Travis Johnson

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I'm leaving my Typepad diggs behind for the "land of the free!" 

Wordpress is my new home because I really like free. I also like the feel a tad bit more. I regret leaving behind the incoming links. But, there is more to life than your Technorati authority. So, make sure you update to the travisjohnson.net address or to travjohnson.wordpress.com.  Also, update your feeds.  It may be the same if you've already subscribed...depending on how you did it.  And, if you're not a subscriber, click here.

Anyway, go here or here and make your mark.  Grab a coffee.  Say hello.

Coming Soon...a new blog look and home

I've been blogging for about 2 1/2 years.  I moved from Blogger to Typepad.  It was a good move to leave blogger.  It was an OK move to go to Typepad.  My next home will be great.  I do hate walking away from quite a few links...huge bummer.

All blogs entries have been exported.  Links are updated.  A new design is in place.  I have a few tweaks to make.  In the meantime, you can double check your links and make sure they are pointing to travisjohnson.net instead of my typepad address.

Maybe I'll show you tomorrow!

Sunday Wrap-up

I'm enjoying Life Pointe, ministry, my friends, and family more than ever.  I feel incredibly blessed and loved.  Life is not perfect...not anywhere close.  There are definitely challenges, stresses, etc...  But, God is really good.  My Sunday-wrap up is just to say that I am so blessed to be a part of an incredible family that is bigger than my last name.

In Honor of Homestead/Miami Race Weekend

This may be the funniest video I've ever seen. Quotes:

• "Was I speedin'?"
• "My wife said that if I don't get her another beer, she's gonna stab me in the face."
• "AAHHHHH! I know my rights! I know my rights!"
• "Is it illegal to cut grass?!?!"

Quick Hits

• NASCAR at Homestead/Miami Speedway is in full force this weekend.  Get your traffic passes you need to get into your neighborhoods if you live on the east side ASAP.  Traffic will be a monster.  This is a good reason to attend the 9 AM service this Sunday. The gates to the track open at 10 AM.  So, get a jump on your day and get to Life Pointe before your get hammered by millions of redneck driven RV's!  Keep your digital camera handy.  You never know what you'll see.
• A cool article on our new mayor.  I never talk politics here.  But, its a cool article.  I've known Lynda for a while.  She's a class act.
• BIG NEWS! Our church building is under contract.  We've taken our time and have looked for the right buyer.  These guys that are in process with us are sharp people.  They will better our city.  They are also going to continue working with the churches we rent space to.  They are getting the building at a time when this property is really popping with the Starbucks going in two blocks away, the new intersection, and the busway being completed.  So, it seems like the timing is right all the way around...a real win/win situation.
• God is doing some amazing things in our church community.  I am anxious to see what's next as we enter this new phase of ministry.
• Colin Aparicio is doing an amazing job spearheading our Swaziland Children's Cup project.  To date, we have about $10,000 collected, 150 backpacks, hundreds of stuffed animals from Osh Kosh, piles of school supplies, 250 pairs of new shoes, and baby supplies from Baptist Health.  He is fearlessly going to everyone inviting people to give of themselves.  The cool thing is all of this started from a phone call from Patrick Conti about 1 year ago which got started by meeting Dan Ohlerking at the Buzz Conference in DC a couple years ago.
• This has kind of lit a fire in us.  We have someone in Sierra Leone right now.  Freetown, Sierra Leone is going to be a project for us in 2008.  I envision us building a church/school/basic medical facility there.  Can you see it?  Life Pointe Church - Freetown!
• We will be putting together two trips in 2008 if everything comes together: one to Swaziland and one to Sierra Leone.
• This Sunday is going to be special.  I'm soaking every second of it up.  I have been since day one...even when people were asking what we're smoking....wait!  They still ask that.

Triple Threat

Kourtney, McKenna, and Blake.

One of My Favorite Life Pointe Banners

We are working on getting our own movie posters to insert in the movie poster picture boxes.  For now, we use vinyl banners as a cover and turn the light off in the picture box.  The light is on here, making a pretty cool effect.  Check out some more pics from our weekends on our slideshow.

Sunday Wrap-up

• I skipped Life Pointe today and missed it.
• Kourtney was concerned...really concerned that she wouldn't get to see her friends.  She said, "But, they won't know what happened to me!"
• Of course, the Sunday that we're out is the day that we have 338 people!
• 338?!  Its was a 3-day weekend, we're in the middle of a series....doesn't make sense except you guys won't stop inviting people!
• Of course, the day that we have our largest attendance so far is also the day that the janitorial staff walked out leaving us with a trashed theater....nothing like some last minute angst and cleanup to deal with.
• I hear that everyone pulled together and got the place cleaned up.
• Last week, 18 people made decisions to follow Jesus....can't wait to hear about today's service.
• I was in the lobby for a few minutes this morning.  I was blown away by Collin's Children's Cup booth.  His heart is tweaked for Swaziland. 
  
• I'm glad that Swaziland is going to receive the bulk of our Christmas Offering (you ready to give yet?)
• We haven't even begun officially receiving that offering and we have just under $10,000 for the offering!!!
• SO, WHY DID WE SKIP LPC?  If you were at church, you already know.  For those that don't, we went to INdependence Church in Weston, FL (will share pictures later).
• INdependence was in their 2nd preview service.  We're one of their supporting churches.  So, I wanted to be there and check things out.
• We are going to jump in and help them get the word out for preview service #3 (will share details later).
• After service at INdependence, we broke down their portable church and put it in their trailer.  They had some really super people over there.
• Then, we hit Lucille's American Cafe....great food and a great server that put up with heaping piles of sarcasm from us.
• Then, tonight The Saturn Project played and I spoke at Monument of Faith in Miami Gardens where James Francis pastors.
• Pastor Francis is my friend...kind of like a distant father that I don't know nearly well enough.
• We had a great time.  He's coming down on Tuesday for lunch and I'll pick his brain for a while.
• Kelly and the kids were with me all day.  We left at 8:20 AM and got home at 11:15 PM.  She's supergirl...don't know how she did it.
• I'm glad she did.  I used to travel all over and speak in Public Schools, churches, and anywhere that would let me in the door.  She'd go with me. 
• So, it kind of felt like our first year of marriage again...only with three kids and all their trappings.
• Loved it.  Still, I can't wait to kick Paul off the stage and get back to going through the Scriptures with you guys.
• This Sunday is my turn...I'm not giving the stage over for a while!!! :) sorry Paul...don't care how well today went!

Feet in the Ocean and Friends More Numerous than Sand

Today, we (the family) went to the beach...no HUGE outing, just a walk, lunch, and walking in the sand.  Kourtney, McKenna, and I played around in the surf.  Then, I took Blake and dabbed him in the water.  It's a really big ocean.  It's a big world.  I know he's going to take it by storm...if his sisters don't beat him to it that is.  Kourtney, McKenna, and now Blake have made life pretty awesome.  I really love being their dad.

With Blake coming on the scene, everybody has been really incredible...making our life easier.  We haven't fixed a meal in over two weeks.  Let me tell you that there are some women at Life Pointe that can throw down in the kitchen! I've gotten more voice mails, emails, and blog comments than I could ever return.  Today, we even got flowers from a cool-as-heck pastor and his wife Stephanie from right up the road.

I'm a blessed guy.  My son put his feet in the ocean and I feel like I have more friends than a beach has sand.