Austin Music Hall...church?

This past Sunday morning we did a run through of all set-up for a church service in the AMH.  We did everything from chairs, lobby environments, sound, lights, video screens, band rehearsal, video message playbacks, etc.  We even talked through a lot of these processes to try and fine tune them.  Up until this point, Lake Hills Church: Downtown has just been an idea.  Now it is taking shape and a GREAT SHAPE if I can say so and I will.  We even had a few emails from volunteers who were a part of this Sunday's beginning.  

Below is an email message from one huge hearted LHC Downtown launch member:

Guys,
Wow, what can say besides that I am amazed by everything that you all have been doing for the downtown campus. Today, was such a treat to be able to be a part of and to start experiencing what is to be LHC downtown and it is because of the tremendous effort and passion that you all have put into this church.

I have a confession that I have been in a huge drought on really getting involved in a church the past 2 years (besides showing up on Sunday mornings) and that lack of serving has really made me feel a distance from the church that has been very disturbing. In God's amazing ability, which is completely unfathomable, I had the opportunity to sit down today look around and see the empty hall and then see a church seemingly flawlessly coming together. I finally felt that this is it! I am ready to dive in head, feet, side, which ever direction God wants me to go to be a part of this church. I am ready to serve his Kingdom wherever I am needed and that is so exciting. I am uplifted with all of your warmth in welcoming every person who walks through the doors and all of your willingness to make sure that every person who walks through the door whether they have been there since the beginning or walking though the first time feels so welcomed and that they are a part of the church, that we are a community of christ not just a place to worship. We are here to be a family no matter what your story is, you are a part of our community.

You all are doing such an amazing job of thinking of everything when it comes to making this church resemble the perfection that is Christ (The chairs straight, the kiosk in the most welcoming spot, the music, the video feed etc..). I am praying for each one of you and your leadership during this exhausting yet amazingly exhilarating time. I guess to sum things up, I want to say Thank You for being you and for having such Christ like hearts to lead the church that I am proud to say is my church home.
Thank you,

(For the sake of this blog I am keeping the writer anonymous.)

CAN I GET AN AMEN!  THIS IS GREAT FUEL FOR MY NEXT 30 YEARS OF MINISTRY! 

Prayer Walk

As some of you have read about in this blog or know about through our friendship.  Our church, Lake Hills Church is embarking on a new adventure together.  We are launching our first satellite campus in Downtown Austin, TX.  We have begun building community through retreats, life groups, and a few events this summer to get to know each other.  It is always incredible to see the diversity, different history, and lifestyles that God is bringing together to share with our city His message of Hope and Love.  

Today, as we walked the streets, prayerfully seeking the Holy Spirit to show us our mission, all sorts of things started to pop out for me personally!  I began to think about the hurt, heartache, and often times helplessness that we drive our personal stories into.  I thought about choices that people make that can dictate where they find joy, peace, and happiness.  As I walked the streets of Austin (downtown) this morning, I began to see a vast array of difference in people, of life circumstances, and I began to see how God sees them.  FAMILY!  My heart was breaking this morning.  Often my prayer is for my heart to break for what breaks God's heart.  This morning it swallowed me whole!  A perfect Father loves His children and His people.  His heart breaks for seeing His kids turn away from him.  His heart breaks for seeing them hurt.  His heart breaks for seeing them fear.  His heart breaks for seeing them confused.  Guess what?  "Them" is us!  People always ask, "how or why I have faith?"  I always think and sometimes even say, "If God truly is who He says he is and if He did what he says that he did, then there is no reason to fear, new life begins today, this moment and this time.  It begins now.  The hope and peace that surpasses all understanding is Jesus.  It is always Him, it has always been Him, and it will always be Him who removes all of that "crap" from our midst."  

Today, I felt so blessed to be a part of our great God's Kingdom.  Today, I felt so blessed to be a part of an incredible community of people that call Jesus their Lord and Savior.  Today, I felt like God is stirring in and amidst Downtown Austin to bring a new hope and a new way.  He is always creating and today he was creating in my heart a passion for helping, serving, and loving his Children in Austin, TX.