weekend. I love the direction our church is headed.

3. Golf and rain. We had our golf community group this Saturday. We had 12 guys show up to hit the links and I think everyone had a great time. The groups I played with Adam, Kevin, and Landry made me feel like a big sissy when it came to hitting the ball. They were blasting it of the tee, I looked like a little girl playing, but still did okay. I had a blast and as I talked to everyone else, I think everybody else did too.

4. Young Families Community Group- We went to our young families community group last night. And the guys totally killed the woman in the games, until the woman started cheating! Ha, ha. The group threw a surprise birthday party for Casey and myself. It was very kind of all of them to do that, and we are so glad to have great friends in our life. I think my kids are going to think my birthday last for 2 weeks, the older you get the longer your birthday last.

5. Volunteer of the Week- Sammy and Alyssa Floyd. The Floyd's have moved here from Oregon, to take on the giant task of our children's ministry and also help out with the youth ministry. They are doing such a great job with both. Thank you both for moving to Tulsa, for working full time jobs outside the church, but serving like full time staff. You guys are awesome and I love you and the hearts you have to reach people and make an impact in kids lives.

I hope you have a great week. I love, love, love pastoring and leading Foundations Church. I love the people we are reaching, the direction we are going. We have a ton of momentum right now, and am so thankful to Christ for all of his favor and blessings. Love all of you and make the most of the down time with your family. Get out and play with your kids, or go do something with your spouse, or create a memory with your friends, but make this week count.

The half marathon [Life]

So this last Saturday was the Aquarium half marathon here in Tulsa. This is the very first race I have ever done. I do have to say that there was a buzz in the atmosphere, everyone gearing up to go and run. Shannon Dalrymple our Executive Director ran his first race as well, and ran a 5K around 30 minutes. He did a great job and has come a long way as far as running goes.

I had a few guys joining me in the run. There was Adam, Bill, and Tim all there to run the half marathon. The hardest part was starting off, there were so many people! It was hard to jog because there was no room to really jog, so you kind of shot the gaps and ran in a hole and then jogged a little, then ran to another little hole and jogged. But after a while everyone spread out and it got easier and harder. You see there was a reason everyone started spreading out, because everyone started getting tired.

I did well and have to thank Bill a ton because he keep pushing me and telling me not to stop. About the 7th all the way to the 9th mile, I just ran out of gas and wanted to stop. I felt like an 80 year old man, my hips started hurting, my ankles were hurting, my feet hurt, it was not fun. But from mile 10 to 13 I got my second wind and everything went well. As far as having a sickness for running and getting the bug, its not happening. I am glad I did it, I ran the whole time and finished in 1 hour and 55 minutes, but I am not going to turn into a huge half marathon runner. From now on it is all 5K's and 10K's.

To celebrate I ate a large pepperoni pizza from Salvastono's, watch cause I am getting excited now! Also had a coke and watched a great movie. It was a great day. Hope you have a great rest of the week, can't wait till our men's golf group Saturday.

Weekend Review [Church]

Either/ Or
We started our new series Either/ Or and it started off better than any other series we have ever done. This past week we talked about are you going to live out of boxes or bags. If you couldn't be there make sure you download it from our podcast page. We had 14 people raise their hands for salvation or to recommit their life to Christ! It is going to be a very impactful and fun series.

The Plunge- We baptized a whole family this week at the Plunge. It was awesome to see the Pettick family come and take the plunge. So happy for Amy Pettick who has brought her mom, brother, sister, and half the town of Begg! I love our baptisms. When each person comes up out of the water, our people are screaming, whistling, and so excited about the step each person is taking in their walk with Christ. It is so fun and it feels like our congregation is getting ready to jump in the pool with us, they are so excited.

Volunteer of the Week- Kyle Detring. Kyle stepped up in a huge way this week for us. Randy our regular sound guy was out of town, and Kyle stepped in a did a great job for us! Thank you Kyle for all your help and your wonderful attitude.

More to come- I am going to post about the half marathon. I have some pictures I am going to put up. I hope you have a great week this week.

Rain, rain go away [Life]

Okay so enough rain already! I am getting ready to start building an ark if anybody wants in on the project. I really do need the rain to go away, the half marathon is this Saturday and I really don't think it sounds fun to run in rain the whole time. Plus my kids are going crazy not being able to go outside. So rain go away please.

So I have started a new book and I am enjoying it. It is called a Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson, he is a great author. I read something yesterday about the Sabbath it means "to catch ones breath". I know all of us find ourselves busy with work, family, hobbies, and life. But for many of us we need to take a weekly Sabbath and allow ourselves to catch our breath. I know this is very true for me, I need to shut my computer and cell phone off, not worry about the church, and allow myself time to catch my breath. So I hope that you will join me in this challenge of learning to take a Sabbath. Warning though, it is a lot harder than it sounds, especially for all you driven people out there.

Also on a side note, I know Star Trek has come out this past weekend. But next time they release a Star Trek movie I am going to try to see how many people I can get to go to the first showing and all dress up as Star War characters, and carry posters that talk about how much better Star Wars is than Star Trek! I really don't care one way or the other, I just think it would be hilarious, to watch all the Trekies freak out. I know random. Hope you all have a great day despite the rain.

Weekend Review [Church]

I hope all of you had a great mother's day or you made mothers day special for your mom and wife. Things are going really well at Foundations Church, it seems like we have a ton of momentum going on right now. Our attendance has been up, every week we are seeing people raise their hands for life change, families are connecting, and our more and more people are getting plugged into our community groups. Things are going great and I am so thrilled to see how excited our people are! Let's keep going and reaching our community.

Volunteer of the Week- John Watkins. John did a great job this week leading us in worship while Shannon and Cassandra were on a well deserved break. We went acoustic style and John did a great job, as well as Cameron and Marty. So excited that our band is growing and that everyone has a great attitude. Thanks John for doing a great job this week!

Foundations Kids- Our kids area is exploding. In the second week of our 2 year old class we had 7 kids! With another 12 kids in the preschool peak. God is doing awesome things. Thank you everyone who is serving in our kids department, you are making a huge difference.

The Plunge- Our next baptism is this coming weekend. If you haven't signed up yet, make sure you do. You can do it online. Also for all you getting baptized you have a meeting with Greg Fisher, our business administrator at the school pool at 10. So excited for those of you taking the next step in your walk with Christ.

Either/ Or- We are starting our new series Either/ Or this week. This is going to be a great series to invite your friends too. There are evite cards on our website. Don't miss the beginning of this series.

On a side note I have my half marathon this coming weekend. Ran 8 miles today, felt pretty good, so we will see how it goes. Hope you have a great week, and do nice okay!

The junk [Life]

So I have awakened each morning since Wednesday with all kinds of sinus junk.....not just in my throat, but resting oh so wonderfully in my chest. This has made it near impossible to go out and jog, plus the weather isn't helping my cause either. I tried once and I looked like a guy who just stopped smoking 5 packs a day, and decided to jog to get over his addiction. I was coughing and wheezing, it was actually a pretty funny sight.
This weekend we are celebrating my youngest daughter's birthday. Chloe is turning 2 this Saturday, and I love her so much and am so thankful to have her. God has blessed us with 2 very beautiful and healthy little girls. I couldn't be happier. I love the age they are because right now I am not just dad but their best friend too. It is truly awesome. I wouldn't miss this part of their life for all the money in the world. I am determined to always have a close relationship with my girls. I want to go out with them just for fun, and do what they want to do, not drag them out to the golf course and say "wow wasn't that fun!" So we have family coming in this weekend to celebrate.... both set of parents for the party. So, it is pretty cool that we get to have both of our mom's here for Mother's Day.

Please don't miss this Sunday. There are many of us that our mommas have said so much to us throughout our lives, that we can still learn from their advice today. That is why my sermon is called Momma Said. Don't miss it and bring your mom and your friends with you. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! I plan on eating lots of cake and ice cream!

Favorite moments [Life]

Many of you know that last week my family went to Disney World! Yes we have been planning this trip and saving for 2 years, and it finally came. We had such a blast. My sister planned everything out and she did an amazing job of it. My parents came, Casey's mom, my sister and her family, and then some friends and we had such an amazing time.
My favorite moments were the following:

1. Holding Charli and watching the fireworks. I always kind of smirk and giggle when I see Disney commercials, because they are so magical. (very sarcastic) But our 2nd night at Magic Kingdom, we stayed for the parade and fireworks at night. I got to hold my four year old Charli the whole time the fireworks were going off over Cinderella's Castle, with her cheek pressed right against mine. Immediately when they were done she feel asleep on me. It was one of the greatest moments ever for me and I will remember watching the awe of everything in her eyes.
2. Chloe on Small World. There is a ride called It's a Small World, it has like 500 dolls dancing and singing and Chloe loved it. She rode around on the boat mimicking the dolls as they drummed and just waved to all of them. I really had a great time just watching Charli and Chloe take it all in.
3. Eating a chocolate muffin with Casey while the kids napped. Maybe it was that the kids were asleep and that was the real magic. But this chocolate muffin was, first of all, the size of a toddlers head, and was like eating chocolate cake! So good and very relaxing.

Now it is back to running. I am going for 10 miles tomorrow and then I will bring it back down for the race. I hated 9 miles but we will see how 10 goes. If you see a very tall man passed out on the side of the road stop and help him, good chance it is me. The half marathon is May 16th here in Jenks. I really think I am ready for it. My body is sore from missing just one week of being in the gym and jogging. Getting old stinks man. Hope you have a great rest of the week. Don't miss this Sunday, we have a great sunday ready for Mother's Day. Also we have a new evite card on our website. So invite someone to come with you, awesome things are happening at Foundations. Have a great one!

Weekend Review [Church]

We had a great service this week at Foundations! It was one of the more relaxed and fun sermons we have done, and I had a blast preaching. Our response was great too, we had over 6 people raise their hands for salvation! I love being involved in a church that is seeing lives change every week. We concluded our series Oz, and it was a great series. This weeks sermon is titled Momma Said, don't miss it.

Volunteer of the Week- Now I don't say this person is the volunteer of the week lightly, but this week it is my wife Casey Graves. Casey is a massive help to Foundations Church and has our children's ministry running so smoothly along with Sammy. Casey got a new class up and going this past week, a class just for our 2 year olds. This is a much needed class because our nursery has become overran. In our first week we had 6 two year olds in this class. Thank you so much babe for all your help, your belief, and energy that you are putting into Foundations!

Corrections- I have to correct a statement I made yesterday. Yesterday morning I said that Shannon Dalrymple wrote the new song we did "Shower my love". However Shannon is an imposter! Actually I just had my information wrong, but it is fun to name call. John Watkins on or our guitarist wrote it! Awesome job John what a great song, can't wait to sing it again.

Membership Sunday- We had a good turnout yesterday for our first ever Membership Sunday! Thank you Dustin and Ashley Jones for helping us with the pizza, go Cheezies go. We had a great day, so glad there was so much interest by people to become members at Foundations. In fact we had a person that had only come for their second time yesterday that signed up to be a member. I love the direction Foundations Church is headed.

The Plunge- Don't forget to sign up for water baptism on the 17th of this month. If you have never or have recommitted your life since then get baptized. You will be glad you did.

After a solid week off from running I start back hard this week. My race is the 16th of this month, so I better get going big time. I am so glad to be back home. We had a blast at Disney World, but really I love what I am doing and I love being back here. Hope you have a great week this week.

I am back baby! [Life]

I am back from our vacation! It was great getting away and just spending time with my family, but man am I glad to be back. I am sooo excited about this week, please make sure you bring someone that hasn't been to Foundations with you this week. Can't wait to see all of you. Really me and my family missed being there and missed all of you. It is great to love what I do so much, God has truly blessed us. So let's get after it and reach our community and bring someone with you tomorrow! We are ending our series Oz this week, so make sure you are there for the conclusion. Can't wait to see all of you tomorrow.

It is beautiful [Life]

Man it is beautiful outside this week! I went on a 6 mile jog this morning (breaking in some new shoes) along riverside. It was 7:15 in the morning around 65 to 70 degrees a light breeze, perfect weather for a jog. I started on my jog and in the first 5 minutes of it I see this huge bird soaring over the Arkansas River, it is a bald eagle and it soars right over me into this tree. It was one of the scariest and coolest things I have ever seen. I thought for a moment he was going to try and pick me up by me head and eat me, so I started running a little faster! But I never knew there were bald eagles in Tulsa, but there it was. My jog was great, I hate 9 miles, but I love 6. I made it and had an average pace just under 8 minutes per mile. I can't express how beautiful it was outside this morning, make sure you get outside this week and enjoy the great outdoors.

We've had a lot of visitors come to Foundations Church the past 2 weeks, and it has been awesome to see and hear their response. Let's keep making sure we keep inviting and bringing others. This is going to be a great Sunday, we are talking about anger and how do you deal with it. So don't you dare miss it.

On a big side note, I just want to remind all of us to enjoy the journey. One thing I have been doing with my family, is I don't watch any TV till my kids go to bed. I want to make sure I am enjoying them to the fullest and not just zoning out to the TV. So many times the only time we enjoy our family and friends is when we go on a vacation or on the weekend. But leave the stress of work at work, don't let your worries ruin the way you spend your time. Enjoy the journey you are in now, the place of life you are in now, because you are going to arrive at the destination a lot sooner than you think. Have a great week, and get outside it is beautiful. Just watch out for man eating eagles!

Weekend Review [Church]

OZ- Our series Oz, is going great. This past week we talked about the gottas to get out of Oz. We continue to see God move and have people giving their heart to God every week. It is so exciting to see what God is doing and the momentum that is happening at Foundations.

Spring Shindig- Our spring shindig was a blast. Thank you to all of you that helped set up, serve, clean up, and everyone who brought food. Ashley Jones those cookies were amazing, thanks for cooking sooooo many of them. It was a lot of fun to see our young church having fun together. One of the most exciting things to me, was seeing all the people talking to one another and building relationships with one another. I love seeing everyone plug in, fitting in, and belonging. It was also a fun to watch all the kids on the huge slide, next time we will have to get two of them! Forget the obsticale course, although Kevin and Becky's race was entertaining.

Volunteers of the Week- Stan, Adam, Kevin, and Tiny. Thank you guys so much for burning all the hair off of your arms while you cooked burgers and hotdogs. Man you guys were out there sweating, battling the smoke, and smelling like smoke and grease, all while having a great time. Thank you guys for having such a great attitude and for serving in such an awesome way. You guys made it happen, and the burgers and hotdogs were great.

Foundations Kids Makeover- Our kids area is growing fast! It has really started taking off the last 2 months and we have a ton of kids right now. So we are having to makeover our kids area. Starting May 3rd we are now offering a two year olds class. This is an awesome thing happening in our church, but we need volunteers to help us out. So if you aren't plugged into a ministry get involved in our children's department. Be involved....not just because we need you, but it is a very crucial and important ministry of our church.

We have had some of the biggest weeks we have ever had at Foundations Church these past two weeks. Let's keep it up! I love our church and love being a part of what all God is doing in Foundations Church. I hope you have a great week, start inviting people to come with you this week. Have a great one.

9 stinks [Life]

Okay so I ran 9 miles yesterday, and 9 now is officially the most hated number ever! Man it stunk, I really thought I was going to stop and give up, and I hate quitting. So now I have decided that I hate the number 9, it is a stupid number and I will from this day on pretend that it now longer exists. That will teach it. I did jog the whole time though and I think the new running shoes I just got today is going to help out big time.

On another topic, Casey and I are going on a date tonight and I can't wait. Can you say Chang's and some chocolate cake, woo hoo. I love getting away with my wife, she is my best friend, and she is way hot. So I get to spend the evening with Casey on a date. It is going to be fun.

Spring Shindig- Okay all you that come to Foundations.... Make sure you invite and bring people with you this Sunday. It is going to be a great day with a lot of fun. Even if it rains, all the festivities after service are going to be inside. So let's have our biggest day ever this Sunday. I really believe it is going to be a great day for Foundations Church! I hope you have a great weekend, and that you join with me on my boycott of 9.

Car cleaning [Life]

So I love cleaning my cars. I think it is because it is a mindless activity and my mind doesn't think about anything else but making the car clean. Yesterday I was cleaning the car with my oldest daughter Charli, and we cleaned the outside of the car. Actually she ran around squirting me with the water, and I cleaned the car and screamed like a little girl, because that water was cold! But we finished with the car and then all of the sudden, I get in the car and it is dirty! Here it is, I have everything looking shinny and clean and nice on the outside, but the inside is all nasty. The inside to me is, way more important to be clean because this is where I ride and it is just gross when the inside of the car is nasty.
I started thinking of our lives and what Jesus said about the inside of your life is what counts not the outside. (Justin pharaphrase) So many times we focus and spend so much time making sure the outside of our life looks so good and presentable, but the inside is in horrible shape. It is crucial for us to make sure we focus and keep our spirit, our heart clean, because this is the important part of life. Don't spend all your time making your outside life presentable, when it is the inside (the heart) that is the most important.

Tomorrow I go for 9 miles. Was going to go today but my body is dragging from my workouts this week. So tomorrow I am going for it. I will let you know how it is going.

Staff- Can I just say our staff is amazing! They are doing such a great job and are such a huge and valuable part of Foundations Church. Shannon, Fish, and Sammy and your wives thank you so much for all you have done and continue to do.

Shindig- Foundations Church invite your friends this week. We are having inflatables, food, and giveaways all after service this week. If you know families or friends that haven't come or haven't been here in a while, please make sure you invite them. I am pumped for this week, and really think if we all do our part this could be a bigger week than last week. Have a great rest of the week.

Weekend Review [Church]

Our biggest yet- This Sunday's service was our biggest service we have ever had at Foundations Church! It was great to see everyone come, many of you bringing your families and friends. We had a great day, celebrated Easter, and saw people give their life to Christ for the first time. This is what it is all about. Way to go Foundations Church, thank you so much for inviting and bringing people with you!

Volunteer of the Week- Stephanie Pickney and Amanda Nussbaum. Stephanie and Amanda did a great job at our Foundations Kids check in area. They were so welcoming and got kids checked in and it ran so smoothly. Also they organized and ran our Easter Egg Hunt after service, there were eggs everywhere! You both did a great job thank you so much.

The Umbrella Crew- Also huge thanks to all our guys out in the parking lot with their umbrellas. You guys did an incredible job outside. I heard tons of people comment how thoughtful and appreciative they were to have people walk with them from the parking lot with umbrellas. Thanks for getting soaked this week for Foundations Church. You guys set such a great first impression, thank you so much.

New Song- John Watkins deserves a shout out this week. The first song our worship team did this week, our very own John Watkins wrote. It is a great song and John you are very talented. Thanks for all your time and hard work in tearing down and setting up every week. Very thankful for you bubba.

This week- We are getting ready for hopefully a bigger week this week. Our Spring Shindig is happening this week. We will be continuing our series OZ, and after service we will have burgers and hotdogs, inflatables for the kids, basketball in the gym and giving away a new grill. Please make plans to be there and bring someone with you. I really think this week can be bigger than last week. I love the direction we are heading as a church, lets keep reaching people. Hope you have a great week.

The Skinny [Church]

Yesterday was my 8 mile jog. This was probably the best I have felt since I have been jogging longer distances. I made the 8 and made it pretty comfortably, it was work but I liked it. I got up early and it was a little rainy and it was me versus the elements. At least this is what I need to think like to help me with my jog, a me versus the world mentality. It was hardly sprinkling. The thing I have to remember is to drink water and lots of it after my jog. I find myself mildly dehydrated about 2 hours after my jog. So note to self. You know what is crazy and weird to me? That fact that I run 5K's and that is my short jog! What have I become? (Say in high pitch voice for full effect)

The skinny on the weekend:
1. Casey's parents are going to be at our house today around noon. The girls can't wait they are going to have a blast. I love that Casey and I both have great parents and that we love seeing both sets of them.

2. Easter Egg Hunt- This sunday we are having an Easter Egg Hunt for all the kids after service. Since it is going to rain, we will plan on doing it inside. So parents don't forget your kid's Easter Baskets.

3. Updated Website- As you have probably seen, we are adding a lot of new features to the website.For our new series we have the intro video on line and an evite. Please use all the tools of our website to invite your friends, family, and neighbors. We are constantly working on how to make our website the best it can be, as well as our church.

4. Invite- This is the begging of our new series OZ. Please make sure you invite people to come with you to church this week. A personal invite is the best way to get people to come to Foundations. I know we are going to have a great week at Foundations.

5. Make sure you are a PIG this week. Pray, Invite, and Go.

I hope you have a great weekend. This is a very special weekend for all of us, so take time to just be thankful for all that Christ has done for us. Have a great weekend.

Maintenance Required [Life]

Yesterday I had the joy of taking my car in for it's 30,000 mile required maintenance. They did all kinds of things to it: flushed the transmission and brake fluid, oil change, and all sorts of other things. When I brought it in to the dealership they talked about how great it was that I brought it in and how important it was too. They said that keeping routine maintenance on a car keeps big problems from happening to and in the car, helps keep it running smooth and helps it not break down. I asked why most people don't bring theirs in and they said this. There are two reasons we here the most... 1.)they forgot 2.) they are too busy to bring it in.

Sound familiar? It seems like the hardest part of Christianity to me is my daily walk, my devotional time. Making time to pray, making time to read the bible, making time to just be with Christ. It is hard for a ton of us, and most of the time the 2 most common excuses we don't... too busy or we forgot. The one thing I am learning is that it is crucial for us as individuals to keep up our spiritual maintenance. If we go too long without it, most of the time we will find our lives encountering big problems, our life not running as smoothly as it should, and eventually for some a breakdown of some sort. And the deal is a lot of this could be prevented if we just took the time to allow some maintenance to happen on our lives. So let me encourage you, whether you are crazy busy at work or with the kids, take some time for some maintenance this week.

On a side note, I jogged a 5K just over 24 minutes yesterday, and am preparing myself for my 8 mile jog tomorrow. I am looking forward to the run, because I am unstoppable and unbeatable! I will let you know how it goes. I can't wait for service this weekend, the new series OZ is going to be great. Our worship time is going to be pretty amazing too, make sure you start inviting people to come with you this week. Also you can send an ecard invite from our website, pretty cool. I really think we are going to pack out the auditorium this weekend and see a ton of lives change for Christ, Woo Hoo! Hope you have a great rest of the week.

Weekend Review [Church]

Stuff and Toss- This past Sunday we did our stuff and toss at Foundations Church. It went over great, we stuffed and tossed around 3,000 eggs. Thank you so much to everyone who stuck around and helped. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and I know it is going to be a creative and effective way to get our name out in the community. Thanks again.

Children's and Nursery- Our children's area is growing. We are growing quite a bit in our nursery and preschool area. Thank you to all of you who are serving in this ministry, and teaching and loving on our kids. If you aren't helping in any ministry yet, we need your help in the Children's Ministry so let us know.

Services- Sunday services seem to be getting better and better. I loved getting to do communion as a church. Remember that it isn't about me, play for an audience of 1. We also had a great response at the end of our message. I love that so many people are asking Christ into their heart, that is what it is all about.

PIG- Don't forget to be a PIG this week. Join us in prayer, inviting and going. I know the more that do this the more effective our church is going to be in reaching people. And the great thing is you are being used to build God's kingdom.

This week is going to be crazy busy but great. I can't wait for our new series OZ to start, and we have some cool things planned for Easter Sunday as well. We will have an easter egg hunt after service for the kids, and the service is going to be great. I have to get back to running hard this week, I will keep you all up to date on how it is going. Have a great week.

Busy Month [Church]

Man I can't wait to see all that is going to happen this April for Foundations Church. We have so much going on that is going to help our church. We are heading in a great direction and I love being the pastor of this church. So what all is happening this weekend:

Friday Night: Casey and I are going on a date. We love getting away by ourselves for a date night. We try and do this once a week, but it is really hard to make it happen that much. But we have been doing good going out regularly.

Saturday: Have a little league soccer game that Charli aka Mia Hamm, is going to play in at 11. Then have a wedding to go to. My parents will be in town too and so we will hang out with them.

Sunday: Got set up and service, which I am excited about and you won't want to miss. But then we have our stuff and toss. I love that we are getting the word out about Foundations, in a fun and creative way. I am praying that we see a 50 new people come to Foundation church this month.

I hope all of you have a great weekend and I am looking forward to seeing many of you this Sunday.

A Break [Life]

This week is a busy week for me. We are getting ready for April to be an amazing month for Foundations. We are working hard to make sure that our new series OZ is one that you will remember. Also we are getting ready for this Sunday, we have our Stuff and Toss after service so we are making sure we have enough eggs and cards to toss. So as a result I have decided that this week, I am cutting back my jogging. My body is just tired this week, I am still jogging but we will see if I attempt my 8 mile jog or not. Sometimes you just need to take a break and let your body rest. I think this is true for many of us in life, we need to take time for us, and allow ourselves to get away with our family and rest. I have heard many people, especially pastors, say I haven't taken a vacation in 2 years! To that I say you are stupid. Harsh I know but you are cheating yourself and your family, from experiencing a break. Plus when you take a break you a renergized and ready to go, your in a much better mood, and have a more clear perspective on things. So to all of you that read this take some time this week and take a break. It doesn't have to be a vacation, but just do something that you love and that is relaxing.

On a side note my oldest daughter Charli, had soccer practice last night and she scored 2 goals! What is up, I think we have the next Mia Hamm. Get ready Nike, because here we come. It was fun to see her out there in all her soccer stuff, running and having fun. I love being a dad, I just have to make sure I am not that crazy parent out there that resembles Will Ferrell.

Foundations Church, please start inviting people to come with you to OZ. Man it is going to be great, we are sending a direct mailer out to 40,000 people and doing the egg toss. But we need you to invite people to come with you, this is the best way to get people to come with you period. Easter is the most likely time someone will come with you to church, so make sure you invite them to come. Love all of you and hope you have a great week and take a break too!

Weekend Review [Church]

I am unstoppable and unbeatable. If you weren't here this past Sunday you really need to download the podcast. I am so glad we didn't cancel our service Sunday, because it was a great day. If you weren't there we did miss you, and hope to see you this week.

Volunteer of the Week- Josh Lade. Josh is one of our teenagers that come every week to Foundations. Josh showed up early to help set up, and then went and shoveled the snow of the sidewalk. What a stud you are Josh and thanks for all your help.

Stuff and Toss- We had a ton of you bring eggs for our stuff and toss next week. Thank you guys so much for your help. I think it is going to be great to get our name out in the community. We are going to have a blast Sunday, so make sure you bring your eggs and help us stuff em and toss em.

Snow Men- Charli, Chloe, and I took full advantage of the 9 inches of snow this past weekend. We went outside and threw snowballs, built a snowman, and made snow angels. We had so much fun. Hope you guys were safe out there in it, but that you had fun too.

The Office- Every time that office comes on and the theme song comes on with it, Charli and I run around the living room with our arms out dancing and yelling hey. Yesterday we watched one that we had recorded on our DVR, and I was tired from Sunday, but the music came on. So I got up and we started dancing, because I just don't want this tradition to end. Let me encourage all of you out there to enjoy and experience life, and not just survive it. I am going to be very sad when this habit and tradition ends. But until it does, no matter how tired I am I will get up and dance and yell hey.

Hope all of you have a great week!

All I could handle [Life]

Well I ran this morning and I went 7.25 miles, and it was all I could handle. It took just a little over an hour, and I was really tired. Thanks to Joe, I took some water with me this time to make sure I didn't get heat stroke (which wouldn't have been a problem this morning it was freezing) or dehydrated. Man I often wonder why I said I would do a half marathon. I enjoy running and love the way I feel afterwards, but today I didn't want to at all. But I got up started running, got tired, kept running, got tired, then got my second wind and then at times just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and kept going. I find myself learning a lot from running. It is a reality in life that there are going to be days that we don't want to do certain things or don't "feel" like doing certain things.

Maybe we don't feel like being a good spouse, a responsible parent, a person of character and integrity, but God hasn't called us to act on what we feel like that day. I want to encourage you maybe your tired this week, maybe things haven't been going your way, maybe the kids are driving you crazy and you feel like quitting, you feel like staying in bed. Get up and keep moving, keep doing the right thing, and keep putting one foot in front of the other, you will be glad you did.

On a side note, I think me and my family are getting out of town this week. We haven't been out of town since Christmas! We just need to get away and relax and have fun. But I will be back Saturday and ready to go for Sunday. I can't wait for this Sunday preaching a sermon called Quitter, make sure you bring someone with you this week. Hope you have a great one.

Weekend Review [Church]

Squeezed is done: We finished up our series Squeezed this past Sunday. It has been amazing to hear all the feedback that has come from this sermon series. I am believing for some great things to happen in the lives of our people, and in our church. It excites me to see people getting serious about putting God first in their financial life. I can't wait to see what God is going to do.

Volunteers of the Week: Our Children's Workers. Every week we have a great group of adults that volunteer to work in our children's area. The truth is we just couldn't do all we are as a church without all our children's workers help. I want to mention three this week: Regina Amini it was her first time in Preschool Peak and I heard she held her own! Thanks so much for serving Regina. Lauren Davis and Ashley Lynn both worked in our nursery this week. Lauren has been helping out just recently and we are so thankful for your help. Ashley served two weeks in a row, so thank you big time. All of you are great and are making Foundations Church and amazing place to be. Thank You!

Young Families Community Group- I love the community group that Casey and I are involved in. We had all the families come to our house and we had a great time. I enjoy just getting to sit back and hear what's going on in people's lives and making our friendships even more meaningful. WEe are so thankful for our church family.

We Need Your Eggs- Please don't forget to bring big plastic eggs for our Egg Toss in the neighborhoods. We also need small ones filled with candy for the Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday. This is going to be a great way to get our name out in the community. Plus it is going to be fun to see all the kids racing to pick up Easter Eggs.

I have a busy week in store for me, but a good one. If you were gone this week we missed you. There were a bunch of people gone, and I am glad Spring Break is over now. So make sure you are at Foundations this week, it is going to be amazing. Hope you have a great week.

5 AM Prayer [Church]

I think I am getting ready to start forming a new habit in my life. 5 AM prayer. Sounds crazy but I have been up since 4:45 this morning and have been able to pray for about an hour now totally uninterrupted. Think about that, especially all you with kids, no interruptions just you and God one on one for an hour. It has been great and I have been doing this about once a week for 2 months, and it is absolutely the most peaceful and relaxing thing I do. My wife thinks I am crazy because she needs her sleep, but I wake up ready to go with no wake up time needed. Wake up time consist of this: you don't want anyone to talk to you, smile at you, or bother you. You simply make your way to the coffee and your means of communication is to grunt and moan until 30 minutes have passed, and then you can be spoken to.

Since starting Foundations Church, my prayer life has increased like crazy. There are so many things God as put on my heart for this church to accomplish. The thing is I know it's not just up to me and the staff, but it is about God being bigger than any person or thing in our church. I am so hungry for God, for Him to do something that is just mind blowing and crazy to everyone. What is so strange is I feel like something big is getting ready to happen in and for Foundations Church, and I can't wait for every Sunday. I love that ministry for the first time doesn't feel like a job or a have to. It is weird but I love to set up, love to see what is going to happen, whose lives are going to be changed, and to see what God is going to do. Please bring someone with you this Sunday it is going to be a great day. I hope you have a relaxing weekend, and to see you on Sunday. Who knows maybe some of you will start getting up at 5 too.

Heat Stroke [Life]

Okay so yesterday was a beautiful day here in Tulsa, it was a nice 82 degrees. I had lunch with a couple in our church, and decided that I would go for a jog around 3 that afternoon. I had been working hard all day and took off work a little early. Well Tuesdays have become my long jog days, as I am attempting to jog a half marathon in May. I started off, listening to my Rocky soundtrack, and got to 4 miles and then it I started feeling it. By feeling it I mean feeling what I ate for lunch, Pei Wei Honey Crisp Chicken. Let me advise if you are going to jog 6 miles, don't eat fried food an hour and a half before. I started cramping and sweating like crazy, so I turn my Eye of the Tiger song up louder. I finished my 6 miles yesterday, I didn't stop jogging, but it was the hardest thing I have done.
After I finished yeah I was happy, but I started chilling and getting light headed. Too much Pei Wei, too little water, and way too much sweating. I say all this to point out that many times the greatest accomplishments don't come easy. Don't quit, don't give in, even though it may hurt, even though things may be going bad. Blair your Eye of the Tiger song and push through. God has called us to accomplish amazing things for Him, things other people would say are impossible, but be ready because it will take all the strength you have.
On a side note this is the farthest I have run so far. I am going to make sure I have some Gatorade and don't run in the middle of the day next time too. Hope you have a great week.

Weekend Review [Church]

Living on a Prayer- Our series Squeezed is going really well. This past week we talked about how to not go through life having to live our financial life on a prayer (meaning God get me out of this mess). We talked about using wisdom and diligence in our financial life. If you weren't there make sure you listen to the podcast.

Friendly- Casey and I had two families from out of town come to the church, one for the first time. Both of them commented about how friendly and welcome they felt. Every week we hear how welcome people feel and how friendly our church is. I am so glad to be part of a church that is about people. A church that makes people feel like they belong.

Volunteer of the Week- Randy Detring- Randy is our sound man. Every Sunday Randy shows up early and helps set up and stays late to tear down. In fact 2 weeks ago Randy got called into work, but talked to his boss and got time off to come help us out! That is dedication and we are so thankful for, Randy and people like him are making all the difference at Foundations!

Testimony- This Sunday I read a testimony at offering time of what God is doing in the life of Daniel Scott. It is awesome to see all that God is doing the lives of our people. Please let us know what God is doing in your life from finances to relationships. Email to us whatever you think we would want to know.

Momentum- I am so excited about what God is doing in Foundations Church. I see all our people excited, our staff excited, and there is such a hunger for God. I love being the pastor of this church, and really I know God is preparing us for big things. We had great attendance this past week even with Spring Break. Let's keep praying, keep inviting people who aren't coming to Foundations!

5 miles and snow [Life]

Okay so it is March 12th and it is snowing! What? Just Tuesday I jogged 5 miles (still getting ready for the half marathon coming in May) and then 2 days later it is snowing. And it struck me you never really know what is going to happen with the weather, but even more than that you never know what is going to happen in life.
Starting a church has been the hardest and the most fun thing I have ever been a part of. There are days I smile and love every aspect, and then there are those mornings I wake up at 4 AM stressed out from finances, to needs I know of, to is anyone going to show up, what if people stop coming. But I am one of those guys that try to really reason God out, I think okay if this family comes, and this person comes, and they show up, we could have the most people ever, and I think if we do this and that then this will happen and we can grow this much. I think we should be and need to be strategic, but it is more than that. In a lot of ways I try to reason God out and try to make His ways and timing my way and timing. The truth is you just never know what God is going to do. I am a huge believer in Jeremiah 29:11 - that says He has great plans to prosper you and give you an amazing future. My problem is I think I can make God work in my time and in my way, and He is just too big to do that. So maybe you are waiting on God, maybe you are trying to make God fit in your timing and do it your way because if fits your logic, but just like jogging 5 miles one day and it snowing the next, you truly never know what God is going to do. The fact is this, it is probably way bigger than you ever thought or dreamed.
Hope you are having a great week, and hope to see you Sunday. It's going to be an awesome Sunday, and who knows what God is going to do!

Weekend Review [Church]

Time Change - Can I say as a father who has two little girls, I am so glad we sprung forward this past week. I use to hate springing forward because you lost a whole hour of sleep. But the great thing for me is that my kids will now sleep past 6:15 in the morning, yeah Daylight Savings Time.

Squeezed - This Sunday we continued our series called Squeezed. Man, it was a really great week. I know that the principles we shared about the Law of the Harvest is really going to help a ton of people. If you weren't there please listen to the podcast, because it will help your financial life so much. I hope you are joining us on our 4 month challenge too. It is going to be amazing to see what God does financially in people's lives that are coming to Foundations. In fact, I have already have one testimony. I will share it soon, I am so pumped about this series.

Prayer Time - We had an amazing time of prayer this Sunday. It was great to pray with some of you during the service. I know that there are a lot of you going through some stressful and hard times. Please know we are praying for you throughout the week. It was really awesome to see people responding and getting out of the seats to receive prayer.

Community Group - Our community group (young families) had baby sitters come over and watch all the kids while the parents went out to eat. It was a blast. I love getting to talk to people my own age and not have to worry about my kids. I think everyone that went had a blast, I learned a ton about Kevin's mid high and high school year. I am glad all of us have come a long way since then, man!

Volunteer of the Week - Worship Band: Chet, Chaz, John, Sandy, and Jessica. All of you guys do such a great job every week. We would really be hurting without all of you being at church and involved in church. Thank for coming to set up and tear down, and leading us in worship every week. I love your attitudes and hearts. ( Shannon, you are alright too!)

I hope all of you have a great week, I really do. It is so cool to be a part of a church that is seeing life change happen every week. This week two people raised their hands for salvation, and the great thing is, that this is happening almost every week. It is just so humbling to be the pastor of Foundations Chruch. Casey and I love being your pastors and love what is happening in our church. God is doing great things, and it is only going to get better. Have a great one.

This Weekend [Church]

This is going to be a busy weekend,but at the same time a lot of fun. So here are some of the highlights of what will be happening:

Friday- I have a meeting in Dallas I leave for at 6:45, and come back home around 6. I am having a meeting with some of my friends to talk about summer camp, church growth, and just find out how life is going. Going to eat at Maggiano's Little Italy, the best teramuso I have ever had. Come back just in time to eat dinner and do one of my favorite things that is now a weekly tradition, family movie night. We will build a fort and watch the movie from it, oh yes it is still amazingly fun for me and I am 32.

Saturday- Cheat Day arrives. Casey and I try to eat healthy for most of the week and then we pick one day in which we get to cheat and eat whatever. What is on the menu, hopefully cookies and pizza and a lot of them. We have a birthday party to go to for Gavin, our Executive Directors (Shannon and Sandy Dalrymple) son. It is going to be fun and don't forget the cake and ice cream. Also plan on going out with my parents to dinner and then it is study study study for Sunday.

Sunday- Foundations Church. I love Sundays, they really are my favorite day of the week. I can't wait to see what God does this week. Great things and I mean great things are happening at Foundations. I love the passion our people have to see God touch the Tulsa metro area, it energizes me. Can't wait to continue our series Squeezed, in which are giving people biblical principals to make the most of their finances especially now that we are all feeling the squeeze. Invite someone with you this week and I hope you have a great weekend.

The art of being you [Life]

It has taken me a lifetime to learn to always just be me. Sounds weird I know, but many times being yourself and being you is a hard thing to be. There have always been people that have tried to make me into what they wanted me to be instead of who God designed me to be. Yes I understand you need people to help you become better and push you to achieve great things. But there are many times people will try to change you and make you into a completely different person. One thing I have learned throughout my journey is that I will always be the best Justin Graves that there is. But the moment I try to be someone else, and I let people impose their will on me I am not the being the best Justin Graves there is.

I say all this to encourage you to be you. Stop trying to be like other people at your job, stop trying to be like other moms and dads, and being like your peers, just learn the art of being you. Constantly work on being a better you, but don't lose who God has created you to be all along. This is a hard thing to do, but man is it worth it. So just be you, no more no less. Have a great week.

Weekend Review [Church]

Squeezed- We just started our series squeezed this past week, and it started off great. If you weren't there man make sure you listen to the podcast, because it will be massively helpful to your life. Anybody go to Los Taco Bell?

Volunteer of the Week- Harlan Fisher- Harlan comes every week and hands out bulletins and greets others as they walk in the door. He is the nicest guy you could possibly meet. But not only does he do this every Sunday, but he also stuffs all the bulletins for us as well. And this week he stepped it up yet another notch, this week Harlan brought donuts! Woo Hoo Harlan you go bubba.

Preschool Packed- This past weekend our preschool area was packed out. Our volunteers are doing a great job teaching and leading our little ones. It is great to see our kids area grow. Good things are happening, good things.

We had a great weekend if you weren't there, we missed you and hope you are there this week. This weekend will truly transform the way your financial life is lived out I can't wait. Got a busy week this week, but man it is going to be a great one. Hope yours is as well.

New Things [Church]

There are many of us that are experiencing, trying, doing, and going through new things. Many times this causes us to freeze up or even makes us want to quit trying just because it is new. But let me encourage you to not give up not to quit. I am currently experiencing a lot of new things right now in my life. I am trying to train to run a half marathon, I am lead pastor for the first time, preaching on a new series about finances, leading a team. But here is the deal in all these new things I have seen God move in my life and use my life like never before. So let me say don't fear new things, most of the time God is bringing new things in your life, so that you can experience new growth and blessings in your life. Go out and do something new!

On a side note, I can't wait for Sunday. I am studying hard to for this series and it is going to be real good, like slap your momma good. So make sure you bring someone with you, especially if they are having a hard time with their finances. Great things are happening, and even better things are to come

Weekend Review [Church]

Preaching on a cat walk was totally a different experience for me as I am sure it was for you too. I am tall enough without any help, I felt like a giant surrounded by little people. But despite that we had a great service this past week. We were able to pray for the principal of Memorial High School, Liz Martin, and take up an offering to help them financially. Thank you for giving Foundations Church it was a great Sunday. I love that our church knows the vision of our church and is chasing after it, I can't wait for this next Weekend.

Volunteer of the Week- Dalton Ward. If you don't know Dalton yet, he is an amazing teenager that is a huge help. Dalton is at church every week, he is there early and stays late every week. He helps set up and tear down the children's area, and he runs the lights in the auditorium. To say the least we would be in a lot of trouble without Dalton. He has a great attitude and heart, thank you Dalton for all you are doing, you are helping make it happen.

Moving Day- Casey and I have now lived in Tulsa for over a year! It is crazy to us that we have lived here for a year already. When we first moved here, we rented a house because we just didn't have time to buy a house, and we wanted to make sure the church was going to be successful too! Well things are going great with the church, and so our 1 year lease agreement expired. So this past weekend we moved, and we are glad to have moved in for the last time for a long time. Thanks for all you that helped.

New Series- This weekend we are starting a new series called Squeezed. Please, please bring someone with you, it is going to be helpful to them in the areas of finances. This weeks sermon is titled Back in Black, and we are going to be talking about how to get out of debt. This series is going to be helpful, practical, and fun, be there.

Hope all of you have a great week and I can't wait to see you and your friends Sunday!

A busy week [Family]

Can I just say I have an incredible wife. I really do. Casey makes my life so much better and makes things go so much smoother. We are in the middle of a really busy week for our family, and my wife is just knocking things out and is such a huge help to me as a husband, father, and lead pastor of a new church. We are in the process of moving this week and my wife has pretty much taken care of everything and is still taking care of the kids, even with Charli being sick! What? I am a very fortunate and lucky person to have found such a great wife, that takes great care of myself and our kids. The other thing is that she does so much for the church that is behind the scenes stuff, and she enjoys doing it. There aren't a lot of people I know that would agree to move her whole family to a city and chase after a dream, but she did and I am grateful. She is simply an incredible woman and I got really lucky when she said "yes" to marry me. Hope you are having a great week, because it is going to be an amazing Sunday, don't miss it.

Weekend Review [Church]

What a great and amazing weekend we had at Foundations Church.Here are some of the highlights:

We ended our series called Love Revolution. This has been a great series that was all about revolutionizing the way you love. We had some great feedback from different couples about how much this series has helped them with their marriage. I am so excited about seeing what happens in the families of our church because of God moving through this series.

The Plunge- We had our first baptism and it was awesome! We had two people get baptized, and it honestly was the most exciting baptism I have ever a part of. Kaylee and Danny, thank you for blazing the trail, and be willing to be the first people baptized from Foundations. Both of their testimonies where great and life changing. It felt like after we were done that the people were so excited that they wanted to jump in the pool. It was great seeing the excitement and passion that was there. See photo gallery at the bottom of the page for more pics!

Worship- Shannon and our worship team did an amazing job this weekend. They did a new song called "Overcome". They did an incredible job. Thank you Shannon and worship team, for not just performing but for leading us in worship. There was an intense presence of God in our service.

Volunteers of the Week- Tim and Ashley. This couple has just recently started serving in our church and they are doing great. They did a great job being our greeters and even showed people where to go after service for The Plunge. Thank you for making people feel welcome from the moment they walk in the door. Also Tim has been helping set up in the mornings too. Thank you guys so much for time and energy.

We are going to have an amazing service this week. Start inviting your friends this week and make plans to be there. Hope you have a good Monday.

Busy last two days [Family]

The last two days have been extremely busy for me, but also extremely enjoyable.

Thursday- On thursday I had to put the finishing touches on my sermon, which was a lot this week. I really find myself enjoying the whole process more each week. I love being a pastor, and love all that it entails. All that day had to go pick up Valentine Gifts for Charli and Chloe, I mean what kind of dad would I be if I didn't do this. Then that night Charli and I started a new tradition and we went out on a Valentines Date. It was a ton of fun, we both dressed up, and went to out to eat just the two of us!

Friday- Friday is my day off, I went to the gym with Casey, got to try to stay in shape. Then took Charli and Chloe to the zoo during the afternoon. Got home from the zoo, washed the Tahoe because it was just nasty. Showered and took Casey out on a date for Valentines, we had a great time and just enjoyed getting away from the kids and just talking. Hope you have a great valentines weekend as well.

This week is the last week of our series Love Revolution, it has been amazing. I hope you bring someone with you to church this week as we bring this series to a close and also our first baptism "The Plunge" is this week right after service in the school pool. I cannot wait for this weekend, it is going to be amazing and can't wait to see all that God does, don't miss it.

Crowns and hunger [Church]

Today I had to make a real quick trip to see a dentist in Oklahoma City. I had a crown that just popped off while I was flossing and he said since he put it on, he would fix it for free, pretty cool I thought. So I went to all the way to Oklahoma City just to go to the dentist for a crown, and then had some other errands to run. But on my way to Oklahoma City from Tulsa, I put on worship in the car and just started praying. Man I had an amazing time with God, and just realized how truly hungry I am to see lives change. Man I almost had to pull the car over, because I was praying, singing, and crying and just truly thankful for all God has done, but still so hungry for more. I really think with everything inside of me, God is doing something and going to do something just huge in our church and through our church, and I am just so hungry for it. I hope you are too, the bible says blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled. My invitation to all of you reading this is to join me in becoming hungry again for God, and to be hungry for amazing things to happen in our lives, through our lives, and in our church that just simply wows us. A free crown and a renewed hunger isn't bad for one road trip!

Weekend Review [Church]

This past Sunday we had a blast in our series The Love Revolution. If you have missed any of this series, make sure you download the podcast off of the website, you will be glad you did. We had another great Sunday at Foundations Church, it is great to be part of a church where all the people are so excited to be there. People keep coming, keep giving their hearts to Christ, and keep coming back for more. Thank you so much to all of you bringing your friends, their lives are being changed and it is all because you invited them to come.

Volunteers of the Week- Tear Down Crew: We have 3 guys that for the last 4 weeks have started helping us tear down after service and they are just owning it. Justin, Casey and Tiny, you guys are making it happen. What great attitudes you guys have all while tearing down everything and putting it up. You have cut our tear down time in half and I am so thankful for you guys. Thank you for volunteering your time and having a great attitude while doing it. You guys are amazing!

Foundations Kids- A big group of us met this past Saturday at Incredible Pizza and tried to convience a bunch of 2 to 4 year olds to not worry about playing games eat some food. They weren't having it at all, but we did have a great time. I do realize now though that Incredible Pizza is not a place where the parents are going to get to talk a lot, man it was crazy. But we had a ton of fun.

I am so thankful to see how this sermon series is changing peoples lives and their marriages. Start inviting your friends for the last sermon of the series "Making the long haul". It is going to be great. Hope you have a great monday and a great week as well.

Bestfriend [Family]

Many of you know my oldest daughter Charli. She is now 4 years old and is quickly becoming a little girl rather than my baby girl. It happens so fast, it seems like she was just toddling around with her diapers on and having a pacifier in her mouth at all times. Well last night it was bed time and it was time to go to the bathroom and brush her teeth, and she asked me to carry her to the bathroom like she does every night. But this night she says "Dad do you know why I want you to carry me, because you are my best friend." OH MAN! I smiled as big as I think is humanly possible (that kind of big smile that is a little scary because it reminds you of a clown face) I couldn't help it, and I had to choke back the tears. It was one of the greatest things I have heard in my entire life. My hope is that Charli and I stay best friends, yeah I still will be her dad and enforce the rules and make her mad, but I hope through it all we have a close relationship whatever phase of life we find ourselves in.

No superman [Church]

There is something I realize about us as people: we try to do everything, make everything, and make everyone happy. We try many times to be two places at once. We will be at one place but on the phone talking and having our mind somewhere else. In the process you don't enjoy being either place, and the truth is, both places (and the people at both places) are getting cheated. There are many things superman could do, but not even he could do this. So the question is...why do we try to?
I think we have to realize that one of the most powerful words that we need to use is "no". This, for many people, is not an easy word to use, because for many of us, we don't want to admit we can't do everything. But this one word can change our life, our families lives, and our career life. The best thing for many of us, including myself, is learning to say "no" to things, and realizing you are no superman. Do the things that matter. Spend time with the people who need you most, and don't try to do everything, and be everything to everyone. This week learn to say "no". It maybe the best thing you ever do.

Weekend Review [Church]

We are having some great services at Foundations Church. We are seeing lives changed every week. People are loving the services and getting to know one another. It is just going great, and I love being the pastor and seeing God do all this. We had 5 people raise their hand for salvation this week, and had an awesome worship service. I really think this sermon is going to help save people from experiencing affairs in their marriage. I love that we can come to church, interact with a life changing God, and still have fun and enjoy church. Thanks to all of you that are coming to Foundations Church and bringing your friends! We have some great momentum going so keep it up.

Volunteers of the Week- Joe, Adam, and Darryl. These three guys come every week to help set up the children's area for church. Then they go out and make sure the sidewalk is picked up and looking good. They also stand outside, regardless of the weather, and greet everyone as they come in. What a great first impression you guys are making, and I am so thankful for you. Thanks so much for your heart, attitude, and passion to reach people.

Foundations Kids- Our kid volunteers are doing awesome! We couldn't do all that we are doing without you. From the nursery, to preschool peak, to base camp, all of you are doing amazing...so thank you. Each one of our children's ministries are growing...and growing fast. It is awesome to see all that is going on in our kid's department.

Congrats to all the Steeler fans! I was rooting for the Cardinals, but once again my team didn't win the championship! Football is a stupid game this year!

Hope you all have a great week. Keep inviting your friends. We have two more weeks left of The Love Revolution. You won't want to miss it.

Keep the heat up [Church]

I am so glad it is starting to heat up in Tulsa. All the ice is starting to melt off, people are getting out and around, and the weekend is coming. If there is one thing I know about Foundations Church it is that we have been very blessed with good weather on Sundays. I am glad that we are having good weather this weekend and can't wait for Sunday. I am preaching a sermon called "How to have an affair" it's going to be a great sermon that is going to save a lot of marriages. So make sure you invite your friends even if they aren't married, there are going to be some great principals shared that you need to apply to your life.

On a side note, I am looking forward to Cory and Jennifer Spurlock coming into town and staying at our house. Cory has been my best friend since high school and is more like my brother than my friend, I can't wait to just hang out with them this weekend. And to top it all off, the super bowl is this weekend! I hope the Cardinals spank the Steelers. (I am going to hear it sunday from all our Steeler fans at church, but go Cardinals!)

Ice, Ice, Baby [Church]

Well if you don't know there is a major ice storm going on here in Tulsa. The bad thing is that this big storm is not done, it is going on all throughout Tuesday. Now I am not one to be hesitant in driving in bad weather but ice is all together a different story. The tough thing is that you can't control the other people who are driving around you, people who have SUV's and 4 wheel drive just go along like "I got 4 wheel drive nothing can touch me, but its ice man, it is ICE!" SCARY! One question where is the snow? Where is the snow man? Where are the snow angels? I love snow, you can play in snow with your kids, snow isn't bad to drive in. Ice is no fun at all, there is no playing in it, no making ice men, or ice angels, that just results in concussions. So to all of you out there stay warm and be careful. Going to be working at home today, I love being a mobile church!

Weekend Review [Church]

We are continuing to have great services! This past week we talked about One Last Cry, and it was great to see how many people were ministered to. We only have two more weeks of our current series left "Love Revolution" if you haven't joined the online group do so, it will really help you out.

Volunteer of the Week- Greg Fisher "Fish"- so yes Fish is our Buisness Administrator at the church. But what many of you don't realize is that Fish is working outside jobs so he can work with the church. He isn't paid by the church yet, but man does he work his heart out. Every week Fish shows up and does all the behind the scene details that nobody notices, but you would notice if they weren't done. This week while repositioning the signs outside, Fish got injured and had to get 4 staples right in the noggin, but came back and finished the job! Now that is dedication way to go Fish.

This Week- Don't miss Band of Brothers this is our mens breakfast small group that is meeting on every other Tuesday at Savoy at 61st and Sheridan, we meet at 7 AM

Hybrid and Thrive- Don't miss youth on Wed. at 7 PM and College on Thursdays at 8 PM, bundle up because it is going to be cold.

If you missed this past past week download the podcast. Please make sure you invite someone with you this week. Especially if you have friends that are married and out of church, I am speaking on "How to Have an Affair" it is going to save some marriages. I really am so excited about what God is doing at Foundations, let's keep chasing the vision. Have a great week.

King of the couch [Family]

Casey went out with another lady from our church for dinner last night, leaving me all alone with my two favorite kids in the world, my little girls Charli and Chloe. We had chicken and rice, and from the looks of the floor it must have been hungry too, because there is all kinds of chicken and rice on it as well. And then we played a new game king of the couch. I am on the floor and the both of them try to get on the couch and they can do whatever they want, whatever it takes to get up on the couch and they did! It was a blast I had two little girls attacking me and being as tough as they could be making their "mean" face, and I just sat there and laughed till I cried. I love being a dad, love my girls, and I am determined to enjoy every phase of life I am in, even if there is chicken and rice all over the floor. By the way I am still King of the Couch, but I do have two Queens now.

Weekend Review [Church]

We had a great service this past weekend. This series is going over really well. I absouletly love being the pastor of Foundations Church, Casey and I are living our dream. The cool part about our church is that everyone coming loves coming, they are coming because they truly want to be there and it isn't just a obligation for them.

Love Revolution- We talked about dating this past weekend. We had a ton of fun talking about having standards and not compromising and taking your time. It was amazing to me how many married couples said they loved the sermon and got some great things out of it.

Volunteers of the Week- Chet Hull, Chaz Marler, and John Watkins. These guys show up early every week to set up the sound and stage, then run through worship and do a great job. They have great attitudes and love being there and I love it about them. Thank you guys for meeting during the week to practice, doing a great job, and for not stinking. Worship would not be near as good without your guys help. Thank you for all you do.

This week: We are continuing our series Love Revolution. This week we are talking about One Last Cry, how do you get past heartbreak and disappointment. Invite someone to come with you this week.

Young Professionals Community Group- Stephanie Pickney is starting a new community group this Thursday night at for Young Professionals. She is an amazing person and is going to do a great job. If you aren't involved in a community group and are a young professional come get involved and belong.

Are you for sale? [Church]

It has recently come to my attention that there is going to be a time that you and the dreams and vision you have for your life will come to a place that you can sell out or buy in. This is something that all of us at some point are going to face. The question is are you really bought in to the vision and dream that God has given you for your life? There will be someone or something that will come along that will offer you a deal, will offer you more money, more comfort, and even an easier path. It is then you will answer the question are you for sale? I realize that this will happen in my life as things progress with our church and life, but I am not for sale nor is my vision. I don't want to go after what is easy or comfortable, I want to go after what is impossible and not easily attained. I am bought in to the vision God has given me for Foundations Church, and for my life. What about you?

Out of town and a sick Chloe [Family]

Well my youngest daughter Chloe, we found out yesterday, has pneumonia and unfortunately she is contagious! Can anyone say orange juice? I have downed so much orange juice, eating blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries that I don't know if I could have anymore fruit in my body. I feel like that scene off of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when the girl Violet starts chewing the gum and turns into a blueberry. Just don't want to get sick, pneumonia has a strange way of cramping your style and slowing you down. So I am doing everything I can to make sure nobody else from the Graves house gets sick.

Today I leave to speak in Lawton for Wed. night and Thurs. night for Jamie Austin. I am really looking forward to it, but man, what bad timing for Casey. I hate leaving her with a very sick Chloe. So if you can pray not just for Chloe, but for Casey. I know it is tough enough taking care of 2 healthy kids by yourself. I can't imagine one of them being sick. But for me it is Lawton or bust!

Weekend Review [Church]

Wow! What a weekend Foundations Church had! Here is the weekend review:

Gas Buy Down- Our members did such a great job making this a huge success. We had the chance to impact our community, and thanks to everyone who showed up, we did. All of you were so happy and excited to be there. It had no chance but to succeed. We had a great response from the community and got a ton of media coverage, it was amazing.

Foundations Church Sunday Edition- We had many new families come in for the first time to Foundations Church this week. Most came either because of the gas buy down or the mailout we did. We started our new series called Love Revolution, and it went over great. Our children's department had the most kids that it has ever had, and our workers did a fantastic job. There are some great things happening. I am so excited to watch what God is doing and is going to do in our church.

Volunteers of the Week- Nicki Presnall, Becky Kunkel, and Julia Kirkendall - You did an incredible job in our Preschool Peak. We had more kids in that area than ever, and all three of you handle it beautifully. We probably need to get you each a day at the spa! Thank you for taking such great care of our kids. We couldn't do it without you.

This Sunday: Don't miss our next sermon called NEXT. We will be giving you biblical principles to help you in your dating life. Singles, teenagers, and parents of teens, don't miss this!

Wow [Church]

We did our gas buy down this Saturday, and it was a huge success. We had an incredible turnout of people, and a great response from the community. First of all let me say thank you to all the members of Foundations Church that came and voluntereed today. You made this day a huge success, and I loved that all of you were so excited to be out there, even with it being windy and freezing cold. We had 200 cars come through in a matter of 2 hours, and touched a lot of lives. I hope that alot of them show up this Sunday. Also we had a crazy great response from the media. Every major news channel came out. The Tulsa World came out, and we got some great exposure for our church. I can't wait to see what happens in 09! Just like I said on Sunday, I think we are going to just stand back, and be in awe of what God does this year. Let the "awe" begin!

Pretty Cool [Church]

As many of you know we are doing a gas buy down this Saturday the 10th at Kum and Go on 51st and Mingo. The church is getting a lot of buzz and attention from the media. So check out the Tulsa World and Newschannel 8 (Friday night and Saturday), both of them are covering our gas buy down and giving our church some great exposure. This is pretty cool. I am so excited about doing this gas buy down, and the Love Revolution series. This is going to be a huge Sunday for us, so make sure you invite your friends. And, be there on Saturday if you can, it is going be incredible. Wooo Hooo!!!

Torture on a bike [Church]

Okay, so every Wed. morning I wake up, and meet Joe and Adam, two great guys from our church, for Spin. Now, if you don't know what spin is, it is riding a stationary bike for 45 minutes while a demented instructor yells at you and tells you to pedal harder. Here is the kicker. The class starts at 5:15 A.M.! That is right 5:15 A.M., and let me just say I need a pillow for a seat because after every spin class I am walking funny for at least 45 minutes. It is rough to say the least on the hind end. So there we are riding these bikes and the instructor is telling us to put more resistance on, and pick up our pace. And I start thinking is this worth the torture. There is pain in the buttocks and sweat dripping from my face. Then I look over and Adam has this goofy grin. Joe looks up, we catch each others eyes, and it is like a test of the will. Who is going to be the first sissy to give up? Nobody did. Shannon, our executive director, was there today too, for the first time. Get off, you boy! I love it, and love having community and friendships in my life. (even if it exists at 5:15 A.M. while being tortured on a bike) Let me encourage all of you to get involved in community. If you go to our church, get involved in a community group. If you don't, develop deep friendships. Because all of us will go through times when we need to see someone to smile at us, and times we need others to push us.

Join in the chase [Church]

Man what a great Sunday we had to kick off 2009! I am so excited about what is and what is going to happen in Foundations. I had someone come up to me after Sunday's service and say it is amazing that this church has seen 61 people commit for the first time or recommit their life in just 4 months. But that is what it is all about. I am really pumped about all of the people that have signed up to come and be a part of the gas buy down too! Thanks for volunteering.

Volunteers of the Week:
Props to Terri Lade and Kayla Ward, you guys did a great job in our nursery this week. Thank you for taking a week out to take care of our littlest of ones. And next time we will make sure you know where the thermostat is so you can cool it down. Thanks for your amazing attitudes and for serving.

This is going to be a fun week. THE University of Oklahoma is playing in the BCS Championship, Casey and I are going on a date night, we have the gas buy down on Saturday, and then we are starting our series The Love Revolution. We aren't just casting a vision we are chasing it down, so join in the chase with us. Have a great week!

A Charli not a turtle [Church]

The other day I was sitting with Charli and watching Kung Fu Panda, an amazing and hilarious movie, and we were laughing and eating popcorn together. Well there is this turtle on there and he keeps saying throughout the movie "There are no such things as accidents". Well after about 3 times my daughter Charli, gets right in my face nose to nose and says "That turtle keeps saying that there are no such things as accidents, but there are and I have them all the time!" I thought this was great and immediately started cracking up. But the more I think of it, all of us have accidents, we all goof up and mess up sometimes, but how do we react? Do we react with mercy or are we harsh? Because often times they way you act and treat others when they have "accidents" is the way you will be treated too. All of us could use a little more mercy and little less harshness. Just a thought don't be a turtle this year be a Charli.

Ready to go [Church]

Wow, I have started blogging now. This is something I have wanted to start doing, just needed to get some things in line for it to happen. So on this I am going to talk about things happening with my family, things going on with our church, our friends, and life in general. I do have to say this past week was great getting to rest this weekend and be with my family. Our church is so blessed to have an amazing staff that is capable of running everything in my absence. This year is going to be an amazing year for our church I hope you all are ready, because I am ready to go! Have a great weekend and bring someone with you. You can invite somebody to our church by clicking here.