»Houston and Churches

Houston, Tx. needs a revolution in their chuches and in the hearts of men that are called of God to plant churhes.

Remember... this is my opininon and in my opinion it really is a good opinion. Huh?

Ok. Here we go:

• Houston needs more churches!
  

You may say, "Are you serious, Tony?" and I'm asking you, "Do you see me laughing?" In reality, Houston has so many churches... It has some megachurches and it also has dying churches. We have Ed Young's Second Baptist. We have Hillard's churches... Oh, and am I forgetting Joel Osteen and the largest church in the U.S. "Lakewood Church"?
We also have dying churches ... every 2 blocks theres is a storefront church in a small broken-down plaza. So why do we need more churches?

We need more churches with purpose, strategy and organization.

I believe strongly that if you don't believe in the purpose of the local church, you dont believe in the words of Jesus when He said that He will build His church! There is a purpose to every church that meets and it is to offer and give their community Jesus Christ. Point them to Jesus.

Many churches do not have a strategy. We need a strategy. You can ask all these churches
"Who are you trying to reach?"
They will tell you, "We are trying to reach everyone..."
You get what I mean?

No target... no focus.. and that leads me to this point: Without a strategy, their organization in the church is horrible. Sorry, for being mean, I mean "insightful"), but it's the truth!

• Houston needs more church planters.
  
  

There are a whole bunch of churches that are established... and they are dead.
Their worship is dead, their preaching is irrelevant. Their leadership is dead. We need more church planters. We need men to get their families ready to do God's work. I tell you, I'm getting ready!

Houston needs men that are willing to step out of their comfort zone and stop blaming their dead leadership for not letting them go.

And whenever you do step out to plant a church, have awesome worship, be relevant in your teaching, and train amazing leaders. Don't imitate dead churhces. Do something amazing! But stay biblical. Get out of the tradition. Break your old habits. Just stay scriptural.

What do you think?

»Finding your way.

I was sitting near the window at Starbucks yesterday and I was reading and writing some stuff that I was thinking for the future. I love that place... you got nice people, nice atmosphere and good frapuccinos...

Anyways, I had been there for a while... and I love siting by the window... because they are from the floor to the seiling, so you could just look outside and see what's going on outside.
Next thing I know, this old man in his 60s walked by, pressing the button on his key chain trying to locate his car. I did not think anything of it...
About 30 seconds later, he passed by my window again, still pressing the button on his keychain, looking for his car.
To tell you the truth, and not exaggerate, I saw him again, a minute later, still... no car.
I watched him for a while, until he brought his hand to his head and his face shone like a lightbulb that had been turned on, meaning that he had found the car.
I saw him find his car and drive off.

I laughed to myself (silently, of course. I don't want anyone thinking I'm crazy. Or maybe I do...) and thought about our next series at Starting Point, "THE SIMPLE JOURNEY OF A DISCIPLE"

Many people that have been in church for the longest time, find themselves like that old man... trying to find their way to their car... to their destiny and purpose. They go this way, they turn this corner... They stop in their steps to think. They cannot find their way.

One of the purposes of this series is to let people know the value of being a disciple of Jesus.

Forget your title or what you do. God will bless everything that you do, but before all the pressure of ministry or before your career or even before your family, YOU ARE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS.

It is going to be awesome.
See you at 10 A.M. at Starting Point Church.

»Here it is!

»"The Simple Journey of a Disciple"

It is not the finished product... but here it is!
The new series for Starting Point that will start next week.
Ruthie designed it and I tell you, she is amazing.

Why do Christians make life so difficult? I was asking myself that question last night... and I am in process of studying that topic.

I plan on teaching for 4 weeks on "The Simple Journey of A Disciple"

It is shocking when you think of a person that loves Jesus and becomes involved in the church so much that sometimes they clutter themselves with so many things and they lose focus of what is really important.
Then they say that it's the devil that is attacking them.

Are we christinas more than disciples? (just a thought)
What is a true disciple?

We were called to walk woth him.

How do we walk in this journey?

We make it so difficult.

Can we make it simple?

Let's go back to the simple basics. My goal for this series is to get people to let go of all the junk and extra lugagge they carry so that their journey can be more simple. To let them know that they are Jesus' disciples and that they were called by Him and for Him, and no body else.

I feel Starting Point will be blessed.

It is a new season!

"The Simple Journey of a Disciple" will beging November 11!

Pray for me.

Ruthie (my girlfriend) is helping me with the graphics and she is amazing!

»Gift Season!

It is November!
Just a quick reminder... the gift season has started for me, at least.
My mother's birthday was last Saturday. (Oct. 27)
My father's birthday is this Saturday. (Nov. 3)
My birthday is next Saturday! (Nov. 10)
WOW!
Gifts are welcome...

...and it does not end there... Ruthie's (my beautiful girlfriend) birthday falls on the Wednesday following my birthday (Nov. 14) and we are just getting older. Hehe.

The weather is cooler and it's getting nicer in Houston...

I really know something new coming... in my life and in the lives of those who love me.
It's weird... and I have been getting away from stuff that I feel.
I want to know... not just feel. I want to be driven out of what I know and not make decisions out of what I feel.
We have a whole bunch of people in ministry saying that they feel stuff and they misguide people and then the ministers that know stuff have to restore those precious people.

Anyways, something new is coming.

That's all I got for today... maybe I'll post something interesting later.

It's gift season.

»Worship Leaders! LEAD US!

There is a whole bunch of musical talent out there in churches today... really there is!
I mean, I sometimes hear guys play and sing and I am amazed... blown away! Some of these guys should record a CD, I tell myself.

But can I tell you something?

Sometimes, the best musicians are NOT worship leaders!

For real! I could buy your CD and enjoy your ability to tear it up... that's one thing... but to lead worship, that is totally different.
...and I think, that is the tragedy that has creeped into churches nowadays.
Yes, I said creeped!

We got a whole bunch of guys with guitars and a whole bunch of people that can only play and sing, but cannot take people into God's presence!

That's why we call you worship leaders, for crying out loud!
Lead us!!!
Maybe there are some people that can lead themselves into His presence... and if everyone could go into Jesus' presence by themselves, you know what?!

We would not need you!

(That's enough exclamation marks... let me calm down)

Really guys... it's cool that you can sing... it's cool that you can keep your tone. Save that for your CDs, but when you come to church to "lead us" into worship. Please do that!

I thank Jesus for you and the gift that He has given you. I really do... because I don't have it. I still sing like when I was 8 and back in the kid's choir.
But lead us... please?!

Please, when you sing... act like you wanna be there.
Act like you want to take wounded and tired people to the heart of worship where Jesus can touch their lives.

Lead us.

»Woo-Hoo! Celebrate!

Successful! Sucessful!

I have gotten this habit that I cannot sleep on Saturdays! I just get so excited of what is going to happen on Sunday that I just lay awake thinking of the possible outcomes of the service.

Starting Point is one of the best things that has ever hapenned to me. It is an experience of a lifetime... and I am taking advantage of it! We concluded our series: "STOP INVITING PEOPLE TO CHURCH!"

WOW... is all I can say!
Starting Point had its fall festival on Friday and this today we saw the results.

We had about 10-15 more people in service today and it was ecstatic!
Whenever you come into a church and see 35 people that are still trying to have church and not giving up hope, I tell you... It excites me! We had about 50-60 people at church today and I believe that Jesus will grow His Church.

I got to meet some of the first time guests after the service and had the opportunity to visit with some of the families at the church. Wow! I get excited when I see the families that go to Starting Point... There is so much potential in that place is not even funny! Hehe.

The message was relevant... Everybody got excited to celebrate Jesus one more time and we hope that next week will be a better service with positve turn outs. Thank Jesus!

On the other hand, Iglesia de Campeones had awesome worship... and I believe that they believed the Word of God that was preached today.
It is awesome to be filling in for Pastor Rios while he is away.
Thank you for your prayers.

I am so tired and need some sleep... badly.
So, I have an amazing week waiting for me starting tomorrow.

I am teaching at Iglesia de Campeones on Tuesday and Preaching at Starting Point on Sunday!

I can't wait for next Sunday! God has been giving me a message that I think will set a new mentality in Starting Point...

Dont worry!
It's just God.

Remember... He was the one that said, "...and I will do a new thing."