On July 12 C3 Church will launch a very unique series, “Tweet This.“  We’ve planned some creative elements to this series, and to fully experience them you need a twitter account - which is FREE!  You’ve probably heard of the rapid traction twitter is gaining in our culture.  Its a really cool way to keep up with friends - and it’s quick and easy.  It only takes about a minute to set up.

“Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?”

To sign up for a free twitter account:

1.  Go to www.twitter.com and click “Get Started - Join”

2.  It only takes just about a minute to create your free account.

3.  Once have your twitter account, go to www.twitter.com/byronbledsoe and click “follow” to follow me for updates.  As we approach “Tweet This” I’ll be posting about how to connect for the series.  Once you have an account you can even adjust the settings to have “tweets” sent to your mobile phone, or just check your twitter account from your computer whenever you chose.

4.  If you have a Facebook account, you can also set twitter to automatically update your Facebook status (if you don’t know what this means, don’t worry about it, just get the twitter account!).

That’s it!  Then be ready for this unique series - we’re going to dive into Scripture and learn from some people you may have heard of, and others you probably haven’t in “Tweet This.”

I just wrapped up a podcast with David Middlebrook and The Church Law Group.  David is a great friend and I love his passion for churches and helping them fulfill their purpose.  As we were talking, I was reminded again how critical it is to have a a healthy structure in place in your organization, and to be aware of the risk factors and have a plan to manage them.

Pastors - seriously, you need to connect with David and The Church Law Group.  They have been a key factor in the birth, health and success of C3 Church.   Click the link, check out their site and join TCLG.

I’m really jacked about this unique experience that will include a behind-the-scenes look at C3 Church and how we flow on Sundays, to meaningful main sessions and rockin’ break-outs.

Xcel is for every pastor or church leader who desires to see God move their church to the next level… it’s time to Xcel.  Plan now to join me, David Foster, Justin Haigler, David Middlebrook, Jim Tomberlin, Pete Wilson and others for this unique experience.

Check it out here.

I was also reminded today in a fresh way how unique C3 is and how blessed we are to be a part of such a movement.  Some great friends of ours, the Thompson’s, came to visit to day.  Joseph has been a pastor on the other side of Orlando.  At lunch we were talking about the service and he said a number of encouraging things.  One thing he mentioned was our connections team.  As his family entered the doors of the theaters they began to be greeted by groups of people.  By the time they reached the auditorium for our gathering they had been greeted by four or five groups of people.  He said, “I felt celebrated!  We were welcomed, not ignored or smothered.”

C3 what a tribute to the way you love God and others.  You never know the difference you make in the lives of people as they come through the doors.  You are fulfilling the very nature of C3 - the reason for our existence - “Connecting the Community with Christ”!

Remember, 167 hours from our last gathering we’ll meet again.  We celebrate for an hour, then invest in relationships and love God and others for the next 167 hours.  167 hours to invite someone to come to C3 next weekend!

This afternoon I had the privilege of officiating the wedding of Christian and Alexie.  Alexie came to C3 having only been in church a handful of times in her life.  She committed her life to Christ, was baptized and is a faithful member of the C3 movement.  Her and Christian already had two precious kids together, but had never been married.  Recently Christian gave his life to Christ, has gotten plugged into C3, and last month I baptized him also.  Today they are a family and they’ve placed Christ at the center of their lives and home.

Christian and Alexie - I’m so proud of both of you, and I’m jacked to see how God’s going to use you and continue to bless your family!

This morning I was connecting with our team, going over things and we were talking about some issues we all face.  It’s the “grass is greener” syndrome.  Often in life we become less than satisfied with where we are and other opportunities, or options, look better.  It happens in marriages, jobs, with our houses and cars… it can infect every area of our lives.  We begin thinking, “if I had that job instead of this one, or that house instead of this one, or that wife instead of this one…” and we go to a place in our minds that will never exist in reality.  Why?  Because even if you had that job or house or wife it will not be all that you’re thinking now.  There is one thing that your job, house, wife (and church) have in common - you!  And, the reality is when you move to the “greener grass” you go with yourself.

You go with yourself.

The path to a better life is not found in changing your surroundings, it’s discovered in changing yourself.  How many people have you known that found something wrong with the church they were attending… so they changed churches.  Then a few years later (or months) they changed again.  And again.  The problem… - you go with yourself.  The things about your spouse that you really don’t like - the person you’re thinking could/should replace them will have things about them you don’t like (the difference is they haven’t had years to build up… but they will).  What if we began to view the people/things God has placed in our lives as blessings and rather than focusing on all that’s wrong with them, worked on changing the things in our own lives that desperately need attention.  It’s harder and more painful, but its the only process that will truly take you to greener pastures… because you go with yourself.

However, with all we’ve done - there is one thing that stands above all the others in producing results, and we didn’t even do it for marketing!  The best “marketing” hasn’t been our billboards, mailers, ads, etc.  The best marketing has been a unique partnership C3 has formed with “Feed The Children.”  On three occasions now we have adopted families in need and fed them (once for a week and twice for an entire month - different families each time).  Something special happens when you invest not just in what’s pretty or cool, but a deeper investment in those who are hurting and in need gets people’s attention.  Let me be clear, we didn’t do it for the purpose of marketing… we did it to be like Jesus.  Jesus had a heart for and helped people who could do nothing for him, but had real needs.  As we’ve purposed to flow like Jesus, and reach out to those who are hurting and in need, God takes care of the rest.  There’s been nothing we’ve done that has resulted in more life-change (people coming to Christ, being baptized, getting plugged into serving and Community Groups) like the partnership with FTC.  People really just want to know we care, and at C3 we’re changing people’s opinions about Church because we care!

Pastors - I’m pumped to be able to share with you that “Feed The Children” will be @ The Xcel Experience!  You will be able to learn how they can partner with you to make a huge difference in your community, make the name of Jesus famous, and change the perception of church for people far from God.  Don’t miss Xcel!  Also, check Xcel’s website regularly because we have a number of things in the works that are huge and we’ll be updating periodically.  Registration begins June 15!

• Today’s question was, “Can A Christ-follower Drink Alcohol?” - if you’re interested in today’s flow, check out C3’s site and listen to the message - it will be up by Tuesday afternoon.
• When you deal with potentially divisive issues, you have to make a decision.  You have to decide if your purpose is to please people or God.  You also have to remember that you speak for God, his truth, to people he is crazy in love with… so you better come from a perspective of love.
• Several people made decisions to become Christ-followers this morning.
• It’s hard to change your mind.  Honestly, there are issues that I’ve wrestled with and it’s really tough to abandon what you’ve been taught to embrace truth.  Not because of what people think, but because I’m a husband and dad before I’m a pastor.  I desire to love my bride and raise my kids from the depth of truth, not the facade of traditions.
• I’m headed to Texas this week for a family reunion.  Excited about seeing family, dreading the drive…
• Next weekend we continue “You Asked” @ C3 with “Why Do Bad Things Happen?”
• Major news coming tomorrow about The Xcel Experience.

This week, purpose to love God and love others and live life to it’s fullest.