Archive for the ‘General’ Category

With the popularity of Facebook and Twitter, I am using my blog less and less. So I am taking a bit of a blog hiatus. I will decide what role my blog will play in the future but until that day, feel free to follow my on Facebook or @DevinHudson on Twitter.

A couple of weeks ago, I was part of an online Leadership Network conference entitled Aha! I was able to share one of the most important “aha” moments in my ministry (along with about 40 other guys). The video is now available here if you would like to check it out. Just look for my video.

Great AP article on Matt Chandler – the young Texas pastor battling cancer.

For the first 3 days of this week, I am getting to hang out with some young church planters from different parts of the country who are in Vegas to just spend some time connecting and talking. Most of them are similar in size and age as Grace Point. It is interesting to hear the similarities of each story and what God is teaching us now that the honeymoon stage is over. I love talking church shop with other guys who are trying to figure it out as well. Today we get to spend some time with my friend Jud Wilhite who pastors the most influential church in Vegas – Central Christian. I appreciate Jud and his heart for God and our city. I have never quite figured out why God allows me to be involved in the opportunities that seem to come my way. I guess it always comes back to Grace – which is the Point! Hey that would be a cool church name!

Check out this video on our tendency to speak without conviction in this generation:

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

I haven’t been posting book recommendations for a while. To be honest, my reading slowed way down in 2009. I used to read about a book a week. I think I finally hit a wall at the end of 08 and slowed down in 09. My brief hiatus from daily reading did help regenerate my desire some. Here are a few books I have read lately that I would recommend.

Your Life in Rhythm by Bruce Miller. Solid book on understanding life in rhythm and flow and not necessarily balance. It is a fresh approach and I really appreciated the insights in this book. I was able to spend some time with Bruce Miller last year and his thoughts are right on target.

The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry. This book could come across as a “self-help” style book but the overall principle of being able to focus our minds on the appropriate thoughts (as taken from Philippians 4:8) is a great idea. Newberry maintains that this principle is the key to a joy-filled life. The book has some good quotes and insights that I have posted on Facebook and other places.

Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll. This book is basically a compilation of Mark’s series on Jesus a couple of years ago. It is engaging and entertaining while also providing some solid doctrinal content.

Hidden in Plain Sight by Mark Buchanan. Buchanan is one of my favorite authors. Based on 2 Peter 1:1-9, Mark’s book is compelling and challenging. I have never read a Buchanan book in which I was disappointed. Hidden in Plain Sight is no exception.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It is Francis Chan – what else needs to be said? Very challenging book which really stretched our staff recently.

I Am America by Stephen Colbert. Colbert is hilarious. His book is entertaining and for what it’s worth – I agree with most of his cultural conclusions.

By the way, part of my reading habits right now involve reading good fiction novels that have ZERO to do with ministry or Jesus. They simply provide some much needed entertainment.

I love The Onion – a satirical news feed that mocks almost everything culture takes serious. Here is their latest update on “Lost Fans.” Very good and somewhat true for all of us compulsively obsessed Lost freaks out here.

Final Season Of ‘Lost’ Promises To Make Fans More Annoying Than Ever

If you are looking for a legitimate place to donate for Haiti, check out this link at Desiring God.

A common New Year’s resolution for Christians is to read your Bible more consistently. Many attempt to read the Bible completely through in a year. I know the frustrations of trying to keep up with a Bible reading plan and falling behind. I have always encouraged those who ask me about this issue to develop a plan of CONSISTENT reading. I would rather you read the Bible consistently than to make a resolution to read it daily, fall behind, and then quit out of frustration. One of the most helpful tools I have seen in recent years to help you read the Bible in creative ways is youversion.com. This website provides about 20 different plans for every type of reader. It provides options (New Testament only, entire Bible, Psalms/Proverbs, etc). You can also sync the plan with your phone and it keeps track of your reading for you. It is one of the most helpful tools I use.

If you are a Jesus follower, I want to challenge you to read your Bible consistently and this is a great tool to help you stay focused and on track regardless of how much territory you plan to cover in 2010. Check it out.

Four years ago this week Grace Point Church started gathering weekly. It has been a crazy four years filled with many ups and downs. Today I asked how many people were there who were there for our first service. Between both services, the total was 5. We live in an extremely transient culture. Thankfully we have been able to invest in thousands of people over the past four years. God has been faithful in so many ways. We look forward to 2010 and believe that the best years of Grace Point are still to come.

Here are some highlights from the weekend…

- After a 7 hour delay in Memphis , we finally got home Friday evening – exhausted but grateful to finally be home.
- Saturday was a day of rest and recuperating. We did hang out with some friends on Saturday night.
- We began our Margin series on Sunday. I was introduced to this concept several years ago and have revamped the series for GP. We got off to a great start.
- Margin is a biblical concept that is necessary to develop, cultivate, and grow our relationships with God and others.
- This series has life-transforming potential.
- Our band was on fire today. I am still amazed at the quality of our band for a portable 4-year old church.
- Our set design team pulled it off again. It is incredible what they do in a portable setting. So proud of our team.
- Both of our services felt full. Really good start to a new year.
- One of the best things we have done at GP recently – our resource table. We are keeping solid resources available for our people and highlighting a couple of books related to each series. It has been great.
- Our small groups kick off their next semester next Sunday. Looking forward to another year of intentional growth together.
- I am very excited about where GP is headed and the momentum we have right now. I can’t wait to see what this year holds.

I enjoyed having some time off during Christmas. Back to work tomorrow. Lots to do in the next few months. I hope to post some highlights from 2009 in the next few days.

Also I have a new blog look coming soon. The GP website is also being updated and we are introducing a new website focused exclusively on our community service. Hopefully everything will be up and going in the next few weeks.

Happy New Year and thank you for being part of this journey.