Travis Johnson

iPhone Miami Style

The guys at the Falls are rockin' the iPhone.

Check out the other Miami iPhone vids:

• Falls Apple Store Interviews & iPhone Hit with Hammer!?!?
• Little Havannah iPhone 
• The Falls Apple Store Line - no audio
• Miami First in Line

iJealous

Matt Mehaffey and Jeff Reed are flaunting their iPhones. iJealous.

An addition to the team

This is a great time to be at Life Pointe.  Just when things were getting comfortable and the bills were getting paid and things were getting figured out, we have decided to accept another challenge to step up in our mission to reach this city.

We just hired Jesse about a month ago.  We had to make that move to keep up with our growth and continue moving forward.  But, now we are making another hire, an executive pastor to take a more strategic hands on role in leading the ministries of the church.  That will take more pressure off of me, help with equipping, systems, and teaching.

This is a forward-looking move.  We had been looking for a strategic person to come on board with us.  We looked inside and out passing on some stellar and very committed guys.  Ultimately, I felt there was only one choice.  I'm glad to welcome Paul and Anne Hollifield to the team.

Paul will be joining us on July 15th.  Make sure you stop by his blog and give him a little welcome.

Enlighten the People

While inside the Houses of Congress yesterday, I was taken back by a statement by Thomas Jefferson. It was chisled above a doorway. He said:

Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day.

Wow. What a governmental concept. Give citizens information...no... give humans information and they are freed from oppressive machines and imaginations. The truth of Jesus Christ enlightens and frees the minds, bodies, and souls of humans. May our cities be freed by the transformational power of the Gospel of Christ.

Extra-Curricular Buzz activities: Year 2

Last year at the Buzz Conference, I got this picture. This year, it isn't so fashionable to have the "W" grace my hand, even if it is standing next to Sen. Leahy.  So, I kept it in my pocket.  Instead, we participated as citizens by sitting in the galleries of both the US Senate and the House of Representatives, tickets compliments of Senator Mel Martinez's office.

We were in the Senate when Mitch McConnel and Dick Durbin were acting conciliatory towards one another after the Immigration Bills failed.  Then, we hit the US House of Reps.  They party over there compared to the Senate.  There was a lot of cheering and booing.  It looked like nothing was getting accomplished...which is probably a good thing generally.

I ended up sitting next to Guy Melton from the Church at Pembroke Pines.  That was a real treat.  If I had to go all the way out to DC to meet him, it was worth it.

Follow the Buzzers

If you want to follow the Buzzers and get notes on the Buzz Conference from multiple sources, here they are:

• Ben Arment
• Todd Rhodes
  
• Johnny Roberts
• Ryan Day
• Steve Pike
• Stephen Shields
• David Foster
• Jerry McQuay
• Tim Stevens
• Kent Chevalier
• Ken Witcher
• Jess Bousa
• Kathy Guy
• Matt Morgan
• And, the unnamed tech guy that seems to be unable to connect to wifi (there seems to be a bit of irony in that)

TECHNORATI: Buzz Conference

Inspiration Day at the Buzz

I came to Buzz last year.  It was just what I needed.  We had just gone into our theater.  It gave us some umph in utilizing our space and helped us to think out of the box.  This year, I came because I wanted Jesse to see what Mark Batterson and his crew were doing and to hang with Paul. In addition to that, I've gotten big inspiration.  I feel re-inspired about our space and mission.

There are a lot of guys blogging their notes.  I'm going to hit my personal highlights:

• The conference opened with a great worship set.  I just found myself forgetting that I was tired, sunburnt, away from my wife, and tired.  I got bombed with tears worshiping an incredible Jesus as we were singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."
• Mark was very open with his heart, staff, and space.  He's a generous, insightful leader.  According to Craig Groeschel, he has a prophetic voice for today.  I agree.
• Tim Stevens rocked.  I loved his reference to John 1:14 in the Message “Christ became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.”
• Then, Craig Groeschel spoke.  He's incredibly innovative.  I knew that.  I expected that.  But, I didn't expect him to speak with such authority.  I'll dedicate another post later to what he said.  It was significant.  I was convicted, challenged, and inspired to reach our community with more intensity by his words.

Online Social Networking Tools for the Church

From Leadnet and Stephen Shields, research on Online Social Networking Tools for the Church.

Buzz Conference - DC - Day One

Hit Reagan International in DC.  Jumped on the Metro.  Pulled into Ebenzeers Coffeehouses a few minutes late for the Theater Church pre-conference at Buzz.  Its hotter than blazes here.  I'm dying.  I'd love to get some good Miami weather to cool things down (its that hot!).  The whole temperature thing is magnified because I'm toasted.

Anyway, I'm sitting next to Jesse, Paul Hollifield, and Ken Hitte thankful to NCC for the Chic-fila and the conference.

Mind Dump before DC

I guess I should be careful using the phrase "Mind Dump."  It got my buddy Dave in big trouble with the crew from Slice of Laodecia.  Anyway, here goes:

• There's a beekeeper at our building removing a bee hive from inside one of the walls.  Earlier, I actually goaded Casey into trying to kill them with flying insect repellent.  I think they thought it was perfume.
• McKenna hates dirt and won't walk on the sand at the beach.  But, today she let me bury her up to her neck at the North Shore Park.
• I'm going to DC in the morning for the Buzz Conference.  I like Mark Batterson, NCC and the Buzz because it is creativity with a big vision.  But, It's realistic and achievable.  I want my guys experiencing this stuff.
• We are just about to make an announcement on another staff member joining the team.  Its coming this week.  This is going to be a huge addition for us.  This was a really tough decision because of the quality of the people that had thrown their names in the hat.  Ultimately, we are getting the right guy.  He and his family are going to be a really great fit. 
• Adding Jesse was a reactionary hire.  We needed to fill that position.  We were actually stunting our growth because we hadn't made that move.
• Adding an Executive Pastor is a proactive move for us.  We are getting out ahead of ourselves in preparation for this fall.